Roch Kubatko

Fox catching today for Orioles (Simon update)

May 05, 2011, 7:39am

Orioles

The Orioles just passed along their lineup from Kansas City, and it includes Jake Fox behind the plate. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP Alfredo Simon allowed a leadoff double in the second inning, but he retired the next three batters, getting a called third strike on Tim Pahuta. Simon has allowed one run and three hits, and struck out four, over two innings....

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Simon strikes out three in first inning

May 05, 2011, 7:27am

Orioles

Alfredo Simon, pitching for Double-A Bowie in his first affiliated game since being jailed in the Dominican for almost two months, struck out three Harrisburg batters in the top of the first inning. Simon threw 23 pitches, 18 for strikes. His fastball topped out at 95 mph and was mostly in the 92-93 range. Simon also allowed a run on two hits, though the RBI double by Tyler Moore should have been ruled an error. Xavier Avery ran down the ball in right-center field, and it bounced out of his...

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More pregame notes from Bowie

May 05, 2011, 6:58am

Orioles

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, director of baseball operations Matt Klentak and director of player development John Stockstill are in Bowie. So is instructor Mike Bordick. Alfredo Simon is on a pitch count of 75-80 today. Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall isn't sure how long Simon will remain on the roster. "It's a stop along the way," Kendall said. "We didn't know if it was going to be one or maybe two starts. I don't have that information. But we're happy to...

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Baysox lineup

May 05, 2011, 6:31am

Orioles

Alfredo Simon looks thinner, and we've been told that he dropped around 30 pounds over the winter. He doesn't look that much thinner, but there's a noticeable difference. Here's the Bowie Baysox's lineup: Xavier Avery CF Greg Miclat 2B Robbie Widlansky 1B Brandon Waring 3B Ronnie Welty RF Steve Lerud C Carlos Rojas SS Adam Donachie DH Kyle Hudson LF Alfredo Simon RHP Dan Klein (UCLA) is expected to pitch today. Donachie was added to the Bowie roster from extended spring training....

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Heads-up play by Jones, Gonzo great again (O's win)

May 04, 2011, 6:39pm

Orioles

Heads-up play by Jones, Gonzo great again (O's win)

Adam Jones took a huge risk in the bottom of the eighth inning by holding up his arms and calling for time as the ball Mike Aviles hit wedged underneath the padding on the left-center field fence. Jones wanted a ground-rule double, which would have forced Alcides Escobar to stop at third base and Aviles to hold at second with one out and the Orioles clinging to a 3-1 lead. Both runners crossed the plate while Jones waited for the umpires to make the call. Jim and Rick talk with Adam Jones...

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Markakis having a night (updated)

May 04, 2011, 6:00pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis has a run-scoring single and solo home run tonight, and the Orioles have knocked out Kyle Davies in a game they lead, 3-1, in the top of the seventh. Before tonight, Markakis was in a 12-for-70 (.171) slump that had dropped his average from .268 to .207. Fans want him lowered in the order. They want him benched. They want him placed on waivers and let go like Alex Rios. I doubt that tonight's game will silence the critics. He'll need to heat to a boil for that to happen. But...

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Waiting to find out what Simon says (updated)

May 04, 2011, 5:54pm

Orioles

Waiting to find out what Simon says (updated)

I'll point out one more time that "Modern Family" is the funniest show on television, and I'll wrestle anyone who disputes this indisputable fact. If you missed last night's episode and you treat DVR the way I treat splitting the atom ... or DVR ... that's too bad. Another classic. Anyway, I'm heading down to Bowie for today's 11:05 a.m. game between the Baysox and the Harrisburg Senators. Alfredo Simon is pitching, so I figure it's a good idea to check on him. Simon will issue a...

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Reynolds wrapped in 8th spot

May 04, 2011, 4:44pm

Orioles

Mark Reynolds is batting eighth tonight for only the fourth time in his career. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Kansas City that Reynolds will be hitting in another spot tomorrow afternoon. But he also pointed out that Reynolds' slotting is up to the third baseman, who began tonight batting .168 with three homers and 15 RBIs. Reynolds is in a 3-for-25 slump. Or it's a 5-for-36 slump if you go back to his last 10 games. Or it's a 7-for-62 slump if you go back to April 14. Reynolds...

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Roberts returns to Orioles' lineup

May 04, 2011, 1:08pm

Orioles

Second baseman Brian Roberts is back in the lineup after missing last night's game in Kansas City following a root canal. Vladimir Guerrero will sit for the first time. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino SS Jake Arrieta RHP Here's the Royals' lineup: Aviles 2B Cabrera CF Gordon LF Butler DH Francoeur RF Betemit 3B Ka'aihue 1B Treanor C Escobar SS Davies RHP Arrieta is 3-0 with a 2.12...

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Quick updates on Matusz, Simon and Hardy

May 04, 2011, 11:46am

Orioles

Quick updates on Matusz, Simon and Hardy

I just chose the order at random. Brian Matusz threw a bullpen session and live batting practice today at Twins Lakes Park in Sarasota. Matusz felt strong and had good command of his fastball. He also threw some breaking balls. Matusz threw 30 pitches in the bullpen and 20 more to live hitters. He'll start Saturday's extended spring training game. The Orioles confirmed via a press release that Alfredo Simon will start tomorrow for Double-A Bowie. The Baysox are hosting Harrisburg at Prince...

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Davey Johnson's stepson dies

May 04, 2011, 11:34am

Orioles

Condolences go out to former Orioles second baseman and manager Davey Johnson, whose stepson Michael Jacob 'Jake' Allen, 34, died Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Washington Nationals. Allen died from pneumonia and infection at Florida Hospital in Orlando with his parents and siblings at his side. He had been hearing and visually impaired since birth. In lieu of flowers, the Johnson family requests that contributions be made, in Jake's memory, to Lighthouse Central Florida...

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Rowell headed to DL (Mummey injury update)

May 04, 2011, 9:06am

Orioles

Rowell headed to DL (Mummey injury update)

The Orioles are busy today doing a makeover on Double-A Bowie's roster. They traded outfielder Jeff Fiorentino to the Braves for cash considerations. They promoted outfielder Kyle Hudson from Single-A Frederick to Bowie. And they're placing infielder Billy Rowell on the seven-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left ankle. Rowell is batting .231 with four RBIs, two walks, 12 strikeouts and a .510 OPS in 14 games and 39 at-bats in his first season in the Eastern League. He spent the...

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Fiorentino gone again

May 04, 2011, 7:03am

Orioles

Jeff Fiorentino is packing his bags again. According to this tweet from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Orioles traded Fiorentino to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations. Here today, gone tomorrow, here again, gone again... Fiorentino was batting .250 with one double, two triples, two homers and 13 RBIs in 20 games with Double-A Bowie. He'll report to the Braves' Double-A affiliate in Mississippi. Fiorentino appeared in 56 games with the Orioles over parts of the 2006, 2007...

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Talking about Lee and Arrieta

May 03, 2011, 8:13pm

Orioles

It's happening so quietly, it's barely making a sound. Imagine a mouse wearing fuzzy slippers, or a cloud wearing ... fuzzy slippers. OK, that's probably not working for you. Derrek Lee has raised his average from .209 to .255 in his last 11 games. He's got 15 hits during that stretch, and five multi-hit games in his last 10. Has anyone noticed? Perhaps it would be more obvious if baseballs were crashing into the bleachers. Lee went 2-for-5 last night in the Orioles' 6-5, 10-inning...

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Another bullpen blunder (and a loss)

May 03, 2011, 6:36pm

Orioles

Before tonight, the Orioles' starting pitchers had posted a 3.43 ERA over their last 13 games, working at least six innings in 11 of those 13. They made nine quality starts in that period and had gone five innings or more in 17 consecutive games. The bullpen, however was 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA over the last 13 games. Brad Bergesen left tonight's game after five innings with a 5-4 lead. Jeremy Accardo replaced him and served up a leadoff homer to Jeff Francoeur. Bergesen was charged with three...

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Great Scott (updated)

May 03, 2011, 5:19pm

Orioles

Luke Scott tied tonight's game, 3-3, with a three-run homer off Kansas City's Jeff Francis in the top of the fourth inning. Scott has six homers in his last 14 games, and four homers and nine RBIs in his last six. Yes, he can be streaky. Scott has two hits in 17 at-bats against left-handers this season - both home runs. Matt Wieters threw out another runner trying to steal and blocked the plate again while tagging out another runner. It's become routine. Update: A one-out error by Cesar...

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Quick word on Matusz and Hardy (updated)

May 03, 2011, 4:08pm

Orioles

Quick word on Matusz and Hardy (updated)

Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz, on the disabled list with a strained left intercostal muscle, will follow up Sunday's bullpen session by throwing 30 pitches on the side tomorrow and 20 more against hitters at Twins Lakes Park in Sarasota. Matusz is still scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game on Saturday before beginning his injury rehab assignment in the minors. The Orioles want him to make at least three starts before activating him. It's hard to believe we haven't seen him...

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Markakis stays in lineup, Roberts sits (updated)

May 03, 2011, 12:54pm

Orioles

Markakis stays in lineup, Roberts sits (updated)

Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo became the sixth major league player charged with a DUI this season. Good thing he wasn't tweeting or he might be facing a suspension. Here's the Orioles' lineup for tonight's game in Kansas City, which includes Nick Markakis one night after he hurt his right knee and right hand, but does not include Brian Roberts: Update: The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec tweets that Roberts had root canal surgery this morning and could be available off the bench...

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Quick word on Millwood

May 03, 2011, 11:41am

Orioles

The Orioles retain some interest in veteran pitcher Kevin Millwood, but nothing is on the immediate horizon, according to one team official. The Orioles haven't ruled out bringing back Millwood, who opted out of his minor league contract with the Yankees, but it isn't something they'll jump into over the next few days. Millwood wants a major league contract and an immediate spot on a 25-man roster. He won't find it in Baltimore. The Orioles would only sign him to another minor league...

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Taking another left turn (updated)

May 03, 2011, 7:40am

Orioles

Since I brought up left-handed relief in this morning's entry, I wanted to drop a few names from Triple-A Norfolk, which is playing a doubleheader today against Louisville. Mike Ballard is starting Game 1, and the Orioles were prepared to purchase his contract on April 23 if Chris Tillman's sore groin had led to a stint on the disabled list. Ballard is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts for the Tides, allowing 22 hits and walking 10 in 19 innings. Chris George impressed manager Buck...