orioles

Jim Johnson: To start or not to start? That is the question

September 30, 2011, 9:30pm

Orioles

Jim Johnson: To start or not to start? That is the question

Here are the two best reasons I can think of for keeping Jim Johnson as a reliever next season: * He's an excellent relief pitcher. * He's easily the best option for closer among the current roster. But here is the reason I still think he should be used in the rotation next year: * The Orioles' starting rotation ERA this year was 5.39. That is bad, real, real bad. But there is some hope it can get much better in a hurry. What if Zach Britton improves even a little on his rookie year,...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3

Your incremental MacPhail update

September 30, 2011, 11:49am

Orioles

I always point out how I strongly dislike incremental updates that don't advance a story, but here I go again. The Orioles haven't made an announcement today regarding president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, and we probably won't hear anything until Monday at the earliest. Nothing has changed at this point. MacPhail will no longer serve as president of baseball operations unless there's a dramatic turn in events that nobody is anticipating. The question is whether he stays in the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles

What should Showalter do?

September 30, 2011, 8:21pm

Orioles

If you're looking for manager Buck Showalter today, he's attending the TCU-SMU football game. A promise he made to his kids. I'm not sure where president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is hanging out this weekend, but he won't be making any statements on his future in the organization. Things change quickly around here, but as I wrote yesterday, we probably won't learn of MacPhail's decision before Monday. He's not staying in his current role, but he could stick around as an...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles2

Someone upset with O's celebration? Give me a break

September 30, 2011, 7:39am

Orioles

Someone upset with O's celebration? Give me a break

A couple of thoughts before we head into the first weekend since March without Orioles baseball. * Peter Gammons said of Terry Francona on MLB Network: "Sometimes you measure Boston managers in dog years and Tito managed 56 years." By the way, the Red Sox averaged a robust 5.4 runs per game during their 7-20 September. But here are the ERAs for some of their pitchers during the month: Erik Bedard 5.25, Jon Lester 5.40, Josh Beckett 5.48, John Lackey 9.13 and Daniel Bard 10.54. Ken...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3

More about Matusz

September 26, 2011, 4:23pm

Orioles

If anyone with the Orioles needs a fresh start, it's left-hander Brian Matusz. Matusz left spring training as the No. 2 starter. He ended the season with one victory. I don't know anyone who saw it coming. I predicted that Matusz would become the staff ace after winning his last six decisions in 2010 and posting a 1.57 ERA over his final eight starts. Maybe I was just a year or two off. Matusz was 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA in 12 starts this season. He went on the disabled list in early April...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3 featured_sidebar

Notes on Dylan Bundy and O's instructional league

September 30, 2011, 6:03am

Orioles

Notes on Dylan Bundy and O's instructional league

Here are a few things I have heard about the Orioles' instructional league workouts currently going on in Florida. The first thing I should point out however, is fans should realize instructional league is about instruction, of course and teaching the players. While they do play games there, you can't put a lot on evaulating any stats or results. No scores or stats are released from the games. Orioles 2011 top draft pick, pitcher Dylan Bundy, has been pitching in some of those games. He is...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2

Long before Ripken, Hansen broke the mold for big league shortstops

September 28, 2011, 8:49am

Orioles

Long before Ripken, Hansen broke the mold for big league shortstops

There were a multitude of notable achievements in Ron Hansen's career - a Rookie of the Year Award, two All-Star nods,15 seasons in the majors, the rarest of rare defensive feats - but perhaps his biggest accomplishment was proving that shortstops didn't have to be small or wiry guys who could only flash the leather. Think Cal Ripken Jr. redefined the position? Think again. A generation before Ripken was playing game after game after game, the 6-foot-3, 200-lb. Hansen was one of the first...

Comments

Tags:

cal ripken jr. orioles orioles alumni orioles buzz pete kerzel frontstory_orioles1

There's got to be a morning after ...

September 28, 2011, 7:47pm

Orioles

I might be confused, but I'm pretty sure what I eat this morning determines whether a Boston sportswriter has to skip breakfast. All of us in the press box who cover the Orioles were in agreement that last night's ending made up for a lot of the aggravation, frustration and heartache of a 14th consecutive losing season. The three straight two-out hits off Boston closer and face contortionist Jonathan Papelbon. The wild celebration between second and third, with Robert Andino leaping in the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1

Showalter on Andino

September 29, 2011, 11:11am

Orioles

One of the lasting images from the 2011 season was provided last night by second baseman Robert Andino. Not just his game-winning hit, but the way he bounded around the bases, took a flying chest-bump from Adam Jones and landed on his back. And the way he disappeared under a pile of jubilant teammates. And the way he strutted back to the dugout on his way to the clubhouse, waving that right arm in the air. OK, that's four lasting images. I warned you about my math. Andino almost didn't...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

Baseball America ranks Machado as No. 1 prospect in Carolina League

September 29, 2011, 8:47am

Orioles

Baseball America ranks Machado as No. 1 prospect in Carolina League

Even though he hit just .219 his last 33 regular-season games with the Frederick Keys, Baseball America today named Manny Machado of the Orioles as the top prospect in the Carolina League. Earlier Machado was named second-best prospect in the South Atlantic League. He started the 2011 season with Delmarva. At Frederick, Machado elevated his game in the playoffs and drove in seven runs during Frederick's three games to one win in the league finals. He was named the championship series...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2

Some thoughts and notes on an amazing night of baseball

September 28, 2011, 11:16pm

Orioles

Some thoughts and notes on an amazing night of baseball

As Orioles fans woke up today, they realized something. That was not a dream last night. That happened. The Red Sox were one out from winning in the ninth and Tampa Bay was one out from losing in the ninth. How about this stat: The Red Sox entered last night's game with a record of 77-0 this year when leading after eight innings. They are 77-1 now. The Orioles can certainly be criticized for another losing season, but they also have a reason to be proud of how they played and handled...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles

Nolan Reimold talks about the win and his double in the ninth

September 28, 2011, 9:10pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold talks about the win and his double in the ninth

Nolan Reimold knocked in 14 runs for the Orioles over his last 12 games this season and he saved one of the best for last. His two-out, RBI double off Jonathan Papelbon in the last of the ninth tied the game at 3-3 and set the stage for Robert Andino's game-ending single as the Orioles beat Boston 4-3. Minutes later, when Tampa Bay won, the loss ended Boston's season short of the playoffs. "It was exciting," Reimold said of the dramatic finish. "We battled to the end. We weren't playing...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2

Reimold and Andino with the clutch hits in the 9th as the O's stun Boston

September 28, 2011, 8:06pm

Orioles

Reimold and Andino with the clutch hits in the 9th as the O's stun Boston

The last game of the year produced one of the best finishes ever at Camden Yards. Down to their last out, the Orioles scored twice off Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Boston Red Sox with a comeback, 4-3 victory. With two outs and none on, Chris Davis doubled to right and Kyle Hudson came on to pinch run. Then Nolan Reimold came up with an RBI double to right center to tie the game 3-3. Robert Andino then lined one into left field and Carl Crawford just missed making a...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

Showalter speaks about "special" night

September 28, 2011, 9:00pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter couldn't return to his office after meeting with reporters until he returned to the field through the home plate entrance and waved to fans who refused to go home. Pitcher Tommy Hunter tossed baseballs into the stands. It felt like the final regular-season game in 1979, except this wasn't Memorial Staidum and the Orioles weren't heading to the playoffs. The Orioles rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Red Sox, 4-3. A few...

Comments

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1

Andino talks about his game-winning hit against Boston

September 28, 2011, 8:51pm

Orioles

Andino talks about his game-winning hit against Boston

Just a few minutes after his game-ending and season-ending RBI single gave the Orioles a walk-off win over the Boston Red Sox tonight, Robert Andino said he enjoyed handing the Red Sox such a crushing loss. "To end the season like this and make Boston go home sad and crying, I'll take it all day. I've got no words for it. You saw Boston's faces," he said. Robert Andino talks about his walk-off base hit that knocked the Red Sox out of the Wild Card race After Chris Davis doubled off...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles featured_sidebar

From tarp to targets (Andino wins it in ninth)

September 28, 2011, 7:05pm

Orioles

From tarp to targets (Andino wins it in ninth)

Play resumed at 10:58 p.m. after a 1 hour, 26 minute rain delay. Boston reliever Alfredo Aceves might need a few more warmup tosses. Aceves hit Mark Reynolds in the left ribcage with his first pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. Chris Davis flied out, and Aceves drilled Nolan Reimold in the left shoulder. Reimold flipped his bat, walked toward first base and glared at Aceves. He wore an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?" Aceves isn't throwing at the Orioles with his team...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

Jones talks about MVO award

September 28, 2011, 2:02pm

Orioles

I'm hearing now that it's highly unlikely that the Orioles make an announcement tomorrow regarding president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Something would have to change during the afternoon. Maybe on Friday. Center fielder Adam Jones beat out shortstop J.J. Hardy by one vote for Most Valuable Oriole. I expected a close count, but that's taking it to the extreme. "It's a tremendous honor," Jones said. "Played a hard season, a long season. There's a lot of deserving guys...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

Game update and Reimold note (and attendance)

September 28, 2011, 4:53pm

Orioles

Game update and Reimold note (and attendance)

Alfredo Simon lasted only 4 1/3 innings tonight. Dustin Pedroia hit a tie-breaking home run in the top of the fifth, and Simon exited after David Ortiz singled off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. Simon was charged with three runs and six hits, with three walks, two strikeouts and a balk. He threw 87 pitches, 53 for strikes. Simon also gave up three runs in his last start, but they were spread out over eight innings against the Tigers. In the start before that one, he allowed six...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

The starters struggled most of the year and Simon did tonight too

September 28, 2011, 5:10pm

Orioles

The starters struggled most of the year and Simon did tonight too

The Orioles' starting pitching has been a flop most of this year. The starters' ERA for the season is in the 5.30 range and yes, that is awful. Alfredo Simon struggled in his start tonight, giving up three runs and six hits over just 4 1/3 innings. Simon will finish this season winless in eight starts against AL East teams with an ERA of 5.91. His final season ERA is 4.90 and he won't win his fifth game tonight. You have to wonder how the Orioles will use Simon next year. I still think his...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2

Angle, Jones and more (score tied 2-2)

September 28, 2011, 4:00pm

Orioles

Alfredo Simon stranded a runner in the first inning and another one in the second, but the Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the third. No. 9 hitter Mike Aviles drew a leadoff walk, moved up on Jacoby Ellsbury's single and scored on Dustin Pedroia's single. Ellsbury extended his hitting streak against the Orioles to 36 games. Simon got a double play, issued an intentional walk and struck out Ryan Lavarnway, who homered twice last night. His pitch count is up to 52 through three innings. The...