The offense continues to struggle so far today

The offense continues to struggle so far today
The Orioles have not put any runs on the board so far today through five innings against Angels right-hander Dan Haren. They trail 1-0 after four and a half innings. The Orioles are just 3-for-17 at bat today with three singles and eight strikeouts and have put just one runner in scoring position. The Orioles' bats have been scuffling a bit since that late-game homer explosion Monday night at Chicago. In the five games since, they have scored just 15 runs on 31 hits with a team average of...

The good part of Chavez's season

The good part of Chavez's season
Endy Chavez saved a run in the bottom of the first inning today, and for a team that's been so bad defensively, it's worth pointing out and embracing and asking for a second date. Chavez broke back for the fence and made a running, backhanded catch to rob Albert Pujols with one out and a runner on second base. This isn't an usual occurrence for Chavez. I've seen him race into the gap and to the line to make outstanding catches. He's a plus-defender, which makes him a solid fourth...

Brooms and Bell

Brooms and Bell
A few days ago, I wrote that most fans would have been satisfied with a 5-5 record when this road trip began. The Orioles are one loss away from returning home with that record. Probably not as satisfying anymore. The Orioles have been swept once this season, by the Yankees at home. They'll try to avoid a repeat today in Anaheim. Fresh off his first major league win, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will try to salvage one game of this series against the Angels. It won't happen if the Orioles...

A few pregame notes (and Angels lineup)

A few pregame notes (and Angels lineup)
Courtesy of the Orioles' PR staff: The last time the Orioles went on a 10-game road trip and finished with a record above .500 was Sept. 13-23, 2004, when they took two of three at Toronto and Minnesota and split four in Boston. The Orioles have not allowed a home run in their last 29 innings since Chicago's Alejandro De Aza went deep in the fourth inning Wednesday. It's the longest homerless stretch of the year by Orioles pitching. The Orioles have had consecutive three-error games for...

Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Orioles lineup vs. Angels
Nolan Reimold remains out of the lineup today because of neck spasms. He'll get extra rest tomorrow because the Orioles don't have a game scheduled. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Mark Reynolds DH Wilson Betemit 3B Ronny Paulino C Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

Arrieta's meltdown inning

Arrieta's meltdown inning
Jake Arrieta took a one-hit shutout into the fifth inning tonight. Then he took a seat in the clubhouse, his night having unraveled like the baseball in "The Natural." Arrieta gave up five runs and five hits, walked three batters and threw a wild pitch, and his 2-0 lead disappeared into the Anaheim night. He also committed his second error. Why should everyone else have all the fun. Nine different Orioles have been charged with errors this season. The club has committed 18 of them. In...

Josh Bell traded to Arizona (updated)

Josh Bell traded to Arizona (updated)
The Orioles have traded Josh Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team source has confirmed. Bell was designated for assignment by the team Tuesday. He was hitting just .094 (3-for-32) this season with Triple-A Norfolk with one homer, three RBIs and an OPS of .506. The 25-year-old Bell hit .164 in 26 games and 61 Orioles at-bats last year and hit .253 with 19 homers and 57 RBIs for the Tides in 2011. He came to the Orioles from the Los Angeles Dodgers with pitcher Steve Johnson, who is now...

After falling out of first place, O's look to regroup today in Anaheim

After falling out of first place, O's look to regroup today in Anaheim
After falling behind early Friday night and then watching Jake Arrieta give up a 2-0 lead in the last of the fifth last night, the Orioles need a win today against the Angels to avoid being swept three straight for the second time in 2012. In the last few days - almost suddenly, it seems - the Orioles have had their share of problems on offense, defense and with their starting pitching. The offense: Over the last five games, the Orioles have scored just 15 runs on 31 hits with a team batting...

Angels come up with big fifth inning to beat the Orioles

Angels come up with big fifth inning to beat the Orioles
For four innings tonight, it looked like Jake Arrieta was pitching with some dominant stuff in Anaheim. But then he failed to make it through the last of the fifth inning. Matt Wieters gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead on a home run, getting a green light on a 3-0 pitch from Jered Weaver in the top of the fifth, but then Los Angeles scored five in its half against Arrieta on the way to a 6-3 win to take the first two games of this series. This means the Orioles will not win all three series on a...

Angels knock Arrieta out in the fifth to take the lead

Angels knock Arrieta out in the fifth to take the lead
It is not often you see a pitcher cruising with what looks like some dominant stuff suddenly give up five runs. But it happened tonight to Jake Arrieta and the Orioles. After Matt Wieters got the green light and gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead on a 3-0 pitch against Jered Weaver in the top of the fifth, Arrieta failed to make it through the last of the fifth. He had a one-hit shutout and had retired 12 batters in a row heading into that half inning. But he then gave up five singles, three walks,...

O's will not play error-free ball tonight (Wieters homers for 2-0 lead)

O's will not play error-free ball tonight (Wieters homers for 2-0 lead)
The Orioles are 3-0 this year when they play error-free ball but they won't add to that tonight. Jake Arrieta bounced a pickoff throw past Chris Davis at first base in the first inning for the Orioles' first error of the game and 17th on the season. Arrieta was able to strand a runner at second base in the first. Tonight's game is scoreless heading to the third inning with Arrieta matching up against Jered Weaver. Nick Johnson grounded out his first time up to go 0-for-21 on the year. The...

Orioles assign Josh Bell to Arizona Diamondbacks

Orioles assign Josh Bell to Arizona Diamondbacks
The Orioles today announced that they have assigned infielder Josh Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for a player to be named later. Bell had been designated for assignment April 16 when the Orioles claimed catcher Luis Exposito on waivers from Boston. Bell, 25, batted .200/.221/.264 in 79 games with the Orioles in 2010 and 2011. He was acquired by Baltimore on July 30, 2009 in exchange for left-hander George Sherrill.

Checking some stats on the pitching, defense and minors

Checking some stats on the pitching, defense and minors
While awaiting tonight's second game of the series in Anaheim, it is clear that the Orioles need to begin to come up with some better pitching and defense pretty soon. Pitching and defense were staples of the club during the glory years of the '60s and '70s, but is eluding them in recent games. The Orioles made three errors last night. In addition to that, the club has just two quality starts from pitchers over the last 11 games and the starters' ERA is 5.69 in that stretch. Nolan...

Matusz takes another loss as Orioles drop series opener

Matusz takes another loss as Orioles drop series opener
On a night when his teammates didn't support him much at times on both offense and defense, Brian Matusz gave up six runs to take another loss as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 6-3 in game one of a three-game series in Anaheim, Calif. Matusz allowed nine hits and four earned runs over five-plus innings as he falls to 0-3 with an ERA of 7.98. He is now 0-12 since his last win on June 6, 2011. The club record for consecutive losing decisions is 13 by Mike Boddicker over parts of the...

Wada shut down, Angels lineup (updated)

Wada shut down, Angels lineup (updated)
The Orioles announced that left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada has been shut down after complaining of stiffness in his neck a few days ago. He originally went on the disabled list to build up arm strength and innings after being bothered in spring training by inflammation in his left elbow. Wada will return to Baltimore and be examined by a team physician. There's no timetable for his return to throwing. Wada threw 100 pitches over six innings in his second start in extended spring training, but he...

Reimold out of lineup, Johnson in it

Reimold out of lineup, Johnson in it
Nolan Reimold is being held out of tonight's lineup because of neck spasms. Endy Chavez is starting in left field. Nick Johnson will serve as the designated hitter in search of his first hit. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

The bad and the good

The bad and the good
I decided to start with the "bad" because I'd rather end this blog entry on a high note. The Orioles are facing Jered Weaver tonight. That's bad for them. He's 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA in three starts, with only two walks and 23 strikeouts. He hasn't allowed a run in two of those outings. Weaver is 15-5 with a 2.68 ERA lifetime in the month of April. Over the last three seasons, he's 10-0 with a 1.85 ERA. The last time I checked, it's still April. The Orioles continued to be dogged by...

ESPN analyst criticizes O's handling of Bundy

ESPN analyst criticizes O's handling of Bundy
Whenever ESPN's Keith Law speaks, it seems, the Orioles fans listen. He got them stirred up when he criticized the team's signing of Vlad Guerrero before last year at a time when many fans were excited over the addition. But while Law now looked right with that opinion, he spoke again on the Orioles this week and I think he took a huge swing and a miss. The topic was pitcher Dylan Bundy, the Orioles' 2011 first-round draft pick. Bundy has pitched nine hitless and scoreless innings with 15...

Orioles' defense is offensive again

Orioles' defense is offensive again
If the Oriole Way is all about pitching and defense, the 2012 team is missing half of that equation. The Orioles committed three more errors tonight, and it would have been four if the official scorer hadn't removed one from catcher Matt Wieters and given Erick Aybar a single. Brian Matusz gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings but two of the runs were unearned. Who knows how much his outing would have changed without the two Robert Andino errors, or if first baseman Chris Davis had...

Orioles and Angels lineups

Orioles and Angels lineups
Nolan Reimold has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight after being bothered yesterday by neck spasms. Mark Reynolds is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Mark Reynolds DH Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP A series win in Anaheim would mark the first time that the Orioles have won each series of a three-city road trip since Aug. 7-16, 1998 at Minnesota, Tampa Bay...