Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Pitchers repeating history (updated)

Pitchers repeating history (updated)
Is it really going to take five pitchers to wrap up a 2-0 victory? If the Orioles hold on, it will be the first time they've allowed one run or fewer in back-to-back games since Aug. 8-9, 2008. They defeated the Texas Rangers 9-1 and 9-0. Alfredo Simon will need to get the last three outs and record the save to make it happen. Unfortunately for the Orioles, they'll turn over the Indians lineup after Cleveland sent five batters to the plate in the eighth. Simon will face the ninth, first...
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Why? I mean...why? (updated twice)

Why? I mean...why? (updated twice)
The Orioles have runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Corey Patterson's at the plate. A fly ball delivers their second run and gives left-hander Brian Matusz a little more room to breathe. So why is Cesar Izturis trying to steal second? Indians catcher is Lou Marson is 2-for-2 in these challenges tonight after cutting down Izturis with a perfect throw. Naturally, Patterson lifted a fly ball to center field, but it resulted in the third out. Were the...
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Two updates (w/update)

Two updates (w/update)
Brian Matusz has a shutout through four innings. He's allowed five hits, which means he's scattered them. Matusz's six strikeouts match his total over his last three starts. He fanned Travis Hafner to open the fourth on a knee-buckling curveball, and Jhonny Peralta swung through a 92 mph fastball. The Orioles aren't giving him much support. The game's only run came on Ty Wigginton's 414-foot homer. Down on the farm, St. Paul's grad Steve Johnson is pitching for Double-A Bowie against...
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Tying last year's home run total

Tying last year's home run total
Ty Wigginton hit 11 home runs in 410 at-bats last season. He just belted No. 11 this year in his 116th at-bat. I don't want to jinx the guy, but I like his chances of surpassing last year's total. Wigginton gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second inning by crushing a 78 mph changeup from Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot. Wigginton swung at the first pitch and launched it 414 feet to left field. Adam Jones has the other hit off Talbot, a single in the first inning. He was cut down trying...
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Trying times for Rhyne

Trying times for Rhyne
When I posted earlier that Rhyne Hughes hit outdoors before batting practice, you probably thought, "Good idea." Hughes isn't in the lineup tonight against a right-hander, which tells you how much he's struggling. He's 5-for-31 with one RBI and 14 strikeouts in his last 10 games, lowering his average to .213 after a scorching start with the Orioles. Welcome to The Show. What is manager Dave Trembley seeing from Hughes? "Swinging and missing too much," he replied. Fortunately, he...
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Two injury updates

Two injury updates
Brian Roberts played catch yesterday. He played catch and took ground balls today. That qualifies as baby steps, but at least he's moving forward. "I am encouraged," manager Dave Trembley said. "He's felt better, but he's got a ways to go yet." Trembley expects Roberts to start hitting off a tee as the next step. Reliever Mike Gonzalez had a side session in Sarasota today (say that three times fast). He threw 30 pitches. That's the first time he's stepped on a mound since...
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Reimold: Day 2

Reimold: Day 2
Nolan Reimold, starting in left field today for Triple-A Norfolk, is 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The Tides trail Buffalo, 4-0, in the bottom of the eighth inning. Michael Aubrey is 1-for-3 as the designated hitter, leaving his average at .256. Rhyne Hughes might want to keep an eye on him. Jake Arrieta allowed four runs and five hits over six innings, with four walks and three strikeouts. He surrendered two home runs. Arrieta threw 98 pitches, 57 for strikes. Dennis Sarfate has thrown 1 2/3...
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Hank Hysteria

Hank Hysteria
Hank Blalock suddenly has become a hot commodity, at least judging by some comments on this blog. Thanks to JDB for directing me to this link, which explains how the Rays are calling up Blalock from Triple-A Durham and how he could have exercised his opt-out clause. Blalock, the former Texas Ranger who garnered little interest on the free-agent market, will replace Pat Burrell. I'm not slamming Blalock, and I was intrigued by him over the winter as the Orioles figured to let the first base...
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Running on empty

Running on empty
Adam Jones kept apologizing to Nick Markakis last night after costing the right fielder an RBI by holding at third base on a ground ball to first. Jones could smile about it (I'm not sure about Markakis) because he eventually scored on Luke Scott's single and the Orioles eventually won, but man, the baserunning on this team continues to give me a rash. New season, same issues. Like I keep saying, they work on this stuff in spring training. Every...single...day. Maybe it's like my...
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The mound conference

The mound conference
So what exactly did manager Dave Trembley say to Jeremy Guthrie after walking to the mound in the eighth inning with two outs, a runner on first base and Grady Sizemore at the plate? "I said, 'You've earned the opportunity to be out here and finish this thing off. I trust you'll give it to me straight. If you're out of gas, tell me. If you want it, go ahead.' And he said, 'I'll get him out,' and I turned around and walked away," Trembley said after tonight's 8-1 victory. "I think...
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Guthrie's night

Guthrie's night
Orioles manager Dave Trembley went to the mound with two outs in the eighth inning. I thought he was taking Jeremy Guthrie with him to the dugout. I'm sure I wasn't alone in that assumption. Trembley stuck with Guthrie, who got the final out and accepted congratulations after his 113th pitch. He allowed one run and two hits, walked one and struck out five. His ERA's down to 4.13. That's beyond impressive. Down on the farm, Single-A Delmarva pounded out 17 hits - with no home runs - in a...
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Checking on Reimold

Checking on Reimold
Nolan Reimold made his 2010 debut with Triple-A Norfolk tonight, going 0-for-3 with a walk as the designated hitter in the Tides' 5-3 loss to Buffalo. Reimold batted fifth. Chris Tillman allowed four earned runs (five total) and eight hits in six innings, walking one and striking out two. He served up two home runs. You never know when a Norfolk infielder will wind up in the outfield. It's become a game within the game. Blake Davis, who's primarily a shortstop, started in right field...
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Jeremy Guthrie: Comeback Pitcher of the Night

Jeremy Guthrie: Comeback Pitcher of the Night
Do they hand out an award like that one? Guthrie recorded the first two outs in the first inning before a walk, hit batter and single put him in a 1-0 hole. I had my doubts about him. The night had the potential to become a long one. Shows what I know. Jhonny Peralta's run-scoring single is the only hit off Guthrie through six innings. He's walked one and struck out four. He's also rubbing a little salt in the wounds of an organization that drafted him in the first round and let him...
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It's official: Scott's sizzling (updated)

It's official: Scott's sizzling (updated)
Luke Scott is 2-for-2 with an RBI that gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the third inning. We don't know how long this is going to last, so enjoy it while you can. Break out the cell phone and take some pics. Scott bailed out Adam Jones, who inexplicably held at third base on Nick Markakis' grounder to first. The Indians were playing back and conceding the run. Corey Patterson also has two hits tonight to go with a leaping catch at the fence. Instant update: Make that three hits. I would...
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Never a good sign

Never a good sign
The grounds crew has done more than move behind the tarp. The infield is being covered in anticipation of a storm. It isn't raining at the moment, but I guess it's coming. The sky is getting darker. No way we're starting on time.
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Pre-game Trembley

Pre-game Trembley
First base coach John "T-Bone" Shelby will miss tonight's game because he's being inducted into the Henry Clay High School Hall of Fame in Lexington, Ky. Bench coach Jeff Datz will handle the first base duties. Alfredo Simon doesn't always make it look easy, but he remains the team's closer and continues to have manager Dave Trembley's full support. "I would evaluate him as a guy that is an underdog who has overachieved, who has proven a lot of people wrong, who has come back from a...
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Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Corey Patterson LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Matt Wieters C Rhyne Hughes 1B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Indians: Cabrera SS Sizemore CF Choo RF Hafner DH Peralta 3B Branyan 1B LaPorta LF Valbuena 2B Marson C Masterson RHP
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Zach and Caleb's excellent adventure

Zach and Caleb's excellent adventure
If you have a few minutes - or 7:56 to be exact - check out the following YouTube clip of Double-A Bowie pitcher Zach Britton and catcher Caleb Joseph touring Camden Yards. You might recall that I mentioned their unexpected appearance in the press box in one of my blog entries. Joseph shows off his dance moves, and they were nice enough to throw a little love at the School of Roch. Thanks, fellas. Check out what happens when they try to ride the elevator up to the press box.
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Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
It would be nice to wake up to sunshine just once more before winter. The forecast is ominous again tonight. I've started to get used to it. How does "a chance of showers and thunderstorms" work for you? I hope it's OK because that's what you've got. So you're saying there's a chance? Yes. We'll talk about a "window" for getting in the game. There's always a window. And we'll keep an eye on the grounds crew and hope that it doesn't move behind the tarp during an inning....
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In decline

In decline
Good morning to all. Teams throughout baseball were busy this week declining options on their players, turning them loose on the free agent market. Three of them intrigue me at the moment. Could Jermaine Dye, at the right cost, provide that right-handed power bat for the middle of the order that manager Dave Trembley places high on his wish list? Dye has averaged 33 home runs over the past five seasons, though he's batted .254 and .250 in two of the last three. He could serve as the...
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