This has not been an easy day for Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz. Today he had to tell a pitcher that has been solid for him for a few seasons, that he was going back to the minor leagues.
Kranitz and manager Dave Trembley met with Jim Johnson earlier today here at Camden Yards to tell the right-hander he was being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
"Number one, this is very hard for me, for what he has given this organization. We've asked him to close, we've asked him to go three...
The Orioles will need to remove a player from the 25-man active roster to activate Brad Bergesen to pitch here on Saturday.
A few days ago, it looked like Matt Albers could be the player going. But now he seems to be making a case to stick around.
He pitched a 1-2-3, 10th inning tonight vs. Boston and got the win, throwing 11 pitches, seven for strikes. He is now 1-3.
Albers said the pending roster move has not been something he can think about.
"You know that's one thing I wasn't...
Well, I guess when you go just 2-16 vs. a team like the Orioles did last year vs. the Red Sox, it is hard to not do better the next season.
But in 2010 the Orioles are 2-2 vs. the Red Sox and the O's have won the last two games vs. Boston, each in ten innings.
O's first four games vs. Boston:
2009: 0-4 and outscored 30-14
2010: 2-2 and each team has scored 21 runs
Friday's win ended the O's seven-game home losing streak vs. Boston.
Four to score and win: The Orioles are now 5-3 when...
On a night the Orioles bullpen gave up another lead, thanks to Miguel Tejada, the Orioles did not give up another game.
Tejada's 417-foot homer off Daniel Bard in the 8th tied the game 4-4 and his RBI single to center off Manny Delcarmen gave the Orioles the 5-4, walk-off, 10-inning win over the Red Sox.
"This is really big, not only for myself but the whole team," Tejada said. "The first day I came here I felt welcomed here. This team means a lot to me and I have a lot of respect for...
Jim Johnson entered tonight with an ERA of 6.23.
He entered allowing four of his six inherited runners to score. Suddenly, he cannot hold a lead and has become a liability pitching late in the game, maybe soon to join Matt Albers as pitchers the team just can't use anymore with the game on the line.
Tonight, frankly, he was terrible. He gave up a single to Pedroia, the first batter he faced to tie the game 3-3 in the seventh. He elevated a 2-2 pitch to J.D. Drew that he hit for a homer in...
David Hernandez is throwing well so far tonight, but he went to a full count on all four hitters he faced in the fourth, pitching carefully to the middle of the Red Sox lineup. He threw 25 pitches in the inning and is at 66 for the game.
Even though he walked two in the frame, he got a Kevin Youkilis double-play grounder to help him out.
He started well, throwing just 10 pitches in a 1-2-3 first and had just 41 pitches through three. He gave up a solo homer to J.D. Drew in the second that...
The O's have scored ten runs in David Hernandez's four starts this year and just two of those runs have scored while Hernandez is in the game.
Ty Wigginton has reached base in 14 of his last 25 plate appearances. Since beginning the year 6 for 29, Nick Markakis has 17 hits in 55 at bats (.309). He is tied for 12th in the AL in walks (14). Matt Wieters is 13th in the league with eight multi-hit games.
The Orioles have lost seven straight home games vs. Boston
O's hitters, recent...
Earlier this week, Dave Trembley talked about finding out "who wants it" in his bullpen and basically that some roles could be open to those that pitch well and grasp them.
For now, though, Jason Berken is not changing roles.
He's been valuable in long relief, going 0-0, 1.32 in six games over 13 2/3 innings. He pitched the ninth last night because he needed work. The skipper has been tempted to give Berken work later in the game, but for now, he remains in long relief.
"Yes, there has...
It's hard to believe the first month of the baseball season has already played out - which means it's time for our first 'Where in the Yard?' winner of the 2010 season.
Congrats to Jeremy from Cumberland for the sweep! Throughout the weeks in April, he racked up every point possible - plus the bonus for identifying the tougher Babe Ruth plaque to boot.
So Jeremy should look out for an email from me and his MLB gift card in the mail soon to follow.
Want an MLB gift card of your own?...
When I watched the Bowie Baysox play Thursday amidst sunshine at Prince Georges Stadium, I saw an O's top pitching prospect dealing with a rough stretch and a veteran O's minor leaguer proving once again he has a solid bat.
Last year, when Zach Britton was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year at Frederick, he gave up four runs or more just six times in 24 starts. Now he has allowed that many in three straight starts.
"Some things didn't go my way, but it's still early in the...
Even though he has yet to play one game at the Triple-A level, Paco Figueroa has been through a lot in the Orioles farm system.
A ninth-round pick out of the University of Miami in 2005, he has played for five different O's affiliates and has always shown a solid bat.
Yet injuries have slowed his career and he can't seem to get past Bowie to the top rung of the O's minors.
But he's often shown he can hit.
Figueroa, a second baseman last year, now playing mostly in right field, he is...
Wins and losses: With the 4-0 loss Thursday night, the O's lost the series, two games to one to New York and are 0-7 in series on the year.
The Orioles are now 4-18 on the season and are just 1-8 at home. They are 3-12 in games vs. the AL East and 0-10 in games where their opponent scores the first run.
No beef, runs or extra-base hits: The Orioles had just three singles and went 3 for 30 at bat in the game as the team average dropped from .247 to .241. The O's were blanked for the...
These are unusual times for O's pitching prospect Zach Britton.
Last year, on his way to becoming the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year, Britton's ERA never even went above 3.00 once.
Today, he took the loss for Bowie, 4-3 vs. Erie and is now 1-2, 4.32.
His ERA was 2.61 over his first two starts, but is now 5.52 over the last three outings.
O's prospect Zach Britton talks with the O's Xtra crew about his development
Today was a mixed bag for the 22-year-old lefty. He gave up four...
After picking up 49 hits over the previous four games, tonight the Orioles had just three singles as the Yankees beat the Birds 4-0 to win the series, two to one.
The Orioles fall to 4-18 and have now lost all seven series this year.
Winning pitcher A.J. Burnett pitched eight shutout frames and gave up just three singles. He is now 3-0, 2.43 and threw 116 pitches. He is 10-2 in his career vs. Baltimore.
Brian Matusz gave up three runs over six innings and suffered his first loss since...
The Orioles will announce a new scholarship program tonight at Camden Yards called "Swings for Scholars".
The organization is partnering with Legg Mason Global Asset Management to launch the scholarship program designed to provide full community college scholarships to qualified grads of Baltimore City Schools.
Each time O's outfielder Nick Markakis gets a hit during the 2010 season, Legg Mason Charitable Foundation Inc. will make a $200 contribution to the Swings for Scholars...
After one scoreless inning here today at Bowie and a total of just 13 pitches, Koji Uehara said he feels ready to return to the Orioles.
Koji said he has not been told by the team when he will be activated off the DL, but when asked if he is ready to pitch again in the Majors, through his interpreter, Jiwon Bang, Koji simply said "yes."
"I could have thrown more," Koji said. "It's not for me to decide (when I will be activated).
"I'm not that interested in the results, I just want...
After falling behind 4-0 in the 5th, the Baysox rally came up one run short today in a 4-3 loss to Erie before a small, but sun-splashed crowd here at Prince Georges Stadium.
After Koji Uehara pitched that scoreless first, Zach Britton came on. He gave up four runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 to fall to 1-2, 4.23.
The Baysox fall to 12-9 with the loss. After beginning the year 9-1, they are 3-8 since.
Erie, which has won six in a row, took a 4-0 lead with a three-run 5th vs. Britton that...
One of the O's top pitching prospects, Zach Britton, followed Koji to the mound today here at Bowie. He came on starting with the top of the second.
Zach Clark came on to replace Britton in the top of the seventh.
Britton today: 5 1/3IP, 6H, 4R, 1ER, 3BB, 1K. His ERA is now 4.32 through five outings.
He walked two and hit a batter in Erie's three-run fifth and a Pedro Florimon two-out error made the runs unearned.
After pitching to an ERA of 2.61 over his first two starts, Britton has...
Wearing a white number 19 Bowie Baysox jersey, Koji Uehara gave up a walk, but no runs or hits in the Erie top of the first. Koji worked fast and pitched out of the stretch throughout.
Leadoff hitter Chris White grounded out to first on an 0-2 pitch. Koji then fell behind Wilkin Ramirez 3-0, then ran the count full and walked him on the 3-2 pitch which missed outside. On a 1-1 pitch to third hitter Josh Burrus, Ramirez was thrown out stealing by catcher Phil Britton, who made a strong and...
O's pitching coach Rick Kranitz is sitting a few rows behind home plate here in Bowie and watched Koji Uehara pitch. Now he is getting an up close look at lefty Zach Britton as Erie leads Bowie 4-0 in the fifth.
Kranitz indicated it is likely Koji will make at least one more minor league appearance.
"It was a quick look. He's a strike-thrower and we are just looking for him to get his arm strength back and feel back and get some innings under his belt," Kranitz said.
I asked him if...



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