Roch Kubatko

Orioles lineup

August 17, 2010, 11:35am

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

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 Kevin Millwood RHP

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MacPhail on the midnight deadline

August 17, 2010, 8:20am

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

How close did the Orioles come to losing the rights to high school shortstop Manny Machado? Scouting director Joe Jordan estimated last night that the Orioles were down to the last three minutes before the midnight deadline. "I think it was about one minute," said president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Three of Scott Boras' clients hadn't agreed to contract terms as we entered the final 15 minutes - Machado, first overall pick Bryce Harper and seventh overall pick Matt Harvey....

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What will today bring?

August 17, 2010, 6:29am

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

A walk-off win and a contract agreement with their first-round draft pick. What will the Orioles do for an encore? A 2 hour, 20 minute game would be a nice gesture - ending with another victory, of course. They've posted seven at home under manager Buck Showalter, and four have been of the walk-off variety. Adam Jones accounted for two of them with a single into left field and last night's bunt to third. For the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a suicide squeeze. Nick Markakis didn't break...

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Jordan: "We've got a new player"

August 16, 2010, 8:10pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

The Orioles reached agreement with shortstop Manny Machado about three minutes before the midnight deadline. Scouting director Joe Jordan said the bonus doesn't exceed the $6 million given to catcher Matt Wieters. "It played the way we thought it was going to play," Jordan said. "We had a really good read on the financial side, what it was going to take, and again, they played it until the end. We're very happy. It's a good deal for the club and the player. "It's one of those...

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Jones talks about his bunt

August 16, 2010, 7:39pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Adam Jones got the idea to bunt just before he squared up. No regrets. "I can bunt. I've been bunting this year. Good idea to do it," he said. "I looked at him (Jose Lopez) and I saw where he was playing me all night, all my at-bats, and when I was on third I was talking to him and said, 'I'm not going to bunt on you. I'm not going to bunt this series.' Hey, he moved back. "It was hot. I wish it ended in nine. As long as we came out victorious, it was worth it." The O's Xtra...

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Showalter talks about extra-inning win

August 16, 2010, 7:26pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Did manager Buck Showalter call for the bunt with Adam Jones at the plate, Nick Markakis at third base and two outs in the bottom of the 11th? "Yeah, we've been working on that," he said, grinning. "No. You've got good players making good decisions. A lot of opportunities there to throw in the towel and we kept grinding. I'm proud of them. We refused to give in there and it was fun to watch. It wasn't always fun to watch, but it was fun to watch. "I love it. I think it's a great...

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A walk-off bunt?

August 16, 2010, 6:55pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

That's correct. Adam Jones laid down a bunt with two outs in the bottom of the 11th to score Nick Markakis, who reached base on his 200th career double and took third on Ty Wigginton's tapper to the mound. Markakis held on Corey Patterson's sharp grounder to short, but Jones shocked everyone with a bunt that third baseman Jose Lopez couldn't pick up cleanly. That's 11 extra-inning wins for the Orioles.

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Simon serves one up (updated)

August 16, 2010, 6:11pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Mariners catcher Adam Moore just homered off Alfredo Simon with one out in the 10th inning to give Seattle a 4-3 lead. Moore jumped on a 2-1 pitch, a 95 mph fastball, and deposited it into the left field seats for his third homer of the season. Simon has given up a home run in each of his last four appearances, and in six of his last 10. Update: The Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th on Luke Scott's infield hit, Adam Jones' walk and a one-out intentional walk...

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The decision (& the decision II)

August 16, 2010, 5:42pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter removed Koji Uehara after two consecutive strikeouts in the eighth inning. He brought in left-hander Michael Gonzalez to face Ichiro Suzuki with runners on the corners and the game tied. He could have let Uehara face Ichiro. He could have ordered an intentional walk and let Uehara face Chone Figgins. He could have ordered the intentional walk and brought in Gonzalez. Showalter let Gonzalez pitch to Ichiro, and his faith was rewarded. Gonzalez recorded the strikeout and...

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Tonight's version of Bergy (updated)

August 16, 2010, 4:20pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

We're not seeing the same Brad Bergesen who threw the complete-game two-hitter in his last start. Or the same Bergesen who allowed four runs in his last three starts covering 23 innings. Tonight, Bergesen has given up three runs and seven hits - including back-to-back homers by Russell Branyan and Jose Lopez in the third that tied the game. Branyan's ball traveled 436 feet. Bergesen has thrown 79 pitches through four innings. The Orioles twice failed to turn double plays in the fourth that...

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VandenHurk speaks (w/game update)

August 16, 2010, 2:49pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Newest Oriole Rick VandenHurk is wearing No. 54. VandenHurk found out yesterday that the Orioles were calling him up to the majors - about two weeks after they traded for him. "You never know when it's going to happen, but I was happy getting traded, to come over here," he said. "There's going to be opportunities for me. It's going to be good. I'm going to try to make the most out of it." VandenHurk will be used in relief, but he could make some starts before the season...

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Berken MRI reveals tear

August 16, 2010, 1:27pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

The news on Jason Berken is more discouraging than we believed. Berken told reporters that the MRI revealed a tear in his labrum and some inflammation in his rotator cuff. Surgery still hasn't been considered and Berken didn't completely dismiss the possibility of pitching again this season, but it seems more unlikely. "There's time enough for some good rest, and hopefully that kind of calms everything down, and at some point start a rehab process," he said. "It could have been a lot...

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More pre-game Showalter

August 16, 2010, 1:01pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

On the challenges associated with losing David Hernandez and Jason Berken in the bullpen: "It's probably not something that's foreign here. This year's been a challenge physically, and I look at it as an opportunity to see some other people and see them rise to the occasion. (Armando) Gabino, we've heard so much about his slider and we've gotten to see that through necessity some. We've got other people. As the old scouts say, 'Never overlook an orchid while searching for a rose.' I...

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Berken to DL (w/quotes)

August 16, 2010, 12:23pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

The Orioles are making the expected move and placing Jason Berken on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Rick VandenHurk is joining the club from Triple-A Norfolk and will be available tonight. Manager Buck Showalter didn't want to discuss the MRI results until the doctor met with Berken, but he said it isn't a surgery situation. The Orioles are hoping that Berken can pitch again this season. Berken's DL assignment is retroactive to Friday. He's eligible to return on Aug....

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Orioles lineup (w/note added)

August 16, 2010, 11:35am

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

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 Brad Bergesen RHP Update: Jason Berken is still awaiting the results of his MRI, but pitcher Rick VandenHurk appears among the relievers on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse.

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A call to arms?

August 16, 2010, 6:25am

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

So what else is happening today besides the countdown to the midnight deadline for signing draft picks? Well, reliever Jason Berken will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder this afternoon in Baltimore. The results might not be immediately available, but a trip to the disabled list isn't an outrageous assumption. His shoulder is sore, and rest and treatments aren't alleviating the problem. David Hernandez already is on the DL, so it figures that Berken could join him. You just can't...

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Machado Man

August 15, 2010, 8:30pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

I decided to fire off one more blog entry before bed, which technically qualifies as a Monday morning post. Maybe I'll sleep an extra 30 minutes. Doubtful. I nap more than I sleep, which is one of my more annoying qualities. And yes, I have many to choose from, but why go there? The Orioles return to Camden Yards tonight to begin a seven-game homestand - three vs. the Mariners and four vs. the Rangers, who are still venting over that sweep in Arlington. I'll be handling the game coverage...

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Checking on Tillman

August 15, 2010, 4:54pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Chris Tillman started tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and was charged with three runs and eight hits in six innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 88 pitches, 61 for strikes. Tillman stands to be the winner with Norfolk leading Charlotte, 9-4, in the eighth. The last run off Tillman scored after Alberto Castillo replaced him. Scott Moore has homered twice for the Tides, giving him nine for the season. He's driven in four runs. Just when you think he's out of the organization,...

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Last chance? (yep)

August 15, 2010, 12:26pm

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Ty Wigginton struck out to end the top of the eighth inning after Nick Markakis tripled to center field with two outs, allowing the Rays to keep their 3-2 lead. That might have been the Orioles' last shot, but we'll find out. Update: Rays closer Rafael Soriano retired all three batters he faced on fly balls to right, and the Orioles' streak of series wins ends at three in a row. Down on the farm, Joe Mahoney went 2-for-4 with a run scored to raise his average to .388 in Double-A Bowie's...

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On the catwalk, yeah, on the catwalk

August 15, 2010, 11:54am

Roch Kubatko

Orioles

Jake Fox has brought the Orioles within a run by homering in the seventh inning off Rays reliever Dan Wheeler. The ball hit one of the catwalks at Tropicana Field, which forces you to relearn the ground rules. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta is credited with a quality start after allowing three runs over six innings. He threw 114 pitches, again taking advantage of a long leash from new manager Buck Showalter. Backup catcher Craig Tatum just threw out John Jaso attempting to steal second base....