Roch Kubatko

Funny how things change (updated)

July 05, 2010, 9:40am

Orioles

I sat in the interview room at Camden Yards and listened to interim manager Juan Samuel say that Felix Pie would return to left field and the leadoff spot once the Orioles activated him from the disabled list. Samuel told reporters in Boston over the weekend that Pie would hit lower in the order while Corey Patterson continued to occupy the top spot. Samuel now wants to ease Pie back into the leadoff role. The last time I checked, the Orioles had room for Pie on their 40-man roster after...

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Today's lineups (w/ Bell update)

July 05, 2010, 6:58am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jake Fox 1B Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Tigers: Austin Jackson CF Johnny Damon DH Magglio Ordonez RF Miguel Cabrera 1B Brennan Boesch LF Carlos Guillen 2B Brandon Inge 3B Alex Avila C Ramon Santiago SS Andy Oliver LHP Update: Josh Bell, who left yesterday's game with right leg cramping, is available today.

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Here today, gone by July 31?

July 05, 2010, 4:18am

Orioles

It's always difficult to gauge how active the Orioles will be at the non-waiver trade deadline that arrives at the end of this month. I brace for a repeat of the 2000 roster purge, and it doesn't come. Maybe one guy gets moved, like closer George Sherrill last summer, or maybe none until the end of August. The Orioles have another batch of candidates who are in the final year of their contracts - including Ty Wigginton, Kevin Millwood, Miguel Tejada, Cesar Izturis and Mark Hendrickson - or...

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Better outing for Gonzo (updated)

July 04, 2010, 4:35pm

Orioles

Left-hander Michael Gonzalez threw a scoreless inning tonight at Double-A Bowie, striking out two batters in the process. The other out came on a ground ball. Gonzalez's fastball registered at 92 mph on the Prince George's Stadium radar gun. You'll recall that Gonzalez gave up home runs in two of his rehab appearances before tonight. The Orioles want Gonzalez to pitch Tuesday at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and go twice more at Bowie. Brandon Waring hit his 13th home run tonight for...

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Markakis: Make his a double (updated)

July 04, 2010, 10:38am

Orioles

Nick Markakis has taken over the AL lead in doubles with 25. His two-bagger in the fourth inning eventually led to the game's first run. Markakis moved to third base and scored on John Lackey's wild pitch. Markakis has plenty of supporters who believe he should represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game. He's probably a victim of his position. AL manager Joe Girardi needs another second baseman, and Ty Wigginton qualifies. Those 14 home runs didn't hurt Wigginton's cause, either. And...

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Congrats to Wiggy

July 04, 2010, 8:47am

Orioles

Ty Wigginton has been chosen as a reserve and will represent the Orioles in the All-Star Game. Wigginton is batting .251 with 12 doubles, 14 homers and 42 RBIs. I'm taken back to FanFest and all the questions Wigginton fielded about the club's decision to sign Garrett Atkins for first base and Miguel Tejada for third. Wigginton was disappointed, but he never publicly ripped the club or demanded a trade. Brian Roberts showed up at spring training with a herniated disk in his back, Atkins...

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Today's lineups

July 04, 2010, 7:02am

Orioles

For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson DH Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton CF Adam Jones 3B Josh Bell 2B Scott Moore C Craig Tatum SS Cesar Izturis LHP Brian Matusz For the Red Sox: SS Marco Scutaro CF Darnell McDonald DH David Ortiz 1B Kevin Youkilis 3B Adrian Beltre RF J.D. Drew 2B Bill Hall LF Daniel Nava C Gustavo Molina RHP John Lackey Nolan Reimold's two-out double in the ninth inning scored Jeff Salazar last night and gave Triple-A Norfolk a 7-6 win over...

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Getting defensive

July 03, 2010, 7:30pm

Orioles

The Orioles completed tonight's game at Fenway Park having committed 14 errors in the last 12 games after making 10 errors in the previous 19. And we're not taking into account the numerous balls misplayed in the outfield, the grounders that weren't fielded cleanly and were scored a hit, the double plays that weren't turned that gave teams an extra out. "We are defensively challenged and we just have to be better at it," said president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. "Here we're...

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Pie hit; Orioles could use one (updated)

July 03, 2010, 4:26pm

Orioles

Felix Pie was hit by a pitch in the wrist/forearm area tonight at Double-A Bowie, but he stayed in the game. He's 0-for-2. Disaster averted. Update: Pie is 1-for-3. If you have him in some weird pool...he's 1-for-3. Steve Johnson allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings, but he also walked five Akron batters. Control has never been an issue with him. Maybe the umpires do more squeezing in the Eastern League. Nolan Reimold has suddenly become Triple-A Norfolk's everyday first...

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Tonight's lineups

July 03, 2010, 11:52am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jake Fox DH Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Red Sox: Marco Scutaro SS Eric Patterson 2B David Ortiz DH Kevin Youkilis 1B J.D. Drew RF Adrian Beltre 3B Daniel Nava LF Mike Cameron CF Kevin Cash C Jon Lester LHP The Orioles have agreed to terms with 27 of their 49 selections: Trent Mummey (4), Riley Hornback (12), Jeremy Nowak (13), Michael Mosby (14),...

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Organizational awards

July 03, 2010, 8:14am

Orioles

The Orioles named left-hander Zach Britton the organization's Pitcher of the Month for June after he went 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA in four starts with the Baysox. He allowed 19 hits and struck out 25 batters in 27 1/3 innings. Britton was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk and stayed on a roll, tossing six shutout innings in his debut on Thursday. Bowie outfielder Tyler Henson was named Player of the Month after batting .350 with nine doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs in 27 games. Corey Patterson...

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Not B-Robbing Brian of an opportunity

July 03, 2010, 6:32am

Orioles

I mentioned yesterday that second baseman Brian Roberts, limited to four games because of a herniated disk and an assortment of setbacks that include pneumonia, back tightness and a stomach ailment, has started to take batting practice again in Sarasota. You can decide whether this is an encouraging development or another cruel tease. "We've gotten him up to these situations before and there's been an episode, but his progressions are picking up," said president of baseball operations...

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Going, Going, Gonzo (updated)

July 02, 2010, 5:51pm

Orioles

Michael Gonzalez gave up a home run in his second straight injury rehab game, this time in Double-A Bowie. Gonzalez retired the first Akron batter he faced to end the fifth inning, but he served up a two-out homer in the sixth and came out of the game. He recorded two outs on fly balls and one on a grounder. Gonzalez surrendered a two-run homer against Brooklyn in his most recent appearance with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Update: Felix Pie went 1-for-4 with a triple, walk and two...

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Not forgettin' Britton

July 02, 2010, 2:30pm

Orioles

Remember the great Brian Matusz debate last season? President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail kept insisting that Matusz wouldn't make his major league debut in 2009, that the left-hander would eventually be shut down after Double-A Bowie completed its season. You know the rest. Brad Bergesen took a Billy Butler line drive off his left shin on July 30, Orioles scouts insisted that Matusz was ready, and MacPhail finally relented. Zach Britton isn't getting the same early treatment....

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Tonight's lineups (w/Gonzo update)

July 02, 2010, 12:25pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson 3B Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters DH Josh Bell 2B Julio Lugo SS Cesar Izturis RHP Brad Bergesen For the Red Sox: SS Marco Scutaro LF Eric Patterson DH David Ortiz 1B Kevin Youkilis 3B Adrian Beltre RF J.D. Drew 2B Bill Hall CF Mike Cameron C Kevin Cash RHP Tim Wakefield Gonzo update: Left-hander Michael Gonzalez reported to Double-A Bowie and will pitch in relief tonight as part of his injury rehab...

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J.J. back on the bump

July 02, 2010, 10:10am

Orioles

Reliever Jim Johnson is scheduled to throw off a mound tomorrow at the minor league complex in Sarasota. Johnson had been shut down temporarily after experiencing soreness in his right elbow. Also, second baseman Brian Roberts' light baseball activites have increased to where he's taking batting practice again. Roberts has reached this point before and suffered a variety of setbacks.

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Did you know...

July 02, 2010, 7:53am

Orioles

Since B.J. Ryan allowed a three-run walk-off homer to David Ortiz on June 2, 2005, the Orioles are 9-34 at Fenway Park and have lost 15 of their last 17 games on Yawkey Way. Ty Wigginton hit his 14th home run Wednesday and his first as a first baseman. According to Elias, Wigginton is the only player in the major leagues to homer while playing three different infield positions this year (11 as a second baseman and two as a third baseman). Kevin Millwood (June 19 and 24) and Jake Arrieta (June...

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The defense rests

July 02, 2010, 4:12am

Orioles

I devoted my final entry last night to the Orioles' defense. I hope it didn't contain any errors. I recall a time when the organization stressed tightening up the defense to assist the young starting pitchers. Just using last night as an example, you've got center fielder Corey Patterson in left, rookie work-in-progress Josh Bell at third, corner infielder Scott Moore at second and third baseman Ty Wigginton at first. Most nights, shortstop Miguel Tejada starts at third. We've seen...

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Post-game Samuel

July 01, 2010, 6:29pm

Orioles

The Orioles were charged with two errors tonight, but they failed to make plays all over the field. "There's no doubt that we do have to pick it up defensively," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "We have been able to overcome those mistakes the last few days, but most of the time it's not going to happen. Anytime you give the opposing club four or five outs, those kinds of things are going to happen. We do need to play all-around solid baseball if we're going to continue to make...

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Two pitching lines (& Bell's first hit)

July 01, 2010, 4:58pm

Orioles

Josh Bell lined a 2-0 fastball from Trevor Cahill into left field in the seventh inning for his first major league hit. The Orioles retrieved the ball for him. Jake Arrieta went six innings tonight and turned in a quality start by definition. Three of the four runs he allowed were earned. Arrieta gave up seven hits, walked four and struck out two. He threw 99 pitches, 55 for strikes. That's an improvement over his last two starts, when he allowed 10 earned runs (12 total) and 13 hits over...