Steve Melewski

As the long season wears on, Wieters elevates his game

August 29, 2011, 8:45pm

Orioles

As the long season wears on, Wieters elevates his game

Matt Wieters is playing a lot behind the plate again this year and carrying a heavy load at the demanding catcher position. But don't think Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't keeping track of just how much Wieters is on the field. When asked about Wieters' solid offensive numbers in August as he continues to play a lot, Showalter had a question for reporters. "We were looking the other day. If you count from the first day of the season (to now), how many off days do you think he has...

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Clubhouse comments from Simon and Hardy after Monday's loss

August 29, 2011, 6:28pm

Orioles

Clubhouse comments from Simon and Hardy after Monday's loss

Alfredo Simon gave his team a chance to win, but didn't get many runs to work with tonight against the Yankees. He took the loss despite allowing just four hits and three runs over seven innings. "I just felt great tonight," Simon said. "I gave up that run in the first inning after walking (Curtis) Granderson. After that, I tried to keep the game as close as I can to try to win. Today, we didn't get a lot of hits, that happened again. I lost the game, but didn't get a lot of support...

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One run short: Orioles lose series finale to New York

August 29, 2011, 5:39pm

Orioles

The Orioles had a chance for a series victory over the New York Yankees tonight, but lost 3-2 to wrap up the rain-shortened, four-game series. New York took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Mark Teixeira RBI double and the lead grew to 3-0 in the fourth on Nick Swisher's two-run homer. It was his 21st of the year and sixth over the last seven games. O's starter Alfredo Simon took the loss, giving up four hits and three runs over seven innings. He tied his career-high, throwing 114 pitches. The...

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Updating Greg Miclat

August 29, 2011, 3:58pm

Orioles

Double-A Bowie second baseman

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Manny Machado's day at Camden Yards

August 29, 2011, 1:48pm

Orioles

Manny Machado of the Frederick Keys is at Camden Yards today to go on the MASN O's Xtra pre-game show as guest tonight. He spent time this afternoon standing around the batting cage talking with Orioles players. "It's great, just to see what the guys are going through right now," Machado said. "Hopefully, you know, within the next two years I can be up here and do what they are doing." The Orioles' top pick in last year's draft, the 19-year-old Machado has been with Frederick since...

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A mixed bag for the young gun lefties on Sunday

August 28, 2011, 9:02pm

Orioles

A mixed bag for the young gun lefties on Sunday

If the Orioles are to start getting better, even a little, the young starting pitchers certainly have to take a step forward from what we have seen this year. On Sunday against the Yankees, Zach Britton clearly did that and Brian Matusz clearly did not. One out of two is better than 0-for and I still remain confident that Matusz will make that 2-for-2 - and maybe even before this season is over. It's probably a bit early to say Britton is pitching as well as he did early in the season, but...

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Comments from Brian Matusz and Mark Reynolds after a loss to NY

August 28, 2011, 7:14pm

Orioles

Comments from Brian Matusz and Mark Reynolds after a loss to NY

After he had given up six runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees tonight, a reporter asked Brian Matusz if he thought he had made any progress over his last two outings: "Yeah, I've made some progress, being able to be a little more consistent with the fastball," Matusz said after the Orioles 8-3 loss to New York. "Signs of good changeups today, but I've not been able to make the 0-2 pitch or the two-strike pitch and that's been hurting me. Especially to good hitters in tough...

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Yankees bash their way to win in nightcap to split the DH

August 28, 2011, 6:30pm

Orioles

Yankees bash their way to win in nightcap to split the DH

Well, the Yankees were not shutout in the second game of the split doubleheader at Camden Yards. New York hit five homers, three in a row in the sixth, in an 8-3 win over the Orioles after Zach Britton and the Birds had blanked them 2-0 earlier in the day. With the game tied 3-3 in the sixth, Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer off Brian Matusz and Nick Swisher followed with a solo shot. After Chris Jakubauskas came on for Matusz, Andruw Jones greeted him with a solo shot for a 7-3 lead. Brian...

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A couple of game notes from the nightcap

August 28, 2011, 4:49pm

Orioles

A couple of game notes from the nightcap

The Orioles and Yankees are tied 3-3 in the fourth inning of Game two of this split doubleheader as the Orioles are looking for their first seven-game win streak since an eight-game streak from April 22 to May 1, 2005. Brian Matusz entered tonight's start with a record of 2-3 and ERA of 2.56 in five career starts against New York and a career mark of 4-3 and ERA of 2.49 in 10 career starts against New York and Boston. This is Matusz's third start since coming back from the minors. Over the...

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Wieters talks about Britton's outing against New York

August 28, 2011, 1:27pm

Orioles

Wieters talks about Britton's outing against New York

Matt Wieters has been behind the plate a few times this year as Zach Britton had some strong outings, including the May 18 game when Britton allowed just one run (unearned) in seven innings against New York. But Wieters thought Britton's best outing of the season was today, when he blanked the Yankees on four singles over seven innings in a 2-0 win, the Orioles' sixth in a row. "I think that is the best (stuff) he has had with all three pitches all year," Wieters said, after Britton did...

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Britton talks about shutting down the Yankees

August 28, 2011, 12:54pm

Orioles

Britton talks about shutting down the Yankees

He had a shutout going, but had thrown 110 pitches through six innings today against New York. Zach Britton then went out and got three quick outs in the seventh, felt strong and was hoping manager Buck Showalter would keep him in the game, even after throwing a career-high 120 pitches. "I was about to ask him to go back out for the eighth," Britton said after pitching the Orioles past the Yankees 2-0. "I felt like the last 20 pitches I threw, I felt better than the first 100. That is nice...

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Britton blanks the Yanks as O's take game one of the day-night DH

August 28, 2011, 12:05pm

Orioles

Britton blanks the Yanks as O's take game one of the day-night DH

It was just about one month ago. Zach Britton did not survive the first inning in a loss at Yankee Stadium on July 30. He gave up nine runs and seven hits in just one-third of an inning. Today, he shut out the same club over seven innings, leading the Orioles to a 2-0 win over New York in game one of a day-night doubleheader. Britton allowed just four hits - all singles - over seven innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 120 pitches, 73 for strikes. His 120 pitches is a...

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Ryan Adams: "It's a huge opportunity for me"

August 28, 2011, 9:52am

Orioles

Ryan Adams: "It's a huge opportunity for me"

During Ryan Adams first stay with the Orioles this year, the second baseman had 23 at-bats over 25 games. In his most recent stint, he has 18 at-bats in five games with the club. This time, Adams is getting to play every day and he is 7-for-18 (.389) in the five games since his recall from Triple-A, with three doubles and two RBIs. "I'm definitely excited and it's a huge opportunity for me," Adams said this morning in the Orioles' clubhouse. "My approach right now is to go out there and...

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Minor league playoff updates on the GCL and DSL O's and Miclat's injury

August 28, 2011, 8:14am

Orioles

Minor league playoff updates on the GCL and DSL O's and Miclat's injury

The Orioles' minor league clubs in the Gulf Coast League and the Dominican Summer League are both taking part in playoff games this afternoon. The DSL Orioles are tied 1-1 in a best-of-three series with the DSL Royals and are playing the third and deciding game now with the score tied 1-1 in the fifth. The winner of that game will advance to the Dominican League best-of-five championship series against the Angels. The DSL Orioles were 46-24 in the regular season and that was the second best...

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Wieters heats up on offense

August 27, 2011, 1:55pm

Orioles

For a while there, it seemed fair to speculate if Matt Wieters' declining offensive statistics were tied to the heavy load of innings he has played this year at a most demanding position. But after hitting just .235 in July with a .685 OPS, the Orioles' catcher is having a big August. In 21 games, he is batting .316 with eight doubles, four homers, 13 RBIs and a .967 OPS. Over his last three games, Wieters is 5-for-10 with four walks and all five hits have gone for extra bases with four...

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Minor league news and notes

August 27, 2011, 12:49pm

Orioles

As of about 4:30 p.m. two of the Orioles minor league clubs have postponed games today. Single-A Frederick was scheduled to host Potomac tonight and the clubs will now try to play a doubleheader at Frederick on Sunday at 1 p.m. with Nate Moreau (11-10, 4.42) and Jake Pettit (5-0, 1.38) making the starts. Short-season Single-A Aberdeen's scheduled game today at home with Staten Island was cancelled and tomorrow's contest at Staten Island has already been postponed. The IronBirds are...

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Looking back at a fitting tribute and impressive win

August 27, 2011, 6:03am

Orioles

Looking back at a fitting tribute and impressive win

The Orioles certainly seemed to hit the right tone in how they honored Mike Flanagan last night. There was a moment of silence before the game and the video tribute after the first inning was emotional and touching. The "Flanny" patch on their right sleeves sure seemed a proper tribute also along with seeing No. 46 on the right-field scoreboard and front of the press box. I am probably the last person anyone would expect to say anything good about the Yankees, but when they stood outside of...

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Orioles vs. Yankees: the stats (updated, O's win)

August 26, 2011, 2:37pm

Orioles

Heading into this weekend's games, the Orioles are just 1-9 on the year against New York. The stats, to no surprise, are pretty one-sided as well. The Yankees have a team batting average of .318 and have recorded 28 doubles, five triples, 15 homers and scored 82 runs against O's pitching in the season series. The Orioles ERA against New York is 6.46 while the Yankees staff has an ERA of 2.73 against the Birds. The Orioles are batting just .231 in those 10 games with 18 doubles, no triples...

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Matt Wieters fondly remembers some conversations with Mike Flanagan

August 26, 2011, 1:15pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters fondly remembers some conversations with Mike Flanagan

The death of Mike Flanagan, it seems, has impacted different Orioles players in different ways. Some didn't know the former Oriole player very well. Others had several interactions with him. Manager Buck Showalter pointed out today that Flanagan did not seek players out in the clubhouse but was always there if a player sought his counsel or advice or just wanted to talk. Catcher Matt Wieters is one of the players that did spend some time with Flanagan. "It's hard because it comes as such...

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Adam Jones said he is feeling better, but not ready to return to lineup

August 26, 2011, 12:57pm

Orioles

Adam Jones said he is feeling better, but not ready to return to lineup

Adam Jones said the soreness in his chest is not yet fully gone and he is not in tonight's starting lineup against the Yankees. "It's not feeling comfortable right now. It's feeling better than it did, but I'd say in another day, hopefully I'll feel better," he said. Jones was out of the lineup for Thursday's win in Minnesota and did not take part in any pregame work, either. "Nothing. I just watched a good game. Today, hopefully, I'll watch another good game," Jones said. Jones...