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Guerrero's days as Orioles' cleanup hitter could be numbered

July 05, 2011, 4:20am

Orioles

You have to wonder if Vlad Guerrero's time as the Orioles' cleanup hitter is coming to an end. Manager Buck Showalter talked about his concern over Guerrero during the O's last homestand and made similar comments to reporters in Texas yesterday, indicating that if he needs to make an adjustment there, he will. The time has pretty much come for that. I still remember the excitement around Baltimore when Guerrero was signed and the message boards leading up to that were buzzing with how the...

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Is Johnson considering Nix at first base Tuesday due to injuries?

July 04, 2011, 2:05pm

Nationals

Is Johnson considering Nix at first base Tuesday due to injuries?

Laynce Nix could get the start at first base Tuesday with Matt Stairs and Michael Morse ailing, manager Davey Johnson announced after Monday's 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Stairs replaced Morse, who sat out today's game with an arm contusion. Johnson said Stairs then banged up his bad knee running down the line on a foul ball into the stands, and was replaced by Nix. So Nix was inserted into the lineup for the first time this season at first base. It was the first time in his career...

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What's right with Reimold (and notes)

July 04, 2011, 8:31am

Orioles

The Orioles will face another right-hander tonight in the Rangers' Colby Lewis. Other than the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia last Thursday, I don't think the Orioles have seen a left-handed starter since Ron Guidry. It's no coincidence that Nolan Reimold hasn't been in the lineup since hitting a three-run homer off Garcia, and has started twice since June 15. Manager Buck Showalter prefers to use Luke Scott against right-handers. Felix Pie gets the starts if Scott is unavailable for shoulder,...

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Jones could still earn All-Star bid

July 04, 2011, 9:41am

Orioles

When the 2011 All-Star Game rosters were announced yesterday, Adam Jones didn't hear his name called. But that doesn't necessarily mean the Orioles outfielder won't get to take the field July 12 in Arizona for the 82nd annual Midsummer Classic. Jones, who made his All-Star debut in 2009, is among five American League nominees who are up for the All-Star Game Final Vote. The winner will earn the last spot on the AL roster for next Tuesday's game. The 25-year-old Jones has put together an...

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Nationals make sure Harper will be comfortable in Harrisburg

July 04, 2011, 10:04am

Nationals

No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper will be in good hands again in Double-A Harrisburg as he was in Hagerstown, said Nationals' Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo on 106.7 The Fan. Harper will play mostly in left field in Harrisburg, according to Rizzo. He said that the coaching staff was one of the reasons the organization felt comfortable in selecting Double-A Harrisburg as the next destination for Harper. But, regardless of the coaching staff, the plan...

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Lannan's long outing provides opportunity Nationals needed to split

July 02, 2011, 7:25pm

Nationals

The Nationals split a doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday, 4-3, on an RBI base hit from Ivan Rodriguez. But the reason the Nationals were in the game again for some late inning magic was the starting pitching. Lefty John Lannan went seven strong innings on only 80 pitches, scattering six hits, allowing three runs and allowing no walks with one strikeout. It is the fourth consecutive game a Nationals starter has gone at least seven innings. "That is the starter's goal is to...

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Rodriguez's pinch-hit RBI single finishes off Pirates in nightcap, 4-3

July 02, 2011, 5:44pm

Nationals

Rodriguez's pinch-hit RBI single finishes off Pirates in nightcap, 4-3

The Nationals new field manager continues to push the right buttons and his team again finds a way to come back late in the game for another stunning victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, before 39,638 at Nationals Park, earning a split of the Saturday double dip. Davey Johnson pinch hit veteran Ivan Rodriguez in the bottom of the eighth inning with two men on. He battled Pirates reliever Tony Watson for an RBI single that scored Rick Ankiel with the eventual winning run. Drew Storen...

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LaRoche says shoulder "feels really good" as post-surgery rehab commences

July 01, 2011, 3:14pm

Nationals

LaRoche says shoulder "feels really good" as post-surgery rehab commences

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche had shoulder surgery 10 days ago and reports the rehab process is off to a positive start, and that the shoulder is surprisingly mobile. "It feels really good, actually," LaRoche reported with a protective cast and sling around his left arm. LaRoche even took off the sling at one point to sign a baseball and then put the velcro protective sling back on. "I thought it would be a lot longer with not being able to move it much. We started rehabbing it...

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Orioles won't be no-hit (and they won't win)

July 01, 2011, 5:10pm

Orioles

It was getting pretty dicey there. Adam Jones bounced a single into center field with one out in the top of the seventh inning to break up Jair Jurrjens' no-hit bid. The ball took a few hops, but I swear that I counted 17. Maybe it just looked that way. Jurrjens still has his shutout intact, however. The Orioles are losing, 2-0. Jurrjens had a perfect game until Mark Reynolds walked in the sixth. Gary Thorne asks Buck Showalter for his thoughts on the Birds' 4-0 loss to Atlanta Say what...

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A June swoon for Orioles' starting pitchers

June 30, 2011, 9:53pm

Orioles

In taking stock of the recent struggles of the Orioles' starting rotation, I took a look at some of the recent stats and found that the O's starters were struggling really for the entire month of June. In the last six games, all at home, O's starters pitched to an ERA of 9.21 and they didn't have one starter go longer than 5 2/3 innings. The Orioles have just one quality start over the last 13 games and a starting pitcher ERA in that time of 6.58. But you can go back through the entire...

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Is Harper's thumb preventing him from moving to his next assignment?

June 30, 2011, 7:04am

Nationals

Is Harper's thumb preventing him from moving to his next assignment?

Single-A Hagerstown Suns outfielder and No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper returned to the lineup Wednesday, after missing three games due to a sore thumb injury. Overall, Harper has sat out seven games and the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game because of the thumb problem. Last week, Nationals Director of Player Development Doug Harris reported that Harper is doing well in his recovery from the setback. "It is not really a thumb thing," Harris said. "It is the fatty tissue in between his index...

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The Orioles are struggling and the schedule is unforgiving

June 29, 2011, 9:41pm

Orioles

The Orioles may be teetering right now. Teetering on the brink. They have fallen seven games under .500 for the first time this year and their recent play makes it look like it could get worse before it gets better. They need to beat Jaime Garcia tonight to avoid a three-game sweep by the Cardinals. Garcia is 6-3 with a 3.06 ERA on the year and has pitched to an ERA of 2.59 in June. Friday night, they begin a 10-game road trip at Atlanta. The Braves have now won eight of 10 games and will...

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Scott provides injury update, Britton discusses start

June 28, 2011, 7:09pm

Orioles

Scott provides injury update, Britton discusses start

Luke Scott is hoping that he'll remain in the lineup tomorrow night after slamming his right knee against the left field fence, but he can't be certain until he wakes up in the morning. Luke Scott talks about his knee injury following the O's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals "We'll see how it is," he said. "Contusions, or when you get hit by something, it varies on the swelling. The knee is a tough place. You've got to have your knees underneath you to do anything. It all depends on tonight...

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Jakubauskas talks about his outing

June 29, 2011, 6:27pm

Orioles

One more note on the starters: They're 3-8 with a 5.99 ERA and have failed to complete seven innings in the last 16 games since Jake Arrieta did it on June 10. Chris Jakubauskas fell to 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA after allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings. He noted that the Cardinals were "a little bit more aggressive." They also were four runs better. Chris Jakubauskas meets with the media about picking up his first loss as an O's starter "I noticed it in the first inning," he...

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Showalter speaks after 5-1 loss

June 29, 2011, 6:10pm

Orioles

You can't talk about tonight's 5-1 loss to the Cardinals without focusing on the bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fifth inning that yielded no runs, and another non-quality start from the rotation. "We had a shot at them there in the fifth," manager Buck Showalter said. "That was a big momentum swing." Was it quality pitching from Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter or the Orioles' hitters pressing at the plate? Maybe a little of both? Buck Showalter meets with the media to...

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It's gone wrong for Guerrero

June 28, 2011, 7:45pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy has now homered in nine consecutive series and reached base in 31 of 34 games since May 21. Does missing a month with an oblique injury deny him an All-Star berth? He sure looks like a deserving candidate. Not much information came out of yesterday's pregame session with manager Buck Showalter. It wasn't his fault. It was just a slow day. I did find it interesting that Showalter admitted to having some concerns about the lack of production from the cleanup spot. And those...

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O's offense stalls in series-opening loss to St. Louis

June 28, 2011, 6:20pm

Orioles

O's offense stalls in series-opening loss to St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals had lost five of six games and 12 of their last 15 before tonight's series opener at Camden Yards. Plus, they had the highest ERA in the majors during the month of June. Despite that, the Cardinals beat the Orioles 6-2 in tonight's series opener. Kyle Lohse, who entered with a career interleague ERA of 5.93, pitched five shutout innings before a rain delay. Lohse, who gave up four hits with one walk and two strikeouts, improved to 8-4 with an ERA of 2.78. The...

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Adam Jones on the All-Star possibility

June 28, 2011, 3:08pm

Orioles

With the selection of reserves for the All-Star teams coming up on Sunday, we'll know soon which Oriole or Orioles will make the American League squad. Most seem to be predicting that just one player from this team will make it, but there are several deserving candidates. They include Adam Jones, batting .294 with 14 doubles, 13 homers and 45 RBIs. "Personally, it's out of my hands," Jones said. "You know, we've got guys in here having helluva years. I'm just trying to do my part. We...

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In the end, will Markakis prove his critics wrong?

June 27, 2011, 9:34pm

Orioles

In the end, will Markakis prove his critics wrong?

He has been a lightning rod for criticism this year by fans on talk shows and message boards, but in the end, will Nick Markakis prove his critics wrong? Will the 27-year-old Orioles outfielder have a big finish to this season and make up for lost time with his stats after a slow start? Right now, it may be heading that way. Markakis' bat is finally hot and he is hitting .405 during a 16-game hitting streak with four doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs during the streak. He is 9-for-19 over the...

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Nationals force extra innings, but Angels plate winner in 10th, 4-3

June 27, 2011, 9:13pm

Nationals

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fought off another late-inning comeback attempt by the Nationals, 4-3 in 10 innings at Angels Stadium, spoiling Davey Johnson's debut as manager. With the bases loaded, Maicer Izturis slapped an RBI single up the middle to win it off of Sean Burnett (3-4). Peter Bourjos with a ground-rule double got two runners in scoring position with one out. The Angels pounded out 16 hits for the win. Scott Downs notched the win (5-2). Davey Johnson meets with the media...