Orioles manager Buck Showalter believes Adam Jones could return to the lineup on Tuesday.
Having tomorrow off gives Jones another day to recover after being hit behind the left shoulder by a Gavin Floyd fastball last Tuesday.
Showalter told reporters that Jones is "more available" today than yesterday.
Jones and Brian Roberts will report to Camden Yards tomorrow for treatment.
Also, Showalter didn't dismiss the possibility that Jim Johnson could close some games before the season ends,...
Julio Lugo 2B
Felix Pie LF
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Corey Patterson CF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
Jeremy Guthrie RHP
Vikings quarterback Brett Favre threw two interceptions last night.
Save it for the playoffs, Brett.
Nice outing by Jim Johnson last night in his first major league action since April 30.
Hard to believe it's been that long.
Manager Buck Showalter found an opportune time to take Johnson for a test-drive, in the ninth inning with the Orioles holding a 5-0 lead.
The first batter reached on an infield hit, but Johnson didn't allow another baserunner. Most impressive to me, his fastball was...
Josh Bell has always hit better from the left side of the plate. The splits are so uneven that many fans have suggested that he give up switch-hitting. Team officials have chosen to wait, but they're aware of the discrepancy.
So explain how Bell's three major league home runs have come against left-handers.
Bell just took Scott Kazmir deep with Cesar Izturis on base, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. He went to the opposite field with an 0-2 count.
Kazmir has lost six of...
Still no Adam Jones in the lineup. This is the fourth straight game without him.
Julio Lugo 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Jake Fox LF
Felix Pie CF
Crag Tatum C
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
Kevin Millwood RHP
Here's the Angels lineup:
Bobby Abreu LF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Alberto Callaspo 3B
Torii Hunter RF
Hideki Matsui DH
Mike Napoli 1B
Erick Aybar SS
Bobby Wilson C
Peter Bourjos CF
Scott Kazmir LHP
If you're going to get your first professional hit, make it a home run. Don't fool around.
First-round pick Manny Machado was 0-for-5 as a pro before launching a two-run homer in the sixth inning today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles. He had flied out to center field twice this morning after going 0-for-3 yesterday in his debut. He grounded to the pitcher in his last at-bat today.
If you're going to start out 1-for-7 as a pro, make that one hit a home run.
Machado will work out with...
I couldn't fall asleep last night, so I tried counting Brian Roberts' injuries.
Man, it's been a tough year for the Orioles' second baseman and leadoff hitter. I'm afraid to ask what's next.
Roberts is day-to-day with a strained left hip. He told reporters that it began bothering him about a week ago and has gotten worse. It's doubtful that he'll play tonight, so look for Julio Lugo at second base against Angels left-hander Scott Kazmir.
Roberts showed up at spring training with a...
Brian Roberts was forced out of tonight's game with a strained left hip.
Let's hope his day-to-day is shorter than Adam Jones' day-to-day.
Josh Bell entered the game in the fourth and batted for Roberts in the sixth. He singled leading off the inning and scored with two outs on Luke Scott's infield hit, giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead.
Bell was supposed to get the night off. He's been in a terrible slump since his two-homer game, striking out seven times in 14 at-bats.
Julio Lugo, a...
Lou Montanez hit his second home run tonight for Triple-A Norfolk.
Tim Bascom held Charlotte to one run and five hits over seven innings. He threw 89 pitches, 59 for strikes.
Ryan Adams is 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored for Double-A Bowie, raising his average to .305.
Left Fielder Tyler Henson was 2-for-2 with a double and RBI before coming out of the game, causing a lot of position shuffling.
Adams moved from second to third. Brandon Waring moved from third to first. Joe...
The Orioles haven't posted their lineup because they're waiting to find out whether Adam Jones is healthy enough to play.
Update: Jones remains out of the lineup. Mark Viviano reports that Felix Pie will start in center field, with Corey Patterson in left. Julio Lugo is starting at third base.
Also, Jim Johnson threw off a mound and is available tonight.
Update II: Pie is now starting in left, with Patterson going to center. Manager Buck Showalter just switched them. Man, that's a lot of...
In case you forgot, reliever Jim Johnson was 1-1 with one save and a 6.52 ERA in 10 games with the Orioles before going on the disabled list and spending most of his days and nights in Sarasota.
Johnson threw two innings on Tuesday for Double-A Bowie, so he should be available tonight if the Orioles need him. They wouldn't activate him this soon if he wasn't ready.
The question is, how will they use him? Will he be eased back into major league competition or called upon late in a close...
Orioles first-round pick Manny Machado played his first professional game today for the Gulf Coast League Orioles, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout as the designated hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Rays. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter before his fourth at-bat.
Update: In case you missed it, Machado will work out with the Aberdeen IronBirds on Sunday and most likely play his first NY-Penn League game the following night.
Ninth-round pick Parker Bridwell pitched the first inning, walking one,...
Former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick just spent three days with first-round pick Manny Machado, though two of them were abbreviated because of the Florida rain.
The weather didn't dampen Bordick's enthusiasm for the kid.
"I think the first impressions were great," Bordick told me in a phone conversation last night. "He's got a good attitude. He's excited about being there. I think those first impressions have a big impact on how you approach these guys.
"It looked like he's anxious...
The Orioles announced after tonight's loss that they've optioned Armando Gabino to Triple-A Norfolk.
A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow. Jim Johnson will be activated from the disabled list. No big mystery here.
Look for Jason Berken to be transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Johnson on the 40-man roster.
Gabino served up Alex Rios' two-run homer tonight. Nice parting gift.
Gabino allowed seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings over five appearances...
I wouldn't look for a quality start from Jake Arrieta tonight.
He's allowed three runs, which still makes it possible, but he's also thrown a ton of pitches.
Arrieta threw 350 in the first inning - or maybe it was 35. He was up to 70 after the third, and the White Sox held a 3-0 lead.
Arrieta allowed five hits and walked three batters. He also was charged with one bad mustache.
Instant update: Arrieta gave up another run with two outs in the fourth inning. He gets ahead in the count,...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter still won't allow himself to be pressed into naming a closer, no matter how hard the media tries.
Asked about Koji Uehara's role and whether the right-hander has emerged as the closer, Showalter said he'll continue to do "what's best for the Orioles."
That might be Uehara one night and someone else the next. He mentioned how Alfredo Simon is still capable. He knows that Michael Gonzalez has closed games in the past.
"But Koji, he's got a hot hand right...
Here's the new lineup:
Brian Roberts 2B
Corey Patterson LF
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Felix Pie CF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS
Josh Bell 3B
Jake Arrieta RHP
Manager Buck Showalter suggest that we jot down the lineup in pencil, in case Adam Jones is a late scratch.
For the Orioles:
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
Jake Arrieta RHP
For the White Sox:
Juan Pierre LF
Omar Vizquel 3B
Alex Rios CF
Paul Konerko 1B
Carlos Quentin RF
A.J. Pierzynski C
Alexei Ramirez SS
Mark Teahen DH
Gordon Beckham 2B
Edwin Jackson RHP
A victory tonight in Chicago would give the Orioles their fourth series win in seven series since Buck Showalter took over as manager on Aug. 3. The Orioles won just four of their first 34 series this year.
The Orioles are 1-9 in games that decide the winner of a three-game series, including 0-4 on the road. Their only win came May 13 against Seattle.
Jake Arrieta has posted a 3.29 ERA in two starts on five days rest, as opposed to a 5.00 ERA in 10 starts on four days rest. He's pitching on...
The Orioles gained a game on the Yankees last night.
You can look it up.
Take full advantage of them while A-Rod is gone.
Brian Matusz doesn't look like a young pitcher needs to be shut down in September. He's allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last five starts and has posted a 2.32 ERA this month.
I'm still wondering how the rotation will look over the final weeks of the season. The Orioles don't seem eager to add an extra starter, especially with two veterans who prefer...