Roch Kubatko

If you blinked...

July 17, 2010, 3:15pm

Orioles

...you missed the first run of the game. Toronto leadoff hitter Fred Lewis swung at the first pitch from Jeremy Guthrie, a fastball, and drove it 405 feet over the center field fence to give the Blue Jays a quick 1-0 lead. Adam Jones made a nice leaping attempt, but couldn't bring down the ball. Lewis has hit four leadoff homers this year, and five in his career. Guthrie has allowed 16 homers this season, including one in each of his last four starts. The Blue Jays added a two-out...

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Blue Jays lineup; MacPhail's Q&A

July 17, 2010, 1:12pm

Orioles

For the Blue Jays: Fred Lewis LF Yunel Escobar SS Jose Bautista RF Vernon Wells CF Adam Lind DH Aaron Hill 2B Lyle Overbay 1B Edwin Encarnacion 3B Jose Molina C Brandon Morrow RHP President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail took questions from season-ticket holders earlier today. Here are a few interesting points: * MacPhail indicated that the new manager will get to pick his coaching staff. The subject came up when a fan asked about Scott McGregor's chances of being named pitching coach...

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Roberts pushing to play (w/quotes added)

July 17, 2010, 12:16pm

Orioles

Roberts pushing to play (w/quotes added)

Interim manager Juan Samuel spoke to Brian Roberts earlier today and told reporters that the second baseman thinks he only needs about 15 additional at-bats before he's ready to come off the disabled list. He'll have to convince the Orioles. Roberts will report to Double-A Bowie on Monday, as I've written, and he's scheduled to stay there all week. He could be activated next weekend, putting him ahead of schedule. "He's missed a lot of time and we've got a little over two months...

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No Bell again today

July 17, 2010, 11:38am

Orioles

Here's the Orioles lineup: Corey Patteron DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP

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Round of Gulf

July 17, 2010, 10:10am

Orioles

Brian Roberts started at second base today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout before leaving the game. Roberts grounded to short, singled to center, struck out and grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. He's batting .533 in five games. The Orioles could choose to rest him tomorrow before assigning him to Double-A Bowie on Monday. Luke Scott served as the designated hitter today. He's 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Scott popped up and grounded out before...

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This, that and the other

July 17, 2010, 6:53am

Orioles

Brian Roberts is scheduled to continue his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie on Monday, when the Baysox begin a seven-game homestand against Binghamton at Prince George's Stadium. Roberts is 7-for-11 with a double, run scored, two walks and two strikeouts with the Gulf Coast League Orioles. Left-hander Michael Gonzalez is supposed to pitch again tomorrow at Triple-A Norfolk after giving up two runs and three hits last night in two-thirds of an inning. Gonzalez has allowed six runs...

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Post-game Samuel (w/Gonzo update)

July 16, 2010, 6:30pm

Orioles

Interim manager Juan Samuel praised starter Brad Bergesen for battling on a night when the right-hander didn't have his best stuff. "He kept the game close," Samuel said. "We got some opportunities there. Even though his command probably wasn't where he wanted it to be, he kept the game close for us. So that's all we wanted. "I think since he has been back here, he has had a few good outings. His tempo was very, very good. He threw a lot of strikes, his ball was sinking. We didn't see...

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The decision

July 16, 2010, 5:11pm

Orioles

The Orioles put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the seventh after Felix Pie doubled and Julio Lugo extended the inning with an infield hit. Cesar Izturis stepped to the plate as the potential go-ahead run against Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero. Should a pinch-hitter step out of the dugout? Izturis was 0-for-2, but he began the night batting .310 in his last 18 games, with four doubles (half of his season total) and a homer (his only one of 2010). Interim manager...

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Bergy's night

July 16, 2010, 4:54pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen was lifted after six innings tonight. He allowed four runs and nine hits, walked two and struck out three. He threw 92 pitches, 55 for strikes. Unless the Orioles rally, Bergesen will lose his career-worst fifth straight decision. Bergesen has given up four earned runs or more in six of his last seven starts. He's allowed 20 hits in the last two starts covering 12 innings. Toronto scored in four of Bergesen's six innings tonight. The leadoff hitter reached base in five...

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Disturbing patterns (updated)

July 16, 2010, 3:55pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen has allowed a run in the first, second and third innings to fall behind, 3-0. They've come in different forms. Fred Lewis led off the top of the first with a double, Yunel Escobar reached on a bunt single and Vernon Wells hit a sacrifice fly with one out. Aaron Hill led off the second with his 13th home run. Lewis led off the third with a single to right field, took second on a passed ball and scored with two outs on Adam Lind's single to right. Bergesen also walked a batter...

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Matchups, Montanez and assorted notes

July 16, 2010, 1:40pm

Orioles

Tonight's game could begin with only three umpires. The fourth is heading to Camden Yards, but he might arrive a little late. However, it won't affect the starting time. Since we were kicking around lineup ideas earlier today, and I failed miserably with my assumption that Jake Fox would start at first base, I wanted to pass along some career numbers against Toronto left-hander Ricky Romero: Fox is 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Corey Patterson is 2-for-4 with two strikeouts. Ty...

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Gonzo, Scott nearing returns

July 16, 2010, 12:12pm

Orioles

Interim manager Juan Samuel said he expects reliever Michael Gonzalez and outfielder/DH Luke Scott to be activated from the disabled list next week. Gonzalez is pitching tonight at Triple-A Norfolk. Scott started in left field today for the GCL Orioles. Kevin Millwood played catch yesterday, but he's "probably a week or so away," according to Samuel. Brian Roberts is still aiming for an Aug. 1 return. Samuel estimated that catcher Matt Wieters could have played early next week, but the...

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Quick injury updates (w/lineups)

July 16, 2010, 11:17am

Orioles

Brian Roberts went 0-for-2 with a walk and strikeout today as the GCL Orioles' designated hitter. Luke Scott, playing his second game in the GCL, started in left field and went 0-for-3. He served as the designated hitter yesterday. Scott flied to right in each at-bat before leaving the game. Lou Montanez tells me that his oblique injury has improved, but he's not game-ready. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie...

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Still waiting for kickoff

July 16, 2010, 10:01am

Orioles

Am I the only person who slept through last night's earthquake? A text message woke me at 4:30 a.m., but I didn't budge during a quake. I don't understand it, either. I'll be heading to the ballpark in an hour. I want to make sure that the temperature is deep in the 90s before I enter the press box. Later, I'll join Steve Melewski for the pre- and post-game shows on 105.7 The Fan. You can find us at the Bud Light Warehouse Bar from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. I heard "fan" and quickly...

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Halftime's over (updated)

July 16, 2010, 5:13am

Orioles

Let the second half begin. If I remember correctly, the Orioles won the toss back in April and elected to receive, so they'll begin tonight's game on defense. They've got a spot to fill on their roster after placing catcher Matt Wieters on the disabled list, retroactive to Saturday. Third baseman Josh Bell is expected to be recalled. Update: The Orioles just confirmed that they called up Bell. Felix Pie is available tonight after injuring his quad last Friday night while swinging at a...

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Waring down opponents

July 15, 2010, 6:28pm

Orioles

Brandon Waring hit his second homer in his last two games with Double-A Bowie, and his third in 10 games, raising his season's total to 15 and giving him 48 RBIs. Waring went 2-for-4 to bump up his average to .245, and the Baysox rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to take an 8-6 victory over Richmond. Ryan Adams, Tyler Henson and Joe Mahoney each had two hits for Bowie. Henson drove in the tying run in the ninth, and Mahoney tripled in two more to provide the winning margin. Steve...

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Wieters to DL

July 15, 2010, 1:34pm

Orioles

The Orioles placed catcher Matt Wieters on the 15-day disabled list today with a strained right hamstring. The move is retroactive to July 10. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow. The Orioles held a workout at Camden Yards earlier today, and Wieters' leg must not be responding to rest. Better to go with a full bench. I'm expecting Craig Tatum and Jake Fox to handle the catching load. The Orioles could recall Josh Bell as an injury replacement. Bell didn't play for...

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Raffy's 5-year anniversary (& rehab updates)

July 15, 2010, 10:21am

Orioles

Raffy's 5-year anniversary (& rehab updates)

You won't find a Hallmark card to commemorate the occasion, but Rafael Palmeiro joined the 3,000-hit club exactly five years ago tonight. Palmeiro made history by lining a double off Seattle's Joel Pineiro in the fifth inning at Safeco Field. I didn't realize it happened on this date until reading Billy Ed Smith's comment, which I'll post below. On this final off day before the second half slog begins, we as Orioles fans should mark this solemn anniversary. Five years ago today, Rafael...

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Scott healing; Rendon hurting (updated twice)

July 15, 2010, 7:57am

Orioles

Scott healing; Rendon hurting (updated twice)

The All-Star Game earned its lowest rating on Tuesday. See what happens when you don't let Ty Wigginton bat? Luke Scott is listed on the Gulf Coast League Orioles' roster today, joining second baseman Brian Roberts. Scott has been running and hitting at the minor league complex in Sarasota, and he's serving as the designated hitter and batting third today against the GCL Twins in his first injury rehab game. Roberts is leading off and playing second base. Update: Roberts lined a single...

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The Tatum question

July 15, 2010, 3:31am

Orioles

Thanks to the PR staff's detailed first-half notes, I can answer a question regarding Craig Tatum that's cropped up more frequently on this blog since the Orioles ran off four consecutive wins in Arlington. What is the club's record with its backup catcher behind the plate? The Orioles are 10-9 in games that Tatum has started, compared to 19-50 with Matt Wieters in the lineup. Read as much or as little into it as you want. I'm just tossing out the numbers. Tatum needed a crash course...