orioles

Talking about Tillman, Reimold and Bell (updated)

April 18, 2011, 3:21pm

Orioles

Talking about Tillman, Reimold and Bell (updated)

Chris Tillman got through a scoreless first inning on 13 pitches. That's quite an improvement over his last start in New York, when Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the opening frame. Tillman's fastball topped out at 92 mph against the Twins. His first heater registered at 87 mph, and the drop in his velocity has become a hot topic considering that he used to touch the mid-90s. He hit 90 at least twice, including his strikeout of Jim Thome to end the inning. Jason Kubel singled with...

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Feats of Clay Rapada

April 18, 2011, 2:24pm

Orioles

When the Orioles sent Clay Rapada to their minor league camp toward the end of spring training, they never gave him a timetable for a return to the majors. It turned out to be April 18. "They kind of told me to keep doing what I was doing and when the time came, they said to be ready," he said earlier today after reporting to Camden Yards. "I felt like I did what I needed to do in spring training to impress Buck (Showalter). I told him I was going to come in and get lefties out, and...

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Notes and quotes from Showalter (and Twins lineup)

April 18, 2011, 1:24pm

Orioles

Notes and quotes from Showalter (and Twins lineup)

Clay Rapada isn't here to serve exclusively as a left-handed specialist. He'll also be needed to retire right-handed hitters. "He's a guy who has the ability to defend himself against some right-handed hitters, too, so we feel confident he'll be able at times to be able to pitch a clean, full inning," manager Buck Showalter said. "As our rotation gets straightened out a little bit, hopefully the need for longer relief stints isn't as prevalent." Left-handers went 1-for-19 against...

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Postive reports on Matusz and Hardy

April 18, 2011, 12:35pm

Orioles

The Orioles made their roster moves official. They placed Chris Jakubauskas on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 17, with a strained right groin and purchased the contract of left-hander Clay Rapada from Triple-A Norfolk. Justin Duchscherer was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create room on the 40-man roster. Jakubauskas began experiencing some tightness in his groin in New York, and he aggravated his condition in Cleveland while fielding a ball and throwing to second...

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Today's lineup against the Twins

April 18, 2011, 11:30am

Orioles

Jake Fox is making another start in left field today, as the Orioles attempt to break a seven-game losing streak. Otherwise, no major changes to the lineup. Here's the lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Adam Jones CF Jake Fox LF Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP

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The Duchscherer timetable keeps changing

April 18, 2011, 11:04am

Orioles

The Duchscherer timetable keeps changing

Once it became clear that Justin Duchscherer wouldn't be ready for opening night, the Orioles targeted him for an April 10 start. He would be placed in the bullpen until the club needed a fifth starter. Once it became clear that Duchscherer needed more time and innings after making only one appearance in an exhibition game, the Orioles decided to place him on the 15-day disabled list and get him ready for an April 21 start. They're now ready to go with Plan C, which eliminates any...

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Rapada coming to Baltimore (updated twice)

April 17, 2011, 12:39pm

Orioles

Rapada coming to Baltimore (updated twice)

Left-handed reliever Clay Rapada will join the Orioles at Camden Yards tomorrow, signaling another roster move involving the bullpen. Rapada will give the Orioles a second left-handed reliever, along with struggling veteran Michael Gonzalez. Chris Jakubauskas will be placed on the disabled list to make room for Rapada. Rapada has appeared in two games with Triple-A Norfolk, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out three in two scoreless innings. He looked like an early favorite to make...

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Uehara walks, Orioles stumble again

April 17, 2011, 11:40am

Orioles

The Orioles trailed by two runs in the top of the ninth. Derrek Lee swung at the first pitch from Indians reliever Chris Perez and flied out. Vladimir Guerrero swung at the second pitch and flied out. Luke Scott swung at the first pitch and missed it, putting him in an 0-1 hole. Scott eventually ran the count full before taking a called third strike to run the losing streak to seven games. The ball was so far outside, it would have rolled into the third base dugout, but why should anything go...

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Calling Triple-A

April 17, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

No, the Orioles aren't calling up anyone from Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides, off to a 1-8 start, are leading Charlotte, 8-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning. That's what I call a reversal. Mike Ballard has allowed one run and four hits, walked one and struck out seven. He signed a minor league deal and didn't receive a spring training invite, though he got into five games and racked up a 10.00 ERA. Nick Green and Brendan Harris have homered today for the Tides. Green has four...

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Bergesen's day is done (updated)

April 17, 2011, 10:31am

Orioles

Brad Bergesen is shaking hands in the dugout and seeking warmth beneath a sweatshirt, so we'll assume that he's finished for the day. Bergesen threw two innings on Wednesday and was making his first start since April 6. He's registered the Orioles' last three complete games, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters earlier today that the right-hander wasn't going nine innings. Showalter settled for 88 pitches in five. Bergesen is charged with two earned runs. A third run scored after...

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Today's silver lining (updated)

April 17, 2011, 9:43am

Orioles

The Orioles are losing again today, 1-0, on a Carlos Santana home run leading off the second inning. They're in another early hole, though not as deep as we've seen in other games on this awful road trip. Here's the good news: Brad Bergesen is mostly forcing the Indians to hit the ball on the ground. Of the six outs he's recorded, five have come on ground balls. He also struck out Matt LaPorta to end the second. When Bergesen makes hitters pound the ball into the ground, he usually wins...

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Matusz staying in Sarasota

April 17, 2011, 8:00am

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Cleveland that Brian Matusz is making progress in his throwing program in Sarasota, Fla., but there are no immediate plans to bring the left-hander to Baltimore. There was early talk of Matusz throwing a bullpen session this week for pitching coach Mark Connor and bullpen coach Rick Adair, but he hasn't advanced enough to schedule one. Showalter wouldn't commit to a date or speculate whether Matusz might remain at the minor league complex throughout...

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Fox trots around the bases (updated 3 times)

April 16, 2011, 11:48am

Orioles

Fox trots around the bases (updated 3 times)

Jake Fox provided the first run today and some comic relief. Fox homered in the third inning to reduce the Indians' lead to 2-1 over the Orioles. Fox stumbled as he rounded first base and had to go back to make sure he touched the bag and avoid an embarrassing appeal and out. Players were laughing in the dugout as he came down the steps. You'll recall that Fox had 10 home runs in spring training, 11 if you count the interleague game. He was 0-for-7 before today's game. Fox is making his...

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Orioles lineup vs. Indians (and more Guthrie)

April 16, 2011, 5:58am

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie will take the mound today as the Orioles attempt to halt a five-game losing streak. Guthrie has got to play stopper today, and he seems the most qualified on the staff. He's allowed one run and seven hits in 14 innings, and he should have better stamina today. Here's the Orioles' lineup, which includes Jake Fox behind the plate: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C Robert Andino...

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Now you can worry

April 15, 2011, 5:38pm

Orioles

Oh sure, now Koji Uehara pitches. Uehara took care of the eighth inning tonight, long after the Indians took care of the Orioles. We're talking five straight losses and a .500 record. And it doesn't sting any less to me when it's a blowout. There isn't as much to second-guess, but it's still painful. Zach Britton is human. Pass the word. He allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings. There were bound to be nights like this one. It just would have been more convenient if it...

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Closing argument

April 15, 2011, 4:07am

Orioles

So is the honeymoon period over for manager Buck Showalter? I've never seen him second-guessed to this extent since he was named manager Aug. 2. It was bound to happen. Earl Weaver would have been questioned and criticized during the blog and Twitter era. That's all part of the game. I don't think anyone is jumping off the Showalter bandwagon, but he made two decisions last night that clearly irked readers of this blog. (And I'm trying to remember the last time I used the word...

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Blown lead, blown save (good news on Brooks Robinson)

April 14, 2011, 6:07pm

Orioles

Blown lead, blown save (good news on Brooks Robinson)

So much for my foot-on-their-throats suggestion. The Yankees scored once in the fifth, twice in the sixth and once in the seventh to reduce the Orioles' lead to 5-4. You had to know what was coming next. Kevin Gregg entered in the bottom of the ninth and lost the lead on one pitch. Jorge Posada, an all-or-nothing guy in the first two weeks of the season, homered to tied the game, 5-5. Kevin Gregg talks about blowing his first safe of the season in a loss to the Yankees A lost lead in...

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Arrieta dealing early (updated)

April 14, 2011, 4:36pm

Orioles

I fired up my laptop after the top of the fifth inning - just in time for Jake Arrieta to give up a run on his first two hits. I blame myself. Again. Alex Rodriguez broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff double. Tears were shed, but I quickly pulled myself together. The Orioles need a quality start from Arrieta after Chris Tillman lasted only 1 2/3 innings last night. Manager Buck Showalter has talked about the risks involved with having young starters go back-to-back. When I mentioned it...

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Orioles lineup against Yankees

April 14, 2011, 11:43am

Orioles

Here's the Orioles lineup for tonight's series-finale against the Yankees: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP Also, in case you missed it, the Orioles promoted Steve Johnson, son of former Orioles' pitcher Dave Johnson, to Triple-A Norfolk. And Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with an injured quadriceps...

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Bergesen brings a silver lining

April 14, 2011, 9:27am

Orioles

Before you completely erase last night's game from your memory, you might want to pause and reflect on Brad Bergesen's effort. The night wasn't all bad. Bergesen gave the Orioles two scoreless and hitless innings, striking out two and lowering his ERA to 3.18 in two appearances. I guess that wasn't two much to ask (see what I did there?) Bergesen was officially recalled from Triple-A Norfolk earlier in the day, though he never wore a Tides uniform. I'm not sure he even washed one in...