Checking on Matusz (rehab assignment appears over)

Checking on Matusz (rehab assignment appears over)
Left-hander Brian Matusz has completed four innings tonight at Triple-A Norfolk, and he's working on a two-hit shutout against the Columbus Clippers. Matusz has walked one batter and struck out six. He's thrown 66 pitches, including 42 for strikes. The Orioles are hoping to get seven innings out of Matusz. As always, the pitch count will dictate how far he goes. Matusz struck out three batters in the second, but he also issued a walk. This is Matusz's third start on his injury rehab...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup against Athletics

Orioles lineup against Athletics
Nolan Reimold is back in left field tonight after going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in yesterday's 6-5, 12-inning win over Kansas City. Robert Andino is the leadoff hitter in Felix Pie's absence. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Mark Reynolds 3B J.J. Hardy SS Jake Fox 1B Chris Tillman RHP Guerrero is 4-for-21 lifetime against Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Wieters is 2-for-5 with a...
Continue reading

Leo Gomez named Aberdeen manager (and other notes)

Leo Gomez named Aberdeen manager (and other notes)
Well, that didn't take long. The Orioles finally named their manager at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Former third baseman Leo Gomez will call the shots from the IronBirds' dugout. Gomez has spent the past two seasons as a field coach for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles (2009) and Bluefield (2010). Gomez spent six of his seven major league seasons with the Orioles, batting .245 with 62 home runs and 203 RBIs in 475 games. I forgot that he played for the Cubs in 1996, tying his...
Continue reading

Matusz bringing his AAA game

Matusz bringing his AAA game
The first 5,000 fans to enter Harbor Park in Norfolk tonight will receive a Tides cap. They'll also get to watch Brian Matusz pitch. Matusz never made it to Triple-A before tonight. He moved up from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie to the majors in his first professional season in 2009. He was part of the gifted and talented pitching program. Matusz returned to Frederick and Bowie on his injury rehab assignment. He'll finally pitch for Norfolk tonight in a 7:05 p.m. game against the...
Continue reading

Streaking into Oakland

Streaking into Oakland
Give me the choice between a cross-country flight and being covered in honey and red ants, and I'll ask which one provides the most leg room. If the Orioles must travel to Oakland, and the schedule demands it, at least they're riding a five-game winning streak. It may not come with those little bags of gourmet pretzels like you get on Southwest, and yesterday's 6-5, 12-inning victory wasn't exactly a smooth ride, but it's the first time this season that the Orioles have boarded one....
Continue reading

Showalter speaks after 6-5, 12-inning win

Showalter speaks after 6-5, 12-inning win
The Orioles swept a three-game home series against the Royals for the first time since April 2007, and Nolan Reimold deserves a huge share of the credit for homering twice and driving in four runs. He also singled, doubled and walked. That's one way to raise your average to .545. Buck Showalter meets with the media following the Birds' 6-5 win over Kansas City "I'm happy for him," manager Buck Showalter said. "He made the most of his opportunities. I try to pride myself on listening to...
Continue reading

Guerrero single wins it in the 12th

Guerrero single wins it in the 12th
I went to a baseball game and a chess match broke out. Checkmate for the Orioles. Vladimir Guerrero sent a 15-hopper up the middle - a mild exaggeration - to score Robert Andino in the bottom of the 12th and give the Orioles a 6-5 victory. Andino led off with a double against Louis Coleman. Manager Buck Showalter called for Adam Jones to lay down a bunt, but the move backfired when the Orioles' center fielder popped up. Jones reached on a bunt single earlier in the game and the situation...
Continue reading

Accardo keeps bases clean (O's load them and can't score)

Accardo keeps bases clean (O's load them and can't score)
Kevin Gregg left the bases loaded in the 10th inning. He stole Jeremy Accardo's move. Accardo entered in the 11th with the score tied, 5-5. In 21 2/3 innings before today, he allowed 25 hits, walked 14 and hit one batter. That's almost two baserunners an inning. The first batter today, Mike Aviles, hit a line drive that almost decapitated second baseman Robert Andino, who gloved the ball before it passed through him. Brayan Pena flied to left field for the second out, and Chris Getz lined...
Continue reading

Tatum redeems himself, too

Tatum redeems himself, too
I mentioned earlier that Nolan Reimold redeemed himself for the poor throw in the top of the second inning by homering in the bottom half. He took it to the extreme by hitting a three-run shot the following inning and adding a single a walk. Now it's Craig Tatum's turn. Tatum was called for catcher's interference in the second, and he's lucky that his mitt didn't land in the home bullpen. But Tatum, in his first game after being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, singled in the seventh and...
Continue reading

Orioles fall behind early (updated)

Orioles fall behind early (updated)
It took much too long for Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie to get a third out in the second inning, and the Orioles trail the Royals, 4-1, as we head to the third. The Royals sent nine batters to the plate against Guthrie. The right-hander got two strikes on Chris Getz before giving up a run-scoring single that extended the rally. Melky Cabrera capped the scoring with a two-run scoring after Craig Tatum was called for catcher's interference. Earlier in the inning, left fielder Nolan Reimold...
Continue reading

Showalter on roster move and catching plans

Showalter on roster move and catching plans
Manager Buck Showalter talked about the latest roster move while meeting with reporters this morning. Catcher Craig Tatum is in the lineup. First baseman Brandon Snyder is back with Triple-A Norfolk. "We want to make sure Brandon continues to have a pretty good year down there, but it gives us an opportunity to move Jake (Fox) around a little bit. This is beneficial for everybody," Showalter said. "Craig's been hurt down there, his shoulder, something similar to what was going on last...
Continue reading

News and notes

News and notes
Justin Duchscherer will throw a 35-pitch bullpen session today or tomorrow in Sarasota. That's the only update on him. The Orioles don't know when he'll start another extended spring training game. Duchscherer is eligible to come off the disabled list in four days, but that's obviously not going to happen. Brian Matusz is driving to Norfolk today and will start for the Tides tomorrow night. He requested a Columbus Clippers roster to see whether he recognized any names (he did). Matusz...
Continue reading

Fox and Tatum in today's lineup

Fox and Tatum in today's lineup
The Orioles are leaning heavily to the right for today's game against Kansas City left-hander Jeff Francis. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Fox 1B Craig Tatum C Jeremy Guthrie RHP
Continue reading

Rotation and bullpen pitching in

Rotation and bullpen pitching in
One of the Orioles filled his breakfast plate this morning and Luke Hochevar's ERA went up another point. Speaking of breakfast, you'll barely have time to digest it before the first pitch today. We've got a 12:35 p.m. starting time before the Orioles fly to Oakland to begin their first West Coast trip of the season. The Orioles will try to extend their winning streak to five games for the first time this season. The rotation is rolling again. Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Tillman, Zach Britton...
Continue reading

Most postgame chatter

Most postgame chatter
Adam Jones talks about: Being in a groove: "I feel good up there at the plate. The team is swinging it better of late and I just feed off the person in front of me. Everybody needs to just feed off each other." On the fourth-inning outburst: "It was about time. It was about time when we get one of those instances where you bat twice in an inning." On Luke Hochevar returning for the fifth inning: "He had what? I think I looked up and he had in the seventh 88 pitches or something like...
Continue reading

Snyder optioned, Tatum to be recalled

Snyder optioned, Tatum to be recalled
The Orioles optioned first baseman Brandon Snyder to Triple-A Norfolk after tonight's game. Snyder, 24, batted .222 (2-for-9) in five games. Catcher Craig Tatum is here and will officially be recalled tomorrow. Look for him to be behind the plate for Jeremy Guthrie's start against the Royals. With Nolan Reimold on the roster, Luke Scott is freed up to play more first base. Jake Fox can be used in more of a utility role, which means backing up at first base and serving as a third catcher.
Continue reading

Showalter speaks after 9-2 win

Showalter speaks after 9-2 win
The Orioles tied their season high with their fourth straight victory. Jake Arrieta improved to 6-2 with a 4.57 ERA. It wasn't necessarily pretty, but he got the job done. Buck Showalter meets with the media to recap the Orioles' 9-2 win "Stuff-wise, he was good," manager Buck Showalter said. "He just gets out of sorts some and loses command for a while. He's fortunate to get through six innings. He worked himself into some trouble. Would you take six innings and two runs every...
Continue reading

Arrieta rebounds from Nats game

Arrieta rebounds from Nats game
Tonight's attendance: 15,740 Remember when Jake Arrieta gave up those six runs and six hits against the Nationals in only 3 2/3 innings? Ancient history. Arrieta turned in his eighth quality start tonight, holding the Royals to a two-run homer from Melky Cabrera over six innings. Jim Johnson has replaced him in the seventh. Arrieta allowed five hits, walked three and struck out seven. He threw 106 pitches, 66 for strikes. That's not real sharp, but it's the eighth time in 11 starts...
Continue reading

Counting on Arrieta (O's take 8-0 lead)

Counting on Arrieta (O's take 8-0 lead)
The positive spin on Jake Arrieta after two innings is he hasn't allowed a run. Keep in mind that the Nationals abused him for six runs in 3 2/3 innings in his last start, so tonight's early returns are encouraging. However, each positive spin must also include a negative spin. Says so right here in the "spin" handbook. Arrieta has thrown 46 pitches, 23 for strikes. That's a lot of pitches for two innings. Arrieta hasn't given up a hit, but he's walked two batters. That's negative....
Continue reading

Pregame Showalter

Pregame Showalter
Here's a sampler platter from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Napkins are optional. A cold beverage is recommended. On the AL East standings: "I see us three games out in the loss column. I think it's the only division with four teams .500 or better. I think it's that time of year where most teams start kind of seeking their level and separation starts happening one way or the other. I look at it from our perspective more than anything. I'd much rather be...
Continue reading