Roch Kubatko

Will lost opportunities bring Buck's first loss? (updated)

August 07, 2010, 5:35pm

Orioles

Will lost opportunities bring Buck's first loss? (updated)

It sure does look like the Orioles will regret letting Gavin Floyd off the hook. Jason Berken gave up another run in the eighth on Alex Rios' single up the middle that scored Juan Pierre, who singled and advanced on a sac bunt. White Sox 3, Orioles 2. Manager Buck Showalter was rewarded the last time he let Berken return for a second inning after the right-hander struggled, but not on this night. Berken stands to be the loser if the Orioles don't rally. Berken is charged with two runs and...

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Orioles

In-game update (w/2 updates)

August 07, 2010, 4:44pm

Orioles

The Orioles keep letting Gavin Floyd off the hook, and you wonder if it's going to bite them in the back pocket. Ty Wigginton ran into the final out of the third inning after pausing between second and third base. Adam Jones and Felix Pie singled to open the fourth, but the Orioles couldn't build on their 2-1 lead. Matt Wieters got ahead, 2-0, and grounded into a double play, and Cesar Izturis tapped to the mound. Floyd allowed three earned runs in 33 2/3 innings in July. His ERA has...

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Orioles

VandenHurk's impressive streak ends (updated)

August 07, 2010, 3:58pm

Orioles

VandenHurk's impressive streak ends (updated)

Making his second start for Triple-A Norfolk, right-hander Rick VankenHurk allowed five runs (three earned) and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against Louisville. He walked two, struck out one and hit a batter. VandenHurk threw 91 pitches, 57 for strikes. Obtained from the Marlins in the Will Ohman trade, VandenHurk had allowed one earned run in each of his last five starts before tonight. Nolan Reimold (left field) and Brandon Snyder (first base) committed errors for the Tides. The Orioles...

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Orioles

A first for Millwood (updated)

August 07, 2010, 3:29pm

Orioles

Well, this isn't the only time that Kevin Millwood has escaped the first inning without the opposition scoring, but it sure feels that way. Millwood had given up at least two runs in the opening frame in 11 of his last 12 starts - and a total of 34 runs. He kept dumping the team in an early hole. He kept getting beat because of it. Not tonight. Millwood walked the leadoff hitter, Juan Pierre, but he retired Omar Vizquel on a pop up, Alex Rios on a fly ball and Paul Konerko on a grounder to...

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Orioles

Two injury updates

August 07, 2010, 1:40pm

Orioles

Jim Johnson made another one-inning start with the Gulf Coast League Orioles today, walking one batter in a 5-0 win over the GCL Rays. Johnson only faced three batters. The leadoff hitter, Deshun Dixon, reached on an error and was eliminated on a double play. Craige Lyerly walked and stole second, but catcher Riley Hornback threw him out attempting to steal third. Hornback was a 12th-round pick this year out of San Jacinto Junior College. Johnson is expected to report to Double-A Bowie on...

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Pre-game Showalter - Part II

August 07, 2010, 1:07pm

Orioles

Josh Bell is in the lineup again tonight, giving him another opportunity to make a favorable impression on his new manager. "We think he's eventually going to be here, what I'm told," Buck Showalter said. "It's just a matter of, does he fit in our plans for the start of next year?" The Orioles really need to figure it out before the free-agent market opens. They might have to find another short-term solution if he isn't ready. Another example of Showalter's attention to detail: The...

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Orioles

Pre-game Showalter - Part I

August 07, 2010, 12:47pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter isn't concerned about the defensive lapses that we've seen from Brian Roberts since the second baseman's return from the disabled list. "Of all the things we have to worry about, that's not one I put at the top of the list. He's solid," Showalter said. "When you've had periods of time off, people think it's just a pure hitting thing. There's a tempo that everybody plays at. That's not something that I've given much thought to." Showalter would love to...

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Orioles

Tonight's lineups

August 07, 2010, 11:37am

For the Orioles: 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 Kevin Millwood RHP For the White Sox: Pierre LF Vizquel 3B Rios CF Konerko 1B Quentin RF Kotsay DH Ramirez SS Pierzynski C Beckham 2B Floyd RHP

Koji's contributions

August 07, 2010, 6:33am

Orioles

The Orioles have won four in a row. Do I expect them to run the table under Buck Showalter? Of course not. Could they hit the road and fall flat on their faces. Of course they could. That said, I'm perplexed by the number of fans who can't simply enjoy the moment. This season has been a slow-motion car wreck. The team's playing much better baseball and winning games in exciting fashion. Why not enjoy it while it lasts instead of bracing for the next downward turn and refusing to get too...

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The Buck talks here

August 06, 2010, 6:49pm

Orioles

Buck Showalter moved past Don Zimmer into 64th place on the all-time wins list with 886. We didn't talk about it tonight. Showalter might have learned something about Adam Jones. You know, that whole adversity thing. Jones pops up with the bases loaded in the eighth and wins the game with a single in the 10th, leading to another mob scene in the infield. "Baseball is a great exposing of strengths and weaknesses," Showalter said. "That ball will find you and the situation will find you,...

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Simon done, Berken next? (updated)

August 06, 2010, 5:56pm

Orioles

Alfredo Simon gave the Orioles two scoreless innings, striking out two in the 10th and stranding the potential go-ahead run at second base. Jason Berken is warming up. Manager Buck Showalter must be testing him again. The Orioles' short bench only includes Jake Fox. Showalter understood the need for the extra bullpen arm when he got here, but maybe a fourth reserve would be more beneficial. Nick Markakis' four hits tonight are a season high. Update: They don't need Berken. Adam Jones...

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Orioles

The Orioles: A glove story (updated)

August 06, 2010, 5:02pm

Orioles

We're still tied, 1-1, heading to the top of the eighth. Brad Bergesen can thank his defense. Mark Kotsay tripled with one out in the top of the seventh, and Alexei Ramirez followed with a grounder to first. Ty Wigginton charged the ball, made a bare-handed pickup and quickly threw home, where Matt Wieters applied the tag after expertly blocking the plate. Ramirez stole second, but Nick Markakis ran down A.J. Pierzynski's long drive on the warning track. Again, it appeared that the White...

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Orioles

In-game update

August 06, 2010, 4:21pm

Orioles

The Orioles' rotation has churned out three straight quality starts, and Brad Bergesen could be headed for a fourth after allowing one run and four hits through five innings. The last time this happened? May 29 to June 1, 2009. The pitchers? Bergesen, Jeremy Guthrie, Jason Berken and Rich Hill. Yes, Rich Hill. In Bergesen's last start, Kansas City's right-handed hitters were 1-for-18 (the only hit a seventh-inning single by Mike Aviles.) They're 3-for-11 tonight, including Gordon...

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Orioles

The good and bad in the first (updated)

August 06, 2010, 3:32pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen threw 13 pitches in the top of the first inning and stranded a runner. That's good. The Orioles scored a run off White Sox starter John Danks in the bottom of the first. Also good. The Orioles worked Danks for 24 pitches. Still good. Here's the bad part: The first three batters singled, with Ty Wigginton's hit producing the run, but the Orioles couldn't do any more damage. Luke Scott struck out in the key at-bat of the inning, and Adam Jones and Julio Lugo flied...

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Orioles

Buck's sixth sense regarding Lugo

August 06, 2010, 1:08pm

Orioles

Dave Trembley used to hate lineup questions, but I had to ask Buck Showalter about his decision to bat Julio Lugo sixth tonight. We're accustomed to seeing Lugo's name at the top or bottom, but Showalter is taking two factors into account: The veteran infielder is hitting .320 in 75 at-bats against left-handers, and the White Sox bullpen includes left-hander Matt Thornton. "Obviously, his track record is hitting left-handed pitching quite well," Showalter said. "It fits us to try to...

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Orioles

Montanez update and Chisox lineup

August 06, 2010, 12:21pm

Orioles

Outfielder Lou Montanez played his first injury rehab game today with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He started in left field against the GCL Rays and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Montanez, who's recovering from a strained oblique, told me in a text message that he felt fine and "did everything without pain." He's expected to play in at least three more games down there before reporting to another affiliate. It's ex-Oriole day at Camden Yards. Besides the familiar faces at today's...

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Orioles

Orioles lineup

August 06, 2010, 11:20am

Orioles

Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Julio Lugo SS Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Josh Bell 3B Brad Bergesen RHP Lugo sixth? According to Elias, Buck Showalter is the fourth manager to win his first three games with the Orioles, joining Hank Bauer (1964), Earl Weaver (1968) and Davey Johnson (1996).

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Honoring past Orioles

August 06, 2010, 8:12am

Orioles

I'm happy to report that former Orioles pitching coach and manager Ray Miller looks exactly the same except for a goatee that he can wear without violating the club's facial hair policy. Miller looks terrific, which is a relief after he dealt with a serious health issue during his final season in the organization. He's a pretty stoic guy, as old-school as they come, but the honor of being inducted into the Orioles' Hall of Fame has clearly moved him. "First time in my life I was...

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Showing Showalter what he wants to see

August 06, 2010, 5:27am

Orioles

I'm heading over to Camden Yards to catch up with Ray Miller, who will be inducted into the Orioles' Hall of Fame before tomorrow night's game against the Chicago White Sox. It's been years since I've seen him. I'm relieved that he's in good health and enjoying his retirement. Going back to how we're all learning about manager Buck Showalter, I'm enjoying his thorough evaluation process this week. He's not focused only on the obvious stuff - how a player is swinging the bat, how a...

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Passing the Buck quotes

August 05, 2010, 6:50pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter was asked about the Orioles' refusal to become deflated after Torii Hunter's game-tying three-run homer off Jason Berken in the eighth inning. It led to my favorite quote of the night: "I looked for that," he said. "It's part of playing, not only in the big leagues, but in the American League. Big, strong, hairy guys here. They hit it where the grass doesn't grow. And that's part of playing in this division, this league. That's part of it. "We've got some...