Roch Kubatko

Close call with Wieters

May 27, 2010, 9:07am

Orioles

Matt Wieters caught Adam Jones' throw in the sixth inning last night, made a sweeping tag of Oakland's Ryan Sweeney for the final out, grimaced and bent at the waist. Wieters straightened up, took a few steps and bent at the waist again. This would have been a good time for fans to slip into panic mode. Wieters isn't tearing the cover off the ball, but the Orioles don't need him tearing a muscle or ligament. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Dave Trembley bolted from...

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Brian's song not the same pitch

May 27, 2010, 4:11am

Orioles

The idea would have seemed preposterous a month ago. Send Brian Matusz to the minors? Did someone leave the cap loose on the Elmers? I noticed that a few readers were pondering the possibility last night, asking about the length of his leash. I get the same question about Garrett Atkins and have fielded it, at various times, about Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen, Jason Berken and David Hernandez. This team doesn't need a manager, it needs a dog walker. As I noted last night, there didn't...

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Oakland 6, Orioles 1

May 26, 2010, 6:35pm

Orioles

Manager Dave Trembley doesn't seem overly concerned about Brian Matusz, who's allowed four first-inning runs in back-to-back starts and fell to 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA. "I think it's a combination of him pitching in the middle of the plate, the ball up, and he's not getting his two-seamer across," Trembley said. "He's throwing a lot of four-seamers and he likes to pitch in to right-handed hitters with his four-seamer. I think we saw that last year when he came up, especially the first time...

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As a Mata of fact

May 26, 2010, 5:27pm

Orioles

Frank Mata's major league debut lasted 1 1/3 innings. He allowed an infield hit and issued a walk to consecutive batters before Matt Albers replaced him in the seventh. Mata would have been charged with two runs while sitting on the bench if Nick Markakis didn't make a spectacular diving catch to rob Kevin Kouzmanoff. The ball would still be rattling around the warning track. Mata's fastball was clocked in the 93-96 mph range. He also mixed in a splitter. The first two outs he recorded...

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Orioles

What's the Mata? (updated)

May 26, 2010, 4:49pm

Orioles

Frank Mata made his major league debut in the sixth inning after Brian Matusz failed to retire any of the three batters he faced and allowed another run. Mata, 26, entered with runners on first and second, no outs and the Orioles behind, 6-1. He fell behind, 2-0, to Jake Fox, who swung at a 93 mph fastball and flied to the edge of the warning track in left. Mark Ellis, batting with runners on second and third, lined a 96 mph to center, and Adam Jones' throw cut down Ryan Sweeney at the...

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Down on the farm

May 26, 2010, 4:25pm

Orioles

Left-hander Rick Zagone, a sixth-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Missouri, went the distance today for Single-A Frederick in a 4-1 win over Wilmington. Zagone (2-5, 3.59 ERA) allowed one run and five hits over nine innings, with two walks and five strikeouts. Third baseman Buck Britton went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs. Double-A Bowie left-hander Zach Britton has shut out Harrisburg through five innings, and the Baysox lead, 1-0. Britton has allowed four hits, walked one...

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Going, going, Garrett

May 26, 2010, 3:57pm

Orioles

It happened tonight on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom of the third inning. Garrett Atkins hit his first home run as an Oriole. Atkins was one at-bat shy of tying his career-long homerless drought of 146 when he gave Oakland's Trevor Cahill a smackdown. He also collected his fifth hit in his last 37 at-bats over 14 games. I'm sure Atkins won't request that the Orioles retrieve the ball, which traveled 374 feet, but he should have pimped it at the plate. Flip the bat like Reggie. Strike a pose...

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Too soon to worry? (updated)

May 26, 2010, 3:22pm

Orioles

What's going on with Brian Matusz? Matusz has fallen behind, 4-0, in the first inning, the last three runs scoring on Adam Rosales' homer. Rosales crushed a 92 mph fastball that hung over the plate and begged to be hit. The inning finally ended when shortstop Cesar Izturis made a diving stop and throw to rob Jake Fox. Matusz retreated to the dugout after allowing three hits, walking one and throwing 26 pitches. His ERA's grown to 5.86. That's 11 runs, 11 hits and three homers off Matusz...

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Gonzo could return 3rd week in June

May 26, 2010, 1:42pm

Orioles

Orioles reliever Mike Gonzalez hasn't been completely ruled out for a June 9 return, the date he's eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list, but he'll probably need to wait a little longer. Gonzalez has been advised to gear himself toward a return the following week, when the Orioles play road interleague games in San Francisco and San Diego. The West Coast opener is June 14, and the Orioles don't return home until June 22. The Giants and Padres lineups won't include a designated...

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Injured trio heading to Sarasota

May 26, 2010, 12:30pm

Orioles

Second baseman Brian Roberts and relievers Koji Uehara and Alfredo Simon will fly to Sarasota on Friday. I wonder which one gets the middle seat. Roberts is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 9, but the first week at the minor league complex will be like spring training for him. He'll have to play in some games and go on an injury rehab assignment. I wouldn't circle June 9 on my calendar. "I'm not sure that's an attainable goal, to be honest with you," manager Dave...

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Moore yes, Scott no

May 26, 2010, 11:37am

Orioles

Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 1B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Scott Moore 2B Garrett Atkins DH Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP

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Now we're cooking

May 26, 2010, 10:45am

Orioles

I'll pass along the lineups in about an hour. I ducked into the MASN WebStudio to file a quick entry on today's Orioles Cook-Off and to revel in the air conditioning. I took a little walk through the Inner Harbor. In the direct sunlight. Wearing a black shirt and gray slacks. You get the picture. My car temperature was 96 degrees after I retrieved it from one of the public lots on Commerce St., and it only got down to 95 by the time I pulled into Camden Yards. Anyway, enough about my...

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Look for Luke at The Zone (updated)

May 26, 2010, 6:07am

Orioles

Luke Scott is still scheduled to appear at today's Orioles Cook-Off at ESPN Zone. He didn't cancel after being scratched from last night's lineup with a sore left shoulder. Scott couldn't swing a bat yesterday without experiencing discomfort in the shoulder, but he can wield a spoon. Scott told reporters last night that he might undergo an MRI today. I don't know if his appearance downtown means that his condition improved dramatically and he might be able to play, or if he didn't want...

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About last night...

May 26, 2010, 4:24am

Orioles

You might have been thinking it. I know that I was thinking it. "Why is Will Ohman coming into this game?" (And why am I using quotation marks for a thought? Good question.) I suggested to a few reporters in the press box that I'd bring back Mark Hendrickson for the ninth. The tall lefty had cruised through two innings, allowing only an infield hit and striking out one. He threw 14 of his 21 pitches for strikes. I've rarely seen him better. Put him back on the mound in the ninth inning,...

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Post-game Trembley

May 25, 2010, 6:33pm

Orioles

Manager Dave Trembley praised the Orioles' situational hitting and bullpen after tonight's 5-1 victory. How many times has that happened? The sixth inning was huge, scoring twice on two walks, a wild pitch and two fly balls. And Mark Hendrickson pitched his best game of the season, according to Trembley, before Will Ohman retired the side in order in the ninth. "Productive outs. We turned the tables on them and worked the count," Trembley said. "I thought there were four at-bats in...

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So much for a save situation

May 25, 2010, 5:43pm

Orioles

The Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to lead, 5-1. Nick Markakis homered and Matt Wieters added an RBI double off the out-of-town scoreboard after striking out twice. Mark Hendrickson allowed one hit in two scoreless innings after replacing Jeremy Guthrie. I'd let him pitch the ninth, too, but Will Ohman has entered the game. Can we still call Ohman the closer? Just for tonight? Did you know Brian Matusz's last college outing came against Tyson Ross, who pitched in relief...

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Now the real fun starts (updated twice)

May 25, 2010, 5:04pm

Orioles

The Orioles pieced together two productive at-bats after Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada walked to open the sixth inning, and they've taken a 3-1 lead over the A's. Ty Wigginton was swinging away - wise choice, I thought - and produced a sacrifice fly to right field after the runners had moved up on Tyson Ross' wild pitch. Adam Jones followed with another fly ball to right to score Tejada, who alertly took third on Wigginton's sac fly. Good at-bats, good baserunning. Now we're...

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Fit to be tied, and fed

May 25, 2010, 4:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles didn't rip the cover off the ball - I'm not sure they smudged it - but they manufactured a run to tie the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada walked to begin the inning. Ty Wigginton tapped to the mound, and A's left-hander Dallas Braden got the out at third base. Adam Jones followed with a ground ball that resulted in an out at second, but shortstop Cliff Pennington made a wide throw to first that allowed Tejada to score. Happy Birthday,...

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More good and bad

May 25, 2010, 3:45pm

Orioles

Adam Jones extended his hitting streak to 11 games, a career high and the longest by an Oriole this season, with a one-out single in the second inning. Jones was picked off first base for the second out. And so it goes. Oakland left-hander Dallas Braden caught Jones leaning. Manager Dave Trembley didn't agree with the call, however, and came out of the dugout. The discussion wasn't animated. Trembley spoke calmly to first base umpire Mark Carlson. He still hasn't released that pressure...

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Lineup change (Scott has shoulder strain)

May 25, 2010, 2:53pm

Orioles

Lineup change (Scott has shoulder strain)

Luke Scott has been scratched from the lineup with a strained left shoulder. Garrett Atkins will replace him. Corey Patterson LF Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins DH Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Athletics: Cliff Pennington SS Daric Barton 1B Ryan Sweeney RF Kurt Suzuki C Jack Cust DH Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B Gabe Gross CF Mark Ellis 2B Eric Patterson LF Dallas Braden LHP