Going, going, Gonzo

Going, going, Gonzo
If you noticed that it took me until early this afternoon to approve the comments, and some questions went unanswered, I have an explanation to go along with my apology. I'm in Sarasota. No, really. I filed the morning entry from my gate at BWI before boarding my 7:32 a.m. Airtran flight, with its connection in Atlanta. The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce should be proud. I must love this place. I also have work to do. I hustled to the rental car counter and drove straight to Ed Smith...
Continue reading

About last night...

About last night...
The days and games seem to run together, so I'm trying to get confirmation that the Orioles won last night after falling behind Zack Greinke, 3-0. This didn't happen two years ago. I'm pretty sure it was more recent - perhaps about eight hours ago. I'll admit that more than a few people in the press box last night remarked how the game was likely over after the Royals took a 1-0 lead. That seemed like enough support for Greinke. And it's not like the Orioles have spoiled Kevin Millwood...
Continue reading

Leftover quotes and Norfolk update

Leftover quotes and Norfolk update
Kevin Millwood: "Stuff was good. Felt like I located the ball well. My four-seamer was cutting a little bit, my two-seamer was sinking. When I threw my breaking pitches early, I did what I wanted to do. Stuff definitely wasn't a problem all day." "I think when Luke (Scott) gets locked in he's one of the best hitters in the game. It doesn't matter who's pitching to him, he's going to hit the ball long and hard, and that's kind of where he's at right now. And it's fun to watch a guy...
Continue reading
Tags:

Orioles 4, Royals 3, 10 innings

Orioles 4, Royals 3, 10 innings
A 4-4 homestand should have been a 6-2 homestand, but I won't ruin your buzz. Julio Lugo scored the winning run on Nick Markakis' long bases-loaded single in the 10th, making Alfredo Simon a winner after his blown save ruined Saturday night's game and started another losing streak. "The game can get away from you in a hurry," manager Dave Trembley said. "It got away from us (Saturday) with a win that was just waiting for us to take and Simon gave it up. Then we had an opportunity to do...
Continue reading

No walk-off for Atkins, but a win

No walk-off for Atkins, but a win
I thought a Garrett Atkins walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning would make the perfect storyline, but he grounded to short. Atkins is 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, lowering his average to .227. In a bizarre coincidence, the scoreboard in center field went out as Atkins came to the plate. It just faded to black. The Orioles did not, however. They loaded the bases off Bryan Bullington, and Nick Markakis singled to deep left-center field to win it. They pull out a victory on a...
Continue reading
Tags:

And we're tied

And we're tied
Luke Scott isn't the only one who can hit home runs around here. Corey Patterson just connected off Royals reliever Blake Wood with one out in the eighth inning to tie the score, 3-3. Patterson has two homers since the Orioles purchased his contract from Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles caught a break when Zack Greinke left the game after seven innings, the only runs off him coming on Scott's two homers. Kevin Millwood turned in another quality start, allowing three runs in eight innings....
Continue reading
Tags:

Luke out D.C. (w/another update)

Luke out D.C. (w/another update)
Tonight's attendance: 9,715. Corey Patterson was peppering the press box with foul balls, almost wiping out the AP's Dave Ginsburg on two occasions. Ginsburg bailed on one ball that slammed off his television. I think his chair's still rolling backward. Just not sure if he's in it. Patterson struck out. Ginsburg lucked out. Luke Scott homered again tonight, giving him eight on the season. He's accounted for the Orioles' lone run off Zack Greinke through six innings. Scott is...
Continue reading
Tags:

Now it's safe to talk about it (updated twice)

Now it's safe to talk about it (updated twice)
Kevin Millwood was throwing a perfect game for 4 1/3 innings. He retired 13 Royals in a row before designated hitter Jose Guillen grounded a single up the middle. Shortstop Julio Lugo was shaded far to his right and couldn't make up the ground. He never laid a glove on it. Millwood struck out six Royals, including Billy Butler twice, before Guillen reached. Alberto Callaspo followed with a single to put runners on the corners. In typical Orioles fashion, the game is scoreless as Kansas City...
Continue reading
Tags:

Down on the farm

Down on the farm
Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter tonight for Triple-A Norfolk. Brandon Snyder is starting at first base. Rhyne Hughes is playing right field and Michael Aubrey's in left. Will Aubrey be in D.C. on Friday? Stay tuned. Joey Gathright, batting .184, has moved from first to ninth in the order. Center fielder Xavier Avery went 3-for-3 with an RBI today in Single-A Frederick's 3-1 victory over Potomac. Third baseman Billy Rowell was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Nathan Nery held Potomac...
Continue reading
Tags:

Trembley offers his view on the Hanley Ramirez controversy

Trembley offers his view on the Hanley Ramirez controversy
Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez took a verbal shot at manager Fredi Gonzalez yesterday that rocked Dave Trembley on his heels. Trembley considers Gonzalez a good friend, so it already had become a sensitive issue. And it also must have stung when Ramirez, venting to reporters after being removed from the game for not hustling, belittled Gonzalez for never playing in the majors. Trembley is one of eight managers who never played professionally at any level. Dave Trembley reacts to the drama...
Continue reading
Tags:

Hernandez ready to go

Hernandez ready to go
David Hernandez completed his bullpen session and didn't experience any discomfort in his right shoulder. He's set to face the Nationals Friday in D.C. "It went really good," he said. "I threw what I'd normally throw in any given side day. I had no pain, so that's good. I'm just going to keep doing treatment. Extra stretching is really key for it." Hernandez is convinced that skipping Sunday's start made all the difference in his recovery. "If I had started, I probably would have...
Continue reading
Tags:

Time of press conference: 28 minutes, 49 seconds

Time of press conference: 28 minutes, 49 seconds
Well, manager Dave Trembley sure made up for last night's abbreviated post-game session with the media. No real news came out of it. David Hernandez threw his bullpen session - I'll check on him once the clubhouse opens again to the media at 5:30 p.m. - and he's still scheduled to make his next start. Reliever Michael Gonzalez is still scheduled to throw one inning in Thursday's extended spring training game in Sarasota and will stay there a while longer before embarking on a minor league...
Continue reading
Tags:

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Julio Lugo SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Royals: Podsednik LF Kendall C DeJesus RF Butler 1B Guillen DH Callaspo 3B Maier CF Betancourt SS Getz 2B Greinke RHP
Continue reading
Tags:

Laying one down and sitting down

Laying one down and sitting down
I'd be in a miserable mood this morning if the weather wasn't so nice. Oh wait... So, to make sure I've got this straight: Garrett Atkins should bunt with runners on first and second. Corey Patterson shouldn't bunt with runners on first and second. Here's my take: The second inning may seem too early to give up an out, but with Atkins scuffling and the Orioles desperately needing to manufacture runs, I'd have him bunting. The same goes for Patterson. Not because you want to take...
Continue reading
Tags:

Bergy bits

Bergy bits
Brad Bergesen didn't feel like he brought his best stuff into tonight's start. "It was a really a battle, but when I look back on it, it was really that one breaking ball to Billy Butler that was the one that sticks out," he said. "Kranny (Rick Kranitz) and (Matt) Wieters both came out there and told me, 'All 0-2 pitches, everything out of the zone.' And sure enough, first pitch, I try and get it down and I hung one right in the zone and he made me pay for it. I can't do that. That was...
Continue reading
Tags:

Ty talk

Ty talk
Ty Wigginton met with reporters at his locker after the game. Here are a few quotes to get you through the night: On Kyle Davies: "He made good pitches. I was underneath them. He's tough. He's got a nice little cutter and he did his job." On lost opportunities: "We definitely had the opportunities. Garrett (Atkins) had a great at-bat to start that ninth inning, Izzy (Cesar Izturis) gets down the bunt, Corey (Patterson) does his job, they walk Nick (Markakis) and it's up to me next. I...
Continue reading
Tags:

Time of press conference: 2 minutes, 10 seconds

Time of press conference: 2 minutes, 10 seconds
Manager Dave Trembley might have set a record tonight. Trembley made his usual opening statement and took three questions. Nothing else was coming. End of press conference. I've seen mound visits last longer. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 4-3 loss to the Royals "We're down by a run in the ninth and we've got ourselves in a position to win the game with the right guys up at the right time, and it didn't happen, and that's how the game ended," Trembley said....
Continue reading

The last gasp? (updated)

The last gasp? (updated)
Matt Wieters singled with one out in the eighth, putting the potential tying run on base. I expected Julio Lugo to run for him and try to steal a base. Instead, Wieters stayed in the game, Adam Jones grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and the Royals continued to hold a 4-3 lead. Any chance the Orioles rally against Joakim Soria in the ninth? Any chance they beat Zack Greinke tomorrow night? Jones was so frustrated, he fired his batting helmet down the right field line. I thought it was...
Continue reading
Tags:

No record tonight

No record tonight
Tonight's attendance: 9,299. That's not a record-low at Camden Yards. The Orioles-Rays drew 9,129 on April 12. Tonight's intimate gathering is the second-lowest, which should draw chants of "We're No. 2." (Careful. Just...careful.) As always, keep in mind we're talking about tickets sold, not fannies in the seats. No way we have that many people here unless they're all huddled in the bathrooms.
Continue reading
Tags:

Extreme small ball

Extreme small ball
The Orioles have two bunt hits in the first two innings, the second coming from Adam Jones after Matt Wieters singled. With two on and no outs, Garrett Atkins lined softly to Kansas City second baseman Mike Aviles. If Atkins had been able to advance Wieters to third base, Cesar Izturis' long fly ball to right would have tied the game. That is, if you believe that the at-bat would have played out the same. The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on Brad Bergesen's balk. Mitch...
Continue reading
Tags: