Roch Kubatko

The decision (updated)

June 05, 2010, 5:14pm

The Orioles put two runners on base against Jon Lester in the bottom of the seventh inning. Once again, it was Adam Jones and Garrett Atkins. Once again, it meant Julio Lugo and Cesar Izturis were due up. In the fifth, Lugo laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Izturis popped up and Corey Patterson grounded out. This time, Jones and Atkins walked with one out. We debated whether Luke Scott should pinch-hit for Lugo. It's lefty vs. lefty and Scott is 0-for-8 lifetime against Lester, but he also can...

Is 1-0 insurmountable?

June 05, 2010, 4:55pm

Orioles

It sure feels that way tonight. Jeremy Guthrie has been outstanding, but Kevin Youkilis homered on the first pitch thrown in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie. The Red Sox lead by the narrowest of margins, but the Orioles have given Guthrie the usual support - absolutely nothing. Guthrie's allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four. He retired 15 in a row before Dustin Pedroia singled with two outs in the sixth, and he regrouped after Youkilis' homer to set...

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Let's go to the tape (updated twice)

June 05, 2010, 4:32pm

Orioles

Umpires reviewed Marco Scutaro's fly ball that was ruled foul down the left field line with one out in the top of the sixth, and they upheld the call after checking the videotape. That's the first review here in 2010 and the third all-time at Camden Yards. Replays indicated that the ball hooked foul by a few inches, but Boston manager Terry Francona came out of the dugout to argue the call. Jeremy Guthrie has allowed one hit over 5 1/3 scoreless innings, a Kevin Youkilis double in the...

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More on Arrieta (updated)

June 05, 2010, 4:08pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta didn't start tonight at Triple-A Norfolk, but I'm told that he's jogging to the Tides' bullpen and is expected to pitch in relief. He must have been scratched because the Orioles weren't sure whether they'd need to get him here over the weekend. It's not like they were going to hold him out of tonight's game so he could start next Saturday when Brad Bergesen's next turn came up. That's the best I can give you at the moment. He wasn't needed tonight, so he'll pitch...

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Arrieta scratched (updated)

June 05, 2010, 3:26pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta was supposed to start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, but Andy Mitchell took his place. Interesting. I'll try to provide an update shortly. And here it is: A club official told me that Arrieta is healthy and the Orioles are just keeping their options open in case they want to call him up. They don't want him throwing 100 pitches tonight and being unavailable for four days. It doesn't sound like he's heading here, but he's on standby.

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Did you know?

June 05, 2010, 2:56pm

Orioles

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Juan Samuel suffered the second-worst loss for a manager in his first game dating back to 1900. Milwaukee's Buck Rodgers lost, 15-2, to the Minnesota Twins in 1980. The Orioles are 15-40 this season. The 1988 team was 13-42 after 55 games. The 1962 Mets were 16-39 on their way to a 40-120 record, the worst in the modern era. The Orioles remain the only team in the majors without a home run from a first baseman. (Garrett Atkins hit one while serving as the...

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A few notes (updated)

June 05, 2010, 12:20pm

Orioles

Michael Gonzalez's bullpen session in Sarasota today didn't go well, and he's been instructed to rest the next two days and try again on Tuesday. Interim manager Juan Samuel was told that Gonzalez's velocity is still down and the left-hander couldn't hit his spots. "That's what I was informed by our pitching coach. His session wasn't that good," Samuel said. Gonzalez is scheduled to throw Tuesday, rest two more days and take the mound again on Friday. I'm not feeling real good...

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Tonight's lineups (updated)

June 05, 2010, 11:39am

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins DH Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Red Sox: Scutaro SS Pedroia 2B Ortiz DH Youkilis 3B Martinez 1B Drew RF Varitek C Reddick CF Hall LF Lester LHP Brad Bergesen's name is listed among the relievers on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse, but one of his teammates might be playing a joke on the media. Another young pitcher pointed it...

Roberts still not playing

June 05, 2010, 9:13am

Orioles

Injured second baseman Brian Roberts sat out today's extended spring training games in Sarasota after receiving treatment on his sore back. The Orioles played two games against Tampa Bay, winning them both, but Roberts pushed back his debut for the second straight day. No games are scheduled tomorrow, so Roberts will have to wait until Monday if he's deemed ready. "Hopefully, whatever is bothering him will clear up by then," said Gary Kendall, the Orioles' extended spring training...

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A new day - the sequel

June 05, 2010, 5:29am

Orioles

I woke up this morning convinced that the day would move at a much slower pace than yesterday. We're back on a standard schedule. Get out of bed, check the blog comments and file my first entry. Arrive at the ballpark around 3 p.m., fire up the laptop and check the blog comments. Enter the clubhouse at 3:35 p.m. and copy the lineup. Run up to the press box and post the lineup. Go back down to the clubhouse and talk to a few players. Head for the interview room at 4 p.m. for the manager's...

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Juan for the road

June 04, 2010, 6:45pm

Orioles

I passed Andy MacPhail on the stairs as I returned to the press box. He wasn't waiting in the manager's office. That's probably a good sign. Wait, we're not doing that anymore. Never mind. The Orioles were shut out for the fifth time this season. It only seems like 15. They've tallied eight runs in their last seven games. It only seems like one. They've been blanked or held to one run six times in the last nine games. Clay Buchholz became the fourth pitcher to throw a complete game...

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Been there, seen that

June 04, 2010, 5:49pm

Orioles

Tonight's attendance: 30,070. If you could read Juan Samuel's mind right now, you'd be blushing. The Orioles turned a 3-6-1 double play in the eighth inning, with reliever Frank Mata covering first base. They executed it perfectly. Too bad Mata lost track of the outs. Mata tossed the ball toward the mound, then realized his mistake and chased after it. The bases were empty, so no harm done, but it was another mental lapse. A MASN camera showed Samuel in the dugout, staring at the field...

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And so it continues

June 04, 2010, 4:39pm

Orioles

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. At least if you're measuring their impact on the 2010 Orioles. I know it's early. Juan Samuel has been manager for four innings. But we've just confirmed that there are no quick fixes. Chris Tillman couldn't get out of the second inning. Matt Wieters committed a passed ball on a strikeout. Miguel Tejada couldn't handle a sharp bouncer to his glove side that was scored a hit. Mark Hendrickson grooved an 88 mph fastball to Kevin Youkilis in the...

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And so it begins (updated twice)

June 04, 2010, 3:29pm

Orioles

As Chris Tillman was walking the second batter of the game, still unable to secure an out and running up his pitch count, the television monitors in the press box cut to Juan Samuel speaking to the media earlier today. Sportswriters can't pass up a good quip. "There's Juan resigning." "He said the team needs a new voice." "He's already lost the clubhouse." Tillman loaded the bases with no outs on a single and two walks. He struck out Kevin Youkilis on a 91 mph fastball and retired...

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More on Roberts and more from Samuel

June 04, 2010, 1:04pm

Orioles

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told me that Brian Roberts is experiencing some minor back pain that's unrelated to the herniated disk, according to the report that he received. "Right now, they don't think it's a big deal," MacPhail said. "He might just slide back to baseball activities, depending on how the symptoms progress, but nobody thinks it's a big deal at this point." The Orioles traveled to Port Charlotte today, but Roberts stayed back in Sarasota and hit in...

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Roberts update (w/lineups)

June 04, 2010, 12:15pm

Orioles

Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters today that second baseman Brian Roberts had a "minor setback" that prevented him from appearing in his first extended spring training game in Sarasota. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells passed along the news to Samuel. Samuel couldn't provide any other details, but he added that Roberts is scheduled to play tomorrow. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones...

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More from MacPhail; introducing Samuel

June 04, 2010, 11:43am

Orioles

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail views interim manager Juan Samuel as someone who "will not go lightly on those mistakes that we don't need to be making." Sounds like he's looking for Samuel to rattle a few cages. "The manager can only do so much. At some point the players have to be accountable, and believe me, those guys do not want to be playing the way they are playing," Samuel said. Gary Thorne talks with O's new interim manager Juan Samuel "It's going to be...

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MacPhail speaks - Part I

June 04, 2010, 11:11am

Orioles

The press conference just concluded and I'll pass along a few highlights if you missed MASN's live broadcast. "This is never an easy or pleasant task, making a managerial change, but in my experience, every time you go through one of these, it is a negative reflection of your entire baseball operations department, starting with me and going all the way down to our scouts and player development," said president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. "Obviously, we didn't do as good a...

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So who replaces Allenson?

June 04, 2010, 7:05am

Orioles

I'm glad you asked. With Gary Allenson joining the Orioles as interim third base coach, Bobby Dickerson will move into the Tides' dugout and run the show for a while. Dickerson has been serving as the Orioles' minor league infield coordinator and Latin America field coordinator. He's posted a 525-462 record as a minor league manager, most recently going 72-72 at Triple-A Iowa in 2009. Dickerson was a coach and manager in the Orioles' system from 1993 to 1997. Will my next entry be...

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And now it's official (w/Trembley statement)

June 04, 2010, 5:43am

Orioles

And now it's official (w/Trembley statement)

The Orioles sent out their press release confirming that manager Dave Trembley has been fired and third base coach Juan Samuel will take over the club on an interim basis. As I wrote earlier, the Orioles will continue their search for a replacement. Samuel isn't expected to remain in his new role throughout the summer. It could last as little as a few weeks, depending on how quickly the Orioles start interviewing candidates and make a decision. Samuel, 49, will be re-introduced to the media...