orioles

Matusz and Jakubauskas updates

April 26, 2011, 1:45pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz will throw a bullpen session Thursday, though manager Buck Showalter is hesitant to call it a conventional one because the left-hander might not use maximum effort. Matusz will throw 30-35 pitches from the rubber, and he won't be limited to fastballs. He'll be allowed to "spin" some balls, according to pitching coach Mark Connor. Matusz is still expected to report to the minor league complex in Sarasota this weekend. Chris Jakubauskas will throw another bullpen session...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles chris jakubauskas

Matusz: "The pain's gone"

April 26, 2011, 12:32pm

Orioles

The look on Brian Matusz's face earlier today made it obvious that he felt good throwing in the outfield and from the front of the bullpen mound. He was grinning and eager to talk about the sessions. He also gave teammate Chris Tillman an enthusiastic fist bump before heading back inside the clubhouse. Matusz and Tillman did some long-tossing from 120 feet. Matusz threw 15-20 light pitches in the bullpen before returning to his locker. "I felt really good. I felt good health-wise and I felt...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 brian matusz

Hardy increases workload

April 26, 2011, 12:23pm

Orioles

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy didn't report any discomfort after swinging a bat yesterday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. Hardy increased the intensity of his activities today, which included running and throwing. Hardy eventually will go on an injury rehab assignment. The initial plan called for him to play at least two games in the minors. Brian Matusz (strained left intercostal) threw from a slight incline on the lower portion of the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 chris jakubauskas j.j. hardy justin duchscherer

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (with Matusz update)

April 26, 2011, 11:14am

Orioles

The Orioles are sending out their regular lineup again tonight against the Red Sox. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Zach Britton LHP For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Youkilis 3B Ortiz DH Lowrie SS Drew RF Crawford LF Varitek C Buchholz RHP Also, Brian Matusz played catch in the outfield and did some throwing in the bullpen, though it's impossible to...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 brian matusz

Trying to change these Sox (with Mahoney update)

April 26, 2011, 5:11am

Orioles

Trying to change these Sox (with Mahoney update)

If you need some good news to perk you up, the Yankee fans left Baltimore after Sunday's game. They had to make room for all the Red Sox fans. Didn't perk you up? Sorry. The Orioles have lost 11 of 13. The Red Sox have won five in a row and eight of nine. I'm really doing a lousy job of improving your moods. Again, sorry. As I mentioned yesterday, the Orioles have been outscored 10-2 in the first inning this season. Boston has pitched back-to-back shutouts. Probably not a good idea...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 trent mummy zach britton

Machado hits second professional home run

April 25, 2011, 5:38pm

Orioles

Machado hits second professional home run

I can't let you go to bed without a Manny Machado update. I'd never forgive myself if you tossed and turned all night. Machado hit his first home run in the South Atlantic League, and his second as a professional, in Single-A Delmarva's 7-3 victory over Savannah. Machado, who hit one home run in the Gulf Coast League last year, in his first at-bat on Aug. 28 after being the third-overall pick in the draft, went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to leave his average at .290. All three RBIs came on...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3 featured_sidebar manny machado

Feeling left out so far (updated)

April 25, 2011, 11:25am

Orioles

The Orioles' shifted much of their winter focus to finding right-handed bats that would improve their record against left-handed pitching. Derrek Lee, Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy were added to the 25-man roster via free-agent signings or trades. What could go wrong? Well, we're dealing with an extremely small sample size less than a full month into the season, but the Orioles are 1-4 against left-handed starters. They beat David Price in the season-opener at Tropicana...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1 nolan reimold

Summing it up in three words

April 25, 2011, 4:42am

Orioles

I tried to find a succinct way to sum up yesterday's 11-inning loss to the Yankees, but I decided to let catcher Matt Wieters do it. "It definitely stinks." Thanks, Matt. Wieters also could have been talking about the weather or this 2-11 stretch that is starting to look a lot like the 2-16 start last season, except it's been sugarcoated a bit because it's following a 6-1 start. Make sense? If the Orioles began this season 2-11, the anger and frustration would be dialed up even more....

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles featured_sidebar matt wieters

Part Two: Andy MacPhail on the Orioles' international efforts

July 09, 2011, 11:44am

Orioles

Earlier today, Part One of an interview with Orioles president Andy MacPhail was published in this space. It is a two-part interview with MacPhail about the O's signing and scouting of international players since he took over in his current position. Tomorrow, I will feature here an interview with Baseball America's Ben Badler with his analysis of the O's efforts on this front. Now, Part Two of the MacPhail interview. Were the O's one of the finalists for Miguel Sano? "Yeah. What we...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles2

Postgame Showalter

April 24, 2011, 2:47pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't fault Matt Wieters' pickoff attempt on Robinson Cano at second base in the top of the 11th inning. Wieters had the right idea, but the wrong execution. Cano was credited with a steal of third base after Wieters' made a wide throw, and the Yankees scored three times in a 6-3 victory over the Orioles that completed a sweep of this abbreviated series. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's 11-inning loss to the Yankees "It was a good...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles jake arrieta robert andino

Rain stops, along with Orioles' momentum

April 24, 2011, 1:55pm

Orioles

The Yankees have taken a 6-3 lead over the Orioles in the 11th inning after a 40-minute rain delay and another pitching change. Jason Berken replaced Jeremy Accardo with no outs and a full count on Robinson Cano, who lined a double to right field to extend his hitting streak to 16 games against the Orioles. With Nick Swisher batting, catcher Matt Wieters tried to pick off Cano at second base. Not a bad idea, except Cano broke for third as Wieters' throw to shortstop Robert Andino tailed to...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles2 jason berken

Matt Wieters: Brick wall in shin guards

April 24, 2011, 12:48pm

Orioles

The Yankees thought they had the lead in the top of the 10th inning. So did just about everyone in the ballpark. Alex Rodriguez lifted a fly ball to medium center field against Orioles reliever Jeremy Accardo with one out and Derek Jeter tagging at third base. Jones unleashed the throw to the plate, where Matt Wieters reached up for it and slapped the tag on Jeter, who slide into the catcher's foot. Once again, Wieters demonstrated that he's a physical presence behind the plate, and when...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles1 matt wieters

Scott comes within inches of big hit (Roberts gets it)

April 24, 2011, 12:07pm

Orioles

Scott comes within inches of big hit (Roberts gets it)

Luke Scott was 2-for-13 with one home run lifetime against Mariano Rivera when the Yankees closer entered today's game with runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Scott drove the ball to left field, which the Yankees weren't expecting with speedster Brett Gardner playing so shallow. Gardner went into a full sprint, reached over his head and somehow made the catch for the final out. The game is definitely tied if the ball eludes Gardner's glove, and I like...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles1 frontstory_orioles3 brian roberts luke scott

Reynolds ends skid

April 24, 2011, 11:47am

Orioles

Mark Reynolds was hitless in his last 22 at-bats before launching an opposite-field, two-run homer off Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain in the seventh inning. Adam Jones singled with one out and Reynolds followed with a shot to right, his first homer since April 9 against the Rangers' Colby Lewis. Matt Wieters struck out, and manager Buck Showalter let Cesar Izturis bat, creating a spirited debate in the press box. One reporter agreed that Izturis should bat, which would allow Brian...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3 mark reynolds

That didn't take long - Part II (updated)

April 24, 2011, 9:45am

Orioles

That didn't take long - Part II (updated)

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead last night after 10 pitches from Brad Bergesen. They have a 2-0 lead today after four pitches from Jake Arrieta. Somebody wake me up from this nightmare. Derek Jeter singled and Curtis Granderson belted his seventh home run. Arrieta walked the next two batters, bringing pitching coach Mark Connor from the mound. Maybe the Orioles should have sent Arrieta home last night so he wouldn't be exposed to that 15-3 thrashing. Cancel his cable subscription. Force him to...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

Quick hits (and Matusz update)

April 24, 2011, 7:31am

Orioles

Brian Matusz is throwing from 120 feet as the Orioles take batting practice on this glorious Easter morning at Camden Yards. Matusz will throw his first bullpen session on Tuesday unless the club makes an unexpected change to his schedule. Update: The club made an unexpected change. Matusz got through today's session without incident, but he'll repeat it Tuesday rather than throw in the bullpen. He made 60 throws in increments of 15 this morning from 60 to 120 feet, rested, then threw again...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3 brian matusz josh rupe

Showalter time

April 23, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke to reliever Josh Rupe about the pitch that drilled Russell Martin between the numbers in the ninth inning. Martin homered twice tonight, so the timing was dubious. "We asked him after the game," Showalter said following the Orioles' 15-3 loss to the Yankees before 39,054 at Camden Yards. "He said, 'I know what it looked like. I was trying to go in.' It did not look good. I didn't like it at all. But I choose to believe my pitcher and I've known Josh...

Comments

Tags:

orioles brad bergesen josh rupe frontstory_orioles3

Rupe's rough ride (updated)

April 23, 2011, 5:34pm

Orioles

Josh Rupe made the Orioles' roster in spring training by allowing only two runs in 14 2/3 innings. If I'm remembering correctly, he hadn't been scored upon until his final appearance. Rupe served up Alex Rodriguez's 22nd career grand slam in the eighth inning tonight, increasing the Yankees' lead to 13-3. He let three inherited runners score after replacing Clay Rapada, who replaced Jason Berken. Rodriguez was his responsibility, and he's now surrendered six runs in 8 1/3...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles josh rupe

Nothing to CC here (updated twice)

April 23, 2011, 4:35pm

Orioles

Now I'm a little worried. Russell Martin's three-run homer off Brad Bergesen in the sixth inning has given the Yankees a 6-0 lead. Jason Berken was warming in the Orioles' bullpen as Martin came to the plate. Meanwhile, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia is dominating the Orioles again. He's allowed only one hit, a Derrek Lee single in the fourth. That's the only baserunner of the night. Sabathia is throwing everything for strikes. He struck out Mark Reynolds looking at a changeup and...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1 brad bergesen

Bergesen settles down, Orioles offense bogs down

April 23, 2011, 3:59pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen has retired 11 of 13 batters since Robinson Cano's run-scoring single in the first inning. Brett Gardner doubled with one out in the second and Russell Martin walked with two outs in the fourth for the only Yankees' baserunners. Jake Fox made a diving catch in left field to rob Jorge Posada in the fourth. Stop picking on his defense. CC Sabathia has retired the first nine batters he's faced, striking out three. The Orioles have gotten one ball out of the infield. Former...