Tough night on the farm (also O's update)

Tough night on the farm (also O's update)
The excellent pitching to start the year by O's minor league clubs came to a halt tonight as Norfolk allowed 14 runs and Delmarva gave up 15. Durham had 20 hits in a 14-7 win over the Tides, who fall to 4-5. Norfolk starter Troy Patton lasted just one-third of an inning and 28 pitches. He gave up six hits and six runs, including two homers. Norfolk began the night with an ERA this year of 2.97 by its starters. Rhyne Hughes had a triple in four at bats to extend his batting streak to eight...

Even more on the RISP stat

Even more on the RISP stat
Any O's fan could probably recite the numbers. The Orioles are hitting just .135 this year (10 for 74) when batting with runners in scoring position. They are hitting just .028 (1 for 36) with runners in scoring positon and two outs. Here's the RISP stat breakdown by game and player: Game 1 at TB: 1 for 12, 10 left on base Game 2 at TB: 2 for 9, 7 left on base Game 3 at TB: 3 for 11, 8 left on base Game 4 vs. Tor: 2 for 8, 7 left on base Game 5 vs. Tor: 0 for 6, 7 left on base Game 6...

Checking in on the minors

Checking in on the minors
The Orioles four minor league affiliates are off to a combined 21 and 10 start. That is tied with Cleveland for the best combined minor league record in baseball right now. Norfolk: The Tides are 4-4 and have scored 15 runs in winning two in a row. Troy Patton pitches tonight at Durham. Josh Bell is hitting .214 and Brandon Snyder is at .200. Rhyne Hughes is 10 for 25 during a seven-game hitting streak. He's batting .400, 4th best in the league. Norfolk starters ERA is 2.97. Tides...

Breaking it down with Bergesen

Breaking it down with Bergesen
I recently had a chance to sit down with right-hander Brad Bergesen to talk about how his experiences from last season have translated to the mound this year and how looking back at a poor outing can help prepare Brad for his next start. We also touched on the overall success of the O's starting rotation, despite the team's struggles so far this season. Finally, watch the interview with Bergesen below to hear how the young Oriole knows which pitches will work best for him from one outing...

The passing of a great Oriole

The passing of a great Oriole
Mike Cuellar, one of the greatest pitchers in Orioles history, died today in Orlando, Florida. The Cuba-born Cuellar, who won 143 games with the Birds, was 72. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Cuellar had been in failing health since January and was dealing with the effects of a brain aneurism and stomach cancer. Cuellar was a mainstay in the Orioles rotation during some of the club's glory years and pitched in three straight World Series from 1969 to 1971. He was nicknamed "Crazy...

T-Shirt Tuesdays: Who should be featured?

T-Shirt Tuesdays: Who should be featured?
The Orioles honored catcher Matt Wieters last night with the first T-Shirt Tuesday of the 2010 season. I have a feeling most O's fans were pleased with the choice in Wieters for the first round of T-Shirt Tuesdays, and more than 13,000 fans turned out to pick up their Wieters tees. But if you take a look at the O's Promotions schedule, you'll see that there are five more T-Shirt Tuesdays coming up this season. You'll also notice that none of the remaining names have been...

Post-game notes: O's fall at Oakland to start road trip

Post-game notes:  O's fall at Oakland to start road trip
Wins and losses: With the 6-2 loss at Oakland, the Orioles fell to 1 and 9 with seven losses in a row. The Orioles, off to their worst start since 1988, have the worst record in the Majors. They fall to 1-3 on the road and have not won since the third game of the year. The Orioles have now lost seven straight at Oakland and have not won there since July 22, 2007. The Orioles are 1-11 in their last 12 vs. the A's. Oakland is 66-28 vs. the O's since the start of the 1999 season. The O's...

Let's chat during tonight's game

Let's chat during tonight's game
So here we go again with another Orioles game. Time to find out if the team can get a lead, get a clutch hit, hold a lead, get a win. It's the start of a three-city, ten-game road trip in Oakland. I'll be watching the game from the Melewski estate in beautiful Harford County. I hope you'll add some comments to this blog all night long and into tomorrow morning. Write in with a question or comment - your take on the game as it's going on, a story about going to O's games, tell us where...

Hernandez excited to pitch tonight close to home

Hernandez excited to pitch tonight close to home
O's right-hander David Hernandez has been looking forward to tonight's start at Oakland. And, not just to build on his first start last week, a solid outing vs. Toronto. But, because Hernandez will be pitching in his home state in front of quite a few family and friends. He's from Sacramento, which is about 90 minutes from Oakland. Hernandez should also get some time to see his infant son. His wife Rachel gave birth to their first child, Jayden Joseph in January. "I'll probably need...

Today's minor league roster moves (Sarfate to DL)

Today's minor league roster moves (Sarfate to DL)
There have been a few moves today on the farm. Triple-A Norfolk: Kam Mickolio officially sent to the Orioles. Also today, RHP Dennis Sarfate has been placed on the DL. As Roch first reported yesterday, he suffered a strained oblique Wednesday while warming up. Sarfate had pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts for the Tides. Norfolk has added pitchers Jim Miller and Armando Gabino from Bowie. Double A Bowie: Added pitcher Zach Clark from Aberdeen's roster. Single A...

The most telling stat of the 2010 season

The most telling stat of the 2010 season
Of all the stats, most of them negative, compiled already by the 2010 Orioles, here is maybe the most telling one of all. O's record when leading after 7 innings: 2009: 52-5 2010: 1-4 So, last year, when they held the lead after seven, they won the game 91 percent of the time. This year that number is just 20 percent. Last year, they blew five such leads all year. This year, they have blown four in just nine games. If that number were 4-1 instead of 1-4, their record would be 4-5...

An impressive night on the farm: Three shutouts

An impressive night on the farm:  Three shutouts
The excellent pitching we've seen from Orioles minor leaguers so far this season continued in a stunning way on Wednesday afternoon and evening. All four O's affiliates won, three via a shutout. The four starting pitchers combined to pitch 23 scoreless innings. The O's four clubs are off to a combined 18-9 start. Jake Arrieta started for Norfolk in a 9-0 win over Charlotte. Steve Johnson started for Bowie in a 1-0, 12-inning win over Harrisburg. Rick Zagone was on the hill for...

Post-game notes: A winless homestand

Post-game notes:  A winless homestand
Blown out: Today's 9-1 loss was the most lopsided of the year. The previous biggest margin of defeat was the four-run loss, 5-1 to Tampa on Monday. The Orioles completed a winless first homestand, going 0 and 6. They were outscored 37 to 16 during the six losses vs. Toronto and Tampa. Tampa outscored the Birds 22-8 during the three-game sweep. The 1-8 start is the worst since the 0-21 start in 1988. Tampa Bay is 5-1 vs. the O's on the season. Today's win evened the all-time series...

The dropped popup and Bergy quotes

The dropped popup and Bergy quotes
Any Orioles' mistake seems to be costly these days. In the first inning Wednesday, Tampa's Carl Crawford, batting second with one out, hit a popup on the infield. It was right near Cesar Izturis at short. But he never saw the ball. Miguel Tejada, playing third base, thought he heard Izturis calling to make the play. Tejada came over at the last moment and the ball popped out of his glove for an error. Of course, a few batters later Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and all three runs...

So it ends

So it ends
For the Orioles a winless first homestand. At least today there was no late-inning, gut-wrenching loss. The drama ended early. It was 6-0 after three and 8-0 after Tampa batted in the fourth. The final was 9-1, Rays. Brad Bergesen got rocked for eight runs in three innings plus. Mike Gonzalez went on the disabled list. The Orioles went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. They weren't exactly all over the bases today. They were outscored 37 to 15 during the 0-6 homestand and...

Bergy getting rocked (updated w-stats)

Bergy getting rocked (updated w-stats)
Brad Bergesen is getting hit hard early today by the Rays, who already lead 6-0 in the third. He has allowed a pair of 400-foot, three-run homers, one to Carlos Pena and one to B.J. Upton. Pena has hit two three-run homers in his last two at bats here in less than 24 hours. Pena's first-inning three-run homer produced three unearned runs after Miguel Tejada dropped a pop up. Through three frames, Bergesen has allowed six runs on five hits. The Rays are 5 for 15 against him with four...

But on the farm

But on the farm
Since today's game has started so well here today, let's check the minors where two O's affiliates have day games. Delmarva has already beaten Greensboro 9-4 in a game that began at 10:35. The Shorebirds are now 5-2 and had 11 hits. They've had ten or more hits in six games. Towson University product Gary Helmick hit two homers with 5 RBI today and Tyler Kolodny added a two-run shot. Jake Cowan, last year's 10th-round pick, pitched six innings of shuout ball to go to 1 and 0. He...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
No matter the result in the win-loss column, did you enjoy the Orioles' home opener at Camden Yards last Friday? Was it at least good to be back in the Yard again? - That one has to be a yes. In any case, with all of you back at Oriole Park for games again, we'll find out soon if it's harder to stump you here in the Orioles Buzz for our weekly 'Where in the Yard?' This week's image is another that requires you to know your way around Oriole Park, as it's pretty obvious I've taken you...

Do the O's take enough pitches?

Do the O's take enough pitches?
If you think the Orioles are not taking enough pitches and working the count well right now, you are probably right. As of yesterday, the Orioles as a team saw 3.63 pitches per plate appearance and that ranked next to last in the Majors. They were ahead of only San Francisco at 3.56. Dave Trembley felt the stat gets played up more because the club is losing. He said today he felt the team was doing a better job working the count earlier in games, but was more aggressive at the bat later...

From bad to worse

From bad to worse
Here is the problem with Orioles baseball right now. You have to play the eighth inning. The Orioles have allowed 11 runs in the 8th this year and from that inning on have been outscored 21 to 5 on the season. That's terrible, right? Who is to blame? Just about everyone. Take a few starters out of the mix, maybe Matt Wieters, but just about everyone else in the clubhouse has had a hand in a 1 and 7 start. The fans are lashing out. Some of the comments we've gotten have never been...