Diary of a bad inning (updated twice)

Diary of a bad inning (updated twice)
The Mariners scored once in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead, which might not seem too bad on the surface. Let's dig a little deeper. Chris Tillman hadn't allowed a hit in the first two innings, but he threw 38 pitches. My math tells me that's 19 pitches per inning. That doesn't add up to quick outs. Tillman opened the third by hitting No. 8 hitter Brendan Ryan (.208) and walking No. 9 hitter Michael Saunders (.180). I don't have to tell you the flaws in that...

No roster move in the works

No roster move in the works
The Orioles had considered bringing up another reliever for tonight's game against the Mariners, but they apparently will stick with their current group. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail met with manager Buck Showalter after last night's 7-6, 13-inning victory to discuss the possibility of adding a fresh arm. Rather than make a roster move, they're "holding at present," according to a team official. Starter Jake Arrieta went six innings, which led to a parade of five...

Matthew Taylor: O's walk-off against Mariners extends streak that began in 1954

Matthew Taylor: O's walk-off against Mariners extends streak that began in 1954
The Orioles earned their first walk-off win of the 2011 season Tuesday night with a two-run rally in the bottom of the 13th inning against the Mariners. The victory keeps alive a streak that has been in existence as long as the team itself. The Orioles have had a least one walk-off win every year since the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954. They don't call it Orioles Magic for nothing. Seattle was among the Orioles' walk-off victims last year, as well, thanks to Adam Jones'...

Will the bullpen and lineup change?

Will the bullpen and lineup change?
I had this crazy dream last night that the Orioles rallied to win a game in 13 innings after almost being arrested for littering the bases. The Orioles were 8-for-21 with runners in scoring position, and they stranded 16 runners. They ran into outs. They fought back to take leads and gave them up. They should have won, they should have lost, they should have won, they should have lost... Keep plucking the petals off that daisy. The Orioles were 0-17 before last night when trailing after...

The unlucky 13th (is now lucky)

The unlucky 13th (is now lucky)
The Orioles had another chance to win this game, but they're more determined to empty their bullpen and leave Chris Tillman without much support tomorrow night. Good thing they went back to a 12-man pitching staff, right? Nice timing. Felix Pie doubled to lead off the 12th inning, and the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs on an intentional walk to Adam Jones - which brought former Oriole Chris Ray into the game - and J.J. Hardy's two-out infield hit. Hardy has a home run, three...

It's called a "lead," and now it's gone (updated)

It's called a "lead," and now it's gone (updated)
Adam Jones' two-out, two-run double in the sixth moved the Orioles ahead of the Mariners, 3-2. Jones ended a streak of 40 straight innings for the Orioles without a lead. They hadn't held one since the first inning of a May 5 game against the Royals. Rookie Michael Pineda retired the first two batters before Vladimir Guerrero and Luke Scott singled. Jones followed with a double to left, giving him 18 RBIs this season. Jake Arrieta was in line to get the win, but his replacement, Michael...

Did you know?

Did you know?
The Orioles are one of seven teams in the majors that haven't won a game when trailing after seven innings, going 0-17 in that span. They join the Red Sox, Indians, Rockies, Angels, Dodgers and Rangers. None of the Orioles' starting pitchers in this series have faced the Mariners. Jake Arrieta is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in five career starts against the American League West. Brian Roberts is in a 1-for-26 slump since May 1. Mark Reynolds is 9-for-65 (.138). He has five RBIs in his last 22...

Josh Rupe designated for assignment (updated)

Josh Rupe designated for assignment (updated)
The Orioles activated shortstop J.J. Hardy from the disabled list earlier today. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club has designated long reliever Josh Rupe for assignment. Rupe allowed nine earned runs and 16 hits in 14 1/3 innings for a 5.65 ERA. In his last outing, he held Kansas City to one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. The Orioles decided to keep two left-handers in their bullpen. Jason Berken is the only long reliever. The two moves leave the Orioles with a 12-man pitching...

Monday Memory: Tom Hanks channels Wild Bill Hagy at Camden Yards

Monday Memory: Tom Hanks channels Wild Bill Hagy at Camden Yards
Newcomers to Birdland might be surprised to learn that Camden Yards was once a mecca for all sorts of stars and personalities. Almost as soon as the downtown ballpark opened in April 1992, a steady stream of celebrities, entertainers, athletes and heads of state have made a beeline for Oriole Park to watch the Birds, chow down on Boog's and take in the Baltimore skyline. Rocker Joan Jett was a familiar presence in the years immediately after Camden Yards opened. Before he was a "Celebrity...

Lineup doesn't include many changes

Lineup doesn't include many changes
The Orioles' lineup for tonight's series-opener against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards doesn't include any drastic changes beyond the shortstop. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Mariners: Ichiro RF Figgins 3B Smoak 1B Olivo C Cust DH Kennedy 2B Peguero LF Ryan SS Saunders CF Pineda RHP

O's activate Hardy from DL; Rupe designated for assignment

O's activate Hardy from DL; Rupe designated for assignment
The Orioles today announced that they have activated shortstop J.J. Hardy from the 15-day disabled list. Hardy was placed on the DL on April 13, retroactive to April 10, with a strained left oblique. Hardy has batted .200 (3-15) with three doubles and two RBI in six games for the Orioles. To make room for Hardy on the roster, the Orioles have designated right-handed pitcher Josh Rupe for assignment. Rupe posted a 5.65 ERA (14.1IP, 16H, 9ER) in nine appearances for Baltimore. With...

O's hitters get set to challenge Pineda and Hernandez

O's hitters get set to challenge Pineda and Hernandez
Whether Orioles manager Buck Showalter makes subtle changes, major changes or no changes to his lineup today, the Orioles will for sure see some tough pitching in the next two games. Tonight, the Orioles are due to face Seattle's Michael Pineda, the 22-year-old rookie right-hander that is gaining attention with his blazing fastball and impressive stats. Then, Wednesday night, they face the reigning American League Cy Young winner in Felix Hernandez. Doesn't sound like a formula to get out...

Heath Bintliff: O's have more than one great shortstop prospect at Delmarva

Heath Bintliff: O's have more than one great shortstop prospect at Delmarva
Over the weekend, I drove up to Asheville to watch the Delmarva Shorebirds, (ow Single-A affiliate of the Orioles, take on the Asheville Tourists in a matchup of two of the better teams in the South Atlantic League. My original intent was to see the Orioles' 2010 first-round pick and wunderkind shortstop Manny Machado play. But a knee injury last week meant that the only Machado action I saw was him crutching his way from the Shorebirds' dugout to the clubhouse. As consolation, I was...

Matthew Taylor: Will Mariners-O's series tilt toward pitching or hitting?

Matthew Taylor: Will Mariners-O's series tilt toward pitching or hitting?
If you're looking for offense, you may want to avoid Camden Yards for the next few nights. If, on the other hand, you're a connoisseur of quality pitching, the ballpark is just the place for you. There were two no-hitters in baseball last week. With the Orioles and Mariners squaring off, you might see two in the same game. The Birds currently rank 25th of 30 major league teams with a .233 team average and have scored three runs or fewer in six of the past seven games. The Mariners rank 27th...

Scott has labrum tear, no DL for now

Scott has labrum tear, no DL for now
An MRI taken on Luke Scott's right shoulder revealed that the outfielder has been playing with a tear in his labrum. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail doesn't believe that Scott will need to go on the disabled list, but surgery might be an option after the season. "It doesn't really impact his swing at all," MacPhail said. "I think it occasionally bothers him when he throws, which he feels like he can play through and he'll just have to manage it. It doesn't necessarily...

Matthew Taylor: O's Mother's Day highs and lows

Matthew Taylor: O's Mother's Day highs and lows
When you think of the Orioles and Mother's Day, which game comes to mind? There are two most likely answers that reflect very different eras of baseball in Baltimore. First, there's the miserable Mother's Day of four years ago when the Orioles, leading by five runs with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Fenway Park, surrendered six runs to squander the victory and a series win against the rival Red Sox. It was the first of many bullpen meltdowns during the 2007 season, none...

Hitting the skids: O's go from 6-1 to 8-18

Hitting the skids: O's go from 6-1 to 8-18
Well, when the Orioles began the year with a record of 6-1 and quickly got to five games over .500, none of us probably figured that just 26 games later they would be five games under .500. It is just not a pretty picture right now for the Orioles. They were thoroughly outplayed in every facet of the game in losing the weekend series to Tampa Bay. I'll detail some numbers here and most of them are not good. The O's need to turn around this run which has seen them go 8-18 since starting the...

Giving Longoria a free pass (updated)

Giving Longoria a free pass (updated)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Evan Longoria with a runner on third base and two outs in the first inning. I guess it's never too early. Showalter didn't care that a left-handed batter, Matt Joyce, stood on deck. Joyce lined to first baseman Derrek Lee, stranding Sam Fuld at third base. You'll recall that Jeremy Guthrie pitched to Longoria yesterday with runners on second and third and two outs in the third inning. Longoria hit a three-run homer. Longoria...

Showalter's juggling act

Showalter's juggling act
It seems every year the Orioles call on their bullpen to work a lot of innings. Over six months and 162 games, that creates a strain and drain on the the bullpen hurlers. As American League teams begin play this Sunday, right now the Orioles rank last in the AL in starting pitcher innings at 179 2/3. There are extenuating circumstances, of course, when you have a young rotation and some of the pitchers are still learning and developing. Some may not be able to give you the amount of innings...

Orioles lineup against Tampa Bay

Orioles lineup against Tampa Bay
Cesar Izturis is starting at shortstop today. Derrek Lee continues to bat third. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP Alfredo Simon and Chris Tillman are throwing bullpen sessions this morning. Tillman expects to start Wednesday, rather than be skipped in the rotation, but he'll know more after his session.
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