orioles

Orioles lineup against White Sox

April 29, 2011, 12:38pm

Orioles

Here's the lineup that the Orioles will use tonight while attempting to improve on their 1-5 record against left-handed starters: 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 Jake Arrieta RHP

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Going badly for Gonzalez

April 28, 2011, 8:38pm

Orioles

Last night's 6-2 loss to the Red Sox has to be hung on the bullpen. Brad Bergesen allowed two runs over six innings in his best start of the season, but Jim Johnson and Michael Gonzalez were charged with two runs apiece, and Jason Berken let two inherited runners score. The offense managed only two runs and four hits, but I wasn't expecting fireworks with Jon Lester on the mound. Gonzalez was booed as he left it. The heat's no longer on Kevin Gregg. Not that fans have embraced Gonzalez in...

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An early peek at top rookies, biggest surpises and worst messes

April 29, 2011, 9:10am

Nationals Orioles

An early peek at top rookies, biggest surpises and worst messes

Orioles lefty Zach Britton is the best of the rookie pitchers playing key roles among teams in the American League East, but if April is any indication, Britton's biggest competition for the AL's Rookie of the Year award is going to come from the Mariners' Michael Pineda. Like Britton, Pineda, 21, wasn't expected to be in the majors so soon. Britton is in the big leagues because of injuries in the Orioles' rotation.Pineda told the Mariners in spring training that he was going to pitch...

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Anthony Amobi: Gonzalez an example of risk not yielding reward

April 29, 2011, 6:03am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Gonzalez an example of risk not yielding reward

It's no mystery to anyone that reliever Mike Gonzalez has had his share of struggles as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. When Gonzalez signed with the team before last season, I thought it was a decent signing at the time despite the money involved. Baltimore needed bullpen help after yet another lackluster season in 2009 and I thought that Gonzalez fit the bill. The southpaw reliever had a solid track record in the National League with Pittsburgh and Atlanta, so one would think he...

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Two managers, two different approaches

April 28, 2011, 5:58am

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Terry Francona of the Red Sox seem to be taking different approaches with some hitters in their respective lineups these days. For instance, Showalter is staying the course with his hitters. Even though various players have struggled and slumped this year, most nights the Orioles' lineup has remained the same. Derrek Lee has batted third every game this year and the first four in the order - Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Lee and Vlad Guerrero - have batted...

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About last night ...

April 27, 2011, 9:09pm

Orioles

I had to remind myself that the Orioles won last night. It felt a little bit like a loss after the Red Sox scored four runs in the top of the eighth. Fortunately, there also was a bottom of the eighth. This was the type of game that normally would have ended in defeat. We've lived it too many times over the last 13 seasons. But the Orioles are a feisty bunch, and that's one of my favorite qualities. Manager Buck Showalter brought a resume and attitude when he walked through the doors last...

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Anthony Amobi: Put any worries about Wieters on hold

April 28, 2011, 5:13am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Put any worries about Wieters on hold

Over the past few months, fans and sports pundits have wondered whether or not Matt Wieters is a bust - despite the Orioles catcher only having played in the major leagues for less than two full seasons. I remember the Friday night of his major league debut like it was yesterday. It was a warm one in June 2009 and 42,000 fans jammed Oriole Park at Camden Yards to get a glimpse of a man who could potentially become the next Baltimore legend. We all cheered wildly for the young man. The...

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Bullpen implosion (updated)

April 27, 2011, 5:32pm

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie will have to settle for a no-decision. I thought manager Buck Showalter made the right call bringing back Jeremy Accardo for the eighth inning. Accardo threw seven pitches, all of them for strikes, while cruising through the seventh. No reason to pass the baton. Well, Showalter has done it a few times in the eighth. Accardo was done after Jacoby Ellsbury's leadoff single and Dustin Pedroia's walk. Clay Rapada replaced him and gave up a run-scoring single to the left-handed...

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Battling Beckett

April 27, 2011, 3:48pm

Orioles

Here is how the hitters in tonight's Orioles' lineup have fared in their careers versus Josh Beckett. Brian Roberts: 12-for-40 (.300), with one homer and 4 RBIs. Nick Markakis: 12-for-39 (.308), with one homer and 5 RBIs. Derrek Lee: 3-for-6 (.500), with two homers and 2 RBIs. Vlad Guerrero: 14-for-47 (.298), with two homers and 6 RBIs. Luke Scott: 9-for-20 (.450), with two homers and 5 RBIs. Adam Jones: 6-for-23 (.261), with no homers and 1 RBI. Mark Reynolds: 1-for-3 (.333) with no homers...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups (Norfolk update)

April 27, 2011, 11:20am

Orioles

Here are the lineups for tonight's 7:05 p.m. game between the Orioles and Red Sox at Camden Yards. For the Orioles: 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 Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Youkilis 3B Ortiz DH Drew RF Lowrie SS Crawford LF Varitek C Beckett RHP Down on the farm, Nick Green replaced Josh Bell at third base today and hit...

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Heath Bintliff: Statistically speaking, Derrek Lee just needs some luck

April 27, 2011, 8:14am

Orioles

Heath Bintliff: Statistically speaking, Derrek Lee just needs some luck

Derrek Lee, one of the two old veterans that the Orioles signed this offseason to stabilize the lineup and inject the offense with some punch, is hitting an abysmal .222/.300/.284 thus far with only three extra-base hits. His .584 OPS is the worst among the regulars in the lineup. But fear not, I bring you good news about Lee and his apparent struggles: He's actually hitting much better than his stat line shows. Looking up his batted ball data on FanGraphs.com, Lee's Batting Average on...

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Anthony Amobi: Regardless of manager, players need to perform

April 27, 2011, 4:55am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Regardless of manager, players need to perform

It's been a tough two weeks for the Baltimore Orioles and we all know it. After a promising start to the season, there's been a lot of losing thanks to inconsistent pitching and a lack of offense. After the sweep by the Yankees this weekend, a lot of fans either on sports talk radio and various places online started to question the decisions of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. It's hard to rationalize, but there's a difference in the perception of a manager when they are either losing or...

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The approach against Buchholz (updated)

April 26, 2011, 3:37pm

Orioles

I suggested this morning that the Orioles might want to keep the bats on their shoulders and challenge Boston starter Clay Buchholz to throw strikes. He issued 14 walks in 20 innings this season. The plate tends to move on him. Three of the first four Orioles swung at the first pitch tonight. Buchholz needed only seven pitches to complete the opening inning, which included Nick Markakis' one-out single. Manager Buck Showalter hoped that his club would strike a balance between being patient...

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Will Showalter juggle lineup?

April 26, 2011, 12:53pm

Orioles

If Orioles manager Buck Showalter is considering major or minor changes to his lineup, he isn't going to publicize it. "I wouldn't tip my hand if I was," he said. "They certainly don't need to see it and read it and whatever. I trust them, but they understand that at some point we're going to have to be a little better. But to hand it on one person... "We've had periods where we've done well offensively, and we will again. I hope it starts tonight, but I'm certainly not going to be...

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The Red Sox get their act together

April 25, 2011, 6:09am

Orioles

When the Orioles started 6-1 while Boston was going 0-6, it was quite a reversal of fortunes for the two teams. After the additions of players like Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, Boston was a popular pick to win the American League East, the AL and even the World Series. Then came their worst start since 1945. But predictably, the Red Sox have gotten their act together and they are 10-5 since then, while the Orioles are 2-11. In winning five in a row and eight of nine, Boston's starting...

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Derrek Lee and slow starts in April

April 25, 2011, 2:40pm

Orioles

It won't make any fans that are down on Derrek Lee feel any better, but Lee has had slow starts in April before. His start this April is worse than his start last April but better, in some stat categories, than his start in April 2009. In 2009, by the way, he finished with an average of .306 and hit 35 homers with 111 RBIs and an OPS of .972. He finished ninth in the National League Most Valuable Player vote that year. None of this means he will have a season like that this year, but it...

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Anthony Amobi: Remembering what made me a fan

April 26, 2011, 5:46am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Remembering what made me a fan

It's been a tough stretch for Baltimore Orioles fans over the past decade. No matter where you reside - whether it's in Maryland, Florida, California or any part of the world - it's been startling to see what has happened to the Orioles. Sadly, they have not had a winning season since Bill Clinton was president of the United States of America. Yet, despite it all, I and most of my friends who rooted for the Orioles growing up still do so today. It's obvious that the Birds have lost more...

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Monday Memory: Camden Yards enduring reminder of Schaefer's dedication to beloved Baltimore

April 23, 2011, 12:34pm

Orioles

Monday Memory: Camden Yards enduring reminder of Schaefer's dedication to beloved Baltimore

Whatever you called him - Mr. Mayor, Governor, Hizzoner, Willie Don, Don or Mr. Schaefer - William Donald Schaefer, who passed away at 89 last week, wasn't some egomaniacal politician who craved the spotlight at the expense of the people who voted him into office. Truth be told, Schaefer was never really comfortable in the spotlight and eschewed being the center of attention, though he often drew it. That well-publicized dip in the seal pool at the National Aquarium? Look carefully and you...

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Anthony Amobi: Amid struggles, O's still deserve fans' support

April 25, 2011, 5:15am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Amid struggles, O's still deserve fans' support

Good morning everyone, I'm Anthony Amobi and this is my first entry as a guest blogger for MASNsports.com First and foremost, I'm a hardcore Orioles fan and have been through thick and thin. It's a been rough time for us fans over the past 13 years; however, I'm an eternal optimist and believe better days are head for Orioles fans. I'm a native of the Washington, D.C., area and currently reside in Maryland. Growing up, I was introduced the Orioles as a teen and I've been a fan ever...

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Heath Bintliff: WAR says Guthrie rates among O's all-time best pitchers

April 21, 2011, 7:46pm

Orioles

Heath Bintliff: WAR says Guthrie rates among O's all-time best pitchers

Jeremy Guthrie turned in yet another good performance last night against the Minnesota Twins, even though he was handed the defeat. He went seven innings, gave up two runs, walked no one and struck out four. This is Guthrie's fifth season with the Orioles. Is it time to start considering him among the great Oriole hurlers of all time? It sounds like an odd question. He's not a strikeout king. His career record is 39-51. Even though he has been the staff ace by default, nobody really...