Trembley offers his view on the Hanley Ramirez controversy

Trembley offers his view on the Hanley Ramirez controversy
Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez took a verbal shot at manager Fredi Gonzalez yesterday that rocked Dave Trembley on his heels. Trembley considers Gonzalez a good friend, so it already had become a sensitive issue. And it also must have stung when Ramirez, venting to reporters after being removed from the game for not hustling, belittled Gonzalez for never playing in the majors. Trembley is one of eight managers who never played professionally at any level. Dave Trembley reacts to the drama...
Continue reading
Tags:

Hernandez ready to go

Hernandez ready to go
David Hernandez completed his bullpen session and didn't experience any discomfort in his right shoulder. He's set to face the Nationals Friday in D.C. "It went really good," he said. "I threw what I'd normally throw in any given side day. I had no pain, so that's good. I'm just going to keep doing treatment. Extra stretching is really key for it." Hernandez is convinced that skipping Sunday's start made all the difference in his recovery. "If I had started, I probably would have...
Continue reading
Tags:

Time of press conference: 28 minutes, 49 seconds

Time of press conference: 28 minutes, 49 seconds
Well, manager Dave Trembley sure made up for last night's abbreviated post-game session with the media. No real news came out of it. David Hernandez threw his bullpen session - I'll check on him once the clubhouse opens again to the media at 5:30 p.m. - and he's still scheduled to make his next start. Reliever Michael Gonzalez is still scheduled to throw one inning in Thursday's extended spring training game in Sarasota and will stay there a while longer before embarking on a minor league...
Continue reading
Tags:

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Royals: Podsednik LF Kendall C DeJesus RF Butler 1B Guillen DH Callaspo 3B Maier CF Betancourt SS Getz 2B Greinke RHP
Continue reading
Tags:

Laying one down and sitting down

Laying one down and sitting down
I'd be in a miserable mood this morning if the weather wasn't so nice. Oh wait... So, to make sure I've got this straight: Garrett Atkins should bunt with runners on first and second. Corey Patterson shouldn't bunt with runners on first and second. Here's my take: The second inning may seem too early to give up an out, but with Atkins scuffling and the Orioles desperately needing to manufacture runs, I'd have him bunting. The same goes for Patterson. Not because you want to take...
Continue reading
Tags:

Bergy bits

Bergy bits
Brad Bergesen didn't feel like he brought his best stuff into tonight's start. "It was a really a battle, but when I look back on it, it was really that one breaking ball to Billy Butler that was the one that sticks out," he said. "Kranny (Rick Kranitz) and (Matt) Wieters both came out there and told me, 'All 0-2 pitches, everything out of the zone.' And sure enough, first pitch, I try and get it down and I hung one right in the zone and he made me pay for it. I can't do that. That was...
Continue reading
Tags:

Ty talk

Ty talk
Ty Wigginton met with reporters at his locker after the game. Here are a few quotes to get you through the night: On Kyle Davies: "He made good pitches. I was underneath them. He's tough. He's got a nice little cutter and he did his job." On lost opportunities: "We definitely had the opportunities. Garrett (Atkins) had a great at-bat to start that ninth inning, Izzy (Cesar Izturis) gets down the bunt, Corey (Patterson) does his job, they walk Nick (Markakis) and it's up to me next. I...
Continue reading
Tags:

Time of press conference: 2 minutes, 10 seconds

Time of press conference: 2 minutes, 10 seconds
Manager Dave Trembley might have set a record tonight. Trembley made his usual opening statement and took three questions. Nothing else was coming. End of press conference. I've seen mound visits last longer. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 4-3 loss to the Royals "We're down by a run in the ninth and we've got ourselves in a position to win the game with the right guys up at the right time, and it didn't happen, and that's how the game ended," Trembley said....
Continue reading

The last gasp? (updated)

The last gasp? (updated)
Matt Wieters singled with one out in the eighth, putting the potential tying run on base. I expected Julio Lugo to run for him and try to steal a base. Instead, Wieters stayed in the game, Adam Jones grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and the Royals continued to hold a 4-3 lead. Any chance the Orioles rally against Joakim Soria in the ninth? Any chance they beat Zack Greinke tomorrow night? Jones was so frustrated, he fired his batting helmet down the right field line. I thought it was...
Continue reading
Tags:

No record tonight

No record tonight
Tonight's attendance: 9,299. That's not a record-low at Camden Yards. The Orioles-Rays drew 9,129 on April 12. Tonight's intimate gathering is the second-lowest, which should draw chants of "We're No. 2." (Careful. Just...careful.) As always, keep in mind we're talking about tickets sold, not fannies in the seats. No way we have that many people here unless they're all huddled in the bathrooms.
Continue reading
Tags:

Extreme small ball

Extreme small ball
The Orioles have two bunt hits in the first two innings, the second coming from Adam Jones after Matt Wieters singled. With two on and no outs, Garrett Atkins lined softly to Kansas City second baseman Mike Aviles. If Atkins had been able to advance Wieters to third base, Cesar Izturis' long fly ball to right would have tied the game. That is, if you believe that the at-bat would have played out the same. The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on Brad Bergesen's balk. Mitch...
Continue reading
Tags:

Just so you know... (updated twice)

Just so you know... (updated twice)
Nolan Reimold is starting in left field tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. Brandon Snyder is playing first base and Michael Aubrey's in right field. Brad Bergesen walked the leadoff hitter, Scott Podsednik, who promptly stole second. Matt Wieters' throw beat him to the bag, but second base umpire Tim Timmons called Podsednik safe. David DeJesus singled to put runners on the corners. Billy Butler, facing Bergesen for the first time since ending his season last July, blooped a single into right...
Continue reading
Tags:

Hernandez update

Hernandez update
David Hernandez says his right shoulder feels much better and he's still scheduled to throw in the bullpen tomorrow for the first time since being scratched from yesterday's start against the Indians. The Orioles would consider placing Hernandez on the disabled list if he can't complete the session. Hernandez played catch yesterday and again today, "and I didn't feel any pain," he said. "I was able to get on top of everything. I was able to get to my arm slot." The bullpen session...
Continue reading
Tags:

Trembley explains Reimold at first (updated)

Trembley explains Reimold at first (updated)
Nolan Reimold started at first base for Triple-A Norfolk yesterday, as you know if you've been reading this blog. And the reasoning is fairly obvious. "The club does want to see what he can do at first base. That's why he was taking ground balls there at the end of spring training and why he was doing it here. And it was a good opportunity for him when he went to Triple-A to see if he could get acclimated to that there," manager Dave Trembley said. "There's a need right now. He did at...
Continue reading
Tags:

Trembley talks about Atkins

Trembley talks about Atkins
Brian Roberts will report to the minor league camp in Sarasota on Wednesday to continue his baseball-related activities. That's it for the injury updates. Manager Dave Trembley didn't have any information on reliever Mike Gonzalez, who threw live batting practice today. The Orioles will bring up a position player by the time they visit Washington this weekend for their first interleague series. "I would think when we play a National League club, we would want another position player for...
Continue reading
Tags:

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Royals: Podsednik LF Aviles 2B DeJesus RF Butler 1B Guillen DH Callaspo 3B Maier CF Betancourt SS Kendall C Davies RHP
Continue reading
Tags:

Bergesen-Butler II

Bergesen-Butler II
This one should take place in an outdoor ring in Vegas. You could order it on pay per view. $49.95 seems a little steep, though. Brad Bergesen will face the Royals tonight for the first time since Billy Butler slammed a line drive off his left shin and sent him hobbling to the dugout. It was the most painful sprint in recorded history, and it concluded with Bergesen collapsing in the tunnel and writhing in pain. If you attended the game at Camden Yards, you can still hear the ball striking...
Continue reading
Tags:

The facts of life: Garrett's not hitting

The facts of life: Garrett's not hitting
If I can get this blog entry filed, it'll be a miracle. My Verizon wireless card doesn't seem to operate as efficiently once a cloud rolls past, so you can imagine what I'm dealing with on an overcast and rainy morning. It took me 20 minutes to approve comments this morning because the system is moving so slowly. I'm ready to punch myself in the face out of frustration, though I don't think it will improve the situation or my luck with women. Yesterday's game ended with Garrett Atkins...
Continue reading

Post-game Trembley

Post-game Trembley
Today's attendance: 29,323. Garrett Atkins went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and double play, dropping his average 10 points to .243 with a .582 OPS. He's still looking for his first home run. The Orioles are still looking for production at first base. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's lose 5-1 against the Indians Is the market still playing out? Asked about the position and the difficulty in finding a solution, manager Dave Trembley said, "I'll sleep on it and see where...
Continue reading

Welcome back, Alberto (updated)

Welcome back, Alberto (updated)
Making another stop at Camden Yards today, Alberto Castillo allowed two runs and two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Russell Branyan took him deep in the ninth after Austin Kearns' leadoff double. Cla Meredith replaced Castillo and gave up a double and single to the first two batters he faced. Did I arrive here in a time machine set for last night? The Indians were denied another run when Adam Jones threw out Jhonny Peralta at the plate. That's seven outfield assists for the Orioles -...
Continue reading
Tags: