No wonder I didn't recognize the two teams playing as I walked past the bar television at Fresco's. Those throwback uniforms threw me.
On the ride home, I received a text message that said, "Snakebit!!" I assumed that the Orioles no longer held that 3-2 lead.
Sure enough, I got back to my parents' house in time to watch the top of the ninth - fast game - and get the recap.
In an attempt to find the silver lining, I'll point out that Brad Bergesen held the Royals to two runs over seven...
The Royals traded Rick Ankiel to the Braves, so you can scratch him from tonight's lineup. Here's the new one:
Getz 2B
Kendall C
Butler 1B
Guillen DH
Gordon LF
Aviles 3B
Maier CF
Bloomquist RF
Betancourt SS
Greinke RHP
Rick VandenHurk is the fifth Netherlands-born player to appear in the majors since 1900. He'll have to wait to make his Orioles debut, since he's been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Josh Bell was added to the Orioles' roster tonight.
Scott Moore takes Bell's place on...
The Orioles will assign newly acquired right-hander Rick VandenHurk to Triple-A Norfolk. They're expected to recall left-hander Troy Patton and use him in long relief, but discussions are ongoing.
Mark Hendrickson could be used in a shorter role, since Will Ohman served primarily as a specialist. But the Orioles need depth at long relief because their starters have been exiting games early.
The Orioles asked for VandenHurk earlier today and were turned down. The couldn't reach agreement on...
I've just gotten confirmation that the Orioles traded Will Ohman to the Florida Marlins. Nothing else to report at the moment, but the Orioles have swung their second trade in three days.
Update: The Orioles receive right-hander Rick VandenHurk.
So much for "unlikely."
Luke Scott and Ty Wigginton remain in the organization, but the Orioles have dealt their left-handed specialist, whose 51 appearances without a decision are a club record.
Here are the lineups:
For the Orioles:
Brian...
Update: I just got off the phone with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who said it's "unlikely" that the Orioles will make a trade today.
"At this point, I would believe not," he said.
I'll check back with him later this afternoon.
Now, back to your original entry, already in progress:
The 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline is bearing down on us, and I passed up a chance to accompany my parents and the birthday girl to the beach this morning because I need to make phone...
Jason Berken gave up the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and stands to be the loser if the Orioles don't rally.
Update: Berken's off the hook. Ty Wigginton doubled to tie the game in the eighth, and he scored on Wilson Betemit's error to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead.
Berken was making his first appearance since July 24, and his second since July 21, as interim manager Juan Samuel tries to ease up on him. After carrying a heavy workload in the first half, Berken has allowed seven runs and...
Apparently, it's longer than the one Brian Matusz wore last night.
Interim manager Juan Samuel indicated before the game that he'll stick with Arrieta if the rookie right-hander encounters some early-inning trouble. No quick hooks here. That's probably a good idea, considering that Samuel went to his bullpen in the fourth inning last night.
Arrieta received a visit from pitching coach Rick Kranitz in the first inning, and a lecture in the dugout while the Orioles were batting in the top of...
For the Orioles:
Brian Roberts 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie LF
Matt Wieters C
Corey Patterson DH
Cesar Izturis SS
Jake Arrieta RHP
For the Royals:
Chris Getz 2B
Jason Kendall C
Billy Butler 1B
Jose Guillen DH
Rick Ankiel CF
Wilson Betemit 3B
Alex Gordon LF
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Mitch Maier RF
Sean O'Sullivan RHP
I made it to Ocean Pines without having to pull off the road and blog about a trade.
I won't bother to ask president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail whether he's close to making another deal. One phone call changes everything, and I'd need to sit next to him all day to make sure his original answer holds up.
He hasn't extended the invitation.
We've figured out that Josh Bell is the primary replacement for Miguel Tejada at third base, but who becomes the No. 2 hitter?
Nick...
A few observations before I load up my car for another weekend trip to Ocean Pines, where my family will be celebrating my sister's birthday.
That would be my older sister.
My opinion of the Miguel Tejada trade? The Orioles weren't going to get much for him and they ended up with a Double-A power arm, belonging to Wynn Pelzer, who was ranked the seventh-best prospect in the Padres' organization by Baseball America. They could have done a lot worse.
Not a ringing endorsement, but that's...
Interim manager Juan Samuel isn't playing around. His days in charge are numbered, but he's still calling the shots.
Samuel removed Brian Matusz tonight after 3 1/3 innings. Matusz took a no-hitter into the fourth, walked three of the first four batters he faced, and eventually was charged with five runs.
Only two runs had crossed while Matusz was on the mound. The rest came home with Mark Hendrickson pitching.
MASN's cameras caught Matusz and pitching coach Rick Kranitz heading down the...
Well, not really, but the Oriole lead, 3-0, in the third inning after manufacturing two runs and getting another on Nick Markakis' homer.
Or maybe the Orioles are trying to win one for Juan!
Brian Roberts doubled to lead off the first inning, took third on Nick Markakis ground ball and scored on Ty Wigginton's fly ball.
Orioles 1, Royals 0.
Felix Pie singled with one out in the second, moved up on a wild pitch, held as Matt Wieters walked, moved up again on another wild pitch, held on...
The Orioles announced that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Wynn Pelzer from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Miguel Tejada and cash.
Pelzer, 24, is 26-23 with a 3.83 ERA and has 330 strikeouts in 79 games (68 starts) over three minor league seasons. The right-hander is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA (94 1/3 IP, 44ER) and 83 strikeouts in 22 games (18 starts) for the Double-A San Antonio Missions this year.
In 2009 with Single-A Lake Elsinore, Pelzer went 11-8 with a 3.94 ERA...
The Orioles removed third baseman Miguel Tejada from tonight's lineup because they're close to completing a trade for him.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he couldn't confirm anything yet and a deal hasn't been finalized, but we're free to speculate on why Tejada was scratched.
Yes, it involves a pending trade.
An announcement could come within the next hour or two.
The Sun is reporting that Tejada has been dealt to the San Diego Padres, and I just talked to...
Miguel Tejada was just pulled from the lineup, leading to speculation that he might have been traded. We're scrambling to get more information.
Here's the new lineup:
Brian Roberts 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie LF
Matt Wieters C
Corey Patterson DH
Cesar Izturis SS
Brian Matusz LHP
For the Royals:
Willie Bloomquist RF
Jason Kendall C
Billy Butler 1B
Jose Guillen DH
Wilson Betemit 3B
Mike Aviles 2B
Rick Ankiel CF
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Alex Gordon...
The Orioles will introduce Buck Showalter as manager on Monday at a noon press conference at Camden Yards, when he officially takes over the club.
"Buck Showalter's proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the Orioles and we are thrilled to add a two-time Manager of the Year to our organization" president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a statement. "We believe Buck's extensive experience and expertise will be a major benefit to us as we look towards a...
Finally, the headline everyone was waiting to read.
ESPN's Tim Kurkjian reports that the Orioles reached agreement with Buck Showalter to take over as manager on Tuesday, when the Orioles begin their next homestand.
Interesting timing that president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail had to take another call earlier today just as I asked him about the managerial situation. Could Showalter have been on the other end?
Update: A team official confirmed the hiring, and the Orioles are...
The Orioles continue to engage in "active discussions" with other teams as the 4:00 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline approaches on Saturday, according to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, but nothing appears close to transpiring.
No deals are on the immediate horizon. It's obvious that teams are chasing impact pitchers and position players, and the Orioles represent a fallback option. What happens with the Orioles depends largely on what happens around them.
That doesn't...
If it makes you feel any better, the Orioles don't play Toronto again until Sept. 13.
They should be good and mad at the Jays. Hold 'em back or this could get ugly.
They also have three more games at Rogers Centre beginning Sept. 24. Oh, I bet they'll be steamed like a bushel of crabs. Prepare for baseball's No. 1 rivalry. It'll make Yankees-Red Sox look like a PTA meeting.
(So who ordered the French toast with a side of sarcasm? And anyone need a refill on their coffee?)
Scooter gave...
Jeremy Guthrie turned in his third consecutive quality start, but he has no shot at winning this game.
The offense bailed on him again, finding it impossible to catch up to Brad Mills' mid-80s heater and sweeping curveball.
Looked like slop to me, but what do I know?
The Orioles managed only two hits in seven innings - Brian Roberts' leadoff single in the first and Jake Fox's two-out single in the seventh. They were impatient early on, making it easy for Mills, and stranded three runners...