Orioles manager Dave Trembley wrote Ty Wigginton's name in the lineup - and we're talking marker, not pencil - before the club's second baseman arrived at Camden Yards.
Wigginton insisted last night that he'd be fine. Forget that his hand and wrist were wrapped to prevent more swelling after Seattle shortstop Josh Wilson nailed him with a throw in the second inning. Not a problem.
Sure enough, Wigginton showed up this morning without the wrap, and with every intention of starting against...
True to his word, Ty Wigginton is playing again today after being hit on his right wrist last night while breaking up a double play.
Next, he'll tear a phone book in half and tow an 18-wheeler with his teeth.
Here's the lineup:
Corey Patterson LF
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Luke Scott DH
Rhyne Hughes 1B
Craig Tatum C
Cesar Izturis SS
Kevin Millwood RHP
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me.
Players aren't required to report today until 11 a.m. after last night's late finish. The clubhouse opens to the media at 9 a.m., the usual 3 1/2 hours before first pitch.
The smart reporters wait until players start to show up. I got here at 8:50 a.m.
My mother didn't raise any stupid children, but my judgment has been questioned on multiple occasions.
The lineup hasn't been posted yet. The clubhouse is completely empty.
So is the...
One of the first things I noticed upon arriving at the ballpark today was the Orioles taking early batting practice.
Look for that trend to continue.
"We're probably going to continue having early hitting every day until we get everybody where they should be," manager Dave Trembley said. "It seemed like guys were a little more relaxed tonight. (Nolan) Reimold got sent out, so that takes some of it off some of the other guys who I think have been scuffling."
Dave Trembley talks with the...
Tonight's attendance: 11,448.
Adam Jones has three hits and an RBI. Luke Scott has homered and doubled.
Some guys really want to stay up here.
Plate umpire Joe West, on a crusade to speed up the games, grew agitated with Orioles third baseman Miguel Tejada in the sixth inning.
Tejada had the nerve to walk to the mound between outs so he could dig the mud out of his spikes and say a few words to Brad Bergesen. West yelled at Tejada, who returned to third base, and stared him down after the...
Brad Bergesen hasn't recorded a strikeout for the second consecutive start, and it means absolutely nothing.
Just thought I'd mention it.
Bergesen is shutting out the Mariners on three hits over five innings, giving him 11 2/3 scoreless innings over his last two games. He's walked two and struck out none - the same as his last start.
Bergesen escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth and retired the Mariners in order in the fifth. He's thrown 61 pitches.
SPOILER ALERT: Still no...
Corey Patterson is the catalyst of this offense.
Somebody had to say it.
Patterson grounded a single into right field leading off the third inning, took second on Adam Jones' single to left and scored on Miguel Tejada's one-out double. Jones also motored home.
Orioles 2, Seattle 0.
Matt Wieters singled with two outs, but Seattle center fielder Ryan Langerhans threw out Tejada at the plate.
Update: Luke Scott knocked Ryan Rowland-Smith out of the game with a home run leading off the...
Ty Wigginton broke up a double play in the second inning.
Let's hope that's all he broke.
Wigginton was nailed in the right hand by a throw from Mariners shortstop Josh Wilson while sliding into second base. He immediately jumped to his feet and ran into the dugout with his arm hanging at his side.
He didn't retreat to the clubhouse or the trainers room. He's still in the dugout, showing the hand to head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.
That's one tough guy.
Instant update: ...
Following a 24-minute rain delay...
The first ball put in play tonight headed directly to Corey Patterson in left field.
I'd say something about Patterson getting his feet wet, but that happened during his jog from the dugout.
Patterson caught Ichiro Suzuki's line drive for the first out, and Brad Bergesen retired the next two Mariners for a routine inning. He needed 10 pitches to get out of the rain.
Patterson almost led off the bottom of the first with a bloop hit down the right field...
Corey Patterson finally made it to Camden Yards, though he still hadn't changed into his uniform as he spoke to reporters outside the clubhouse.
I asked Patterson whether it felt strange to be back here after leaving the Orioles following the 2007 season.
"Yes and no," he said.
Glad we cleared that up.
OK, seriously, here's the rest of his quote:
"You always think when you leave an organization whether you'll get back, and you see it happen occasionally. I'm happy to be back here....
It sounds like Corey Patterson will get a chance to seize the leadoff role when he's in the lineup, though manager Dave Trembley wasn't ready to make any grand declarations without first speaking to the outfielder.
"We need to get somebody to spark our offense," Trembley said. "I'm not putting it all on Corey, but he has been a leadoff guy in the past. He was playing very well in Triple-A. Nolan (Reimold) wasn't playing well here.
"It's unfortunate that these things happen, but they...
Manager Dave Trembley was in a solemn mood as he met with reporters before the game.
Trembley is still waiting for Corey Patterson to arrive at the ballpark. Nolan Reimold already had left the clubhouse.
"We'll try to get him some success in Triple-A, and hopefully his stay in Triple-A isn't very long," Trembley said.
"We held on as long as we possibly could with him. This was a discussion that had been going on for a while. I was hoping that he was going to hit himself through it, but...
Second baseman Brian Roberts told MASNsports.com today that the Orioles are transferring him to the 60-day disabled list.
I assume the move is being made to clear room on the 40-man roster for Corey Patterson.
Roberts mentioned yesterday that he might begin small baseball-related activities by the end of the week, but he's not close to getting back in the lineup. He hasn't played since the April 9 home opener against Toronto.
You can check out Roberts' video blog. He'll discuss this...
The Orioles are taking early batting practice today, and the group includes outfielder Lou Montanez, who isn't packing his bags and meeting up with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in Syracuse, N.Y.
Sorry, Nolan Reimold, but your time is up. And the only parting gift is an extra Brian Matusz T-shirt.
Reimold will be the casualty when Corey Patterson is added to the 25-man roster. Maybe he can find his stroke, the way Chris Tillman rediscovered his command with the Tides, and make it back here in a...
Corey Patterson is more than just the older brother of Oakland's Eric Patterson.
Here's a refresher to go with your lunch:
The Cubs selected Patterson with the third overall pick in the 1998 draft. He's a career .252 hitter in 10 major league seasons with five teams. He turns 31 in August.
The Orioles acquired Patterson from the Cubs in January 2006 for minor leaguers Nate Spears and Carlos Perez. He hit .276 with 19 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 53 RBIs, 45 stolen bases and a .757...
I'm not sure whether the Orioles are depressing me or if I should blame the gray sky and rain.
I slept like a baby last night. I woke up crying every two hours.
It was tough getting out of bed this morning, and I almost tripped over my bottom lip while trudging down the stairs. I'm actually typing this blog entry from the fetal position.
I'll perk up eventually, but I feel like a beaten man.
I wrote yesterday how manager Dave Trembley dropped strong hints that a roster move was coming...
Nolan Reimold had one of the Orioles' eight hits tonight, so perhaps he should be honored with a parade down Pratt St.
Unfortunately for Reimold, that single was the only positive aspect of tonight's game. He went 1-for-4 to leave his average at .205. (It actually went up two points. Cue the band.) He also committed an error in left field and still seems to have some trouble judging balls.
I thought it was telling that manager Dave Trembley, when asked during his post-game session with the...
I mean for the night.
David Hernandez got the first two outs in the top of the sixth inning as the rain increased in intensity. He walked Josh Wilson and Ken Griffey - giving him four walks among the last seven batters he faced - and the runners moved up on a wild pitch.
Hernandez was up to 100 pitches. Jason Berken finally started to warm in the bullpen after the second walk.
Heed the warning signs!
Rob Johnson followed with a single into left field, and Nolan Reimold allowed another run...
The Orioles strand two runners in scoring position and immediately fall behind.
Who keeps replaying this movie?
A Nick Markakis single and Miguel Tejada double put runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning. Those were the only hits off Cliff Lee, who finally looked vulnerable - or at least human.
Ty Wigginton, the team leader in home runs and RBIs, struck out swinging. Matt Wieters grounded to third.
Inning over. No runs.
David Hernandez takes his one-hit shutout into...
We need it here.
David Hernandez threw four fastballs to Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez that were clocked at 94, 96, 94 and 96 mph. Gutierrez swung through the last one to end the first inning after plate umpire Rob Drake appeared to squeeze Hernandez on the previous pitch.
Hernandez struck out Chone Figgins on a 92 mph fastball after retiring leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki on a bouncer to the mound.
The first-pitch temperature was 45 degrees. A light rain is falling. The crowd...