orioles

Klein is doing just fine on the O's farm right now

May 14, 2011, 7:34am

Orioles

Klein is doing just fine on the O's farm right now

Right-handed relief pitcher Dan Klein continues to pitch very well on the farm for the Orioles. Klein pitched 2 1/3 scoreless in Double-A Bowie's loss last night and has now pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings in his first four games there since moving from Single-A Frederick. In 11 games between the two teams, Klein is 1-1 with an ERA of 0.78 and .193 average against. In 23 innings, he has allowed just two runs on 16 hits with four walks to 27 strikeouts. He is doing nothing to put to rest talk...

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A closer look at the struggles of Mark Reynolds

May 13, 2011, 9:56pm

Orioles

A closer look at the struggles of Mark Reynolds

I have heard some fans say that we all should have expected to see new Orioles' third baseman Mark Reynolds hit for a real low average after he batted .198 last year. However, Reynolds hit .279 in 2007, .239 in 2008 and .260 in 2009. His career batting average coming into this season was .242. He was a career .280 hitter in the minor leagues. Right now, Reynolds is batting .174 with three homers and 15 RBIs. That batting average is 68 points under his career number. Plus, his power outage...

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Quick thoughts and notes on the Orioles' shutout loss against Tampa

May 13, 2011, 5:53pm

Orioles

A few quick thoughts after the Orioles' lost 3-0 to Tampa Bay tonight to begin a three-game series. * The Orioles have now scored just six runs over Jeremy Guthrie's last seven starts. They have not scored in five of those starts while he was still in the game. There is an adjective for that, but amazing and unbelievable doesn't seem to do that stat justice. * Jeremy Hellickson tonight proved the statement that momentum is as good as tonight's starting pitcher to be true in baseball. So...

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Minor league updates on Machado, Mahoney and George

May 13, 2011, 1:04pm

Orioles

Minor league updates on Machado, Mahoney and George

It appears the return of shortstop Manny Machado to the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds' lineup is at least a week away at this point. The Orioles' first-round pick in last year's draft suffered a dislocated left kneecap May 5. The swelling in the knee has gone down and Machado is close to returning to baseball activities. When he shows club officials he is 100 percent, they may still give him a few days to get back up to speed after that. Machado is batting .333 with six doubles, two...

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Comparing Britton

May 13, 2011, 6:40am

Orioles

By just about any standard, Zach Britton's start to his rookie season has been pretty amazing. He is 5-2 with an ERA of 2.42 and that now ranks as the seventh best ERA in the American League. Only three pitchers, Trevor Cahill of Oakland, Detroit's Max Scherzer and Jered Weaver of Los Angeles have more wins with six to his five. Britton's WHIP is now at 1.02 and that is 9th best in the AL. He has now pitched 52 innings and that ties for 13th in the league. Here is how Britton ranks...

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Can O's take momentum from Seattle sweep into key seven-game stretch?

May 12, 2011, 9:42pm

Orioles

Can O's take momentum from Seattle sweep into key seven-game stretch?

Coming off their second walk-off win in three days and a three-game series sweep, now the Orioles head into a stretch of seven games over the next seven days against the AL East. It starts tonight with three games at Tampa, followed by two at Boston and then two at home versus New York. Are the O's ready for this tough stretch, and will the momentum of the Seattle sweep help them get some wins during this next grueling stretch? The Orioles are 5-8 on the year against the AL East which...

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Brilliant Britton with his best start yet

May 12, 2011, 7:27pm

Orioles

Brilliant Britton with his best start yet

Zach Britton did everything but get a win tonight with his amazing nine innings of scoreless baseball. It's the first time this year Britton did not get a decision, but with a single run of offensive support, he could have easily been the Orioles' first six-game winner before May was over since Kris Benson in 2006. Britton is now 5-2 with an ERA of 2.42 through his first eight major league starts. That is the 7th best ERA in the American League and he is tied for 4th in the AL with five...

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Wieters' caught stealing rate now over 50 percent

May 12, 2011, 4:18pm

Orioles

Wieters' caught stealing rate now over 50 percent

Matt Wieters continues to throw out opposing base stealers at an amazing rate. When he threw out Luis Rodriguez trying to steal to end the top of the fifth tonight, Wieters moved over 50 percent on the year in throwing out runners. He has now thrown out 11 of 21 runners trying to steal. Here are the AL leaders by percentage among catchers coming into tonight: .514 - Kurt Suzuki of Oakland (18 of 35) .500 - Matt Wieters of Orioles (10 of 20) .500 - Kelly Shoppach of TB (5 of 10) .444 - Matt...

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Checking on some Zach Britton stats

May 12, 2011, 1:44pm

Orioles

When Zach Britton took the loss in his last start, last Friday versus Tampa, he allowed four hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings, throwing 95 pitches. It was the first time this season Britton has worked fewer than six innings in his seven starts. He has recorded five quality starts to date, and the Orioles are 5-2 when he takes the mound. That is his record also, as he has had a decision in every start. Tonight, Britton can pick up his sixth win. The Orioles did not have a pitcher record...

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B-Rob talks about his struggles on offense

May 12, 2011, 12:46pm

Orioles

B-Rob talks about his struggles on offense

Right now, Brian Roberts is going through perhaps one of the worst slumps of his career. He is hitless in his last 26 at-bats, dating to last Wednesday at Kansas City. He is batting just .209 in 34 games and he is a .283 career hitter. Roberts says it's as frustrating a stretch he has been through in recent years. "Yeah, probably," he said. "You go through slumps every year. There is really no escaping one at some point. This has probably been one of the more frustrating ones I've been...

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This time around, Caleb Joseph is doing better at Double-A Bowie

May 12, 2011, 6:42am

Orioles

This time around, Caleb Joseph is doing better at Double-A Bowie

After catcher Caleb Joseph hit .284 in 2009 at Single-A Frederick and made the Carolina League All-Star team, he had high hopes for the 2010 season with Double-A Bowie. But he got off to a slow start and never really got his bat going. He finished hitting .235 in 106 games and fell off some of those top prospects lists. But after his key two-RBI single helped Bowie beat Richmond on Wednesday, Joseph is now batting .289 with three homers, 14 RBIs, a .394 on-base average and an .828 OPS in 26...

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Orioles starters have outpitched Mariners in this series

May 11, 2011, 10:08pm

Orioles

Sometimes, a little pitching and a little offense can go a long way. You probably know that the Orioles have scored three runs or fewer in more than half their games this year and are 2-16 in those games. So they almost always lose when they score so little. But if they can get four runs, they almost always win. After Wednesday's 4-2 victory over Seattle, the Orioles are 14-3 when they score four or more runs in a game. The starting pitching has set the tone the past two nights and for two...

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Tale of the tape on Tillman's effort

May 11, 2011, 5:52pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman outpitched Felix Hernandez tonight to help the Orioles beat the Mariners 4-2 at Camden Yards. You would have gotten long odds of that happening back at 7 p.m. tonight. After being traded by Seattle to the Orioles on Feb. 8, 2008, it had to feel good for Tillman and Adam Jones to beat their former team tonight. Jones went 4-for-4 with a key two-run triple. Here is more on Tillman's night: * He rebounded from his previous start, when he gave up ten hits and eights runs over 3...

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Just the facts

May 11, 2011, 3:48pm

Orioles

* Derrek Lee is now the only Oriole to start every game. Nick Markakis and Mark Reynolds were on that list until today when neither is in the starting lineup. * After grounding out with the bases loaded to end the second inning tonight, Robert Andino is now 2-for-12 on the year batting with runners in scoring position. * Chris Tillman entered this game with an ERA of 11.57 in the first two innings this year, but pitched shutout ball in those frames tonight versus Seattle. * Adam Jones now...

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After rough outing at K.C., it's Tillman time again

May 11, 2011, 2:14pm

Orioles

After rough outing at K.C., it's Tillman time again

Contrary to popular belief, Chris Tillman has not been terrible for the Orioles this year. There have been two terrible starts, but four others that have been decent. Tillman gave up six runs in just 1 2/3 on April 13 versus the Yankees. In his last start, he gave up ten hits and eight runs in just 3 2/3 against Kansas City. Those were two terrible starts. In his four other outings, his ERA is 3.22. The Orioles are 3-1 in those four games, by the way. But Tillman's overall ERA of 7.16 is...

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Simon talks about his outing today at Bowie

May 11, 2011, 11:02am

Orioles

Simon talks about his outing today at Bowie

BOWIE, Md. - Before I leave Bowie where today's game was played in near-perfect weather, here are some quotes from Alfredo Simon, who was very pleased with his outing today. "I felt great," Simon said after throwing 94 pitches. "I just tried to work on all my pitches and everything is fine. My velocity, my two-seamer, my splitter and my breaking ball are fine. I'm ready to go right now and everything seems to be working pretty good. "My velocity on my two-seamer was really good. When I...

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John Stockstill comments on Simon's outing at Bowie (updated)

May 11, 2011, 9:53am

Orioles

BOWIE, Md. - O's director of player development John Stockstill got an up-close look at Alfredo Simon's outing today here at Bowie from right behind the screen in the first few rows at Prince George's Stadium. Simon allowed five hits and three runs, all earned over five innings, throwing 94 pitches. "He was a little improved with his overall performance from the other day," Stockstill said. "Threw 94 pitches and needs to get to the point where he can put people away with that split...

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Simon now out of the game at Bowie (updated with final line)

May 11, 2011, 8:53am

Orioles

Simon now out of the game at Bowie (updated with final line)

BOWIE, Md. - Right-hander Alfredo Simon has exited today's game at Double-A Bowie after giving up a double and walk to the first two batters in the top of the sixth. Lefty Pedro Viola has come on. Simon has given up just one run on five hits, but the runners on base are his responsibility. He walked three and fanned eight, throwing 94 pitches, 61 for strikes. Simon had his best inning when he struck out the side on 15 pitches in the fifth. He gave up a run on two hits in the fourth. The...

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Richmond gets on the board against Simon

May 11, 2011, 8:17am

Orioles

Richmond gets on the board against Simon

BOWIE, Md. - Alfredo Simon gave up one run in a 30-pitch, top of the fourth here today. The inning began with a Roger Kieschnick double on a 94 mile per hour fastball. Juan Perez then singled to get Richmond on the board and cut Bowie's lead to 2-1. Simon walked the next batter, but then got a ground out, strikeout and ground out to end the Richmond threat. He threw 19 strikes among his 30 pitches as he labored a bit in that inning. Simon is at 71 pitches through four innings today with a...

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Simon with three scoreless at Bowie

May 11, 2011, 7:55am

Orioles

BOWIE, Md. - Alfredo Simon, making his second start for Double-A Bowie here today, has pitched shutout ball through three innings and has a 2-0 lead on Richmond with Bowie batting in the third. Simon just threw 19 pitches in the third, 12 for strikes. He has allowed two singles and one walk in the game, and has four strikeouts. He has touched 94 on the radar gun and has thrown some nice off-speed pitches, as well. Simon gave up a single in the first and Richmond put the first two runners on...