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Countdown to Indy

April 12, 2010, 9:57am

Orioles

We learned one thing about Ravens rookie linebacker Paul Kruger last night: He has tight end hands. That wasn't an easy pick, and it might have saved the Ravens' season. If I'm Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, I'm pulling Hines Ward aside this morning, slamming his head with a 2-by-4 and asking whether he'll start on Sunday. The countdown to the winter meetings has officially started for me. I fly to Indianapolis on Sunday, which means I must check-in online exactly 24 hours...

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This and that

April 12, 2010, 9:56am

Orioles

New nomination for most annoying commercial: The Hillshire Farms "Go Meat!" ads. They make me want to smash out the back window of my car with a kielbasa. Sports Illustrated has named Derek Jeter as its Sportsman of the Year. He's the first Yankee to be honored since the magazine created the award in 1954. Would you feel better about the choice if he played for the Royals? Is that look on your face a product of his pinstripes? I've always respected Jeter's work ethic and the way he...

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A time for sharing

April 12, 2010, 9:55am

Orioles

I'd like to step outside the MLB rumor mill for a few seconds and point out that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim voted a full postseason share to the estate of Nick Adenhart, the rookie pitcher who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in April. A press release from MLB reported that a full share for the champion New York Yankees totaled a record $365,052.73, while the runner-up Philadelphia Phillies received $265,357.50. The value of each full share for the Angels came to...

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One fewer in front office?

April 12, 2010, 9:54am

Orioles

FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, via Twitter, is reporting that Orioles special assistant Wayne Krivsky has accepted a job with the New York Mets. Says so right here. The Orioles haven't made an announcement and I'm trying to get confirmation at this late hour. Rosenthal doesn't include a new job title for Krivsky, the former Cincinnati Reds GM who joined the Orioles in November 2008. Update: It's apparently true (not that I ever doubted Rosenthal). Look for the Mets to make it official,...

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Stats, stats and more stats

April 12, 2010, 9:22am

Orioles

The O's team ERA is 4.13 right now, a season best. They have allowed just 5 ER the last two games. The O's starters' ERA is 3.89 and O's starters have allowed 2 ER or less four times already. The Orioles have three quality starts. Last year they didn't pick up their third quality start until game 12. The team ERA after six games last year was 5.67. There's been good pitching on the farm too. The team ERA's. 3.00 - at Norfolk, 4th in the International League 2.91 - at Bowie, 4th...

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Millwood comments on his outing

April 11, 2010, 12:54pm

Orioles

David Hernandez gave up two runs Saturday and lost the game. Today, Kevin Millwood allowed just one earned run and took the loss vs. Toronto. "I felt good, still felt strong in the eighth. Just got a couple of balls up that they put good swings on." Millwood said the two-out, Miguel Tejada error in the Toronto 8th that was followed by his yielding back-to-back homers did not impact him. "No, not at all. We're going to make errors, that's just how it is. Sometimes you have to pick...

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Tejada talks about his error in the 8th

April 11, 2010, 12:32pm

Orioles

When a team is going bad sometimes it looks like every mistake they make will cost them. Today, the Orioles first error of the year led to three unearned runs in the 8th that propelled Toronto to a 5-2 win. No one felt worse than third baseman Miguel Tejada when, with two outs in the 8th, a John McDonald grounder to his left took a tricky hop at the last moment and went for an error. Back-to-back homers vs. Kevin Millwood followed and the Jays came from 2-1 behind to lead 4-2. "I wish I...

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Just amazing (updated)

April 11, 2010, 11:32am

Orioles

It's sunny today, except for the dark cloud that must be hanging over the Orioles. Kevin Millwood, pitching a gem, gets a two-out grounder to third in the 8th. The ball takes a bad hop for an error on Miguel Tejada. Three pitches later, Jose Bautista hits a 356-foot homer to left to give Toronto a 3-2 lead. One batter later, Alex Gonzalez hit his second solo shot of the day for a 4-2 edge. The two-out error makes the three runs off him in the 8th unearned. He gave up one earned run today...

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Big night of offense at Triple-A

April 11, 2010, 6:41am

Orioles

While the Orioles are struggling to hit with runners in scoring position, their Triple-A team in Norfollk had no problem doing that Saturday in a 12-3 romp over Durham. The Tides went 9 for 16 with RISP and left just four men on base. Brandon Snyder had three hits with three RBI and has knocked in five runs the past two games. Robert Andino, in his first game with the Tides, went 2 for 3 with three RBI and Josh Bell had three hits. Snyder is batting .363 and Bell is at .333. Troy Patton is...

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The Wieters factor (plus minors note)

April 11, 2010, 10:39am

Orioles

It's becoming clear that Matt Wieters is much more comfortable behind the plate this year and is doing his job, as a catcher, of taking charge of the pitching staff. Dave Trembley discussed Wieters during his pre-game press briefing today. "There is not too much shaking (off) going on out there," he said. That means Wieters is putting down a sign for the pitch and his pitchers are trusting what he calls. It's still a little different with Kevin Millwood. He's been around long enough...

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MacPhail on Roberts & Gonzalez

April 11, 2010, 8:45am

Orioles

In a brief conversation a few minutes ago, O's president Andy MacPhail sounded like a man about to make a roster move that could send Brian Roberts to the disabled list officially later today. "If we err, we'll err on the conservative side. Also, in the not too distant future we're going to hop on a plane from Baltimore to Oakland and from Oakland to Seattle and on to Boston. We are crossing the country twice, so that will play into our decision as well." MacPhail doesn't believe...

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Welcome home O's

April 09, 2010, 12:13pm

Orioles

The home opener has brought a new energy to Baltimore. Fans are excited; there's orange and black everywhere; and the sounds of baseball are echoing through the Yard once more. Welcomes were mostly warm for this O's squad, and the enthusiasm for young Orioles like Matt Wieters and Brian Matusz showed how energized the fan base is with the emergence of so much potential in the Orioles' youth. And though the Orange Carpet has already been rolled up for another season, things are underway at...

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Post-game notes: O's blanked by the Jays

April 10, 2010, 6:40pm

Orioles

Post-game notes: O's blanked by the Jays

Blanked: Last year, the Orioles were shutout ten times. Tonight, they were blanked for the first time in 2010 on six hits by Toronto, 3-0. They went just 6 for 30 at bat, with five singles and one double to drop the team batting average on the year from .237 to .231. The O's went hitless, 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and are batting just .174 (8 for 46) with RISP on the season. Tonight, they got just one runner past first base after the fourth inning. Last year, the O's...

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O's offense shoots blanks at the Yard

April 10, 2010, 5:32pm

Orioles

The only thing that needed saving at Camden Yards tonight was the Orioles offense. Toronto lefty Dana Eveland, who had an ERA of 7.16 last year with Oakland, pitched 7 1/3 scoreless frames tonight to lead the Jays to the 3-0 win. The O's fall to 1-4. Eveland allowed just five hits in winning his debut game as the Jays new fifth starter. The Orioles got the leadoff man on in three of the first four frames, but could never get him in. Eveland has done this to the Orioles before. On May 5,...

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Updating RISP

April 10, 2010, 4:21pm

Orioles

The O's just had a chance to get on the board vs. Toronto, but three straight hitters were retired with runners on first and second and none out in the last of the fourth. After a Nick Markakis walk and Miguel Tejada infield single, Garrett Atkins flied to short right. Then Matt Wieters hit a fly out to deep center and the runners moved up one base. But with two outs and second and third, Nolan Reimold was called out on strikes on a close pitch down and in. On the year, the Orioles are now...

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Working the (pitch) count

April 10, 2010, 3:56pm

Orioles

Is it just me or does it seem like every O's starter exits the first inning of his outings with a high pitch count? David Hernandez needed 19 pitches while allowing a double and walk tonight in a shutout first frame. But he regrouped to get three quick outs in the second on seven pitches and faced four batters, needing 18 pitches in the third. Hernandez is at 44 pitches through three innings. That's a good number. If you can go through each inning on the average of 15 or less you would...

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Trembley not concerned about impact on the clubhouse

April 10, 2010, 12:51pm

Orioles

Trembley not concerned about impact on the clubhouse

Dave Trembley sure has concerns about closer Mike Gonzalez and his two blown saves to start the year. But he said he is not concerned that Gonzalez's blown saves will impact in a negative way a clubhouse that features young players and a young pitching staff. "We have a clubhouse that is above expectations as far as guys backing each other up, sticking together as a team and understanding the big picture and what it's all about," Trembley said. "Izturis, Tejada, Markakis, Jones, I...

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Orioles lineup

April 10, 2010, 11:36am

Orioles

Julio Lugo 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Garrett Atkins DH Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Ty Wigginton 1B Cesar Izturis SS David Hernandez RHP Brian Roberts is listed among the reserves.

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orioles

Too early for a crisis?

April 10, 2010, 7:02am

Orioles

The Orioles are just four games into the 2010 season and already they face a major crisis. Can Dave Trembley, or any manager for that matter, change closers before his team completes one turn through the rotation? Can you do it with someone that signed a two-year, 12 million dollar contract? First of all, don't blame Trembley for putting his closer in to close. Yankee and Red Sox managers do it all the time. The facts are that twice Mike Gonzalez came in to protect a one-run lead. He has...

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The day after for Gonzo

April 09, 2010, 9:58am

Orioles

New O's closer Mike Gonzalez looked pretty relaxed at his locker just a few minutes ago. He handled his interview with a group of reporters probably better than his first two save chances. Just like the fans, he was relieved when Ben Zobrist's fly ball settled into Nick Markakisis' glove last night to end a shaky bottom of the ninth. Mike Gonzalez talks with the media about his two appearances this season "It's definitely a monkey off my back and a good feeling to be able finish the...