The start of tonight's Game 2 of the American League Division Series was delayed 40 minutes by a light rain.
If the top of the first inning is any indication, the wait will be worth it.
The Yankees took a 1-0 lead on Robinson Cano's two-out double off Wei-Yin Chen, who surrendered 21 runs in the first inning during the regular season. He remains something of a slow starter.
Derek Jeter fell behind 0-2 and singled to right-center field. Ichiro Suzuki fell behind 0-2 and reached on an error...
The Orioles still don't have a starter listed for a possible Game 4 on Thursday. The Yankees will start Phil Hughes.
Nate McLouth has driven in two runs in each postseason game so far to become the sixth player to record consecutive multi-RBI games in Orioles postseason history, joining Mike Bordick, Todd Zeile, Kiko Garcia, Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell.
The postseason may provide executive vice president Dan Duquette with more downtime than usual, since organizational meetings have been...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter went against the left-right percentages and decided to start Jim Thome against veteran southpaw Andy Pettitte.
Showalter considered starting Thome against left-hander CC Sabathia last night, but used Lew Ford as his designated hitter.
"Tough not playing him last night," Showalter said. "He's got his shin guards and his batting gloves on about three-fourths of that game last night. He had a good lather going.
"It gives us a chance to be a little more...
Jim Thome is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter tonight in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Manager Buck Showalter has been sitting Thome against left-handers, but not tonight.
Chris Davis remains in right field.
For the Orioles:
Nate McLouth LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 1B
Jim Thome DH
Manny Machado 3B
Robert Andino 2B
Wei-Yin Chen LHP
NOTE: Game 3 of the ALDS in New York is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, but...
Andy Pettitte is facing the Orioles tonight.
Hold on, this might be an old notebook.
Nope, it's the one I've used this summer. Pettitte is starting Game 2 of the American League Division Series.
Does this mean Roger Clemens goes in Game 3?
The Orioles haven't faced Pettitte since he decided to make a comeback this season. The only player who's had an at-bat against him is Omar Quintanilla, while he was playing for the Mets, but he's not on the Division Series roster.
Pettitte is 27-6...
You probably didn't recognize Jim Johnson last night, since he wasn't pitching in a save situation and he wasn't churning out another drama-free inning.
(OK, the same thing happened Friday night in the wild card game, though with much better results. Just work with me here.)
It was like an imposter stole Johnson's No. 43 jersey and his entrance music. But that was Darren O'Day in the seventh. I'd know his delivery anywhere, and his knack for escaping jams that have been dumped at his...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter has spoken in the past about how closer Jim Johnson can spoil a team with his lengthy string of successful outings. A glitch comes out of nowhere. It's never anticipated.
Johnson entered Game 1 of the American League Division Series with the score tied in the top of the ninth. He walked off the mound having retired only one batter, four runs already charged to him and an unearned run coming as he sat in the dugout.
"It's tough. It's just tough going,...
Left-hander Troy Patton replaced starter Jason Hammel with two outs in the sixth and a runner on first, gave up a single and retired Curtis Granderson on a fly ball to keep the game tied.
Clutch.
Darren O'Day only let six of 43 inherited runners score during the regular season. He inherited two in the seventh inning tonight and stranded them to keep the game tied.
Clutch.
Brian Matusz retired the first two batters in the eighth, walked Mark Teixeira and struck out Granderson on three...
The crowd erupted for the first time tonight when the first chords of "Sweet Home Alabama" were heard over the PA system. The next ovation came when three members of the grounds crew walked onto the field with brooms to sweep away puddles on the warning track, which was followed by a "Let's Go O's" chant.
Yeah, the fans are fired up for the first playoff game at Camden Yards in 15 years.
The rain delay lasted 2 hours, 26 minutes, but it couldn't dampen their enthusiasm. They don't...
Confirmation on the Orioles' Game 2 starter came earlier today when reporters were notified via e-mail that Wei-Yin Chen would be available in the interview room following manager Buck Showalter, who indicated yesterday that the Taiwanese left-hander would likely get the assignment.
Another rookie, Miguel Gonzalez, will start Game 3 Tuesday in New York.
Chen hasn't pitched since Monday, which isn't a bad thing. He's posted a 2.28 ERA in four starts while working on six-plus days rest. He...
Let me begin this entry by posting the Yankees lineup for Game 1 of the American League Division Series. And this is the correct version. I promise.
Derek Jeter SS
Ichiro Suzuki LF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Russell Martin C
Raul Ibanez DH
CC Sabathia LHP
Manager Buck Showalter had to make some hard decisions with his Division Series roster. He kept Tommy Hunter and Joe Saunders as potential long men in the bullpen, though...
Here's the correct version of the Orioles' lineup for Game 1 of the American League Division Series:
Nate McLouth LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 1B
Manny Machado 3B
Chris Davis RF
Lew Ford DH
Robert Andino 2B
Jason Hammel RHP
The Game 1 ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Perry Hall High School guidance counselor Jesse Wasmer, who will be accompanied by student Daniel Borowy. On Aug. 27, after Borowy was shot in the back by another student in the...
The Orioles must submit their American League Division Series roster by 10 a.m. today, and manager Buck Showalter already has sat down with executive vice president Dan Duquette to discuss its composition.
I don't know when the Orioles will announce it, but my guess is sometime between 11 a.m. and noon, while I'm joining Tom Davis and Dave Johnson on "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN.
Room must be made for starters Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman. Manager Buck...
Though he's working on minimal sleep, Orioles manager Buck Showalter looks refreshed today.
He certainly looks drier than I remember him.
Showalter spoke with reporters for about 20 minutes this afternoon, again coming across as loose, confident and respectful of his opponent.
In other words, just another day.
Showalter settled on Jason Hammel as his starter for Game 1 after sorting through what he called "a lot of different variables."
"We felt like all along we didn't try to push...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Jason Hammel will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Yankees.
The rest of his rotation? Too soon.
Showalter indicated that Wei-Yin Chen will start Game 2, followed by Miguel Gonzalez in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. However, he also said the weather could influence those plans.
Showalter didn't name a Game 4 starter, if the series extends that far.
Hammel threw 45-50 pitches in a side session yesterday at full capacity,...
The Orioles get the pleasure of resetting their playoff roster for the Division Series that begins Sunday at Camden Yards. Weather permitting, of course.
Before anyone asks, I can only assume that a postponement Sunday would push the first two games to Monday and Tuesday, with the Orioles and Yankees losing their workout day in the Bronx. Just a hunch. Let's cross that washed-out bridge when we come to it.
Manager Buck Showalter can add starters Jason Hammel, Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman...
ARLINGTON, Texas - The alarm on my phone jolted me from a deep sleep, one that lasted under three hours.
My champagne-soaked clothes are stuffed in a bag inside my suitcase. I look forward to unleashing that aroma once I'm back in Sykesville.
I'll be filing blog entries from Camden Yards later today. The Orioles are holding a workout that Adam Jones wished would be open to the public. He's champing at the bit to play in front of a capacity crowd at Camden Yards.
What's one more...
ARLINGTON, Texas - Players kept asking, "Where's Buck?" Once they found him amidst the bedlam inside their clubhouse, they rushed him with bottles of champagne and absolutely soaked him.
Showalter had won his first playoff game since 1995. Naturally, he deflected the credit, passing it first to his starting pitcher.
"You know, in regards to what happened during the course of the game, it all starts with Joe Saunders and the outing he gave us," Showalter said. "He's had two good outings...
ARLINGTON, Texas - If anyone wondered whether the Orioles would celebrate a wild card game victory, they did so with great enthusiasm and impressive aim.
Champagne and beer soaked the walls, the floor, the players, coaches, manager and executive vice president. Team employees, and yes, every member of the media.
I learned that my shoes aren't liquid-proof. I'm just glad I don't have to drive back to the hotel.
"Officer, I'm sure you get this all the time, but..."
Jim Johnson was...
ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always says he can't wait to find out what the boys have in store for him.
Tonight, they won the wild card game and finally got to celebrate.
No wonder he couldn't wait.
Joe Saunders held the Rangers to one run over 5 2/3 innings, and the bullpen worked its usual magic in a 5-1 victory over the Rangers.
Darren O'Day retired six of the seven batters he faced, permitting only an infield hit to Ian Kinsler in the eighth with the Orioles...