Pleading for the fifth starter

Pleading for the fifth starter
I can still feel the Sarasota sun beating down on me as Orioles manager Buck Showalter revealed the last few names in his rotation during a late spring training batting practice. He confirmed that Jake Arrieta would be the No. 4 starter rather than No. 5, and that Chris Tillman would be the fifth starter after coming off the disabled list. It seemed simple enough, except that the order is pretty twisted now and Arrieta is no longer in it. Arrieta was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after four...
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Dickerson proved to be the right choice in right field (O's win 7-2)

Dickerson proved to be the right choice in right field (O's win 7-2)
Chris Dickerson was 1-for-8 as an Oriole before manager Buck Showalter decided to give him the start in right field tonight. He hadn't started since April 20. Showalter must have played a hunch. He may want to swing by Atlantic City on his way back to Baltimore. Dickerson is 3-for-3 tonight, and his two-run single in the sixth inning increased the Orioles' lead to 6-0. Dickerson isn't tearing the cover off the ball. The "damage" includes a bunt single and a bloop into center field, but...
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Alomar voted into Orioles Hall of Fame

Alomar voted into Orioles Hall of Fame
The Orioles Hall of Fame will make room a player later this summer who's already been elected into Cooperstown. Former second baseman Roberto Alomar will be honored on Aug. 2 prior to the Orioles game against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards. Former Orioles scout and baseball operations executive Don Pries will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. Alomar played for the Orioles from 1996-1998, compiling a .312 batting average, 50 home runs and 210 RBIs in 412 regular...
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McLouth and Machado stay hot (updated)

McLouth and Machado stay hot (updated)
Nate McLouth made a triumphant return to the Orioles' lineup tonight. One night after sitting on the bench against a left-hander, McLouth hit his 11th career leadoff home run to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead. Mariners starter Brandon Maurer threw four straight fastballs to McLouth, at 91, 91, 93 and 91 mph. He might want to mix in an off-speed pitch. He might want to just avoid McLouth, who has reached base in 23 of his last 37 plate appearances. He's 16-for-30 with 14 runs scored in...
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Orioles option Britton, DFA Exposito

Orioles option Britton, DFA Exposito
The Orioles announced a flurry of roster moves before tonight's game in Seattle. They officially recalled former UMBC pitcher Zach Clark from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned left-hander Zach Britton to the Tides. Also, the Orioles purchased catcher Chris Snyder's contract and designated catcher Luis Exposito for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster. And finally, the Orioles reinstated pitcher Steve Johnson from the disabled list and optioned him to Norfolk. Clark, 29, is 1-2 with...
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Dickerson in right field, Markakis the DH

Dickerson in right field, Markakis the DH
Whatever roster move is being made by the Orioles today, it won't involve outfielder Chris Dickerson. He's starting in right field tonight against the Seattle Mariners. Nick Markakis is serving as the designated hitter. Nate McLouth is back in left field and atop the order. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Chris Dickerson RF Jason Hammel RHP
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Mariners lineup vs. O's (and Ayala note)

Mariners lineup vs. O's (and Ayala note)
Still waiting for the Orioles to announce their roster moves today. Still waiting for their lineup. Michael Saunders, who came off the disabled list yesterday and homered on Zach Britton's second pitch, is back in the leadoff spot for the Mariners. For the Mariners Michael Saunders CF Kyle Seager 3B Kendrys Morales DH Michael Morse RF Jason Bay LF Justin Smoak 1B Dustin Ackley 2B Kelly Shoppach C Brendan Ryan SS Brandon Maurer RHP None of the Orioles have faced Maurer. He'll be a total...
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Clark joining Orioles in Seattle (updated)

Clark joining Orioles in Seattle (updated)
The Orioles are continuing to make roster moves today, and the latest one has a nice local flavor. Besides needing to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for new backup catcher Chris Snyder, they also have summoned pitcher Zach Clark from Triple-A Norfolk. Clark is flying to Seattle today and could provide another arm in the bullpen. The Orioles are expected to officially recall Clark, 29, later today, but will wait until his arrival. Clark (UMBC) will be making his major league debut if...
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McLouth won't be left on the bench tonight

McLouth won't be left on the bench tonight
The Orioles will face right-handers in five of the final six games on this West Coast trip, and you know what that means. Nate McLouth will be in the starting lineup in five of the final six games on this West Coast trip. McLouth is pretty much in a platoon situation despite his red-hot bat. Nolan Reimold has been starting in left field against southpaws, with Steve Pearce serving as the designated hitter. Before last night, McLouth had reached base safely in 22 of his last 36 plate...
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Britton's strange night lasts six innings (O's lose 6-2)

Britton's strange night lasts six innings (O's lose 6-2)
Orioles left-hander Zach Britton experienced a little bit of everything tonight in his first major league start of 2013. The home run he allowed on his second pitch of the night. The 34-pitch fourth inning. The easy nine-pitch fifth inning. The three-run sixth inning, and the bruise he probably sustained on his left arm from the home plate umpire. Strange night indeed. Britton allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings, with two walks, two strikeouts and a wild pitch. He totaled 101...
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Britton falls behind on second pitch (O's down 3-2)

Britton falls behind on second pitch (O's down 3-2)
For Orioles left-hander Zach Britton to have success tonight, he needs to keep the ball on the ground. He needs that sinker to be working. He needs to do a better job with Michael Saunders. Activated from the disabled list this afternoon, Saunders drove Britton's second pitch of the game into the right field seats to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead over the Orioles. The Mariners have hit three leadoff home runs this season. Saunders just collected the first of his career. Britton threw a 91...
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Garcia staying at Norfolk

Garcia staying at Norfolk
Veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia has decided to remain in the Orioles organization beyond his five starts at Triple-A Norfolk. Garcia could have opted out of his contract after Sunday's start, but he has agreed to stay through May 14. Garcia is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts, with two walks and 21 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings. Earlier today, he was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA, no walks and nine strikeouts. Executive vice president...
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McLouth sits vs. Saunders (Steve Johnson update)

McLouth sits vs. Saunders (Steve Johnson update)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is sticking with his right-handed lineup tonight against Mariners left-hander Joe Saunders, which puts Nate McLouth on the bench. Nolan Reimold is starting in left field and Steve Pearce is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Steve Pearce DH Nolan Reimold LF Alexi Casilla 2B Zach Britton LHP Wieters is 2-for-2 with a home run lifetime against Saunders, who...
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Bundy receives PRP injection

Bundy receives PRP injection
Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy, shut down because of stiffness in his right forearm, received a Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection this afternoon from orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Andrews prescribed six weeks rest for Bundy, who will conduct his rehab in Sarasota. Bundy hasn't pitched since March. He tried to throw off flat ground from 90 feet recently and complained of more tightness in his flexor mass. Bundy sought a second opinion from Andrews,...
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Manny Machado joins Brooks Robinson in Orioles history

Manny Machado joins Brooks Robinson in Orioles history
According to the Orioles, only two players in club history at the age of 20 have collected four hits in a single game. Brooks Robinson was the youngest at 20 years, 130 days on Sept. 25, 1957. Manny Machado because the second-youngest yesterday in Oakland at 20 years, 296 days. Machado was 4-for-5. Robinson was 4-for-4. Robinson's four-hit day included a triple and his 10th RBI and raised his average to .226. All four hits came against Whitey Ford in the second game of a doubleheader. The...
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Notes on Snyder, Garcia and Bundy (and Charlie Zill)

Notes on Snyder, Garcia and Bundy (and Charlie Zill)
New Orioles catcher Chris Snyder is expected to meet up with the Orioles tonight in Seattle, but his contract won't be selected until Tuesday, which allows Luis Exposito to serve in a backup role for one more game. The Orioles will need to create room on their 40-man roster, which also could impact Exposito. Stay tuned. Executive vice president Dan Duquette has been interested in Snyder since joining the Orioles' front office. He considered signing Snyder the past two winters and again in...
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Orioles acquire Chris Snyder (updated)

Orioles acquire Chris Snyder (updated)
The Orioles didn't wait long to find another backup catcher. According to a text message from executive vice president Dan Duquette, the Orioles have acquired catcher Chris Snyder from the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Rob Delaney in a minor league deal. Update: The Orioles and Angels both announced the trade. Snyder, 32, could join the Orioles in Seattle on Monday night, according to Duquette, and will have his contract selected this week. Luis Exposito, who met up with the club in...
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Strop and the bullpen: The morning after (and Garcia note)

Strop and the bullpen: The morning after (and Garcia note)
I could hear the blood pressure of some fans rising after yesterday's loss. My ears popped when it spiked. It's never easy to surrender a five-run lead, blow a two-run lead in the ninth and commit back-to-back throwing errors in the 10th that hands a game to the opponent. That'll make you chew nails for the rest of the night. To the fans who wondered why Jim Johnson didn't pitch yesterday, I'll repeat that he was used on five of the previous six days. No game is worth having his arm fall...
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Orioles getting top production from top of order (O's lose 9-8 in 10th)

Orioles getting top production from top of order (O's lose 9-8 in 10th)
Nate McLouth and Manny Machado have combined for eight hits, two RBIs and five runs scored today. The Orioles have a pretty nice one-two combination at the top of their order. McLouth produced his first four-hit game in four years. Machado has his first career four-hit game. McLouth, who's scored four of the runs, is batting .351. He's making $2 million this season. That's quite a bargain. Machado, who's accounted for both RBIs, has raised his average to .302. He seems pretty...
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Orioles string together singles to break tie (Davis homers)

Orioles string together singles to break tie (Davis homers)
So much for that scoreless tie in Oakland. Nate McLouth, Manny Machado, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones singled in succession to produce the game's first run in the top of the fourth inning. Chris Davis drove in two more runs with a double and Matt Wieters produced a sacrifice fly. The Orioles didn't knock out Oakland starter Bartolo Colon. They just peppered him with jabs. McLouth has reached base safely in 19 of his last 33 plate appearances. Over his last nine games, he's 12-for-26 with...
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