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Matthew Taylor: Trying to keep things in perspective

August 08, 2011, 6:09am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Trying to keep things in perspective

Keep things in perspective. It's a motto that works for sports and for life. Some of us need to be reminded about perspective more often than others. Given my favorite team's misfortunes, I may as well have those words marked on every page of my Orioles desk calendar. Rather than focus on the day-to-day frustrations of the Birds' 14th consecutive losing season, I'm attempting to consider the big picture and keep things in perspective. After all, how bad could it be? Well ... * The...

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Daniel Moroz: O's need to keep working on growing the arms

August 10, 2011, 5:32am

Orioles

Daniel Moroz: O's need to keep working on growing the arms

It seems fair to say that things have not worked out as well as many hoped on the pitching side for the Orioles this year. The plan was supposed to be to "grow the arms", but that hasn't exactly paid dividends yet. In fact, it hasn't really done so at all in quite a long time. The best pitcher the O's have developed since 1991 - a span of 20 years (a generation, if you will) - is clearly

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Arrieta heads West with surgery likely

August 09, 2011, 1:55pm

Orioles

There was some talk late last year that Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta would have bone spurs removed from his right elbow. He didn't have the procedure performed then, but it might happen later this week. Arrieta is flying to California tonight to meet with Los Angeles Angels physician Dr. Lewis Yocum and he could undergo the procedure on Friday. He is expecting that to be the result of his meeting tomorrow with Yocum. "Yeah. That's kind of the way I feel right now, I just think that, that...

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That's why Pie is in the lineup (Showalter ejected)

August 09, 2011, 4:38pm

Orioles

That's why Pie is in the lineup (Showalter ejected)

I pointed out this morning that Felix Pie was 7-for-12 lifetime against White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Make it 8-for-13. Pie has walked and singled tonight, and he helped to fuel a three-run fifth inning that reduced Chicago's lead to 4-3. Matt Wieters, Pie and Robert Andino strung together hits to load the bases with no outs. Station-to-station worked in this case. Wieters scored on J.J. Hardy's fielders choice grounder, Nick Markakis followed with an RBI single and another run scored on...

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It gets a little rocky early for Reyes (updated)

August 09, 2011, 3:41pm

Orioles

It gets a little rocky early for Reyes (updated)

Jo-Jo was a man that gave up two runs in the top of the second inning. Feel free to sing the rest on your own. After a 1-2-3 first inning on 16 pitches, Reyes gave up two runs in the second in his first Orioles start. Carlos Quentin hit a 390-foot homer and later Brent Morel, batting ninth, added an RBI single. In 20 starts for Toronto, Reyes allowed three runs or less in nine of his outings. The Blue Jays scored three or fewer runs for him in 10 of those games. Reyes has had two seasons end...

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Reyes blending into rotation (and exiting game)

August 09, 2011, 3:36pm

Orioles

Reyes blending into rotation (and exiting game)

If you want to be one of the guys here, you've got to give up runs with two outs. That's especially true if you're part of the rotation. Jo-Jo Reyes, making his first start with the Orioles, retired the side in order in the top of the first inning. Paul Konerko worked Reyes for nine of the left-hander's 16 pitches before lining to left field. Carlos Quentin led off the second with a 390-foot home run, ending Reyes' bid for a perfect game. Reyes retired the next two batters, but he...

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Evaluating Chris Davis

August 09, 2011, 1:05pm

Orioles

Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight after missing four games with a sore right shoulder. The Orioles acquired Davis from Texas with Tommy Hunter in the trade deadline deal that sent Koji Uehara to the Rangers. Davis is a player that has put up big numbers in his minor league career, but numbers not as robust in the majors. The Orioles have now less than two months to evaluate him to decide if he fits in their future plans. Buck Showalter feels that is enough time to get a solid...

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Pregame notes

August 09, 2011, 12:57pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that he's considered moving Vladimir Guerrero out of the cleanup spot, in case anyone thought the idea hadn't crossed his mind. "Obviously, he hasn't been as productive as you'd like to see from a guy hitting in that spot in the order," Showalter said. Showalter has a few candidates in mind, though he's not giving away names. If he had an ideal replacement, he probably would have acted upon it by now. My guess is Mark Reynolds and Adam Jones...

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Chris Davis back in lineup

August 09, 2011, 11:29am

Orioles

First baseman Chris Davis is back in the lineup tonight and batting fifth against White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Chris Davis 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Robert Andino 2B Jo-Jo Reyes LHP

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Reyes is up next as Orioles look to piece together their rotation

August 08, 2011, 9:48pm

Orioles

One week after the Orioles claimed lefty Jo-Jo Reyes on waivers from Toronto, he will take the mound and get his first Baltimore start. "It's good," Reyes said. "I'm used to starting, so it's not going to be that big of a difference. But just to get back on the mound and start the game off is going to be good." Reyes was 5-8 with a 5.40 ERA this season in 20 starts for Toronto. He gave up 140 hits over 110 innings and really struggled over his last five starts, going 2-2 with an ERA of...

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Hitting notes on Wieters, Reimold and Hardy

August 09, 2011, 9:18am

Orioles

Hitting notes on Wieters, Reimold and Hardy

Checking in with a few Orioles hitting notes before they host Chicago tonight in Game 2 of a four-game series. * Matt Wieters went 3-for-3 with two doubles last night, snapping a stretch where he had just seven hits in 51 at-bats. It was Wieters' first three-hit game since July 5 and the first time he had two doubles in a game since June 24. * Nolan Reimold is struggling right now. He has just three hits over his past 26 at bats. In his last 10 games, Reimold is 4-for-33 (.121) without a...

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Lauren Tilley: Time to blame Buck

August 09, 2011, 8:51am

Orioles

I remember hearing the news last season that the Orioles had signed Buck Showalter as the new manager and I, along with everyone else, got really excited. After reading up on his history as a manager, winning American League Manager of the Year twice, and for being known for turning struggling teams into playoff contenders, I thought, 'Wow, this could really be the final piece to this franchise puzzle.' After all, we had the core, young players, the young, prospective pitching staff and the...

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Looking back and ahead (with note)

August 08, 2011, 5:43pm

Orioles

The first 15 Orioles were retired Saturday night. The first nine were retired Sunday afternoon. The first six were retired last night. That's what I call progress. The Orioles are getting off to slow starts. That's the point I'm trying to make here. And the second inning has really been a sinkhole. The Orioles are 0-for-33 in the second inning over their last 10 games since Mark Reynolds hit a home run off A.J. Burnett on July 29. The offense is batting .190 (23-for-121) with 13 runs...

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More clubhouse chatter

August 08, 2011, 6:40pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy: "It's frustrating. We battled back, we took the lead. They got a couple of hits there, I think, it was the eighth, that brought them back the lead. A couple of broken-bat bloopers fell in. That's just bad luck and frustrating. Anytime we're up in the eighth inning, I feel like we've got a pretty good shot. J.J. (Jim Johnson) has been unbelievable all year. It was just a little bad luck tonight." "I definitely hit some balls right down the line. Those could go foul any day -...

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Hardy's bat was hearty, but Orioles still lose against Chicago

August 08, 2011, 5:47pm

Orioles

Well, at least the Orioles got their shortstop back tonight. On a night they rallied from 4-0 down to take the lead, the Orioles still lost, 7-6 against Chicago and they fall to 1-3 on this 10-game homestand. After missing three games with a sore left ankle, J.J. Hardy returned with a big game tonight. He went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and two doubles. He tied his season high with four RBIs. He also drove in four on May 15 against Tampa and July 26 versus Toronto. Before the game,...

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Showalter speaks after 7-6 loss

August 08, 2011, 6:24pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter didn't bury third baseman Josh Bell or center fielder Adam Jones during his postgame session with the media. Not that I expected him to do it. Bell committed an error and failed to make a play in the decisive eighth inning that allowed the go-ahead run to score. Jones made a poor throw that put the go-ahead run in scoring position before Bell's botched attempt to field a grounder to his left side. Buck Showalter talks to the media about the O's making it a close...

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Hardy homer notes (O's lose, 7-6)

August 08, 2011, 5:04pm

Orioles

Tonight's attendance: 17,498 J.J. Hardy smacked a three-run homer off White Sox reliever Jesse Crain in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead and set up Jeremy Guthrie for his sixth win. Matt Wieters doubled off John Danks for his third hit tonight, and he reached third base after sliding into Gordon Beckham's glove and jarring the ball loose. Crain replaced Danks with one out, and Hardy greeted him with a shot into the left field seats. Hardy is the first Orioles...

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Extra, extra: O's trail 4-2

August 08, 2011, 3:35pm

Orioles

The White Sox have six hits off Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie through two innings tonight. Five of them have gone for extra bases. Paul Konerko doubled with two outs in the first inning, but he was stranded. Then the floodgates opened. A.J. Pierzynski led off the second with a 394-foot home run. Alex Rios, batting .215 before tonight, doubled to left field and scored on a single by Adam Dunn, who was batting .163. Guthrie got ahead of Gordon Beckham, 0-2, and served up another home run....

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Jones and his bat enjoy the home cooking at the Yard

August 08, 2011, 3:17pm

Orioles

Jones and his bat enjoy the home cooking at the Yard

Adam Jones seems to like the friendly confines of Camden Yards. In 57 home games this year, he is batting .296 with 17 homers, 49 RBIs and an OPS of .928. In 53 road games, he is batting .288 with three homers, 20 RBIs and a .704 OPS. Even though he went hitless on Sunday, Jones is batting .344 with eight multi-hit games over his last 15 games with four doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs. Here is an interesting Jones stat: He leads the majors in batting average with two outs at .363. His 20...

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Davis updates Davis (with Chisox lineup)

August 08, 2011, 1:15pm

Orioles

Davis updates Davis (with Chisox lineup)

Chris Davis really wanted to start at first base tonight. Here's how much: "I've tried," he said. "I literally actually put my name in the lineup before anybody else did and when I came back, it said I was pitching, so I moved it back out of the lineup. I would love to pitch, but I just don't want to subject these guys to that." Davis has temporarily lost his place in the lineup, but not his sense of humor. He was on a roll today while standing in front of his locker. "I'll...