Where do you stand on "the plan"?

Where do you stand on "the plan"?
Fans have asked about the Orioles moving forward - what is "the plan"? It's not something that is written on paper. The O's don't have a mission statement like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire (remember, that was not a memo). The proof is in their actions. They have drafted pitchers. And then drafted more pitchers in recent years. They are trying to acquire young position player talent that can stick around awhile. They are not chasing big-money free agents right now, much...
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If you are watching or listening to today's game......

If you are watching or listening to today's game......
.......why not send in a comment or question to me while you are tuned in. I'll be watching today's game from home here in beautiful Harford County. While you are tuned in and also keeping up with all of Roch's great reporting from the game itself, feel free to send me a comment as well. We've gotten a lot of interesting comments today on my blog about Guthrie & Tillman. Feel free to keep the comments coming there or you can write them here now as well. (No need to repeat what you...
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Mounting concern over Guthrie

Mounting concern over Guthrie
When Robinson Cano launched that 3-1 pitch over the fence Monday night, you could almost feel Orioles fans confidence in Jeremy Guthrie drop another notch. He has not done much this spring to provide fans with hope that he will have a bounce back season. But I do think the concern, some would say panic, over Guthrie's struggles, is a little over the top. *Why is he being handed a starting rotation spot? That is the question from some fans. He does have a track record of success, two years...
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Next challenge for Waring: Eastern League pitchers

Next challenge for Waring:  Eastern League pitchers
So after being named Carolina League MVP last year while also winning the Brooks Robinson award as the O's Minor League Player of the Year, what will Brandon Waring do this season for an encore? In his second year in the O's organization he'll move up to Double-A Bowie and tangle with Eastern League pitching. "This year will be the most challenging year yet," the 24-year-old Waring said. "The pitchers are more refined, they have a plan and can throw all their pitches for strikes. I'm...
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Some pitching and some hoops

Some pitching and some hoops
Jeremy Guthrie seems to be one pitcher that many fans feel is in for another poor year. Some reporters are questioning his confidence. Some don't even feel he should begin the year in the rotation. I am not in that camp. He showed me enough in 2007 and 2008 and I am not yet overly concerned about his spring performance. Only 15 pitchers in the AL worked more innings than Guthrie last season and that should count for something. His 5.04 ERA came down some in the second half when he...
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Plenty of reasons to watch the minors

Plenty of reasons to watch the minors
While the Orioles are closing in on another opening day, so are their four full-season farm teams: the Norfolk Tides, the Bowie Baysox, the Frederick Keys and the Delmarva Shorebirds. With the parent club rebuilding around youth and pitching, there will be plenty of reasons to follow the O's minor leaguers this year. Bowie - Early on, this may be the most interesting team to track. The rotation could feature top pitching prospect Zach Britton along with Steve Johnson, Chorye Spoone and...
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Losses of Bergy and Sherrill was first sign of trouble

Losses of Bergy and Sherrill was first sign of trouble
Of all the players lost via trade or injury this year by the Orioles, the two most important to me, have been Brad Bergesen and George Sherrill. Within about 24 hours at the end of July, Bergesen took a liner off his leg and Sherrill was dealt to the Dodgers. The O's have not recovered from that. They are 16-41 since the pair exited.
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Road trip finale: O's at Tampa

Road trip finale:  O's at Tampa
Game Preview Orioles (60-98) at Tampa (82-76) A team on a long losing streak usually finds a variety of ways to lose. The Orioles are no different during their current streak. For a while the bullpen was imploding. Now that the pen has pitched 4 2/3 shutout innings the past two games, the O's scored just four runs in those games. The Orioles losing streak has reached 13 games since they beat Tampa, 4-2, September 16th. That's the 3rd longest streak in O's history, topped only by a...
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Tonight's pitchers: Waters vs. Garza

Tonight's pitchers:  Waters vs. Garza
LHP Chris Waters (0-0, 8.10) tonight makes his 5th appearance and 1st Major League start of this season after spending most of the year with Triple-A Norfolk. The 29-year-old Waters was recalled from the minors on September 8th. In four games in relief with the O's he has pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up seven hits and six runs. In his last outing he pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings Saturday at Cleveland. For Norfolk this season, Waters went 9-7, 4.49 in 29 games, 20 as a starter.
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He likes hitting off O's pitching

He likes hitting off O's pitching
Ben Zobrist has been abusing O's pitching this year and he hit a solo homer in the last of the fourth tonight to cut the O's lead to 3-1. No player the O's have faced all year has hit more homers and knocked in more runs this year vs. Baltimore than Zobrist. He is 6 for 14 this series with three homers and 6 RBI. Most homers this year vs. O's: 7 - Ben Zobrist, TB 6 - Kevin Youkilis, Bost & Robinson Cano, NYY Most RBI this year vs. O's: 18 - Ben Zobrist, TB 17 - Kevin Youkilis, Bost,...
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The losing streak ends! O's top Rays

The losing streak ends!  O's top Rays
The Orioles' 13-game losing streak started vs. Tampa Bay. Tonight it ended vs. Tampa Bay. Chris Waters and four relievers teamed on a five-hitter as the O's topped the Rays 3-2 to end the longest losing streak in the Majors this season. It was the O's first win since September 16th and also snapped a ten-game road losing streak. The victory also allowed the O's to avoid a winless road trip, as they went 1-9 on the trip. Jim Johnson allowed a run and three hits in the 9th, but got...
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Post-game Notes: The losing streak is over

Post-game Notes:  The losing streak is over
Finally !!!! - The Orioles beat Tampa 3-2 Thursday in their final road game of the season to end a 13-game losing streak. It was their longest streak since losing 21 in a row to start the 1988 season and losing 14 in a row in August of 1954. The 13-game losing streak was the third longest in team history. The O's picked up their first win since September 16th vs. Tampa, their first road win since September 12th at New York and first one-run win since Septmeber 5th vs. Texas.
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A Trembley supporter

A Trembley supporter
I hope Dave Trembley returns as O's manager next year. I say this for one main reason - he works well with young players. Next year's team should be loaded with young players. Maybe it was all those years in the minors or the man's amazing patience, but young players respond to him and he can relate to them.
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The final weekend: Toronto at Orioles

The final weekend:  Toronto at Orioles
Game Preview Toronto (75-84) at Orioles (61-98) Now that they've put an end to the third longest losing streak in Orioles history, the Birds will look for a couple of wins this weekend to avoid a 100-loss year. The O's need to win two of three to finish with 99 or fewer losses. Tonight, the Orioles host Toronto at 7:05 p.m. to begin the final series of the 2009 season.
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Some player thoughts on Trembley

Some player thoughts on Trembley
As O's fans await word on whether Dave Trembley will return as manager, a couple of O's pitchers hope he returns. One is a veteran, another a rookie. "Every manager is a leader and someone that sets a tone," Jeremy Guthrie said. "He gets a team through the tough times. He's done a tremendous job, Dave cares about us and first and foremost, as a player, that's what you have to have. "You can build off of that. To me, Dave means even more. When I was released by the Indians, he and...
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Andy MacPhail comments on Dave Trembley

Andy MacPhail comments on Dave Trembley
In announcing that he is picking up Dave Trembley's option on his contract to manage the Orioles in 2010, Andy MacPhail said "Dave did what we asked him to do" in terms of helping the young players on the roster succeed and grow while he knew the club would pile up some losses along the way. Here are other comments from MacPhail from today's press conference: "Dave was given the charge of developing what we hope to be a cache of young talent coming up through the system. That was his...
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Post-game Notes: O's whip Blue Jays

Post-game Notes:  O's whip Blue Jays
The offense returns - Coming into tonight's game, the O's had scored just seven runs over the last three games and 13 runs over the last five. They matched the five-game output with 13 runs tonight. The O's had just four extra-base hits over the last three games. Tonight they got two doubles and three homers. The O's went 14 for 38 at bat and 5 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Three players had multi-RBI nights. It was the most O's runs since they scored 13 August 28th vs....
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The final Saturday: Toronto at Orioles

The final Saturday:  Toronto at Orioles
Game Preview Toronto (75-85) at Orioles (62-98) Who could have predicted that Chris Waters and Michael Aubrey would be heroes in back-to-back O's wins following a 13-game losing streak? But after Waters pitched the O's to a win Thursday, Aubrey slugged the O's to victory Friday night in the first game of the last series of the year. Aubrey homered twice, hit his first Major League Grand Slam and drove in six runs as the O's beat Toronto 13-7 Friday.
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Roberts talks about being named the MVO

Roberts talks about being named the MVO
Brian Roberts took time today to react to the news that he has been named Most Valuable Oriole for the second time. He also won the award in 2005. "It's something you don't set out to accomplish, that's not your goal. But we had some guys that had some good years on this team. I don't even know who picks it, but it's something humbling and very much appreciated." The Louis M. Hatter MVO award is voted on by local media that regularly cover the team. Nick Markakis finished second in...
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Tonight's pitchers: Hendrickson vs. Richmond

Tonight's pitchers:  Hendrickson vs. Richmond
LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.38) tonight makes his 53rd appearance and his 11th start of this season, his 6th start at home and the 13th of his career vs. Toronto. In three starts since moving back into the rotation on September 17, Hendrickson is 0-1, 4.11. Over the last two starts he has given up 5ER over 12 innings with all five runs scoring on solo homers. In six games, three starts in Septmber, Hendrickson is 0-1, 3.32.
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