Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

After 62 games...

After 62 games...
The Orioles fell to 17-45 after tonight's 3-1 loss to the Mets, a game that looked like so many others this season. They wasted a quality start because they didn't hit, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. And they didn't make a key play on defense that cost them a run. "When you're in a funk those things happen," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "It seems like you don't make the play and it costs you, When things are going right, you don't make the plays and it does not...
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Roch Kubatko

Quality start, bad feeling (w/update)

Quality start, bad feeling (w/update)
Brian Matusz held the Mets to two runs and four hits over his first seven innings. He didn't issue a walk. He retired 18 of the last 21 batters he faced. So why is Matusz staring at his seventh consecutive defeat? Julio Lugo couldn't turn a critical double play in the sixth as the tie-breaking run scored. And the Orioles didn't get the memo about Mets left-hander Hisanori Takahashi struggling badly in his last two starts and being on the verge of losing his spot in the rotation. Matusz...
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A few updates (w/update)

A few updates (w/update)
The reports of Mets pitcher Hisanori Takahashi being a slow worker weren't exaggerated. It's like watching Steve Trachsel on Quaaludes. Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" was playing over the PA system between innings, and a few of us started singing, "Taka Takahasi." Very mature, I know. We're still tied, 1-1, heading to the top of the fifth. The Orioles tried to play little ball to push across the go-ahead run in the third, with Corey Patterson laying down a sacrifice bunt after Cesar...
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Back, back, back... (updated)

Back, back, back... (updated)
Jose Reyes began tonight's game with the 15th leadoff home run of his career, and the first against the Orioles this season. Reyes drove a 91 mph fastball over the fence in left-center field to give the Mets an early lead. Brian Matusz has surrendered at least one home run in his last five starts. He gave up only two in his first eight starts. Corey Patterson tried to duplicate Reyes' at-bat, but he settled for a double off the out-of-town scoreboard in right. He also climbed up the back...
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Simon's on his way (updated)

Simon's on his way (updated)
Alfredo Simon is expected to arrive in Baltimore later today after rehabbing his injured left hamstring in Sarasota. Simon could throw a simulated game tomorrow if pitching coach Rick Kranitz wants to see him face left-handers and right-handers. But he isn't dealing with an arm injury, so the Orioles might decide to skip it. Interim manager Juan Samuel isn't sure whether Simon will come off the disabled list Monday. The club would have to make a corresponding roster move. Koji Uehara is...
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Tejada to short? Again, no

Tejada to short? Again, no
I guess it's worth repeating. Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked after last night's game whether he's given any thought to moving Miguel Tejada to short. Samuel is giving the same answer we've been hearing, from the front office and former manager Dave Trembley, since the winter. "It never crossed my mind," he said. OK, that's not the exact same answer, but the message is a duplicate. Tejada will not be replacing Cesar Izturis. That wasn't part of the equation when they signed...
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Wrapping it up

Wrapping it up
The Orioles collected 11 hits tonight and scored one run. That won't win you many games. "Tonight, we faced a very tough, a different type of knuckleball," interim manager Juan Samuel said, referring to Mets starter R.A. Dickey. "It was a little bit unusual to see a knuckleball with that kind of velocity. We had a situation where we could have scored some runs there, loaded the bases, and I think he added a little velocity to that knuckleball and made it tough for our hitters. "We got...
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Caps and Bergy

Caps and Bergy
Let's get the important stuff out of the way first: The O's/Ravens caps will be handed out tomorrow night, as I wrote earlier. Trust me on this one. OK, now about Brad Bergesen... I wrote earlier today that interim manager Juan Samuel wanted to get Bergesen into a game because it had been too long, but he didn't want to use the right-hander in the late innings. Things do change quickly around here. That was Bergesen on the mound in the eighth, giving up a run that increased the Mets'...
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Golden grab (updated twice)

Golden grab (updated twice)
Jeremy Guthrie gave up a run in the top of the first inning on a leadoff double by Jose Reyes and one-out single by David Wright. The damage would have increased if not for a spectacular diving catch by Adam Jones in left-center field that robbed Jason Bay. Wright would have scored easily. Bay might have joined him if the ball got past Jones. My second-favorite moment of the game: Tejada making a nice stop on Tejada's grounder in the hole, but Tejada's late throw allows Tejada to reach...
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Samuel says...

Samuel says...
I told you earlier that interim manager Juan Samuel will give the ball to David Hernandez tonight if he's confronted with another save situation. Here's more from Samuel: "Of course, of course. Stay with the hot hand," Samuel said. "He showed some poise last night. He came right after those hitters. Hopefully, if we're in the same situation tonight, he'll be the guy. "It's not an easy role. We're talking about a very young guy thrown in the fire. To me, he showed last night that he...
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Quick managerial update

Quick managerial update
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has interviewed two candidates this week for the full-time managerial job: Eric Wedge and Bobby Valentine. He hasn't lined up a third interview. The next one most likely will wait until the Orioles return from next week's interleague excursion in San Francisco and San Diego. MacPhail is making the trip, and it doesn't appear that he'll meet with the next candidate until returning to Baltimore. MacPhail won't discuss specifics of the...
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Injury updates

Injury updates
Second baseman Brian Roberts received an epidural injection in his lower back in St. Petersburg, his third since reporting to spring training, and will be shut down until undergoing a follow-up examination on Tuesday. Michael Gonzalez threw one inning today in an extended spring training game, which amounted to only seven pitches, and his velocity increased slightly. We're told that his fastball was clocked at 87 mph after topping out at 85 mph during his previous trip to the...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Scott Moore 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Mets: Reyes SS Pagan CF Wright 3B Davis 1B Bay LF Carter DH Barajas C Francoeur RF Tejada 2B Dickey RHP
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Updating Reimold's first base experiment

Updating Reimold's first base experiment
The Orioles intended to use Nolan Reimold's demotion to Triple-A Norfolk as an opportunity for him to grow comfortable at first base. They wanted him to get hot at the plate and acclimated to a new position - baseball's version of multi-tasking - so they could occasionally quiet his barking Achilles by removing him from the outfield. Reimold has made three starts at first base, none since May 30 against Pawtucket. He's been playing left field (including the last five games) or serving as...
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'Pen for your thoughts

'Pen for your thoughts
It wasn't too long ago that we were fretting over David Hernandez's tendency to walk batters and give up home runs. Now he's looking like a potential closer. I see no reason to hang that label on him, or anyone else, as I've pointed out. Hernandez doesn't have to be the automatic choice in the ninth inning. Alfredo Simon doesn't have to be the automatic choice in the ninth inning. Go with the hot hand - or the more rested arm. Interim manager Juan Samuel has indicated that Simon will...
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Juan for all & all for Juan

Juan for all & all for Juan
Interim manager Juan Samuel let Jake Arrieta pitch out of a sixth-inning jam, in part because he was responsible for putting the rookie in it by ordering two intentional walks. "It never crossed my mind, getting him out of there," Samuel said. "I'm like, he's going to work his way out of this, so it never crossed my mind taking him out. "I think you saw him pump his fist after getting that third out. He was pretty excited. I know it was a tough situation. We walked some hitters for him,...
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Beginning and ending with heat

Beginning and ending with heat
David Hernandez got his first shot at closing tonight, and his first pitch was a 96 mph fastball. Jake Arrieta threw serious heat at the Yankees in the first inning, and Hernandez did the same in the ninth. Marcus Thames took a big cut and flied to the warning track in right. One pitch, one out, one scare. Hernandez walked No. 9 hitter Kevin Russo to put the tying run on base, but he got ahead of Derek Jeter with a 97 mph fastball and induced a harmless fly ball to right with a 96 mph...
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The decision (updated)

The decision (updated)
Your latest press box debate: Should Jake Arrieta have come out for the seventh inning? I agreed with another reporter that three runs over six innings, and 106 pitches, was more than sufficient for Arrieta's major league debut against the Yankees. Don't push him any further. A team employee sitting next to me wanted Arrieta to continue, at least until the rookie allowed a baserunner, and argued that two intentional walks in the sixth shouldn't be included in the pitch count. They're...
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Tell me Moore, tell me Moore (updated)

Tell me Moore, tell me Moore (updated)
Scott Moore just hit his first home run, driving a 1-0 pitch over the right-center field fence to tie the game, 3-3, in the fifth inning. The ball traveled 394 feet. Moore hadn't homered in the majors since April 8, 2008 against Texas' Jason Jennings. Jake Arrieta has retired nine of the last 10 batters he's faced. He walked Derek Jeter with two outs in the fifth, but struck out Nick Swisher on a slider. His fastball is still hitting 96 mph on the stadium gun. Arrieta has allowed three...
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More on Roberts and Arrieta (updated)

More on Roberts and Arrieta (updated)
Near the end of Brian Roberts' call-in segment on The Scott Garceau Show, he casually mentioned that he'll receive another "injection" in his lower back tomorrow in St. Petersburg, which I assume is an epidural, to calm the inflammation. That will be No. 3 by my count, though I might have lost track. Roberts concluded the interview by saying that he hoped to get in some games "toward the end of the year." Nothing about the first half of the season. Alex Rodriguez left tonight's...
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