Checking on Reimold and Mickolio

Checking on Reimold and Mickolio
Nolan Reimold started at first base tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and went 2-for-4 with a double, his second home run and two RBIs. He's batting .130. Reimold also committed his second error with a poor throw. Reliever Kam Mickolio blew the save and took the loss against Pawtucket after allowing two runs and three hits in the eighth inning. He threw 39 pitches and saw his ERA jump to 9.42. Armando Gabino, back in Norfolk's rotation, allowed two earned runs (three total) and four hits in six...
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Tejada defends Trembley and Crowley

Tejada defends Trembley and Crowley
If you visit MASN's media lounge, you'll find Amber Theoharis' post-game interview with third baseman Miguel Tejada. It's worth a look. You might be interested in Tejada's reaction when asked about all the speculation over the job security of manager Dave Trembley and hitting coach Terry Crowley, and whether the players share the responsibility for what's transpired this season. Miguel Tejada talks with Amber about the players responsibility to win "They're not playing," Tejada...
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Ohman was due

Ohman was due
Will Ohman gave up back-to-back homers to begin the eighth inning, a dramatic way to end his scoreless streak. Ohman hadn't allowed a run in 25 appearances, but Jose Bautista jumped on a first-pitch fastball - as the Jays always do - and Alex Gonzalez launched a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence. The Orioles might want to skip the eighth inning. Maybe they can treat every game like a minor league doubleheader. Don't they only play seven innings? Bautista played for the Orioles, and three...
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No offense, but... (updated)

No offense, but... (updated)
The Orioles have peppered Toronto starter Ricky Romero with four singles today. They've got him on the ropes. OK, not quite. They scored once in the first inning and went silent again. And now they trail, 4-1, on Lyle Overbay's leadoff homer in the bottom of the sixth. I've seen enough of this guy. Maybe a lefty specialist would have retired him. Jeremy Guthrie had settled down after the first, blanking Toronto over the next four innings. His pitch count stood at 85 after he threw 23...
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Not a good start

Not a good start
The Orioles are wearing throwback uniforms on June 26. Unfortunately, it's the '62 Mets. But seriously... As I drove home from MASN's Hunt Valley studio, I listened to Jeremy Guthrie give up a 1-0 lead in the first inning that Nick Markakis provided for him. Two doubles, two singles and a walk. At least the Jays didn't homer. That's an accomplishment. Guthrie threw 27 pitches, and they took me all the way into Eldersburg. Naturally, Miguel Tejada swung at the first pitch in the second...
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Is Castillo next?

Is Castillo next?
Cla Meredith is heading to Triple-A Norfolk. You have to wonder whether Alberto Castillo will be nipping at his heels. Maybe not that close, but Castillo hasn't exactly taken full advantage of his latest opportunity in the Orioles' bullpen. His roster spot is in jeopardy. Again. Castillo entered today's game as the lefty specialist and served up a two-run homer to Lyle Overbay on his first pitch, a slider that left the ballpark in a hurry. That's the fifth homer allowed by Castillo in 12...
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Long wait, short lead (updated twice)

Long wait, short lead (updated twice)
I wondered how Chris Tillman would respond after the long wait in the dugout during the Orioles' two-run sixth inning. It wasn't a marathon, but it might have seemed that way to Tillman, who's accustomed to taking a seat on the bench, removing his cap to wipe the sweat off his forehead and getting right back up. The Orioles actually provided some rest for Tillman, along with a 2-1 lead, but Aaron Hill crushed his first pitch in the bottom half of the inning for the tying home run. Tillman...
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Tejada forced to pay attention

Tejada forced to pay attention
Third baseman Miguel Tejada fielded Aaron Hill's blistering ground ball with one out in the third, tapped his glove twice and threw to second for the force. That's fine, but what about the double play? Julio Lugo threw late to first, extending the inning and tacking two more pitches on Chris Tillman's line, raising the right-hander's total to 50. Adam Lind grounded out, so no damage was done, but it appeared that Tejada lost track of the outs and thought he only needed the force. It...
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Encouraging signs in the first (updated)

Encouraging signs in the first (updated)
Toronto leadoff hitter Fred Lewis jumped on Chris Tillman's first pitch, an 88 mph fastball, and doubled to center field. Lewis was sitting on the fastball and Tillman gave him one. And it only registered 88. That was a bad sign, but it also was the last one. Tillman struck out the side, freezing Aaron Hill with a 94 mph fastball and Adam Lind with a 93 mph fastball, and getting Vernon Wells to swing through another heater that ended a 10-pitch battle. Tillman needs to throw his curveball...
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A reason to watch

A reason to watch
The Orioles don't have an extra-base hit since Garrett Atkins homered on Wednesday. It's time to raise the singles bar. Make mine a double. Brian Roberts took live batting practice from both sides of the plate earlier today in Sarasota. Those baseball-related activities are increasing. So are the chances that he'll get back in the lineup in a few weeks. The Orioles aren't completely ruling out June 9, the date Roberts is eligible to come off the disabled list, but he might need a little...
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Orioles lineup (w/Toronto)

Orioles lineup (w/Toronto)
Julio Lugo 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Garrett Atkins DH Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS Chris Tillman RHP Feeling good about this one? Jones went 0-for-4 last night to snap his career-best 13-game hitting streak. I tried to come up with a "detained" joke and couldn't do it. The Orioles haven't won a road series since Sept. 11-13 in New York. They're 0-10-1 since taking down the Yankees. They're also 7-29 in their last 36 road...
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No surprise, no surprise, no surprise (w/Norfolk info)

No surprise, no surprise, no surprise (w/Norfolk info)
Just to recap: The Orioles didn't score a run for Kevin Millwood. They officially recalled Chris Tillman from Triple-A Norfolk to make tomorrow's start in Toronto. They optioned reliever Cla Meredith to Norfolk to make room for Tillman on the 25-man roster. Pretty slow night. Meredith took the news about like you'd expect. He wasn't happy and mentioned his uneven use and how he only works here, but I outlined earlier today why the Orioles needed to make a decision on him. He's been...
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Orioles lineup (and Jays)

Orioles lineup (and Jays)
For the Orioles: LF Corey Patterson 1B Ty Wigginton RF Nick Markakis 3B Miguel Tejada DH Luke Scott C Matt Wieters CF Adam Jones 2B Scott Moore SS Cesar Izturis RHP Kevin Millwood For the Blue Jays: LF Fred Lewis 2B Aaron Hill DH Adam Lind CF Vernon Wells RF Jose Bautista SS Alex Gonzalez 1B Lyle Overbay C John Buck 3B Edwin Encarnacion RHP Shaun Marcum
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Markakis' return a timely one (updated)

Markakis' return a timely one (updated)
I'm sure that Christina Markakis' doctor didn't induce labor last night so husband Nick could face Shaun Marcum in Toronto. Pure coincidence - though the fact that he wore an Orioles cap turned backward during the delivery raised suspicions. OK, I'm kidding. Anyway, it was nice timing. Markakis will rejoin the Orioles tonight after leaving the team yesterday for the birth of his second son. The proud father just happens to be 9-for-20 with a double, five homers, six RBIs and six walks...
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Playing second-guessing games

Playing second-guessing games
Maybe it was a good sign for Orioles manager Dave Trembley that I passed president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail at the bottom of the stairs on my way back up to the press box after the post-game media gathering. MacPhail wasn't waiting for Trembley in the manager's office. Reporters are at the point where they're looking for any clues into the organization's thought process regarding Trembley. And we still have how many games left? Talk about the grind of the season. I didn't...
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The key decision

The key decision
For most of us, it had to be manager Dave Trembley's decision to remove Jason Berken after one batter in the eighth inning. Berken retired Rajai Davis on a fly ball with runners on first and second. Trembley played matchups by bringing in left-hander Mark Hendrickson to face Daric Barton and Ryan Sweeney. You know what happened next. Barton grounded out, but the next three batters reached on singles - though the last two were of the infield variety. Cla Meredith serves up a three-run...
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The latest implosion

The latest implosion
The A's have scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning, the last three on Kevin Kouzmanoff's bases-loaded double, to take a 7-5 lead and ruin a sensational outing for Brad Bergesen. Bergesen will get a no-decision. The Orioles won't be that lucky. Manager Dave Trembley pulled Bergesen after the first two batters singled. Jason Berken retired Rajai Davis on the fly ball, and Trembley went to Mark Hendrickson with two left-handers coming up. Hendrickson retired the first one, but...
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Atkins an RBI machine

Atkins an RBI machine
Garrett Atkins drove in another run tonight with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh that increased the Orioles' lead to 5-2. Atkins hit his first home run last night. He hadn't recorded RBIs in consecutive games since April 7 and 8. I'll give the guy credit for being patient tonight and finding ways to get on base. Matt Wieters has been pretty resourceful, too. He's singled, been hit by a pitch and walked. Looking ahead: The Orioles will face Shaun Marcom, Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero...
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Oh boy! (updated)

Oh boy! (updated)
Tonight's attendance: 26,279. Nick Markakis' wife, Christina, gave birth to Tucker Edward at 8:21 p.m. The baby weighs 7 pounds, 1 ounce. No word whether he bats from the left or right side. That's 14 batters in a row for Brad Bergesen, who induced three more ground balls in the top of the seventh. (And I actually used the word "induced" in this entry without linking it to Christina. Go figure.) Bergesen has held Oakland to two runs and two hits in seven innings. He surrendered 10 runs...
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Brad's no longer bad (updated)

Brad's no longer bad (updated)
Brad Bergesen has retired 11 batters in a row since walking two to open the third inning. That 4-3-6-2 double play must have done the trick. Bergesen just cruised through the top of the sixth inning. It couldn't have been much easier. Two ground balls to Julio Lugo and a pop up to Ty Wigginton. Bergesen could have brought an umbrella drink to the mound, though the four umpires might have joined him for a sip. Bergesen has thrown 74 pitches in six innings. He's allowed two hits, the last on...
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