Quick Bergesen update

Quick Bergesen update
Brad Bergesen, making his third start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, gave up three runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Durham Bulls. Bergesen allowed seven hits - including a home run - walked one and struck out five. He threw 105 pitches, 72 for strikes. His ERA is 1.64. Bergesen was coming off a complete-game shutout in his last outing. He's allowed four runs and 14 hits in 22 innings since the Orioles optioned him, with eight walks and 18 strikeouts. Six of those walks came in his...

Heath Bintliff: Orioles need to win now

Heath Bintliff: Orioles need to win now
We all know the story. The Baltimore ball club has been a losing club for 13 straight seasons and they have a very good chance to have a 14th straight sub-.500 season in 2011. But for a rebuilding team, how much does that matter? The Orioles took steps in the offseason to improve the offense and turn that trend around. But the Vladimir Guerrero and Derrek Lee signings have not really panned out. Free agency has not really worked out for the bullpen, either, as Kevin Gregg and Jeremy Accardo...

No game, no pain

No game, no pain
I realize that the Orioles were off Thursday, but today's open date is a blessing and comes at a most opportune time. They'll need at least 48 hours to regroup. Yesterday's loss left a stench. The Orioles didn't pitch, they didn't field the ball and they didn't make smart choices on the basepaths. The only good news is it counts as one loss. I've tried to rid myself of the memory by diving into a base, but I'm not lucky enough to develop concussion symptoms. Derrek Lee will come...

Heath Bintliff: Guerrero's troubling power outage

Heath Bintliff: Guerrero's troubling power outage
As any of you who have read my posts over at Dempsey's Army know, I love to beat a dead horse. So today I will, once again, examine the addition of Vladimir Guerrero to the Orioles lineup - and the stunning lack of power Guerrero has added to the batting order. When Guerrero was signed this offseason, he was hailed and the final piece of the puzzle to make the Baltimore offense go. He was a proven cleanup hitter who would bring a presence to the heart of the lineup, provide the team with an...

Showalter talks about Matusz and 9-6 loss

Showalter talks about Matusz and 9-6 loss
X-rays on Mark Reynolds' left forearm were negative. Manager Buck Showalter didn't hide his disappointment with the Orioles' level of play today, citing the mistakes and the extra outs given to Tampa Bay that contributed to a 9-6 loss. And though Showalter chose his words carefully, it's obvious that he's frustrated with Brian Matusz's inability to hold runners. What's his level of concern with Matusz, who allowed four runs and five hits in 1 1/3 innings in his third start since coming...

Orioles option INF Brandon Snyder to Norfolk

Orioles option INF Brandon Snyder to Norfolk
The Orioles announced after today's game that they have optioned INF Brandon Snyder to Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder was 3-for-13 (.231) in six games over two stints with the Orioles this season.

From bad to worse for Orioles (updated)

From bad to worse for Orioles (updated)
Manager Buck Showalter must be sitting in the dugout wondering whether ESPN has an open seat on Baseball Tonight. He didn't sign up for this mess. Evan Longoria was credited with a two-run inside-the-park home run in the eighth inning after Adam Jones charged his line drive and watched the ball hook away from him and roll to the fence. The ball appeared to nick his glove, though a few people in the press box are disputing it. It's the latest embarrassment for the Orioles today. The Rays...

It's only the third inning (now the fourth)

It's only the third inning (now the fourth)
I've repeated that sentence so many times, I felt like writing it in a headline. I'm both Doug and Wendy Whiner. It's actually the bottom of the third. Somebody please slow down the pace so I can get caught up. The Rays were kind enough to run into another out. They did, however, increase their lead to 5-2. Alfredo Simon has thrown 22 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. He needs to keep going or Chris Jakubauskas will have to replace him and manager Buck Showalter will be scrambling for Tuesday...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Ryan Adams 2B Craig Tatum C Brian Matusz LHP For the Rays: Damon DH Zobrist RF Ruggiano LF Longoria 3B Upton CF Rodriguez 2B Kotchman 1B Johnson SS Shoppach C Davis RHP

Hearing from Guthrie, Gregg, Accardo and Reynolds

Hearing from Guthrie, Gregg, Accardo and Reynolds
Jeremy Guthrie talked about: His outing: "I think it turned out that the big home runs by Mark (Reynolds) made it so, yeah, we were in the game. Any other night, David (Price) is throwing the ball so well throughout his career that three runs could have been considered not keeping us in the game. But we had good at-bats all night, the offense took some good swings and even hit some long outs, so the credit's to the offense. That's why we were in the game. Ultimately, we're trying to win...

Schoop's three-error inning in Frederick (updated, Keys fall to Hillcats)

Schoop's three-error inning in Frederick (updated, Keys fall to Hillcats)
FREDERICK, Md. - Single-A Frederick Keys shortstop Jonathan Schoop had a three-error top of the fifth inning tonight at Harry Grove Stadium. The first error came when he was charged with fielder's interference, ruled by the umpires, that sent a baserunner from second to third base and putting runners on the corners with no outs for Lynchburg. Bobby Bundy then issued his third walk of the night to load the bases for the Hillcats. Then came a bizarre play that ended with Schoop adding his...

Orioles lose another lead, Rays win 7-5 in 11 innings

Orioles lose another lead, Rays win 7-5 in 11 innings
Orioles closer Kevin Gregg blew his fourth save tonight, surrendering a two-out single to Casey Kotchman that scored Ben Zobrist and tied the game 5-5. It's not all Gregg's fault. Zobrist tripled with one out, but the ball deflected off Felix Pie's glove as he lunged for it in left field. Again, we're not talking about a routine play. Far from it. But if the ball hits the glove, it must be squeezed. Pie needs to make that catch. Isn't he normally a defensive replacement? He was a...

Duchscherer scheduled to pitch next week (and more)

Duchscherer scheduled to pitch next week (and more)
Justin Duchscherer will make another attempt next week to go five innings in an extended spring training game. Manager Buck Showalter said Duchscherer will pitch Tuesday or Wednesday. According to the Orioles, Duchscherer left Tuesday's game in the third inning with spasms in his gluteus. He had completed four innings in his previous start despite being hit in the stomach by a line drive in the first, and he was scheduled to go five in his next outing. The spasms apparently began after...

Bobby Bundy with a solid four innings tonight for Frederick (updated)

Bobby Bundy with a solid four innings tonight for Frederick (updated)
FREDERICK, Md. - The other Bundy is pitching well here tonight. Lynchburg leads Single-A Frederick 1-0 after four innings at Harry Grove Stadium. The Bundy already with the Orioles, Bobby, is on the mound for the Keys tonight, making his 12th start. He begins tonight with a 6-3 record and ERA of 2.73 that is eighth best in the Carolina League. The Hillcats scored off Bundy in the first when he walked the leadoff batter and the next hitter followed with a single. After a sac bunt, an Adam...

Mike Devereaux talks about Jonathan Schoop

Mike Devereaux talks about Jonathan Schoop
FREDERICK, Md. - Jonathan Schoop, the 19-year-old infielder from Curacao, was playing to rave reviews earlier this season when he was with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. That hasn't changed in the short time he has been here with the Single-A Frederick Keys, even though he has played in just six Frederick games. Schoop is batting .324 between both teams, the second-best batting average this year in the O's minors behind Kipp Schutz at .343. Schoop is tied for third in the organization...

Orioles recall Snyder from Triple-A

Orioles recall Snyder from Triple-A
The Orioles announced today that they have recalled first baseman Brandon Snyder from Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder, 24, batted .222 (2-9) in five games for the Orioles earlier this season. In 47 games for Norfolk, Snyder batted .253 (48-190) with eight homers and 26 RBI.

Improving Orioles, Jays make AL East hyper competitive

Improving Orioles, Jays make AL East hyper competitive
Teams in the American League East haven't been bunched this tightly this late since 1994. Going into Friday night, the first-place Boston Red Sox and last-place Baltimore Orioles were six games a part. The division is not known for parity, but it has it this year. The Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are better. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have struggled with pitching. The Tampa Bay Rays are pitching, but have trouble scoring. Here's a look: * A year ago, the Orioles were the...

Hardy leading off again, Snyder at first base

Hardy leading off again, Snyder at first base
J.J. Hardy will make his third career start tonight as a leadoff hitter. Pretty much a no-brainer there. And Brandon Snyder will start at first base against Rays left-hander David Price. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Brandon Snyder 1B Jeremy Guthrie RHP

From Baltimore's sandlots, former Oriole Nordbrook has come full circle

From Baltimore's sandlots, former Oriole Nordbrook has come full circle
Tim Nordbrook's "Aha!" moment came a few games into his rookie season, part of a commonplace baseball activity that's often taken for granted. The 25-year-old shortstop had just ranged into the hole to grab a ground ball, then thrown the batter out at first base. Orioles infielders were whipping the ball around the horn when the native Baltimorean got an attaboy from third baseman Brooks Robinson, his childhood idol. "I turn to throw it to Brooksie and Brooksie says, 'Great play,...

O's have already come to terms with some draft picks

O's have already come to terms with some draft picks
Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan said he could not yet give us the names, but that the club has come to terms with some of its draft picks already. "We have actually come to terms, I'm not going to give the names yet, but we've come to terms with at least two of our top 10 round picks. We are really, really close on a couple of other guys. There are three players in our top 10 still playing, so no work has been done on them. I expect that to happen in the next few days," Jordan said...