Brandon Erbe heads to Frederick's DL

Brandon Erbe heads to Frederick's DL
It appears that the comeback of right-handed pitcher Brandon Erbe, the Orioles third-round pick in 2005, has hit another roadblock. Erbe had been pitching well and was pain-free for Single-A Frederick, but after two straight poor outings, has been placed on the Keys' disabled list today. For now, Erbe is being shut down due to more shoulder issues. It's possible he won't be able to return this year. Erbe had been on the comeback trail from labrum surgery in August of 2010. He had an ERA of...
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Machado's bat heats up at Bowie

Machado's bat heats up at Bowie
Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that we were talking about Manny Machado being in a slump. Actually, it was. Remember this story. Yeah, that didn't last long. Machado was not picked for the Eastern League All-Star Game and maybe league officials are regretting that now. He will play on the big stage of the Futures Game Sunday for the second year in a row. Machado's bat is now sizzling at Double-A Bowie. Since being selected to participate in the Futures Game, Machado is batting .383 (18-47)...
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The O's continue to hold the second wild card spot, but for how long?

The O's continue to hold the second wild card spot, but for how long?
The Orioles' current slide is nothing that a four-game winning streak couldn't fix. It's just that right now, the Orioles don't look capable of winning four in a row. The O's have lost six of their last seven games and have been outscored 58-25 during that stretch. They have looked every bit as bad as that run differential would indicate. Here is something pretty amazing: From May 20-June 1, the Orioles lost nine of 11 games. Currently they have lost 10 of 13 games. That is a record of...
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The Orioles can't hold late lead as Seattle comes back to win

The Orioles can't hold late lead as Seattle comes back to win
The Orioles had just three hits tonight, but for a while it looked like they had enough runs to get a win in Seattle. Then the Mariners took advantage of a late O's miscue on defense to score five runs over their last two innings and beat the Orioles 6-3. Chris Davis hit his second homer in the last three games, a three-run shot in the fourth, and that gave the O's a 3-1 edge, which held up until the bottom of the seventh. With a man on first and none out in the seventh, Chone Figgins...
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Some Orioles-Mariners pregame notes

Some Orioles-Mariners pregame notes
A couple of pregame notes as the Orioles begin a seven-game road trip with a three-game series tonight in Seattle. The road trip will take them to the All-Star break. * Steve Johnson was officially added to the roster this afternoon. He is 3-5 with an ERA of 2.73 in 14 games in nine starts at Triple-A Norfolk. His last four appearances came out of the bullpen. In those four games he pitched 12 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits while walking seven and striking out 20. Johnson has...
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The Orioles need more production from the big guns in their lineup

The Orioles need more production from the big guns in their lineup
There has been a lot of focus recently on the Orioles' pitching and the starting rotation and for good reason. Since giving up just five runs in a three-game series against the Nationals, the Orioles have allowed 52 runs in losing five of six games. They have allowed 13 homers with a team ERA of 8.17 in that stretch and yes, that is terrible. But at the same time, the Orioles' offense, which put up amazing numbers in that home series with Pittsburgh in mid-June, has not come close to doing...
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Seeing the Earl of Baltimore highlights busy weekend at the Yard

Seeing the Earl of Baltimore highlights busy weekend at the Yard
So, did anything happen the last two days at Camden Yards? Well, first Earl Weaver was honored and it was amazing, emotional and special. Just as we were finishing writing our stories on that came word of a trade and that Jim Thome would be headed to Baltimore. Then we interviewed the other players talking about Thome's addition. Then we found out the Orioles had three All-Stars and Jason Hammel could become a fourth. Then we interviewed them to talk about the honor. Then the game...
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Brian Matusz on his struggles and going back to Triple-A

Brian Matusz on his struggles and going back to Triple-A
After a lengthy postgame stop in the manager's office, Brian Matusz emerged today to talk about being sent back to the minor leagues. Was he surprised that he is being sent back to Triple-A? "No, not at all. My last five or six outings or so just haven't been getting the job done. Today was just really inconsistent. There were signs of good pitches, but just haven't been putting it together. You know, it's killing the bullpen and makes it tough. Moves have to be made. I have to go down...
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Matusz struggles again as Tribe takes series finale

Matusz struggles again as Tribe takes series finale
After getting hammered in two mid-week games against the Angels, the Orioles were hoping to get back on track with a four-game series against Cleveland. The Tribe came to Camden Yards riding a five-game losing streak and a record of 11-19 over its previous 30 games. But another poor outing by another starter led to another loss today as the Tribe beat the Orioles 6-2. Cleveland scored 32 runs in the series in taking three of four. Today, Brian Matusz could not get an out in the fifth inning...
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Hardy on Thome: "He's the perfect teammate"

Hardy on Thome: "He's the perfect teammate"
J.J. Hardy is the one Orioles player who has been on the same team with Jim Thome. They played together with Minnesota in 2010 and Hardy said Thome will bring a lot to the Orioles on the field and in the clubhouse. "You guys will all see. He's probably one of the best guys to ever play the game personality-wise. A leader, just a great guy," Hardy said. Hardy said Thome called him yesterday to ask about his new team. "We're pretty close," Hardy said. "I know he's excited and so am I....
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Hearing from the Orioles' All-Stars

Hearing from the Orioles' All-Stars
Three Orioles - and maybe a fourth - will be heading to the All-Star game. Adam Jones, Jim Johnson and Matt Wieters have made the American League squad and Jason Hammel will be in the Final Vote, with one player selected from a group of five. The Orioles have not sent more than one player since Brian Roberts, Miguel Tejada, Melvin Mora and B.J Ryan went in 2005. Here are what the four players said about playing in the game: Jones talked about Johnson making it and the Orioles having several...
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Jim Thome talks about joining the Orioles

Jim Thome talks about joining the Orioles
Jim Thome will make his Orioles debut today, batting fifth as the designated hitter. Not long after arriving at the ballpark, he talked about joining the Orioles. "I'm excited to be here," Thome said. "These guys have had a great year and done some special things. Hopefully, we can continue to do that." Thome is batting .242 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 62 at-bats on the year. He hit .333 in nine interleague games with four homers and 14 RBIs and had a 1.062 OPS in June. He has 18...
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Chris Davis on the Thome trade: "I think it's exciting"

Chris Davis on the Thome trade: "I think it's exciting"
After he talked about today's game and his homer against Cleveland, Chris Davis was asked about the Orioles adding Jim Thome to the team. "I think it's exciting. He's a guy I loved to watch play growing up. I have a lot of respect for him and I'm excited to have him here, not only as a player, but as kind of a mentor. He's been on winning teams," Davis said. "He obviously knows the game and I've heard nothing but great things about him as far as his character and his personality....
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Taking a look at what the O's gave up for Thome

Taking a look at what the O's gave up for Thome
OK, first question. Did the Orioles give up too much for Jim Thome in trading prospects Kyle Simon and Gabriel Lino? Simon, their fourth-round pick out of Arizona last year, is a 21-year-old righty that was with Single-A Frederick. He is 2-8 with a 3.96 ERA over 14 starts. In 72 2/3 innings, he has walked 21 and fanned 49. Simon was supposed to start for Frederick tonight at Winston-Salem, but I heard that he was told a few hours before the game he was not pitching. After going 0-4 with an...
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During press conference, Weaver remembers the call that made him Orioles manager

During press conference, Weaver remembers the call that made him Orioles manager
During a press conference after his statue ceremony today, Earl Weaver remembered a phone call he got around the All-Star break in 1968. It was from then-Orioles general manager Harry Dalton. "We were sitting by the pool relaxing. I was first base coach at the time and it was the first time I didn't have to worry about making up a lineup and I was enjoying it," Weaver said. "Harry said, 'I want you to be the manager.' I told (my wife) Marianna and she said, 'Is that good?' I said I...
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Weaver thankful and honored during statue ceremony at Camden Yards

Weaver thankful and honored during statue ceremony at Camden Yards
The Orioles hit another home run with their statue ceremony today for Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver. It was so well done and seeing Earl on stage, and players like Cal Ripken, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Jim Palmer sitting in the front row, would make any O's fan feel a sense of pride. "Just looking at that first row there, how could I lose," Weaver said at the beginning of his speech. "It's been 26 years since I last put on a Baltimore uniform. During that time I've made many...
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The congratulatory calls pour in for Avery after his first homer

The congratulatory calls pour in for Avery after his first homer
Xavier Avery's phone has been busy since late last night. He's been hearing from a lot of family and friends after hitting his first major league homer in the eighth inning Friday against Cleveland. "I got a lot of calls and texts. People have been tweeting me. I got a lot of calls from my family telling me congratulations," he said. Avery drove the ball to the opposite field for his first major league homer. "I'm not totally surprised because in BP, I try to work on going the other...
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Taking his rotation shot: Eveland starts today against Tribe

Taking his rotation shot: Eveland starts today against Tribe
Left-hander Dana Eveland will make his 12th Orioles appearance and second start today when he takes the mound this afternoon against Cleveland. Eveland has been pitching well, allowing just one earned run on five hits over his past four games, covering 8 2/3 innings. He has walked just one and fanned five in that time, lowering his ERA to 3.00 on the year. Is he excited to get the start today? "Yeah, I guess," Eveland said. "I love being here and love being a part of this team on either...
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Would Jim Thome be a good fit for the Orioles?

Would Jim Thome be a good fit for the Orioles?
ESPN's Buster Olney says the Orioles would be a good fit for the Phillies' Jim Thome, and I agree with him. The question always is, at what price? What would it cost in a trade to get a 41-year-old slugger to see if he has one last push left to help an offensively challenged club? Olney posted this on his Twitter account tonight: My speculation and nothing more, at this point: I think that on paper, Orioles and Rangers are two best possible fits for Thome. Thome has always hit with plenty...
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Could Robert Andino bring some stability to the hot corner?

Could Robert Andino bring some stability to the hot corner?
For the third time in the last five games, Robert Andino will make a start at third base tonight. You have to wonder if Andino might not be the club's best option at third now, a position that has been error-filled for the Orioles this year. With some uncertainty for the team at the hot corner, does Andino think he could be the guy right now to provide the team with some stability on defense there? He is not making any public proclamations about wanting that job. "Whatever I have to do to...
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