orioles

Feeling left out so far (updated)

April 25, 2011, 11:25am

Orioles

The Orioles' shifted much of their winter focus to finding right-handed bats that would improve their record against left-handed pitching. Derrek Lee, Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy were added to the 25-man roster via free-agent signings or trades. What could go wrong? Well, we're dealing with an extremely small sample size less than a full month into the season, but the Orioles are 1-4 against left-handed starters. They beat David Price in the season-opener at Tropicana...

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Summing it up in three words

April 25, 2011, 4:42am

Orioles

I tried to find a succinct way to sum up yesterday's 11-inning loss to the Yankees, but I decided to let catcher Matt Wieters do it. "It definitely stinks." Thanks, Matt. Wieters also could have been talking about the weather or this 2-11 stretch that is starting to look a lot like the 2-16 start last season, except it's been sugarcoated a bit because it's following a 6-1 start. Make sense? If the Orioles began this season 2-11, the anger and frustration would be dialed up even more....

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Part Two: Andy MacPhail on the Orioles' international efforts

July 09, 2011, 11:44am

Orioles

Earlier today, Part One of an interview with Orioles president Andy MacPhail was published in this space. It is a two-part interview with MacPhail about the O's signing and scouting of international players since he took over in his current position. Tomorrow, I will feature here an interview with Baseball America's Ben Badler with his analysis of the O's efforts on this front. Now, Part Two of the MacPhail interview. Were the O's one of the finalists for Miguel Sano? "Yeah. What we...

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Postgame Showalter

April 24, 2011, 2:47pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't fault Matt Wieters' pickoff attempt on Robinson Cano at second base in the top of the 11th inning. Wieters had the right idea, but the wrong execution. Cano was credited with a steal of third base after Wieters' made a wide throw, and the Yankees scored three times in a 6-3 victory over the Orioles that completed a sweep of this abbreviated series. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's 11-inning loss to the Yankees "It was a good...

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Rain stops, along with Orioles' momentum

April 24, 2011, 1:55pm

Orioles

The Yankees have taken a 6-3 lead over the Orioles in the 11th inning after a 40-minute rain delay and another pitching change. Jason Berken replaced Jeremy Accardo with no outs and a full count on Robinson Cano, who lined a double to right field to extend his hitting streak to 16 games against the Orioles. With Nick Swisher batting, catcher Matt Wieters tried to pick off Cano at second base. Not a bad idea, except Cano broke for third as Wieters' throw to shortstop Robert Andino tailed to...

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Matt Wieters: Brick wall in shin guards

April 24, 2011, 12:48pm

Orioles

The Yankees thought they had the lead in the top of the 10th inning. So did just about everyone in the ballpark. Alex Rodriguez lifted a fly ball to medium center field against Orioles reliever Jeremy Accardo with one out and Derek Jeter tagging at third base. Jones unleashed the throw to the plate, where Matt Wieters reached up for it and slapped the tag on Jeter, who slide into the catcher's foot. Once again, Wieters demonstrated that he's a physical presence behind the plate, and when...

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Scott comes within inches of big hit (Roberts gets it)

April 24, 2011, 12:07pm

Orioles

Scott comes within inches of big hit (Roberts gets it)

Luke Scott was 2-for-13 with one home run lifetime against Mariano Rivera when the Yankees closer entered today's game with runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Scott drove the ball to left field, which the Yankees weren't expecting with speedster Brett Gardner playing so shallow. Gardner went into a full sprint, reached over his head and somehow made the catch for the final out. The game is definitely tied if the ball eludes Gardner's glove, and I like...

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Reynolds ends skid

April 24, 2011, 11:47am

Orioles

Mark Reynolds was hitless in his last 22 at-bats before launching an opposite-field, two-run homer off Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain in the seventh inning. Adam Jones singled with one out and Reynolds followed with a shot to right, his first homer since April 9 against the Rangers' Colby Lewis. Matt Wieters struck out, and manager Buck Showalter let Cesar Izturis bat, creating a spirited debate in the press box. One reporter agreed that Izturis should bat, which would allow Brian...

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That didn't take long - Part II (updated)

April 24, 2011, 9:45am

Orioles

That didn't take long - Part II (updated)

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead last night after 10 pitches from Brad Bergesen. They have a 2-0 lead today after four pitches from Jake Arrieta. Somebody wake me up from this nightmare. Derek Jeter singled and Curtis Granderson belted his seventh home run. Arrieta walked the next two batters, bringing pitching coach Mark Connor from the mound. Maybe the Orioles should have sent Arrieta home last night so he wouldn't be exposed to that 15-3 thrashing. Cancel his cable subscription. Force him to...

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Quick hits (and Matusz update)

April 24, 2011, 7:31am

Orioles

Brian Matusz is throwing from 120 feet as the Orioles take batting practice on this glorious Easter morning at Camden Yards. Matusz will throw his first bullpen session on Tuesday unless the club makes an unexpected change to his schedule. Update: The club made an unexpected change. Matusz got through today's session without incident, but he'll repeat it Tuesday rather than throw in the bullpen. He made 60 throws in increments of 15 this morning from 60 to 120 feet, rested, then threw again...

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Showalter time

April 23, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke to reliever Josh Rupe about the pitch that drilled Russell Martin between the numbers in the ninth inning. Martin homered twice tonight, so the timing was dubious. "We asked him after the game," Showalter said following the Orioles' 15-3 loss to the Yankees before 39,054 at Camden Yards. "He said, 'I know what it looked like. I was trying to go in.' It did not look good. I didn't like it at all. But I choose to believe my pitcher and I've known Josh...

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Rupe's rough ride (updated)

April 23, 2011, 5:34pm

Orioles

Josh Rupe made the Orioles' roster in spring training by allowing only two runs in 14 2/3 innings. If I'm remembering correctly, he hadn't been scored upon until his final appearance. Rupe served up Alex Rodriguez's 22nd career grand slam in the eighth inning tonight, increasing the Yankees' lead to 13-3. He let three inherited runners score after replacing Clay Rapada, who replaced Jason Berken. Rodriguez was his responsibility, and he's now surrendered six runs in 8 1/3...

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Nothing to CC here (updated twice)

April 23, 2011, 4:35pm

Orioles

Now I'm a little worried. Russell Martin's three-run homer off Brad Bergesen in the sixth inning has given the Yankees a 6-0 lead. Jason Berken was warming in the Orioles' bullpen as Martin came to the plate. Meanwhile, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia is dominating the Orioles again. He's allowed only one hit, a Derrek Lee single in the fourth. That's the only baserunner of the night. Sabathia is throwing everything for strikes. He struck out Mark Reynolds looking at a changeup and...

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Bergesen settles down, Orioles offense bogs down

April 23, 2011, 3:59pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen has retired 11 of 13 batters since Robinson Cano's run-scoring single in the first inning. Brett Gardner doubled with one out in the second and Russell Martin walked with two outs in the fourth for the only Yankees' baserunners. Jake Fox made a diving catch in left field to rob Jorge Posada in the fourth. Stop picking on his defense. CC Sabathia has retired the first nine batters he's faced, striking out three. The Orioles have gotten one ball out of the infield. Former...

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Tillman: "It's a lot disappointing."

April 23, 2011, 1:07pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman says he's felt good for a few days after making a couple plays in the field during his last start that caused discomfort in his right groin, but the Orioles are being cautious and skipping him in the rotation until next Saturday. Tillman is available to pitch in relief tonight, but only if manager Buck Showalter has to use him. "I can't pinpoint an exact time, but it happened during the last game (Monday) around the second inning," Tillman said. "There were a few things...

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Matusz will return to Sarasota

April 23, 2011, 12:32pm

Orioles

As expected, the Orioles will send left-hander Brian Matusz to Sarasota next weekend while they embark on a two-city road trip that begins Friday in Chicago. Matusz will throw from 120 feet tomorrow and throw bullpen sessions here on Tuesday and Thursday. He'll pitch in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, and will require at least three starts on his injury rehab assignment, placing his projected return to the Orioles' rotation in the middle of May. Manager Buck Showalter said the...

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Updates on Simon, Patton and Mahoney

April 23, 2011, 9:29am

Orioles

Alfredo Simon will pitch again Monday or Tuesday at extended spring training in Sarasota, and he'll likely work two innings in his next appearance before being extended to three innings in his following start. The Orioles will stretch him to four innings the following week as part of their two-week projection to get him to 50 pitches. The Orioles want to get Simon up to 12-15 pitches per inning, which they can manipulate in these games. The rules are flexible. Simon could go through a six-...

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Who's pitching in?

April 23, 2011, 4:55am

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter has been pretty good at blindsiding reporters this year. We gather on the field in spring training or in his office or in the auxiliary clubhouse, and he brings up an injury or medical issue that we didn't anticipate. Brian Matusz has a wart? Justin Duchscherer felt a twinge? Brian Roberts has a stiff neck? Derrek Lee has a sore wrist? Lee has a sore foot? Matusz got hit on the arm by a line drive? J.J. Hardy has pain in his lower ribcage? Roberts went to the hospital...

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Part One: Andy MacPhail on the Orioles' international efforts

July 09, 2011, 11:15am

Orioles

One topic that Orioles fans often ask me about is the club's poor record in signing international players. We all know the team has a poor history, for instance, of producing home-grown Dominican talent and that the Orioles have not been among the teams offering big signing bonuses for international talent in recent years. It is believed that the Orioles spent somewhere around $1.2 million on international bonuses in 2010. The most they gave one player was the $300,000 to infielder Hector...

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Orioles will host 25th annual food drive at Camden Yards July 15-17

July 11, 2011, 12:32pm

Orioles

The Orioles, along with the Orioles Wives, Orioles Advocates, WJZ-TV, and the Maryland Food Bank, will hold their 25th annual Food Drive at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this weekend, July 15-17, during the Orioles' series with the Cleveland Indians. Members of these groups will collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations from fans at each entrance from the time gates open until the middle of the second inning during games this weekend. Items most needed at this time according to...