Roch Kubatko

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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Orioles

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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Orioles

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

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Pre-game notes (updated again)

May 25, 2010, 12:23pm

Orioles

Left-hander Alberto Castillo is here. Right-hander Frank Mata is due to report at 4:30 p.m. "Our bullpen situation right now will be a challenging one," manager Dave Trembley said. "I don't know what the roles are. I don't have guys slotted at particular innings. We have an eight-man bullpen right now." That includes David Hernandez, who is likely to stay there unless injuries strike the rotation. Trembley knocked on the wooden bench while discussing this subject. Hernandez was told to...

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Lugo at second, Wiggy at first

May 25, 2010, 11:35am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 1B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP No Garrett Atkins vs. Oakland left-hander Dallas Braden. Down on the farm, Jake Arrieta allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings and Dennis Sarfate picked up his first save in Triple-A Norfolk's 2-1 victory over Rochester. Arrieta walked two and struck out six. He threw 112 pitches, 70 for strikes, and...

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Hernandez to bullpen

May 25, 2010, 11:22am

Orioles

The Orioles have made their decision regarding David Hernandez. His next appearance will come as a reliever. Manager Dave Trembley just confirmed that Hernandez is moving to the bullpen. He hasn't named a replacement in the rotation, but noted that Chris Tillman should be here soon from Triple-A Norfolk. Perhaps by Saturday? I think you can count on it. Check out Trembley's video journal today. He touches on these topics and others. Also, Brian Roberts is taking ground balls from Juan...

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Turner to Mets (w/Arrieta update)

May 25, 2010, 9:52am

Orioles

The Orioles found out today whether infielder Justin Turner cleared waivers and could be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. He did not, and he can not. I just checked with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who confirmed that the Mets claimed Turner this afternoon. The news won't come as much of a surprise in the press box. We were discussing that possibility once Turner was designated for assignment Friday to make room for Scott Moore. Former Orioles executive Wayne Krivsky...

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Orioles

Arrieta still pitching for Norfolk (updated)

May 25, 2010, 9:01am

Orioles

Arrieta still pitching for Norfolk (updated)

Jake Arrieta has returned to the mound for his third inning today at Triple-A Norfolk. He's thrown 42 pitches through the second. It doesn't appear that the Orioles will purchase Arrieta's contract and give him the ball on Saturday. He would be working on short rest, so Tides manager Gary Allenson would have needed to restrict his pitch count today. Chris Tillman is the overwhelming favorite if the Orioles move David Hernandez to the bullpen. As I posted last night, Tillman has allowed one...

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The closer I get to you (w/Reimold update)

May 25, 2010, 5:43am

Orioles

The closer I get to you (w/Reimold update)

The Orioles have gone through three closers this season if you count Jim Johnson. All three have come down with injuries - shoulder (Mike Gonzalez), elbow (Johnson) and hamstring (Alfredo Simon). The next guy will probably get appendicitis or a really nasty cold sore. If I'm Will Ohman, I'd be hiding from manager Dave Trembley today. Rip the bullpen phone off the wall after the eighth inning. Ohman actually has told pitching coach Rick Kranitz that he'd like the opportunity to close. He...

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Is Mata the man?

May 24, 2010, 6:20pm

Orioles

Triple-A Norfolk reliever Frank Mata didn't enter tonight's game in a save situation. Armando Gabino handled the last three innings, blanking Rochester along the way, for his first save. The Tides held on for a 2-1 victory. Does this mean that Mata is headed to Baltimore as one of the bullpen replacements? It's certainly fair to speculate, and we do a lot of it around here. Mata, 26, signed in November as a minor league free agent after pitching for Double-A New Britain last year. He's...

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Checking on Tillman (updated twice)

May 24, 2010, 4:36pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman isn't especially sharp tonight at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's limited Rochester to one run over four innings and the Tides hold a 2-1 lead. Tillman has scattered six hits, walked one and struck out five. He's thrown 82 pitches, 54 for strikes. I'd say a complete game is pretty much out of the question, but not a victory. Tillman threw 46 pitches in the first two innings and allowed four of the six hits. Josh Bell has an RBI double. Nolan Reimold, serving as the designated...

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A few updates (w/fifth item added)

May 24, 2010, 11:42am

Orioles

No. 1: Everything's still quiet regarding manager Dave Trembley. He won't be fired today. Book it. I just got further confirmation. No. 2: Second baseman Brian Roberts is feeling better after being hospitalized last week with pneumonia, but he doesn't have any immediate plans to fly down to Sarasota and resume baseball-related activities. That idea has been put on hold. No. 3: Triple-A Norfolk first baseman Michael Aubrey has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a right hip...