Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Brian's song

Brian's song
Before closing my laptop for the final time tonight, I wanted to pass along some quotes from Brian Matusz following tonight's gem. You might recall that Matusz was 1-1 with a 10.95 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers before tonight. In two outings this year, both in Arlington, he pitched into the third inning in one and finished three in another. That's it. "It definitely felt good out there today, especially coming off two bad outings against Texas this year," he said. "I...
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Roch Kubatko

Tongue-Tyed

Tongue-Tyed
Ty Wigginton didn't want to elaborate on his altercation, if you want to describe it as such, with the Rangers' Andres Blanco. No sense inciting the players in the visiting clubhouse. We still have three more games left in this series. "The guy did a nice piece of hitting, got the ball in the gap and thought he was going to make a triple and we had a nice relay and he was out," Wigginton said. How big was the play? "There's nobody out and the guy hits the ball in the gap. You've got a...
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Roch Kubatko

Showalter time

Showalter time
Not only did the Orioles string together three straight starts of eight innings or more for the first time since May 2005, it's only the second time that the club has accomplished the feat in the 2000s. "I guarantee those guys in the clubhouse want to try to make it four," manager Buck Showalter said. "They're trying to pass the baton now and give us a chance to win. I think this time of year, to see guys getting a little stronger instead of going in the other direction is really...
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Temper, temper (& the first runs)

Temper, temper (& the first runs)
If you don't want to smack your head and hand on an infielder's leg, don't dive into the bag. That's why God gave you spikes. That's the popular opinion around here after the Rangers' Andres Blanco started jawing at Ty Wigginton, who knelt on his right knee to block the bag and apply the tag after taking Brian Roberts' relay throw in the sixth inning. Blanco had a leadoff double. He wanted a triple. Wigginton wouldn't give it to him. Blanco jumped to his feet after being called...
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Roch Kubatko

Matusz through four (w/Spoone update)

Matusz through four (w/Spoone update)
In his last start, Brian Matusz gave up five runs in the fourth inning. Four of them scored on Kelly Shoppach's grand slam. He was gone after 75 pitches. Matusz took a two-hit shutout into the fifth inning tonight, with one walk and five strikeouts. That's improvement. Matusz struck out two in the first, on his changeup and slider. He got another strikeout on his slider in the second, and another on his changeup to end the third. If only he could get some run support. Not that he's...
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Roch Kubatko

Fact-checking before first pitch (w/minor league notes)

Fact-checking before first pitch (w/minor league notes)
Did you know that the Orioles are 8-8 on Thursdays, their best record for any day of the week? They're 8-10 on Fridays, including 5-4 at home, so plan accordingly. Since May 12, Luke Scott has posted the fourth-best slugging percentage in baseball at .639. His .396 on-base percentage is sixth-best in the American League and ninth-best in the majors. His 1.034 OPS is fifth-best in baseball, one spot ahead of Albert Pujols (1.004). In Brian Matusz's 24 starts this year, the Orioles have...
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Showalter's philosophy on posting lineups

Showalter's philosophy on posting lineups
Not much to report from manager Buck Showalter's pre-game session with the media. He gave us thorough injury updates yesterday. We already brought up his reunion with the Rangers in this four-game series. "So, do you like...stuff?" We're still learning about Showalter, and it appears that he's not the type to post the next day's lineup early, as in immediately after the previous night's game. He might approach a player or send a coach to give a heads-up about a pending start, as he did...
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Roch Kubatko

Orioles lineup

Orioles 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
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Who's your MVO?

Who's your MVO?
I campaigned for reliever Jason Berken as first half Most Valuable Oriole, and you know what happened next. It's probably not a good idea to have me in your corner. It won't do much for your career or your health. A few reporters were standing around the clubhouse earlier this week nominating potential MVOs. Helps pass the time while waiting for manager Buck Showalter to begin his pre-game media session or for Rick VandenHurk to begin speaking in other languages. (While on the subject of...
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Roch Kubatko

Post-game Showalter

Post-game Showalter
After winning their first three series under manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles have now dropped two in a row. Matt Tuiasosopo homered in consecutive games in this series after hitting one in his first 30 games of the season. He knocked in seven runs in the last two games after collecting a grand total of two RBIs in his first 30 games. His diving catch of Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to end the eighth inning was the final dagger. "That was a good play. That was a major league play,"...
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Last chance? (yep)

Last chance? (yep)
The Orioles fought back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring once off reliever Jamey Wright and putting the tying run on second base with two outs. Adam Jones looked like he would score easily on Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to left, but Matt Tuiasosopo couldn't pass up another opportunity to torture the Orioles. He made a sensational diving catch - as good as it gets - to preserve a 6-5 lead. Wieters rounded first base, came to a stop and just tilted his head back. He couldn't believe...
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Desperately seeking a rally (found it)

Desperately seeking a rally (found it)
Which fan among you will be the first to rip the Orioles for letting David Pauley get away? I want this guy in my rotation. He could have owned this town - or at least this ballpark. The Orioles could have renamed the flagcourt "Pauley Pavilion." They could have sold "Pauley's Walnuts" instead of peanuts. You could have visited the Cracker Concession. If you were a senior citizen, you could have entered the ballpark for free on the nights he pitched. A Pauleygrip campaign,...
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Pitcher Pauley perfect

Pitcher Pauley perfect
Well, since the final batter of the first inning. David Pauley has retired 10 straight Orioles since hitting Adam Jones with one out in the first. Felix Pie bounced into a double play to end the inning, and Pauley has retired the side in order in the second, third and fourth. No joke. The Mariners increased their lead to 5-2 in the fifth. No. 9 hitter Josh Wilson led off the inning with a single and Ichiro Suzuki followed with an RBI double. He took third when Nick Markakis bobbled the ball,...
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That rundown feeling

That rundown feeling
The Orioles put runners on the corners with no outs in the first inning. Brian Roberts walked and stole second, and Nick Markakis singled. Instant rally against Mariners starter David Pauley. It also brought flashbacks to spring training 2009, but we touched on that subject this morning. Anyway, Ty Wigginton followed with a sharp grounder to third baseman Jose Lopez. Roberts broke for home, and Lopez fired a throw to catcher Adam Moore rather than conceding the run and trying to start a 5-4-3...
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Roch Kubatko

More random notes

More random notes
The Triple-A Norfolk box score from last night mistakenly credits Dennis Sarfate with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and one strikeout. It's actually two innings and two strikeouts. He started the eighth inning. A victory tonight would give the Orioles eight home wins in August, their highest total for any month this season. The Orioles are 1-8 in games that decide the winner of a three-game series, their only triumph coming May 13 vs. Seattle. Seattle starters have posted a 1.84 ERA in 17 games...
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What's next for J.J.?

What's next for J.J.?
Reliever Jim Johnson will continue his injury rehab assignment by pitching in back-to-back games for Double-A Bowie on Friday and Saturday. He'll work out the next two days and go back-to-back again with the Baysox on Aug. 24 and 25. Johnson, on the 60-day disabled list with a sore right elbow, is scheduled to throw one inning each on Friday and Saturday. Johnson has appeared in eight minor league games - four with the Gulf Coast League team, two with Single-A Frederick and one each with...
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Roch Kubatko

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Jeremy Guthrie RHP
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Does Koji's performance translate to 2011 role?

Does Koji's performance translate to 2011 role?
I brought up Koji Uehara's name yesterday during my conversation with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. As expected, the Orioles aren't ready to say whether they'll attempt to re-sign Uehara this winter at a significantly reduced rate. And Uehara hasn't confirmed whether he'll return to Japan or attempt to continue pitching in the majors. MacPhail didn't shoot down the idea of retaining Uehara, but he'll need to seek the opinion of his medical staff. The Orioles...
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Roch Kubatko

Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
The rain is a downer, and so is the realization that the Orioles were dominated last night by a pitcher named Luke French. Not familiar with him? Join the club. The Orioles still have that knack for making every new guy look like Cy Young. It's as much a tradition in Baltimore as John Denver's voice during the seventh inning stretch. In fact, if Denver could pitch against the Orioles tonight - and that would be quite the miracle - he'd probably toss seven scoreless innings. "Anytime...
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Post-game Showalter

Post-game Showalter
Jim Johnson threw two scoreless innings tonight at Single-A Frederick, allowing two hits and striking out one. He recorded three outs on ground balls and two on fly balls. The Orioles wasted another quality start from Kevin Millwood. They've scored 87 runs for him in his 24 outings (3.6 per game), and only 51 (2.1) while he's been on the mound. In his last 21 starts, the Orioles have scored 44 runs (2.1) while he's been in the game. Buck Showalter talks with the media after the O's 4-0...
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