orioles

Kurkjian's quote on Showalter

July 29, 2010, 10:48am

Orioles

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian knows Buck Showalter probably as well as just about any reporter after working with him at ESPN. During a live interview on that network a few moments ago, here is what Kurkjian said about Showalter coming to Baltimore to manage the Orioles. "It's a great fit for the Orioles, that's for sure. They get as prepared a manager as I've ever met in 30 years of covering baseball. They get one of the most observant baseball people that I've ever met in my entire life. "I...

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Tejada deal now official (update)

July 29, 2010, 2:48pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Wynn Pelzer from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Miguel Tejada and cash. Pelzer, 24, is 26-23 with a 3.83 ERA and has 330 strikeouts in 79 games (68 starts) over three minor league seasons. The right-hander is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA (94 1/3 IP, 44ER) and 83 strikeouts in 22 games (18 starts) for the Double-A San Antonio Missions this year. In 2009 with Single-A Lake Elsinore, Pelzer went 11-8 with a 3.94 ERA...

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MacPhail on Showalter and Tejada (audio)

July 29, 2010, 4:11pm

Orioles

MacPhail on Showalter and Tejada (audio)

I interviewed O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail for tonight's Orioles radio network pre-game show. Click below to listen to the entire interview. He talked about the hiring of Buck Showalter, what it means for the current coaches, how he and Showalter will work together and the trade of Miguel Tejada. Audio: If you didn't have time to hear the entire interview here is what MacPhail said on a few topics: Why hire Showalter now and not wait until next year? "The plus of...

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O's get Pelzer in Tejada deal (now official)

July 29, 2010, 2:11pm

Orioles

O's get Pelzer in Tejada deal (now official)

The Orioles will get 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Wynn Pelzer from the San Diego Padres in exchange for Miguel Tejada. The Orioles are expected to eat some of Tejada's remaining salary. The move opens up third base where the O's will take a good, long look at Josh Bell for the rest of this season. Pelzer is a 6'1", 205-pounder that was rated as the Padres 7th best prospect before the season by Baseball America. This year he is 6-9, 4.20 in 22 games, 18 starts with Double-A San...

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Showalter has two months to make an impact

July 29, 2010, 10:28am

Orioles

Showalter has two months to make an impact

ESPN's report that Buck Showalter will take over next Tuesday as Orioles manager comes as good news on many fronts. I like the fact that the new man will be in place for part of this season. The time to change the losing culture and the clubhouse dynamic is now. It's due. It's past due. If Showalter can start that process now, there is no reason to wait on that until Opening Day next year. I like the fact that it gives him a chance to get to know the players this year. Despite this...

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Joe Mahoney talks about his big year on the O's farm

July 28, 2010, 8:57pm

Orioles

Joe Mahoney talks about his big year on the O's farm

If you had to pick a player to be named Orioles minor league player of the year for 2010 today, many might pick first baseman Joe Mahoney. The sixth-round pick out of the University of Richmond from 2007 is having a breakout season and making quite an impression. It started at Frederick where Mahoney put up solid power numbers. Since July 9 it has continued at Double-A Bowie where Mahoney's bat has been sizzling hot. In 17 Baysox games since his promotion, the 23-year-old lefty batter is...

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An inside look at one pitcher's post-start routine

July 28, 2010, 7:53am

Orioles

An inside look at one pitcher's post-start routine

The average person works a five-day work week; the average major league pitcher goes to work once every five days. So what are they doing for all those days in between? Well, it's not all hanging out on the bench watching ballgames. As Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound Wednesday night against the Blue Jays, the right-hander takes you through the meticulous routine he'll carry out on Thursday - the day after his latest start. According to Guthrie, the post-start routine begins the afternoon...

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Not again: O's fall 5-0 at Toronto

July 28, 2010, 5:18pm

Orioles

This time, the Orioles got good starting pitching. In fact, they got excellent starting pitching. Yet, they still lost to Toronto. The Jays posted a 5-0 win over the Orioles Wednesday to sweep this three-game series and improve to 12-0 vs. the O's on the season. Gary and Mike talk with Juan Samuel after the O's 5-0 loss to the Blue Jays Toronto got just one run off O's starter Jeremy Guthrie and led 1-0 heading to the last of the eighth before they scored four vs. the O's bullpen to...

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Three innings, 23 pitches

July 28, 2010, 3:49pm

Orioles

Tonight is the first time the O's hitters have ever seen Toronto lefty Brad Mills. Despite that, once again, they are not seeing many pitches at the plate. The O's trail 1-0 after three innings and Mills has thrown just 23 pitches to get nine outs. He has faced ten hitters, so that is just 2.3 pitches seen per hitter so far. He threw just seven pitches in the first inning, eight in the second and eight in the third. They are hoping to go over ten in one of these innings. The O's were...

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Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

July 23, 2010, 11:37am

Orioles

For this week's 'Where in the Yard?' you'll have to think outside the lines, but don't worry, you've all see this particular piece of the Yard before - and I even know some people who think touching this bright yellow piece of Oriole Park is good luck - though for you or the Birds, I'm not sure. So as always, take a look at the photo below and let us know what the item is and where it's located in or around Oriole Park at Camden Yards. And remember, this is your last chance to rack up...

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The Britton debate

July 27, 2010, 8:56pm

Orioles

O's president Andy MacPhail comfirmed in an e-mail last night that the Orioles are considering calling up their top pitching prospect Zach Britton later this summer, although it likely won't happen this weekend. This brings us to the great debate - should the O's call-up Britton to the Majors this year or just let him finish the season at Triple-A? A Britton call-up would be exciting to see and many fans would welcome it to spice up this miserable season. But would that be the right...

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Jays pound O's 8-2 to go 11-0 vs. the Orioles

July 27, 2010, 5:48pm

Orioles

The Orioles futility vs. Toronto continued tonight in a 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. The Orioles are now 0-11 on the year vs. Toronto and have been outscored in the season series 65-23 and out-homered 23 to 4. The Orioles fall to 2-10 since the All-Star break and are now 31-69 after 100 games. They have lost 10 in a row and 19 of their last 21 games at Rogers Centre Juan Samuel talks with Gary and Mike about the starters struggles and the O's 8-2 loss Kevin Millwood took the loss and again...

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Another mismatch (Britton tonight)

July 27, 2010, 4:27pm

Orioles

Can you believe there are people, some considered very astute in the baseball industry, that we're picking the Orioles to finish ahead of Toronto this year. It now looks like the O's are on their way to 0-11 vs. the Jays as they trail 6-0 after the fourth. It is like Ground Hog day. An O's starter gives up early runs, meanwhile the opponent starter records quick outs vs. O's hitters who nightly seem to refuse to work the count. At this point, I blame the players and coaching staff. No...

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Britton not being considered for this weekend

July 27, 2010, 2:53pm

Orioles

Britton not being considered for this weekend

In a brief e-mail exchange with O's president Andy MacPhail, he said Zach Britton is "not" being considered to join the Orioles to start this weekend. So we can rule out any talk of Britton starting in Brad Bergesen's spot on Saturday. But Britton is being considered to join the Orioles later in the season, MacPhail said. Britton, who is scheduled to start for Norfolk tonight, is 1-1, 2.05 in four Triple-A starts since he moved up from Bowie. Over his last 11 starts between Bowie and...

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Kendall has IronBirds flying high, chasing elusive playoff berth

July 26, 2010, 8:41pm

Orioles

Kendall has IronBirds flying high, chasing elusive playoff berth

Since their first season in 2002, the Aberdeen IronBirds have been a successful minor league franchise. I said a successful, not winning franchise. The IronBirds are an amazing business success. They sellout Ripken Stadium every night, have a top-notch staff and have a respected and well-known name within minor league baseball circles. They put on a great show for the fans that pour into Ripken Stadium. But in eight seasons in the New York-Penn League, the IronBirds have had just one...

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It's the offense, too

July 27, 2010, 11:28am

Orioles

While there has been a lot of focus on the O's struggling starting pitching lately - as there should be - the offense has not been pulling its weight either as the club is 2-9 since the All-Star break. The O's have scored three runs or less in seven of those 11 games and they are 3-51 this year when scoring three runs or less. Over the last six games, the O's are batting just 4 for 42 (.095) with runners in scoring position. After hitting eight homers in four games at Texas before the...

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Monday morning musings

July 25, 2010, 8:43pm

Orioles

Some opinions for a Monday morning: *Jake Arrieta's post-game interview after Sunday's loss to Minnesota should play well with fans who have been wondering about accountability on this O's team. Arrieta took the fall for the loss and should have. But I think it was a good sign to hear him say "I really won't accept outings like this and this is not acceptable." I would like to hear more Orioles talk like this after a loss. Too often we hear how tough the other pitcher was and what...

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Wieters homers twice, but O's fall at Toronto

July 26, 2010, 5:48pm

Orioles

Wieters homers twice, but O's fall at Toronto

Matt Wieters came up with his first career two-homer game, but the Orioles fell behind 8-0 after five innings and lost 9-5 to Toronto tonight. The Orioles are now 0-10 on the year vs. the Blue Jays and have been outscored 57 to 21. Gary and Mike talk with Juan Samuel following the O's 9-5 loss to Toronto The Orioles, who have lost nine games in a row at Rogers Centre, have now lost ten straight to Toronto for the first time since May of 2000. Wieters, who came off the disabled list Sunday,...

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On the farm (another Luke homer)

July 26, 2010, 5:10pm

Orioles

Nate Moreau, who pitched a no-hitter for Frederick on June 30th at Salem, in his first start with the Keys, tonight struggled vs. Lynchburg at Harry Grove Stadium. He entered this start with an ERA of 1.89 in his first three Frederick starts, but gave up seven runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs in the first inning and has given up four homers after not allowing one over 19 frames in those first three starts. Tyler Townsend, who went 0 for 7 in his first two...

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Talking about Bergesen

July 26, 2010, 4:28pm

Orioles

I checked to see if Brad Bergesen was getting as many ground ball outs this year as last year and he is. Last year he averaged 1.57 ground outs for every fly out and this year he is at 1.59, actually a little better. But Bergesen clearly is not getting the great sink on the ball he was last June and July when he was rolling and too many of his pitches are finding the middle of the plate this year and tonight at Toronto. It's hard to figure. Why can't Bergy recapture the sink on the ball...