Roch Kubatko

Saunders and Tillman: The two-headed Game 4 starter

October 10, 2012, 2:41pm

Orioles

Saunders and Tillman: The two-headed Game 4 starter

NEW YORK - Manager Buck Showalter walked out of the interview room at Yankee Stadium this afternoon, and pitchers Joe Saunders and Chris Tillman took a seat at the head table. One of them will start Game 4 of the American League Division Series. It's just not public information at this hour. "We were kind of hoping you would tell us, because we don't know yet," Saunders said, bringing laughter from reporters. "Whoever it is, me or Chris, we're going to go out there and do our...

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Hammel would start Game 5

October 10, 2012, 1:38pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Right-hander Jason Hammel will start Game 5 of the American League Division Series if needed. Hammel would be working on normal rest after starting Game 1 at Camden Yards and allowing two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Game 4 starter remains a mystery. Chris Tillman and Joe Saunders followed manager Buck Showalter into the interview room today and claimed that they hadn't been told who would get Thursday's assignment. Showalter has made a decision, but he's waiting...

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Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)

October 10, 2012, 11:31am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is breaking out a familiar lineup for Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Jim Thome is serving as the designated hitter against Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Manny Machado 3B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Yankees: Derek Jeter SS Ichiro Suzuki LF Alex...

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Jones named finalist for Hank Aaron Award

October 10, 2012, 10:17am

Orioles

Jones named finalist for Hank Aaron Award

NEW YORK - Seventeen All-Stars from the 2012 season, including Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, have been named finalists for the Hank Aaron Award. Beginning today and continuing through Oct. 16, fans will have the opportunity to select one American League and one National League winner. The winners of the 2012 Hank Aaron Award will be announced during the World Series. "Named in honor of one of the greatest hitters and competitors of all-time, the Hank Aaron Award recognizes each...

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Checking out Gonzalez's splits

October 10, 2012, 5:51am

Orioles

NEW YORK - Chris Tillman and Joe Saunders are scheduled to appear in the interview room today as potential Game 4 starters for the Orioles in the American League Division Series. It's like a game show. Maybe they'll both stand for a few minutes, and the first one to sit is confirmed for Thursday. There's no mystery for tonight. Miguel Gonzalez is starting Game 3, his third assignment against the Yankees in his rookie season. You want small sample sizes? Nick Swisher is 0-for-6 with five...

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Gonzalez ready for latest Yankee Stadium challenge

October 09, 2012, 2:42pm

Orioles

Gonzalez ready for latest Yankee Stadium challenge

NEW YORK - Miguel Gonzalez loves pitching in important games. The bigger the crowd and the stakes, the more he welcomes it. He's just doing it in the U.S. this year. That's the only real difference. "That's what I've been doing for the last eight years here and in Mexico, especially," he said earlier today during a conference call with reporters. "I have a little bit of experience in the playoffs in Mexico. I just stay within myself, make good pitches and try to get guys out as fast as...

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Still no confirmation on Game 4 starter

October 09, 2012, 1:55pm

Orioles

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter joked today about needing a cup of coffee before he could begin his conference call with reporters. He also needs a starter for Game 4, which he isn't ready to disclose. "Well, it's kind of like you know the options that we have, and a lot will depend on what happens tomorrow night," he said. "We're going to take each game as it comes and try to win that game and stay in that game and those nine innings, or whatever amount of innings it is, and...

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Orioles won't work out today (more ALDS game times)

October 09, 2012, 8:44am

Orioles

The Orioles had to cancel their workout this afternoon at Yankee Stadium because of "travel complications," according to a press release from Major League Baseball. Did the train catch fire? Actually, power outages cause major issues for everyone, including the media. My train also was canceled this morning, but I was able to get on a later one. One reporter on the beat drove to White Marsh and took a bus. Another reporter caught a ride with colleagues in an SUV. Welcome to baseball's...

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Johnson back in form for Game 2

October 08, 2012, 10:46pm

Orioles

Jim Johnson loaded the bases with two outs in Friday night's wild card game before nailing down a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. He allowed five runs, four earned, in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the American League Division Series, turning a 2-2 tie into a 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees. By Johnson's standards, I guess this qualified as a slump. The guy hadn't permitted a run in the regular season since Sept. 8. He had been scored upon once in 26 appearances going into the...

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Showalter speaks after 3-2 win

October 08, 2012, 9:25pm

Orioles

Here's the transcript from manager Buck Showalter's media session following the Orioles' 3-2 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series: Q. I know this is going to be a piercing look into the obvious, but how important was it to get out of here 1-1 instead of 0-2? SHOWALTER: "Well, you know, the math is you've got to win three or lose three, so I think ... you know what I'd be talking about if we weren't able to win. It's one win closer to winning three. We...

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Wieters talks about Chen, the 'pen and a bizarre play at the plate

October 08, 2012, 9:11pm

Orioles

Wieters talks about Chen, the 'pen and a bizarre play at the plate

The Orioles won their first home playoff game since Oct. 8, 1997, exactly 15 years ago. Wei-Yin Chen played a prominent role tonight by holding the Yankees to one earned run in 6 1/3 innings in his first playoff start in the U.S. "He's been a solid starter throughout the year," said catcher Matt Wieters. "He's going to go out there and throw the ball the way he did tonight. He pitched plenty of big games over in Japan and Taiwan. You never know how it's going to translate, but when he...

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Angelos visits clubhouse

October 08, 2012, 8:42pm

Orioles

Orioles majority owner Peter G. Angelos was a surprise visitor to the Orioles' clubhouse following tonight's 3-2 victory over the Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Angelos was accompanied by his son, Louis, executive vice president Dan Duquette and Lou Kousouris, the club's vice president/special liaison to the chairman. He moved from locker to locker, shaking hands with players and congratulating them. Closer Jim Johnson presented Angelos with a baseball from his...

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Showalter's strategy in the seventh (O's win 3-2, even series)

October 08, 2012, 7:28pm

Orioles

Showalter's strategy in the seventh (O's win 3-2, even series)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter brought in left-hander Brian Matusz to face left-handed hitting Robinson Cano with one out, a runner at first base and the Orioles clinging to a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning. Or so it seemed. Cano was 9-for-28 lifetime against Matusz, with a double, two home runs and six strikeouts. Matusz retired him last night on a ground ball. On deck stood switch-hitting Nick Swisher. Showalter ordered the intentional walk to Cano after Ichiro Suzuki stole second base....

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Bizarre start to delayed Game 2 (O's lead 3-1)

October 08, 2012, 5:15pm

Orioles

Bizarre start to delayed Game 2 (O's lead 3-1)

The start of tonight's Game 2 of the American League Division Series was delayed 40 minutes by a light rain. If the top of the first inning is any indication, the wait will be worth it. The Yankees took a 1-0 lead on Robinson Cano's two-out double off Wei-Yin Chen, who surrendered 21 runs in the first inning during the regular season. He remains something of a slow starter. Derek Jeter fell behind 0-2 and singled to right-center field. Ichiro Suzuki fell behind 0-2 and reached on an error...

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A few minutes with Dan Duquette (Markakis and rain delay updates)

October 08, 2012, 2:59pm

Orioles

A few minutes with Dan Duquette (Markakis and rain delay updates)

The Orioles still don't have a starter listed for a possible Game 4 on Thursday. The Yankees will start Phil Hughes. Nate McLouth has driven in two runs in each postseason game so far to become the sixth player to record consecutive multi-RBI games in Orioles postseason history, joining Mike Bordick, Todd Zeile, Kiko Garcia, Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell. The postseason may provide executive vice president Dan Duquette with more downtime than usual, since organizational meetings have been...

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Showalter meets the press before Game 2

October 08, 2012, 1:46pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter went against the left-right percentages and decided to start Jim Thome against veteran southpaw Andy Pettitte. Showalter considered starting Thome against left-hander CC Sabathia last night, but used Lew Ford as his designated hitter. "Tough not playing him last night," Showalter said. "He's got his shin guards and his batting gloves on about three-fourths of that game last night. He had a good lather going. "It gives us a chance to be a little more...

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Orioles lineup against the Yankees (with ALCS ticket information)

October 08, 2012, 11:42am

Orioles

Jim Thome is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter tonight in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Manager Buck Showalter has been sitting Thome against left-handers, but not tonight. Chris Davis remains in right field. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Jim Thome DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP NOTE: Game 3 of the ALDS in New York is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. Wednesday, but...

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Orioles take another swing at Pettitte (updated)

October 08, 2012, 11:32am

Orioles

Andy Pettitte is facing the Orioles tonight. Hold on, this might be an old notebook. Nope, it's the one I've used this summer. Pettitte is starting Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Does this mean Roger Clemens goes in Game 3? The Orioles haven't faced Pettitte since he decided to make a comeback this season. The only player who's had an at-bat against him is Omar Quintanilla, while he was playing for the Mets, but he's not on the Division Series roster. Pettitte is 27-6...

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Oh, what a night for O'Day

October 07, 2012, 10:41pm

Orioles

You probably didn't recognize Jim Johnson last night, since he wasn't pitching in a save situation and he wasn't churning out another drama-free inning. (OK, the same thing happened Friday night in the wild card game, though with much better results. Just work with me here.) It was like an imposter stole Johnson's No. 43 jersey and his entrance music. But that was Darren O'Day in the seventh. I'd know his delivery anywhere, and his knack for escaping jams that have been dumped at his...

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Showalter speaks after 7-2 loss

October 07, 2012, 8:58pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has spoken in the past about how closer Jim Johnson can spoil a team with his lengthy string of successful outings. A glitch comes out of nowhere. It's never anticipated. Johnson entered Game 1 of the American League Division Series with the score tied in the top of the ninth. He walked off the mound having retired only one batter, four runs already charged to him and an unearned run coming as he sat in the dugout. "It's tough. It's just tough going,...