Same old story

Same old story
Same old song and dance. The Orioles can't beat the Blue Jays. Doesn't matter who's pitching, who's hitting, where the game's being played. It's a mismatch and I've seen too much of it. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and realize this entire season has been a bad dream. Jose Bautista doesn't really have 30 home runs, and the Orioles' No. 1 starter acquired during the winter meetings, right-hander Kevin Millwood, isn't really 2-10 with a 5.96 ERA. I have no idea who's taking a shower,...
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The missing O's

The missing O's
The Orioles' lineup is missing Brian Roberts, who's taking a break from the artificial surface at Rogers Centre, and Ty Wigginton, who's serving the final game of his suspension. Roberts is 5-for-10 lifetime against Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero. Wigginton is 5-for-14 with two doubles. Not the best timing. Matt Wieters homered twice last night and Luke Scott also went deep. They're a combined 2-for-19 against Romero, though Scott has homered once off him. In Romero's last start...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: 2B Julio Lugo 3B Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis DH Luke Scott CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters LF Felix Pie 1B Jake Fox SS Cesar Izturis RHP Kevin Millwood For the Blue Jays: LF Fred Lewis SS Yunel Escobar RF Jose Bautista CF Vernon Wells DH Adam Lind 2B Aaron Hill 1B Lyle Overbay C John Buck 3B Edwin Encarnacion LHP Ricky Romero Brian Roberts is receiving a scheduled night off.
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Britton still rolling with the Tides

Britton still rolling with the Tides
Left-hander Zach Britton is still listed as Triple-A Norfolk's starter for tonight's game at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Speculation has been building that Britton could replace Brad Bergesen in the Orioles' rotation this weekend, though he'd be working on short rest by taking the mound tonight. Bergesen is scheduled to start Saturday in Kansas City. For Britton to take Bergesen's turn, he'd have to treat tonight's start like a side session and leave the game after an inning or two. In his...
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What's next for Bergy? (w/additional thought)

What's next for Bergy? (w/additional thought)
I wouldn't dare take credit for Matt Wieters' two homers last night, but I'm going to drop Buster Posey's name on him before every game. It's too bad that Madison Bumgarner didn't have the same effect on Brad Bergesen. The All-Star break didn't last long enough for Bergesen, who has allowed 17 earned runs and 28 hits in 16 1/3 innings since play resumed. He's lost five consecutive starts and hasn't won since May 12. Zach Britton is scheduled to start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk....
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Something to see here

Something to see here
Matt Wieters has homered twice tonight, and Luke Scott homered again because I'm pretty sure a law has been passed requiring it. The Orioles have cut Toronto's lead to 8-5 in the eighth. They could have rolled over, like I did, but they're trying to fight back. Not to pick on Jake Fox, who struck out with the bases loaded to kill that fourth-inning rally, but why is he trying to stretch a single into a double in the eighth with the Orioles down by three runs? Fox was thrown out at...
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It never fails (updated)

It never fails (updated)
The Orioles loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning and didn't score. The Blue Jays scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Going back to the title of this entry: It...never...fails. Jake Fox struck out to kill the Orioles' rally, flailing at another pitch out of the strike zone and leaving them behind, 1-0. Jose Bautista led off the bottom half with a double and scored on Adam Lind's one-out double. Aaron Hill launched a two-run homer to center field on Brad Bergesen's...
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Jays lineup and pre-game notes

Jays lineup and pre-game notes
Bad news for MASN's Amber Theoharis. Due to the Canadian exchange rate, she's only in her first trimester. Here's the Blue Jays lineup: LF FRED LEWIS SS YUNEL ESCOBAR RF JOSE BAUTISTA CF VERNON WELLS DH ADAM LIND 2B AARON HILL 1B LYLE OVERABY 3B EDWIN ENCARNACION C JOSE MOLINA P BRANDON MORROW Hope you enjoyed the caps. I wasn't yelling at you. That's just how I received it in an e-mail and I did a cut-and-paste. The Blue Jays lead the season series 9-0 and have outscored the...
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Wiggy's suspension reduced

Wiggy's suspension reduced
Ty Wigginton's three-game suspension has been reduced to two games, and he'll begin serving it tonight. Here's the Orioles lineup, minus its usual first baseman: Brian Roberts 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Jake Fox 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP The Orioles are down to a two-man bench with Corey Patterson and Julio Lugo.
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Luke Scott honored as AL Player of the Week

Luke Scott honored as AL Player of the Week
Luke Scott was named the American League's Player of the Week. Scott, who was activated from the disabled list at the start of the week, led the league with four home runs and batted .481 (13-for-27). He finished second in the league with a 1.037 slugging percentage and added three doubles, eight RBIs and six runs scored. Scott hit safely in each of his seven games during the week and recorded five multi-hit games. Scott has raised his average to .296 with 16 homers and 38 RBIs. He's...
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The kids aren't all right (updated)

The kids aren't all right (updated)
The Orioles boarded their charter last night for Toronto without backup catcher Craig Tatum, who was optioned yesterday morning. His removal from the 25-man roster drew the ire of many fans who didn't think he deserved it. I totally understand Tatum's frustration, but I do find it interesting that he's got so many supporters now after fans were livid that the Orioles kept him over Chad Moeller. The same young pitchers who rushed to Tatum's defense yesterday were bummed that he beat out...
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Another homestand ends

Another homestand ends
So does the good vibe from that four-game sweep in Texas. The Orioles went 2-8 on this homestand and were outscored 64-30. As I wrote earlier, the starter's ERA rises to 10.10 when you remove Jeremy Guthrie's two outings. "The bottom line for me is we've just got to make pitches when we need to," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "You're not going to get by pitching up in the zone. As a result, we have games like we just saw, balls flying out of the ballpark. We just need to get better...
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Arrieta's done (updated)

Arrieta's done (updated)
Remove Jeremy Guthrie's two outings on this homestand, and Oriole starters have allowed 41 earned runs and 54 hits in 36 1/3 innings for a 10.10 ERA. Jake Arrieta contributed to the ugliness today by allowing five runs and seven hits in four innings, with four walks and no strikeouts. He hit a batter and served up Jason Kubel's grand slam. Interim manager Juan Samuel removed Arrieta after 87 pitches (51 for strikes). Arrieta faced 23 batters, and 13 reached - including Delmon Young on...
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Jake's high wire act (update)

Jake's high wire act (update)
The Twins haven't scored a run off Jake Arrieta over the first two innings. It's not from a lack of effort. Arrita gave up a single to Alexi Casilla and walked Jim Thome in the first, but Michael Cuddyer grounded out to end the inning. Jason Kubel singled to lead off the second, but Danny Valencia grounded into a double play. Nick Punto walked with two outs, but Drew Butera flied to left. Arrieta has thrown 33 pitches. The shutout is still alive. It might have gone unnoticed, but...
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Samuel talks about roster move

Samuel talks about roster move
Interim manager Juan Samuel admitted that today's roster move wasn't an easy one. He didn't want to lose Craig Tatum, but the club knew that Jake Fox would get claimed on waivers and it couldn't go with a seven-man bullpen. "Tatum has done a good job for us handling the pitching staff, and he's been great in that clubhouse," Samuel said. "He's probably done a lot better than what we anticipated coming out of spring training. He's come up with some big, big hits, and handling the...
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Tatum optioned

Tatum optioned
The good news for Craig Tatum is he avoided the disabled list. The bad news is he couldn't avoid the minors. The Orioles optioned Tatum to Triple-A Norfolk this morning to make room for Matt Wieters. Tatum, who's batting .271 in 32 games, met with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and interim manager Juan Samuel. "They just said, 'Go down to Norfolk and we'll see when we can get you back,'" Tatum said. "Andy told me it wasn't from a lack of production or anything like...
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Today's lineups (w/roster update)

Today's lineups (w/roster update)
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott 1B Ty Wigginton DH Felix Pie CF Matt Wieters C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Twins: Repko CF Casilla 2B Young LF Thome DH Cuddyer 1B Kubel RF Valencia 3B Punto SS Butera C Slowey RHP Interim manager Juan Samuel just called Craig Tatum into his office after he spoke with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.
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Tatum says hand is fine

Tatum says hand is fine
Craig Tatum has his right hand wrapped in ice, but he swung a bat and did some throwing earlier this morning and hopes to avoid a trip to the disabled list. Tatum was hit by a foul tip last night and left the game. "It's fine," he said. "It feels good. I threw and hit and it didn't really hurt. The swelling just disappeared overnight. It was really swollen last night, and I woke up this morning and it's gone. "It's still sore, but not too bad." The Orioles need to clear room on...
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Quick Tatum update

Quick Tatum update
X-rays taken on catcher Craig Tatum's right hand came back negative. He's dealing with a bruise, but nothing more serious at the moment. The club will check on him tomorrow before deciding whether he needs to go on the disabled list. If he does, Matt Wieters will take his place on the 25-man roster. Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters that the swelling has gone down in Tatum's hand.
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Tatum injured (w/2 updates)

Tatum injured (w/2 updates)
Catcher Craig Tatum left the game in the seventh inning after taking a foul tip off his right hand. Jake Fox has replaced him with two outs and Jason Berken on the mound. Berken's pitch glanced off Jason Repko's bat and caught Tatum in the hand. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells rushed onto the field, and Tatum accompanied him into the clubhouse. Matt Wieters comes off the disabled list tomorrow and the Orioles need to decide whether to eliminate Tatum or Fox from the 25-man roster....
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