Roch Kubatko

Orioles and White Sox lineups

April 30, 2011, 11:25am

Orioles

With an afternoon game looming tomorrow, Jake Fox will start behind the plate tonight while Matt Wieters rests. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP For the White Sox: Juan Pierre LF Alexei Ramirez SS Carlos Quentin RF Paul Konerko DH Adam Dunn 1B Alex Rios CF A.J. Pierzynski C Mark Teahen 3B Gordon Beckham 2B Philip Humber RHP

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A few random pregame notes

April 30, 2011, 10:12am

Orioles

I hope you're not playing a drinking game where you do a shot each time Vladimir Guerrero draws a walk. Then again, if you plan on driving later, it's the perfect game. Guerrero is the first non-pitcher in Orioles history to not draw a walk in his first 100 plate appearances. He walked 35 times with the Rangers last season. If it happens during a game at Camden Yards, I really hope the Orioles halt play and retrieve the ball for him. The pitcher could sign it first. The Orioles have...

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Wieters busting out, Orioles win 10-4

April 29, 2011, 7:55pm

Orioles

I had to use some form of the word "bust." Matt Wieters is having himself quite a night. He's doubled, homered, driven in four runs and scored twice, and the Orioles have taken a 10-4 lead over the White Sox in the seventh inning. Wieters is 9-for-10 with two doubles, three homers and 15 RBIs with runners in scoring position this season. With two outs, he's 6-for-7 with two doubles and 10 RBIs. Matt Wieters talks about his big night at the plate as the O's beat Chicago 10-4 For the...

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Now it's Tillman's time

April 29, 2011, 7:53pm

Orioles

Too bad White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't tweet last night. I bet he could have strung together lots of profanities in 140 characters. Brian Roberts leads the Orioles with 19 RBIs. If you predicted it back in spring training, you're wasting your talents doing whatever you do for a living. It was interesting that Roberts told reporters in Chicago he's been dealing with a sore hamstring that kept him from stealing bases. We assumed he was being cautious, at the urging of the club,...

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Observations on Scott and Lee (and Wieters, Rapada)

April 29, 2011, 5:41pm

Orioles

Observations on Scott and Lee (and Wieters, Rapada)

Luke Scott was 0-for-8 against left-handers this season before homering off White Sox starter John Danks in the top of the fourth inning. Scott is a career .242 hitter in 476 at-bats against southpaws, compared to .275 in 1,612 at-bats against right-handers. Derrek Lee has hit safely in seven of his last nine games. He's got seven hits in his last 16 at-bats, with RBIs the last two nights. Down on the farm, second baseman Ryan Adams is 3-for-4 with an RBI for Triple-A Norfolk, raising his...

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Unraveling early for Arrieta (updated)

April 29, 2011, 5:04pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta had gone six innings in four of his five starts this season. Doing it again tonight will be a challenge. Arrieta gave up three runs in the bottom of the second inning tonight, two coming on A.J. Pierzynski's home run. A double by Mark Teahan and a two-out single by Juan Pierre increased Chicago's lead to 3-0. Run-scoring singles by Brian Roberts and Derrek Lee in the third cut the lead to 3-2. Lee came through with two outs, after a hard slide by Roberts broke up a potential...

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Reimold homers tonight

April 29, 2011, 3:33pm

Orioles

Triple-A Norfolk left fielder Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer in the first inning tonight, giving the Tides an early lead against Indianapolis. Reimold, who connected against former Orioles left-hander Brian Burres, is batting .250 with three homers and 11 RBIs. Josh Bell remains out of the lineup with a sore left knee. Blake Davis is starting at third base. Also, Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Chicago that left-hander Brian Matusz will throw two or three innings in an...

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Orioles lineup against White Sox

April 29, 2011, 12:38pm

Orioles

Here's the lineup that the Orioles will use tonight while attempting to improve on their 1-5 record against left-handed starters: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Jake Arrieta RHP

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Guillen won't manage against Orioles for two nights

April 29, 2011, 12:09pm

Orioles

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen won't be in the dugout for the first two games of his team's series against the Orioles, which begins tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. Major League Baseball sent out a press release announcing that Guillen has been suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount for "his actions on the field following the top of the first inning of his club's game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, April 27th at Yankee Stadium, and for his comments via...

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Random pregame notes

April 29, 2011, 9:01am

Orioles

The Orioles are in search of their 11th win of the season after not winning their 11th game in 2010 until May 13. They're 4-4 in series-opening games this year and 18-8 since Buck Showalter took over as manager Aug. 3. Adam Jones has hit safely in nine of his last 12 games, raising his average from .189 to .231. Derrek Lee has batted .297 with four multi-hit games and a .333 on-base percentage since the start of the last homestand, raising his average to .247. Over the last three games, the...

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Going badly for Gonzalez

April 28, 2011, 8:38pm

Orioles

Last night's 6-2 loss to the Red Sox has to be hung on the bullpen. Brad Bergesen allowed two runs over six innings in his best start of the season, but Jim Johnson and Michael Gonzalez were charged with two runs apiece, and Jason Berken let two inherited runners score. The offense managed only two runs and four hits, but I wasn't expecting fireworks with Jon Lester on the mound. Gonzalez was booed as he left it. The heat's no longer on Kevin Gregg. Not that fans have embraced Gonzalez in...

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Bergesen and Johnson talk about 6-2 loss

April 28, 2011, 6:42pm

Orioles

Bergesen and Johnson talk about 6-2 loss

I'll start with Brad Bergesen: Brad Bergesen meets with the media in the locker room after the Orioles 6-2 loss to Boston "Tonight, I felt like I kept us in the ballgame," he said. "I was facing a tough lineup like that and you know (Jon) Lester, his career against the Orioles, I knew just every pitch mattered tonight. I think the biggest thing for me was the sixth inning, getting in that jam and being able to get out of it. It was huge for me. I was very fortunate to be able to get...

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Gonzalez on Gonzalez

April 28, 2011, 6:32pm

Orioles

Left-hander Michael Gonzalez allowed an inherited runner to score tonight, and he was charged with two runs of his own to raise his ERA to 13.50. Michael Gonzalez talks about how good he felt on the mound even though he had a tough night against the Red Sox "I feel bad about giving up that run of J.J.'s. I didn't want to give up (Johnson's) run. That's what I feel bad about," he said. "The results, seriously, I don't feel bad or frustrated whatsoever. What I wanted was to go out...

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Postgame Showalter

April 28, 2011, 6:25pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter talked about pitchers Brad Bergesen, Michael Gonzalez and Jim Johnson following tonight's 6-2 loss to the Red Sox. Buck Showalter sits down with the media to talk about the O's 6-2 loss to Boston On Bergesen: "Pretty good, pretty good. He gave us a good chance to win, something we talked about before the game. He made some pitches when he had to. I think Mark (Connor) was looking at six or seven balls that they hit hard. They had a swinging bunt and a couple...

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J. Johnson gives up run, S. Johnson shines

April 28, 2011, 5:03pm

Orioles

J. Johnson gives up run, S. Johnson shines

The Redskins are on the clock. Owner Daniel Snyder wants a pass rusher. He's trying to draft Dexter Manley. Jim Johnson allowed the tie-breaking run with two outs in the seventh on Dustin Pedroia's second infield hit, a swinging bunt that Mark Reynolds tried unsuccessfully to barehand. Carl Crawford scored after leading off the inning with a double. Double-A Bowie gained a split of its doubleheader by beating Akron in the nightcap, 4-2. Steve Johnson, returned to the Baysox's roster...

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Updating here and there (Bergy done)

April 28, 2011, 4:19pm

Orioles

I just found out that I'm on the clock, so I better hurry and file an entry. I hope you consider this blog a need pick. Brad Bergesen has held the Red Sox to two runs over five innings, both RBIs coming from Adrian Gonzalez. He's allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three. Bergesen has retired seven in a row. He's thrown 68 pitches, 45 for strikes. Before tonight, Bergesen was 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and had allowed 10 earned runs (13 total) and 19 hits in 14 2/3 innings. Jon Lester...

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Lee cracks goose egg with RISP (updated)

April 28, 2011, 3:34pm

Orioles

Lee cracks goose egg with RISP (updated)

Derrek Lee was 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position before lining a single into left field in the bottom of the first inning. Brian Roberts trotted home and the Orioles tied the Red Sox, 1-1. Lee has three RBIs this season, the other two coming on his only home run on April 6. OK, so he was due. Lee had three hits last night and was batting .303 on this homestand before tonight. Roberts walked, moved to second on Nick Markakis' single and stole third base, increasing his total number...

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Matusz: "Big step forward today" (updated)

April 28, 2011, 12:48pm

Orioles

Matusz: "Big step forward today" (updated)

The news keeps getting better regarding Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz. As I wrote in my last entry, Matusz threw a 35-pitch bullpen session this afternoon and said the pain and irritation are gone. He threw fastballs, he spun the ball, and he walked away feeling like it won't be much longer before he's ready to start for the Orioles. "It went really well," he said. "I threw two-seam, four-seam fastballs, working in and out, and threw a few changeups and a couple curveballs. Got a good...

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Injury updates

April 28, 2011, 12:18pm

Orioles

It's time once again for the injury update portion of my blog. Sit back and enjoy. Brian Matusz threw 35 pitches in today's bullpen session, including his two- and four-seamer, and a couple changeups and curveballs. He told reporters that he didn't feel any pain. You couldn't wipe the smile off his face. I'll post his comments later. Shortstop J.J. Hardy felt much better today after experiencing some soreness yesterday. He took 15 dry swings and hit 20 balls off a tee. He also ran some...

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Matusz throwing, sun shining (w/ Orioles lineup)

April 28, 2011, 11:16am

Orioles

Left-hander Brian Matusz is in the middle of his bullpen session as I type this blog entry. He's on the rubber, and he's supposed to throw his curveball, as well as his fastball. Looks and sounds like a real side session to me. Pitching coach Mark Connor is standing next to him. Chris Jakubauskas also is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today. I was frightened by the bright light here at Camden Yards before I realized it's the sun. The tarp is off the field and the batting cage is...