orioles

Not-so-great Scott

June 04, 2011, 11:00am

Orioles

I'll be posting the lineup within the next 30 minutes, unless manager Buck Showalter is waiting for a health update on a specific player. It would seem to be an opportune time to sit Luke Scott, who's 2-for-21 and hasn't homered since May 3 in Kansas City. The Blue Jays are starting a left-hander, Ricky Romero, and Scott is 1-for-12 with three strikeouts lifetime against him. That one hit, however, is a home run. Jake Fox isn't here to serve as a right-handed hitting first baseman. Mark...

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Waiting on Lee

June 03, 2011, 7:50pm

Orioles

Derrek Lee went 2-for-3 with a walk last night at Double-A Bowie, proving that you don't have to be a prototypical leadoff hitter to bat first. Manager Buck Showalter and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail have discussed whether Lee is ready to come off the disabled list. We'll get confirmation later today. You can believe that Showalter wants him in tonight's lineup. Does Lee slip back into the third spot in the order once he's activated? That's the assumption. And does...

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Britton on Britton

June 03, 2011, 7:19pm

Orioles

Zach Britton met with reporters after tonight's 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays. As usual, he didn't make excuses or sugar-coat his outing. He offered another honest critique. Here are some of his comments: "I don't think I did a good job out there. Falling behind too many hitters. Watch on video and the hits I gave up were all balls out over the plate (and) up. That's what a good-hitting team does, they hit those pitches. The last two outings I haven't executed well and those are the...

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Showalter speaks after 8-4 loss

June 03, 2011, 7:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles and Blue Jays each had 10 hits tonight. That's pretty much where the similarity ended. "We had as many hits as they did. It certainly didn't feel like it," manager Buck Showalter said following tonight's 8-4 loss. "It took a while for us to get adjusted to what we knew he (Carlos Villanueva) was going to be doing. It was kind of frustrating early because he was doing exactly what we expected. We finally made the adjustment and got him out of there, but by then there was...

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More on Britton, Lee and Bergesen

June 03, 2011, 5:19pm

Orioles

In his last three starts, left-hander Zach Britton has allowed 14 earned runs (16 total) and 25 hits in 16 2/3 innings. He's also walked eight batters. OK, it isn't quite as easy as he made it look when he first came up. Britton didn't really make a bad pitch to catcher J.P. Arencibia, who golfed it into the left field seats for a grand slam. But the rookie wasn't sharp and he's no longer breezing through the early innings. Down on the farm, Derrek Lee is 2-for-3 as Double-A Bowie's...

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Checking on Britton, Lee and Bergesen (updated)

June 03, 2011, 4:05pm

Orioles

Checking on Britton, Lee and Bergesen (updated)

The homestand isn't off to a promising start. The Orioles are losing, 3-0, to the Blue Jays in the fourth inning. Two of the runs off Zach Britton are unearned after third baseman Mark Reynolds committed his 11th error, but Britton has allowed four hits, issued an intentional walk and thrown a wild pitch. Britton hadn't allowed an earned run in two straight starts covering 16 innings before surrendering nine runs and 19 hits in his last two outings covering 11 1/3 innings. He's having...

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Britton vs. Bautista (updated twice)

June 02, 2011, 7:10pm

Orioles

The Orioles are back home tonight to begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, and left-hander Zach Britton will make his 12th major league start. Remember when Britton was supposed to spend at least 20 days in the minors? Britton has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts, but he gave up a career-high six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings in his most recent outing in Oakland. He might want to pitch around a former Oriole. Jose Bautista was named the American...

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Getting caught in the draft (updated)

June 02, 2011, 10:41am

Orioles

The amateur baseball draft - and we're required here at MASNsports.com to refer to it strictly as the First-Year Player Draft because it's that important - will begin on Monday. The Orioles will make their selections in Sarasota instead of Baltimore. I guess they were seeking a cooler climate. Our own Steve Melewski has been doing the heavy lifting in the days leading up to the draft, but since everyone else is chiming in, I'll take a few seconds to do the same. It's either that or try...

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A first for Markakis (and much more)

June 01, 2011, 6:46pm

Orioles

No game today. No position changes, no roster moves - well, I'm going out on a limb here by predicting that the roster stays the same - and no lineup shuffling. I'll revel in the calm and wait for the next storm. I had planned on driving to Double-A Bowie tonight for Derrek Lee's first injury rehab game, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters yesterday that Lee's grandfather passed away. The first baseman's assignment will be delayed for a few days. So far, 2011 has been an...

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Checking on Tillman (updated)

June 01, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman is making his first start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, opposing former Orioles pitcher Kevin Millwood, who signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox and was assigned to Pawtucket. Millwood lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits, walking two, striking out three and hitting a batter. He threw 61 pitches, 36 for strikes. Josh Bell was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Rhyne Hughes and Brendan Harris also drove in runs. Tillman had a 4-0 lead going into...

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Matusz done after 5 2/3 innings (O's take lead)

June 01, 2011, 1:21pm

Orioles

Matusz done after 5 2/3 innings (O's take lead)

I thought the Orioles would push Brian Matusz a little farther today after he threw 83 pitches in his final injury rehab start at Triple-A Norfolk. Matusz was removed today after 84 pitches, including 52 strikes. He held the Mariners to one run and four hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Matusz would have completed six innings, except first baseman Nick Markakis - it still feels weird typing that position for him - couldn't pull down third baseman Mark Reynolds' high throw with two...

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Matusz through the third

June 01, 2011, 12:39pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz doesn't necessarily have his best stuff today. He's hung a few changeups, including one that Jack Wilson ripped into center field for an RBI single. His fastball looks like it's topping out at 88 mph. But Matusz is a pitcher. He's not just a thrower. And he's held the Mariners to that one run over three innings. Matusz, in his first start this season, has allowed four hits, walked none and struck out two. He's thrown 44 pitches, including 28 for strikes. The Orioles might...

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Wieters not catching on with voters (updated)

June 01, 2011, 11:58am

Orioles

Wieters not catching on with voters (updated)

Nick Markakis flied to center field in his first professional at-bat as a first baseman. Matt Wieters struck out in his first at-bat this season as the cleanup hitter. That's it, trash the experiments immediately. Oh wait, Markakis just scooped out a throw in the dirt to complete a double play. Keep him there. Wieters is hitting fourth in his fourth major league game. He's 1-for-13 with a walk and 2 RBIs. Major League Baseball released its All-Star voting for the American League, and...

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Talking about Fox, Jones and Markakis

May 30, 2011, 6:17pm

Orioles

While wondering if former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel's next contract will include a vesting option ... And while wondering if anyone got that joke ... If I'm Jake Fox, I'm wondering where I fit on this team. Fox didn't pinch-hit yesterday despite having a few opportunities. I explained in one entry why he isn't an automatic choice with a left-hander on the mound, considering that he's 3-for-28 against them this season and is a career .206 hitter against them. But playing...

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Simon keeps it simple (Orioles lose 4-3)

May 30, 2011, 2:20pm

Orioles

Alfredo Simon kept today's game at Safeco Field from spinning out of control. If the Orioles brought their bats, he might be in line to get the win. Simon struck out the first two batters he faced to leave the bases loaded in the third inning and keep Jake Arrieta's line from growing uglier. He gave manager Buck Showalter 3 1/2 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, walking one and striking out four. Just what the doctor ordered. And the manager. Simon threw 55 pitches over two...

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Another bullpen day? (updated twice)

May 30, 2011, 12:38pm

Orioles

While wondering why Major League Baseball insists that teams celebrate Memorial Day by wearing ugly caps... Matt Wieters commits his first error and Jack Cust triples. So it's going to be that kind of a day? Jake Arrieta threw 24 pitches in the first inning while surrendering two runs to the Mariners and putting the Orioles in an early hole. Arrieta receives a lot of run support. He'll need at least three today. Arrieta gave up two hits, including Cust's first three-bagger, and...

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Orioles lineup doesn't include Jones

May 30, 2011, 10:57am

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter waited longer than usual to post his lineup today. He had to check on Adam Jones, who apparently needed one more day to lessen the discomfort in his right shoulder. For the Orioles: Felix Pie CF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Luke Scott 1B Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP Also, the Orioles made their roster move official earlier today by announcing that they recalled pitcher Chris...

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Tillman also optioned, Jones update

May 29, 2011, 3:17pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman beat out Brad Bergesen for a spot in the Orioles' rotation. That victory lasted one day. Manager Buck Showalter hinted earlier today that another roster move could be coming, and it happened after the game with Tillman being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli tweeted that Chris Jakubauskas is expected to join the team in Seattle, giving Showalter another long reliever. The Orioles have five open dates on their June schedule...

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A career day for Zach Britton

May 29, 2011, 2:08pm

Orioles

I don't mean it in a good way. Zach Britton allowed a career-high six runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings today before Jeremy Accardo replaced him. Britton gave up five runs on April 15 in Cleveland. He surrendered nine hits in his last start against the Royals at Camden Yards. Britton threw 97 pitches today, 57 for strikes. And once again, manager Buck Showalter is forced to go to his bullpen earlier than desired. In this series, Orioles' starters have logged 4 1/3, 5 2/3 and 5 2/3...

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Orioles take lead, lose Jones (and lose lead)

May 29, 2011, 1:25pm

Orioles

The Orioles have gotten pretty good at loading the bases with no outs. This time, they did more than come away frustrated. They're taking a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit to open the fifth. Mark Reynolds grounded a single into left field and Robert Andino reached on a fielder's choice after laying down a bunt that was meant to advance two runners. Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso tried unsuccessfully for the out at third. Felix Pie followed...