Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Two injury updates

Two injury updates
Jim Johnson made another one-inning start with the Gulf Coast League Orioles today, walking one batter in a 5-0 win over the GCL Rays. Johnson only faced three batters. The leadoff hitter, Deshun Dixon, reached on an error and was eliminated on a double play. Craige Lyerly walked and stole second, but catcher Riley Hornback threw him out attempting to steal third. Hornback was a 12th-round pick this year out of San Jacinto Junior College. Johnson is expected to report to Double-A Bowie on...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles frontstory_orioles1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Pre-game Showalter - Part II

Pre-game Showalter - Part II
Josh Bell is in the lineup again tonight, giving him another opportunity to make a favorable impression on his new manager. "We think he's eventually going to be here, what I'm told," Buck Showalter said. "It's just a matter of, does he fit in our plans for the start of next year?" The Orioles really need to figure it out before the free-agent market opens. They might have to find another short-term solution if he isn't ready. Another example of Showalter's attention to detail: The...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Pre-game Showalter - Part I

Pre-game Showalter - Part I
Manager Buck Showalter isn't concerned about the defensive lapses that we've seen from Brian Roberts since the second baseman's return from the disabled list. "Of all the things we have to worry about, that's not one I put at the top of the list. He's solid," Showalter said. "When you've had periods of time off, people think it's just a pure hitting thing. There's a tempo that everybody plays at. That's not something that I've given much thought to." Showalter would love to...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Koji's contributions

Koji's contributions
The Orioles have won four in a row. Do I expect them to run the table under Buck Showalter? Of course not. Could they hit the road and fall flat on their faces. Of course they could. That said, I'm perplexed by the number of fans who can't simply enjoy the moment. This season has been a slow-motion car wreck. The team's playing much better baseball and winning games in exciting fashion. Why not enjoy it while it lasts instead of bracing for the next downward turn and refusing to get too...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles frontfeatured_orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

The Buck talks here

The Buck talks here
Buck Showalter moved past Don Zimmer into 64th place on the all-time wins list with 886. We didn't talk about it tonight. Showalter might have learned something about Adam Jones. You know, that whole adversity thing. Jones pops up with the bases loaded in the eighth and wins the game with a single in the 10th, leading to another mob scene in the infield. "Baseball is a great exposing of strengths and weaknesses," Showalter said. "That ball will find you and the situation will find you,...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles frontstory_orioles1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Simon done, Berken next? (updated)

Simon done, Berken next? (updated)
Alfredo Simon gave the Orioles two scoreless innings, striking out two in the 10th and stranding the potential go-ahead run at second base. Jason Berken is warming up. Manager Buck Showalter must be testing him again. The Orioles' short bench only includes Jake Fox. Showalter understood the need for the extra bullpen arm when he got here, but maybe a fourth reserve would be more beneficial. Nick Markakis' four hits tonight are a season high. Update: They don't need Berken. Adam Jones...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

The Orioles: A glove story (updated)

The Orioles: A glove story (updated)
We're still tied, 1-1, heading to the top of the eighth. Brad Bergesen can thank his defense. Mark Kotsay tripled with one out in the top of the seventh, and Alexei Ramirez followed with a grounder to first. Ty Wigginton charged the ball, made a bare-handed pickup and quickly threw home, where Matt Wieters applied the tag after expertly blocking the plate. Ramirez stole second, but Nick Markakis ran down A.J. Pierzynski's long drive on the warning track. Again, it appeared that the White...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

In-game update

In-game update
The Orioles' rotation has churned out three straight quality starts, and Brad Bergesen could be headed for a fourth after allowing one run and four hits through five innings. The last time this happened? May 29 to June 1, 2009. The pitchers? Bergesen, Jeremy Guthrie, Jason Berken and Rich Hill. Yes, Rich Hill. In Bergesen's last start, Kansas City's right-handed hitters were 1-for-18 (the only hit a seventh-inning single by Mike Aviles.) They're 3-for-11 tonight, including Gordon...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

The good and bad in the first (updated)

The good and bad in the first (updated)
Brad Bergesen threw 13 pitches in the top of the first inning and stranded a runner. That's good. The Orioles scored a run off White Sox starter John Danks in the bottom of the first. Also good. The Orioles worked Danks for 24 pitches. Still good. Here's the bad part: The first three batters singled, with Ty Wigginton's hit producing the run, but the Orioles couldn't do any more damage. Luke Scott struck out in the key at-bat of the inning, and Adam Jones and Julio Lugo flied...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Buck's sixth sense regarding Lugo

Buck's sixth sense regarding Lugo
Dave Trembley used to hate lineup questions, but I had to ask Buck Showalter about his decision to bat Julio Lugo sixth tonight. We're accustomed to seeing Lugo's name at the top or bottom, but Showalter is taking two factors into account: The veteran infielder is hitting .320 in 75 at-bats against left-handers, and the White Sox bullpen includes left-hander Matt Thornton. "Obviously, his track record is hitting left-handed pitching quite well," Showalter said. "It fits us to try to...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Montanez update and Chisox lineup

Montanez update and Chisox lineup
Outfielder Lou Montanez played his first injury rehab game today with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He started in left field against the GCL Rays and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Montanez, who's recovering from a strained oblique, told me in a text message that he felt fine and "did everything without pain." He's expected to play in at least three more games down there before reporting to another affiliate. It's ex-Oriole day at Camden Yards. Besides the familiar faces at today's...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Julio Lugo SS Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Josh Bell 3B Brad Bergesen RHP Lugo sixth? According to Elias, Buck Showalter is the fourth manager to win his first three games with the Orioles, joining Hank Bauer (1964), Earl Weaver (1968) and Davey Johnson (1996).
Continue reading
0
Tags:
orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Honoring past Orioles

Honoring past Orioles
I'm happy to report that former Orioles pitching coach and manager Ray Miller looks exactly the same except for a goatee that he can wear without violating the club's facial hair policy. Miller looks terrific, which is a relief after he dealt with a serious health issue during his final season in the organization. He's a pretty stoic guy, as old-school as they come, but the honor of being inducted into the Orioles' Hall of Fame has clearly moved him. "First time in my life I was...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles frontstory_orioles1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Showing Showalter what he wants to see

Showing Showalter what he wants to see
I'm heading over to Camden Yards to catch up with Ray Miller, who will be inducted into the Orioles' Hall of Fame before tomorrow night's game against the Chicago White Sox. It's been years since I've seen him. I'm relieved that he's in good health and enjoying his retirement. Going back to how we're all learning about manager Buck Showalter, I'm enjoying his thorough evaluation process this week. He's not focused only on the obvious stuff - how a player is swinging the bat, how a...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles frontfeatured_orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Passing the Buck quotes

Passing the Buck quotes
Manager Buck Showalter was asked about the Orioles' refusal to become deflated after Torii Hunter's game-tying three-run homer off Jason Berken in the eighth inning. It led to my favorite quote of the night: "I looked for that," he said. "It's part of playing, not only in the big leagues, but in the American League. Big, strong, hairy guys here. They hit it where the grass doesn't grow. And that's part of playing in this division, this league. That's part of it. "We've got some...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Manufacturing a win

Manufacturing a win
I feel bad for Jake Arrieta, but the Orioles just swept the Angels and improved to 3-0 under Buck Showalter. I'll choose to be happy. I'll also choose to celebrate another quality start from the Orioles' rotation. Matt Wieters led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left-center field off Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez. Pinch-runner Julio Lugo took third on Corey Patterson's sacrifice bunt, and the Angels went with a five-man infield against Cesar Izturis, with Torii Hunter...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles frontstory_orioles1
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

The decision (updated)

The decision (updated)
Jake Arrieta walked Erick Aybar to put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth inning. The Orioles held a 4-0 lead. Arrieta's pitch count stood at 106, and left-hander Michael Gonzalez was ready in the bullpen. Manager Buck Showalter stuck with Arrieta as switch-hitter Maicer Izturis stepped to the plate. I can think of a manager or two who would have removed Arrieta before the inning started, or immediately after pinch-hitter Reggie Willits' leadoff single. The walk would...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

No longer tied (updated twice)

No longer tied (updated twice)
Nick Markakis must feel guilty about not making that catch in the fifth inning. Markakis gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth with a 416-foot blast off Dan Haren. That's the eighth home run for Markakis, and he won't hit them much further. Markakis was 15-for-76 in his last 19 games before connecting off Haren. Alberto Callaspo's double is the only hit off Orioles starter Jake Arrieta, and Markakis almost made a sensational diving grab. He laid out for the ball, but it...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Arrieta's dealing (updated)

Arrieta's dealing (updated)
The Angels have gotten two balls out of the infield in four innings and still don't have a baserunner. Jake Arrieta has struck out three and fielded three tappers to the mound. Arrieta needed only seven pitches to complete the fourth, raising his total to a whopping 45. He struck out Erick Aybar on a 93 mph fastball to start the inning. Instant update: Arrieta retired the first two batters in the fifth inning on two pitches before Alberto Callaspo doubled to right. Nick Markakis made a...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest
Roch Kubatko

Patton's next appearance pending

Patton's next appearance pending
Troy Patton remembers July 28 with great fondness. It's the last time he pitched. Patton started that night for Triple-A Norfolk, going 5 2/3 innings in a victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He's back with the Orioles and back in the bullpen, still waiting for a call that hasn't arrived. The Orioles are saving Patton for long relief, but the starters have been working deeper in games lately. That's a good thing. It's also a bad thing if you're the long reliever - though Patton isn't...
Continue reading
0
Tags:
Orioles
LinkedIn Pinterest



LATEST ORIOLES NEWS

LATEST NATIONALS NEWS

       
942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951