Good wins Hunter

Good wins Hunter
You may choose to focus on one set of Tommy Hunter statistics and ignore the others, depending on whether you view the glass as half full or half empty. Half full: Hunter is 9-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 19 career appearances in July - the most wins and lowest ERA for any month. He has a 1.10 WHIP (lowest) and opponents are batting .225 (lowest) against him. In his only start for the Orioles this month, he held the Twins to one run and didn't walk a batter in 7 1/3 innings, which began the...
Continue reading

Orioles are taking a left turn

Orioles are taking a left turn
After watching the Orioles for 95 games, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing they do consistently is fail to hit with runners in scoring position. Otherwise, they're all over the map. The rotation is good, bad and good again. It's strung together five consecutive quality starts, which was unimaginable a week ago. The bullpen has been outstanding for most of the season, but the starters' early exits had caused cracks to form in it. Remove the ninth inning yesterday, and the...
Continue reading

Hardy homers for 2-0 lead (O's win 4-3)

Hardy homers for 2-0 lead (O's win 4-3)
When the Orioles hit a home run, they tend to do it without flying solo. Eleven of their last 15 homers have come with runners on base, including J.J. Hardy's two-run shot in the top of the first inning today that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead against Indians starter Josh Tomlin. Meanwhile, 21 of the last 23 home runs allowed by the Orioles have come with the bases empty. Nick Markakis reached on an infield hit, making him 15-for-40 in the leadoff spot, and Hardy followed with his 14th home...
Continue reading

Flaherty stays at second base, Teagarden starts behind the plate (and Indians lineup)

Flaherty stays at second base, Teagarden starts behind the plate (and Indians lineup)
Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at second base today, as manager Buck Showalter plays the hot hand. Flaherty has homered in back-to-back games. Also, Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate today, with Matt Wieters joining the reserves. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Taylor Teagarden C Zach Britton LHP Over his last six games, Thome is 9-for-26 (.346) with three...
Continue reading

Roberts still unsure whether he'll need surgery

Roberts still unsure whether he'll need surgery
On the same night that Ryan Flaherty homered for the second consecutive game as the Orioles' starting second baseman, Brian Roberts watched from his Sarasota home and wondered if he would get the chance to reclaim his job. Roberts remains on the 15-day disabled list after being diagnosed with a labral tear in his right hip. He hit some soft tosses again yesterday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He fielded ground balls, played catch, ran a little, did some lateral movements. "I'm trying...
Continue reading

The good side of Chris Tillman (O's win 3-1)

The good side of Chris Tillman (O's win 3-1)
One start after failing to clear the first inning, Chris Tillman has held the Cleveland Indians to one run through the sixth. The only issue for Tillman was a lack of offensive support, but Jim Thome just belted a two-run homer off Indians right-hander Zach McAllister in the top of the seventh inning. Orioles 2, Indians 1. Thome has homered in back-to-back games, giving him 611 for his career. Tillman has allowed two earned runs in three starts and 15 innings with the Orioles this season,...
Continue reading

Pearce designated for assignment

Pearce designated for assignment
The Orioles created space for middle infielder Omar Quintanilla on their 25-man roster today by designating outfielder Steve Pearce for assignment. The decision came down to Pearce or Steve Tolleson. The Orioles decided they wanted to keep Tolleson, who has options remaining, so they would have a right-handed hitting infielder to share at-bats with Quintanilla and Ryan Flaherty. The Orioles could have placed reliever Matt Lindstrom on the disabled list after he took a Johnny Damon line drive...
Continue reading

Flaherty starting at second base tonight

Flaherty starting at second base tonight
Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at second base tonight for the Orioles. Newly acquired middle infielder Omar Quintanilla will join the team today, but he won't be in the starting lineup. And he's not listed on the lineup card among the reserves. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Chris Tillman RHP
Continue reading

Tillman's troubles in the first inning

Tillman's troubles in the first inning
Chris Tillman didn't make it out of the first inning in his last start against the Minnesota Twins, allowing one earned run (seven total) and five hits in two-thirds of an inning. A Mark Reynolds error complicated Tillman's night, but the opening frame has been a challenge throughout his career. In 38 career starts, Tillman has posted an 8.12 ERA in the first inning and opponents are batting .348/.416/.585 against him. Tillman has made two starts against the Indians, allowing seven runs...
Continue reading

Duquette: "We'll do everything we can to stay in the hunt"

Duquette: "We'll do everything we can to stay in the hunt"
In a brief phone conversation yesterday morning with executive vice president Dan Duquette, I asked whether the Orioles were comfortable platooning Steve Tolleson and Ryan Flaherty at second base, or whether they needed to bring in someone from outside the organization. "We'll see what comes on the market," Duquette replied. "If Tolleson and Flaherty can do it, we'll let them do it. If they can't do it, we'll have to look for some other alternatives." Later that afternoon, the Orioles...
Continue reading

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)
Orioles reliever Matt Lindstrom took a Johnny Damon line drive off the inside portion of his left knee, forcing him out of the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lindstrom bent at the waist a few times and kept grimacing as manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel checked on him. He didn't bother to throw a few warmup tosses. His night was over. Kevin Gregg replaced Lindstrom with the bases loaded and retired Casey Kotchman on a fly ball to center...
Continue reading

Game tied and opportunities lost (O's lead 10-2)

Game tied and opportunities lost (O's lead 10-2)
J.J. Hardy was in a 7-for-70 slump before doubling in the first inning tonight and racing home on a wild pitch by Indians starter Derek Lowe. The lead didn't last long. Asdrubal Cabrera homered off Miguel Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning, and the Indians left the bases load. Gonzalez threw 25 pitches in the inning. Lowe threw 26. Gonzalez surrendered one home run with Triple-A Norfolk. He's given up one in each of his three starts with the Orioles. Since June 29, 19 of the last 21...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup against Indians (Bergesen quotes and note on trade)

Orioles lineup against Indians (Bergesen quotes and note on trade)
Ryan Flaherty gets another start at second base tonight, as manager Buck Showalter continues to platoon him with right-handed hitting Steve Tolleson. We'll see if that arrangement changes tomorrow after the Orioles acquired Omar Quintanilla from the Mets for future considerations or cash. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP Also, Brian's Baseball...
Continue reading

Orioles acquire infielder Omar Quintanilla from Mets, Indians lineup (updated)

Orioles acquire infielder Omar Quintanilla from Mets, Indians lineup (updated)
Looking to add middle infield depth after losing Brian Roberts and Robert Andino to injuries, the Orioles have acquired Omar Quintanilla from the Mets for future considerations or cash. Quintanilla, 30, can play second base and shortstop, which comes in handy on this team. The Mets designated Quintanilla for assignment a few days ago. He was batting .257/.350/.371 with five doubles, one home run and four RBIs in 29 games this season. Quintanilla is a career .218/.278 /.294 hitter in seven...
Continue reading

Diamondbacks claim Bergesen (updated)

Diamondbacks claim Bergesen (updated)
So much for Brad Bergesen staying in the Orioles' organization. The Arizona Diamondbacks have claimed Bergesen on waivers after the Orioles designated him for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the 25-man roster for pitcher Tommy Hunter. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweeted the news earlier today. The Orioles hoped that Bergesen would clear waivers again, as he did back in May, and accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Bergesen was out of options after accepting...
Continue reading

A third look at Gonzalez in the rotation (and Guthrie note)

A third look at Gonzalez in the rotation (and Guthrie note)
It may come as a shock to many of you, but the Orioles don't have any current plans to adjust their rotation. Continue to breathe normally. Wei-Yin Chen got the start and a much-needed win yesterday. Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman, Zach Britton and Tommy Hunter will make the starts against the Indians in a four-game series that begins tonight. Then it's back home, and back to Chen. Unless the Orioles pull off a trade for a starter, they're not sitting atop a pile of pitching options....
Continue reading

Scoring change benefits Ayala

Scoring change benefits Ayala
The Orioles tweeted tonight that there's been a scoring change in Tuesday night's game in Minnesota. I wouldn't want you going to bed without having all the details. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Twins center fielder Denard Span was credited with an infield hit, and Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was charged with a throwing error. The single has been removed, and it's now just a straight error on the play. Why is this important? Well, reliever Luis Ayala no longer is tagged with an...
Continue reading

Back-to-back beauties from Orioles' rotation (O's win 4-3)

Back-to-back beauties from Orioles' rotation (O's win 4-3)
Tommy Hunter held the Twins to one run over 7 1/3 innings last night. Wei-Yin Chen allowed three runs in seven innings today. In case you don't recognize it, those are back-to-back quality starts from the Orioles' rotation. Chen hasn't won since June 17 in Atlanta, a game I listened to on WBAL Radio on my drive back home from Ocean Pines. I listened to most of today's start on my return trip, arriving at my destination seconds before Mark Reynolds blooped a two-run single into center...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup against Twins (and Twins lineup)

Orioles lineup against Twins (and Twins lineup)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter worked in a few more left-handed hitters for today's series finale against the Twins. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Twins: Denard Span CF Ben Revere RF Joe Mauer C Josh Willingham DH Justin Morneau 1B Trevor Plouffe 3B Ryan Doumit LF Brian Dozier SS Alexi Casilla 2B Cole DeVries RHP
Continue reading

While waiting for the lineup ...

While waiting for the lineup ...
The Orioles have an early game today before flying to Cleveland to continue their road trip. They had to "sleep fast," as manager Buck Showalter likes to say. You'll get the lineup quicker than usual on a Thursday, but until then ... Showalter told MASN's Gary Thorne before last night's game that he hoped Tommy Hunter's familiarity with catcher Taylor Teagarden from their days in Texas would prove beneficial. He mentioned their bond. Hunter had a 4.58 ERA in six career major league...
Continue reading