Markakis and Roberts have struggled vs. TB

Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts have combined for 69 at bats this season vs. Tampa pitching without a single homer or RBI. Markakis is batting .149 (7 for 47) in 12 games this season vs. the Rays while Robers is batting .136 (3 for 22) in six contests vs. Tampa. Some O's that have hit Tampa pitching well include: *Felix Pie at .343-1-3, going 12 for 35 with five doubles. *Luke Scott at .395-5-8, going 15 for 38 with an OPS of 1.357. *Matt Wieters at .308-1-3, going 8 for 26. *Ty Wigginton...
Orioles director of communications Greg Bader told me today that the replica Brooks Robinson jerseys originally scheduled to be given away at Oriole Park on July 17 have now arrived. A vendor error delayed the distribution of the jerseys until now, but the first 25,000 fans 15 and older who attended the July 17 game can now redeem their vouchers (in one of the three methods listed on the voucher itself) and claim their giveaways. As a reminder, if you're planning to redeem your voucher via...
Chris Tillman has been summoned from Triple-A Norfolk and will join the Orioles later tonight or tomorrow. Kevin Millwood is starting tonight, and Jeremy Guthrie goes tomorrow. Sunday's slot is being left open, and Tillman is going to fill it. He'll be working on normal rest. Everyone else in the rotation gets pushed back, bringing the expected six-man rotation. The names will likely change over the course of the month, however, as the young starters reach their innings limits. Adam...
Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Felix Pie LF Corey Patterson CF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Kevin Millwood RHP
The Orioles haven't posted their lineup yet. Still checking on the wounded. Outfielder Corey Patterson told me that he swung in the indoor cage earlier and is "good to go." He's been receiving treatment for a sore neck that restricted him to bunting duties last night.
Earlier today, when we had a live video chat in the MASNsports.com web studio with Adam Jones, I asked him about Matt Garza's comments. Garza, who pitches for Tampa vs. the Orioles tonight, sounds still stung by the game on July 20 when he gave up seven runs and four homers vs. the O's. Garza said of tonight's rematch: "I owe them a lot of payback for the type of outing I had last time against them," he said. "They had back-to-back-to-back. So I'm going to make them feel really...
The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock from the 60-Day Disabled List then optioned him to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. The club also transferred outfielder Josh Willingham to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Mock missed the last 129 games after going on the Disabled List (right cervical disk) on April 15, retroactive to April 11. The...
A few items from my conversation this morning with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who was returning from his visit to Delmarva: * MacPhail hadn't intended to add any more position players to the expanded roster, but injuries to Adam Jones and Corey Patterson could force another move. Jones (back) is expected to miss at least a few more games. Patterson (neck) was available to bunt and run last night, but nothing else. "We might have to revisit it if we think those injuries...
We love to second-guess here, and the ninth inning allowed us to work our craft. Should Corey Patterson have been sent up to pinch-hit for Nolan Reimold? Should you bunt with Cesar Izturis on deck? Should Izturis be allowed to hit in that situation? What about Josh Bell? Reporters were kicking around suggestions after the game. We basically agreed that manager Buck Showalter's options were limited, which is odd in September. Teams can expand their rosters, yet the Orioles looked like they...
Tampa Bay right-hander Matt Garza has had a lot of success vs. the Orioles, going 8-1, 3.14 in 11 career starts vs. the Birds. But on July 20th, the O's scored seven runs off him in 6 1/3 innings and hit four homers against him. That game clearly didn't sit well with Garza. Tonight, Garza starts vs. the O's at Camden Yards. He tells the St. Petersburg Times he owes the Orioles "a lot of payback" and that he's "going to make them feel really uncomfortable in the box." He went on to...
The Bowie Baysox are pushing for a playoff berth and they now hold second place in their division, and a playoff spot, by a ½ game over Harrisburg heading into their final series of the year. Bowie begins a four-game set to end the regular season at Richmond tonight. The Baysox posted huge wins the last two nights over Altoona, thanks in large part to Joel Guzman, who hit first-inning homers to jump start the offense in each of those wins. Guzman hit number 33 last night,...