B-Rob talks about his struggles on offense

B-Rob talks about his struggles on offense
Right now, Brian Roberts is going through perhaps one of the worst slumps of his career. He is hitless in his last 26 at-bats, dating to last Wednesday at Kansas City. He is batting just .209 in 34 games and he is a .283 career hitter. Roberts says it's as frustrating a stretch he has been through in recent years. "Yeah, probably," he said. "You go through slumps every year. There is really no escaping one at some point. This has probably been one of the more frustrating ones I've been...
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Orioles-Yankees makeup date announced

Orioles-Yankees makeup date announced
The Orioles announced today that their April 22 postponed game against the New York Yankees will be made up at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 as part of a day-night doubleheader at Camden Yards. The originally scheduled game for Aug. 27 will still be played at 7:05 p.m. that evening. Tickets dated April 22 will be accepted only at the 1:05 game Aug. 27; fans should simply bring their tickets from the April 22 game to the ballpark gates that day for admission. No exchange is necessary. Parking...
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This time around, Caleb Joseph is doing better at Double-A Bowie

This time around, Caleb Joseph is doing better at Double-A Bowie
After catcher Caleb Joseph hit .284 in 2009 at Single-A Frederick and made the Carolina League All-Star team, he had high hopes for the 2010 season with Double-A Bowie. But he got off to a slow start and never really got his bat going. He finished hitting .235 in 106 games and fell off some of those top prospects lists. But after his key two-RBI single helped Bowie beat Richmond on Wednesday, Joseph is now batting .289 with three homers, 14 RBIs, a .394 on-base average and an .828 OPS in 26...
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Orioles starters have outpitched Mariners in this series

Orioles starters have outpitched Mariners in this series
Sometimes, a little pitching and a little offense can go a long way. You probably know that the Orioles have scored three runs or fewer in more than half their games this year and are 2-16 in those games. So they almost always lose when they score so little. But if they can get four runs, they almost always win. After Wednesday's 4-2 victory over Seattle, the Orioles are 14-3 when they score four or more runs in a game. The starting pitching has set the tone the past two nights and for two...
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Tale of the tape on Tillman's effort

Tale of the tape on Tillman's effort
Chris Tillman outpitched Felix Hernandez tonight to help the Orioles beat the Mariners 4-2 at Camden Yards. You would have gotten long odds of that happening back at 7 p.m. tonight. After being traded by Seattle to the Orioles on Feb. 8, 2008, it had to feel good for Tillman and Adam Jones to beat their former team tonight. Jones went 4-for-4 with a key two-run triple. Here is more on Tillman's night: * He rebounded from his previous start, when he gave up ten hits and eights runs over 3...
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Just the facts

Just the facts
* Derrek Lee is now the only Oriole to start every game. Nick Markakis and Mark Reynolds were on that list until today when neither is in the starting lineup. * After grounding out with the bases loaded to end the second inning tonight, Robert Andino is now 2-for-12 on the year batting with runners in scoring position. * Chris Tillman entered this game with an ERA of 11.57 in the first two innings this year, but pitched shutout ball in those frames tonight versus Seattle. * Adam Jones now...
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After rough outing at K.C., it's Tillman time again

After rough outing at K.C., it's Tillman time again
Contrary to popular belief, Chris Tillman has not been terrible for the Orioles this year. There have been two terrible starts, but four others that have been decent. Tillman gave up six runs in just 1 2/3 on April 13 versus the Yankees. In his last start, he gave up ten hits and eight runs in just 3 2/3 against Kansas City. Those were two terrible starts. In his four other outings, his ERA is 3.22. The Orioles are 3-1 in those four games, by the way. But Tillman's overall ERA of 7.16 is...
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Simon talks about his outing today at Bowie

Simon talks about his outing today at Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - Before I leave Bowie where today's game was played in near-perfect weather, here are some quotes from Alfredo Simon, who was very pleased with his outing today. "I felt great," Simon said after throwing 94 pitches. "I just tried to work on all my pitches and everything is fine. My velocity, my two-seamer, my splitter and my breaking ball are fine. I'm ready to go right now and everything seems to be working pretty good. "My velocity on my two-seamer was really good. When I...
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John Stockstill comments on Simon's outing at Bowie (updated)

John Stockstill comments on Simon's outing at Bowie (updated)
BOWIE, Md. - O's director of player development John Stockstill got an up-close look at Alfredo Simon's outing today here at Bowie from right behind the screen in the first few rows at Prince George's Stadium. Simon allowed five hits and three runs, all earned over five innings, throwing 94 pitches. "He was a little improved with his overall performance from the other day," Stockstill said. "Threw 94 pitches and needs to get to the point where he can put people away with that split...
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Simon now out of the game at Bowie (updated with final line)

Simon now out of the game at Bowie (updated with final line)
BOWIE, Md. - Right-hander Alfredo Simon has exited today's game at Double-A Bowie after giving up a double and walk to the first two batters in the top of the sixth. Lefty Pedro Viola has come on. Simon has given up just one run on five hits, but the runners on base are his responsibility. He walked three and fanned eight, throwing 94 pitches, 61 for strikes. Simon had his best inning when he struck out the side on 15 pitches in the fifth. He gave up a run on two hits in the fourth. The...
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Richmond gets on the board against Simon

Richmond gets on the board against Simon
BOWIE, Md. - Alfredo Simon gave up one run in a 30-pitch, top of the fourth here today. The inning began with a Roger Kieschnick double on a 94 mile per hour fastball. Juan Perez then singled to get Richmond on the board and cut Bowie's lead to 2-1. Simon walked the next batter, but then got a ground out, strikeout and ground out to end the Richmond threat. He threw 19 strikes among his 30 pitches as he labored a bit in that inning. Simon is at 71 pitches through four innings today with a...
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Simon with three scoreless at Bowie

Simon with three scoreless at Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - Alfredo Simon, making his second start for Double-A Bowie here today, has pitched shutout ball through three innings and has a 2-0 lead on Richmond with Bowie batting in the third. Simon just threw 19 pitches in the third, 12 for strikes. He has allowed two singles and one walk in the game, and has four strikeouts. He has touched 94 on the radar gun and has thrown some nice off-speed pitches, as well. Simon gave up a single in the first and Richmond put the first two runners on...
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Simon's first inning

Simon's first inning
BOWIE, Md. - Richmond leadoff batter, Justin Christian, led off the game with soft liner to left for a single on a 1-2 pitch from Alfredo Simon to get this game underway. He would advance to second on a Simon throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first. But Simon stranded him there in a scoreless top of the first. Simon got a line out to second and line out to left for the first two outs of the inning. He then fanned cleanup batter Roger Kieschnick swinging on an 0-2 changeup to end the...
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Baysox lineup

Baysox lineup
BOWIE, Md. - Here is the Double-A Bowie Baysox lineup for today's 11:05 a.m. game with Richmond. After scoring twice with two outs in the last of the ninth to win 5-4 last night, the Double-A Baysox begin play today at 16-16, in second place in the Eastern League's Western Division, a half-game behind the Harrisburg Senators. CF - Xavier Avery LF - Kyle Hudson C - Caleb Joseph 1B - Robbie Widlansky RF - Ronnie Welty 3B - Brandon Waring SS - Pedro Florimon DH - Steve Lerud 2B - Carlos...
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Some quick takes on players that came up big in a four-hour win

Some quick takes on players that came up big in a four-hour win
It you made it through every pitch, every key play, every blown lead and all four hours and eight minutes, you can raise your hand and if I had a pair of free tickets here, they would be heading your way. A couple of quick thoughts after a dramatic win: Adam Jones had two huge hits. His two-run double in the sixth put the O's ahead 3-2 and his RBI single in the eighth put the O's up 5-4. He doubled in the tenth of a 5-5 tie. Jones is now 10-for-23 on the season batting with runners in...
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M's use a somewhat-rare homer to grab the lead on the Orioles

M's use a somewhat-rare homer to grab the lead on the Orioles
The Mariners don't hit many homers but they used a two-run shot from Adam Kennedy to take a 2-0 lead tonight against the Orioles. They hold a 2-1 edge in the third. Kennedy's homer came in the top of the second and just made it over the leaping attempt by right fielder Nick Markakis. It was his third homer of the year and first since he homered in back-to-back games on April 20 and 21. It's the sixth homer allowed by Jake Arrieta, who has now given up a homer in four straight...
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Machado update from John Stockstill

Machado update from John Stockstill
O's director of player development John Stockstill was just on O's Xtra on MASN2 HD and said it might be "a couple of weeks" in all before Manny Machado can get back in a game for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. Machado, who suffered a dislocated kneecap last Thursday, has remained with the Delmarva team which is in Hagerstown right now on a road trip. Stockstill said the club will take another look at Machado's injured left knee when the Shorebirds return home on Friday. He said there...
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Can Arrieta be a stopper tonight?

Can Arrieta be a stopper tonight?
The Orioles have not won a game since last Wednesday at Kansas City. Jake Arrieta started that contest and he is back on the mound tonight for his eighth start of 2011. The Orioles have won just twice this year in the 18 games where they have scored three or fewer runs. One of those two was that last start for Arrieta where the Orioles won 3-2 at K.C. Maybe Arrieta will be the stopper tonight. While we all are so focused on the offense right now, let's not forget that Arrieta may be a young...
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Minor league notes on Cooney, Simon, Mummey and Hoes

Minor league notes on Cooney, Simon, Mummey and Hoes
Right-handed reliever Brandon Cooney of the Double-A Bowie Baysox went on the disabled list Monday due to shoulder soreness. Cooney was 1-1 with one save and an ERA of 2.70. Over 10 innings, he allowed just five hits with seven walks and 10 strikeouts. The Orioles don't believe the injury is too serious and he should not be out long. Billy Rowell came off the disabled list Monday and is batting .231 with no homers and four RBIs over 13 games with Bowie. Trent Mummey, an outfielder for...
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O's hitters get set to challenge Pineda and Hernandez

O's hitters get set to challenge Pineda and Hernandez
Whether Orioles manager Buck Showalter makes subtle changes, major changes or no changes to his lineup today, the Orioles will for sure see some tough pitching in the next two games. Tonight, the Orioles are due to face Seattle's Michael Pineda, the 22-year-old rookie right-hander that is gaining attention with his blazing fastball and impressive stats. Then, Wednesday night, they face the reigning American League Cy Young winner in Felix Hernandez. Doesn't sound like a formula to get out...
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