Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Still talking Tillman (updated)

Still talking Tillman (updated)
I'm more interested in Chris Tillman's start for Triple-A Norfolk than the Orioles' poor showing against the Yankees at Camden Yards. The Gwinnett Braves have two baserunners through six innings, on a walk and Michael Aubrey's error at first base. Tillman has struck out four batters, including the last one he faced to end the sixth. He's thrown 71pitches, 42 for strikes. That's two quality starts in a row for Tillman, and another hot pitcher for the Tides. Keep 'em coming. Jeremy...
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Roch Kubatko

Checking on Tillman (update)

Checking on Tillman (update)
Chris Tillman has faced 12 batters tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. He's retired 12 batters. Tillman has two strikeouts along the way, and Norfolk leads Gwinnett, 1-0. Tillman has thrown 43 pitches, 26 for strikes. Is he pushing to make Saturday's start, too? Corey Patterson is starting in center field for the Tides. Joey Gathright has moved to left. Update: Tillman walked a batter in the fifth. Double-A Bowie twin brothers Paco and Daniel Figueroa were hit by pitches in the third inning....
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Roch Kubatko

Strange happenings in the first inning (updated)

Strange happenings in the first inning (updated)
Let's start with Derek Jeter's leadoff double, on a ball that bounced past first baseman Garrett Atkins and up the right field line. I counted 12 hops before it passed the bag. OK, not really, but I expected it to be retrieved by someone other than right fielder Nick Markakis. Nick Johnson followed with a single into left field, and the ball skipped past Lou Montanez for an error that allowed both runners to advance and gave New York a quick 1-0 lead. The miscue's importance grew when...
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Roch Kubatko

Tides tidbits

Tides tidbits
Chris Tillman is pitching tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and he's trying to turn in back-to-back quality starts. Tillman allowed three runs and seven hits in eight innings in his last outing against Charlotte, with no walks and five strikeouts. He threw 90 pitches, 62 for strikes. He's taking on Gwinnett tonight. Corey Patterson has joined Norfolk's roster after signing a minor league contract and reporting to extended spring training in Sarasota. Josh Bell has hit safely in eight of his...
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Roch Kubatko

Roberts' latest medical issue

Roberts' latest medical issue
I raced back down to the clubhouse to check on Brian Roberts, who hasn't been seen here all day, and realized he's gone. Roberts is scheduled to undergo an endoscopy tomorrow because of persistent gastrointestinal discomfort that has become the latest health crisis to strike the Orioles' leadoff hitter and second baseman. "He told me that he's had bad flu-like symptoms during the time that his back's been bothering him," manager Dave Trembley said. Roberts visited back specialist Dr....
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Roch Kubatko

Making room for two pitchers

Making room for two pitchers
The Orioles aren't committed to removing two pitchers from the 25-man roster when Saturday's starter, expected to be Brad Bergesen, and reliever Koji Uehara rejoin the club. They could slice off a position player, but that presents a separate issue. Who would go? Julio Lugo is the backup middle infielder. Sending down Lou Montanez would mean more starts in left for Nolan Reimold and Luke Scott and leave the Orioles short an outfielder - and a more mobile one in Montanez. They don't want...
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Roch Kubatko

Jones atop the order

Jones atop the order
Knowing that manager Dave Trembley usually despises lineup questions, I eased into one this afternoon concerning Adam Jones. Actually, it was the second question he fielded after we received an update on reliever Alfredo Simon's availability. But I did preface it by saying, "I know you hate lineup questions..." Well, here it comes. Why is Jones still batting first while mired in a slump that's lowered his average to .211 and raised his blood pressure? "I think he is our best option...
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Simon's availability tonight

Simon's availability tonight
Alfredo Simon says his arm feels good and he's available to pitch tonight. Now the ball is in manager Dave Trembley's court, so to speak. "We'll have to see how the game plays out tonight," Trembley said. "I'd like to see him play catch, see how he feels. I think we have to be cautious with him, using him a lot early because he has not been a reliever. He's been a starter and just recently has been pitching out of the bullpen. He pitched on Sunday, had a day off and pitched yesterday....
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Roch Kubatko

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Nolan Reimold DH Lou Montanez LF Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Yankees: Jeter SS Johnson DH Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Cano 2B Posada C Granderson CF Swisher RF Gardner LF Sabathia LHP
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Roch Kubatko

Two items to pass along

Two items to pass along
I wanted to share Double-A Bowie pitching coach Kennie Steenstra's observations of right-hander Koji Uehara, who tossed a scoreless first inning last night against Erie. "He looked good. He mixed his pitches well. Everything was down in the zone," Steenstra said. "I don't think he's going to blow the ball by anybody, but he knows how to change speeds and he knows how to locate, and when you know how to do those things, you're going to get a lot of people out." Uehara gets his...
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Roch Kubatko

A bullish bullpen

A bullish bullpen
In case you forgot or need to brush up on the terminology, it's called a "winning streak." Repeat those words out loud a few times and they will start to sound familiar. I kept saying "winnie steak" before I finally got the hang of it. I just caught the SportsCenter highlights from last night's game, including Cesar Izturis' miscue that prolonged the ninth inning. "That's Orioles baseball," exclaimed one of the network's anchors. At least he didn't say "The Oriole Way." That...
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Post-game chatter

Post-game chatter
The last time two Orioles recorded their first career saves in consecutive games was Mike Flanagan on May 7, 1977 and Scott McGregor on May 8, 1977. That puts Cla Meredith and Alfredo Simon in elite company. Manager Dave Trembley decided before the game that Simon would close tonight. "I've got nothing to lose," he said. "We're going to give guys opportunities and I'm going to try to slot guys back in the roles where they're best suited, not only for themselves but for the club. I've...
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Simon's first save

Simon's first save
Alfredo Simon was brought into tonight's game with a three-run lead and instructions to get the last three outs. Nothing to it. It's only the Yankees, and his first major league game since Tommy John surgery. Simon got a called third strike on Curtis Granderson. His fastballs were clocked at 96, 97 and 96 mph. Nick Swisher grounded a broken-bat single into center field. Four fastballs were clocked at 97 mph, another at 96. Nick Johnson worked the count to 3-1, taking some close pitches...
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More on Castillo (updated)

More on Castillo (updated)
Alberto Castillo struck out three more batters tonight, tying his career high, in only 1 2/3 innings. That's no runs, one hit and six strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings over three appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. The only hit was an infield single. He's been sensational. Manager Dave Trembley isn't using him as a situational lefty. He let Castillo pitch the entire seventh, which ended with Brett Gardner looking at a third strike. Jim Johnson is entering the game in the...
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Game update (updated three times)

Game update (updated three times)
Tonight's attendance: 20,536. The total for seven home dates is 146,182. Kevin Millwood didn't make it through six innings tonight, leaving the game with one out in the sixth and a runner on first base. He allowed two runs and five hits, walked three and struck out four, and left with his pitch count at 112 (69 strikes). That's not the profile of an innings eater, but he holds down opponents and gives the Orioles a chance to win. The bats just aren't cooperating again tonight. So much...
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Roch Kubatko

Trembley talks about first month (updated twice)

Trembley talks about first month (updated twice)
During his pre-game session with the media, manager Dave Trembley was asked how he's dealt with the club's terrible start. He didn't mince words. "If anybody tells you they deal with it like sweet tea, they're lying," he said. "It's been difficult, but there's certainly been an awful lot of games we could've won that we didn't. We didn't get outs when we needed to, we didn't hit when we could have and should have. But it's done and over with. That's how you deal with it, and...
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Koji's inning

Koji's inning
Koji Uehara isn't pitching in the majors, but he's getting closer. He's run to test his sore hamstring. He's thrown on flat ground. He's thrown in the bullpen. And tonight, he worked the top of the first inning for Double-A Bowie. Facing Erie at Prince George's Stadium, Uehara allowed a bloop single and nothing else. He struck out one and threw 11 of his 15 pitches for strikes. The two-out single came on a ball that fell between three Bowie players. Uehara also will pitch Thursday,...
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Atkins sits again

Atkins sits again
Orioles manager Dave Trembley explained to first baseman Garrett Atkins that he's going with the hot hand again tonight. That means Rhyne Hughes stays in the lineup and Atkins stays on the bench. "I gave it to him straight," Trembley said. "I've got a guy who came up from Triple-A and he's hotter than a firecracker. He's going to stay there as long as he hits." Could this turn into a platoon situation? "That depends how Hughes hits," Trembley replied. "That depends when Atkins...
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Roch Kubatko

Pre-game notes (quotes added)

Pre-game notes (quotes added)
Second baseman Brian Roberts still hasn't been cleared for baseball-related activities after back specialist Dr. Lee Riley examined him yesterday at Johns Hopkins. Manager Dave Trembley doesn't have one specific closer or set-up man. He's waiting for pitchers to step up and claim those roles. "I'm all for it," Trembley said. "That's what I told (Kam) Mickolio when I sent him out. I said, 'Hey, listen, what we've been trying in the bullpen has not worked. I've been giving it to just...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Rhyne Hughes 1B Nolan Reimold LF Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Yankees: Jeter SS Gardner LF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Cano 2B Posado C Granderson CF Swisher DH Winn RF Hughes RHP
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