Roch Kubatko

Just to recap ... (with Hammel update)

August 13, 2012, 9:03pm

Orioles

The Orioles have a lot to learn about taking a day off. They completed a trade yesterday for left-handed reliever J.C. Romero, who will join the team this afternoon at Camden Yards. They altered their plans to call up pitcher Jason Berken after discovering that left-hander Troy Patton rolled his ankle Sunday night after leaving the ballpark. They summoned Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk in case Patton needs to go on the disabled list. They also learned that rookie Manny Machado was...

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Machado wins honor; Orioles reacquire Romero (Patton likely headed to DL)

August 13, 2012, 11:57am

Orioles

Manny Machado's first taste of the majors keeps getting sweeter. Machado and Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending August 12th. Machado batted .375 (6-for-16) with a double, triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored in four games after the Orioles selected his contract from Double-A Bowie on Thursday. He homered twice on Friday in his second game. Machado shares the record with at least one...

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A few off-day notes

August 13, 2012, 10:19am

Orioles

Triple-A Norfolk infielder Blake Davis has been named the International League's Batter of the Week after he hit .565 with four RBIs, four runs scored and five multi-hit games. Davis collected 13 hits in 23 at-bats. He had four hits Friday night against Charlotte. Davis is batting .265/.313/.365 with 17 doubles, four triples, two homers and 32 RBIs in 93 games. Jason Hammel threw in the bullpen this morning at Camden Yards and the results remain encouraging. Hammel expects to take off a...

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The rotation and the Most Overlooked Oriole

August 12, 2012, 6:34pm

Orioles

The rotation and the Most Overlooked Oriole

The Orioles are off today, which means that I'm sort of off today. My immediate plans are to go outside and run around in circles while waiving my arms over my head. That's it. Just ... go outside and run around in circles. And the arms thing. In case you missed my tweet last night (and shame on you for not following me at @MASNroch), Jake Arrieta's latest start at Triple-A Norfolk was a dud. He allowed six runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, with five walks and five strikeouts. He threw...

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Socolovich optioned to Norfolk

August 12, 2012, 2:40pm

Orioles

The Orioles have optioned reliever Miguel Socolovich to Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding roster move will be announced later. Socolovich has appeared in six games, allowing eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for a 6.97 ERA. He let two inherited runners score last night after replacing starter Chris Tillman and also was charged with one run. Socolovich has posted a 1.90 ERA in 28 appearances with the Tides. He was chosen to the International League All-Star team. Could the Orioles be...

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Machado: "I haven't settled in yet, but I'm getting there"

August 12, 2012, 1:42pm

Orioles

Machado: "I haven't settled in yet, but I'm getting there"

Imagine how good Manny Machado will be once he actually settles in and gets comfortable. Machado is 6-for-16 with a double, triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored in his first four major league games. He shares the Orioles club record with at least one extra-base hit in four consecutive games to begin his career, joining Ray Knight (1987), Lee May (1975) and Frank Robinson (1966). Machado hit his third home run today, though it took a review to have a double overturned. "I...

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Showalter speaks after 5-3 win

August 12, 2012, 1:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles are nine games above .500 again. They improved to 17-11 in two-run games with today's 5-3 victory over the Royals. They're also 47-0 when leading after the seventh inning and 49-1 when leading after the eighth. Credit the bullpen with four scoreless and hitless innings, beginning with Luis Ayala and ending with closer Jim Johnson. Manager Buck Showalter also used Troy Patton and Pedro Strop to piece together the last four innings. "Well, I think because we have an off-day...

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Machado does it again (O's win 5-3)

August 12, 2012, 10:24am

Orioles

Just Manny being Manny again. Manny Machado hit his third major league home run today, and his first that was reviewed by umpires. Machado's two-run shot, initially ruled a double, gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The ball hit the top of the center-field fence and kicked off the back wall. The review lasted about 12 seconds. Machado crushed two hanging breaking balls in his second major league game. Today, he launched an 86 mph sinker from former Orioles...

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Pregame notes on Hammel, Jones, Flaherty and more

August 12, 2012, 8:39am

Orioles

Pregame notes on Hammel, Jones, Flaherty and more

Jason Hammel said his knee felt good after throwing off the front slope of the mound yesterday. He has a bullpen session scheduled for Monday morning. Hammel doesn't know how many pitches he'll throw or what he'll do after Monday. It's one step at a time. Hammel told Orioles manager Buck Showalter that he got out of bed and didn't give the knee a thought, which is a positive sign. Adam Jones is making his first career start as a designated hitter. He was used as a pinch runner five...

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Jones serving as DH today, Machado moves up the order

August 12, 2012, 7:14am

Orioles

Jones serving as DH today, Machado moves up the order

One way to provide a little rest for Adam Jones is to take him out of center field and make him the designated hitter. Nate McLouth is only the second player to start in center field for the Orioles. Manny Machado has moved up to seventh in the lineup. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J Hardy SS Nate McLouth CF Adam Jones DH Lew Ford LF Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Taylor Teagarden C Tommy Hunter RHP

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While waiting for the lineup...

August 12, 2012, 6:55am

Orioles

The Orioles have a later reporting time today after last night's debacle. May as well let the players catch a few hours sleep before they try to catch a fly ball. Former Orioles left-hander Bruce Chen is starting for the Royals, which means manager Buck Showalter will break out his right-handed lineup. Taylor Teagarden will catch today, and Showalter must decide whether to use Matt Wieters as the designated hitter or give him the day off. Lew Ford will start in left field. Mark Reynolds...

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Showalter speaks after 7-3 loss

August 11, 2012, 9:47pm

Orioles

A rain delay that lasted more than three hours tonight provided a convenient excuse for the Orioles if they chose to reach for it. Manager Buck Showalter's arms aren't that long. "It was a challenging night and they did a better job with it than we did," Showalter said after the Orioles lost to the Royals 7-3 at Camden Yards. "It was impressive that Tilly (Chris Tillman) fought his way through five-plus. Usually, three or four runs, you can hold them right there. I thought giving up the...

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Machado hits for the cycle - in three days (O's lose 7-3)

August 11, 2012, 8:42pm

Orioles

Machado hits for the cycle - in three days (O's lose 7-3)

Not only did Manny Machado break up Luis Mendoza's shutout in the seventh inning, he hit for the cycle in a three-day period. I know it doesn't count, but humor me. Machado tripled and reached on an infield hit Thursday in his major league debut, and he homered twice on Friday. All that remained was the double, which he collected off Mendoza to score Wilson Betemit. Omar Quintanilla, who went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer last night, followed with a two-run double to reduce the Royals'...

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Flaherty will report to Norfolk

August 11, 2012, 1:19pm

Orioles

Infielder Ryan Flaherty, on the disabled list with a bacterial infection, is scheduled to report to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. He could begin his rehab assignment that night if his health has improved. Flaherty can remain on his assignment for a maximum of 20 days (30 for pitchers), but only if his physical condition warrants it. Major League Baseball makes sure players aren't being stashed. Jason Hammel threw off the front slope of the bullpen mound this afternoon. The Orioles will check...

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McLouth moves up in the lineup, Machado stays in it

August 11, 2012, 11:20am

Orioles

McLouth moves up in the lineup, Machado stays in it

Nate McLouth is batting third tonight for the Orioles, with Chris Davis dropping down to seventh. Manny Machado remains at third base and in the eighth slot. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Chris Tillman RHP

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Remembering how Machado got here

August 11, 2012, 6:05am

Orioles

I've heaped a lot of praise on manager Buck Showalter this season, and rightfully so, but let's not forget that former scouting director Joe Jordan used the third pick in the 2010 player draft on Miami prep shortstop Manny Machado. The Orioles had serious interest in Texas high school right-hander Jameson Taillon, but the Pirates grabbed him with the second pick. That left Machado, who wasn't getting past the Orioles. Here are the top 10 selections from that year: 1. Bryce Harper, OF,...

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It starts at the bottom

August 10, 2012, 8:22pm

Orioles

With all due respect to new leadoff hitter Nick Markakis, the bottom third of the Orioles' lineup did the heavy lifting last night. No. 7 hitter Nate McLouth, No. 8 hitter Manny Machado and No. 9 hitter Omar Quintanilla were a combined 7-for-12 with a double, three home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored. Seven RBIs. In a 7-1 victory over the Royals. That's heavy lifting. Manager Buck Showalter didn't want Quintanilla's two-run homer in the second inning to get lost in the Machado...

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Machado and Gonzalez talk about their nights

August 10, 2012, 6:47pm

Orioles

Machado and Gonzalez talk about their nights

Manny Machado had a crowd of reporters waiting for him after tonight's game. He also had traces of the shaving cream pie he received still wedged in his ears. I suppose he wouldn't mind having to clean it off every night. "I wouldn't mind that at all," he said. Machado had a pretty good idea that the first ball was going to settle into the left field seats. "I put some good wood on it," he said. "I kind of figured it was going to go out." And the second one? "Yeah, no doubt,"...

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Showalter speaks after 7-1 victory

August 10, 2012, 6:24pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter would like to keep the Manny Machado hype at a reasonable level. You can tell by the tone of his voice and the measured responses, how he points out the small number of games that the kid has played and how a new one is coming up tomorrow. Machado isn't make it easy on Showalter. "He had a nice night, put a couple good swings on some breaking balls that were left out over the plate," Showalter said after Machado hit two home runs to lift the Orioles to a 7-1 victory...

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Machado making history tonight (O's win 7-1)

August 10, 2012, 5:13pm

Orioles

Machado making history tonight (O's win 7-1)

It's only been two games, but Manny Machado doesn't look like a kid who was rushed to the majors. Machado hit his second home run tonight, a three-run shot deep into the left field seats in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 7-1 lead. Machado is the youngest Orioles player to hit a home run since Jim Palmer, who was 19, on May 16, 1965. He's now the youngest ever to hit multiple home runs in the same game. Boog Powell collected two on May 2, 1962 against the Twins when he...