The umpires speak

The umpires speak
Tonight, I served as the pool reporter for the reporters covering the game and asked some post-game questions to crew chief Gary Darling about the ejections of Ty Wigginton and pitching coach Rick Kranitz from tonight's game. Darling admitted that he got the call at first base wrong on the tag play and safe call in the top of the seventh that led to Wigginton's argument and ejection. "We looked at it, he missed him the first time and on a close play, he got him the second time it looked...
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Wiggy's ejection (Juan & Kranny too)

Wiggy's ejection (Juan & Kranny too)
If fans were looking for someone to show fire and passion on this team, they just saw it. Ty Wigginton was ejected by first base umpire Gary Darling for arguing a play in the top of the seventh. J.J. Hardy broke for second on a steal then turned around and retreated to first. When Wigginton took the throw and applied the tag on Hardy he was expecting an out call that didn't come. He immediately charged toward Darling, but did not make contact with him as Darling put up his hand to throw...
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Millwood gets on a roll

Millwood gets on a roll
Too bad he gave up three runs in the first inning tonight. Since then, Kevin Millwood has had a strong outing that should be somewhat encouraging for fans and O's brass alike. Millwood has allowed just one run and three hits from innings two through six. He gave up a bomb to Michael Cuddyer for a solo homer in the fourth. It went 434 feet and was one of those blasts that Jamie Walker used to refer to as a "rocket ship." But Millwood has been pretty solid since giving up that...
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Some things I just don't understand (updated)

Some things I just don't understand (updated)
The O's hitters watched their 35-year-old right-hander Kevin Millwood throw 34 pitches in the top of the first tonight and then their hitters went down 1-2-3 in the last of the first on just five pitches. Three batters, five pitches. Minnesota's hitter leading off the top of the second, Nick Punto, saw as many pitches (five) as the three O's hitters did combined. I just don't get that. Why not see a few pitches at least and give the guy a break. After all he is coming off the DL to...
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Wieters closes in on his return

Wieters closes in on his return
Matt Wieters continues to make progress and today ran the bases earlier here at Camden Yards to test his right hamstring strain. "It went well. It was no (bad) feeling at all. The only difference is you've got to get used to getting the stride right to where you're not going to hit the base. But other than that, everything felt really good. "Yeah, barring any setbacks (I should be back Sunday). Right now I feel good and I was out there doing some catch and stuff, and everything feels...
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B-Rob behind closed doors in manager's office

B-Rob behind closed doors in manager's office
After spending a few minutes behind closed doors today in the manager's office, Brian Roberts emerged and said he is taking today off and is still not sure when he will rejoin the Orioles roster. Some here are guessing it could come as early as tomorrow but no one is saying that just yet. Roberts said he was just joking around with Juan Samuel and John Shelby in the skipper's office and not politicking to get back on the team. "I don't know whose decision it is at this point, yet. ...
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Mummey is playing solid ball despite minor injury

Mummey is playing solid ball despite minor injury
The early reviews are quite good for the Orioles fourth-round draft pick, outfielder Trent Mummey from Auburn. He is batting leadoff and playing center field for Aberdeen of the New York-Penn League. He is batting over .300 and has produced 15 extra-base hits in just 23 games. All this while playing with a quad injury that first surfaced in late May during his college season with the Tigers. "It's just a nagging thing and you see it once in a while when he accelerates and decelerates,"...
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Quotes from the O's clubhouse

Quotes from the O's clubhouse
Here are some comments from the clubhouse after Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Tampa. Brad Bergesen talked about his outing, after he gave up five runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings: "It was a tough outing, just one of those where I battled and tried to keep the team in it. The (seven) strikeouts were irrelevant. Compared to the hits today, it was kind of a hot and cold day. Didn't make good execution pitches when I needed to, with two strikes and that's what really hurt me today. "My...
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O's fall one short in series-decider vs. Tampa

O's fall one short in series-decider vs. Tampa
A day after becoming the only team in the Majors this year to win when trailing in the ninth inning and in extra innings in the same game, the O's lost the third and deciding game of their series with Tampa, 5-4, on Wednesday afternoon at the Yard. The O's fell behind 4-0 in the third, rallied to tie it at 4-4 by the fifth, only to see Tampa move back in front on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. Losing pitcher Brad Bergesen allowed five runs and nine hits over 5 1/3. Bergesen falls to...
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Big week for Berken

Big week for Berken
It's shaping up to be a big week for Jason Berken in Birdland and beyond. First, he gets a T-shirt Tuesday at Oriole Park; now a player appearance at the new Sports Clips in White Marsh. Berken will sign autographs at the new Sports Clips location at the Avenue at White Marsh from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 22. The Oriole Bird and former O's Scott McGregor, Rick Dempsey, and Dave Johnson will join Berken Thursday afternoon as well. The group of O's will help to celebrate the...
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Troubling Bergy stat

Troubling Bergy stat
Brad Bergesen allows five runs, all earned, over 5 1/3 innings today here at Camden Yards. Bergesen has now allowed 4 ER or more in 11 of his 15 Major League starts on the season. He has allowed 4 ER or more in seven of his last eight starts. Last year he allowed 4 ER or more in just five of his 19 starts all season. So it happened in 26.3 percent of his starts in 2009 and has happened in 73.3 percent of his starts this year. Of course it makes one wonder if this is just more than a...
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Not working for Bergy

Not working for Bergy
This did not add up to a winning combination for the Orioles. A struggling starting pitcher, Brad Bergesen, vs. a good team a little ticked off about blowing a lead last night. And Tampa comes out with a 4-0 lead in the third vs. the O's and Bergesen. Evan Longoria has already homered and doubled. He is 12 for 35 vs. the O's this year with three homers and 11 RBI. In winning last night, the O's became the first team this year to trail in the ninth inning and in extra innings, but...
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Bell reflects on his stay with O's

Bell reflects on his stay with O's
Josh Bell had to figure it could come to this. Today he was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk. As he packed his bag to head out of Camden Yards, he was nice enough to take a few minutes to reflect on his first few days at the big league level. "Just being here, I don't take it for granted at all. I enjoyed being at this level and definitely it teaches you stuff even when you are not playing. "Whatever they need, I'm ready to do. Even when I wasn't playing it was beneficial to me to...
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Erbe and Mickolio will head to Aberdeen

Erbe and Mickolio will head to Aberdeen
Two right-handers that have been pitching with the Norfolk Tides this season will join the Aberdeen IronBirds this weekend on injury-rehab assignments. Brandon Erbe and Kam Mickolio are expected to pitch for Aberdeen this Saturday at Ripken Stadium. It's been a busy week in the O's minors on the injury rehab front with Brian Roberts at Bowie and Brandon Snyder joining Aberdeen yesterday. Erbe has been on the DL since June 25 and has not pitched since June 20 due to right shoulder soreness....
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Walk off Grand Slam for Aberdeen

Walk off Grand Slam for Aberdeen
Kipp Schutz, who began tonight as the second leading hitter in the New York-Penn League, batting .379, hit a walk-off Grand Slam in the last of the 11th this evening as the Aberdeen IronBirds beat Tri-City 9-5 at Ripken Stadium. Schutz's bomb to right field was his third homer of the season and gave Aberdeen its fifth win in a row. Schutz went 3 for 6 with 5 RBI on the night. It was Aberdeen's third walk-off win in its last four home games and the Birds are now 17-15, two games over .500...
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Snyder flies out as game heads to extra frames

Snyder flies out as game heads to extra frames
It's extra innings here at Ripken Stadium. In his fifth at bat, with a chance to win the game in the last of the ninth, Brandon Snyder flew out to center on a 2-1 pitch with runners on second and third and two out. The game is tied 5-5 heading to the top of the 10th. Snyder's solo homer in the last of the 8th had tied this game at 5-5. He is 2 for 5 with two RBI tonight as he begins what is expected to be a three-game injury rehab assignment with the IronBirds. Catcher Joe Oliveira,...
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Snyder homers at Aberdeen

Snyder homers at Aberdeen
In his fourth at bat tonight at Aberdeen, Brandon Snyder homered to left field to tie this game 5-5 in the last of the eighth. Leading off the inning, Snyder ripped a 1-1 pitch from Tri-City reliever Brandt Walker over the fence near the visiting team clubhouse to knot the contest. It's his sixth homer of the year counting five earlier at Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder is now 2 for 4 tonight with a double and homer in his first game at Aberdeen since August 2, 2006. This was his first Aberdeen...
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Snyder now 1 for 3 at Aberdeen

Snyder now 1 for 3 at Aberdeen
Brandon Snyder grounded into a 5-4-3 double play on a 2-2 pitch in his third at bat for Aberdeen tonight. That ended the fifth inning with the IronBirds leading 4-2 vs. Tri-City, a Houston affiliate. Earlier in this game, Snyder doubled to deep center in the first and he had an RBI groundout to short in the third inning. This is Snyder's first game with Aberdeen since August 2, 2006. Meanwhile, Aberdeen's starter, righty Scott Copeland, this year's 21st-round draft pick, has allowed two...
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Snyder with an RBI in the third

Snyder with an RBI in the third
In his second at bat tonight in Aberdeen, Brandon Snyder drove in a run with an RBI groundout to short. He came up with Austin Knight on third and one out in the last of the third. Snyder's hard hit ball to short, with the infield playing back, plated the run for a 3-1 Aberdeen lead. Micheal Rooney led off the frame with an infield single and Knight then tripled to deep center for a 2-1 lead, before Snyder batted. Snyder is now 1 for 2 with a double and an RBI and Aberdeen leads 3-1 after...
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Snyder's first at bat tonight at Aberdeen

Snyder's first at bat tonight at Aberdeen
In his first at bat tonight with the IronBirds, Brandon Snyder hit a booming double to deep center field. Batting against Tri-City right-hander Bobby Doran, Houston's fourth-round pick last month, Snyder ripped a 2-1 pitch out near the warning track in center for an easy double. It was his first game at bat since June 17 while with Norfolk. Snyder, batting third and playing at first base, came up after Trent Mummey struck out and Austin Knight lined out. Snyder scored on a Kipp Schutz RBI...
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