Roch Kubatko

Pre-game notes (quotes added)

April 27, 2010, 12:19pm

Orioles

Second baseman Brian Roberts still hasn't been cleared for baseball-related activities after back specialist Dr. Lee Riley examined him yesterday at Johns Hopkins. Manager Dave Trembley doesn't have one specific closer or set-up man. He's waiting for pitchers to step up and claim those roles. "I'm all for it," Trembley said. "That's what I told (Kam) Mickolio when I sent him out. I said, 'Hey, listen, what we've been trying in the bullpen has not worked. I've been giving it to just...

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Tonight's lineups

April 27, 2010, 12:12pm

Orioles

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 Kevin Millwood RHP For the Yankees: Jeter SS Gardner LF Teixeira 1B Rodriguez 3B Cano 2B Posado C Granderson CF Swisher DH Winn RF Hughes RHP

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Roster move official

April 27, 2010, 11:23am

Orioles

The Orioles have officially purchased Alfredo Simon's contract from Triple-A Norfolk, and Kam Mickolio has been optioned to the Tides. Simon is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four games, including three starts, for the Tides. The Orioles also designated reliever Wilfrido Perez for assignment to create room for Simon on the 40-man roster, which is a shocker. Perez was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA and three saves with Double-A Bowie. He's given up six earned runs and walked five in five innings. Koji...

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Looking ahead

April 27, 2010, 5:17am

Orioles

The Orioles are back home today, and I'll be settling into my press box seat around 3 p.m. The moves haven't been particularly bold, but president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is massaging the roster while trying to pump more life into the team. Continuing efforts to support manager Dave Trembley, MacPhail will add reliever Alfredo Simon to the bullpen for tonight's game, most likely at Kam Mickolio's expense because the right-hander has options remaining. MacPhail already...

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Bergesen feels ready to return

April 26, 2010, 12:35pm

Orioles

I just got off the phone with Brad Bergesen, who had boarded the team bus after Triple-A Norfolk's game in Charlotte. Bergesen is hopeful that yesterday's start will be his last with the Tides. Nothing against the club, of course, but he'd like another turn in the Orioles' rotation. It would be a major surprise if the Orioles bypassed Bergesen on Saturday. He did enough yesterday to leave team officials encouraged, allowing only two runs over seven innings, walking none and getting 14...

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Rolling with the Tides (updated)

April 26, 2010, 9:42am

Orioles

Josh Bell has homered twice today and driven in three runs for Triple-A Norfolk, which trails Charlotte, 9-7, in the eighth inning. Update: Both homers came off Charlotte right-hander Matt Zaleski, who entered the game with a 2-0 record and 3.50 ERA in three starts. Bell's bat is heating up. He's collected three more hits to raise his average to .254. He's belted three homers in his last two games and has hit safely in seven of his last eight, going 11-for-32 with seven RBIs. Troy Patton...

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P. Figueroa honored

April 26, 2010, 8:20am

Orioles

Double- A Bowie infielder Paco Figueroa has been named the Eastern League's Player of the Week after batting .481 from the leadoff spot. He also homered, collected seven RBIs and scored eight runs. Figueroa, the twin brother of Bowie's Danny Figueroa, has a six-game hitting streak. He's also the Baysox's first Player of the Week since Nolan Reimold accomplished the feat on Sept. 1, 2008. To keep the good vibe going, Figueroa has vowed to injure his Achilles. Left-hander Troy Patton is...

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Orioles

This and that

April 26, 2010, 5:44am

Orioles

Another off-day brings another 24 hours on the Dave Trembley Watch. I'll say this much: If the Orioles were ready to make a change, yesterday's game didn't influence the decision. Andy MacPhail doesn't wake up Sunday morning and think, "OK, one more loss today and he's gone." A series finale in Boston doesn't hold that much significance. I've seen managers and coaches fired during small winning streaks. Cla Meredith didn't save Trembley's job by getting the last two outs. If...

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Strange day indeed

April 25, 2010, 1:20pm

Orioles

Could someone please explain this bizarre ritual to me? The Orioles are lining up and slapping hands on the field. Players are smiling. I'm so confused. Hold on...I'm told that's what happens when a team is victorious. I'm waiting for confirmation. Dave Trembley recaps the O's 7-6 win over the Red Sox with Mark Viviano The Orioles have won three games this season. One more and they eliminate the Montreal Canadians. Jim Johnson didn't have to worry about getting the save today....

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Last word on Bergesen

April 25, 2010, 12:28pm

Orioles

The most recent line I posted on Brad Bergesen turned out to be his final one. Bergesen allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings today for Triple-A Norfolk, with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 81 pitches, 56 for strikes. He got 14 ground ball outs and two fly ball outs. Bergesen could be recalled to make Saturday's start against the Red Sox at Camden Yards, though Jake Arrieta deserves serious consideration. It's nice to have choices. Alfredo Simon tossed a scoreless eighth...

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Fighting back (w/Okajima stat added)

April 25, 2010, 12:03pm

Orioles

If I had more time, I'd check the Red Sox blogs to find out whether fans are ripping manager Terry Francona for allowing Hideki Okajima to pitch to Miguel Tejada in the seventh inning. Before today, Okajima was 0-3 with a 5.84 ERA and four blown saves lifetime against the Orioles. He allowed 25 hits in 24 2/3 innings. They've always had his number, for whatever reason. Tejada figured out how to avoid being robbed again by third baseman Adrian Beltre: Launch the ball over his head for a...

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Of course it happened (updated)

April 25, 2010, 11:31am

Orioles

David Hernandez took a shutout into the sixth inning, but he kept walking the leadoff hitter, which is a recipe for failure. A leadoff walk and two straight hits tied the game and brought left-hander Mark Hendrickson into the game to face two lefties. David Ortiz grounds a run-scoring single into right-center field and J.D. Drew lifts a sacrifice fly. Boston 3, Orioles 1. Hernandez is charged with three runs and four hits in five-plus innings, and another reliever is scuffling. The Orioles...

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A good time to vent (updated)

April 25, 2010, 10:43am

Orioles

If manager Dave Trembley wanted to release some frustration - like about 18 games worth - he missed a golden opportunity in the third inning. The second base umpire ruled that Ty Wigginton's foot came off the bag on an attempted force play. Wigginton got the out at first, but the Red Sox ended up with a runner, Jeremy Hermida, in scoring position. Replays seemed to indicate that Hermida was out, and I fully expected Trembley to go ballistic. Or Earl Weaver. Instead, Trembley remained calm...

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Did you see it coming?

April 25, 2010, 10:02am

Orioles

How many fans predicted back in the early days of spring training that Rhyne Hughes would double in the second inning of an April 25 game at Fenway Park, Craig Tatum would follow with a run-scoring double off the Green Monster, and Cesar Izturis would single while batting from the right side against a right-handed pitcher? Go to the window and collect your money. Izturis must find it easier to hit a knuckleball when going against the percentages. I'm in no position to argue. Hughes is now...

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No vote of confidence for Albers

April 25, 2010, 8:40am

Orioles

Orioles manager Dave Trembley met with the media a few minutes ago. Mark Viviano, who's handling the MASN sideline duties for this series, tells me that Trembley had an interesting response when asked whether he still had confidence in struggling reliever Matt Albers. "I don't know," Trembley said. "We'll see." I wouldn't call that a ringing endorsement. Jason Berken has warmed up the past two nights, but he hasn't pitched since Monday in Seattle. His previous appearance was April...

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Look who's leading off

April 25, 2010, 7:09am

Orioles

Nolan Reimold LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Rhyne Hughes 1B Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS David Hernandez RHP That Achilles must be feeling pretty good. Hernandez hasn't given up a home run in three starts this year after allowing 27 in 19 starts in 2009. The Orioles have lost his last 12 starts since he beat Oakland on Aug. 11, 2009. Hernandez is 0-9 in that span. Hernandez went 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts (including two quality...

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Orioles

Feeling no relief

April 25, 2010, 5:29am

Orioles

Adam Jones has homered in two straight games. Nick Markakis has lifted his average to .288. Matt Wieters is batting .318. Ty Wigginton has six homers and 12 RBIs. There's your morning cup of good news. Take small sips so it'll last longer. Once Koji Uehara comes off the disabled list, and it could happen after his two scheduled appearances at Double-A Bowie this week, the Orioles will have to make room for him in the bullpen. I'm assuming that Alberto Castillo will return to Triple-A...

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Big start for Bergy

April 24, 2010, 6:10pm

Orioles

I'm choosing to look ahead rather than spend another minute focusing on this game - unless this ninth-inning rally produces a tie or the go-ahead run. I reserve the right to change my thought process. Brad Bergesen makes his first, and perhaps only start for Triple-A Norfolk tomorrow. A quality outing could lead him back to the Orioles and that May 1 start against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. If he continues to struggle, he'll stay in the minors and the Orioles will have to find another...

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The decision (updated)

April 24, 2010, 5:25pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Dave Trembley could have left rookie Brian Matusz in the game to face Darnell McDonald with runners on the corners and none out in the seventh inning. He could have brought in right-hander Matt Albers, knowing Boston manager Terry Francona was going to send up a pinch-hitter as the potential go-ahead run. Trembley removed Matusz, who got a pitch up that Jeremy Hermida lined into right-center field for a single before coming out of the game. Francona countered with David Ortiz,...

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What I like about this game

April 24, 2010, 3:59pm

Orioles

Let's start with Brian Matusz being on the mound. It's such a comforting feeling - and he's just a rookie. I'll stop referring to him as a "kid" because he isn't pitching like one. Is there a way to bottle Matusz's changeup and distribute it to every other pitcher in the organization? Rhyne Hughes is aggressive in his first at-bat in the majors, wasting no time ripping a single into right field. One pitch, one RBI single. Welcome to the bigs. Adam Jones reaches on a bunt single....