We've discussed the Orioles' failings with runners in scoring position.
I just hope they can get some runners on base tonight.
Tigers starter Max Scherzer has allowed two earned runs and struck out 23 in his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, and he's won his last four starts at home.
Scherzer struck out 14 batters in 5 2/3 innings in a May 30 start against Oakland. That's 14 of his 17 outs coming on strikeouts. Nice percentage.
The current Orioles are a combined 2-for-10...
Have you noticed that the Orioles seem to win more games when they hit with runners in scoring position?
They were more productive in those situations while sweeping the Nationals at Camden Yards. They went 3-for-17 last night and lost to the Tigers in 11 innings.
I don't believe it's a coincidence.
Better results from their bullpen would have reversed the outcome, but they couldn't hold a 4-1 lead.
We've debated interim manager Juan Samuel's decision to use Alfredo Simon for a...
Seriously, would 20 do the trick? What's it going to take?
Johnny Damon's two-run, walk-off home run off David Hernandez in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Tigers a 7-5 victory over the Orioles.
Gary and Mike ask Juan Samuel about the O's 7-5 11-inning loss to Detroit
I had a bad feeling about this game once interim manager Juan Samuel called upon Alfredo Simon to get a five-out save.
Was Hernandez unavailable until the 10th?
Jason Berken has been outstanding this season, but the...
Nick Markakis is 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning that wiped out Detroit's 1-0 lead, and Felix Pie has two hits and an RBI in his return.
Will it be enough?
The Tigers scored twice in the eighth against Jason Berken to dial up the drama.
It's up to Alfredo Simon to record the five-out save.
More drama.
Update: Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Simon in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, 5-5. More frustration.
Jake Arrieta held the Tigers...
We have a late addition to the Eastern League All-Star Game.
His name is Adam Loewen, and he plays the outfield for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
We'll deal with "Fisher Cats" later.
Loewen is batting .278 in 77 games, with 22 doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 49 RBIs and an .853 OPS. He's also 10-for-14 in stolen base attempts.
That's quite an improvement over last season, when Loewen batted .236 with four homers, 31 RBIs and a .695 OPS with Single-A Dunedin, and his plan to...
The Orioles placed pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list and activated Felix Pie for tonight's game in Detroit.
Millwood's injury is described as a "strained right forearm (flexor mass)."
Millwood is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA in a team-leading 18 starts.
Pie is 8-for-20 with two doubles and a home run for the Orioles, but he's been on the DL since April 16 with a torn muscle in his back.
The 40-man roster is now at capacity with Pie's removal from the 60-day disabled list.
For...
The Orioles won't determine pitcher Kevin Millwood's status until he arrives at Comerica Park in a few hours, but the right-hander is expected to go on the disabled list unless the club's thinking undergoes a drastic change.
Interim manager Juan Samuel and pitching coach Rick Kranitz expressed concern over Millwood's health - specifically, his right elbow - after yesterday's one-inning start.
Millwood could probably use the break, no matter the reason.
The Orioles will need a starter...
When I spoke to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail on Friday, he said that no other interviews with managerial candidates were scheduled in the near future. Multiple reports surfaced last night that the Orioles contacted Buck Showalter again.
It doesn't sound like another formal interview, so I guess we've ventured into a gray area here, but it seems to confirm that Showalter remains the favorite to replace interim manager Juan Samuel.
Like I've been saying, just make a hire...
Single-A Delmarva pitcher Matt Hobgood, making his first start since June 11, allowed one run and three hits in three innings against Hickory.
Hobgood, last year's first-round draft pick who had been shut down with a sore right shoulder, recorded seven of his outs on ground balls.
Nathan Moreau, who threw a no-hitter in his Carolina League debut with Single-A Frederick, has allowed one hit in three scoreless innings against Kinston. He's also struck out two.
We'll find out tomorrow...
Interim manager Juan Samuel expressed concern for starting pitcher Kevin Millwood during his post-game interview on MASN.
Millwood lasted only one inning, allowing five runs and throwing 45 pitches before Samuel began parading relievers to the mound. He's posted a 9.89 ERA in his last seven starts, raising his season ERA to 5.77.
"We're starting to be concerned," Samuel said. "We don't know if something's there, his elbow or something. We just know today that Kranny (pitching coach...
Chris Tillman didn't throw another no-hitter today, but he came awfully close.
Tillman tossed a one-hit shutout in Triple-A Norfolk's 2-0 victory over Charlotte. He walked one batter and struck out five, and threw 64 of his 99 pitches for strikes.
Tillman, who improved to 8-4 with a 2.72 ERA with the Tides, gave up a one-out single to Jordan Danks in the third inning. The next batter, Robert Hudson, grounded into a double play.
Danks walked in the sixth inning, but Tillman retired the last...
Making his third appearance since coming off the disabled list, Koji Uehara surrendered two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase Detroit's lead to 10-7.
Yes, they're only through the fifth inning at Comerica Park. And the pace actually increased for a short time.
Uehara gave up three hits, including Ramon Santiago's bunt single to open the inning. Austin Jackson followed with a triple, and he later scored on Magglio Ordonez's single.
Uehara also issued a walk before...
That's just a prediction.
The Orioles and Tigers are entering the bottom of the second inning. That's it. More than an hour since the first pitch, and it's the bottom of the second.
Kevin Millwood is out of the game after one inning and five runs, but he won't be tagged with the loss. The Orioles rallied to take a 6-5 lead and knock out Tigers rookie left-hander Andy Oliver by scoring five times in the top of the second.
Oliver is charged with all six runs (five earned), though two...
I sat in the interview room at Camden Yards and listened to interim manager Juan Samuel say that Felix Pie would return to left field and the leadoff spot once the Orioles activated him from the disabled list.
Samuel told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Pie would hit lower in the order while Corey Patterson continued to occupy the top spot. Samuel now wants to ease Pie back into the leadoff role.
The last time I checked, the Orioles had room for Pie on their 40-man roster after...
For the Orioles:
Corey Patterson LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton DH
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Jake Fox 1B
Julio Lugo 2B
Cesar Izturis SS
Kevin Millwood RHP
For the Tigers:
Austin Jackson CF
Johnny Damon DH
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Brennan Boesch LF
Carlos Guillen 2B
Brandon Inge 3B
Alex Avila C
Ramon Santiago SS
Andy Oliver LHP
Update: Josh Bell, who left yesterday's game with right leg cramping, is available today.
It's always difficult to gauge how active the Orioles will be at the non-waiver trade deadline that arrives at the end of this month. I brace for a repeat of the 2000 roster purge, and it doesn't come.
Maybe one guy gets moved, like closer George Sherrill last summer, or maybe none until the end of August.
The Orioles have another batch of candidates who are in the final year of their contracts - including Ty Wigginton, Kevin Millwood, Miguel Tejada, Cesar Izturis and Mark Hendrickson - or...
Left-hander Michael Gonzalez threw a scoreless inning tonight at Double-A Bowie, striking out two batters in the process. The other out came on a ground ball.
Gonzalez's fastball registered at 92 mph on the Prince George's Stadium radar gun.
You'll recall that Gonzalez gave up home runs in two of his rehab appearances before tonight.
The Orioles want Gonzalez to pitch Tuesday at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and go twice more at Bowie.
Brandon Waring hit his 13th home run tonight for...
Nick Markakis has taken over the AL lead in doubles with 25.
His two-bagger in the fourth inning eventually led to the game's first run. Markakis moved to third base and scored on John Lackey's wild pitch.
Markakis has plenty of supporters who believe he should represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game. He's probably a victim of his position. AL manager Joe Girardi needs another second baseman, and Ty Wigginton qualifies.
Those 14 home runs didn't hurt Wigginton's cause, either. And...
Ty Wigginton has been chosen as a reserve and will represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game.
Wigginton is batting .251 with 12 doubles, 14 homers and 42 RBIs.
I'm taken back to FanFest and all the questions Wigginton fielded about the club's decision to sign Garrett Atkins for first base and Miguel Tejada for third. Wigginton was disappointed, but he never publicly ripped the club or demanded a trade.
Brian Roberts showed up at spring training with a herniated disk in his back, Atkins...
For the Orioles:
LF Corey Patterson
DH Miguel Tejada
RF Nick Markakis
1B Ty Wigginton
CF Adam Jones
3B Josh Bell
2B Scott Moore
C Craig Tatum
SS Cesar Izturis
LHP Brian Matusz
For the Red Sox:
SS Marco Scutaro
CF Darnell McDonald
DH David Ortiz
1B Kevin Youkilis
3B Adrian Beltre
RF J.D. Drew
2B Bill Hall
LF Daniel Nava
C Gustavo Molina
RHP John Lackey
Nolan Reimold's two-out double in the ninth inning scored Jeff Salazar last night and gave Triple-A Norfolk a 7-6 win over...