Corey Patterson is more than just the older brother of Oakland's Eric Patterson.
Here's a refresher to go with your lunch:
The Cubs selected Patterson with the third overall pick in the 1998 draft. He's a career .252 hitter in 10 major league seasons with five teams. He turns 31 in August.
The Orioles acquired Patterson from the Cubs in January 2006 for minor leaguers Nate Spears and Carlos Perez. He hit .276 with 19 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 53 RBIs, 45 stolen bases and a .757...
I'm not sure whether the Orioles are depressing me or if I should blame the gray sky and rain.
I slept like a baby last night. I woke up crying every two hours.
It was tough getting out of bed this morning, and I almost tripped over my bottom lip while trudging down the stairs. I'm actually typing this blog entry from the fetal position.
I'll perk up eventually, but I feel like a beaten man.
I wrote yesterday how manager Dave Trembley dropped strong hints that a roster move was coming...
Nolan Reimold had one of the Orioles' eight hits tonight, so perhaps he should be honored with a parade down Pratt St.
Unfortunately for Reimold, that single was the only positive aspect of tonight's game. He went 1-for-4 to leave his average at .205. (It actually went up two points. Cue the band.) He also committed an error in left field and still seems to have some trouble judging balls.
I thought it was telling that manager Dave Trembley, when asked during his post-game session with the...
I mean for the night.
David Hernandez got the first two outs in the top of the sixth inning as the rain increased in intensity. He walked Josh Wilson and Ken Griffey - giving him four walks among the last seven batters he faced - and the runners moved up on a wild pitch.
Hernandez was up to 100 pitches. Jason Berken finally started to warm in the bullpen after the second walk.
Heed the warning signs!
Rob Johnson followed with a single into left field, and Nolan Reimold allowed another run...
The Orioles strand two runners in scoring position and immediately fall behind.
Who keeps replaying this movie?
A Nick Markakis single and Miguel Tejada double put runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning. Those were the only hits off Cliff Lee, who finally looked vulnerable - or at least human.
Ty Wigginton, the team leader in home runs and RBIs, struck out swinging. Matt Wieters grounded to third.
Inning over. No runs.
David Hernandez takes his one-hit shutout into...
We need it here.
David Hernandez threw four fastballs to Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez that were clocked at 94, 96, 94 and 96 mph. Gutierrez swung through the last one to end the first inning after plate umpire Rob Drake appeared to squeeze Hernandez on the previous pitch.
Hernandez struck out Chone Figgins on a 92 mph fastball after retiring leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki on a bouncer to the mound.
The first-pitch temperature was 45 degrees. A light rain is falling. The crowd...
Second baseman Brian Roberts met with team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens today and said he could begin "small baseball-related activities" later this week.
Roberts didn't get into specifics, but he said the activities would be more closely associated with the kind that will get him ready to play. He won't be hitting live pitching, but he'll do more than jog in a pool and perform core and leg exercises.
"I'm feeling OK," he said. "It's still slow. slower than I'd like and was hoping...
Manager Dave Trembley was asked what he's seen from reliever Koji Uehara, who's thrown two scoreless innings since coming off the disabled list.
"He's ideal to come in and throw after a guy that's throwing 96 or 97 mph," Trembley said. "I really don't think it matters with Koji who he comes in after or who he pitches to because he's going to be who he is and pitch his game. He's a guy that locates, changes speeds. His arm speed is such that it's very deceptive. The ball comes out of...
Julio Lugo is atop the order again tonight after collecting eight hits in his last 17 at-bats.
Manager Dave Trembley is looking for anyone who can handle the leadoff duties or at least swing the bat with some authority. He listed only four players who have been consistent for him this season: Nick Markakis, Ty Wigginton, Miguel Tejada and Matt Wieters.
"The other guys have not," Trembley said.
"Lugo finds himself playing tonight. He has decent numbers against (Cliff) Lee. I'm still...
Manager Dave Trembley left open the possibility that the Orioles will make a roster move before the homestand ends on May 18.
I'd classify it more as a probability. And I don't think the wait will be particularly long.
"Today, there weren't any changes, but I wouldn't rule that out during the homestand," Trembley said.
"I'm sure Andy (MacPhail), like myself, is looking for the offense to get it started. Obviously, tonight is a tough chore going against (Cliff) Lee, but it would be...
For the Orioles:
Julio Lugo 2B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Ty Wigginton DH
Matt Wieters C
Nolan Reimold LF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Cesar Izturis SS
David Hernandez RHP
For the Mariners:
Ichiro RF
Figgins 2B
Gutierrez CF
Lopez 3B
Langerhans 1B
Wilson SS
Griffey DH
Johnson C
Saunders LF
Lee LHP
Double-A pitcher Luis Lebron will undergo Tommy John surgery today after Dr. James Andrews examined his right elbow yesterday in Birmingham, Ala. Lebron totaled 20 saves between Single-A...
See what I did there?
I drove in a steady rain to Camden Yards this afternoon, but it wasn't coming down hard enough to warrant an umbrella for the walk to home plate plaza. And that's the extent of my expertise on predicting the weather.
I'm told it's supposed to storm around 8:00 p.m. tonight. A 100 percent chance, according to one person in the press box.
The Orioles won't postpone the game anytime soon. That's never been their style, not with a field that drains this effectively...
Cliff Lee vs. David Hernandez.
Lee: 0-1, 2.40 ERA.
Hernandez: 0-4, 5.74 ERA.
Lee: no walks, 13 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Hernandez: 19 walks, 20 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings.
Lee: 3-0, 2.70 ERA lifetime vs. the Orioles.
Hernandez: 0-2, 5.09 ERA lifetime vs. the Mariners.
Don't worry. Patterns are made to be broken.
The Mariners lost eight in a row before ending the streak on Sunday. They fired their hitting coach (yeah, yeah, I know). There's growing speculation that Ken Griffey Jr. will...
Double-A Bowie's Steve Johnson got another no-decision tonight after holding Richmond to two hits over six scoreless innings. He walked four and struck out six, and he'll wake up tomorrow with a 3.08 ERA.
Johnson hasn't gotten the win in three starts this season when he's shut out the opponent.
Triple-A Norfolk's Jake Arrieta allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits over seven innings, with five walks and six strikeouts. He also was stuck with a no-decision, as reliever Ross Wolf...
The leftovers are in the fridge and the dishes are clean. Time to take a quick scan of the farm system.
Corey Patterson is starting in right field tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. He's 1-for-2 with a triple and run scored, raising his average to .373.
Scott Moore is 2-for-2 with a triple. Josh Bell, serving as the designated hitter, has an RBI.
Bell played third base yesterday, but he's back at DH tonight. No idea why. He should be starting at third regularly since he's far from...
Dr. James Andrews, the world-famous orthopedist and surgeon to the stars, will examine Jim Johnson's elbow on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala.
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail just confirmed the date in a text message.
Johnson is seeking a second opinion after team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens diagnosed the reliever with a strained ligament in his elbow.
Assuming that Andrews tells him the same, Johnson will remain shut down until he's cleared to begin a throwing...
I'm watching Tom Davis' Take Me Out to the Ballgame on MASN and wondering who's the guy sitting next to him in the wrinkled shirt and jeans?
Apparently, there's no dress code for guests. I'd rethink that position (that's what she...never mind.)
It's been a slow day, so I'll pass along a few Triple-A tidbits:
Dennis Sarfate's fastball was clocked in the 94-96 mph range during Saturday's scoreless outing with Norfolk after the Orioles activated him from the disabled list. Protect...
Tigers Woods withdrew from The Players Championship because he has a bulging disk.
I know what you're thinking. Stop it.
So, is that different from a herniated disk? Which one is worse?
Is it more painful to hit a tee shot or a fastball?
So many questions, so little time.
I'm hearing strong rumblings that the Orioles will make a roster move today. I figured it might happen before tomorrow night's game. Either way, I think a change is coming.
I'll go back to Corey Patterson, who's...
Chris Tillman didn't throw another no-hitter - he's a tough act to follow - but he held Toledo to one run over seven innings in Triple-A Norfolk's 4-1 victory.
Tillman allowed four hits, walked one and struck out 10 while improving to 3-3 with a 3.49 ERA.
Is he knocking on the door?
Tillman's last six outs came via strikeouts. He faced four batters over the minimum.
Can you hear him knocking?
Tillman is 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA, four walks and 24 strikeouts in his last four starts.
Knock,...
Never make a guarantee at 1 a.m. And that includes anything involving baseball.
Left-hander Brian Matusz gave up six runs and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings, falling well short of my prediction of seven innings and a victory.
Good luck to Alfredo Simon if he's trying for a save in this one.
Nick Blackburn held the Orioles to one hit through five scoreless innings, so Matusz needed to be perfect today. He wasn't up to the task.
I'm not staying up late before making my next guarantee.