Here is part of Andy MacPhail's opening statement:
"What we have currently in our franchise is we have a young core of players who are struggling and have taken a step backwards. They haven't been exposed to a winning-type environment. We for the last couple months have been trying to find somebody that has had some experience at creating that winning environment, that has been exposed to young rosters before and knows how to prepare young players to be as good as they can possibly be. We...
The press conference introducing Buck Showalter as manager lasted about 43 minutes and included a few unexpected quips. He often wears a serious look, but he also has a nice sense of humor.
O's officially announce the hiring of their new skipper Buck Showalter Part 1
I'll attach some quotes later, but I wanted to pass along a few points:
* Juan Samuel will remain in the organization in a special assignment role that will include checking out the Dominican facility. Gary Allenson will...
I'm loading up my car and heading back to Sykesville so I can change clothes and head to Baltimore for Buck Showalter's noon press conference at Camden Yards.
Sounds like a plan.
I've never dealt with Showalter, never had a single conversation with him, and have no idea how he interacts with the media. He's been one of us at ESPN, which could prove beneficial in establishing a relationship. Maybe he's developed more patience over the years.
I pointed out the obvious yesterday, that the...
Zach Britton lasted four innings tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, allowing four runs (two earned) and four hits, walking two, striking out two and throwing two wild pitches. He threw 74 pitches, 35 for strikes.
I wouldn't say he's kicking down the door right now, but a little defensive support would have been nice. More on that later.
The Tides and Indianapolis are tied, 6-6, in the eighth.
Robert Andino is batting cleanup tonight, which strikes me as odd. He's 1-for-3 with an RBI and two...
The Orioles squandered another scoring opportunity, putting runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth. Nick Markakis swung at the first pitch and bounced into a 1-6-3 double play.
Dagger.
I had to hold down my father so he didn't launch himself through the ceiling.
The first pitch? A tapper to the mound?
Go ahead and scream at the top of your lungs. It's OK.
Ty Wigginton walked to keep the rally alive, but second baseman Chris Getz made a diving stop of Luke Scott's...
The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning, but Julio Lugo struck out on a high fastball.
Alex Gordon immediately made them pay, leading off the bottom half of the inning with a home run.
The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth and knocked Bruce Chen from the game, but they only scored one run after Josh Bell grounded into a double play.
The Royals immediately made them pay, stringing together three consecutive singles with no outs in the bottom half of...
I didn't mean on this road trip.
Kevin Millwood gave up three runs and four hits in the first inning today, continuing that disturbing trend of being incredibly slow out of the gate. He's permitted at least two runs in the first inning in 11 of his last 12 starts.
The Orioles ignored my previous suggestion of using a reliever in the first and bringing in Millwood in the second.
Too desperate?
Millwood threw 28 pitches in the inning. Troy Patton is probably staring at the bullpen phone....
For the Orioles:
Julio Lugo 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie LF
Jake Fox C
Josh Bell 3B
Cesar Izturis SS
Kevin Millwood RHP
For the Royals:
Chris Getz 2B
Jason Kendall C
Billy Butler 1B
Jose Guillen DH
Wilson Betemit 3B
Alex Gordon LF
Mitch Maier RF
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Gregor Blanco CF
Bruce Chen LHP
The Orioles officially recalled left-hander Troy Patton from Triple-A Norfolk. He'll wear No. 40.
Patton was 7-9 with a 4.80 ERA in 20 starts with...
Brad Bergesen didn't get the win last night because Billy Butler hit a two-run homer off David Hernandez in the eighth inning.
Painful, yes, but not the same as taking a Butler line drive off your shin.
If you put it in perspective...well, never mind. It still hurts. It's just a different kind of hurt.
The Orioles need to avoid playing the Royals around the non-waiver trade deadline. Bad things happen.
Speaking of the deadline, yes, I'm aware that ESPN gives the Orioles a failing grade...
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...