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Machado to O's almost definite now

June 07, 2010, 8:27am

Orioles

Starting this afternoon at 3:30, I'll be hosting a live radio-type podcast here at MASNSports.com. You can call in then with your comments and questions on the draft at 914-338-0105. I hope to take a lot of your calls beginning today at 3:30pm. Here is the link to listen to the radio show. It now appears just about definite that the Orioles will wind up with high school shortstop Manny Machado with the third pick in tonight's draft. ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier today that the...

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Chat live with Adam Jones at 1pm today

June 07, 2010, 4:22am

Orioles

Well, draft day is finally here. It feels like I've been writing about the draft for weeks, but it's only been about the last week. It's an important three-day stretch for the Orioles. They seem certain to get a highly-touted prospect with their first-round pick tonight, but all of their picks will be important. The Tampa Bay Rays hit big on some draft picks over the years and that helped them climb to the top of the American League East. But while fans are excited about the Orioles...

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Jordan looking for some toughness in this draft

June 06, 2010, 3:50pm

Orioles

Jordan looking for some toughness in this draft

A familiar criticism of the Orioles at times in recent years has been that there is a losing culture around the organization. They need more players that have toughness and just refuse to lose, some say. O's scouting director Joe Jordan said, in addition to talented players, he is looking for players just like that this year in the First-Year Player Draft, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Monday night. "I don't want to make a statement against anyone that's here, but what we've really tried to...

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Will the O's be thinking offense in the draft?

June 06, 2010, 7:26pm

Orioles

Will the O's be thinking offense in the draft?

Many fans are wondering if the Orioles will make a concentrated effort to add some offense in the First-Year Player Draft that begins with the first round tonight at 7 p.m. With the third overall pick in round one tonight the O's could wind up with prep pitcher Jameson Taillon or high school shortstop Manny Machado. Most draft projections have the O's taking one of those young players, which ever the Pirates don't select with the second pick. After that, there are indications the O's...

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The closer

June 07, 2010, 4:22am

Orioles

Sorry to leave the comments unattended for so long. I ended up in Canton last night and...well, I ended up in Canton. I could use a little more sleep, but I'm playing tennis in about an hour and I wanted to get the blog cranked up before I dragged my tired body onto the court. The Orioles will make their selection in tonight's First-Year Player Draft no later than 7:15 p.m. Each team is on the clock for five minutes now that MLB Network has gotten involved and we have to milk this sucker...

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Special draft day coverage

June 06, 2010, 9:50am

Orioles

Don't think I've written every draft story from my notebook yet. There is even more on the way. Later today or tonight, I'll post more thoughts on what the O's might do with the third overall pick in round one on Monday night. Check out my blog and MASNSports.com during the day Monday for updates and special coverage. Monday at 1 p.m. I'll host a special live video chat with the Orioles Adam Jones. We'll talk with Adam about many aspects of his game and his career and you will be...

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Some thoughts on the O's draft

June 06, 2010, 1:20pm

Orioles

Whether they get a player that can throw a fastball 99 miles per hour, or a shortstop that may be a five-tool talent, the Orioles figure to come out of the first round of Monday's First-Year Player Draft feeling pretty good about things. After the Nationals take Bryce Harper with the first pick as expected, the Pirates are up. Baseball America and ESPN are now projecting that Pittsburgh will select Texas prep pitcher Jameson Taillon with the second pick. Under that scenario the Orioles...

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A confident, even cocky Arrieta is okay with Allenson

June 06, 2010, 8:12am

Orioles

A confident, even cocky Arrieta is okay with Allenson

With continued speculation that Jake Arrieta could be Baltimore bound at some point soon, I went to the guy today that has been his manager at Triple-A Norfolk the last two years. That is Gary Allenson, now the O's interim third-base coach. He admits that Arrieta can be confident, even bordering on cocky at times, but says that is a good thing and that Arrieta has simply been among the best pitchers in the International League this year. "That's fine by me. Being cocky and knowing that...

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Some notes and quotes after Boston's 8-2 win

June 05, 2010, 8:47pm

Orioles

Some notes and quotes after Boston's 8-2 win

Going the wrong way: That's ten straight losses for the Orioles. They are now just 3-17 over their last 20 games. They are 10-32 over the last 42 games vs. Boston. Jeremy Guthrie said: "I had a good fastball and was able to locate it well. My slider was not that good tonight and I got away with a few mistakes. "I'm always trying to put up zeroes, it doesn't matter who the other pitcher is. That doesn't factor in. That is always a tough lineup to face, they really work the...

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Maybe this is why Arrieta only pitched two innings tonight

June 05, 2010, 6:52pm

Orioles

Maybe this is why Arrieta only pitched two innings tonight

O's manager Juan Samuel said the club was "keeping its options open" and that was why Jake Arrieta did not start, but came on in relief in tonight's Triple-A Norfolk vs. Buffalo game. But it's also possible that Arrieta's innings were limited over concern for Jeremy Guthrie, who made his 12th start of the season tonight. Don't get alarmed, I don't think we've got another injury here, but Guthrie did admit after the game that he's felt some "general soreness" lately, although he...

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Handed a chance for the win, the O's politely refused

June 05, 2010, 5:20pm

Orioles

Handed a chance for the win, the O's politely refused

It's not often a good team like the Red Sox says to the Orioles "here, take this game from us," but the Red Sox just did. The 2010 version of the Orioles said "don't bother." With Boston leading by just a 1-0 score, Jon Lester walked three straight Orioles to load the bases with one out in the seventh and Daniel Bard came on. Bard, with an ERA of 7.36 vs. the Birds this year, got pinch hitter Luke Scott to fly to shallow center and Corey Patterson hit a foul pop to third. A big blown...

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It's not bothering Guthrie tonight

June 05, 2010, 4:20pm

Orioles

Over the last nine games, the Orioles pitching staff ERA is 6.12. The Birds have scored just 14 runs in that time and you have to wonder if the lack of offense isn't finally getting to the starting pitchers, who have worked just 9 1/3 combined innings over the last three games before tonight. It must be exhausting to feel like you have to throw a shutout every night and that the game hangs in the balance on almost every pitch. We could ask Kevin Millwood about this, but he's too classy to...

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Arrieta is not starting tonight

June 05, 2010, 3:25pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta did not make tonight's start for Norfolk vs. Buffalo. I have found out he is not hurt, this has nothing to do with any injuries. Is he Baltimore bound? There is no word on any of that at this point, but he did not make tonight's start for Norfolk as scheduled. Andy Mitchell is on the mound.

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The power outage

June 05, 2010, 3:01pm

Orioles

Some of the numbers on the Orioles recent lack and season-long lack of offense. *The O's are on a pace to score 530 runs this year (3.27 per game) which would be the fewest in team history. The fewest number of runs scored by the O's during a 162-game season was 550 by the 1988 Orioles. Of course, the O's are also on pace for a record of 44-118. *The Orioles have scored just eight runs over the past seven games and just 14 runs during their nine-game losing streak. They have just 11...

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Arrieta is up tonight

June 05, 2010, 1:43pm

Orioles

Well, not in the big leagues, but he'll take the ball tonight at home for Triple-A Norfolk vs. Buffalo. Arrieta is 3-0, 0.82 over his last three starts and in 22 innings has allowed just two earned runs with 16 hits and 23 strikeouts. After his last start, he told me he felt 100 percent ready for the Majors. Arrieta leads the International League in ERA and is tied for first with 71 innings. Opponent batters have hit just .183 against him and he is fifth in the league with 62...

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Talking drafts and budgets with Jim Callis

June 04, 2010, 11:55pm

Orioles

Talking drafts and budgets with Jim Callis

Here is the final part of my series of interviews with Jim Callis of Baseball America. Today he discusses the O's drafts under Joe Jordan and the dollars the Orioles have spent on the draft. He gives Jordan solid marks for his drafts. "They've been good. I know some Baltimore fans, at least from the emails I get, are a little impatient, saying Matt Wieters isn't all he was cracked up to be and Brian Matusz is struggling. But those were two very good picks. They were guys that didn't...

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Bergy on his move to the bullpen

June 05, 2010, 12:37pm

Orioles

O's right-hander Brad Bergesen last pitched in relief during the 2008 season, once for Bowie and once for Frederick. But he will be in the bullpen tonight here at Camden Yards vs. Boston. With Orioles' starters, including Bergesen, having pitched just 9 1/3 innings combined over the last three games, Bergesen is in the pen tonight. As for how long he stays, there, the O's are not saying for certain right now. "I am going to the bullpen for tonight. I'm going to skip at least one...

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Dickerson to manage at Norfolk

June 04, 2010, 6:26am

Orioles

The Orioles will name Bobby Dickerson as interim manager of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides today, replacing Gary Allenson who is joining the Orioles staff as coach. The 44-year-old Dickerson has been serving as the O's Latin-American field co-ordinater and their minor league infielder co-ordinater. Whether he will stay as manager at Norfolk for the rest of the season has not been decided. Dickerson begins as skipper of the Tides tonight when they start an eight-game homestand vs. Buffalo. He...

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Taillon-Jordan meeting goes well (w/draft speculation)

June 03, 2010, 11:35am

Orioles

Taillon-Jordan meeting goes well (w/draft speculation)

If you've noticed, a lot of my pre-draft stories have centered around prep pitcher Jameson Taillon. Since everyone is speculating on Monday's first-round at this point, I'll add my two cents. My sense of it is that Taillon is the player the Orioles would like to get. They can get him if the Pirates pass on the 18-year-old right-hander with the second pick. If Taillon is not there, most assume the O's would then pick Miami high school shortstop Manny Machado. I think in that scenario,...

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Roberts update (w/lineups)

June 04, 2010, 12:15pm

Orioles

Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters today that second baseman Brian Roberts had a "minor setback" that prevented him from appearing in his first extended spring training game in Sarasota. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells passed along the news to Samuel. Samuel couldn't provide any other details, but he added that Roberts is scheduled to play tomorrow. For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones...