Not much to report from manager Buck Showalter's pre-game session with the media. He gave us thorough injury updates yesterday. We already brought up his reunion with the Rangers in this four-game series.
"So, do you like...stuff?"
We're still learning about Showalter, and it appears that he's not the type to post the next day's lineup early, as in immediately after the previous night's game. He might approach a player or send a coach to give a heads-up about a pending start, as he did...
Brian Roberts 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie LF
Matt Wieters C
Corey Patterson DH
Cesar Izturis SS
Brian Matusz LHP
I campaigned for reliever Jason Berken as first half Most Valuable Oriole, and you know what happened next. It's probably not a good idea to have me in your corner. It won't do much for your career or your health.
A few reporters were standing around the clubhouse earlier this week nominating potential MVOs. Helps pass the time while waiting for manager Buck Showalter to begin his pre-game media session or for Rick VandenHurk to begin speaking in other languages.
(While on the subject of...
After winning their first three series under manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles have now dropped two in a row.
Matt Tuiasosopo homered in consecutive games in this series after hitting one in his first 30 games of the season. He knocked in seven runs in the last two games after collecting a grand total of two RBIs in his first 30 games.
His diving catch of Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to end the eighth inning was the final dagger.
"That was a good play. That was a major league play,"...
The Orioles fought back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring once off reliever Jamey Wright and putting the tying run on second base with two outs.
Adam Jones looked like he would score easily on Matt Wieters' slicing fly ball to left, but Matt Tuiasosopo couldn't pass up another opportunity to torture the Orioles. He made a sensational diving catch - as good as it gets - to preserve a 6-5 lead.
Wieters rounded first base, came to a stop and just tilted his head back. He couldn't believe...
Which fan among you will be the first to rip the Orioles for letting David Pauley get away?
I want this guy in my rotation. He could have owned this town - or at least this ballpark.
The Orioles could have renamed the flagcourt "Pauley Pavilion." They could have sold "Pauley's Walnuts" instead of peanuts. You could have visited the Cracker Concession. If you were a senior citizen, you could have entered the ballpark for free on the nights he pitched. A Pauleygrip campaign,...
Well, since the final batter of the first inning.
David Pauley has retired 10 straight Orioles since hitting Adam Jones with one out in the first. Felix Pie bounced into a double play to end the inning, and Pauley has retired the side in order in the second, third and fourth.
No joke.
The Mariners increased their lead to 5-2 in the fifth. No. 9 hitter Josh Wilson led off the inning with a single and Ichiro Suzuki followed with an RBI double. He took third when Nick Markakis bobbled the ball,...
The Orioles put runners on the corners with no outs in the first inning. Brian Roberts walked and stole second, and Nick Markakis singled. Instant rally against Mariners starter David Pauley.
It also brought flashbacks to spring training 2009, but we touched on that subject this morning.
Anyway, Ty Wigginton followed with a sharp grounder to third baseman Jose Lopez. Roberts broke for home, and Lopez fired a throw to catcher Adam Moore rather than conceding the run and trying to start a 5-4-3...
The Triple-A Norfolk box score from last night mistakenly credits Dennis Sarfate with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and one strikeout. It's actually two innings and two strikeouts. He started the eighth inning.
A victory tonight would give the Orioles eight home wins in August, their highest total for any month this season.
The Orioles are 1-8 in games that decide the winner of a three-game series, their only triumph coming May 13 vs. Seattle.
Seattle starters have posted a 1.84 ERA in 17 games...
Reliever Jim Johnson will continue his injury rehab assignment by pitching in back-to-back games for Double-A Bowie on Friday and Saturday. He'll work out the next two days and go back-to-back again with the Baysox on Aug. 24 and 25.
Johnson, on the 60-day disabled list with a sore right elbow, is scheduled to throw one inning each on Friday and Saturday.
Johnson has appeared in eight minor league games - four with the Gulf Coast League team, two with Single-A Frederick and one each with...
Brian Roberts 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Adam Jones CF
Felix Pie LF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
Jeremy Guthrie RHP
I brought up Koji Uehara's name yesterday during my conversation with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail.
As expected, the Orioles aren't ready to say whether they'll attempt to re-sign Uehara this winter at a significantly reduced rate. And Uehara hasn't confirmed whether he'll return to Japan or attempt to continue pitching in the majors.
MacPhail didn't shoot down the idea of retaining Uehara, but he'll need to seek the opinion of his medical staff.
The Orioles...
The rain is a downer, and so is the realization that the Orioles were dominated last night by a pitcher named Luke French.
Not familiar with him? Join the club.
The Orioles still have that knack for making every new guy look like Cy Young. It's as much a tradition in Baltimore as John Denver's voice during the seventh inning stretch.
In fact, if Denver could pitch against the Orioles tonight - and that would be quite the miracle - he'd probably toss seven scoreless innings.
"Anytime...
Jim Johnson threw two scoreless innings tonight at Single-A Frederick, allowing two hits and striking out one. He recorded three outs on ground balls and two on fly balls.
The Orioles wasted another quality start from Kevin Millwood. They've scored 87 runs for him in his 24 outings (3.6 per game), and only 51 (2.1) while he's been on the mound.
In his last 21 starts, the Orioles have scored 44 runs (2.1) while he's been in the game.
Buck Showalter talks with the media after the O's 4-0...
Josh Bell doubled with two outs in the eighth, accounting for both hits off Seattle left-hander Luke French at that point in the game.
Brian Roberts reached on an infield hit, and it would have been an RBI single if shortstop Josh Wilson hadn't knocked down the ball and prevented it from scooting into center field.
Two on, two outs, down by a run.
Brandon League replaced French and retired Nick Markakis on a grounder to Wilson.
Two on, three outs, down by a run.
Kevin Millwood continues...
The Mariners just broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning on Adam Moore's leadoff single and Matt Tuiasosopo's RBI double to left-center field.
The Orioles are looking for their first hit off Seattle left-hander Luke French, who entered the game with a 4.96 ERA and three losses in four decisions.
French has walked two batters, but he's faced only one batter over the minimum because Ty Wigginton grounded into a double play in the fourth. He's had an outstanding changeup.
Kevin Millwood...
It happens with every Kevin Millwood start. The first inning must be reviewed.
Millwood didn't allow a run tonight. Chone Figgins singled with one out, but was stranded.
Millwood permitted at least two runs in the first inning in 11 of his last 14 starts. He gave up a single run in the first in his most recent outing, raising the total to 35.
Millwood got through the first tonight on 12 pitches.
You probably noticed the Seattle lineup change. Matt Tuiasosopo replaced Ryan Langerhans in...
Backup catcher Craig Tatum took batting practice and said his knee "feels fine."
"They just wanted to get an MRI, I guess, to see if there's anything wrong," he said.
Tatum said the knee is sore, but he hasn't gotten the results of the MRI and doesn't expect them to be serious.
"I can play. I played all day Sunday with it," he said. "I don't think it'll affect me right now, but we'll see what it says. If there's anything they want to do, whatever they want to do.
"I guess...
Manager Buck Showalter talked about the Orioles' ability to overcome adversity, and whether he's looking for a certain mindset from his players.
"Even an umpire's call. There are so many opportunities in baseball to make something not matter," he said. "It's kind of a team thing. If one guy struggles, can you pick him up? It's a pass-the-baton mentality. OK, let's turn the page on that. We'll identify why it happened and correct it, but you can't cry over spilled milk. You just move...
The Orioles sent backup catcher Craig Tatum for an MRI on his sore right knee, and they're waiting for the results.
The knee started bothering Tatum during Sunday's start against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.
Manager Buck Showalter doesn't believe that Tatum will need to go on the disabled list, "but that could change depending on what the MRI shows," he said.
Showalter was going to use Jake Fox as his designated hitter tonight, but Tatum isn't available. Fox is needed as a potential...