Roch Kubatko

Nothing's changed on Roberts

May 02, 2010, 7:46am

Orioles

Brian Roberts still doesn't have a timetable for beginning baseball activities and returning to the lineup. The discomfort in his lower back has subsided considerably and he remains convinced that he'll play this season, but he can't even provide an approximate date. "We're just continuing to do some physical therapy," he said. "Other than that, we're just waiting for it to get better.' Roberts said it's conceivable that he could miss the first half of the season. "I wish I could...

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Today's lineups

May 02, 2010, 6:38am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 2B Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Nolan Reimold LF Rhyne Hughes 1B Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Red Sox: Scutaro SS Pedroia 2B Drew RF Youkilis 1B Ortiz DH Lowell 3B Varitek C McDonald LF Van Every CF Beckett RHP

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Orioles

O's 12 - Boston 9: Post-game Trembley

May 01, 2010, 6:35pm

Orioles

Opening statement: "I was talking to Bergesen before I came in and he said that was the ugliest win he's ever got, but it felt the best that he's ever felt, so he'll take it. Putting a zero up in the fifth was the key for him. Obviously, a lot of fight in our team tonight. Offensively, got some big hits and a comeback win." Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 12-9 win over the Red Sox On crucial play by Miguel Tejada to end the fifth: "The play of the game that turned it...

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Down on the farm

May 01, 2010, 5:36pm

Orioles

Matt Hobgood allowed one run and four hits in six innings tonight for Single-A Delmarva, lowering his ERA to 3.90. He walked three and struck out four. Troy Patton allowed one run and five hits in seven innings at Triple-A Norfolk, walking none and striking out four. He threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes. Robbie Widlansky hit his first home run tonight for Double-A Bowie. Pasadena native Chorye Spoone allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits in four innings. He walked two, struck out...

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Orioles

Now I get it

May 01, 2010, 5:08pm

Orioles

Red Sox manager Terry Francona must have known what was coming if he went to his bullpen. I'll never doubt him again. The Orioles cracked Tim Wakefield's knuckler. They scored four runs off him in the sixth, the last three coming on Nick Markakis' shot onto the flag court in right. Ty Wigginton got the sixth-inning party started (did I already use that line?) with his second home run of the night. I keep checking the scoreboard to make sure my eyes aren't failing me. Orioles 11,...

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Orioles

Is Ty MVP? (update)

May 01, 2010, 4:51pm

Orioles

I guess Red Sox manager Terry Francona really wanted to get Dice-K through the fifth, no matter how much his starter looked like a guy in dire need of a cold drink and a warm hug. Francona's one heck of a manager, but hello? This is Matsuzaka's first start and he ran out of steam like a dry iron (OK, that's a reach.) Did somebody grease the top step of the visiting dugout? The Orioles have batted around, and hey, there's Francona breaking through the restraints and fighting his way to...

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Orioles

Hughes adjusting to the bigs (updated)

May 01, 2010, 4:01pm

Orioles

I don't mind the Orioles running on the Red Sox's catchers. In fact, I encourage it wholeheartedly. But any chance it could be one of their more fleet-footed guys? Not so fast, Matt Wieters and Ty Wigginton. (See what I did there?) Take away the home runs, and Brad Bergesen is having a pretty good start. Boston 2, Orioles 1. Jonathan Van Every? To straightaway center? I probably would have picked van every other player in the Red Sox's lineup before I chose him. (See what...yes you...

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Another setback for Lebron (updated)

May 01, 2010, 3:23pm

Orioles

Minor league reliever Luis Lebron continues to experience pain in his right elbow, and he's scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews on May 10 in Birmingham, Ala. It isn't often that these examinations bring positive news. Lebron was shut down late in spring training after impressing manager Dave Trembley in major league camp. He started throwing again recently, but the discomfort resurfaced on Wednesday during a bullpen session in Sarasota. Lebron emerged as a future closer candidate after...

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Orioles

Trembley talks about J.J.

May 01, 2010, 12:48pm

Orioles

Manager Dave Trembley called reliever Jim Johnson into his office this afternoon, closing the door behind them. Johnson knew what was coming. The possibility kept him awake much of the night - same as Trembley. The Orioles optioned Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for tonight's starter, Brad Bergesen, on the 25-man roster. Johnson posted a 6.52 ERA in 10 appearances, and he allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score last night in another brutal outing. He was bumped from the...

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Adjusting Koji's schedule

May 01, 2010, 12:20pm

I'll have more on Jim Johnson's demotion in a few minutes, but I wanted to post a quick update on reliever Koji Uehara. The original plan called for Uehara to throw an inning in relief tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and another inning on Monday, before the Orioles determined whether to activate him from the disabled list. His schedule has been adjusted, however, so he'll pitch tomorrow and Monday. The change has nothing to do with soreness in Uehara's hamstring. The Orioles want him to...

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Tonight's lineups

May 01, 2010, 11:38am

For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Rhyne Hughes 1B Nolan Reimold LF Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Red Sox: Scutaro SS Pedroia 2B Martinez C Youkilis 1B Drew RF Ortiz DH Beltre 3B McDonald LF Van Every CF Matsuzaka RHP

In a bad way with J.J. (updated)

May 01, 2010, 6:25am

Orioles

The question popped up in the press box and spread like a virus. "Does Jim Johnson have options left?" I made the first inquiry, just out of curiosity. Two writers sitting in front of me didn't have an answer despite my constant badgering. One of them thought he could silence me with a shrug of his shoulders. So naive. As the debate continued, someone else walked over to me and said, "Does this guy have options left?" Pure coincidence, but it spoke volumes about Johnson's performance...

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Cleaning out the notebook

April 30, 2010, 8:44pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis on the win: "It's big. You look at the past, we've fell short in those situations. We just did a great job all around. Our bullpen came in and got some big outs." Adam Jones on having Miguel Tejada on the team: "Me and Wiggy were talking about that and he said, 'Wait and see how Miggi really hits,' because I haven't had the opportunity to play with him. The last couple days, you could see it. You put him in a tough situation and he usually comes through." What was...

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Miggi doesn't have time for the pain

April 30, 2010, 7:19pm

Orioles

Miguel Tejada tied tonight's game with a home run and won it with a 10th-inning single. And he did all of it while playing through some discomfort in his hip. "He's not 100 percent right now. He's not," manager Dave Trembley said. "Night before last, running through the base and making the turn, he tweaked it. (T-Bone) Shelby alerted us that he probably should come out of the game, and Tejada yelled over, 'I'm not coming out.' "It's just great to have him on our side. He's a...

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Is Albers making a statement? - Part II (updated)

April 30, 2010, 6:31pm

Orioles

Is Albers making a statement? - Part II (updated)

Pitching for the third straight night, Matt Albers retired all three Boston hitters he faced in the top of the 10th inning. Albers got a pop up, a fly ball and a strikeout to keep the score tied. Is he aware that the Orioles have to remove a reliever from the 25-man roster tomorrow? Albers has tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings over these three appearances, allowing only one hit. I'm so confused. Albers is trying to save his roster spot. He's making it more difficult for the Orioles to pass...

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Well, that was fun (updated)

April 30, 2010, 6:15pm

Walk, fielder's choice, walk, strikeout, strikeout. Alfredo Simon is many things to many people. He isn't boring. Simon tossed a scoreless ninth, but he turned it into another marathon. A four-pitch walk to Dustin Pedroia landed him in immediate trouble, and a one-out walk to Kevin Youkilis didn't improve matters. But Simon fanned J.D. Drew and David Ortiz, the last out coming on his splitter with the count full. Nothing to it. Matt Albers is warming in the bullpen. Will the Orioles...

Your worst fears come true (updated)

April 30, 2010, 5:37pm

Orioles

The Garrett Atkins double play in the fourth inning looms large right now. You knew it would if you've been paying attention to this team. You could predict what would happen next. It was as easy as 1-2-3. The Orioles didn't bust open the game, and Jim Johnson gave up the game-tying single to Dustin Pedroia with two outs in the seventh after inheriting Jason Berken's mess. Berken walked No. 9 hitter Darnell McDonald on four pitches to start the two-out rally. That can't...

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Strategy time

April 30, 2010, 4:58pm

Orioles

We were debating in the press box whether David Hernandez should come out for the sixth inning. I agreed with the decision. Let him start the inning and make sure a reliever is ready. Dustin Pedroia immediately tried to destroy my argument with an opposite-field home run that reduced the Orioles' lead to 3-2. Victor Martinez walked, and the ice beneath Hernandez's feet had practically turned to water. Left-hander Will Ohman was warming, so let Hernandez face right-handed hitting Kevin...

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Sort of taking advantage of mistakes

April 30, 2010, 4:29pm

Orioles

The Red Sox committed two errors in the fourth inning, and the Orioles scored once to expand their lead to 3-1. It should have been so much more. Miguel Tejada led off with a single and hustled to second on center fielder Darnell McDonald's error. Yes, that Darnell McDonald. With Luke Scott at the plate, the Orioles would have settled for a ground ball to the right side. Instead, John Lackey walked him. Ty Wigginton followed with a sharp grounder that looked like a double-play ball until...

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Jonesing for more production (updated)

April 30, 2010, 3:19pm

Orioles

Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley met privately today with center fielder Adam Jones, who entered tonight's game with a .204 average and .228 on-base percentage. It was part pep-talk, part instructional. "I think from this point forward you're going to see a better Adam Jones," Crowley said. "He hit some balls really far early in the year for some home runs and we might have gotten too thrilled with those home runs and forgot about getting back to the basics of being a good hitter, a...