Roch Kubatko

While waiting for the lineup...

May 16, 2010, 6:31am

Orioles

Manager Dave Trembley's in his office, but he hasn't posted the lineup. Players aren't due to report here until noon, but I counted six in the clubhouse at 10 a.m.: Matt Wieters, Jason Berken, Ty Wigginton, Kevin Millwood, Brad Bergesen and Cesar Izturis. I spent way too much time replaying last night's game in my head, though it did drown out some of the voices, so that part was pretty cool. I'm on record as saying I hate when the baton keeps getting passed, because you just know...

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Orioles

Orioles to add pitcher (updated)

May 15, 2010, 7:31pm

Orioles

The Orioles will call up a reliever from Triple-A Norfolk tomorrow to replace first baseman Rhyne Hughes on the 25-man roster. Alberto Castillo and Kam Mickolio are on the 40-man roster. The choice doesn't appear to be non-roster pitcher Dennis Sarfate, though he hasn't allowed an earned run in 7 2/3 innings and International League batters are 1-for-26 against him. Update: Mickolio is dealing with a sore back, so you can eliminate him from consideration. Look for Castillo to be in...

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Trembley: "Eight innings of baseball, we pitched very well." (updated)

May 15, 2010, 6:35pm

Orioles

Trembley: "Eight innings of baseball, we pitched very well." (updated)

So, about that ninth... "We made real good pitches up until that point in time, but we didn't close it out," manager Dave Trembley said following tonight's 8-2 loss to the Indians, which is going to sting long after the lights are turned off at Camden Yards. "(Brian) Matusz made quality pitches in the seventh. Koji (Uehara) got a real big third out for us after a walk. (Alfredo) Simon hung a split and (Austin) Kearns hit a home run." That pretty much sums it up. Dave Trembley talks...

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Orioles frontstory_orioles1

Roster move

May 15, 2010, 6:13pm

Orioles

The Orioles optioned first baseman Rhyne Hughes to Triple-A Norfolk after tonight's game. A corresponding move will be announced tomorrow. Hughes hit .213 (10-for-47) with four RBIs in 14 games. He was 5-for-31 with 14 strikeouts in his last 10 games.

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Orioles

Pitchers repeating history (updated)

May 15, 2010, 5:26pm

Orioles

Is it really going to take five pitchers to wrap up a 2-0 victory? If the Orioles hold on, it will be the first time they've allowed one run or fewer in back-to-back games since Aug. 8-9, 2008. They defeated the Texas Rangers 9-1 and 9-0. Alfredo Simon will need to get the last three outs and record the save to make it happen. Unfortunately for the Orioles, they'll turn over the Indians lineup after Cleveland sent five batters to the plate in the eighth. Simon will face the ninth, first...

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Why? I mean...why? (updated twice)

May 15, 2010, 4:27pm

Orioles

The Orioles have runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Corey Patterson's at the plate. A fly ball delivers their second run and gives left-hander Brian Matusz a little more room to breathe. So why is Cesar Izturis trying to steal second? Indians catcher is Lou Marson is 2-for-2 in these challenges tonight after cutting down Izturis with a perfect throw. Naturally, Patterson lifted a fly ball to center field, but it resulted in the third out. Were the...

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Orioles

Two updates (w/update)

May 15, 2010, 4:04pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz has a shutout through four innings. He's allowed five hits, which means he's scattered them. Matusz's six strikeouts match his total over his last three starts. He fanned Travis Hafner to open the fourth on a knee-buckling curveball, and Jhonny Peralta swung through a 92 mph fastball. The Orioles aren't giving him much support. The game's only run came on Ty Wigginton's 414-foot homer. Down on the farm, St. Paul's grad Steve Johnson is pitching for Double-A Bowie against...

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Tying last year's home run total

May 15, 2010, 3:38pm

Orioles

Ty Wigginton hit 11 home runs in 410 at-bats last season. He just belted No. 11 this year in his 116th at-bat. I don't want to jinx the guy, but I like his chances of surpassing last year's total. Wigginton gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second inning by crushing a 78 mph changeup from Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot. Wigginton swung at the first pitch and launched it 414 feet to left field. Adam Jones has the other hit off Talbot, a single in the first inning. He was cut down trying...

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Orioles

Trying times for Rhyne

May 15, 2010, 12:33pm

Orioles

When I posted earlier that Rhyne Hughes hit outdoors before batting practice, you probably thought, "Good idea." Hughes isn't in the lineup tonight against a right-hander, which tells you how much he's struggling. He's 5-for-31 with one RBI and 14 strikeouts in his last 10 games, lowering his average to .213 after a scorching start with the Orioles. Welcome to The Show. What is manager Dave Trembley seeing from Hughes? "Swinging and missing too much," he replied. Fortunately, he...

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Two injury updates

May 15, 2010, 12:22pm

Orioles

Brian Roberts played catch yesterday. He played catch and took ground balls today. That qualifies as baby steps, but at least he's moving forward. "I am encouraged," manager Dave Trembley said. "He's felt better, but he's got a ways to go yet." Trembley expects Roberts to start hitting off a tee as the next step. Reliever Mike Gonzalez had a side session in Sarasota today (say that three times fast). He threw 30 pitches. That's the first time he's stepped on a mound since...

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Tonight's lineups

May 15, 2010, 11:38am

Brian Roberts played catch with third base coach Juan Samuel while a few Orioles - including Rhyne Hughes, Adam Jones and Luke Scott - took early batting practice. Now he's fielding ground balls. That counts as baseball-related activities. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Indians: Cabrera SS Grudzielanek 2B Choo RF Kearns LF Hafner...

Reimold: Day 2

May 15, 2010, 11:17am

Orioles

Nolan Reimold, starting in left field today for Triple-A Norfolk, is 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The Tides trail Buffalo, 4-0, in the bottom of the eighth inning. Michael Aubrey is 1-for-3 as the designated hitter, leaving his average at .256. Rhyne Hughes might want to keep an eye on him. Jake Arrieta allowed four runs and five hits over six innings, with four walks and three strikeouts. He surrendered two home runs. Arrieta threw 98 pitches, 57 for strikes. Dennis Sarfate has thrown 1 2/3...

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Hank Hysteria

May 15, 2010, 9:31am

Orioles

Hank Blalock suddenly has become a hot commodity, at least judging by some comments on this blog. Thanks to JDB for directing me to this link, which explains how the Rays are calling up Blalock from Triple-A Durham and how he could have exercised his opt-out clause. Blalock, the former Texas Ranger who garnered little interest on the free-agent market, will replace Pat Burrell. I'm not slamming Blalock, and I was intrigued by him over the winter as the Orioles figured to let the first base...

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Running on empty

May 15, 2010, 5:33am

Orioles

Adam Jones kept apologizing to Nick Markakis last night after costing the right fielder an RBI by holding at third base on a ground ball to first. Jones could smile about it (I'm not sure about Markakis) because he eventually scored on Luke Scott's single and the Orioles eventually won, but man, the baserunning on this team continues to give me a rash. New season, same issues. Like I keep saying, they work on this stuff in spring training. Every...single...day. Maybe it's like my...

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The mound conference

May 14, 2010, 7:25pm

Orioles

So what exactly did manager Dave Trembley say to Jeremy Guthrie after walking to the mound in the eighth inning with two outs, a runner on first base and Grady Sizemore at the plate? "I said, 'You've earned the opportunity to be out here and finish this thing off. I trust you'll give it to me straight. If you're out of gas, tell me. If you want it, go ahead.' And he said, 'I'll get him out,' and I turned around and walked away," Trembley said after tonight's 8-1 victory. "I think...

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Orioles frontstory_orioles1

Guthrie's night

May 14, 2010, 6:49pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Dave Trembley went to the mound with two outs in the eighth inning. I thought he was taking Jeremy Guthrie with him to the dugout. I'm sure I wasn't alone in that assumption. Trembley stuck with Guthrie, who got the final out and accepted congratulations after his 113th pitch. He allowed one run and two hits, walked one and struck out five. His ERA's down to 4.13. That's beyond impressive. Down on the farm, Single-A Delmarva pounded out 17 hits - with no home runs - in a...

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Orioles

Checking on Reimold

May 14, 2010, 6:16pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold made his 2010 debut with Triple-A Norfolk tonight, going 0-for-3 with a walk as the designated hitter in the Tides' 5-3 loss to Buffalo. Reimold batted fifth. Chris Tillman allowed four earned runs (five total) and eight hits in six innings, walking one and striking out two. He served up two home runs. You never know when a Norfolk infielder will wind up in the outfield. It's become a game within the game. Blake Davis, who's primarily a shortstop, started in right field...

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Jeremy Guthrie: Comeback Pitcher of the Night

May 14, 2010, 6:02pm

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie: Comeback Pitcher of the Night

Do they hand out an award like that one? Guthrie recorded the first two outs in the first inning before a walk, hit batter and single put him in a 1-0 hole. I had my doubts about him. The night had the potential to become a long one. Shows what I know. Jhonny Peralta's run-scoring single is the only hit off Guthrie through six innings. He's walked one and struck out four. He's also rubbing a little salt in the wounds of an organization that drafted him in the first round and let him...

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It's official: Scott's sizzling (updated)

May 14, 2010, 5:15pm

Orioles

It's official: Scott's sizzling (updated)

Luke Scott is 2-for-2 with an RBI that gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the third inning. We don't know how long this is going to last, so enjoy it while you can. Break out the cell phone and take some pics. Scott bailed out Adam Jones, who inexplicably held at third base on Nick Markakis' grounder to first. The Indians were playing back and conceding the run. Corey Patterson also has two hits tonight to go with a leaping catch at the fence. Instant update: Make that three hits. I would...

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Never a good sign

May 14, 2010, 2:53pm

Orioles

The grounds crew has done more than move behind the tarp. The infield is being covered in anticipation of a storm. It isn't raining at the moment, but I guess it's coming. The sky is getting darker. No way we're starting on time.