Syracuse Chiefs and former University of Maryland center fielder Justin Maxwell has been on a tear hitting the ball well at the Triple-A level. Last week, during a 7-game span, Maxwell went 8 for 27 (.296) with two doubles, two homers, three RBI and five runs scored. With 53 hits, he is averaging a hit per game for Syracuse.
He is batting .282 with 5 homers and 16 RBI in 53 minor league games this season and is benefiting from playing every day in center field.
I asked Maxwell if he had...
The Orioles have tripled in four straight games, with Felix Pie producing the latest one tonight.
Pie collected the Orioles' second hit, and we just completed the top of the fifth. Tigers starter Max Scherzer has been tying them in knots.
Pie lined the ball into the right field corner with two outs in the fifth and motored into third base. He dived into the bag, stood up and pointed to the heavens.
No injury.
That's about as good as it gets for the Orioles, who are losing, 2-0,
Josh...
Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer has thrown some overpowering fastballs in the mid to high 90's early in tonight's game with the Orioles.
He fanned four of the first six batters tonight and six of the first ten he faced. He has thrown just 50 pitches through four innings and has given up just one hit, a Nick Markakis infield single in the fourth.
How can a pitcher with an ERA of 4.88 be so strong?
Well, he was a first-round draft pick of the Diamondbacks from 2006, the 11th overall pick. ...
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann gets his second rehab start of the summer for the Potomac Nationals at the Frederick Keys Thursday afternoon at 12 noon from Harry Grove Stadium.
Zimmermann is expecting to pitch three innings as he makes gradual steps to returning to the majors since Tommy John surgery repaired his right elbow in August of last season.
He hurled two scoreless innings Saturday for Potomac in their victory over Wilmington, allowing two hits, no runs and no walks. He...
The Orioles' bullpen has fallen into a collective slump.
The club's relievers have worked 10 2/3 innings in the last two games and allowed 13 earned runs and 19 hits, with seven walks and 13 strikeouts. In the 10 previous games, the bullpen had surrendered nine earned runs in 32 2/3 innings for a 2.48 ERA.
Brad Bergesen could do the Orioles a huge favor and pitch deep into tonight's game.
Julio Lugo has recorded consecutive three-hit games for the second time this season. The last Oriole...
Brian Roberts has certainly not given up hope that he will be on the field for the Orioles before this season ends.
In fact he hopes to return to the club long before the season is over.
"I'll definitely be back before the end of the year, if we don't have any setbacks. Well way before the end of the year," Roberts said today on the Scott Garceau show on MASN and O's flagship station, 105.7 the Fan during his MASN Brian Roberts segment.
"My goal would be to be back before August 1st...
A few weeks ago, O's fans were wondering if Brian's Baseball Bash was still on for the summer of 2010. I assured you here in the Orioles Buzz that the Bash was still happening, but now I can even do you one better.
The floor is now open for sponsorship opportunities and individual ticket sales for this year's Brian's Baseball Bash.
Just as a refresher, this year's Bash is scheduled for Sunday, August 22 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Dave & Buster's at the Arundel Mills Mall.
If...
Nolan Reimold hit his fifth home run today as part of Triple-A Norfolk's six-run seventh inning, and the Tides have taken an 8-2 lead over Gwinnett.
Reimold, starting again at first base, is 1-for-3 with two RBIs. He's batting .209.
Rhyne Hughes has two more hits, leaving his average at .279. Robert Andino is 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Matt Angle is 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
Left-hander Troy Patton has allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, with no walks and three strikeouts....
Felix Pie is hitting .385, but the Orioles have lost all nine games that he's played.
Don't blame Pie. It's not entirely his fault.
I checked on him an hour ago and he's feeling fine after making his first start with the Orioles since April 15. No shoulder or back pain. It must be behind him, so to speak.
"I still feel good," he said. "Before we played here, I played a couple more (rehab) games and I'm conditioned. I'm ready."
Pie had two hits and an RBI last night.
"I'm not...
We've discussed the Orioles' failings with runners in scoring position.
I just hope they can get some runners on base tonight.
Tigers starter Max Scherzer has allowed two earned runs and struck out 23 in his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, and he's won his last four starts at home.
Scherzer struck out 14 batters in 5 2/3 innings in a May 30 start against Oakland. That's 14 of his 17 outs coming on strikeouts. Nice percentage.
The current Orioles are a combined 2-for-10...