Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Making room for Pie

Making room for Pie
Good morning. I'll be stepping away from my laptop, and this blog, more than usual this week as I continue to make the gradual move into my townhouse. The new place is empty, but I've got my rental through the end of the month. The new one is pretty much within walking distance of my current residence, if I was motivated, but I find it easier to load up my car for the short drive. The professional movers arrive Thursday morning, but I'm trying to leave behind as little as possible...
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Roch Kubatko

Down on the farm

Down on the farm
Brandon Erbe is 0-10 with a 5.73 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk after today's 5-1 loss to Toledo. Erbe allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in five innings, and was removed after 88 pitches (59 strikes). Jim Miller threw two scoreless innings, striking out three, but Toledo's Casper Wells hit a three-run homer off Dennis Sarfate in the ninth. Josh Bell was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Jeff Salazar had two hits. Single-A Frederick's Ryan O'Shea also allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in...
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Roch Kubatko

The beating goes on

The beating goes on
Remember when the Orioles had a 4-0 lead in the first inning? I should have taken pictures. They forgot about the other eight innings. The bats are back in the rack. Jon Garland has retired 14 in a row as we head to the bottom of the sixth. Mark Hendrickson gave up a run in the fifth to increase the Padres' lead to 7-4. Hendrickson has allowed eight runs and 10 hits in his last three appearances totaling 3 2/3 innings, and 11 runs and 14 hits in his last five games totaling 6 2/3 innings....
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Roch Kubatko

Arrieta laboring (updated)

Arrieta laboring (updated)
Jake Arrieta's third major league start isn't going as smoothly as the first two. Not even close. Arrieta isn't commanding his fastball, resulting in six runs (five earned) and three walks in three innings. That 4-0 lead is a distant memory. Luke Scott made a great catch in foul territory to rob Scott Hairston, almost flipping over into the camera well, but his error on Jerry Hairston's ground ball allowed Will Venable to score. Far worse was Venable's three-run homer with two outs in...
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Roch Kubatko

Wieters' bat awakens

Wieters' bat awakens
Matt Wieters began today with only two RBIs since May 27, but he collected three with a bases-loaded double in the first inning that increased the Orioles' lead to 4-0. Wieters hadn't finished a game with three RBIs since May 1 against Boston. He was mired in a 3-for-34 slump, but the Orioles haven't discussed sending him down to Triple-A Norfolk. He's in the lineup again because they didn't have a late game last night, compared to most Saturdays, and interim manager Juan Samuel thinks...
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Roch Kubatko

Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson 3B Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 2B Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jake Arrieta For the Padres: CF Tony Gwynn 2B David Eckstein 1B Adrian Gonzalez C Nick Hundley LF Scott Hairston RF Will Venable SS Jerry Hairston Jr. 3B Lance Zawadzki RHP Jon Garland A victory today would make Arrieta the first Orioles starter in club history to win his first three outings. Ben McDonald won his first five starts, but made...
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Roch Kubatko

Snyder sidelined

Snyder sidelined
I was scrolling through Triple-A Norfolk's game notes, which were e-mailed early this morning, when I spotted this line: Brandon Snyder was placed on the disabled list yesterday, retroactive to June 18, with a right shoulder strain and Joey Gathright was activated from the DL (lower back strain). Snyder was hitting .311 in his last 36 games. By the way, the Tides list their next four starters after today as TBA. Brad Bergesen could get the ball tomorrow on short rest after throwing 65...
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Roch Kubatko

Berken keeps workin'

Berken keeps workin'
Happy Father's Day. I was greeted this morning with the following exchange: Daughter: "Can I go swimming later today?" Me: "Only if you wish me a Happy Father's Day." Daughter: "Oh crap, I forgot! Happy Father's Day. I love you." I guess that counts. Have you recovered from last night's game? You might need to stay in bed, even if you're not getting breakfast there. Kevin Millwood's first victory wasn't going to come easily, not on a night when the Orioles butchered a...
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Roch Kubatko

A lost RBI

A lost RBI
The Orioles should lead by three runs heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, and Adam Jones should have three RBIs tonight. Corey Patterson pinch-ran for Luke Scott, who collected his third hit, and stole second to move into scoring position. Unfortunately, the "scoring" part didn't hold up. Patterson didn't get a good jump on Jones' single to center field, and he stumbled as he reached third base. He kept going and was an easy out, especially because he chose to go in standing...
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Good news on two levels

Good news on two levels
Adam Jones hit his ninth home run tonight, a two-run shot into the second deck that gave the Orioles a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning. Kevin Millwood has blanked the Padres since that infuriating first inning. He's thrown 86 pitches through the fifth. Down on the farm, Nolan Reimold went 2-for-4 with a double, walk and run scored in Triple-A Norfolk's 10-3 win over Toledo. Reimold's average is up to .217. Looks like he's heating up. Jeff Salazar homered twice and drove in four runs. Paco...
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Roch Kubatko

The good and the bad (updated)

The good and the bad (updated)
Let's start with the good: The Orioles scored a run for Kevin Millwood in the first inning after Julio Lugo reached on Jerry Hairston's throwing error, stole third base and raced home on Nick Markakis' fly ball. Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters that outfielder Felix Pie, rehabbing a torn muscle in his back, will begin an injury rehab assignment in the minors on Tuesday. Double-A Bowie left-hander Zach Britton shut out Harrisburg on two hits over six innings. Triple-A Norfolk...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: 2B Julio Lugo 3B Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton LF Luke Scott CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters SS Cesar Izturis RHP Kevin Millwood For the Padres: 2B David Eckstein 3B Chase Headley 1B Adrian Gonzalez LF Scott Hairston C Yorvit Torrealba RF Will Venable SS Jerry Hairston Jr. CF Tony Gwynn Jr. LHP Clayton Richard Richard has allowed more than three runs only once this season - May 28 vs. the Nationals. He's gone six or more innings in his last seven games,...
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Millwood: Overdue and underperforming

Millwood: Overdue and underperforming
The question comes up every fifth or sixth day: Will Kevin Millwood finally get his first win? He won't bring much momentum into his latest attempt. We know about the lack of run support. He's received 44 in 14 starts, and the Orioles have scored just 24 while he was in those games. They've totaled 17 in his last 11 outings while he's been on the mound. But Millwood isn't in the midst of the longest losing streak of his career, eight games, simply because the offense keeps bailing on...
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Roch Kubatko

Tides talk

Tides talk
Nolan Reimold has hit safely in four of his last five games with Triple-A Norfolk, batting .389 (7-for-18) with three RBIs. His average is up to .206. Maybe it's been a good idea to drop the first base experiment for a while. Stop filling his plate, and he'll have better results when he steps up to it. Guess who leads the Tides in RBIs (16), hits (21), doubles (six) and runs scored (11) this month? Hint: It's the same player who ranks second among all Orioles minor leaguers with 41 RBIs...
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Roch Kubatko

Another lost night for Wieters

Another lost night for Wieters
The best question of the day - and I know it's early, so the voting isn't complete - came from the fan who asked, "At what point do the O's become lovable?" They might lean more toward the frustrating side right now. Or the infuriating side. Perhaps something stronger. Last night's loss bled into so many others. The offense mostly sputtered, a key play wasn't made in the field, a good start was wasted, the bullpen collapsed late. I've seen this movie more times than...
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Roch Kubatko

The decision

The decision
Alfredo Simon was supposed to be the closer when he came off the disabled list. That's what we were told. Maybe not in his first appearance, but the ones afterward. David Hernandez changed that line of thinking with two saves - both in games that Jake Arrieta started. It looked like the right time to audition him. Interim manager Juan Samuel called upon Hernandez tonight after the Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth. Simon struck out both batters he faced to end the eighth, but...
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Risky business (updated)

Risky business (updated)
While MASN went to a commercial during the eighth-inning pitching change, I looked up Adrian Gonzalez's career numbers against left-hander Will Ohman. Then I cringed: 5-for-11, two doubles, one home run, three RBIs. Interim manager Juan Samuel wanted the lefty-lefty matchup, ignoring the stats that went along with it - including how Gonzalez was hitting .315 against southpaws before tonight, and how he was 2-for-2 against Brian Matusz. Ohman walked Gonzalez and came out of the...
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No decision for Matusz

No decision for Matusz
Brian Matusz held the Padres to one run over six innings tonight, but he won't get the long-awaited victory. Not with the Orioles scoring only one run. Matusz allowed six hits, walked one and struck out four. His biggest sin was running up his pitch count again - 114 before interim manager Juan Samuel lifted him for a pinch-hitter - and not hitting a few home runs to support his own cause. Somebody has to take care of him. Matusz has allowed four earned runs in his last 14 innings and...
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No DH? No problem (updated)

No DH? No problem (updated)
Playing in a National League ballpark has its advantages. It comes with National League rules. Padres pitcher Wade LeBlanc stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and one out in the fifth inning. There's no stopping him because there's no designated hitter. LeBlanc popped up a bunt on a safety squeeze and David Eckstein popped up after taking a full cut. End of rally. Credit shortstop Cesar Izturis for preserving the 1-0 lead with a diving stop of Aaron Cunningham's ground...
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First blood

First blood
In case Brian Matusz doesn't recognize what just happened, the Orioles scored a run for him. Matusz will try to protect a 1-0 lead as we enter the bottom of the fourth inning, and hope that the Orioles' generosity will extend a little further. Miguel Tejada, Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton opened the top of the fourth with singles that produced a 1-0 lead. Markakis is 2-for-2 and hasn't been retired since he vented about the club's offensive approach, among other things, to The Sun. Did...
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