Bergy on his move to the bullpen

Bergy on his move to the bullpen
O's right-hander Brad Bergesen last pitched in relief during the 2008 season, once for Bowie and once for Frederick. But he will be in the bullpen tonight here at Camden Yards vs. Boston. With Orioles' starters, including Bergesen, having pitched just 9 1/3 innings combined over the last three games, Bergesen is in the pen tonight. As for how long he stays, there, the O's are not saying for certain right now. "I am going to the bullpen for tonight. I'm going to skip at least one...
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Talking drafts and budgets with Jim Callis

Talking drafts and budgets with Jim Callis
Here is the final part of my series of interviews with Jim Callis of Baseball America. Today he discusses the O's drafts under Joe Jordan and the dollars the Orioles have spent on the draft. He gives Jordan solid marks for his drafts. "They've been good. I know some Baltimore fans, at least from the emails I get, are a little impatient, saying Matt Wieters isn't all he was cracked up to be and Brian Matusz is struggling. But those were two very good picks. They were guys that didn't...
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Dickerson to manage at Norfolk

Dickerson to manage at Norfolk
The Orioles will name Bobby Dickerson as interim manager of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides today, replacing Gary Allenson who is joining the Orioles staff as coach. The 44-year-old Dickerson has been serving as the O's Latin-American field co-ordinater and their minor league infielder co-ordinater. Whether he will stay as manager at Norfolk for the rest of the season has not been decided. Dickerson begins as skipper of the Tides tonight when they start an eight-game homestand vs. Buffalo. He...
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One man's take on Trembley's ouster

One man's take on Trembley's ouster
News official: The Orioles made the news official this morning. Juan Samuel is taking over as interim manger and Dave Trembley has been dismissed. Gary Allenson has been named interim third base coach. The club will hold a news conference today at 2:30 p.m. with Andy MacPhail and Juan Samuel. When Andy MacPhail sits in front of a bank of microphones and makes the announcement today - that Dave Trembley is being relieved of his duties as O's manager - I hope MacPhail also says something...
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Givens to the DL

Givens to the DL
Since we have so much good news coming our way with the Orioles these days, add this to the latest - shortstop Mychal Givens has been placed on Delmarva's disabled list. The 20-year-old Givens, the O's second-round draft pick out of Plant High in Tampa, Florida, suffered a sprained left thumb sliding into a base vs. Greensboro on Tuesday night. He was wearing a soft cast on the hand yesterday. Givens is expected to be out for at least two weeks, maybe longer. He'll be examined further at...
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Taillon-Jordan meeting goes well (w/draft speculation)

Taillon-Jordan meeting goes well (w/draft speculation)
If you've noticed, a lot of my pre-draft stories have centered around prep pitcher Jameson Taillon. Since everyone is speculating on Monday's first-round at this point, I'll add my two cents. My sense of it is that Taillon is the player the Orioles would like to get. They can get him if the Pirates pass on the 18-year-old right-hander with the second pick. If Taillon is not there, most assume the O's would then pick Miami high school shortstop Manny Machado. I think in that scenario,...
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Checking in with Joe Jordan

Checking in with Joe Jordan
In an interview Wednesday night with MASNsports.com, O's scouting director Joe Jordan provided an update on his scouting meetings this week. He also indicated he may now know which player he will take with the third pick in the first-round on Monday. At least he seems to have settled on his first choice at this point. "I think we have a scenario that we want to happen. But we are spending a lot of time talking about the other scenarios and try not to fall victim to overlook the obvious. ...
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Jim Callis: "I'd take Taillon over Machado."

Jim Callis:  "I'd take Taillon over Machado."
Here is the second part of my three-part series of interviews with Jim Callis of Baseball America. I asked Jim if both prep players, shortstop Manny Machado and pitcher Jameson Taillon are available when the Orioles select third in the draft on Monday, which player would he take? "I'd take Taillon. Either one would be a fine pick, but I think Taillon's ability is more rare than Machado's. Nothing wrong with a possible five-tool shortstop, though," Callis said. Machado is considered the...
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Don't know what to make of this

Don't know what to make of this
A reporter almost never reveals his sources. But Ben Badler of Baseball America has sources that are telling him the Orioles could be looking to land a top player when the international signing period begins on July 2nd. The article from the BA website is premium contest, but here are the first few lines if you have not seen it: As if the American League East needs to become even more fiercely competitive. The Yankees and Red Sox are always financial heavyweights in the international...
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Don't blame the pitching for losses vs. New York

Don't blame the pitching for losses vs. New York
The Orioles are 1-6 this year now with six losses in a row vs. the Yankees. I say it's sure not the pitcher's fault. The O's team ERA this year vs. New York is 3.97 in those seven games and they gave up just one earned run last night. This vs. a Yankees team that leads the AL in team average, on base percentage and runs scored. At home, New York is averaging 6.6 runs per game this season. They have scored 18 runs in four home games this year vs. O's pitching, an average of just 4.5 per...
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Baseball America's Jim Callis on the O's in this year's Draft

Baseball America's Jim Callis on the O's in this year's Draft
He is 6'6" and 225 pounds and throws a fastball that has touched 99 miles per hour. He fanned 19 this season during a seven-inning no-hitter. He struck out 16 Cuban batters over seven innings last summer at the Pan American Junior Championships. He is just 18 years old. Oh yeah, and he could be the Orioles selection with the third pick in the First-Year Player Draft next Monday. He is Jameson Taillon, a right-handed pitcher from the Woodlands High School in Texas. Very few know the...
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Arrieta: "I feel like I'm 100 percent ready."

Arrieta:  "I feel like I'm 100 percent ready."
If it's possible, right-hander Jake Arrieta has kicked up his performance recently to an even higher level and continues to show that he looks ready to join the Major Leagues whenever the Orioles make the call. Arrieta, the O's fifth-round pick in 2007, is 6-2, 1.77 in 11 starts on the year. Over 71 innings, he has allowed just 45 hits. But over his last three starts, Arrieta is 3-0, 0.82. Over his last 22 innings, he has given up 16 hits and two earned runs with six walks and 23...
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Hoes remains upbeat despite illness

Hoes remains upbeat despite illness
He got off to a great start this year for the Frederick Keys. At the age of just 20, second baseman L.J. Hoes was living up to his prospect status and playing maybe even better than the Orioles had a right to expect in his first season in the Carolina League. But Hoes has been out of the lineup since May 15 as he deals with a mysterious illness that doctors seem to have struggled to get a handle on. There has been talk that it's not anything serious and Hoes should be back soon. But right...
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So what will the Pirates do with that second pick?

So what will the Pirates do with that second pick?
It's not exactly drama like the 1971 or 1979 World Series, but the Orioles are linked again with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates have the second pick in the first round of next Monday's First-Year Player Draft. Most figure they will select between high school shortstop Manny Machado and prep pitcher Jameson Taillon, with the remaining player left for the O's to take. (That's after Bryce Harper goes first to the Nats). So what will Pittsburgh do with that second pick? I spoke via...
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Kolodny is heading to extended spring training

Kolodny is heading to extended spring training
It was a minor league transaction that probably went under the radar among a lot of fans. On May 24th, Tyler Kolodny of the Delmarva Shorebirds was transferred to Aberdeen's roster. Some that follow the minors very closely asked a question. Why would the O's take a player with 10 homers, among the most in the Sally League, off the Delmarva roster. As it turns out, there were two major reasons. Kolodny was being disciplined due to a team matter. Seondly, the Orioles want him to improve...
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It certainly is not all Dave Trembley's fault

It certainly is not all Dave Trembley's fault
Well, a manager does have to live with his won-loss record. For Dave Trembley, he is saddled with 15 and 36. It's clear some of you feel he has earned every bit of that. If you look deeper at how the Orioles, a team on the rise according to many experts over the winter, got to this point, much that has happened has been out of Trembley's control. For the most part. It's not his fault that: *Brian Roberts, Felix Pie, Mike Gonzalez, Brad Bergesen and Jim Johnson got injured. So have...
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Swept away in Toronto

Swept away in Toronto
Well, at least that didn't take too long. Toronto beat the Orioles 6-1 to complete the three-game sweep today as the Orioles scored just three runs in the series. The Orioles are 0-6 vs. the Jays on the year and have lost eight in a row and 17 of their last 19 games at Rogers Centre. Gary and Mike talk with Dave Trembley following the O's 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays They have now lost five in a row, nine of 11 and 12 of the last 15 contests and are 6-18 on the season vs. the AL East. Is...
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One week and counting before the draft

One week and counting before the draft
The First-Year Player Draft is now just a week away and the Orioles have the third pick in the the first round next Monday. It's their highest pick since they drafted Ben McDonald with the first overall selection in 1989. Which ever player they select with that pick could cost a lot of money in a signing bonus. O's scouting director Joe Jordan said that money will not be a factor in deciding which player to take. "It's not something for me that will be separator. We are just going to...
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Bell and Snyder start to hit a bit

Bell and Snyder start to hit a bit
Heading into this season, many fans were excited to track the progress of Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder at Triple-A. They could be future cornerstones at the corner infield spots in Baltimore. When they both started slowly, some jumped off their respective bandwagons. And, while no one is hyping anything about their play, both are hitting better recently and improved their stats from April to May, perhaps showing some progress. Both have really picked it up at bat over the last several...
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Notes and numbers

Notes and numbers
Here are some pre-game stats and facts to consider before the final game of the Orioles-Blue Jays series in Toronto. After 5-0 and 5-2 losses, the O's will need a win today to avoid being swept in a three-game series for the fifth time on the year. They have been swept at home vs. Toronto and Tampa and on the road at Seattle and New York. The Orioles have won just two series all year and are 2-13-2 in series this season. They are 0-11-1 in their last 12 road series since taking the series...
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