Roch Kubatko

Sorting through the pitching mess

April 08, 2011, 4:32pm

Orioles

Zach Britton will oppose the Rangers' Colby Lewis in Game 1 of tomorrow's doubleheader. Jake Arrieta will oppose Matt Harrison in Game 2. That's about all we know. The Orioles would like to add a reliever, but the process is complicated by a rule that prohibits teams from calling up players on the 40-man roster until 10 days have passed in the season, unless another player goes on the disabled list. Jeremy Guthrie and J.J. Hardy don't appear to be DL candidates at the moment. Manager...

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Roberts taken to local hospital with stomach pain

April 08, 2011, 4:22pm

Orioles

Roberts taken to local hospital with stomach pain

Second baseman Brian Roberts was scratched from the lineup about 20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch because of stomach pains that wouldn't subside. Roberts was taken to a local hospital for tests. The Orioles are hoping it's just a virus that's going around. We'll obviously know more tomorrow.

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Tonight's game postponed (updated)

April 08, 2011, 3:55pm

Orioles

The rain is coming down harder, and tonight's game has been postponed. So much for that window. Better close it so you don't get wet. The Orioles and Rangers will play a straight doubleheader tomorrow, with the first game starting at 4:30 p.m. Zach Britton will pitch in one of the games. I'm heading to manager Buck Showalter's office for more details. It seems almost certain that the Orioles will make a roster move to add a reliever. Update: Britton and Jake Arrieta will pitch...

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Hardy and Guthrie speak (with game update)

April 08, 2011, 1:57pm

Orioles

Hardy and Guthrie speak (with game update)

J.J. Hardy says he probably could have played tonight if the weather conditions weren't so bad. Hardy is day-to-day with tightness in his left ribcage area that surfaced during yesterday's batting practice session. "We'll give it another day and kind of reevaluate tomorrow," Hardy said. "I've never had anything like it, but being able to throw, being able to run around and not feel pain, I feel like it can't be that big a deal, so I'm hoping - I don't know what their time schedule...

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Showalter talks about Guthrie, Hardy and pitching

April 08, 2011, 12:57pm

Orioles

Showalter talks about Guthrie, Hardy and pitching

Let me begin by saying I don't have any inside weather information. The Orioles like their chances of playing tonight, but that's all I know. They're not making any guarantees, and they haven't set an exact time when they'd announce a postponement if the rain doesn't cease. The pitching picture is a bit fuzzy. OK, it's really, really fuzzy. Jeremy Guthrie did some long-tossing and threw off an indoor mound. He could make Sunday's start, but it's also possible that he could wait until...

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Izturis starting again at shortstop, Rangers lineup

April 08, 2011, 12:41pm

Orioles

Izturis starting again at shortstop, Rangers lineup

Cesar Izturis will make his second consecutive start at shortstop tonight in place of J.J. Hardy, who's considered day-to-day with tightness below his left ribcage area. Izturis batted .105 in spring training, but he went 1-for-3 last night with an RBI and a walk. Here's the Rangers lineup: Kinsler 2B Andrus SS Hamilton LF Beltre 3B Young DH Cruz RF Napoli 1B Torrealba C Borbon CF Lewis RHP

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Waiting on Hardy (updated)

April 08, 2011, 11:38am

Orioles

The Orioles' lineup is posted, but the shortstop position is blank. It's still being determined whether J.J. Hardy is available. Update: Hardy is considered day-to-day. He's not starting tonight, but he's available if needed. It looks like he could avoid the disabled list. Here's the lineup so far: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Zach Britton LHP Also, Manny Ramirez has...

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Patton coming here, no move made so far (updated)

April 08, 2011, 10:26am

Orioles

Patton coming here, no move made so far (updated)

An Orioles official confirmed that left-hander Troy Patton will be added to the 25-man roster if the Orioles use the disabled list today. However, we might not have a game tonight because of the rain, which could keep Patton from being officially recalled from Triple-A Norfok. The Orioles would lose a bench player if shortstop J.J. Hardy goes on the disabled list with tightness in his left ribcage area. They need the extra arm in the bullpen because Josh Rupe and Jeremy Accardo aren't...

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Orioles taking the bad with the good

April 08, 2011, 4:41am

Orioles

What is it about a hard early-morning rain that makes you want to pull the covers over your head and stay in bed? It also makes teams play doubleheaders, which could happen tomorrow unless we end up with that proverbial "window" tonight that allows the Orioles to begin their three-game series with the undefeated Rangers. The Rangers are 6-0, the Orioles are 5-1. Let's take an early peek at that ALCS. J.J. Hardy might not be in the lineup after complaining of soreness in his lower left...

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More on Hardy and 9-5 win

April 07, 2011, 7:30pm

Orioles

Is it just me, or does it seem like every Orioles win is accompanied by a health crisis? The latest one came tonight. The Orioles rally to defeat the Tigers, 9-5, but shortstop J.J. Hardy is day-to-day after experiencing tightness in his lower left ribcage. "I was going to play through it - playing catch, doing everything, getting ready for the game," he said. "I wanted to put a little bit of Icy Hot on it, just to keep it warm. At that point, it got back to Buck (Showalter) that it was...

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Update on Hardy

April 07, 2011, 6:54pm

Orioles

Shortstop J.J. Hardy was scratched from the lineup because of tightness in his lower ribcage area. Hardy felt it while taking batting practice, and again while trying to hit in the indoor cage. Manager Buck Showalter found out at 6:50 p.m. and inserted Cesar Izturis into the lineup. "I didn't feel like it was worth the risk," Showalter said, adding that Hardy could have played later if needed. Showalter's initial concern was that Hardy injured his intercostal or oblique. Also, the...

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Jones delivers go-ahead run (updated)

April 07, 2011, 5:54pm

Orioles

Vladimir Guerrero tied the game, 5-5, in the bottom of the seventh with a single into right field off Tigers reliever Enrique Gonzalez that scored Brian Roberts and gave the Orioles' designated hitter two RBIs tonight. Third base coach John Russell sent Roberts, and right fielder Brennan Boesch's throw almost went into the Orioles dugout, allowing Guerrero to take second. Gonzalez walked Luke Scott intentionally to load the bases with one out, and Adam Jones hit a long sacrifice fly to...

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Missed opportunity in the fifth (not in sixth)

April 07, 2011, 4:59pm

Orioles

Missed opportunity in the fifth (not in sixth)

The Orioles had a chance to pull within one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they left runners on second and third. Third base coach John Russell held Cesar Izturis on Brian Roberts' one-out double into the right-field corner. Russell was more than halfway down the line before raising his arms and bringing Izturis to a halt. Fans booed the decision - and I thought Russell should have sent him - but replays showed that Izturis didn't run full speed until he rounded second base. It...

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Tillman can't clear the fifth

April 07, 2011, 4:42pm

Orioles

Alex Avila has struck again. Get this guy out of town. Avila homered and drove in five runs last night, and his solo homer tonight broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning. Keep in mind that Avila had one RBI before last night. A two-out double by Brennan Boesch scored Will Rhymes, who walked, and knocked Chris Tillman out of the game. Tillman threw 97 pitches, 59 for strikes, in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs and six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. His fastball stayed in that...

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Bullpen not being saved (updated)

April 07, 2011, 3:29pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter needs Chris Tillman to pitch deep into tonight's game and save his bullpen after Brad Bergesen's abbreviated start last night. So far, the plan isn't working. Tillman threw 32 pitches in the first inning, and the Tigers parlayed four singles into a 2-0 lead. Don Kelly bailed out Tillman by bouncing into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. The fourth single, by Victor Martinez, came on a ball that caromed off the out-of-town scoreboard in right. Will Rhymes,...

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Izturis replaces Hardy

April 07, 2011, 3:07pm

Orioles

We have another lineup change. Shortstop J.J. Hardy is a late scratch. Cesar Izturis will replace him and bat ninth. We're waiting for an explanation. Also, if tomorrow night's game is postponed because of rain, the Orioles would play a day-night doubleheader on Saturday. The Rangers don't return to Camden Yards, so the game would have to be made up during this homestand. The Orioles have an open date on their schedule Monday, but the Rangers are in Detroit.

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Scott added to lineup

April 07, 2011, 1:52pm

Orioles

Luke Scott took batting practice, ran and threw without any issues. His groin injury has improved to the point where he can play tonight. Scott moves to left field, and Felix Pie goes to the bench. Here's the new lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP

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Pregame Showalter

April 07, 2011, 12:51pm

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie said his fever spiked at 103 degrees over the weekend. "Just a tick below my fastball," he said. Glad to see he hasn't lost his sense of humor. Guthrie is playing catch again today and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. The Orioles will have to determine afterward whether he's able to make Sunday's start, because they would need time to bring up his replacement from Triple-A Norfolk. One option is to push back Guthrie until Tuesday in New York. An early...

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Quick hits and Tigers lineup

April 07, 2011, 12:25pm

Orioles

Luke Scott isn't in the lineup again tonight, but don't write it in ink. Manager Buck Showalter left open the possibility that Scott could replace Felix Pie in left field. It depends how Scott feels after batting practice. Showalter felt an obligation to post a lineup in fairness to his players, but he's ready to make the switch in left field if Scott is able to start. Also, Jeremy Guthrie will play catch again today and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. He's still a...

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Orioles lineups for Thursday vs. Tigers

April 07, 2011, 11:09am

Orioles

Here is the Orioles' lineup for tonight's 7:05 p.m. game, the finale of the first three-game series of the season at Camden Yards: For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP