Roch Kubatko

Roster expansion and remaining calm

September 01, 2016, 7:52pm

Orioles

The media will walk inside the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon and start inspecting the nameplates above the lockers. And there will be temporary lockers in the middle of the room to accommodate the newbies. It must be September. The Orioles will bring up a few guys today, with another wave arriving after the minor league seasons end on Monday. Catcher Caleb Joseph will be welcomed back after appearing in nine games with Triple-A Norfolk and going 10-for-40 with four RBIs - four more than...

Duquette on the team, trades and Rickard

September 01, 2016, 8:45am

Orioles

Duquette on the team, trades and Rickard

The Orioles will return to Camden Yards on Friday looking up in the division standings and beside them in the wild card race. A 12-14 July was followed by a 13-16 August and a tumble that leaves them in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. Three consecutive quality starts against the Blue Jays this week produced only one victory. Yovani Gallardo surrendered two home runs in the first inning last night, tossed five scoreless frames and took the loss. "The consistency of our run production and...

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Reflections on new reserve outfielders

August 31, 2016, 7:50pm

Orioles

I feel an obligation to start this morning's blog entry with the following disclaimer: The Orioles know that they need to upgrade their rotation. Did they do it? Not unless Drew Stubbs really is Drew Pomeranz and Michael Bourn is really ... not another backup outfielder. The Orioles filled a different need yesterday. The filled it twice. They seem confident that Adam Jones will return on Friday, but they wanted an extra outfielder who could play everywhere and was most comfortable in center....

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Showalter on Gallardo, acquistions and 5-3 loss (updated)

August 31, 2016, 7:05pm

Orioles

Showalter on Gallardo, acquistions and 5-3 loss (updated)

The Orioles' much-maligned rotation produced three straight quality starts against the Blue Jays. Yovani Gallardo was the latest tonight, retiring the last 10 batters he faced and leaving with three runs against him, all tallied in the first inning. It must have been the consolation prize. The Orioles dropped two of the three games, losing tonight 5-3 before 16,161 at Camden Yards. They're four games out of first place and tied with the Tigers for the second wild card spot. May their off day...

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Orioles acquire Bourn from Diamondbacks (O's lose 5-3)

August 31, 2016, 6:08pm

Orioles

The Orioles have completed their trade with the Diamondbacks tonight, acquiring veteran outfielder Michael Bourn in exchange for minor league outfielder Jason Heinrich. Joey Rickard was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Bourn on the 40-man roster. Bourn, 33, is batting .261/.307/.362 with 12 doubles, six triples, three home runs and 30 RBIs in 89 games with the Diamondbacks. He's a left-handed hitter to complement Drew Stubbs, a right-handed hitting outfielder claimed...

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Orioles reportedly on verge of acquiring Bourn (O's down 5-1)

August 31, 2016, 2:50pm

Orioles

The Orioles aren't finished with their attempts to improve their outfield depth. The Orioles and Diamondbacks have agreed in principle to a trade involving veteran Michael Bourn, as first reported by MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Multiple reports had the sides in serious discussions. The earlier waiver claim of outfielder Drew Stubbs didn't shift the Orioles' focus. Bourn, 33, is batting .261/.307/.362 with 12 doubles, six triples, three home runs and 30 RBIs in 89 games with the Diamondbacks....

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Duquette calls Stubbs "a good, solid, dependable defensive outfielder"

August 31, 2016, 1:51pm

Orioles

Duquette calls Stubbs "a good, solid, dependable defensive outfielder"

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette left open the possibility this afternoon that he could make another move before midnight. He's had ongoing talks with several teams, with pitching remaining a priority. In the meantime, he's acquired left-hander Kyle Lobstein from the Pirates and designated the reliever for assignment a few hours later to make room for outfielder Drew Stubbs on the 40-man roster. Stubbs has been claimed off release waivers from the Rangers and will join the...

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Orioles acquire Stubbs (plus other notes)

August 31, 2016, 12:51pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he anticipated at least one more trade to go down later today, perhaps before the first pitch. And according to FOXsports.com, the club has acquired outfielder Drew Stubbs, claimed off release waivers from the Rangers. The Orioles recently made the acquisition official. Executive vice president Dan Duquette has been searching for another outfielder, one who can play center field. Stubbs, 31, has appeared in 39 games between the Braves and Rangers and put...

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Hyun Soo Kim batting leadoff tonight

August 31, 2016, 11:34am

Orioles

The Orioles continue to experiment with leadoff hitters. Hyun Soo Kim will bat atop the order for the first time, as the Oriole go for the series win against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Adam Jones remains out of the lineup with a strained left hamstring. Nolan Reimold is in center field. Jonathan Schoop is batting second tonight. Chris Tillman threw off flat ground again today, as scheduled, and could move to a mound this weekend. The Orioles may wait until Friday to add new left-hander Kyle...

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Orioles acquire Lobstein from Pirates

August 31, 2016, 10:53am

Orioles

The Orioles may have found their left-handed specialist in time to include him on the postseason roster if they qualify. Executive vice president Dan Duquette acquired reliever Kyle Lobstein from the Pirates for minor league lefty Zach Phillips. No word yet on how the Orioles envision using him, but the splits suggest that he'd be a good fit in the bullpen. To make room for Lobstein on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated Triple-A Norfolk southpaw Ashur Tolliver for...

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Tonight's game and another roster deadline

August 30, 2016, 7:32pm

Orioles

Tonight's game and another roster deadline

Yovani Gallardo needs to be a fast healer, and not due to another health crisis. Gallardo turned in the shortest start of his career Friday night in New York, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and six hits in 1 1/3 innings. He lasted 41 pitches and the game unraveled as though Robert Redford squared it up. In his other four starts this month, Gallardo has surrendered 10 runs (nine earned) in 24 innings. Gallardo is making his third start against the Blue Jays this season. He faced them on June...

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Game played on field ends differently than paper version (quotes)

August 30, 2016, 5:43pm

Orioles

Game played on field ends differently than paper version (quotes)

A mismatch on paper. A no-brainer that the Orioles had no chance tonight with the Blue Jays starting left-hander J.A. Happ and the home team sending out Ubaldo Jimenez. Baseball is a funny game. For six innings, the Orioles had more than a chance. They also had a two-run lead. It disappeared with one out in the seventh on Michael Saunders' two-run shot to right field after Russell Martin's leadoff single. Back to reality. It reappeared in the eighth on Matt Wieters' two-run shot off Jason...

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Alvarez gets rare start vs. lefty, Reimold stays in center (O's lead 5-3)

August 30, 2016, 3:02pm

Orioles

Alvarez gets rare start vs. lefty, Reimold stays in center (O's lead 5-3)

With Adam Jones on the bench again tonight, the Orioles are breaking out another unique lineup that oozes creativity. Whether it does the same with runs, more important and less messy, will be known later. Steve Pearce is leading off for the second time in his career - and the second time since Sunday afternoon in New York. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Pedro Alvarez is batting second for the third time in his career and the first since his rookie season with the Pirates in...

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Updates on Jones, Tillman and roster expansion

August 30, 2016, 1:49pm

Orioles

Updates on Jones, Tillman and roster expansion

Lots to talk about this afternoon regarding injury updates and roster maneuvering leading to September expansion. Adam Jones took the field early again today to perform some drills with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and determine whether his strained left hamstring would prevent him from starting. "He's close, very close," manager Buck Showalter said. "Still feels just a little bit with one movement, but he's close. Could play him. Take a pretty good risk that he may not be with us...

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Orioles lineup and notes

August 30, 2016, 12:44pm

Orioles

Steve Pearce is leading off tonight and Nolan Reimold is in center field while Adam Jones sits out another game with a strained left hamstring. Manager Buck Showalter said Jones is "very close." "Still feels just a little bit with one movement," Showalter said. Pedro Alvarez is getting a rare start against a left-hander, Blue Jays 17-game winner J.A. Happ. Alvarez is batting second. Showalter said Chris Tillman may throw off a mound by the weekend, but starting on Sept. 9 or 10 no longer...

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Ondrusek and Borbon outrighted

August 30, 2016, 10:41am

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that they've outrighted reliever Logan Ondrusek and outfielder Julio Borbon to Double-A Bowie. Both players cleared waivers. Borbon again has accepted an outright assignment after being designated earlier this season. Ondrusek was designated on Saturday to make room for left-hander T.J. McFarland, who subsequently was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after clearing waivers. Ondrusek allowed seven earned runs in 6 1/3 innings with the Orioles. Borbon rejoined the Orioles...

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Jimenez vs. Happ tonight at Camden Yards

August 30, 2016, 7:47am

Orioles

Jimenez vs. Happ tonight at Camden Yards

Ubaldo Jimenez made it back into the rotation last week because a spot opened up and he had past success against the Nationals and in D.C. Jimenez remains in the rotation because Chris Tillman is still on the disabled list. It isn't due to his track record with the Blue Jays. Whatever the reasons, Jimenez must serve as stopper tonight and the Orioles must find a way to break loose offensively. A season is slipping away. Jimenez is 6-5 with a 4.91 ERA in 16 career games, 14 of them starts,...

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Expanded thoughts on September roster

August 29, 2016, 6:22pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has met with his staff to discuss possible call-ups for the September expanded roster. He intends to speak soon with executive vice president Dan Duquette and finalize the details. Showalter won't crowd the clubhouse and dugout, won't bring up pitchers and players to audition for next season. Anyone coming up is expected to contribute over the final month. Also, anyone coming up must be on the 40-man roster, which currently is full. "I met with the staff to get...

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Showalter speaks after 5-1 loss

August 29, 2016, 6:13pm

Orioles

Wade Miley retired the Blue Jays in order tonight in five of his seven innings. He set down the first 10 batters. He completed seven innings for the first time in six starts with the Orioles. A quality start couldn't prevent the Orioles from dropping four games out of first place in the American League East. Marco Estrada held the Orioles to one run, on J.J. Hardy's homer leading off the third, and the Blue Jays took the first game of this crucial series, 5-1, before 15,532 at Camden...

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Jones' hamstring injury opens leadoff door for Schoop (O's lose 5-1)

August 29, 2016, 3:00pm

Orioles

Jones' hamstring injury opens leadoff door for Schoop (O's lose 5-1)

By leading off tonight for the Orioles, Jonathan Schoop has started at eight of the nine spots in the lineup during parts of four seasons in the majors. All he needs is to inherit cleanup duties and he can run the table. Schoop has started 25 games in the second slot, one batting third, 20 batting fifth, 53 batting sixth, 63 batting seventh, 98 batting eighth and 82 batting ninth. Steve Pearce led off yesterday for the first time in his career and went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs....