Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Turning the Tides

Turning the Tides
I'm watching Tom Davis' Take Me Out to the Ballgame on MASN and wondering who's the guy sitting next to him in the wrinkled shirt and jeans? Apparently, there's no dress code for guests. I'd rethink that position (that's what she...never mind.) It's been a slow day, so I'll pass along a few Triple-A tidbits: Dennis Sarfate's fastball was clocked in the 94-96 mph range during Saturday's scoreless outing with Norfolk after the Orioles activated him from the disabled list. Protect...
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Roch Kubatko

Is a roster move coming?

Is a roster move coming?
Tigers Woods withdrew from The Players Championship because he has a bulging disk. I know what you're thinking. Stop it. So, is that different from a herniated disk? Which one is worse? Is it more painful to hit a tee shot or a fastball? So many questions, so little time. I'm hearing strong rumblings that the Orioles will make a roster move today. I figured it might happen before tomorrow night's game. Either way, I think a change is coming. I'll go back to Corey Patterson, who's...
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Roch Kubatko

Tillman's big day (and Bowie's bad day)

Tillman's big day (and Bowie's bad day)
Chris Tillman didn't throw another no-hitter - he's a tough act to follow - but he held Toledo to one run over seven innings in Triple-A Norfolk's 4-1 victory. Tillman allowed four hits, walked one and struck out 10 while improving to 3-3 with a 3.49 ERA. Is he knocking on the door? Tillman's last six outs came via strikeouts. He faced four batters over the minimum. Can you hear him knocking? Tillman is 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA, four walks and 24 strikeouts in his last four starts. Knock,...
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Roch Kubatko

Lesson learned

Lesson learned
Never make a guarantee at 1 a.m. And that includes anything involving baseball. Left-hander Brian Matusz gave up six runs and nine hits over 3 2/3 innings, falling well short of my prediction of seven innings and a victory. Good luck to Alfredo Simon if he's trying for a save in this one. Nick Blackburn held the Orioles to one hit through five scoreless innings, so Matusz needed to be perfect today. He wasn't up to the task. I'm not staying up late before making my next guarantee.
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J.J. update

J.J. update
Orioles manager Dave Trembley confirmed today that reliever Jim Johnson will have his right elbow examined this week by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Johnson told The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec that team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens referred to the injury as a "strained ulnar collateral ligament." The Orioles are hoping that Andrews confirms that diagnosis and ligament-reconstructive surgery won't be necessary. Johnson pitched once for Triple-A Norfolk before going on the disabled...
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Roch Kubatko

Today's lineups

Today's lineups
For the Orioles: Cesar Izturis SS Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins 1B Nolan Reimold LF Brian Matusz LHP For the Twins: Denard Span CF Nick Punto 3B Joe Mauer DH Justin Morneau 1B Michael Cuddyer RF Delmon Young LF Wilson Ramos C Brendan Harris SS Alexi Casilla 2B Nick Blackburn RHP
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A few early notes (w/Rowell update)

A few early notes (w/Rowell update)
Rookie left-hander Brian Matusz has made four consecutive quality starts and leads AL rookies in strikeouts (31) and innings pitched (36.2), is third in wins (two) and fourth in ERA (3.93). Matusz has allowed just two extra-base hits to left-handed batters this year in 30 at-bats (homer and double by Robinson Cano on April 29). Opponents are batting .262 against him with eight extra-base hits (five doubles, a triple and two home runs). In his 14 major league starts, left-handed batters are...
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Roch Kubatko

Reverse split

Reverse split
I'm not sure if it's a distant relative of the famed reverse lock, but I'd qualify what happened yesterday as a "reverse split." I assumed the Twins would take Game 1 behind Francisco Liriano, and the Orioles would win Game 2 behind Kevin Millwood. Then I was reminded that the Orioles don't score runs for Millwood and his latest quality start would be wasted along with all the others. But it sure beats a sweep. Millwood allowed three earned runs in seven innings and Luke Scott showed...
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Orioles lineup for Game 2

Orioles lineup for Game 2
Julio Lugo SS Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters DH Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 2B Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Rhyne Hughes 1B Craig Tatum C Kevin Millwood RHP
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Guthrie's day, and his velocity (updated)

Guthrie's day, and his velocity (updated)
Jeremy Guthrie gave the Orioles' 6 2/3 innings in Game 1 of today's doubleheader, and he left with a 6-3 lead. Guthrie allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five. He out-pitched Francisco Liriano, and he came into today as the decided underdog in that matchup. The two home runs put me on edge, and the Twins were launching some monstrous foul balls, but Guthrie held them in check and turned in a quality start. A few readers wondered about the decrease in Guthrie's velocity. I...
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You go, Lugo

You go, Lugo
That sentence would have taken on a vastly different meaning earlier this season, but Julio Lugo might be winning over some fans. Lugo is 3-for-4 with an RBI from the leadoff spot. Actual production from the top of the order. Don't adjust your sets. In his last three starts, Lugo has gone 7-for-12 with a walk, RBI and run scored to raise his average to .250. Could he also get the start in Game 2, perhaps at shortstop, with Ty Wigginton replacing him at second? There aren't many hot hands...
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No longer leery of Liriano

No longer leery of Liriano
Who saw this coming? Be honest. The Orioles took a 5-2 lead over Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano in the fourth inning before Michael Cuddyer led off the bottom half with a shot into the left field seats. They've collected nine hits, including an assortment of bloops and well-placed ground balls. At last count, the Orioles were 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position. All the runs have come with two outs - pretty impressive considering they were batting .176 with two outs and RISP this...
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Lonely at the top (updated)

Lonely at the top (updated)
I caught a little of manager Dave Trembley's dugout session with the media earlier today while I waited for O's Xtra to start on MASN2, and he indicated that Adam Jones could bat lower in the lineup. Julio Lugo is hitting first in Game 1, with Jones moving down to second. Trembley noted how Jones continues to struggle at the plate and is chasing bad pitches. It doesn't sound like the leadoff experiment will continue, though finding a replacement has proven difficult. It's not like Lugo...
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Game 1 lineups

Game 1 lineups
Orioles: 2B Lugo CF Jones RF Markakis 3B Tejada DH Wigginton C Wieters 1B Atkins LF Reimold SS Izturis RHP Guthrie Twins: CF Span 2B Hudson 1B Morneau DH Thome RF Cuddyer LF Kubel C Ramos SS Harris 3B Punto LHP Liriano
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Checking on two prospects

Checking on two prospects
Josh Bell hit a walk-off home run last night for Triple-A Norfolk, belting a 1-1 offering from Toledo reliever Jay Sborz over the right-center field wall in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Tides their third straight win. Sborz hadn't allowed an earned run in 10 games before last night. His eight saves are tied for the International League lead. Bell went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two walks. He's homered in three straight games, giving him six on the year to go with 18 RBIs, and...
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A good or bad thing?

A good or bad thing?
Does a postponement and day/night doubleheader help or hurt the Orioles? Does it even matter? Maybe it means nothing, but the timing seems pretty rotten for a team coming off its crispest game of the season. So much for riding a wave tonight - though snowboarding might be a possibility. I know momentum in baseball is the next day's starting pitcher. Doesn't matter how many games you've won in a row if the opposing hurler brings his best stuff, which Francisco Liriano has been doing this...
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Friday's game postponed: Twinbill set for Saturday

Friday's game postponed: Twinbill set for Saturday
Tonight's game in Minnesota has been postponed because of inclement weather - it's really supposed to snow later - and will be made up tomorrow as part of a doubleheader. Game 1 is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EST on MASN2, with Game 2 to follow at 8:10 p.m. on MASN. The rotation remains the same. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie will make the starts, though the Orioles will wait until tomorrow to announce which right-hander goes first. Remember everything I wrote about Millwood today? It also...
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A few facts about Millwood

A few facts about Millwood
Kevin Millwood has faced 30 teams in his 14-year career. He's never beaten the Twins (0-7 in 12 starts), Braves (0-6 in six starts) and Rangers (0-1 in two starts). Maybe he can cross a team off that list tonight if the city isn't blanketed with three feet of snow. No roof on the new stadium? Not even a retractable one? Brilliant. Somewhere, Bud Grant is smiling. If the game is played, Millwood will become the 18th active pitcher to throw in 40 different ballparks, joining Jamie Moyer...
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Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
No wonder I had trouble falling asleep last night. I find it unsettling when the Orioles protect a slim lead in the ninth inning by retiring three straight batters - and not after three straight reach base. Way too routine for my taste. Alfredo Simon left the drama in his locker while recording the save. Now that he knows it's that easy, maybe he'll do it more often. You can see the difference Koji Uehara will make in this bullpen if he stays healthy. And that's a big "if." Huge. We're...
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That's more like it (w/minors added)

That's more like it (w/minors added)
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little better about Brad Bergesen. Coming off an uninspiring win, Bergesen shut down the Twins for 6 2/3 innings tonight. He allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out none. Manager Dave Trembley removed him after 97 pitches with the tying runs on base. Will Ohman replaced him and walked Justin Morneau to load the bases before striking out Jim Thome. Bergesen would have completed the seventh if first baseman Rhyne Hughes had fielded Orlando...
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