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Quick Matusz update (last update)

August 11, 2011, 9:58am

Orioles

Left-hander Brian Matusz appeared to take another big step forward in his eventual return to the Orioles' rotation. I say "appeared" because I don't have a scouting report from today's start against Lehigh Valley. But Matusz has blanked the Iron Pigs - yes, I just wrote that - on five hits over seven innings, with one walk, eight strikeouts and two hit batters. Matusz has thrown 95 pitches, 64 for strikes. He's induced seven ground balls and three fly balls. Matusz is locked in a duel...

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Talking about Arrieta, the lineup and Berken

August 10, 2011, 5:43pm

Orioles

Talking about Arrieta, the lineup and Berken

The first 10,000 fans 15 and older who attend tonight's game will receive a Jake Arrieta T-shirt. Yes, I know, a Brian Matusz bobblehead and a Jake Arrieta T-shirt. I can't wait for Jake Fox Photo Night. Before you ask, the Arrieta bobblehead doesn't come with a little bone spur or a sling or a tiny Dr. Yocum. I've heard 'em all. Well, feel free to add your own, but I've probably heard it. Arrieta underwent a CT scan and MRI on his right elbow yesterday - taking the advice of agent...

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Heath Bintliff: Losing is Birdland

August 10, 2011, 3:28pm

Orioles

The Orioles are all but assured of a losing record for the 14th straight season. But it's even worse than that. The Orioles are likely not to reach the 70 win plateau for the fifth straight season. That's really bad and it's pretty hard to do. How hard? Here is the short list of teams who have won less than 70 games for five or more straight seasons since the advent of the 162-game schedule in 1961. New York Mets 6 1962-1967* San Diego Padres 6 1969-1974* Tampa Bay Devil Rays...

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The longball can be fun, but ...

August 10, 2011, 10:37pm

Orioles

Of all the ways a team can win a ballgame, a walk-off homer has to rank right up there. Nolan Reimold's two-run homer to win the game in the 10th against Chicago last night was certainly exciting. The longball is fun and the Orioles are hitting their fair share. Consider these numbers: * The Orioles have now hit 134 homers on the year and that is one more than last year's team hit all season. They are on a pace to hit 190 homers, which would be the most by an Orioles team since the 1997...

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Wieters and Jones make Baseball America's best tools list

August 10, 2011, 2:13pm

Orioles

Wieters and Jones make Baseball America's best tools list

Baseball America rolled out its "best tools" list for the American and National Leagues today. Of the 25 categories where they surveyed AL managers and ranked the best players, just two Orioles made the list. Matt Wieters was ranked as the best defensive catcher in the AL, ahead of Minnesota's Joe Mauer and Alex Avila of Detroit. Adam Jones was rated by league skippers as the second best defensive outfielder, behind only Franklin Gutierrez of Seattle. Wieters has thrown out 27 of 67...

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Baseball America with an update on Delmonico

August 10, 2011, 3:17pm

Orioles

Baseball America with an update on Delmonico

Baseball America reporter Aaron Fitt, via Twitter, wrote that he expects the Orioles to soon sign sixth-round draft pick Nick Delmonico, a high school third baseman from Knoxville, Tenn. Here is a tweet filed earlier. He later clarified that he meant close to signing with the Orioles and not Georgia, where he has a college commitment. To this point, we have not heard any comment on this report from the Orioles or anyone representing Delmonico. One source told me earlier that Delmonico was...

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Reimold talks about his walk-off

August 10, 2011, 7:00pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold hadn't homered since July 26 before tonight's big swing off White Sox reliever Jason Frasor. Reimold was hitless in four at-bats tonight before stepping to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning. He ended up with a pretty sweet 1-for-5. "I was just trying to be relaxed," he said. "I was 0-for-4 at that point. Just relax and not be tense. I got a pitch to hit, my first pitch, so I didn't take it. I jumped on it and was happy to come through." After getting pied in the...

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Showalter speaks after 6-4 win

August 10, 2011, 6:50pm

Orioles

Nolan Reimold ended tonight's game with one out in the 10th inning by launching a ball 430 feet into the visiting bullpen. "Good for Nolan," manager Buck Showalter said after the Orioles' 6-4 win. "Put a good swing on it. You could tell he had little approach there, what he was looking for, and he didn't miss it. "I think he just missed a ball earlier, too. Nolan's a strong guy with a lot of skills. Not very often do the waters part and there's just an open-end ticket. He's got...

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Jones answers Hardy (Reimold walk-off HR)

August 10, 2011, 4:40pm

Orioles

Jones answers Hardy (Reimold walk-off HR)

Shortstop J.J. Hardy hit his 21st home run in the first inning to break a tie with Adam Jones for second place on the team behind Mark Reynolds (26). Jones homered in the fifth to create another tie. Talk about a short-lived lead. At least the Orioles have held one since the first inning. Jones' homer, measured at 405 feet, increased the Orioles' lead to 4-0 and gave him a career-high 71 RBIs. Tommy Hunter retired nine in a row before Alex Rios led off the fifth with a double. He set...

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Another hearty helping of Hardy homers (updated)

August 10, 2011, 3:27pm

Orioles

Another hearty helping of Hardy homers (updated)

J.J. Hardy is batting second tonight. He's mostly been leading off. He'd move down to ninth if manager Buck Showalter preferred it. Hardy doesn't care where he hits. The results are pretty much the same anyway. Hardy homered again tonight, connecting off White Sox starter Philip Humber with one out and the count full in the first inning. The ball traveled an estimated distance of 382 feet and gave the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead. Hardy has 21 home runs in 84 games. Remember that he missed...

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Minor league notes on Adams, Hudson, Rowell and more

August 10, 2011, 9:17am

Orioles

Minor league notes on Adams, Hudson, Rowell and more

Outfielder

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Bell awaiting results of MRI

August 10, 2011, 1:41pm

Orioles

Third baseman Josh Bell underwent an MRI today that he hopes will explain the source of the pain in his left side that's been bothering him for about three months. Bell said he's been dealing with a sore muscle that's located in the "oblique area." The discomfort intensifies when he's immobile and has been interrupting his sleep. "It feels like somebody is sitting on top of me," he said. "It's fine once I've been moving around, but whenever I wake up, I pretty much have to get...

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New leadoff and cleanup hitters tonight

August 10, 2011, 11:36am

Orioles

Felix Pie is batting first tonight as part of a revamped lineup. J.J. Hardy drops down to second. Adam Jones is batting cleanup, and Vladimir Guerrero is taking a seat on the bench. For the Orioles: Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Nolan Reimold DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP

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Erbe clears waivers, stays with Orioles

August 10, 2011, 11:21am

Orioles

Pitcher Brandon Erbe has cleared waivers and remains with the Orioles organization. He is now off the 40-man roster and has been outrighted to Aberdeen, where he had been pitching before the Orioles recently had him designated for assignment. Erbe, who had labrum surgery last August, had pitched in four games for Aberdeen and, over 3 2/3 innings, he allowed five hits and four runs. He last pitched a week ago, 2/3 of an inning against Lowell. Erbe was the Orioles' third-round pick in 2005...

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Has Mark Reynolds' glove warmed up to the hot corner?

August 10, 2011, 1:14pm

Orioles

Has Mark Reynolds' glove warmed up to the hot corner?

By just about any measurement or stat you could quote, Mark Reynolds has not had a good year fielding at third base. But it sure seems that Reynolds' defense at the hot corner has improved in recent weeks and he has made just one error in his last 31 games since July 4. That includes four games Reynolds recently played at first base. Reynolds still leads all AL third baseman with 21 errors and the next highest total is 16 by Minnesota's Danny Valencia. Orioles manager Buck Showalter feels...

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Updating Guerrero, Arrieta, Britton and more

August 10, 2011, 12:52pm

Orioles

Updating Guerrero, Arrieta, Britton and more

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters today that he's letting Vladimir Guerrero "freshen up" and expects the veteran to be in the lineup tomorrow night. Guerrero is 1-for-18 on this homestand and has two home runs since July 6. Asked whether Guerrero would be the cleanup hitter tomorrow night, Showalter replied, "More than likely." But he didn't make any promises. Guerrero is 13-for-36 (.361) lifetime against White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, who starts tomorrow. He has two doubles,...

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More clubhouse chatter

August 09, 2011, 6:43pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis was in the middle of two crucial moments in tonight's game. If you've been following along, you know that he broke back toward second base on Vladimir Guerrero's one-out single into center field in the fourth inning. He also was incorrectly called out attempting to steal third base in the fifth inning. He'll first address his reaction to Guerrero's single: "That's a line drive right at you and your first natural reaction is to freeze, but I've got to do a better job of...

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No common denominator with Orioles' injuries

August 09, 2011, 9:34pm

Orioles

With the Orioles dealing with several injuries to young pitchers and also some position players in both the majors and the minors, some fans are questioning what is going on throughout the organization. Are the Orioles doing something wrong with how they handle their young pitchers? Are there some issues with how the club handles its strength and conditioning programs with the young hurlers? Does something going on here need to be fixed? The talented young trio of Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta...

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Who cleans up mess in fourth slot?

August 09, 2011, 5:11pm

Orioles

Need a reason to feel optimistic about tonight's game? Tommy Hunter has made one career start against the White Sox, back on July 3, 2010, and he held them to one run over seven innings. Adam Jones collected his 70th RBI last night in the Orioles' 113th game, putting him on pace for 100 RBIs this season. He would become the third center fielder in club history to reach the century mark. Name the other two. (Answer below. No fair looking it up.) Felix Pie had two more hits off Gavin Floyd,...

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Showalter returns for postgame media session

August 09, 2011, 6:31pm

Orioles

Showalter returns for postgame media session

Manager Buck Showalter was ejected by third base umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fifth inning tonight, but he still handled the postgame session with the media. He didn't shower, dress and leave the ballpark. Cuzzi missed the call on Nick Markakis, who clearly beat Brent Morel's tag. "It's one of those things. It's unfortunate," Showalter said. "You can usually go back to three or four things that would have made it not matter, but it's tough. Obviously, he's safe, but it's tough. Things...