Matthew Taylor: Rout by Yankees brings back unpleasant memories

Matthew Taylor: Rout by Yankees brings back unpleasant memories
I'm sure I wasn't the only Orioles fan with the Birds' 30-3 loss to Texas on my mind when the Yankees scored a dozen first-inning runs Saturday night. I was fairly certain New York wouldn't stay on pace for 108 runs, but 30 runs certainly seemed in the realm of possibility. Thankfully, the Yankees fell far short of the Rangers' record-breaking effort in 2007. Saturday's 17-3 loss therefore doesn't compare to the Texas baseball massacre on the whole. However, it was actually worse in...

Orioles lose series finale at New York, fall to 1-9 against the Yankees

Orioles lose series finale at New York, fall to 1-9 against the Yankees
For the second time in a row on this road trip, the Orioles won the first game of a series, but then lost the rest. The Orioles went 1-2 at Toronto and won Friday at New York behind Jeremy Guthrie. But they lost the final three games at Yankee Stadium with the series ending today as New York beat the Orioles 4-2. The Orioles were out-scored 29-8 in the last three games. Today, Jake Arrieta gave up four runs in the fourth after blanking New York for three innings. That inning started with a...

Viola, Ballard optioned to Bowie (updated with MacPhail quotes)

Viola, Ballard optioned to Bowie (updated with MacPhail quotes)
The Orioles optioned left-handers Pedro Viola and

Busy Saturday: Two losses, two trades for the Orioles

Busy Saturday: Two losses, two trades for the Orioles
On a day they gave up 25 runs, 35 hits, 12 runs in one inning and lost a doubleheader, I guess it wasn't all bad on Saturday for the Orioles. Most fans seem excited about the acquisitions the Orioles got from Texas for Koji Uehara in Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. No, they are not stars and no one knows if they will prove to be answers to some of this organization's many questions, but I don't see how anyone can find much fault with the deal. This being a public forum, some of you have....

Arrieta flirted with disaster and got slapped (updated twice)

Arrieta flirted with disaster and got slapped (updated twice)
If Jake Arrieta is going to keep loading the bases, bad things are going to happen. A three-run triple by Brett Gardner qualifies as a bad thing. A walk, error and single filled the bases with no outs in the fourth inning, and Gardner emptied them with a shot down the right field line. Gardner scored with one out on Curtis Granderson's grounder to first. Yankees 4, Orioles 1. J.J. Hardy's miscue on a potential double play ball was critical. Now Hardy's in a fielding slump. What's...

Davis whiffs in debut at-bat (F-7 in next one)

Davis whiffs in debut at-bat (F-7 in next one)
New Orioles first baseman Chris Davis led off the top of the second inning today by chasing a 2-2 changeup from Yankees starter Freddy Garcia and swinging through it. Get used to it. Davis strikes out a lot. He also hits tape-measure home runs. You could say he's a left-handed version of Mark Reynolds, who followed Davis to the plate and also struck out. Davis has struck out 303 times in 954 plate appearances over parts of four major league seasons. He also will bounce a few baseballs on...

A couple of words about Mike Ballard and Pedro Viola

A couple of words about Mike Ballard and Pedro Viola
The Orioles' ever-changing roster changed again today. As for the pitching staff, as Jason Berken got optioned out, Mike Ballard joined the team and Pedro Viola rejoined the team. I recently wrote about how Ballard's pitching had been a big part of Bowie's recent winning ways and talked with Baysox pitching coach Kennie Steenstra about his. Ballard, a 27-year-old lefty, began the season with Triple-A Norfolk and moved to Bowie in early June. Ballard was 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA for the Baysox....

Britton done after 10 batters (Yankees score 12 in 1st)

Britton done after 10 batters (Yankees score 12 in 1st)
Did they really need to play both ends of this doubleheader? Zach Britton lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his last start with the Orioles, on July 8 in Boston, before they optioned him to Double-A Bowie. Tonight, he exited after retiring one batter. Britton was charged with seven earned runs (eight total) and six hits in Boston. He's allowed seven so far tonight in New York, and he leaves with runners on second and third and still only one out. The rookie surrendered seven hits and...

Davis starting at first base

Davis starting at first base
Chris Davis will make his Orioles debut today at first base. He's batting fifth behind Vladimir Guerrero. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Chris Davis 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

Orioles option Berken to Triple-A Norfolk, recall LHP Viola and bring up LHP Ballard

Orioles option Berken to Triple-A Norfolk, recall LHP Viola and bring up LHP Ballard
The Orioles today announced that they have optioned RHP Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk, recalled LHP Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie and selected the contract of LHP Mike Ballard. Berken, 27, has gone 1-2 with a 6.27 ERA (37.1IP, 26ER) in 31 games with the Orioles this season. Viola, 28, went 3-1 with three saves and a 2.10 ERA (30.0IP, 7ER) in 28 games for the Baysox. He pitched to a 9.82 ERA (3.2IP, 4ER) in four games for the Orioles earlier this season. He will wear #47. Ballard,...

Orioles acquire 1B Aaron Baker from Pirates in exchange for Derrek Lee

Orioles acquire 1B Aaron Baker from Pirates in exchange for Derrek Lee
The Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired minor league 1B Aaron Baker from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for 1B Derrek Lee. Baker will be assigned to Single-A Frederick. Baker, 23, has batted .285/.353/.474 with 21 doubles, 15 home runs and 72 RBI in 102 games for Single-A Bradenton this season. The Pirates' 11th round pick in the 2009 First Year Player Draft, Baker has batted .263/.344/.452 with 70 doubles, 36 home runs and 183 RBI in 289 games over three minor league...

Berken optioned to Norfolk

Berken optioned to Norfolk
The Orioles optioned reliever Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk, recalled left-hander Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie and purchased left-hander Mike Ballard's contract from the Baysox. Berken gave up seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings in Game 2 last night. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in New York that there were two reasons for Berken's demotion. "We have a need for pitchers," Showalter said, "and he hasn't pitched well." Berken was optioned earlier this season. He's...

O's lose nightcap, 17-3, MacPhail talks about trade, Lee trade official

O's lose nightcap, 17-3, MacPhail talks about trade, Lee trade official
The Yankees completed their doubleheader sweep with a 17-3 victory in Game 2. They only outscored the Orioles 5-3 after the first inning, so the game was closer than...never mind. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail talked about the appeal of trading for first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter, who will join the Orioles tomorrow in New York. Buck Showalter talks with Gary Thorne about the Orioles' 17-3 loss to the Yankees "We got two 25-year-old players who have...

Jim Duquette: Some scouts amazed at the haul the Orioles brought back in Uehara deal

Jim Duquette: Some scouts amazed at the haul the Orioles brought back in Uehara deal
Jim Duquette is a pretty well-respected guy in baseball circles. The former Orioles vice president of baseball operations from late 2005 through 2007 said the Orioles got very good value in return from Texas for Koji Uehara with the acquisitions of Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. "I think the value is great," Duquette said. "I was surprised. I have called a couple of scouts in the industry checking on what they are hearing (about deadline deals) and it was three different scouts I spoke with...

Viola meeting Orioles in New York (Ballard, too)

Viola meeting Orioles in New York (Ballard, too)
The Orioles have summoned left-hander Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie, but no decision has been made whether to recall him for today's game against the Yankees. Viola knows the drill. He's been through it before. The bullpen was abused in yesterday's doubleheader, and it didn't help that Mark Hendrickson and Michael Gonzalez were hit by comebackers in the nightcap. Troy Patton pitched both ends. Jason Berken took a beating after replacing rookie Zach Britton. The Orioles could make...

We said it wouldn't get weird (trade official)

We said it wouldn't get weird (trade official)
The Yankees scored 12 runs in the first inning of Game 2. Then they added those all-important tack-on runs. Their lead has grown to 16-1 as we head to the top of the sixth inning. Slightly awkward. Zach Britton allowed nine runs (six earned) and seven hits in one-third of an inning. Jason Berken gave up seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. Chris Jakubauskas allowed three hits in the fourth without a run scoring. Jakubauskas retired the side in order in the fifth. He's got my vote...
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Lee to Pirates close, Guthrie likely to stay, Gonzalez hurt

Lee to Pirates close, Guthrie likely to stay, Gonzalez hurt
The Orioles are getting close to a trade that would send first baseman Derrek Lee to the Pirates for a lower-level minor league player. They'd like to get it done before tomorrow. Either way, first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter are joining the Orioles in New York tomorrow. Hunter will take Koji Uehara's place on the roster. Davis would replace Lee if the Orioles can complete the deal with Pittsburgh. Nothing is finalized, but it's the next logical step after today's trade...

Uehara headed to Texas (Tillman optioned)

Uehara headed to Texas (Tillman optioned)
The Orioles have reached agreement with the Rangers on a trade that would send reliever Koji Uehara to Texas for first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter, according to multiple sources. Uehara is 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 43 games, with only 25 hits allowed, eight walks and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings. He hasn't allowed a run in 10 appearances this month covering 11 innings, with four hits, one walk and 15 strikeouts. Uehara is 12 appearances shy of having his $4 million vesting...

Hunter and Davis is a pretty good return for Uehara

Hunter and Davis is a pretty good return for Uehara
Acquiring a young pitcher and a young first baseman that have already had some major league success for Koji Uehara looks like possibly a great trade at this point for the Orioles. The O's acquired pitcher Tommy Hunter and Chris Davis for Uehara, who heads to the Rangers. The sides have reached an agreement on the deal, first reported by The Baltimore Sun, but it has not yet officially been announced. I'm looking for the downside and having a hard time finding any right now, but this news...

O's acquire RHP Tommy Hunter & INF Chris Davis from Rangers in exchange for RHP Koji Uehara

O's acquire RHP Tommy Hunter & INF Chris Davis from Rangers in exchange for RHP Koji Uehara
The Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired RHP Tommy Hunter and INF Chris Davis from the Texas Rangers in exchange for RHP Koji Uehara. Hunter, 25, is 23-13 with a 4.36 ERA (266.1IP, 129ER) and 151 strikeouts in 53 career games (44 starts) over parts of four seasons with Texas, including 13-4 with a 3.73 ERA (128.0IP, 53ER) and 68 strikeouts in 23 games (22 starts) in 2010. A Rangers' first round draft pick (54th overall selection) in the 2007 First Year Player Draft, Hunter went...