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A closer look at Chris Tillman's season

May 15, 2011, 11:05am

Orioles

Here is my take on Orioles' right-hander Chris Tillman, who is 2-3 with an ERA of 6.15 over seven starts and faces Boston tonight. He has been terrible, but in just two starts. He has pitched pretty well in five of his seven outings this year and that gets lost in the debate when fans start talking about Tillman. Tillman gave up 14 of his 23 runs this year in two starts against New York and Kansas City. Did you realize his record is 2-1 and ERA is 2.86 in his five other starts? And, by the...

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A few pregame notes

May 16, 2011, 11:15am

Orioles

The Orioles were 3-25 against the Boston Red Sox, including 2-10 at home, in 28 games from July 12, 2008 and April 24, 2010. In the last 19 meetings since April 25, 2010, the Orioles are 11-8 against the Red Sox, including 7-5 at home and 4-3 at Fenway Park. Since B.J. Ryan allowed a three-run walk-off homer to David Ortiz on June 2, 2005, the Orioles are 12-37 at Fenway Park and have lost 18 of their last 23 on Yawkey Way. The rotation has recorded six consecutive quality starts, posting a...

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Orioles lineup against Red Sox

May 16, 2011, 11:40am

Orioles

If the weather allows the Orioles to play the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park, manager Buck Showalter will trot out the following lineup: 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 Chris Tillman RHP

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Matusz and Tillman take their turns

May 16, 2011, 5:13am

Orioles

It took much longer than I expected, but I finally made it home last night. Actually, it was past midnight, so I made it home this morning. I'll be heading to Frederick later today to watch Brian Matusz pitch in his first injury rehab game. The memories will come flooding back. And hopefully, that's the only flooding that takes place, since the forecast includes storms the next five days. I wonder if the Orioles have a backup plan in case Matusz's start gets washed away. The last time I...

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After sweep of Yankees, Boston welcomes the Birds to Fenway tonight

May 16, 2011, 11:00am

Orioles

After sweep of Yankees, Boston welcomes the Birds to Fenway tonight

After winning a series against one red-hot American League East team over the weekend, the Orioles begin a series against another one tonight in Boston. The Orioles won the last two on the road versus Tampa Bay to take that series. The Rays entered the series with the Orioles with the majors best record since April 11 at 21-7. Boston completed a three-game road sweep of the Yankees last night and has now won six of its last eight and is 9-5 over its previous 14 games. Since beginning the year...

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Is the Orioles' offense starting to come around?

May 15, 2011, 8:40am

Orioles

It has only been five games. We've thought before this year that the Orioles' offense was starting to show signs of life. Maybe this time it is for real. They are not exactly mashing the ball, but the Orioles have produced 10 hits or more in four of the last five games. They have 55 hits and a team average of .293 in the stretch, even including being shutout on Friday night. The offense the last five games: Tuesday versus Seattle: 20-for-53, seven runs, win Wednesday versus Seattle:...

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Orioles and Rays lineups

May 15, 2011, 6:38am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Reynolds have moved up to eighth in the lineup today. That's what a home run will do for you. 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 Rays: Fuld LF Zobrist 2B Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce RF Upton CF Kotchman 1B E. Johnson SS Shoppach C Sonnanstine RHP

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Reflections on Harmon Killebrew's career

May 14, 2011, 7:19am

Nationals Orioles

Reflections on Harmon Killebrew's career

Harmon Killebrew ranks 11th on the all-time home run list with 573 home runs, and, had it not been for at least three injury-plagued seasons, Killebrew would have been among the elite players in the 600-home run club. "I never think about it that way because I was so fortunate to be playing baseball for as long as I did,'' Killebrew said during a spring-training interview in Fort Myers, Fla., his final day in a Minnesota Twins uniform. Killebrew, 74, who started his career with the...

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No offense, but ...

May 14, 2011, 8:34am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have scored in just one of their last 23 innings - two runs total - dating back to the sixth inning of Wednesday's game against Seattle. They're batting .215 (17-for-79) with one extra-base hit and only four batters advancing beyond second base during that span. The pitchers, meanwhile, have posted a 1.95 ERA in those 23 innings. The rotation has recorded four straight quality starts, positing a 1.86 ERA. Brian Roberts is in a 2-for-35 slump, or a...

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Orioles and Rays lineups

May 14, 2011, 9:01am

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Reynolds is batting ninth again today. Luke Scott returns to left field, and Jake Fox starts behind the plate. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Fox C Mark Reynolds 3B Brad Bergesen RHP For the Rays: Fuld LF Zobrist 2B Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce RF Upton CF Kotchman 1B Brignac SS Jaso C Davis RHP

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Pie in left, Guerrero on bench

May 13, 2011, 12:06pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Felix Pie is starting in left field tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander Jeremy Hellickson. Luke Scott is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Felix Pie LF Mark Reynolds 3B Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Rays: Fuld CF Zobrist RF Damon DH Longoria 3B Joyce LF Kotchman 1B Rodriguez 2B Brignac SS Jaso C Hellickson RHP

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Rays grab early lead

May 13, 2011, 3:45pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - It all started so innocently. Jeremy Guthrie retired the side in order on 11 pitches, nine for strikes, in the bottom of the first inning. He induced a bouncer to third base from Rays cleanup hitter Evan Longoria leading off the second. This is the end of the innocence. Mark Reynolds tried to make a barehanded grab, but the ball deflected off his fingers and rolled down the left field line. The official scorer here ruled it a hit, but he easily could have given...

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A closer look at the pitcher the Orioles are facing tonight

May 13, 2011, 3:00pm

Orioles

Here are some notes on Jeremy Hellickson, the right-handed Tampa Bay pitcher the Orioles will try to beat tonight. * He is 3-2 on the year with an ERA of 3.72 in six starts with a batting average against of .236. He gets more air outs with a ground to air out ratio of 0.74. * His last start was last Saturday when he got the win in Baltimore against Jeremy Guthrie. He went five scoreless innings, but walked five and allowed three hits, throwing 92 pitches. In three games, two career starts,...

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More Matusz, Duchscherer update

May 13, 2011, 1:54pm

Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I promised you one more quote from Brian Matusz, and I won't go back on my word. "It's not hard for me to pump myself up and get excited," he said. "I am excited. I've been excited for a while. It's been tough these last few weeks, being in Sarasota, going out there and feeling good every day. It's been tough because I feel good, I feel healthy, I feel strong, and I want to get out there, but I realize this is my spring training process to get myself ready, so...

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Meet MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Hightopps on Monday, May 16

May 13, 2011, 11:26am

Orioles

Meet MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Hightopps on Monday, May 16

Meet MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium on Monday, May 16 from 7-8 p.m. He'll be at HIghtopps, 2306 York Road (just north of the Timonium Fairgrounds) to meet and greet O's fans, watch some of the 7 p.m. Orioles-Red Sox game airing on MASN/MASN HD and give away some prizes. HIghtopps boasts some of the frostiest cold beverages and tastiest food this side of Camden Yards, and the atmosphere is decidedly family friendly, so feel free to join in the...

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Matthew Taylor: Recalling O's first trip to The Trop

May 13, 2011, 5:05am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Recalling O's first trip to The Trop

The third-place Orioles head to Tampa Bay this weekend looking to avenge last week's three-game sweep at the hands of the Rays. Thirteen years ago, the Birds flew south for their first-ever series in St. Petersburg from May 8-10, 1998. The O's took two of three at The Trop that weekend behind their veteran players. Baltimore batted around and scored five runs in the seventh inning of the series opener to break open a tight ballgame they ultimately won 8-2. Eric Davis got things started with...

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Make mine a double play (updated)

May 12, 2011, 4:00pm

Orioles

The Orioles have hit into three double plays in the first three innings. That's the maximum allowed, as far as I know. Brian Roberts singled in the first inning, and Nick Markakis grounded into a DP. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters singled in the second inning, and J.J. Hardy grounded into a DP. Robert Andino singled in the third - and you wanted him out of the lineup! - and Roberts grounded into a DP. The Orioles have stranded only one runner in three innings, so let's choose to look on the...

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Some Orioles & Mariners game notes

May 12, 2011, 3:41pm

Orioles

*The Orioles are looking tonight to end this homestand with a three-game sweep after it started with Tampa sweeping them three straight. The last time the O's were swept in three or more games to start a homestand and then swept the next opponent on the stand was from June 26-July 2, 1997. They were swept by Toronto, but then swept the Phillies. *M's starter Jason Vargas is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four career starts against Baltimore. He was taken in the second round of the 2004 draft, 68th...

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A few pregame comments from Showalter (updated)

May 12, 2011, 1:03pm

Orioles

In my "1993 brawl" entry, I meant to point out that Cal Ripken's streak almost ended because of a knee injury sustained when he got caught in the bottom of a pile. Thanks to TomD for the reminder. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells worked on the knee the next day after Ripken said he wouldn't be able to play. The rest is baseball history. The Sun didn't report the injury because it went unnoticed with all the fights that broke out that afternoon. Once I joined the beat fulltime in...

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Remembering the first brawl at Camden Yards

May 12, 2011, 11:02am

Orioles

Remembering the first brawl at Camden Yards

Brian Roberts, in a 1-for-34 slump, is doing some early hitting on the field with Jim Presley, who's tossing him the ball underhand from halfway between the mound and the plate. Watching Felix Pie go nose-to-nose with Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak Tuesday night might have brought back a few memories of the infamous 1993 brawl between the same two teams at Camden Yards. I wasn't on the beat back then, but I sure do remember it. Mike Mussina drilled Mariners catcher Bill Hasselman, later...