orioles

O's win home opener to go to 4-0

April 04, 2011, 1:45pm

Orioles

Earl Weaver threw out the first pitch today. Then the Orioles went out and won using solid starting pitching and a three-run homer. Earl should know that formula pretty well. The Orioles stayed unbeaten, winning their 58th home opener by beating the Tigers 5-1 before a sellout crowd of 46,593 at Camden Yards. Brian Roberts tells Tom Davis about the team effort in the Birds' 5-1 home opening win The Orioles have their first 4-0 start since 1997. Just once in franchise history have the...

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O's get to Porcello for the lead

April 04, 2011, 12:45pm

Orioles

Despite scoring just one run through four innings today, the Orioles had hit some balls hard off Tigers starter Rick Porcello. That continued in the last of the fifth when they produced four straight hits to break the 1-1 tie. Felix Pie led off with a single and reached third on J.J. Hardy's third double of the year. Brian Roberts followed with a three-run homer to right center on a 1-2 pitch. Nick Markakis followed that with a double. After a pair of strikeouts, Matt Wieters lifted a bloop...

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Crunching some pregame numbers

April 04, 2011, 10:14am

Orioles

* The O's are opening their 58th home season today and are 37-20 all-time in the home opener. They are 4-0 when that first home game comes against the Tigers with the most recent win, by a 6-2 score on April 9, 2007. The Birds have won eight of their last 10 home-opening games. * The O's rank 11th in the AL with a team batting average of .222, first in ERA at 1.00 and tied for second with a team fielding percentage of .991. They lead the AL in starters ERA at 0.45. * Brian Roberts is the...

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Reynolds welcomes the chance to hit in the clutch

April 04, 2011, 9:37am

Orioles

Reynolds welcomes the chance to hit in the clutch

With all the talk of Mark Reynolds' homer and strikeouts totals and what they could be this year, we may have overlooked something: The guy has a decent track record of getting clutch hits. "I like hitting with guys on. When you bat with runners in scoring position, it's your job to drive them in. That's the mentality I've had my whole career," he said. Yesterday, Reynolds came up with two men on and none out in the top of the seventh in a 1-1 tie. He promptly doubled in a run for the...

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Wieters talks about the O's unbeaten start

April 04, 2011, 8:40am

Orioles

Wieters talks about the O's unbeaten start

Like Orioles fans, catcher Matt Wieters is excited with the team's 3-0 start. But he isn't getting too carried away with it. "It was big to start off the season that way, but it's just three games of 162," Wieters said. "We've got Detroit coming in today and we've got to try to get a win today." Wieters has gotten praise from Buck Showalter and his coaching staff for his game-calling behind the plate during the Tampa series. "Those first three games, our guys were able to throw...

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Orioles bring perfect record to Camden Yards

April 03, 2011, 7:46pm

Orioles

If any of you predicted that the Orioles would be 3-0 while allowing just three runs,and Boston would be 0-3 while giving up 26, we need to talk. I need some help with lottery tickets. The Orioles put together an amazing weekend performance against Tampa with superior pitching, stellar defense and some timely hits. While the club batted just .222 as a team during the weekend, the O's went 8-for-19 with runners in scoring position. They got clutch hits to back the pitchers. While there was...

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Looking at the numbers from the Tampa series sweep

April 03, 2011, 2:19pm

Orioles

Looking at the numbers from the Tampa series sweep

*The Orioles swept the three-game series by a 12-3 score. They allowed exactly one run on four hits in each of the three games. They won three with a team batting average of just .222, going 22-for-99 vs. the Rays. They hit just one homer in the series, but it was a big one by Brian Roberts on Saturday night. They had just 11 hits in the series' first two games, then added 11 more on Sunday. Brian Roberts was the only Oriole to hit safely in all three games. The O's swept three without...

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Buck's Birds sweep Tampa to start 3-0

April 03, 2011, 12:20pm

Orioles

A weekend of stunningly good pitching ended today with another Orioles win. The O's scored three runs in the top of the seventh to help make Zach Britton a winner in his major league debut and the O's beat Tampa 5-1. They swept the three-game series by a 12-3 score and have their first 3-0 start since 1997. Britton was excellent in his first big league game, giving up just one run and three hits over six innings. He left in a 1-1 tie, but when the O's scored three in the seventh to break...

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Britton shines in his debut

April 03, 2011, 11:26am

Orioles

Another day, another excellent outing by an Orioles' starter. One run by O's starters in 20 innings in Tampa. Sure, I'll take that, works for me. Zach Britton's performance in his debut was outstanding today. It looks like the O's will go to the pen in the last of the seventh. We could not have asked for much more. He will leave this game tied 1-1, allowing just a run and three hits over six innings. He threw 96 pitches. Sure he got into some deep counts and walked a couple, but to...

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Adams and Henson likely to start at Triple-A & Mahoney at Double-A

April 03, 2011, 9:08am

Orioles

Adams and Henson likely to start at Triple-A & Mahoney at Double-A

The minor league rosters for the Orioles four full season affiliates are not officially set yet but it appears that second baseman Ryan Adams and outfielder Tyler Henson are likely to begin the year with Triple-A Norfolk. Adams hit .298 with 43 doubles, 15 homers and 68 RBI at Double-A last summer. He had ten hits in 19 at bats in Major League spring training games. Henson, a fifth-round pick in 2006, batted .278 with 12 homers, 37 doubles and 60 RBI at Bowie in 2010. O's 2010 Minor League...

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Talking with and about Zach Britton

April 02, 2011, 9:44pm

Orioles

As lefty Zach Britton gets ready to make his major league debut today, I am reminded of the fact that Britton has been written about an awful lot on my blog over the last few months. He has always been available for interviews and there are plenty of others that I have interviewed to get their opinions about the 23-year-old prospect. Just about a week ago, I interviewed ESPN's Tim Kurkjian and got his thoughts about Britton. In a February interview, Baseball America's Jim Callis said...

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Some stats & facts from the first two games

April 02, 2011, 8:49pm

Orioles

Some stats & facts from the first two games

*Today the Orioles go for a three-game sweep at St. Pete vs. Tampa. They have not swept three from the Rays in their home park since September 30 to October 1, 2005. The Orioles have now won six of their last seven games vs. Tampa and are 4-1 at the Trop during that stretch. They now lead the all-time series, 113-111, vs. the Rays. *The Orioles have won these two games despite scoring just seven runs on 11 hits and with a team batting average of .175 to date. But O's pitching has allowed...

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Taking a closer look at Chris Tillman

April 02, 2011, 8:59am

Orioles

Well, just a few days ago we were wondering if Chris Tillman would make the Orioles' roster and now he is starting the second game of the season. That shows how much in a state of flux this rotation is in right now, due to injuries and pitchers getting hit with line drives As Tillman gets ready to take the mound tonight against Tampa, fans may be wondering why Tillman's Triple-A success the last two years has not yet translated to big league success. Over the past two seasons, Tillman has...

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Looking back at first game and ahead to Britton's debut

April 01, 2011, 10:16pm

Orioles

Looking back at first game and ahead to Britton's debut

The injury to Brian Matusz put a damper on the first day of the season. But if we could put that aside for a minute, the O's performance last night was very encouraging. Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis led the offense, the Orioles made a few very solid plays on defense and Jeremy Guthrie pitched a brilliant game. Guthrie did a great job using his secondary pitches to offset his, at times, mid-90s heater. It may have been one of the better nights ever for his "secondaries." It was nice to...

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Guthrie dominant in O's opening win

April 01, 2011, 5:29pm

Orioles

What a performance by Jeremy Guthrie. After going 8-4 with an ERA of 2.76 after the All-Star break last year, Guthrie opened the 2011 season with eight brilliant, shutout innings tonight in a 4-1 win over Tampa. Ben Zobrist homered off Jim Johnson leading off the last of the ninth to get Tampa's only run. Guthrie gave up just three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Tampa batters went just 3-for-26 against him. Johnny Damon, Evan Longoria and Manny Ramirez were a combined 0-for-9 vs....

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Despite today's news, the O's should not call on Britton yet

April 01, 2011, 4:20pm

Orioles

Despite today's news, the O's should not call on Britton yet

Here is a quick thought on Zach Britton. If the Orioles were not going to have him on the opening day roster, and they did not, they should not call him now if they need another starter due to Brian Matusz's back injury. In terms of Britton, that should just not change anything. I think the O's should stick to Plan A and call him up later. If needed, they can find someone to add to the rotation and there are only four dates in April when they need a fifth starter anyway. Let Britton get...

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Tonight's pitching matchup: Guthrie vs. Price

April 01, 2011, 11:34am

Orioles

Tonight's pitching matchup: Guthrie vs. Price

Here is a breakdown of tonight's starting pitchers. Jeremy Guthrie will make his third opening day start in the last four seasons for the Orioles. Guthrie is 1-1 with an ERA of 6.35 in his previous day one starts in 2008 and 2009. Guthrie against Tampa in 2008: 5 1/3 IP, 9H, 6R, 5ER, 1BB, 2K. Guthrie against NYY in 2009: 6 IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 3K. I remembered that Guthrie was good after the All-Star break last year, but the stats show he was really, really good then. He went 8-4 with an...

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A quick glimpse at the O's minor leagues

April 01, 2011, 9:14am

Orioles

A quick glimpse at the O's minor leagues

Even though the Orioles' 2011 season begins tonight, the club has still not finalized its minor league rosters. The full season affiliates don't begin their seasons until next Thursday, April 7 (or Friday, April 8 in the case of Single-A Frederick). What I wrote about Feb. 12 has pretty much come to pass. It certainly appears that the Triple-A Norfolk roster will be one with more veterans than in previous seasons and not many up-and-coming prospects. One reason for that is Orioles manager...

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Tonight we see if the O's can turn optimism into wins

March 31, 2011, 8:13pm

Orioles

Tonight we see if the O's can turn optimism into wins

The long offseason is over and the Orioles begin the 2011 season tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Birds went 7-11 against Tampa last year and have not won the season series against the Rays since 2007. A lot of people expect a major falloff from Tampa this year with all the free agents the Rays lost. I don't see it. I still see a formidable pitching staff and a possible playoff contender. After years of watching top prospects join the Rays, it will be strange to see them rely on...

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Having just one bullpen lefty should not be a problem

March 31, 2011, 9:13am

Orioles

Having just one bullpen lefty should not be a problem

I am not concerned in the least that the Orioles will begin the season with just one left-hander in the bullpen. First of all, pitchers like Mark Hendrickson, Clay Rapada, Troy Patton and Chris George all may start on the Triple-A staff and will be a phone call away if needed. Also, there is this big reason not to be concerned: The stat sheet says it won't be an issue. Of the six right-handed hurlers in the O's pen, all but Koji Uehara have better statistics either recently and/or in their...