The tarp has been peeled back from the infield at Camden Yards and the sun is trying to peek through the clouds. Though it's NFL weather in Baltimore, the Orioles still could play the Rays tonight despite the ominous forecast that caused the team to consider making contingency plans in case of a postponement.
The Nationals already have postponed their game. Meanwhile, Orioles manager Buck Showalter just stepped out of the dugout to check the conditions at his ballpark and headed back to his...
Freezing rain, snow, high winds, temperatures in the 20s.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack - plus a scarf, mittens, hot chocolate and a set of jumper cables shoved up my nose to keep me functioning.
(Nose was my second choice. I was advised by a friend that my first choice probably would get me fired.)
Let's play snow ball tonight at Camden Yards while also pausing ever so briefly to appreciate Tropicana Field and all of its climate-controlled goodness. And I do mean briefly. The Orioles'...
The Orioles are 4-0 for the first time since 2011, and a win in their next game would make them 5-0 for the first time since 1970.
Can they run the table?
Tonight's 6-1 win over the Rays gave the Orioles at least four wins in a row to start a season for the eighth time in franchise history.
Chris Tillman rebounded from a shaky first inning to hold the Rays to one run through the fifth.
"It was similar to Ubaldo (Jimenez) last night," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's going to be hard to...
The Orioles shifted their infield tonight against the second batter of the game, Tampa Bay first baseman Logan Morrison, a left-handed hitter played to pull the ball.
Ryan Flaherty abandoned third base and moved over to second, with Jonathan Schoop sliding to his left and back toward right field. Manny Machado was alone on the left side of the infield, manning the shortstop position.
Machado often takes that spot in the shift, but he's actually playing it tonight.
Morrison hit a sharp ground...
With frigid temperatures and the possibility of snow in Saturday's forecast, Kevin Gausman may have his start at Double-A Bowie pushed back to Sunday.
Gausman attended high school in Colorado and is used to firing mid-90s fastballs in the snow. He said he's pitched while wearing a hooded sweatshirt. But the Orioles aren't going to expose him to those elements while he's trying to return from right shoulder tendinitis.
Asked if he's concerned about Gausman pitching on Saturday in...
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of tonight's lineup with tightness in his calf.
Hardy felt the calf tighten up shortly before last night's rain delay. He received treatment and noticed improvement after taking the field again. Hardy was fine earlier today, but the calf stiffened as he did some running.
"I just kind of made the decision we're going to back off it today," said manager Buck Showalter. "Also, with the weather tomorrow, to have the potential to potentially have two days....
After hitting his first career home run in last night's win against the Twins, Joey Rickard is back in the leadoff spot and in center field as the Orioles open a three-game series with Tampa Bay.
Adam Jones spoke earlier in the clubhouse and said he is feeling better and hopes to return to the lineup this weekend, but doesn't feel a huge sense of urgency given the success of Rickard and Nolan Reimold.
Tonight's lineup features another twist, however. Manny Machado will slide over to the...
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones isn't in tonight's lineup for the series opener against the Rays. However, he says that he's feeling much better and expects to play this weekend.
Jones sat out last night's game with soreness in his rib area. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard played center field and Nolan Reimold was in left.
"Good. A lot better than yesterday," he said today while sitting at his locker. "Just going to make sure that it's right. Take another day and see how it feels. It's...
During his playing days, Cal Ripken Jr. would change stances about as often as manager's change their lineups. Or their socks, if Ripken was slumping or trying to compensate for a sore back.
J.J. Hardy isn't trying to uphold a tradition among Orioles shortstops, but he's been known to experiment, too. While Ripken might bend more at the knees or straighten up, Hardy is known more to adjust his hands.
Check out what he's doing so far this week.
Hardy has lowered his hands again, which many...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said no tests are scheduled for Adam Jones and he remains hopeful that the center fielder will return to the lineup on Friday for the series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards.
Jones is bothered by discomfort in his rib area. The Orioles will check him again after he arrives at the ballpark.
"Right now we're in pretty good shape," Showalter said, "but we'll see what tomorrow brings."
Showalter wasn't going to use closer Zach Britton, Brad Brach or...
Ubaldo Jimenez wasn't going to get the best of Joe Mauer in every at-bat. It just seemed that way.
The Twins' first baseman was 1-for-14 against Jimenez until tonight, when he homered to right-center field with two outs in the first inning to put the Orioles in an early hole.
Brian Dozier struck out and Danny Santana was thrown out trying to steal after reaching on an infield bunt single. Mauer stepped to the plate and spit on the odds.
Miguel Sano followed with a single, the third hit off...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter eased into specifics today on Adam Jones' injury, saying there were "a lot of reasons" why the center fielder's name didn't appear in the lineup.
"I'm trying to get everybody a start before we get through this homestand," Showalter said. "Got Caleb (Joseph) and Nolan (Reimold) in there."
Jones is out because he was "a little sore in the rib area yesterday," Showalter said.
"He wants to play. He says he's fine. Probably not real happy with the old...
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is out of tonight's lineup for the series finale against the Twins due to soreness in his rib area, according to manager Buck Showalter. Jones wasn't at his locker while the media was allowed inside the clubhouse.
Showalter said Jones insists that he's fine and wants to play, but the Orioles aren't taking any chances in the first week of the season. And Showalter isn't using the word "oblique."
"He's probably not real happy with the old manager,"...
Still in search of pitching to improve their depth in the system, the Orioles worked out right-hander Eric Fornataro yesterday at Camden Yards.
Fornataro, 28, spent last season at Triple-A Syracuse in the Nationals' organization and went 1-4 with a 5.54 ERA in 36 games, including one start. He posted a 2.57 ERA in 44 games with Triple-A Memphis in 2014.
The Nats selected Fornataro off waivers from the Cardinals on Nov. 3, 2014 and released him on July 25, 2015.
The Cardinals chose Fornataro in...
The Orioles made a minor league trade this morning, acquiring left-hander Jayson Aquino from the Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations. Aquino has been optioned to Double-A Bowie.
Aquino, 23, pitched in three organizations last summer - none of them being the Cardinals.
Aquino went 5-11 with a 3.28 ERA in a career-high 24 starts between Single-A Lynchburg (Indians), Dunedin (Blue Jays) and Bradenton (Pirates). His ERA ranked 16th among high-level Single-A pitchers, and his 137 1/3...
The left side of the Orioles clubhouse belongs to the pitchers, the row broken up into two sections to allow access to the shower area. There's light spillage to other areas, with Ubaldo Jimenez on the opposite side and Vance Worley against the back wall, but the left dominates.
To find rookie Tyler Wilson, you must go all the way to the end of the row before reaching the cafeteria. He's tucked in a corner beside Chris Tillman, a spot he wouldn't dare surrender.
"Tilly's awesome," said...
The Orioles have won their first two games in 2016. They just have 160 to go for that elusive undefeated season.
Then come the playoffs, of course.
Zach Britton recorded his 74th career save to tie Eddie Watt for seventh on the Orioles' all-time list. He ranks third among left-handers behind Tippy Martinez (105) and Randy Myers (76).
Manager Buck Showalter said he's unaware of any injury to center fielder Adam Jones, who's looked uncomfortable after a couple of swings in the first two games,...
The Orioles' first home run of the 2016 season came off the bat of first baseman Chris Davis.
In a lineup full of candidates, Davis seemed like the safe bet.
Davis' shot to straightaway center field broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning after the Twins knotted the score in the top half on Byron Buxton's leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and Joe Mauer's sacrifice fly to medium center.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson threw Davis a curveball, changeup, two-seam fastball and slider. May as well dig deep...
Jimmy Paredes hit off a tee today as part of his progression after being restricted to taking dry swings. Paredes is on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his left wrist.
Mark Trumbo will try to build on his four-hit day while returning to the cleanup spot. He sprayed the ball to all fields again on Monday.
"He's shown that ability," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's not going to sit there and ... I know how we pitched him and I know how they're going to try to pitch him. He...
It didn't take long for the Orioles to make the first adjustment to their rotation.
Chris Tillman will start Friday night against the Rays on three days' rest after working only two innings on opening day. Mike Wright will be pushed back to Saturday night.
The Rays are starting Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi. Manager Buck Showalter is withholding the identity of his No. 5 starter until making sure the weather doesn't impact any games this week.
Brian Matusz will pitch one inning...