Roch Kubatko

Fun (and not-so-fun) facts

April 23, 2010, 2:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles are 3-18 in their last 21 road games and 27-64 on the road since the start of the 2009 season. The Orioles have scored more runs in Brian Matusz's three starts (19) than they have in the 10 combined starts of Jeremy Guthrie (seven runs in three starts), Kevin Millwood (eight runs in four starts) and David Hernandez (three runs in three starts). The Orioles enter the series with Boston with each of their three starters having a lower ERA than the Red Sox pitcher they are facing....

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Tonight's lineups

April 23, 2010, 12:08pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: Lou Montanez LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 2B Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold DH Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Red Sox: Marco Scutaro SS JD Drew RF Dustin Pedroia 2B Kevin Youkilis 1B Victor Martinez C David Ortiz DH Adrian Beltre 3B Jeremy Hermida LF Josh Reddick CF Jon Lester LHP Guthrie has faced Matt Garza twice and Justin Duchscherer once in his first three starts, and he'll face Lester tonight and most...

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Picking a spot for Nick

April 23, 2010, 10:05am

Orioles

Most of Nick Markakis' at-bats this season have come in the third slot in the order, where he's hitting .260 (13-for-50) with three doubles, one triple, two RBIs and a .737 OPS. Markakis is 2-for-8 in the second slot, both hits being doubles. Looking at a larger sample size - his entire major league career - Markakis is batting .327 with a .955 OPS in 130 games as the No. 2 hitter, and .285 with an .812 OPS in 357 games as the No. 3 hitter. By the way, he's 5-for-9 with a home run as the...

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Jumper cables for a broken down offense

April 23, 2010, 4:31am

Orioles

Now that the Orioles understand the team with the worst record after 16 games doesn't get the first pick in the NFL draft, they can proceed with their three-game series in Boston. Don't get too excited. Brian Matusz doesn't pitch until tomorrow. I'm trying to figure out ways the Orioles can support manager Dave Trembley and find a solution "player personnel-wise" to their assortment of issues. The offense is spinning its tires in the mud. Who can give it a push? Focusing within the...

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Bergy and Jones updates

April 22, 2010, 12:17pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen will make his first start for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. Alfredo Simon is moving to the bullpen. Check Steve Melewski's blog for his interview with Tides pitching coach Mike Griffin, who discusses Bergesen, Jake Arrieta and Chris Tillman. I wondered whether Brandon Erbe was in danger of losing his rotation spot. He gave up five runs and seven hits over five innings today in an 8-3 loss to Gwinnett, and is 0-3 with a 7.98 ERA in three starts. He's never pitched above Double-A...

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Trembley safe - for now

April 22, 2010, 9:34am

Orioles

I know there has been rampant speculation about manager Dave Trembley's job status and the possibility that he could be fired today, but it's not going to happen. Trembley will remain in charge throughout the upcoming series in Boston and after the Orioles return home. Team officials remain committed to giving Trembley every opportunity to straighten out this mess. Concerns have grown over a stagnant offense, but Trembley won't take the fall this early in the season. That doesn't...

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Time for another quiz

April 22, 2010, 3:38am

Orioles

The first off-day of the 2010 season has arrived. No baseball after 16 straight games. The Orioles can chill out in Boston, drown their sorrows in chowder, retell stories of Brian Matusz's two victories, resist the urge to take a header off the Green Monster. Or they can gather with manager Dave Trembley and brush up on their baseball skills by taking the following quiz: A runner is in scoring position with two outs and you're the next batter. You should: A: Get a hit to drive in the...

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Well, it's a concern...

April 21, 2010, 7:05pm

Orioles

Adam Jones appears to have injured his right arm after stumbling out of the batters box. Jones reached down to break his fall. Let's hope that's all he broke. MASN's cameras have caught Jones flexing his right hand and massaging his bicep and elbow. He grimaced at one point and bent slightly at the waist. Of course, the first batter in the fourth inning hit a fly ball to Jones, who made the catch and gingerly threw the ball back to the infield. The Orioles have enough players on the...

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Orioles

Well, it's a start...

April 21, 2010, 6:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles got a leadoff single from their new leadoff hitter. They got a two-out single from Nick Markakis after Lou Montanez was erased on a double play, and Markakis hustled to second base when Seattle left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo overran the ball. Markakis stumbled as he reached the bag, but his ankle didn't snap. Possible injury averted. Matt Wieters delivered a clutch two-out hit with a runner in scoring position, accounting for the only first-inning run off Mariners pitcher Felix...

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Orioles and Mariners lineups

April 21, 2010, 2:52pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: Lou Montanez LF Ty Wigginton 3B Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Justin Turner 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki RF Chone Figgins 2B Franklin Gutierrez CF Jose Lopez 3B Casey Kotchman 1B Mike Sweeney DH Matt Tuiasosopo LF Rob Johnson C Jack Wilson SS Felix Hernandez RHP

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Gonzalez update

April 21, 2010, 12:41pm

Orioles

Reliever Mike Gonzalez's visit to renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. didn't reveal a more serious injury to his left shoulder than diagnosed by team physicians. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told me that Gonzalez received the "same prognosis as before." Gonzalez went on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 10, with a strained left shoulder. Gonzalez, who sought another opinion that he hoped wouldn't lead to surgery, will report to...

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Orioles

Another new addition to the organization

April 21, 2010, 10:57am

Orioles

Another new addition to the organization

The Orioles have claimed left-hander Pedro Viola off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. I guess he can take Alberto Castillo's spot with the Tides. Lose a lefty, sign a lefty. Viola, 26, appeared in nine games for the Reds last season, posting a 5.14 ERA in seven innings after going 2-2 with eight saves and a 5.47 ERA in 54 games with Triple-A Louisville. So who's going to be the first person to mistakenly refer to him as "Frank?" I really hope it...

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Pie update

April 21, 2010, 9:25am

Orioles

Nothing major here, but I wanted to pass along via BlackBerry that Felix Pie is flying to Sarasota tomorrow to join the rest of the crew at extended spring training. Pie could be sidelined three months with this lat injury. It's never good when muscle pulls away from the bone. The Orioles don't believe that he'll require surgery, which would increase his recovery time. The body will just have to heal on its own. Pie has only been cleared to run. He'll eventually begin light exercises....

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From bad to worse

April 21, 2010, 5:26am

Orioles

I'm running a little late this morning (I always blame the kid.) These West Coast games are killing me. They're not doing the Orioles much good, either. The record is abysmal, but I had plenty of concerns before the season began. The schedule is absolutely brutal, and this team has issues. It was a combustible combination, and it's blown up in their faces. I don't ask for much in this world, but I expect my players to run out ground balls and bust their tails no matter the score or...

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If the glove fits... (updated)

April 20, 2010, 8:05pm

Orioles

Major League Baseball will announce the AL's Gold Glove winners around 3 p.m. You can watch live on ESPNews if your boss isn't looking over your shoulder. Adam Jones will become official, and we'll learn whether Torii Hunter and Ichiro Suzuki will join him. You'll probably collect on your bet if you choose them. The assumption is that Grady Sizemore's injury-filled season, which resulted in an early shutdown and two surgeries, will prevent him from taking home the hardware. But that's...

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Hernandez deserves better

April 20, 2010, 7:58pm

Orioles

Could someone remind Julio Lugo that it's 90 feet from home plate to first base? it looked like he might have become confused and slowed up after nine. If manager Dave Trembley wanted to send a message to his players tonight, he had an opportunity right there. Run out every ground ball or keep going directly into the clubhouse. Towels are hanging in the shower. David Hernandez is headed toward one of those "he deserved better" starts. He hasn't allowed a run since the first inning, and...

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Down on the farm (updated)

April 20, 2010, 5:29pm

Orioles

Triple-A Norfolk might want to tighten up that defense. The Tides have committed three more errors tonight, including No. 7 for Scott Moore, who continues to struggle with his throws at second base. Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder also have errors tonight, giving them three on the season. Alfredo Simon allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits, with three walks and five strikeouts, in seven innings. He threw 97 pitches, 58 for strikes. Gwinnett leads Norfolk, 2-0, in the eighth. Double-A...

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Two quick injury updates

April 20, 2010, 4:31pm

Orioles

MASN's Amber Theoharis reports that Koji Uehara will throw one inning Thursday in an extended spring training game. Uehara remains on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, and the Orioles can't project when he'll be ready to pitch for them. But I guess this qualifies as progress. Also, Brian Roberts has been cleared to begin light exercises and strengthening activities, and he'll be examined again on Friday by back specialist Dr. Lee Riley at Johns Hopkins. Manager Dave Trembley...

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Bergy's back in Baltimore

April 20, 2010, 3:08pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen just stepped off a plane at BWI and is getting ready to pack up his gear at Camden Yards and head to his next destination: Triple-A Norfolk. Bergesen said he was "a little bit surprised" when manager Dave Trembley and pitching coach Rick Kranitz broke the news following last night's game that he was being optioned after only three starts. "Obviously, I haven't been pitching well, so I knew I needed to turn it around or that was inevitable. But I was surprised by it coming...

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Tonight's lineups

April 20, 2010, 2:48pm

Orioles

For the Orioles: Adam Jones CF Ty Wigginton 3B Nick Markakis RF Nolan Reimold DH Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS David Hernandez RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki RF Chone Figgins 2B Franklin Gutierrez CF Jose Lopez 3B Ken Griffey Jr. DH Milton Bradley LF Casey Kotchman 1B Adam Moore C Jack Wilson SS Jason Vargas LHP