Roch Kubatko

Talking about Tillman

October 08, 2017, 5:39pm

Orioles

If I decide to rank the frequency of certain questions directed at me, especially in radio interviews, anything pertaining to Chris Tillman is bound to be near the top of the list. What happened to Tillman? What was wrong with Tillman? I can offer theories and repeat how Tillman kept insisting that the condition of his right shoulder wasn't an issue. He was fine physically. It seemed to be more mechanical. If it happened to be something simple, Tillman probably would have been able to correct...

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Taking the rotation for another spin

October 07, 2017, 6:20am

Orioles

While waiting to find out which playoff games are airing on Animal Planet and Cartoon Network ... We can spend the bulk of the winter talking about the Orioles rotation and how they can find upgrades without breaking the bank or trading away every prospect in the farm system. Spoiler alert: There are no easy answers. They really could use a proven ace who doesn't come with disclaimers such as, "Needs to take the next step." But can anyone reasonably expect them to get into a bidding war for...

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Talking about defense, RISP, averages vs. lefties and more

October 06, 2017, 7:42pm

Orioles

Talking about defense, RISP, averages vs. lefties and more

Manager Buck Showalter has expressed concern over the Orioles' defensive decline and it will be addressed in the offseason and spring training. I'm not sure how the roster can be adjusted with so many positions appearing to be set. Adam Jones has graded poorly in center field if you peruse the defensive metrics - his ultimate zone rating (UZR) the past two seasons is -10.1 and -13.3 - but I haven't been given any indication that he could move to a corner spot. Not yet, anyway. Trey Mancini...

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Flaherty on free agency: "I have a lot of loyalty to this team"

October 05, 2017, 4:39pm

Orioles

If anyone needs further proof that time passes quickly, consider that Orioles utility infielder Ryan Flaherty is entering free agency. The same Ryan Flaherty who joined the Orioles as a Rule 5 pick at the 2011 Winter Meetings in Dallas. One month after they hired Dan Duquette as executive vice president of baseball operations. The Orioles didn't make a big splash at the meetings. They selected Flaherty and acquired left-hander Dana Eveland from the Dodgers for minor league outfielder Tyler...

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Duquette on "stand-up guys" Hardy and Tillman

October 04, 2017, 12:39pm

Orioles

Duquette on "stand-up guys" Hardy and Tillman

As Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with the beat crew Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field, a variety of questions fielded inside the Rays public relations office in the back of the press box, he broke away from a particular topic to pay tribute to two pending free agents. Two players who have been instrumental in the franchise's climb from 14 consecutive losing seasons to three playoff appearances in six years. Shortstop J.J. Hardy knows that the Orioles aren't picking up...

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Davis wants entire coaching staff to return in 2018

October 03, 2017, 7:29pm

Orioles

Davis wants entire coaching staff to return in 2018

Coaching vacancies in baseball are opening up at a rapid pace, with a handful of teams already making changes before their seasons are cold. According to various reports, the Cardinals need a pitching coach, the Royals need a pitching coach and bench coach, the Phillies need a manager who's likely to make wholesale changes to the staff, the Mets need a manager and pitching coach with more changes perhaps forthcoming, and the Mariners rearranged their staff like furniture. And that's just off...

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O'Day to receive Bob Feller Act of Valor Award

October 03, 2017, 10:41am

Orioles

O'Day to receive Bob Feller Act of Valor Award

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day has been selected as one of the six recipients of the 2017 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award. O'Day is joined by Tom Seaver, Chief Petty Officer Edmundo Brantes, Training Support Center Great Lakes, Unmanned Patrol Squadron ONE NINE (VUP-19) and Staff Sergeant Adam Plambeck. The award is given each year to a player who reflects the values, integrity and dedication to serving our country that Bob Feller possessed. Other nominees included the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia,...

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Clearing payroll for pitching and more on Bancells' retirement

October 02, 2017, 4:24pm

Orioles

Clearing payroll for pitching and more on Bancells' retirement

The Orioles will head into the offseason with seven confirmed free agents, two players with 2018 team options in their contracts that likely will be turned into buyouts and a catcher who holds a player option. There's a significant amount of payroll that can be shed while the Orioles attempt to reload, as executive vice president Dan Duqeutte termed it before the final game. "We're going to have to go out and find some pitching," he said. "We do have a number of players that have played...

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What went wrong in 2017

October 01, 2017, 6:15pm

Orioles

TAMPA - Let the offseason begin. There will be a quiet period for the Orioles while the playoffs unfold. Teams are discouraged from making any major announcements or moves. And yes, I just teed up a few of you jokesters. You're welcome. Today is a time for reflection unless the images are too disturbing. Images of the No. 1 starter having a sore shoulder, losing his spot in the rotation and posting a 7.84 ERA and 1.892 WHIP. Of the closer going on the disabled list twice and being shut down in...

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Orioles finish 2017 in last place after 6-0 loss

October 01, 2017, 2:42pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles will close out the 2017 season with 19 losses in their last 23 games. They won't avoid finishing in last place. They must regroup before they can reload. They could have used a reset button. Kevin Gausman is able to leave on a high note, holding the Rays to one run today over seven innings, but the offensive deficiencies played out again in a 6-0 loss before an announced crowd of 16,018 at Tropicana Field. Left-hander Blake Snell limited the Orioles to two...

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Duquette: "In the AL East you reload" (O's lose 6-0)

October 01, 2017, 12:08pm

Orioles

Duquette: "In the AL East you reload" (O's lose 6-0)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As the Orioles attempt today to win for only the fifth time in 23 games, executive vice president Dan Duquette again made it clear that he isn't going to tear down the club. Top veterans won't be shopped. The playoffs remain the primary goal in 2018. "You know, this is the big leagues," he said. "I don't know who rebuilds in the American League East. In the American League East you reload, OK? And then you try to have as good a team as you can the next season as you...

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austin hays buck showalter chance sisco dan duquette jonathan schoop kevin gausman manny machado orioles richie bancells trey mancini zach britton featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Chris Davis on his "extremely frustrating" season

October 01, 2017, 11:02am

Orioles

Chris Davis on his "extremely frustrating" season

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis wasn't in today's lineup until putting in the request with manager Buck Showalter. He's back at first base to close out a season that he termed "inexcusable." Davis asked to meet with the Orioles beat writers at Tropicana Field, joking that he wanted to let his hair down and "maybe get a little emotional." But he turned serious as soon as the recorders were running. "It's one of the more frustrating seasons that I can remember, just with the (oblique)...

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Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells retiring

October 01, 2017, 10:37am

Orioles

Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells retiring

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette stressed again today that the club will "reload" over the winter and avoid a total rebuild after finishing below .500 for the first time since 2011. Duquette said the rotation must be rebuilt and he'll search for a left-handed starter, which seemed to indicate that the Orioles wouldn't pick up Wade Miley's $12 million option. However, Duquette didn't offer confirmation while meeting with the traveling beat...

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Orioles and Rays lineups (updated)

October 01, 2017, 8:00am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis is in the lineup against Rays left-hander Blake Snell after all. The Orioles initially had him on the bench as they conclude their season at Tropicana Field. The first lineup posted had Trey Mancini playing first base and Joey Rickard in left. The revised version has Mancini in left and Rickard playing right field. Anthony Santander, originally slated to be the right fielder, is the odd man out. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter. Austin Hays remains in...

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The season officially ends today

September 30, 2017, 5:49pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - We're reached Game No. 162 in a season that offered such promise in May and a glimmer of hope in August, but otherwise disappointed to the highest degree. It could result in the lowest finish. No playoffs in another odd year. A losing record for the first time since 2011. A clear winter agenda for anyone who bothered to pay the slightest bit of attention. Executive vice president Dan Duquette will list the rotation as the main priority. It also should be the second and...

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adam jones buck showalter chris davis dan duquette j.j. hardy kevin gausman orioles trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Orioles avoid shutout but lose again, 4-3 (with quotes)

September 30, 2017, 4:58pm

Orioles

ST. PETERBURG, Fla. - The Orioles weren't going to get a deep start tonight from Miguel Castro. They knew it was going to be a bullpen game. The only question was how long it would take for the phone to ring. Castro escaped jams in back-to-back innings before Brad Miller broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a three-run homer, and the Orioles lost again 4-3 before an announced crowd of 15,416 at Tropicana Field. The Orioles have dropped 18 of their last 22 games and are 75-86 overall and...

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Showalter on resting players, Jones rejects rebuild (O's down 4-2)

September 30, 2017, 2:08pm

Orioles

Showalter on resting players, Jones rejects rebuild (O's down 4-2)

ST. PETERBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter made the usual rounds earlier today to check on the health of certain players and the availability of his relievers. Shortstop Tim Beckham's hamstring tightened on him again last night, and he isn't likely to play again this weekend. Center fielder Adam Jones is resigned to sitting out the entire road trip that wraps up the 2017 season. "I talk to him every day about it," Showalter said. "We get updated. He's played what, 147 games this...

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Adam Jones on his season, his future and the club's needs

September 30, 2017, 1:31pm

Orioles

Adam Jones on his season, his future and the club's needs

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones remains out of the lineup tonight and won't play again in 2017. Jones hasn't been on the field since Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, when he received two at-bats before exiting again with soreness in his legs. He left on a roll with eight hits in 18 at-bats over his last five games, but he didn't hit a home run in September. "Physically, I feel better," he said earlier today while meeting with the beat writers on the trip. "I just...

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Orioles and Rays lineups

September 30, 2017, 11:09am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jonathan Schoop is leading off tonight while Tim Beckham is on the bench with a sore hamstring. The Orioles' lineup doesn't include Adam Jones. Austin Hays remains the center fielder. Pedro Ãlvarez is the cleanup hitter tonight. Chance Sisco is catching Miguel Castro. For the Orioles Jonathan Schoop 2B Trey Mancini LF Manny Machado 3B Pedro Ãlvarez DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Chance Sisco C Austin Hays CF Anthony Santander RF Miguel Castro RHP For the Rays...

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Coolbaugh on Santander: "I like what I see from him"

September 29, 2017, 7:22pm

Orioles

Coolbaugh on Santander: "I like what I see from him"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander cooled off last night inside Tropicana Field, where it's always 72 degrees and able to withstand heavy rains like the kind that pummeled it for much of the game. Santander had five hits in his last eight at-bats, including three doubles, before going 0-for-4 in the Orioles' 7-0 loss to the Rays. The Orioles were held to four hits and suffered their 11th shutout of the season. Their 80 runs in September are the fewest in the majors. Manager...