orioles

Manny Machado's press conference

August 21, 2010, 11:25am

Orioles

Well, it wasn't exactly a grilling by the Baltimore baseball writers, but top pick Manny Machado did speak with those writers today for the first time since signing his 5.25 million dollar contract with the Orioles. It was a telephone press conference with Machado in Florida answering a few questions from reporters at Camden Yards. Here is how it went. Q: What was signing night like for you and did you feel certain a deal would get done? "Well, that night was just going crazy, with my...

Comments

Tags:

manny machado orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1

O's still pondering a September call for Britton

August 21, 2010, 9:58am

Orioles

O's still pondering a September call for Britton

O's manager Buck Showalter said today the Orioles have not made a final decision yet on whether pitching prospect Zach Britton will be a September callup. Britton is 9-6, 2.70 this year between Double-A and Triple-A. He's now pitched 136 2/3 innings after pitching 140 last year and a career-high 147 1/3 the year before at Delmarva. How many innings Britton has left to pitch is for sure a big factor in that decision. "It's more, what's his career high (in innings). You look at that...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

Chorye Spoone to the DL

August 20, 2010, 4:28pm

Orioles

After allowing a career-high eight walks and also hitting three batters last night, today the Bowie Baysox put right-handed pitcher Chorye Spoone on the disabled list. There is no immediate word on what the injury may be or the extent of it for Spoone. Spoone did not a allow a hit, but did give up three runs last night at Trenton. He walked four and hit two batters in the first inning, then walked four straight with two outs in the third before being lifted. Spoone had not lost in 15...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles3

Gonzo won't push for closer role, at least not now

August 20, 2010, 1:07pm

Orioles

Gonzo won't push for closer role, at least not now

He is back and pitching well, but Mike Gonzalez has not had a save chance since April 9 and that didn't go well on Opening Day here in Baltimore vs. Toronto. But now that Gonzalez is pitching like the O's hoped he would, he is beginning to look ready for another save chance. He says he would surely welcome that, but won't push for it right now and that manager Buck Showalter has let him know he is not anointing anyone his closer at this point. "Buck pretty much told me straight up what...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles3

Some O's notes before game three of the Texas series

August 20, 2010, 9:12pm

Orioles

Some O's notes before game three of the Texas series

Checking in on some O's notes, stats and facts as they get set to play Texas in game three of the series this afternoon at Camden Yards. *The Orioles have been involved in a shutout in back-to-back games for the first time all year, one they won and one they lost. They have been involved in shutouts in three of the last four and four of the past eight games, winning two and losing two. *The Orioles had just three hits in 30 at bats and were shutout on Friday for the ninth time on the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1

Not tonight: Wilson pitches Texas past the O's, 2-0

August 20, 2010, 6:00pm

Orioles

Not tonight: Wilson pitches Texas past the O's, 2-0

The Orioles tonight had three hits and two ejections. Probably not a good ratio. It wasn't tonight as C.J. Wilson, perhaps with some help from home plate ump Jeff Nelson, depending on your perspective, pitched Texas past the Orioles 2-0 in front of 18,751 at Camden Yards. Nick Markakis was ejected for the first time in his career. It came after he was called out on strikes for the third time on the night in the sixth. O's manager Buck Showalter was ejected by Nelson with Texas batting...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles

Interesting Arrieta stat

August 20, 2010, 4:00pm

Orioles

Most realize that Jake Arrieta can, sometimes, walk too many hitters. Over 72 1/3 innings in his first 13 Major League starts this year, he has walked 40 hitters, that's a high number. But on nights when he has kept the walk number low, he's been pretty good. In five of Arrieta's 13 O's starts, he has walked two or fewer hitters. His ERA in those five starts is 2.70 and he has three of his four wins in those games. It's a small sample size, of course, but the message is pretty clear. ...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

Lugo on his start in left

August 20, 2010, 12:35pm

Orioles

Partially due to an effort to stack his lineup with right-handed bats vs. Rangers lefty C.J Wilson, Buck Showalter is starting Julio Lugo in left field tonight vs. Texas. "It's been a while since I've been out there," Lugo said. He played as a reserve in the outfield in 2008 with Boston, but you have to go back to 2006 when he was a Dodger for a Lugo start in the outfield. Tonight will be just his 7th career outfield start. "He's the boss. I'll do whatever he says. I'm open to it....

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1

With starting pitching like this...

August 19, 2010, 8:45pm

Orioles

You can win a lot of games. The O's starting pitching has probably been the biggest reason the Orioles are 11-6 since Buck Showalter took over. The stats say that Orioles starting pitchers had pitched to an ERA of 5.61 before Buck. In the 17 games since he's been with the club, the starters' ERA is 2.82. It's been quite a roll for the O's starters: *They have 13 quality starts over the last 17 games. *They have pitched six innings or more in 15 of the 17 games and have gone seven...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles

Orioles lineup

August 20, 2010, 11:36am

Orioles

Brian Roberts 2B Julio Lugo LF Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Jake Fox DH Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Jake Arrieta RHP The last time the Orioles went four straight starts with eight innings or more from their starter was July 20-23, 1999 (Sidney Ponson, Mike Mussina, Scott Erickson and Juan Guzman.) The longest streak of consecutive starts with eight or more innings in franchise history was a 12-game run from Aug. 15-28, 1970.

Comments

Tags:

orioles

The pitch they'd like to have back

August 18, 2010, 6:39pm

Orioles

Baseball can be a game of inches, they say, and I guess it's a game of key pitches as well. Some you want back and wish you never had thrown. Jeremy Guthrie felt that way after Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Seattle. His slider on a 2-1 count to Matt Tuiasosopo in the second inning was belted for a three-run homer. Sometimes after a game, pitchers lament the location of a pitch, but this time Guthrie was unhappy with the selection of the pitch he threw. Jeremy Guthrie talks with the media about...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

No AFL for Machado

August 18, 2010, 8:52pm

Orioles

There is no rule that would keep the Orioles from sending top draft pick Manny Machado to play in the Arizona Fall League. But they are not going to do it. Club sources indicate the O's are not considering sending Machado to play in the AFL, even with the minor league seasons winding down as he is about to start up. It's just too soon for that for an 18-year-old about to begin his pro career. Machado is expected to wrap up with his physical in Baltimore this week and then head for...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

More late-inning drama for Aberdeen

August 20, 2010, 4:30am

Orioles

All year, it seems, the Aberdeen IronBirds have had a penchant for late-inning offense and comebacks. The last two nights, the IronBirds have produced walk-off wins at Ripken Stadium. Wednesday, they beat Hudson Valley 7-6, scoring twice in the ninth. Last night, Aberdeen's Kipp Schutz hit a one-out, RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth to tie Hudson Valley 2-2. One inning later, Austin Rauch homered on the second pitch of the last of the tenth for a 3-2 sudden death win. Aberdeen, now...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1

After solid ninth inning, Simon looks to bounce back

August 19, 2010, 12:49pm

Orioles

After solid ninth inning, Simon looks to bounce back

After giving up a homer over four straight appearances, O's right-hander Alfredo Simon pitched a 1-2-3, ninth inning last night. He needed a good outing and got one in the O's 6-5 loss to the Mariners. "The night before I just got behind in the count and he was a fastball hitter. Last night I used all my pitches and my two seamer and threw the first pitch for a strike. "Sometimes when you get behind the count and the game is close, they are looking for a homer. If you make a mistake,...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

Matusz too good for Texas as O's win, 4-0

August 19, 2010, 5:34pm

Orioles

Matusz too good for Texas as O's win, 4-0

This time, Brian Matusz got the better of the Texas Rangers. In two starts earlier this year, Matusz had allowed 11 ER and 14 hits over 5 1/3 vs. Texas for an ERA of 18.56. His career ERA over three starts vs. Texas was 10.95. Those numbers will come down now after Matusz pitched eight shutout innings vs. the AL West leaders Thursday night as the Orioles beat Texas 4-0 to start a four-game series. The Orioles turned two double plays and made several nice plays behind him as he gave up just...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles

The pitchers' duel rolls on

August 19, 2010, 4:32pm

Orioles

The O's and Texas head to the sixth inning in a 0-0 tie. Brian Matusz has allowed just three singles in the game and the O's have turned two double plays behind him. He has fanned six and thrown 72 pitches. A nice change for Matusz vs. Texas. In his first two starts this year vs. this club, he had allowed 11 ER and 14 hits over just 5 1/3 innings. Colby Lewis, who began with game with a batting average against of just .163 with runners in scoring position, best in the AL and second best...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

A note on Klein from Aberdeen

August 19, 2010, 3:22pm

Orioles

If a pitcher can look good in a non-game situation, I'm told that O's third-round pick Dan Klein did this afternoon at Aberdeen. Klein threw a live batting practice session today. His fastball was in the low 90's (yes we have a BP velocity report) and he touched 95 once. The off-speed stuff showed some good movement as well. I wonder if he threw a knuckle-curve, because he has one. Gil Kubski, the O's area scout that watched Klein pitch at UCLA this year, had this scouting report on...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski

Orioles lineup

August 19, 2010, 11:50am

Orioles

Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 3B Luke Scott 1B Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Corey Patterson DH Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP

Comments

Tags:

orioles

Izturis wants to stay

August 19, 2010, 8:55am

Orioles

As the Orioles look ahead to the 2011 season, who is going to play shortstop? It's way too soon for Manny Machado and there is not a player pushing for that spot in the upper levels on the farm. Cesar Izturis told Josh Land of the Carroll County Times that he wants to remain an Oriole. Some fans will want someone there with more bat. But of all the positions on the diamond, short is one where you just can't skimp on the defense. In looking for next year's shortstop, he may already be...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles

This week in O's history

August 19, 2010, 8:10am

Orioles

This particular week in the calendar year has seen some milestones for the O's throughout the team's history. Going the farthest back and on this day in O's history, Cal Ripken Jr. passed Steve Garvey for the third-longest consecutive games streak by playing his 1,280th straight game. Cal and the O's faced the Toronto Blue Jays on August 18, 1989, and the game was otherwise unremarkable for Cal, but the shortstop would of course go on to set a new major league record by playing in 2,632...