Orioles lineup (with pitchers added)
The independent York Revolution has signed former Orioles pitcher Matt Riley, the once-troubled phenom who's trying to make a comeback after being out of baseball last year. Says so right here.
Riley has blown out his elbow three times. He underwent two ligament-reconstructive procedures and reportedly tried experimental prolotherapy injections in 2006 to avoid a third surgery.
Hasn't everyone?
Riley was one of my favorite players to cover, but mostly because he was willing to address any delicate subject, like injuries and arrests, that derailed his career. He was a fascinating subject in a way. He also was probably the least popular player in the clubhouse in spring training because of his cocky attitude and late arrivals, which drew fines from management and cold stares from veterans like B.J Surhoff and Will Clark. They had no time for disrespectful conduct, especially coming from a bleach-blonde rookie with vanity license plates promoting his 14K arm.
You know what they say about million-dollar arms and 10-cent heads.
Good luck, Matt. Make it count this time.
Here's the Orioles' lineup:
Nolan Reimold DH
Robert Andino 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott LF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Josh Bell 3B
Jeff Salazar CF
Chad Moeller C
Pedro Florimon SS
Kevin Millwood RHP
RIP Merlin Olsen
Brian Matusz will start Saturday for the Orioles, followed by Kam Mickolio, Mark Hendrickon and Wilfrido Perez.
Jason Berken, Chris Tillman, Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara pitch in Sunday's regular game. Jake Arrieta, Troy Patton, Brandon Erbe, Chorye Spoone and Luis Lebron pitch in the B-squad game.
Monday's list includes Brad Bergesen, David Hernandez and Hendrickson. Tuesday's list includes Millwood, Uehara and Johnson.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey Roch! How does the weather look for tonight's game? I have been checking different weather sites on the internet and the weather does not look good at all for tonight's game. I sure hope they get the game in so the players can stay on their schedules.
Andrew,
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They're going to get rain, but it might hold off until around 8 p.m. - Roch
Hey roch this is my first time posting when during the day i read your blogs daily but at night after work i have one of those lone days off.
Keep up the great work bud i really enjoy reading your blogs
Neil
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Thanks Neil. I appreciate it. - Roch
Reimold, what are you doing up there man?
Trembley better figure out how to get Roberts BACK. Reimold at leadoff? This is a glaring weakness.
Roch,
Is this Bell's first start at 3rd?
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I don't have a scorebook handy, but I'm almost positive it is. - Roch
Roch,
Since Reimold's ankle is still recovering and Luke Scott has voiced his preference to play the field, is there a likelihood that Reimold sees significant time as the DH early in the season? Luke is a better LF than he gets credit for, I think. Seems like that arrangement would solve two problems, albeit temporarily.
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Reimold can't be the DH on a regular basis if Scott's still on the roster. - Roch
Crazy Matt Riley...I like Garrett Atkins..I want him to break out all year..good to see Reimold too...Bell needs to have a better game then Tuesday...Markakis back too...and Milwood should do better....I heard about Merlin Olsen...he was great...not that old either..69...shame...hope the weather holds out for the game...sure is windy.
Roch:
When are we going to start, at least occassionally, seeing what would look like our real starting line up?
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Not for a while. Too early for that. - Roch
Hang in there Luke (he is getting a start at LF today). From an emotional standpoint, I hope that we don't trade Luke. He's one of my favorite players, and seems like a genuinely good guy.
I'm sad about Merlin Olsen. I was too young to remember him playing football, but loved watching him on "Little House on the Prairie" when I was a kid, and of course those FTD flower commercials. He seemed to gentle to play football.
Joe
Reimold in the leadoff spot?
Nice to see Luke gets his way when he moans enough.
Matt is a good guy if you know him. He just came off the wrong way I guess when he was young. He has a wife and a family and has been putting alot of effort in getting back on the field. Cut the dude a break....
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I do know him, and i agree. He was one of my favorites and I feel bad that his career stalled. The Orioles rushed him and he wasn't mature enough to handle it. Both sides have to take responsibility. If you read the interview, he says that he was too cocky. I'm sure he's matured. Too bad his elbow gave out. He had a world of talent. - Roch
Reimold is just getting his at bats folks; don't read into too much.
relax, it is still march and Roch is avoiding the tornado watches on the east coast of FL. See this good omen??
Roch
I just don't believe the O's plan to head north with both Ty & Luke. Have you heard any rumors about either? Your mention of it in your response to Bonzi above raises some doubt about Luke.
Reimold can't be the DH on a regular basis if Scott's still on the roster. - Roch
Why not? If it gives him a chance to heal up a little more, what does it hurt?
Hey Roch - Great work. Why isn't Brandon Snyder getting a lot of PT?
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He's gotten into five games. They're trying to give Atkins as much time at first as they can and still play other guys, too. - Roch
Hi Roch-Enjoyed meeting you and Pete after the opener in Sarasota.Great win. Wouldn't it be nice to see Riley make it-and be good for a few years.Anyone willing to eat humble pie,work at rehabbing and start in the independents deserves a break!I applaud him and will root for his success.
Thanks for all the good work you do Roch-You and Pete keep me posted.I am clear down at Lake Gaston on the N.C border.Grew up on the Eastern shore.Ever want to do some fishing,let me know-We've a 43 mile lake here.Be happy to host you-bring Pete to.
ps-I am an O fan from 1954-glad to see things looking up again!
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Great meeting you. Thanks for saying hi. - Roch
Guys, relax about Reimold in the lead-off spot. It's just Trembley's way of making sure he gets some at-bats. He has some time to make up. Don't read anything further into it, other than a guy working in spring training to rebound from an injury with some at-bats.
Man, I was so excited about Matt Riley and it doesn't even seem that long ago. Just think, if him and Sidney Ponson both lived up to their potential, how good would we look now with all the current young guys....how old is he anyway?
OMG HOLY CRAP PEANUT BUTTER, NOLAN REIMOLD LEADING OFF WHAT IS DAVE TREMBLEY THINKING THIS IS THE WORST TEAM EVER.
/sarcasm
I thought Berken and DH would get "looks" at the 5 spot? Seems like so far Dave has put them exclusively in relief roles. So much for another ST competition, just like the closer, just like the backup infielder, just like the backup catcher, just like the lefthanded specialist...........just like the stellar rotation competition we had last year.
Isn't competition a good thing? Especially after 98 losses last year? If wins and losses matter more this year, don't you want to be sure you have the right guys for the job?
When Trembley says there is going to be a "competition" or he will take a "look" at someone, he really means "I've already made up my mind."
Roch - good post as always! I listen to MLB homeplate on XM, and they are covering each team - and today is the Orioles. Any chance we will hear from you since you cover the team?
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I haven't been asked. Silly XM. - Roch
Hey Roch,
Keep up the good work. How soon do you think they would call a preseason game for weather? It looks like it's supposed to rain tomorrow too and I'd be driving in from Orlando.
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Not sure how that works here. Could be an hour or so before if it's really bad, but I can't say for sure. I'll try to alert everyone ASAP. - Roch
Reimold leading off is quite strange, glad to see Luke getting his field playing time in Spring Traing b/c (1st It proves to trading teams he is more than a DH, 2nd once the season starts man its strickly bench and DHing) But like alot of other O's fan, I really like Luke Scott and I know he's one of those Late Bloomers. Specially since the Astro's did a horrible job advancing their prospects, I see Luke easly as a 30 home run guy. Roch you are doing amazing job, makes me almost feel like I am in Florida with you.
- Joseph
Roch,
Is Reimold able to go at it full speed yet and is he still feeling soreness the day after?
Thanks
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I haven't checked on him in a few days. I hate to ask the same question every day. Last time I checked, he wasn't going "full full speed." Will see how he's doing tomorrow. - Roch
Reimold makes a lot of sense at leadoff, actually. He's fast and has the second best batting eye on the team next to Roberts. He's patient, has pop, and gets on base. Plus like I said, he's speedy. I was hoping DT would experiment with him up there a little just to see what it looked like.
Roch,
Years ago Matt Riley was scheduled to appear at York Sports Night.
I was looking forward to meeting him. It was announced after the event started that Mr. Riley had changed his mind and was going to be a no-show.
Kind of funny once too good for York, now hoping to make a career here.
What comes around goes around.
Thanks
Jeff
Glad to see the reg pitchers geting more innings this year,they were unprepared going into last season.O's have a lot of pitchers to thin out before opening day but the starters have to be getting in 5+ innings in the next couple weeks. Hopefully Bergy's calmed down enough to go 3 next time.He has mental and physical cob webs to deal with.Sometimes I wonder If trembley pulls names out of a hat for spring training games line ups.
I remember having trading cards of the Rams front 4. Lamar Lundy was one ugly dude.
Re: Prolotherapy - it's actually far from "experimental." I had costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage in the chest/ribcage) for three-plus years, and nothing helped at all - I underwent tests and more tests and was given every kind of medication known to man. Found a different doctor who was well-versed in prolotherapy, and he said he helped many costochondritis (and other) patients with it. I was totally cured after three treatments. Really amazing stuff, though I'm sure it depends on the affected area/treatment plan/doctor, of course. It basically consists of injection of an irritant (nothing more than sugar-based water, in my case) into the inflammed area, which sends the body's own defenses to that newly irritated area, repairing itself. No drugs, no chiros, no supplements, nothing. Just the injection of the irritant. I was blown away by the results, and it was quite a relief after suffering needlessly for so long! So it was probably worth a try in his case...
Someone in my league tried prolotherapy and swore by it. He said his arm didn't hurt, but he couldn't break a pane of glass anymore w/ his fastball.
I looked into it, and since it wasn't covered by insurance, it was a lot cheaper for me to just have surgery. I don't know why, but I get a feeling I could have done just as well w/ Ben Gay.
I find it interesting that Luke made a special effort to reach out to Pie, the man who most directly took his job last year, and the two are quite close. Doesn't seem to fit with the "malcontent" image. Everyone complains that ballplayers, coaches, managers, execs, etc., always say what people want to hear and not the truth. Luke answers questions honestly and now he's the bad guy. Folks, that's why they don't talk straight to us -- many of us overreact or misunderstand, so it's better to just be banal.
Roch, I can tell you're really missing your daughter. Your Luke post suggests that you are even reminiscing over her infancy. To wit:
"duty"
"scooping"
"duty" (again)
"streaky"
"clog"
I love this blog because of your dedication. In Baltimore, in Indy, in Florida, it's always great because "you're still the same!"
L.A. said: It basically consists of injection of an irritant (nothing more than sugar-based water, in my case) into the inflammed area
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So basically it is possible that Roch injects the blog with a dose of irritant Brummie as part of a medical procedure? hmmmmm seems more like vinegar than sugar water
Roch- O's fans in the house section 101!
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Holla!!!!! - Roch
Roscoe - bingo. Well said about Luke, and him being a good teammate to the guys taking his spot in the field. That matters more than obsessed fans scrutinizing him for saying he'd rather play in the field than DH.
Dorian G said:
"I thought Berken and DH would get "looks" at the 5 spot? Seems like so far Dave has put them exclusively in relief roles. So much for another ST competition, just like the closer, just like the backup infielder, just like the backup catcher, just like the lefthanded specialist...........just like the stellar rotation competition we had last year.
Isn't competition a good thing? Especially after 98 losses last year? If wins and losses matter more this year, don't you want to be sure you have the right guys for the job?
When Trembley says there is going to be a "competition" or he will take a "look" at someone, he really means "I've already made up my mind."
You are so right!!! Trembley already has his boys penciled in!!