Roch Kubatko

Donnie Hart on Parker Bridwell: "He's a bulldog" (O's down 4-2)

August 21, 2016, 9:46am

Orioles

Donnie Hart on Parker Bridwell: "He's a bulldog" (O's down 4-2)

When a pitcher or position player receives his first major league call up, the natural inclination is to scan the clubhouse for anyone who served as a former teammate in the farm system. The media's perfect baseball world includes a catcher giving his own scouting report on the new pitcher, having set the target for him at some juncture. Earlier today, I gladly settled for left-hander Donnie Hart offering his impressions of Parker Bridwell, who is in the Orioles' bullpen as we wait through a...

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Notes on Tillman, the bullpen, Bridwell and more

August 21, 2016, 8:53am

Orioles

Notes on Tillman, the bullpen, Bridwell and more

Chris Tillman told Orioles manager Buck Showalter this morning that his right shoulder felt good following last night's start, which lasted two-plus innings in a 12-2 loss to the Astros. "Said he actually felt better today than he normally does after a start, which verifies last night. That's good news today," Showalter said. Reliever Darren O'Day is "actually doing better the last couple days," Showalter said. "That's good." The Orioles continue to scramble for fresh arms. T.J....

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Orioles lineup vs. Astros

August 21, 2016, 6:56am

Orioles

Chris Davis is in right field and Steve Pearce is playing first base and batting second for the Orioles in today's series finale against the Astros at Camden Yards. Nolan Reimold is in left field and batting ninth against Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel. Francisco Pena is behind the plate. For those of you looking ahead to the series against the Nationals, Dylan Bundy is starting Monday and Kevin Gausman on Tuesday. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Steve Pearce 1B Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo...

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Orioles call up Parker Bridwell

August 21, 2016, 6:32am

Orioles

The Orioles have recalled right-hander Parker Bridwell from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Odrisamer Despaigne in the bullpen, the latest move designed to provide long relief behind the starting pitcher. Bridwell will be making his major league debut with his first appearance. The Orioles selected Bridwell, now 25, in the ninth round of the 2010 draft out of Hereford (Tx.) High School. He was 1-1 with a 4.53 ERA in 18 appearances (seven starts) with Double-A Bowie this season, and he allowed one...

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More relief help and today's game

August 20, 2016, 9:17pm

Orioles

The Orioles are going through long relievers like Halloween candy. And if that isn't the perfect setup for a joke, I don't know what else to do here. They used Ubaldo Jimenez, Tyler Wilson and Vance Worley on Friday night. They optioned Wilson, called up Odrisamer Despaigne, used him for three-plus innings last night and optioned him. Parker Bridwell has emerged as a legitimate bullpen candidate and he may have gotten the call yesterday if the Orioles decided to bring up two relievers....

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Orioles option Despaigne (plus Showalter quotes)

August 20, 2016, 7:16pm

Orioles

The Orioles optioned right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne to Triple-A Norfolk tonight after he worked three innings in relief in a 12-2 loss to the Astros at Camden Yards. Despaigne was set to stay for only one game if he needed to work multiple innings, and it became necessary after starter Chris Tillman failed to get an out in the third. A corresponding move will be announced Sunday morning. Manager Buck Showalter noted the challenge of getting a pitcher to Camden Yards with Triple-A Norfolk...

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Tillman leaves early, Flaherty pitches, Orioles lose 12-2

August 20, 2016, 6:28pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman couldn't locate his pitches tonight and his velocity was down, the fastball sitting in the upper 80s. These are disturbing signs for a pitcher who had to be pushed back due to a sore right shoulder. Also disturbing is the latest loss to the Astros, which included Ryan Flaherty's pitching debut in the ninth inning, and the threat of losing another home series. Tillman couldn't get an out in the third inning and was done after 67 pitches, only 33 of them strikes. He allowed six...

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orioles buck showalter chris davis chris tillman featured_sidebar jonathan schoop odrisamer despaigne ryan flaherty steve pearce frontstory_orioles2

Bundy has minimal concerns over lower velocity (O's down 8-1)

August 20, 2016, 2:28pm

Orioles

Bundy has minimal concerns over lower velocity (O's down 8-1)

Though the Orioles haven't confirmed their rotation for the two-game series against the Nationals at Camden Yards, Dylan Bundy is expected to stay in turn and pitch in Monday's opener. Manager Buck Showalter didn't hint at any adjustments. Bundy held the Giants to one run over 5 1/3 innings on Aug. 12 and allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Red Sox on Wednesday after taking Chris Tillman's turn. Tillman was pushed back to tonight because of discomfort in his right...

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Notes on Wieters, Despaigne and more

August 20, 2016, 1:36pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects catcher Matt Wieters to remain on paternity leave at least through Sunday's game at Camden Yards. Wieters and wife Maria are at the hospital and doctors induced labor this morning. Wieters can stay away from the team for a maximum of three days. Showalter said reports on Odrisamer Despaigne, recalled today from Triple-A Norfolk, show that the right-hander is "throwing the ball well." Despaigne is the long reliever tonight if starter Chris...

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Orioles roster moves and lineup

August 20, 2016, 11:25am

Orioles

The Orioles have placed catcher Matt Wieters on paternity leave and recalled pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne and catcher Francisco Pena from Triple-A Norfolk. Wieters is joining his wife for the birth of their second son. He can be away from the team for a maximum of three days. Despaigne, 29, registered a 3.48 ERA in 15 starts with Norfolk this season and allowed one earned run in his last two starts over nine innings. He's 0-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Orioles, who...

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Orioles turning to Tillman tonight

August 19, 2016, 7:36pm

Orioles

The Orioles are making one roster move for sure today, with a bullpen spot open after they optioned Tyler Wilson late last night. They're also waiting for catcher Matt Wieters to go on paternity leave, figuring it could happen anytime starting this afternoon. Pedro Alvarez's shot to right field last night assured the Orioles of hitting five or more home runs in a game for the seventh time this season, tops in the majors. But they also needed to stop the other team from joining the party. If...

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Wilson optioned to Norfolk

August 19, 2016, 7:13pm

Orioles

The Orioles optioned right-hander Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk following tonight's 15-8 loss to the Astros at Camden Yards. They need a long reliever after using three tonight, including Wilson, who was charged with four runs and five hits in two innings. He also let an inherited runner score and surrendered two home runs. Wilson's ERA has risen to 5.38 in 20 games (13 starts) spanning 90 1/3 innings. Repeating what I posted earlier, Wilson retired all 12 Rockies he faced on July 26, but...

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Orioles' early power display wasted in 15-8 loss (with quotes)

August 19, 2016, 6:09pm

Orioles

Wade Miley's reputation for working fast unfortunately expanded tonight to include being done after only 44 pitches. The Orioles became the first team to hit four home runs before making an out, according the STATS. Their first inning was epic. The collapse that ensued wasn't far off. Miley allowed five runs in the second as the Astros also batted around and manager Buck Showalter removed him after 1 2/3 innings with his team behind 6-5. The Orioles lost 15-8 before 34,422 at Camden Yards,...

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Tonight's game holds special meaning to Davis (O's down 14-8)

August 19, 2016, 3:03pm

Orioles

Tonight's game holds special meaning to Davis (O's down 14-8)

Chris Davis isn't the type to request items from his playing career that can be kept as souvenirs and keepsakes. His sentimental side has its limits. But tonight is special. Tonight is Davis' 1,000th career game in the majors, a milestone achieved after years of trying to prove that he was more than a 4A player. More than a guy who could destroy baseballs in the high minors, but never stick at the highest level. Davis asked manager Buck Showalter for the lineup card to tonight's game against...

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Showalter on Rickard, O'Day and Hardy

August 19, 2016, 1:53pm

Orioles

Outfielder Joey Rickard is back in Sarasota after having his right thumb examined Monday in Baltimore. Back to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, the splint worn for another two-to-three weeks. Back to reminding manager Buck Showalter how much his absence is felt on the team. "I'm really hoping the two-to-three weeks is two weeks and hoping that he gets moving," Showalter said. "We miss him. We've been without him for quite a while. He brought a lot of things to us that we've been trying to...

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Darren O'Day on his injury and missing the competition

August 19, 2016, 1:16pm

Orioles

Darren O'Day on his injury and missing the competition

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day woke up this morning with his right shoulder feeling much better, the improvement significant enough to provide encouragement following updates that noted only how he was "inching along." However, O'Day still hasn't been cleared to throw and can't provide any timetables. He's quite literally in day-to-day mode. He's also mad at himself for trying to pitch through the pain. The Orioles placed O'Day on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 12 with a strained...

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Orioles lineup vs. Astros

August 19, 2016, 10:51am

Orioles

The Orioles are trotting out a familiar lineup tonight for their second game against the Astros. No reason to change it after last night's offensive explosion. Hyun Soo Kim is in left field again and batting second. Chris Davis, with three home runs in the last two nights, is playing first base and batting cleanup. Mark Trumbo is in right field at batting fifth. Matt Wieters is behind the plate. J.J. Hardy is celebrating his 34th birthday today. Last night, he became only the second Oriole to...

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Miley: "Just got to manage innings better"

August 18, 2016, 7:54pm

Orioles

Miley: "Just got to manage innings better"

Wade Miley never said that he wanted to come into Baltimore like a wrecking ball. That was me just hoping that I could make another Miley Cyrus reference, as if increasing my total also would somehow bump up my salary. (For the record, I didn't want to come into Baltimore like a wrecking ball. More like a rolling stone, based entirely on my name.) Miley has made three starts since the Orioles acquired him from the Mariners for minor league left-hander Ariel Miranda, whose departure robbed me...

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Orioles risk spoiling Gausman in 13-5 win (with quotes)

August 18, 2016, 5:48pm

Orioles

Kevin Gausman received 12 runs tonight. Hyun Soo Kim hit a triple. The game was delayed while unicorns unrolled the tarp in anticipation of rain. Only two of these statements are true. Take your time. (It should have been obvious that head groundskeeper Nicole McFadyen never would allow unicorns on her field and certainly not with the radar showing clear skies.) Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer off Astros rookie Joe Musgrove in the first inning, J.J. Hardy homered twice, Manny Machado and...

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Can last night's home run get Davis on a roll? (O's lead 12-5)

August 18, 2016, 2:54pm

Orioles

Can last night's home run get Davis on a roll? (O's lead 12-5)

No matter how many at-bats have ended with Chris Davis walking back to the dugout or making a sharp turn toward it, he's always believed that he's one at-bat away from going on one of his familiar tears. Davis is batting .163/.305/.265 since the All-Star break, with 43 strikeouts in 98 at-bats, but his third home run landed on Eutaw Street in last night's 8-1, six-inning loss to the Red Sox. One at-bat away? "I think that way about all our guys," said manager Buck Showalter, who returned...