The positive spin on Jake Arrieta after two innings is he hasn't allowed a run.
Keep in mind that the Nationals abused him for six runs in 3 2/3 innings in his last start, so tonight's early returns are encouraging.
However, each positive spin must also include a negative spin. Says so right here in the "spin" handbook.
Arrieta has thrown 46 pitches, 23 for strikes. That's a lot of pitches for two innings.
Arrieta hasn't given up a hit, but he's walked two batters. That's negative....
Here's a sampler platter from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Napkins are optional. A cold beverage is recommended.
On the AL East standings:
"I see us three games out in the loss column. I think it's the only division with four teams .500 or better. I think it's that time of year where most teams start kind of seeking their level and separation starts happening one way or the other. I look at it from our perspective more than anything. I'd much rather be...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter sent Robert Andino to the plate in the fifth inning last night with instructions to bunt a strike. The Orioles trailed by two runs and had two runners on base with no outs after back-to-back walks from Royals starter Danny Duffy.
Andino offered at the first pitch, a high fastball, and popped it up for a double play.
The bunt made perfect sense with the tying runs on base and no outs, but Andino wasn't supposed to go after a pitch out of the strike zone. And he...
For the Orioles:
Felix Pie LF
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Matt Wieters C
Luke Scott 1B
Mark Reynolds 3B
J.J. Hardy SS
Ryan Adams 2B
Jake Arrieta RHP
Catcher Craig Tatum is expected to be recalled before the Orioles fly out to Oakland following tomorrow afternoon's game. You can speculate on the corresponding roster move. Brandon Snyder is a strong candidate because Scott and Jake Fox can play first base in Derrek Lee's absence.
Tatum could be recalled in time to...
Almost lost in the euphoria of Adam Jones' walk-off home run was reliever Alfredo Simon being credited with the win after retiring the Royals in order in the top of the ninth inning.
"It feels really good," Simon said after pitching in his first major league game since Sept. 26. "That was my first outing and we got the win. I said, 'Thank you,' to Jonesy, who hit the home run. I am really happy right now."
Alfredo Simon talks about getting a win in his first outing of the season
How...
The Orioles hadn't scored against Royals closer Joakim Soria in 12 career games against him covering 11 1/3 innings.
Until tonight, that is.
They tied the game on a Felix Pie pinch-hit double and won it on Adam Jones' sixth home run of the season, a 418-foot shot to center field with two outs.
Pie is 2-for-2 lifetime against Soria. Jones is 1-for-5 with three strikeouts - and one very big home run.
Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's come back to beat the Royals...
Alfredo Simon pitched the ninth inning tonight, the third reliever used by manager Buck Showalter. And he was the most interesting of the group.
Simon retired the side in order, getting two fly balls and a strikeout. He hadn't pitched in a major league game since Sept. 26, 2010, when he was ejected after hitting Toronto's Jose Bautista.
You know the rest of Simon's story, though separating fact from fiction is exhausting and can produce a migraine.
Simon wants to focus on baseball, so...
Mark Reynolds hits the longest foul balls in the world. Some people might describe them as majestic.
That doesn't help your fantasy team, but I wanted to mention it anyway.
I think one ball traveled an estimated three miles last night, but it landed on the wrong side of the left field foul pole.
Straighten 'em out, Mark, and you're in business.
I'll hit you with a quick question, which we debated in the press box last night before heading to our cars:
Which ending was more exciting...
Tonight's attendance: 14,077
Apologies for the technical difficulties, but I'm back.
The Orioles had gone 27 1/3 innings without scoring while Zach Britton was on the mound until Matt Wieters doubled off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Nick Markakis raced home, and the Orioles cut the Royals' lead to 3-1.
Confetti didn't fall from the sky, but I watched for it.
The Orioles put the leadoff hitter on base in five of the first six innings....
Zach Britton hadn't allowed an earned run in his last 19 2/3 innings until Kansas City's Jeff Francoeur lined an RBI single into left field with one out in the top of the first inning.
Alex Gordon reached on a bunt single and Melky Cabrera lined a single up the middle to put Britton in immediate trouble. Eric Hosmer ran the count full before striking out on a changeup - yes, a 3-2 changeup from Britton - but Francoeur singled on the next pitch.
Billy Butler grounded into a 5-4-3 double play...
A concussion specialist in Pittsburgh recommended no physical activity for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts for two more weeks.
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail passed along the news to reporters a few minutes ago. MacPhail said in an ideal scenario, Roberts would return to the lineup a week after he's cleared to begin baseball-related activities, "but it could be longer."
Roberts hasn't played in the last eight days after diving into first base during a May 16...
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz said he agrees that one more start in the minors should benefit him.
Matusz will start Friday night at Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles will activate him from the disabled list for the June 1 game in Seattle or give him one more start with an affiliate.
"I think it is the right move," Matusz said after throwing a bullpen session today. "I went out today and threw a side and I felt really good. I felt really good out there. This is the best play. Go to Norfolk,...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided surgery and rehab updates during today's pregame session with the media. He also provided a clearer picture of how his rotation will unfold the rest of the week.
On Cesar Izturis:
"Izzy had his surgery today. It went well. I'm not sure if he's back home yet, though. The plan was to release him at some point today. We think he is. They found what they thought, moved the nerve over there and six to eight weeks from what I understand. You can backdate...
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz will head to Triple-A Norfolk and start Friday night's game against Columbus.
Matusz's rehab assignment began at Single-A Frederick and continued at Double-A Bowie. He'll be working on an extra days' rest on Friday.
Matusz could be activated on June 1 and make his 2011 debut in Seattle in the final game of the Orioles' two-city West Coast trip. It depends how he fares on Friday, when he's extended to six or seven innings and 90 pitches. The other option...
Brandon Snyder is making another start at first base tonight, and Nolan Reimold is in left field.
For the Orioles:
Robert Andino 2B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Matt Wieters C
Nolan Reimold LF
Mark Reynolds 3B
J.J. Hardy SS
Brandon Snyder 1B
Zach Britton LHP
Josh Bell went 3-for-4 with his second home run in two games in Triple-A Norfolk's 8-7 loss to Louisville. He also drove in three runs while raising his average to .274.
Nick Green hit his sixth homer and...
Jason Berken is making his first start today at Triple-A Norfolk, and he pulled off a great escape in the second inning.
According to the play-by-play on minorleaguebaseball.com, Louisville loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on consecutive singles into center field. One of the hits came from former major league outfielder Jeremy Hermida.
Berken struck out the next two batters and induced a grounder that shortstop Blake Davis turned into a force at second base.
Berken had...
Baseball returns to Camden Yards tonight after yesterday's break.
Get used to them. The Orioles have five open dates in June.
Did you see that Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche went on the disabled list yesterday with a torn labrum in his left shoulder?
LaRoche is batting .172 with three homers in 43 games. He's always been a slow starter, and playing all season with a torn labrum wasn't going to reverse that tendency.
Derrek Lee's also on the disabled list. He's batting .231 with...
Second baseman LJ Hoes, the Orioles' third-round pick in 2008 out of St. John's (DC) High School, has been promoted from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie.
Hoes is batting .241 with seven doubles, three homers, 17 RBIs and a .638 OPS in 41 games. He's 8-for-39 in his last 10 games, but he has hits in six of them.
Hoes is batting .303 against left-handers and .196 against right-handers. He'll need to work on those splits.
Baysox manager Gary Kendall can start writing Hoes' name in...
We made it through an entire day and night without a roster move, though I set my alarm for 11:59 p.m. in case the Orioles were trying to sneak a press release past me.
It should be fairly quiet today. No game, no players sent packing, no medical examinations, no injury rehab starts. If I'm keeping track properly, infielder Cesar Izturis will undergo his elbow surgery tomorrow in Baltimore. Second baseman Brian Roberts will be examined by a concussion specialist tomorrow in Pittsburgh....
Twice today, a Nationals batter struck out and Orioles catcher Matt Wieters threw out a runner attempting to steal second base to complete a double play.
When will they learn?
The game ended with Roger Bernadina taking Kevin Gregg's 3-2 breaking ball for strike three and Wieters cutting down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at second. Wieters made a perfect throw. And it's not like he caught a blazing fastball and gained additional time. We're talking an 82 mph pitch.
Showalter has been telling...