orioles

Brian Matusz questions and answers

March 26, 2010, 5:32am

Orioles

So Brian Matusz gave up three runs. That matched the total runs he had given up in his three previous outings. They said he didn't have his best stuff, yet Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday went a combined 0-for-6 against him. All pitchers should struggle so. With a 3.10 spring ERA and 19 strikeouts to three walks in 20 1/3 exhibition innings, the kid is playing to rave reviews throughout Florida. Will fans get carried away with their expectations for the lefty? Am I Polish? Yes and yes. ...

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Saturday baseball: O's at Chicago

April 04, 2010, 5:19pm

Orioles

Game Preview Orioles (50-72) at Chicago White Sox (62-60) Led by a Brian Roberts home run binge, the Orioles have now won back-to-back games on their current road trip and could win their first series since the All-Star break with a victory tonight. Roberts hit his 4th career Grand Slam, leading the O's past Tampa on Thursday. Last night he homered twice as the O's beat Chicago 5-1 in the opener of a three-game series. Over the last three games, Roberts is 6 for 14 with four homers and 8...

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Next for Hobgood: Delmarva

April 04, 2010, 3:24pm

Orioles

Right-hander Matt Hobgood reported to the O's minor league camp several weeks early this year and his goal was to make the Delmarva starting rotation this season. Mission accomplished. The 19-year-old that the O's selected with the fifth pick in round one of the draft last June, will head north this weekend with the rest of the Shorebirds. "I'm really excited about my first year of long season ball," Hobgood said. "We should have a really young team and I'd like to think a lot of us...

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Will there be another change for Rowell?

April 03, 2010, 2:38pm

Orioles

Will there be another change for Rowell?

The Orioles are not confirming anything yet, but it appears there have been internal discussions about moving Billy Rowell from outfield back to the infield. Rowell, who played third base his first three seasons in the organization, played right field last year for the Class-A Frederick Keys. The 21-year-old Rowell struggled at bat the last two years with Frederick, but also had a tough time last season adjusting to right field. The O's 2006 first-round draft pick, he made 15 errors with a...

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Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

April 02, 2010, 6:40pm

Orioles

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

The Orioles have not yet announced their pitching rotations for three of their four full-season minor league clubs. But at this point, it's worth taking an educated guess at what we might see on the mound starting next Thursday. A few days ago, O's skipper Dave Trembley told reporters that Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton and Alfredo Simon would begin the year in the Norfolk Triple-A rotation. The order of the rotation has not been announced. Here are some guesses at...

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Where do you stand on "the plan"?

April 01, 2010, 12:47pm

Orioles

Fans have asked about the Orioles moving forward - what is "the plan"? It's not something that is written on paper. The O's don't have a mission statement like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire (remember, that was not a memo). The proof is in their actions. They have drafted pitchers. And then drafted more pitchers in recent years. They are trying to acquire young position player talent that can stick around awhile. They are not chasing big-money free agents right now, much...

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If you are watching or listening to today's game......

March 31, 2010, 11:01am

Orioles

If you are watching or listening to today's game......

.......why not send in a comment or question to me while you are tuned in. I'll be watching today's game from home here in beautiful Harford County. While you are tuned in and also keeping up with all of Roch's great reporting from the game itself, feel free to send me a comment as well. We've gotten a lot of interesting comments today on my blog about Guthrie & Tillman. Feel free to keep the comments coming there or you can write them here now as well. (No need to repeat what you...

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steve melewski orioles

Mounting concern over Guthrie

March 31, 2010, 11:00am

Orioles

When Robinson Cano launched that 3-1 pitch over the fence Monday night, you could almost feel Orioles fans confidence in Jeremy Guthrie drop another notch. He has not done much this spring to provide fans with hope that he will have a bounce back season. But I do think the concern, some would say panic, over Guthrie's struggles, is a little over the top. *Why is he being handed a starting rotation spot? That is the question from some fans. He does have a track record of success, two years...

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Next challenge for Waring: Eastern League pitchers

March 31, 2010, 10:59am

Orioles

Next challenge for Waring: Eastern League pitchers

So after being named Carolina League MVP last year while also winning the Brooks Robinson award as the O's Minor League Player of the Year, what will Brandon Waring do this season for an encore? In his second year in the O's organization he'll move up to Double-A Bowie and tangle with Eastern League pitching. "This year will be the most challenging year yet," the 24-year-old Waring said. "The pitchers are more refined, they have a plan and can throw all their pitches for strikes. I'm...

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Some pitching and some hoops

March 31, 2010, 10:58am

Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie seems to be one pitcher that many fans feel is in for another poor year. Some reporters are questioning his confidence. Some don't even feel he should begin the year in the rotation. I am not in that camp. He showed me enough in 2007 and 2008 and I am not yet overly concerned about his spring performance. Only 15 pitchers in the AL worked more innings than Guthrie last season and that should count for something. His 5.04 ERA came down some in the second half when he...

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Plenty of reasons to watch the minors

March 31, 2010, 10:55am

Orioles

While the Orioles are closing in on another opening day, so are their four full-season farm teams: the Norfolk Tides, the Bowie Baysox, the Frederick Keys and the Delmarva Shorebirds. With the parent club rebuilding around youth and pitching, there will be plenty of reasons to follow the O's minor leaguers this year. Bowie - Early on, this may be the most interesting team to track. The rotation could feature top pitching prospect Zach Britton along with Steve Johnson, Chorye Spoone and...

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Not everyone is on the Bergesen bandwagon

March 26, 2010, 5:31am

Orioles

Not everyone is on the Bergesen bandwagon

Whether he's getting hit with batted balls or getting sore after shooting a commercial, maybe nothing can stop Brad Bergesen from his mission to become a solid Major League pitcher. Throughout his career Bergesen has heard the critics - he doesn't throw hard enough, he doesn't strikeout enough hitters, he's just not a top prospect. Click here for a recent Fangraphs article where the author seems to want to convince himself that Bergesen is a decent pitcher, but just can't. In fairness...

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David Stockstill comments on his new role

March 26, 2010, 12:50pm

Orioles

The Orioles announced today that David Stockstill will officially begin in his new position as the club's director of international scouting on April 5th. Stockstill, who has headed up the O's minor league operations since November of 2004, is in Florida now and will remain there through early April to help setup the club's minor league rosters. In his new role, David will oversee all the club's international operations, including scouting in the Far East, Latin America and beyond. He...

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Luke Scott's spot in the order

April 06, 2010, 9:39am

Orioles

As expected, Luke Scott is batting fifth tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields. The lowest that he figured to drop was sixth behind catcher Matt Wieters, but fifth seemed to be his most likely destination. I had an interesting conversation with Scott earlier this spring - and most of them are interesting because the talk often shifts away from baseball - about his placement in the lineup. He actually suggested that he would make an ideal No. 2 hitter. Scott has accumulated...

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For Rowell: Back to the dirt

April 06, 2010, 9:55am

Orioles

Billy Rowell is changing positions again. He's moving back to the infield and back to third base. Also, Rowell will begin this year with the Class-A Frederick Keys instead of playing for Bowie as some had speculated he might. Rowell, the Orioles first-round pick in June of 2006, played in right field at Frederick last year. In his first three seasons in the organization he played at third base. "I feel like this is a good plan. The new farm director John Stockstill has a plan for me in...

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Steve's official predictions for the 2010 season (plus a Rowell update)

April 06, 2010, 9:52am

Orioles

Steve's official predictions for the 2010 season (plus a Rowell update)

Billy Rowell update - I spoke with Billy Rowell tonight and he confirmed that he is moving back to the infield and will start this season with Class-A Frederick. The 21-year-old Rowell is moving back to third base, a position he played from 2006 through 2008 in his first three years in the organization. He played right field at Frederick last year. He may spend some time in the DH role early in the year as he re-adjusts to infield play. Rowell played outfield for the most part in spring...

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Aubrey staying

April 06, 2010, 9:48am

Orioles

Michael Aubrey has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Aubrey didn't get into many games this spring because of a minor medical procedure on his back and a groin injury suffered while running the bases in Tampa. He eventually was sent to the minor league camp without giving himself a real chance to crack the 25-man roster. It was a long shot to begin with, but he didn't even go down swinging. Now it's up to Norfolk manager Gary Allenson to find at-bats for...

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orioles

We can work it out

April 06, 2010, 9:48am

Orioles

Manager Dave Trembley met with reporters a few minutes ago and indicated that he'll reveal his opening lineup after the workout. That's what happens when you ask nicely. If Nolan Reimold plays first base this season, it will happen "way down the road," according to Trembley. "We're just kicking the tires on that," he said, adding that first base would be another way to get Reimold's bat in the lineup. It also shows how much Felix Pie has progressed in the eyes of the...

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Getting Miggi with it

April 06, 2010, 9:46am

Orioles

Craig Tatum is taking throws at first base. Should I read anything into that? Kidding. Miguel Tejada said he's become a lot more comfortable at third base since the start of spring training. "That first game, the intrasquad game that we played, I felt a little bit different," he said. "Now I feel like I'm ready to go." Tejada heated up at the plate over the final weeks of camp, as we expected him to do, and raised his average to .274. All of a sudden, the ball's exploding off his...

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orioles

Making their pitch (updated)

April 06, 2010, 9:43am

Orioles

Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell will throw out the ceremonial first pitches before Friday's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1970 World Series championship. Having Brooks and Boog together on Friday is a wonderful and appropriate gesture. Boog was the American League's MVP. Brooks was the Series MVP. Perfect. Gates open at noon. The Orioles will take batting practice from 12:25 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. The Blue Jays will take BP...