Steve Melewski

Arrieta and Markakis co-star as O's beat Twins in opener

April 06, 2012, 1:47pm

Orioles

Arrieta and Markakis co-star as O's beat Twins in opener

It took the Orioles a long time to name their opening day starter. It looks like Buck Showalter made the right decision. Jake Arrieta blanked Minnesota on just two hits over seven innings as the Orioles beat the Twins 4-2 to win this afternoon in front of sellout crowd of 46,773. Arrieta's strong outing came 20 years to the day Rick Sutcliffe blanked Cleveland 2-0 in the first regular season game at Camden Yards. Josh Willingham's two-run homer off Troy Patton in the ninth ended the...

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O's getting to Pavano again

April 06, 2012, 12:26pm

Orioles

When the Orioles got six earned runs off Minnesota right-hander Carl Pavano on March 22, it was in a spring training game that didn't count. When they got to him today, it did count. In the spring outing, the Orioles had eight hits in just four innings against Pavano. Last year, in two starts against the Orioles, he was 0-2 with an ERA of 8.49, giving up 11 earned runs over 11 2/3 innings in two starts. Nick Markakis entered today 6-for-19 off the righty but without a career homer off him....

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Sutcliffe and Hoiles on first pitch and first game

April 06, 2012, 11:39am

Orioles

Sutcliffe and Hoiles on first pitch and first game

Twenty years ago today, right-hander Rick Sutcliffe threw a five-hit shutout to pitch the Orioles past Cleveland to open Camden Yards. He threw another strike today to help lift off the 2012 season. He said that 1992 opening day was among the most special in his career. "There was nothing like that one," Sutcliffe said. "There was always going to be another opening day, but there was never going to be another first opening day at Camden Yards." Sutcliffe remembered being a free agent a...

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For starters, it's Arrieta against Pavano

April 06, 2012, 10:35am

Orioles

For starters, it's Arrieta against Pavano

It was 20 years ago today that Rick Sutcliffe was the first pitcher to take the mound in a regular season game here at Camden Yards. He pitched the Orioles to a win with a five-hit shutout that today. If Jake Arrieta could come up with a performance even close to that this afternoon, the Orioles could start the 20th anniversary season at the Yard in fine fashion. Arrieta went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA last season. Arrieta is: * 7-6 with an ERA of 4.78 in 20 career Camden Yards starts. * 1-1 with...

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Reimold talks about batting leadoff

April 06, 2012, 9:22am

Orioles

When the Orioles come up to bat for the first time today, Nolan Reimold will be batting first. He has just 24 career at-bats in the leadoff spot, but will add to the total today. "I'm excited. Get up there first and set the tone. Try to get on base and score runs is my focus," he said. He was asked if he has to change anything about his approach when batting atop the order. "No, I don't think so. I mean, the goal is always to get on base and get hits. In that aspect, nothing changes....

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Nick Markakis pronounces himself ready to go

April 06, 2012, 8:43am

Orioles

Nick Markakis pronounces himself ready to go

Even though he had just 24 at-bats in spring training after offseason abdominal surgery, Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis today pronounced himself fit and ready to go for this season. "Yeah, physically, I think I'm about as good as I can be right now. It's just a matter of going out and playing now. All the rehab and hard work in spring training is behind me and now I can focus on the season," Markakis said. "I feel close. There are some things where I can tell I had surgery. But I'm...

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For now, it's still the Eastern League for Tim Bascom

April 05, 2012, 9:04pm

Orioles

For now, it's still the Eastern League for Tim Bascom

BOWIE, Md. - At a time when the Orioles brought what seemed like dozens and dozens of pitchers to major league camp this year, there was an omission that was somewhat glaring to me. The Orioles failed to provide a major league spring training invite to their 2011 minor league Pitcher of the Year, Tim Bascom. I'm not saying that Bascom is ready to make the O's staff right now or is ranked as one of the club's top prospects, but I felt he had done enough last year to warrant at least some...

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Machado on his first-pitch homer and the opening night win

April 05, 2012, 6:23pm

Orioles

Machado on his first-pitch homer and the opening night win

BOWIE, Md. - For the second year in a row, Manny Machado made an impressive debut with a new team. The Orioles top-rated position prospect must have a flair for the dramatic. With everyone paying close attention to his first at-bat in the Double-A Eastern League Thursday night, he smoked a first-pitch fastball from Harrisburg's Patrick Gilliam over the wall in left-center in the second inning as Bowie beat the Senators 4-2 in front of 4,268 chilled fans on opening night. "How about that? He...

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Machado struggle in the Eastern League? Not yet (updated, Baysox win)

April 05, 2012, 3:46pm

Orioles

Machado struggle in the Eastern League? Not yet (updated, Baysox win)

BOWIE, Md. - Manny Machado admitted before tonight's game that he could face some struggles as a 19-year-old playing in the Double-A Eastern League. So far he isn't having any issues. On the first pitch he saw tonight, batting with one out and none on in the last of the second, Machado homered to left-center off Harrisburg starter Patrick Gilliam. Machado hit a liner that got out of here pretty quickly to give Bowie a 1-0 lead on opening night at Prince George's Stadium. Last year, between...

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Rain keeps Bundy from debut tonight; Machado on Double-A debut

April 05, 2012, 2:06pm

Orioles

Rain keeps Bundy from debut tonight; Machado on Double-A debut

BOWIE, Md. - It is sunny but chilly, but there have been some intense thunderstorms in Asheville, N.C. today and Dylan Bundy's scheduled pro debut has been rained out. The Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will try again to open their season on Friday night. Bundy is now scheduled to be the starter tomorrow when the Shorebirds meet Asheville at 7:05 p.m. The rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch of Game One scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Both games of the...

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Machado and Schoop set for Double-A debuts tonight

April 05, 2012, 12:44pm

Orioles

Machado and Schoop set for Double-A debuts tonight

BOWIE, Md. - There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Bowie Baysox game tonight. Not only is it opening night, but the game will also feature the Double-A debuts of the Orioles' top two position prospects in Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. Machado, the club's first-round pick in 2010, will play at short and bat fifth tonight. Schoop, the Orioles 2011 minor league Player of the Year, will play second base and bat ninth. "When I heard they were coming here, I was excited and excited...

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LJ Hoes is going to have a new position in his future

April 05, 2012, 11:45am

Orioles

LJ Hoes is going to have a new position in his future

BOWIE, Md. - When the Double-A Bowie Baysox open a new season tonight at Prince George's Stadium against Harrisburg, LJ Hoes will bat third and play left field. But tomorrow night he will likely be at another position. About 10 days ago, the Orioles moved Hoes from left to center field at camp and he will likely begin playing center field for the Baysox tomorrow night. Bowie manager Gary Kendall said it might become a permanent change. "Could be. Everything is subject to change," Kendall...

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Looking at pitching depth and minor league rotations

April 05, 2012, 5:27am

Orioles

Looking at pitching depth and minor league rotations

Then there was one. One day left until the Orioles begin a new season and we finally get to see games that count. My trip to Norfolk, Va., was fun but the day was obviously busy and filled with the news of the finalization of the rotation and the completing of the 25-man roster. Buck Showalter made an interesting point a few times yesterday in talking about the final roster decisions. He basically said "it's not where you start, but where you finish." He pointed out that reporters and...

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Duquette on Brian Ward's suspension

April 04, 2012, 2:22pm

Orioles

NORFOLK, Va. - When Major League Baseball made the 50-game suspension of Orioles minor league catcher Brian Ward official today, Dan Duquette could comment on the situation with Ward for the first time. Here is the release from MLB: The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Baltimore Orioles Minor League catcher Brian Ward has received a 50-game suspension after a second violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse. The...

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Rotation finally is set

April 04, 2012, 1:36pm

Orioles

NORFOLK, Va - Buck Showalter just informed reporters of his season opening rotation and final roster move. The Orioles starters will be in order: Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter, Jason Hammel, Brian Matusz and Wei-Yin Chen. Zach Phillips has now officially been optioned to Triple-A, so Troy Patton and Darren O'Day get the final two roster spots. The Orioles also put lefty Tsuyoshi Wada officially on the DL retroactive to March 28, with a left elbow impingement. Catcher Taylor Teagarden was also...

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Matusz on his outing today and his spring

April 04, 2012, 1:02pm

Orioles

Matusz on his outing today and his spring

NORFOLK, Va. - As this game moves into the late innings, Brian Matusz is still awaiting word that he is in the Orioles' starting rotation. Barring a major surprise, he'll get that word from Buck Showalter after this game. Here is what Matusz said a few minutes ago outside the Orioles clubhouse. On today's outing: "I felt really good. From the start warming up with (Matt) Wieters in the bullpen. I had good stuff and attacked the zone early. Felt really good. Had a good feel for all...

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Matusz through four

April 04, 2012, 12:04pm

Orioles

NORFOLK, Va. - Lefty Brian Matusz has kept the Triple-A Norfolk Tides off the scoreboard through four innings today as the Orioles and Tides are scoreless on a now cloudy afternoon with a light rain falling at Harbor Park. Matusz, expected to be officially named to the O's rotation after today's game, has allowed just three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Matusz entered today's game with a spring record of 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. He walked just three batters with 22...

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O'Day and Patton claim final two bullpen spots

April 04, 2012, 11:28am

Orioles

O'Day and Patton claim final two bullpen spots

NORFOLK, Va. - Even though he was slowed by a groin strain in camp, Darren O'Day has made a major league opening day roster for the fifth time. Troy Patton will join him there. The Orioles have announced that they've optioned lefty Zach Phillips to Triple-A and Patton and O'Day claim the final spots in the bullpen. It was a mild surprised that O'Day made it and it means the O's 'pen begins the year with Patton as the only lefty. "Coming into camp, I saw how many talented pitchers we...

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Homecoming for Reynolds

April 04, 2012, 10:35am

Orioles

NORFOLK, Va. - Today is a homecoming for Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds. He lived in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area up until he left to play in college at the University of Virginia. He attended First Colonial High, which is 17 miles from Harbor Park. "It feels good (to come home)," Reynolds said. "I was telling those guys earlier, I've never played here before. I used to come to games here, so it is a pretty cool experience to be back here playing. "I was never a specific team's...

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Duquette on Machado, Schoop and Bundy

April 04, 2012, 10:05am

Orioles

NORFOLK, Va. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was asked today about Dylan Bundy's season. Does he see the O's 2011 top draft pick pitching all year with Single-A Delmarva, or could he moved up later to higher levels on the farm? "Dylan Bundy's year, I hope, is as a starting pitcher and that he gets into the flow of a routine that a good major league starting pitcher goes through in terms of understanding his delivery, throwing on the side, conditioning himself and staying...