Orioles lineup vs. Rockies

Orioles lineup vs. Rockies
Chris Davis is batting third again tonight for the Orioles, with Nick Markakis lowered to fifth. Manager Buck Showalter used the same alignment last night. Ryan Flaherty is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty DH Brian Roberts 2B Bud Norris RHP
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Stinson headed to Baltimore

Stinson headed to Baltimore
The Orioles will recall pitcher Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk to provide an extra bullpen arm for tonight's game against the Colorado Rockies at Camden Yards. The team will make the announcement this afternoon. Stinson will replace outfielder Henry Urrutia on the 25-man roster. Urrutia was optioned following last night's 6-3 loss. Stinson worked six innings Tuesday night for Norfolk, making him more available than other candidates on the Tides' pitching staff. He skipped his bullpen...
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Upon further review, Showalter likes changes to replay system

Upon further review, Showalter likes changes to replay system
Major League Baseball will expand its video review process next season. More plays will be subject to review. Managers will be allowed up to three challenges each game. Manager Buck Showalter has been too busy to give the changes a thorough examination, but he had a few quick impressions. He wonders why only one challenge is allowed through the first six innings. Is MLB suggesting that those innings aren't as important as the seventh through the ninth? And I sense that he'd like for balls...
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Orioles preparing to add pitcher (Urrutia optioned)

Orioles preparing to add pitcher (Urrutia optioned)
The Orioles seem confident that reliever Francisco Rodriguez will avoid the disabled list despite leaving tonight's game with a strained right groin. However, they're expected to make a roster move to add another pitcher for their bullpen. "We're probably going to have to get an arm here tomorrow," said manager Buck Showalter following a 6-3 loss to the Rockies. "We're getting a little short down there, especially with probably not wanting to push Frankie tomorrow. We'll have to wait...
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K-Rod leaves game with injury (Johnson serves up HR, O's lose 6-3)

K-Rod leaves game with injury (Johnson serves up HR, O's lose 6-3)
Orioles reliever Francisco Rodriguez gave up a home run in the eighth inning tonight and left the game with an undisclosed injury after retiring the next batter. Rodriguez appeared to hurt himself while warming up, but he continued to pitch. Charlie Blackmon, who replaced Charlie Culberson in left field, led off with a home run onto Eutaw Street to increase Colorado's lead to 5-2. Dexter Fowler lined a single into right field, and Rodriguez limped to the dugout with head athletic trainer...
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So much for Chen cruising ... (updated)

So much for Chen cruising ... (updated)
Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen retired 10 batters in a row and 12 of 13 as he entered the top of the fifth inning. A double, wild pitch and one-out single in the fifth cut the Orioles' lead in half. The first career home run by the Rockies' No. 9 hitter in the sixth tied the game. Chen has allowed 32 runs this season. Seven have come in the sixth inning, six in the seventh and two in the eighth. That's 15 by my math. Rockies left fielder Charlie Culberson continued the tradition of...
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McLouth belts 12th career leadoff home run (updated)

McLouth belts 12th career leadoff home run (updated)
Colorado Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio started off Orioles leadoff hitter Nate McLouth with a 91 mph four-seam fastball tonight. Then he came back with a 90 mph four-seamer. Then he threw the exact same pitch again at the same speed. McLouth timed it just right. McLouth delivered his second leadoff home run of the season and the 12th of his career to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead over the Rockies. McLouth's other leadoff shot came on April 30 in Seattle. His last homer this season came...
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Castro and McGregor talk about their new roles

Castro and McGregor talk about their new roles
Bill Castro has previous experience as a pitching coach with the Brewers, and he's returning to that role with the Orioles starting today after the club announced that Rick Adair had taken a personal leave of absence. This isn't the way Castro wanted to return to the dugout. "Well, I was surprised," he said. "I felt uncomfortable in the beginning with the situation. I don't want anything bad to happen to anybody. "Rick will be fine, and we'll take care of things around here. Going...
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Showalter on a variety of topics

Showalter on a variety of topics
Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent about 25 minutes talking to reporters today before turning over the microphone to Bill Castro and Scott McGregor. Here's a sampling of Showalter's remarks. On Kevin Gausman having a sore right forearm: "They may skip him in the rotation just to keep him out of harm's way. He feels good. He's not happy about not pitching, but just had a little soreness. Probably be the last time he ever tells about it. That's usually how it goes. They don't seem...
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A few notes before tonight's game

A few notes before tonight's game
Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel said his arm felt good today before he headed outdoors to play catch. If the session goes well, he'll do it again on Sunday or Monday. Hammel told manager Buck Showalter that he was ready to start Sunday. Showalter assumed that Hammel was joking. Bud Norris remains the scheduled starter for Saturday despite experiencing some lower-back tightness in his last outing. The Orioles gave him the option of starting Sunday, but he declined. Scott Feldman will start...
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Orioles and Rockies lineups

Orioles and Rockies lineups
The Orioles are concluding the interleague portion of their 2013 schedule with a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 4-5 against the Rockies, going 3-3 at home and 1-2 on the road. The teams haven't met since 2007 in Baltimore, when the Orioles lost the final two games of the series after Nick Markakis had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the opener. Henry Urrutia is back in the lineup as the designated hitter after being relegated to...
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Duquette on Adair: "It's simply a personal leave of absence"

Duquette on Adair: "It's simply a personal leave of absence"
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is unable to provide specific details on pitching coach Rick Adair's decision to take a leave of absence from the club, but he emphasized that it's due to personal reasons and isn't tied to the staff's performance this season. "It's simply a personal leave of absence," Duquette told me over the phone a few minutes ago. "We don't really have a timetable on it. These things take some time." The Orioles issued a press release this morning...
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Adair taking leave of absence

Adair taking leave of  absence
Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair is taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons. The club just sent out a release confirming changes to the staff. Bullpen coach Bill Castro will replace Adair as pitching coach. Scott McGregor, who works with rehabbing pitchers in Sarasota, will become interim bullpen coach. McGregor filled the same role on a part-time basis in 2011. There is no timetable for Adair's return to the club. Adair began the 2011 season as bullpen coach before...
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Orioles interested in Cuban outfielder Jose Abreu

Orioles interested in Cuban outfielder Jose Abreu
The Orioles have been scouting Cuban outfielder Jose Abreu for more than a year and are intrigued by his "monster power," as it's been described by one member of the organization. There's no doubt that they like what they've seen from him Unfortunately for the Orioles, Abreu will probably command a monster contract and they aren't known to jump into bidding wars for international players. However, they continue to discuss him, for what it's worth. Abreu, who outgrew the shortstop...
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Notes on Britton and Reynolds (and Betemit)

Notes on Britton and Reynolds (and Betemit)
Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Zach Britton left tonight's game in Toledo after being hit on the side of the ankle by a hard one-hopper from Danny Worth. No updates are available at this time. Worth reached on an infield hit with two outs in the sixth inning as the ball rolled to Tides first baseman Steve Clevenger. Tim Alderson replaced Britton and stranded Worth by retiring former Orioles catcher Ronny Paulino. Britton allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks and six...
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Another look at the starters

Another look at the starters
Chris Tillman turned in his 16th quality start in 24 outings yesterday before the blown save, the 14 innings, the gut-wrenching loss that completed Arizona's three-game sweep of the Orioles. The Orioles have posted seven quality starts in the last nine games, giving them a 2.88 ERA in that stretch. That's the good. Unfortunately, the starters have gone more than six innings in only three of the 12 games this month. Tillman was removed after the sixth yesterday, leaving a tired bullpen to...
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A few thoughts on Jim Johnson and the closer situation

A few thoughts on Jim Johnson and the closer situation
I hadn't intended to write about Jim Johnson this morning. The subject was covered quite thoroughly again yesterday after his third consecutive blown save. But I'll offer my two cents here before finding another topic. First of all, anyone suggesting that the Orioles should release Johnson - or cut him, as if it were the NFL - needs to get a clue. There's no reason to do it and he's too good for such treatment, no matter how much he's scuffling at the moment. At his best, Johnson has...
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Norris makes second relief appearance (O's lose 5-4 in 14 innings)

Norris makes second relief appearance (O's lose 5-4 in 14 innings)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is going to his bullpen again. He's also going to his rotation. At the same time. Bud Norris will replace Tommy Hunter in the bottom of the 14th inning with the score tied 4-4. Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland is next in line. Then bullpen coach Billy Castro, who will have to come out of retirement. Norris has appeared in 122 major league games, including 121 as a starter. His lone relief appearance came in his debut on July 29, 2009 in Chicago while pitching for the...
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Eliminating today's closer candidates (heading to the 14th)

Eliminating today's closer candidates (heading to the 14th)
Darren O'Day pitched the seventh inning today, allowing an inherited runner to score. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the eighth, stranding the potential tying run in scoring position. The Orioles are clinging to a one-run lead and Jim Johnson is warming in the bullpen. It figured to be Johnson in a save situation. Manager Buck Showalter isn't ready to make a change. He's standing firmly in Johnson's corner. Johnson, of course, has blown two straight save chances after converting 10 in a...
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Orioles having a Teagarden party (O's lead 4-3)

Orioles having a Teagarden party (O's lead 4-3)
Before today, Orioles backup catcher Taylor Teagarden was 6-for-48 this season. Plenty of fans questioned why Matt Wieters needed a day off following last night's game, with an open date on the schedule Thursday. Manager Buck Showalter wants to give players back-to-back days off to freshen their legs. He also consulted with a psychic late last night who told him that Teagarden would collect three hits today. I made up the last part. Actually, Showalter is the psychic - except when it's time...
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