Showalter time

Showalter time
Manager Buck Showalter hit on a variety of topics after today's 5-1 victory over the Tigers. Here's a sampler platter for you. It's made for sharing. No napkins required. Showalter couldn't possibly ask any more from his starters after four games. "No, you couldn't, especially with some of the challenges we've faced with Matusz and Duchscherer and a couple line drives off pitching arms toward the end of spring training," he said. "And now Bergy's going to have to pick up the slack...
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Brian Roberts: "An incredible atmosphere out there today."

Brian Roberts: "An incredible atmosphere out there today."
Brian Roberts has now hit both of the Orioles homers this year. Both his three-run shots broke open a tie score and led to O's wins. His three-run shot today carried the Orioles over the Tigers 5-1 in the home opener. Roberts praised the crowd and quickly noticed the excitement the club has generated with its unbeaten, 4-0 start. "We were in the clubhouse last night when we were told that standing room only tickets were going for 75 to 100 bucks. I was like 'wow.' I don't think even the...
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Guthrie diagnosed with form of pneumonia

Guthrie diagnosed with form of pneumonia
Jeremy Guthrie will remain hospitalized overnight after being diagnosed with a form of pneumonia, according to manager Buck Showalter. Guthrie has been scratched from Wednesday's start against the Tigers at Camden Yards. Brad Bergesen will take his place. The Orioles are hoping that Guthrie can take the ball on April 10, the original date that Bergesen was supposed to debut, against the Rangers at Camden Yards. No roster move is forthcoming. Guthrie blanked the Rays on three hits over eight...
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O's win home opener to go to 4-0

O's win home opener to go to 4-0
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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Arrieta follows tough acts

Arrieta follows tough acts
Earl Weaver has to be loving this team. A four-man rotation and three-run homers. It could be 1970. Koji Uehara has the sideburns for it. Jake Arrieta held the Tigers to one run and six hits over six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 99 pitches, 60 for strikes. Not a particularly clean outing, but it was quality. Orioles starters have allowed two runs and 12 hits in 26 innings through four games. Remember when the rotation was the No. 1 concern as the Orioles broke...
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O's get to Porcello for the lead

O's get to Porcello for the lead
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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Roberts rolling along, Simon information (and more)

Roberts rolling along, Simon information (and more)
So when did Brian Roberts become an RBI machine? Doubles machine, yes. Stolen base machine, yes. This is something new. Roberts belted his second three-run homer in three days, his 388-foot shot to center field off Rick Porcello breaking a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning. Earl Weaver has got to be loving it. Roberts has eight RBIs on the young season, easily the most on the club. He's registered three multi-RBI games, one more than he mustered in the 2010 season, when he appeared in 59...
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Observations on Wieters and Lee

Observations on Wieters and Lee
The Tigers tied the Orioles, 1-1 in the third inning on a one-out double by Brandon Inge and singles by Austin Jackson and Will Rhymes. Center fielder Adam Jones got a late jump on Jackson's fly ball into shallow left-center field. He appeared to take a step back before racing into the gap. Nick Markakis is 2-for-2. Matt Wieters isn't fast. There's no debating that point. He's one of the slowest players in baseball. But he tagged and took third on Jones' long fly ball to right, and he...
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Hearing from the Earl of Baltimore

Hearing from the Earl of Baltimore
Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver threw out the first pitch before today's game. He was asked what he thought about that and gave a real honest answer. "I don't want my performance to interfere and I certainly don't want to jinx them. We've gotta get a win today," he said. Weaver said he's impressed with the work of current skipper Buck Showalter. "Unreal. He's going to be a favorite here for a long, long time. Whoever invented the phrase 'Buck's Birds,' that should stick,"...
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Arrieta off to good start, Berken talks about his outing

Arrieta off to good start, Berken talks about his outing
Jake Arrieta struck out Tigers leadoff hitter Austin Jackson. That's the way to kick off the home opener. Will Rhymes walked after falling behind, 1-2, and he stole second despite a great throw from Matt Wieters. Arrieta retired the next two batters, striking out Miguel Cabrera on a 93 mph fastball and bringing yet another loud ovation from the predominantly orange-clad crowd here at Camden Yards. Before the game, Jason Berken reflected on yesterday's outing at Tropicana Field. Pitching...
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Remembering Ernie Tyler, pregame festivities (with video)

Remembering Ernie Tyler, pregame festivities (with video)
The pregame festivities began with a touching video tribute to longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler, who passed away Feb. 10. A plaque now hangs outside the Ernie Tyler Umpires' Room. The umpires will wear wrist bands with Tyler's initials. Nice touch. Manager Buck Showalter received a prolonged ovation, which he acknowledged with a tip of his cap. You knew it was coming, and it didn't disappoint. Showalter stood with his arms folded while a highlight video played on the big screen,...
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Crunching some pregame numbers

Crunching some pregame numbers
* 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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Showalter's home-opening remarks

Showalter's home-opening remarks
It's taking every ounce of discipline for me to avoid starting each blog entry with a Florida dateline. I'm back in Baltimore, right? Here are some comments from manager Buck Showalter: On how much he's thought about this day: "Certainly you give it some thought. We were so busy on the plane preparing for Detroit. I think this time of year it's such a whirlwind, it's tough to slow down a little bit and take in a moment. But I'm pretty good at that, so I will. The rest of them are just...
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Reynolds welcomes the chance to hit in the clutch

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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Random notes and Tigers lineup

Random notes and Tigers lineup
I'll pass along a few notes before the Orioles kick off the home portion of their schedule. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy bringing them to you. Luke Scott is still hoping to play Wednesday after sitting out yesterday's game at Tropicana Field with a strained groin muscle. He's not in today's lineup, but he's available to pinch hit if needed. "It feels much better," Scott said. "The real test comes when I put some effort into it, but I'm optimistic." Justin...
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Wieters talks about the O's unbeaten start

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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Stacey Long: There's no opener like an opener in Baltimore

Stacey Long: There's no opener like an opener in Baltimore
Hello MASNsports.com readers, and welcome to my first post on this fine Web site. My name is Stacey Long and I am the editor-in-chief at CamdenChat.com. Since 2005, Camden Chat has provided daily coverage of the Baltimore Orioles that is, in my (admittedly biased) opinion, the best you'll find on the Internet. Our writers are always intelligent, often hilarious and occasionally grumpy. With statistical analysis, thoughtful commentary and an occasional inspired haiku, Camden Chat covers the...
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Guthrie hospitalized with flu (updated)

Guthrie hospitalized with flu (updated)
Jeremy Guthrie is hospitalized with a bad case of the flu and could miss today's Orioles home opener at Camden Yards. The right-hander delivered the message in this tweet a short time ago. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed the news a few minutes later while meeting with reporters. Guthrie, who won the Orioles' season opener Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the Rays, said he will be rooting for a victory from the hospital. He's still scheduled to make Wednesday's start against the...
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Today's lineup

Today's lineup
The batting cage has been rolled on the field. We're getting closer to first pitch. No ivy in center field. And I'm pretty sure those are drink rails in the second deck in left field. Here's the Orioles' lineup, which will look more familiar to you: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP
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Dad's decision: Opener a valid reason for early dismissal

Dad's decision: Opener a valid reason for early dismissal
This morning, plenty of parents faced a dilemma as they sent their kids off to school: How to word the letter to administrators requesting an early dismissal. Officially, there are a plethora of reasons why a kid in or around Baltimore would need to leave school a little early today. Doctor's appointments usually don't arouse much suspicion. Ditto for a dental exam. Maybe a funeral. Whatever the reason, sometime around noon or a little after, little Johnny or Jane will be packing up books...
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