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This, that and the other (and more)

April 09, 2012, 8:35pm

Orioles

If Yankees starter Freddy Garcia comes anywhere near Robert Andino with a pitch tonight, the benches and bullpens are going to empty. Andino and Yankees catcher Russell Martin were barking at each other after last night's game. Martin thinks Andino was stealing signs at second base. Andino thinks Martin would look good buried up to his neck at home plate. This could get interesting. Andino is 1-for-5 with an RBI lifetime against Garcia. Would this be a good night to give Ryan Flaherty a...

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Heath Bintliff: Looking back on Brian Roberts

April 10, 2012, 3:23am

Orioles

Heath Bintliff: Looking back on Brian Roberts

Nobody will say it. Nobody wants to say it. Nobody wants it to be true. But it's time to face the fact that we may never see Brian Roberts play meaningful time for the Orioles again. He hasn't played even more than 59 games in the last two seasons and his injuries, now concussion-related, have seemed to linger longer as he gets older. The odds of him playing more than half a season for Baltimore again seem slim with only two seasons left on his contract. So as his playing career in...

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Hearing from Matusz and Wieters

April 09, 2012, 7:24pm

Orioles

I'll close tonight with a few words from the Orioles' battery. Brian Matusz: "I came out today, felt good in the bullpen. I was a little amped up, first start of the season, and I was just pitching behind in the count too much today. Not getting ahead, attacking the zone like I wanted to. The walks hurt. It's a tough lineup. They had hits when they needed it." (Overthrowing?) "I wouldn't say overthrowing. Just a little bit excited. I had a tough time finding the zone." (Better than...

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Orioles invite public to extended spring training games in Sarasota

April 10, 2012, 7:59am

Orioles

The public is invited to watch Baltimore Orioles Minor League players in action in Sarasota during Extended Spring Training during the months of April, May and June. There is no charge to attend the games, which will be held on Field 4 at the Ed Smith Stadium complex beginning today. Gates open 30 minutes before game time. Free parking is available in the East Lot. Please note that game times and locations are subject to change without notice due to weather conditions. ORIOLES EXTENDED...

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Orioles announce AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead details, five players selected

April 10, 2012, 5:50am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced the voting procedures and players selected for the AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead promotion. For the first time in Orioles history, fans will be able to select the player they want to be immortalized in a bobblehead giveaway, scheduled to be distributed during Fan Appreciation Weekend on Saturday, September 29 to the first 20,000 fans age 15 and over. Fans can vote for any of five players selected by the Orioles who have not had a bobblehead before: third baseman...

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Big night for Wieters, but O's lose 6-2

April 09, 2012, 6:01pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters has tied his career high with four hits tonight - a home run, double and two singles. He won't be celebrating. The Orioles are down, 6-2, in the top of the ninth, and manager Buck Showalter is using his fifth pitcher, Pedro Strop, who's replacing Kevin Gregg. Wieters also collected four hits in a July 28, 2009 game against the Royals. Wieters needed a triple for the cycle, but he settled for a single off Yankees reliever David Robertson. He entered the game batting .111, but...

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Matusz not sharp as Orioles suffer first loss

April 09, 2012, 6:19pm

Orioles

After making progress over the offseason and making the team with a solid spring training, it was back to struggling for the Orioles tonight as the New York Yankees beat the O's 6-2 to drop the Orioles to 3-1 on the season. Matusz struggled from the start, giving up a first-inning run and throwing 30 pitches in the inning. He went just four innings on a whopping 96 pitches and allowed six hits and four runs with four walks and one strikeout. That is four times more earned runs that the O's...

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Andino and Martin exchange words, Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss

April 09, 2012, 7:14pm

Orioles

Andino and Martin exchange words, Showalter speaks after 6-2 loss

I didn't see it, but Orioles second baseman Robert Andino and Yankees catcher Russell Martin exchanged heated words on the field after tonight's game. Martin apparently accused Andino of stealing signs from second base in the ninth inning after Andino doubled off Mariano Rivera with one out. Martin was coy about it afterward, never coming right out and confirming his suspicions, but that was his beef. Martin accused the Blue Jays of doing the same thing last year, so he's a little...

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Trying to equal the 1974 Orioles (updated)

April 09, 2012, 3:44pm

Orioles

If Brian Matusz pitches seven innings or more tonight, this would be the first time since 1974 that the Orioles had four starters begin the year by pitching seven or more. That year it was Jim Palmer (8 1/3), Dave McNally (10), Ross Grimsley (8 2/3) and Mike Cuellar (eight). It didn't look good for him to do that after the Yankees took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and Matusz threw 30 pitches, but he came back with an 11-pitch top of the second. Matusz has enough velocity tonight - hitting...

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Wei-Yin Chen gets ready to weigh in against New York

April 09, 2012, 1:41pm

Orioles

Wei-Yin Chen gets ready to weigh in against New York

He was signed by the Orioles to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015 back in January and tomorrow Wei-Yin Chen makes his official Orioles' debut. Manager Buck Showalter slated him to start the fifth game to give him more time to settle in as a big leaguer, but that also means he faces the Yankees right out of the box. "I'm feeling nervous right now, a little bit. I'm just preparing the best I can right now for tomorrow," Chen said through his interpreter this afternoon in...

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More pregame notes and quotes

April 09, 2012, 1:52pm

Orioles

Catcher Taylor Teagarden remains on the disabled list with lower-back issues, and it doesn't appear that he's close to joining the active roster. "Better than it was, but still not real fast progress," manager Buck Showalter said. Chris Correnti, the Orioles' performance consultant who's responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation of injured players, told Showalter that Zach Britton is "real excited about finally getting the ball back in his hand." Britton will play catch on...

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Matusz can't find the plate tonight (O'Day entering game)

April 09, 2012, 4:27pm

Orioles

Matusz can't find the plate tonight (O'Day entering game)

Brian Matusz issued three walks in 24 2/3 spring innings. He's walked four batters tonight in only four innings. Matusz seems to be 2-0 and 3-1 on every hitter. His pitch count is up to 96, including 52 strikes, and Darren O'Day began warming in the bullpen in the fourth while pitching coach Rick Adair visited the mound and catcher Matt Wieters made two trips. The Yankees scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Derek Jeter had a two-run double, making him 3-for-3 tonight and...

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Bullpen could be busy tonight (Wieters homers)

April 09, 2012, 3:23pm

Orioles

Bullpen could be busy tonight (Wieters homers)

Left-hander Brian Matusz gave up a run in the top of the first inning, which doesn't sound too bad. However, he returned to the dugout with his pitch count at 30. He'll need to become a lot more economical, or we're going to find out how manager Buck Showalter works his bullpen without a true long man. Matusz kept falling behind hitters, though Mark Teixeira's two-out, RBI single came on a 1-2 pitch. Derek Jeter led off with a single, making him 9-for-20 lifetime against Matusz. Alex...

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Looks like Jim Johnson is settling into the closer's role

April 09, 2012, 1:02pm

Orioles

Looks like Jim Johnson is settling into the closer's role

It took awhile for Buck Showalter to proclaim that Jim Johnson is his closer for this year, but now that he is, Showalter seems confident in what Johnson can do in the role. Johnson is 2-for-2 in save chances over the first three games and now has saved 10 straight dating back to last Aug. 14. He certainly seems comfortable now in that role. "We hope so," Showalter said. "Jimmy, I don't know what else you can, with the things he's been exposed to, not be any more prepared for it. Whether...

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A six-man rotation?

April 09, 2012, 12:46pm

Orioles

Tsuyoshi Wada started his first extended spring training game today, throwing 88 pitches in six innings. The reports say that his left arm felt good. Wada will pitch again Saturday in another extended spring training game, and he'll join one of the affiliates for a start on April 19. Zach Britton is scheduled to pick up a ball and play catch for the first time Thursday since having a Platelet Rich Plasma treatment on his left shoulder. Britton's return to the Orioles is further down the...

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After Twin killings, can Orioles be Yankee clippers?

April 08, 2012, 6:27pm

Orioles

The last time that the Yankees and Red Sox started out 0-3 was 1966. Anyone know how the Orioles finished that year? I'm not ordering my playoff tickets quite yet. The Orioles were 3-0 last season. They also were 6-1. Fast starts aren't a novelty. The issue has been sustaining that momentum. I know they beat up on the Twins, who did everything well over the weekend except pitch, hit and field, but don't ruin the moment. I've said the same thing in previous years. Why overthink it when...

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Tyler Townsend off to fast start at Double-A

April 09, 2012, 9:04am

Orioles

Tyler Townsend off to fast start at Double-A

Maybe it should come as no surprise that Tyler Townsend is hitting well again. The Orioles' third-round pick in 2009 out of Florida International is off to a fast start in his debut season in the Double-A Eastern League. After going 0-for-3 in Thursday's opener, Townsend is 5-for-11 over Bowie's last three games with three homers and six RBIs. At this very early stage, he leads or is tied for the league lead in homers, RBIs, slugging and total bases. His OPS is 1.438. "I am seeing the...

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Orioles lineup vs. N.Y.

April 09, 2012, 11:08am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Wilson Betemit DH Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP

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Jason Hammel talks about his no-hit bid against Minnesota

April 08, 2012, 12:41pm

Orioles

Jason Hammel talks about his no-hit bid against Minnesota

It was quite an Orioles debut for right-hander Jason Hammel. He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and wound up with a two-hitter over eight as the Orioles beat Minnesota 3-1 to sweep the series. This was a day where Hammel pretty much had all his pitches going for him. Jason Hammel speaks to the media about his impressive Orioles debut "Honestly, pretty close," he said. "Haven't been much better than that. I could still be better with my command. Two-seamer is something I just...

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Showalter on Hammel: "I thought he had a shot at it"

April 08, 2012, 12:41pm

Orioles

Showalter on Hammel: "I thought he had a shot at it"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent most of his postgame media session talking about Jason Hammel, and with good reason. We kept asking him about the right-hander, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in the Orioles' 3-1 victory over the Twins. "That was fun," Showalter said. "I thought he had a shot at it. He was carrying that type of stuff. He had all four pitches going. Not that anybody was thinking about it. "I'm not going to give anybody up, but there were a couple of our...