Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

I hate being "that" guy

I hate being "that" guy
It's such a shame that the Orioles have turned me into one of those guys who sits there wondering how they're going to lose a game. It would be a crying shame, but I don't want you to see me cry. I thought David Hernandez's rising pitch count would pose a serious problem. I envisioned how he'd run into trouble, Will Ohman would be removed too soon and Alfredo Simon would take a two-run lead into the ninth, which he did, though I anticipated a 4-2 score instead of 5-3. I didn't think it...
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Craig's list of hits (updated)

Craig's list of hits (updated)
David Hernandez might have to throw 200 pitches tonight if he wants a no-hitter. Hernandez has made it through four innings without surrendering a hit, but his pitch count is up to 78. He's walked three batters and gone to a few three-ball counts. I'm just doing the math, which isn't my strength, and I see a potential problem here. Craig Tatum is starting tonight because Matt Wieters has a sore right knee. He's 2-for-3 with a two-run single in the third inning. Tatum was 5-for-6 in his...
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Wieters unavailable tonight

Wieters unavailable tonight
Catcher Matt Wieters fouled a ball off his right knee last night and isn't in tonight's lineup. He also isn't available to pinch hit, according to manager Dave Trembley. That's one more issue for Trembley, who has a desk full of them right now. MASN's Amber Theoharis tells me that X-rays taken on Wieters knee came back negative and he's hoping to get back in the lineup tomorrow afternoon. He's just too sore to play tonight. The Orioles have 10 days to trade, release or request waivers...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott 1B Adam Jones CF Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS David Hernandez RHP For the Nationals: Willie Harris RF Cristian Guzman 2B Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam Dunn 1B Josh Willingham LF Ivan Rodriguez C Roger Bernadina CF Ian Desmond SS Scott Olsen LHP I received a text message earlier today from reliever Mike Gonzalez, saying that his arm felt good after yesterday's extended spring training game and he's...
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Roch Kubatko

Turner DFA

Turner DFA
The Orioles made their roster move official this afternoon. They purchased the contract of infielder Scott Moore from Triple-A Norfolk, and he'll take the roster spot of reliever Alberto Castillo. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated infielder Justin Turner for asssignment. My flight just landed, so I'll follow up with more on this later.
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Moore vs. Aubrey

Moore vs. Aubrey
I'm sitting at gate B12, waiting to board my Airtran flight to Baltimore. Seemed like a good time to move the comments and file another entry. I'm digging one hand into a bag of Kangaroo-brand multi-grain garden herb baked pita chips. Never heard of them until I got here, and I've devoured two bags. And I'm not talking snack-size. I'm hooked, which might be a bad thing if I can't find them in Maryland. I never even heard of Kangaroo. That's not a good sign. Anyway, many of us assumed...
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Texas two-step

Texas two-step
I woke up during the night to an e-mail from the Orioles announcing that left-hander Alberto Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after a 13-7 loss to Texas that completed the Rangers' two-game sweep. No surprise there. If you had him on your fantasy team, I'm assuming that you dropped him a while ago. Castillo has allowed nine earned runs in 6 1/3 innings over nine appearances with the Orioles. And I'm pretty sure that's nine separate call-ups. I hope he's on some sort of points...
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Oh no, oh yes, oh no (updated twice)

Oh no, oh yes, oh no (updated twice)
The Orioles won a game on Tuesday after falling behind, 3-0, to Cy Young winner Zack Greinke. I suppose that made a 4-0 deficit tonight against Scott Feldman seem a lot smaller. We'll see how they handle a 6-3 deficit. The Rangers jumped all over left-hander Brian Matusz in the first inning, but the Orioles fought back with three runs in the top of the second to cut the Rangers' lead to 4-3. Now Matusz has served up his second home run, a two-run shot by Vladimir Guerrero in the second...
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An extended stay for Flacco and Givens

An extended stay for Flacco and Givens
Using all the restraint I could muster, I waited until the end of my chat with minor league infielder Mike Flacco to bring up his more famous brother. "Have you talked to Joe much lately?" He hasn't. I'm sure that never gets old for him. Mike Flacco was kept at extended spring training while recovering from a fracture in his lower back. He was hoping to be assigned to one of the full-season affiliates after batting .272 with 14 doubles, five triples, three homers and 34 RBIs in 60 games...
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Scott at first base

Scott at first base
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott 1B Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Lou Montanez DH Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP For the Rangers: Elvis Andrus SS Michael Young 3B Ian Kinsler 2B Vladimir Guerrero DH Josh Hamilton CF Nelson Cruz RF Joaquin Arias 1B David Murphy LF Matt Treanor C Scott Feldman RHP
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Roberts delays trip to Sarasota (updated)

Roberts delays trip to Sarasota (updated)
Brian Roberts still intends to fly down to Sarasota and continue baseball activities, but it won't be this week. And I won't be here to greet him. Roberts is hospitalized after being diagnosed with pneumonia. He sent me a text message earlier today saying that he's feeling OK and will report to Ed Smith Stadium "hopefully sometime soon." When will this guy catch a break? I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. I hope this wasn't part of some elaborate scheme to avoid me. Usually, it's women...
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Gonzo goes an inning

Gonzo goes an inning
You know it's extended spring training when... ...Mike Gonzalez is getting his signs from Dashenko Ricardo. Gonzalez played catch with Ricardo, who spent most of last season at rookie-level Bluefield, before taking the mound for today's game against a collection of Twins minor leaguers. With Ricardo behind the plate, Gonzalez allowed a single and walked a batter in his scoreless inning. He struck out two, including the last batter on a 89 mph fastball. The leadoff hitter reached on an...
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Pie making progress

Pie making progress
Mike Gonzalez will pitch the first inning of today's extended spring training game. The major leaguers go first. Felix Pie has been performing various exercises for the last five days that are designed to strengthen the muscles in his back. He's also allowed to take one-handed swings in the cage. Pie will continue this routine for two more weeks before being cleared to start hitting and throwing. "I feel great, but the trainers and doctors say I have to wait," he said. "The decision...
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The morning view from Sarasota

The morning view from Sarasota
It's hot. That doesn't really qualify as a view, but it's worth repeating: It's hot. How hot is it? It's so hot, Koji Uehara started to sweat after being told the temperature. The stadium and clubhouse look the same as before. The only change I've noticed is the media trailer is gone. But renovations could start soon. Sarasota County has selected contractors for Twin Lakes Park and Ed Smith Stadium. The County Commission must give its approval next week and release the money, and...
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The heat was on

The heat was on
Orioles manager Dave Trembley explained after last night's game that starter Jeremy Guthrie began tiring in the fifth inning. Guthrie's legs were going on him. He was running out of gas. Choose your favorite expression. The right-hander was fading fast. That explains why he left the game after 90 pitches. The Texas heat must have gotten to him. What's gotten into Guthrie? His ERA's down to 3.86 and he's turned in seven quality starts this season, including last night, when he held the...
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Checking on J.J. (updated)

Checking on J.J. (updated)
This game has gotten too weird. Koji Uehara is removed with two outs in the eighth inning so another right-hander, Cla Meredith, can get the final out? Was he gassed after 30 pitches? I was standing outside the Ed Smith Stadium clubhouse today when Jim Johnson spotted me and said, "Brian isn't here." Very funny. Johnson must assume he rates lower than Brian Roberts, but I actually wanted to check on him. Johnson was shut down after being diagnosed with a strained ligament in his right...
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Checking in (updated twice)

Checking in (updated twice)
Did Jeremy Guthrie really come out of the game after 90 pitches? Guthrie held the Rangers to one run, a bomb from Josh Hamilton, and seven hits over six innings. He didn't issue a walk and struck out three. I expected to see him in the seventh, but I'm pretty detached from the game, so I must be missing something. Luke Scott, Adam Jones and Cesar Izturis each have two hits. Most important, Izturis has two RBIs, accounting for both Orioles' runs. Garrett Atkins is 0-for-3 and struck out...
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Reimold back at first

Reimold back at first
Nolan Reimold is making another start at first base tonight with Triple-A Norfolk. He served as the Tides' designated hitter last night and also has started in left field. Reimold is 2-for-17 with a home run, two RBIs, two walks and five strikeouts in five games since being optioned. The Orioles want him to get acclimated to first base, but the No. 1 priority is supposed to be regaining his stroke. Hopefully, he can do that while learning a new position. Michael Aubrey is playing left field...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson 2B Ty Wigginton RF Nick Markakis 3B Miguel Tejada DH Luke Scott C Matt Wieters CF Adam Jones 1B Garrett Atkins SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jeremy Guthrie For the Rangers: SS Elvis Andrus 3B Michael Young 2B Ian Kinsler DH Vladimir Guerrero LF Josh Hamilton RF Nelson Cruz 1B Justin Smoak C Matt Treanor CF Julio Borbon RHP Rich Harden
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Random notes

Random notes
Ty Wigginton is batting .389 during a nine-game hitting streak, including three doubles, two homers, six RBIs and five runs scored. Will he start at second base again tonight or slide over to first, with Garrett Atkins taking a seat? Atkins hasn't homered in a career-high 44 games (since Sept. 11, 2009). He hasn't homered in his last 138 at-bats, eight shy of his longest drought (146 from July 1 to Aug. 13, 2005). Orioles first basemen are last in the majors in slugging (.275), on-base...
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