Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Your afternoon fact snack

Your afternoon fact snack
It's even less fattening than rice cakes. Too bad it doesn't come in cheddar flavor. Nationals closer Matt Capps has been named Major League Baseball's "Delivery Man of the Month" for April after going 10-for-10 in save opportunities. My concern is that Mike Gonzalez will actually become a delivery man if he doesn't stay healthy and start getting guys out. We're told that Gonzalez is pain-free and engaged in a throwing progression program in Sarasota. Once he returns, and we could be...
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Roch Kubatko

Tillman honored - of course

Tillman honored - of course
Is anyone surprised that Triple-A Norfolk's Chris Tillman was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week? That usually happens after you've thrown a no-hitter, as Tillman did on Wednesday to defeat Gwinnett. Tillman, the new Prince of the Tides, starts again tonight after limiting Gwinnett to one walk and making minor league history. Another batter reached on an error in Norfolk's 6-0 win. It was Tillman's first career complete game, and Norfolk's first nine-inning no-hitter...
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Roch Kubatko

Guthrie vs. Girardi II

Guthrie vs. Girardi II
It's raining here, it's raining in New York. Please give me some baseball weather while this team's on a roll. Do you think Jeremy Guthrie and Joe Girardi will talk around the batting cage today? Maybe shake hands, share a man-hug? Guthrie has hit more Yankees than any other team in his career. They fall like ducks at a shooting gallery. He drilled two in spring training, including Mark Teixeira, and nailed Jorge Posada in the ankle in his last start. Posada left the game. Girardi...
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Roch Kubatko

Down on the farm

Down on the farm
I'm watching Family Guy and cleaning up from the spaghetti dinner I prepared for my little one, but there's always time to check on the affiliates. Triple-A Norfolk's Brandon Erbe turned in his finest outing of the season, allowing one run and three hits over six innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He walked three and struck out a season-high six. Too bad the Tides managed only three hits and lost. I told you earlier that Koji Uehara registered a scoreless inning, allowing one hit on...
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Roch Kubatko

Trembley had a hunch

Trembley had a hunch
Manager Dave Trembley knew the Orioles were going to win today. We'll have to take his word for it, since he didn't write it down earlier or record his thoughts. "Sometimes, you come to the ballpark and you don't know what you're going to get," he said after a 3-2, 10-inning victory over Boston. "Today, when I walked through the clubhouse, I felt like we were going to win. I really felt like we were going to win. And I like what I saw today out there." Dave Trembley talks with the...
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Roch Kubatko

You like apples?

You like apples?
How do you like them apples? Ty Wigginton wasn't bunting in the 10th inning. Nick Markakis walked to conclude an outstanding at-bat and took second on an errant pickoff throw from Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon, and Wigginton kept swinging and kept fouling off pitches until he lined a double into left-center field to give the Orioles a 3-2 victory. That's an unearned run, if you're scoring at home. The Orioles have swept the Red Sox in a home three-game series for the first time since...
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Roch Kubatko

Second-guessing one side

Second-guessing one side
Here we go again. Everyone in the press box expected manager Dave Trembley to bring Matt Albers into the game with two outs, a runner on first and Adrian Beltre stepping to the plate in the top of the ninth. I said, "Let Will Ohman pitch. Stop passing the baton." But I'm not sure I really believed it. I just wanted to be the contrarian. I do know that Ohman has retired a few righties in his day - including Mike Lowell, who struck out after J.D. Drew's leadoff single. Trembley stepped...
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Roch Kubatko

Second-guessing both sides (update)

Second-guessing both sides (update)
Each game brings another friendly debate in the press box. That's part of the fun. Did manager Dave Trembley stay too long with Kevin Millwood? I say no. Should a right-hander have been warming in the bullpen alongside lefty Will Ohman? I say yes. Millwood gave up a two-out single to Dustin Pedroia that could have given Boston the lead - except Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn't pinch-run for catcher Jason Varitek, who would lose a race to a snail, though it might bring a photo...
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Roch Kubatko

Luke what's happened to Scott

Luke what's happened to Scott
Today's attendance: 34,255. I remember going on O's Xtra last summer and proclaiming Luke Scott the Orioles' first-half MVP. No question in my mind. So what the heck happened? Am I a distant relative of the SI cover? Scott has bounced to the mound and struck out twice today against Red Sox starter Josh Beckett. His average is down to .189, with a .268 on-base percentage and .378 slugging percentage. Here's the real concern: Scott is batting .203 (59-for-290) since the All-Star break....
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Roch Kubatko

Heads-up play

Heads-up play
The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning, but Luke Scott struck out on three pitches and Nolan Reimold bounced to third. We've seen this act before. Turns out, the rally didn't go to waste. Adrian Beltre fielded the ball and looked to tag Ty Wigginton and possibly throw to first, but Wiggy slammed on the brakes. Beltre froze up and eventually took the out at third, after much internal deliberation, as NicK Markakis scored. I was waiting for Beltre to call time and use...
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Trembley gets Wiggy with it.

Trembley gets Wiggy with it.
Manager Dave Trembley was prepared to live without Brian Roberts as his second baseman once president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told him "it was no longer days, it was going to be weeks." That meant finding a new second baseman and leadoff hitter. Just not the same person. Ty Wigginton remains at second, and there's no reason to move him, considering he began today batting .324 with eight homers, 14 RBIs and a .721 slugging percentage. And Trembley seems intent on keeping Adam...
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Roch Kubatko

Going Gonzo (and new Red Sox lineup)

Going Gonzo (and new Red Sox lineup)
Orioles reliever Mike Gonzalez began his throwing progression program yesterday in Sarasota by playing catch from 60 feet. Gonzalez will increase the distance to 90 and 120 feet before moving to the bullpen. If his arm holds up, he'll eventually throw batting practice. We're probably looking at three weeks for Gonzalez to get through this stretch. And he'll have to go on an injury rehab assignment in the minors. Shameless plug alert: I'm appearing on O's Xtra today, and I did an...
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Nothing's changed on Roberts

Nothing's changed on Roberts
Brian Roberts still doesn't have a timetable for beginning baseball activities and returning to the lineup. The discomfort in his lower back has subsided considerably and he remains convinced that he'll play this season, but he can't even provide an approximate date. "We're just continuing to do some physical therapy," he said. "Other than that, we're just waiting for it to get better.' Roberts said it's conceivable that he could miss the first half of the season. "I wish I could...
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Roch Kubatko

Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Nolan Reimold LF Rhyne Hughes 1B Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Red Sox: Scutaro SS Pedroia 2B Drew RF Youkilis 1B Ortiz DH Lowell 3B Varitek C McDonald LF Van Every CF Beckett RHP
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Roch Kubatko

O's 12 - Boston 9: Post-game Trembley

O's 12 - Boston 9: Post-game Trembley
Opening statement: "I was talking to Bergesen before I came in and he said that was the ugliest win he's ever got, but it felt the best that he's ever felt, so he'll take it. Putting a zero up in the fifth was the key for him. Obviously, a lot of fight in our team tonight. Offensively, got some big hits and a comeback win." Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 12-9 win over the Red Sox On crucial play by Miguel Tejada to end the fifth: "The play of the game that turned it...
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Roch Kubatko

Down on the farm

Down on the farm
Matt Hobgood allowed one run and four hits in six innings tonight for Single-A Delmarva, lowering his ERA to 3.90. He walked three and struck out four. Troy Patton allowed one run and five hits in seven innings at Triple-A Norfolk, walking none and striking out four. He threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes. Robbie Widlansky hit his first home run tonight for Double-A Bowie. Pasadena native Chorye Spoone allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits in four innings. He walked two, struck out...
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Now I get it

Now I get it
Red Sox manager Terry Francona must have known what was coming if he went to his bullpen. I'll never doubt him again. The Orioles cracked Tim Wakefield's knuckler. They scored four runs off him in the sixth, the last three coming on Nick Markakis' shot onto the flag court in right. Ty Wigginton got the sixth-inning party started (did I already use that line?) with his second home run of the night. I keep checking the scoreboard to make sure my eyes aren't failing me. Orioles 11,...
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Is Ty MVP? (update)

Is Ty MVP? (update)
I guess Red Sox manager Terry Francona really wanted to get Dice-K through the fifth, no matter how much his starter looked like a guy in dire need of a cold drink and a warm hug. Francona's one heck of a manager, but hello? This is Matsuzaka's first start and he ran out of steam like a dry iron (OK, that's a reach.) Did somebody grease the top step of the visiting dugout? The Orioles have batted around, and hey, there's Francona breaking through the restraints and fighting his way to...
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Hughes adjusting to the bigs (updated)

Hughes adjusting to the bigs (updated)
I don't mind the Orioles running on the Red Sox's catchers. In fact, I encourage it wholeheartedly. But any chance it could be one of their more fleet-footed guys? Not so fast, Matt Wieters and Ty Wigginton. (See what I did there?) Take away the home runs, and Brad Bergesen is having a pretty good start. Boston 2, Orioles 1. Jonathan Van Every? To straightaway center? I probably would have picked van every other player in the Red Sox's lineup before I chose him. (See what...yes you...
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Another setback for Lebron (updated)

Another setback for Lebron (updated)
Minor league reliever Luis Lebron continues to experience pain in his right elbow, and he's scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews on May 10 in Birmingham, Ala. It isn't often that these examinations bring positive news. Lebron was shut down late in spring training after impressing manager Dave Trembley in major league camp. He started throwing again recently, but the discomfort resurfaced on Wednesday during a bullpen session in Sarasota. Lebron emerged as a future closer candidate after...
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