Does a postponement and day/night doubleheader help or hurt the Orioles?
Does it even matter?
Maybe it means nothing, but the timing seems pretty rotten for a team coming off its crispest game of the season.
So much for riding a wave tonight - though snowboarding might be a possibility.
I know momentum in baseball is the next day's starting pitcher. Doesn't matter how many games you've won in a row if the opposing hurler brings his best stuff, which Francisco Liriano has been doing this...
Tonight's game in Minnesota has been postponed because of inclement weather - it's really supposed to snow later - and will be made up tomorrow as part of a doubleheader.
Game 1 is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EST on MASN2, with Game 2 to follow at 8:10 p.m. on MASN.
The rotation remains the same. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie will make the starts, though the Orioles will wait until tomorrow to announce which right-hander goes first.
Remember everything I wrote about Millwood today? It also...
Kevin Millwood has faced 30 teams in his 14-year career. He's never beaten the Twins (0-7 in 12 starts), Braves (0-6 in six starts) and Rangers (0-1 in two starts).
Maybe he can cross a team off that list tonight if the city isn't blanketed with three feet of snow.
No roof on the new stadium? Not even a retractable one? Brilliant.
Somewhere, Bud Grant is smiling.
If the game is played, Millwood will become the 18th active pitcher to throw in 40 different ballparks, joining Jamie Moyer...
No wonder I had trouble falling asleep last night. I find it unsettling when the Orioles protect a slim lead in the ninth inning by retiring three straight batters - and not after three straight reach base.
Way too routine for my taste.
Alfredo Simon left the drama in his locker while recording the save. Now that he knows it's that easy, maybe he'll do it more often.
You can see the difference Koji Uehara will make in this bullpen if he stays healthy. And that's a big "if." Huge. We're...
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little better about Brad Bergesen.
Coming off an uninspiring win, Bergesen shut down the Twins for 6 2/3 innings tonight. He allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out none. Manager Dave Trembley removed him after 97 pitches with the tying runs on base.
Will Ohman replaced him and walked Justin Morneau to load the bases before striking out Jim Thome.
Bergesen would have completed the seventh if first baseman Rhyne Hughes had fielded Orlando...
Ty Wigginton dropped about 15 pounds over the winter, which second baseman Brian Roberts noted during tonight's O's Xtra pre-game show.
A smaller Wigginton keeps coming up big.
Wigginton belted his 10th home run tonight, a two-run shot in the second inning that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead against Twins right-hander Carl Pavano.
It was another monstrous blast similar to the one he hit yesterday at Yankee Stadium. And it's only the third homer Pavano has surrendered this season.
MIguel...
Second baseman Brian Roberts didn't make a grand announcement on O's Xtra about his return to the lineup. Though encouraged by how his back is feeling, he still isn't sure when he'll get back on the field.
"I don't know. Unfortunately, that's kind of the million dollar question that I've been asked a lot, certainly recently," he said.
"The doctors have got me on a great physical therapy program. We are working and making progress. Unfortunately, I just don't have a final date...
Injured second baseman Brian Roberts is keeping busy.
Besides updating his video blog on MASNsports.com, Roberts will be in studio tonight for the entire O's Xtra pre-game show on MASN2 that begins at 7:30 p.m.
I'm told that Roberts will provide an update on his injured back, perhaps giving us a better idea when he might resume baseball activities. He'll also break down the top second basemen and leadoff hitters in the game.
Brian Roberts breaks down the AL East's second basemen
He used...
For the Orioles:
CF Adam Jones
RF Nick Markakis
C Matt Wieters
3B Miguel Tejada
2B Ty Wigginton
DH Garrett Atkins
1B Rhyne Hughes
LF Nolan Reimold
SS Cesar Izturis
RHP Brad Bergesen
For the Twins:
CF Denard Span
2B Orlando Hudson
1B Justin Morneau
DH Jim Thome
RF Michael Cuddyer
LF Jason Kubel
C Wilson Ramos
SS Alexi Casilla
3B Nick Punto
RHP Carl Pavano
Note: Injured second baseman Brian Roberts will serve as an analyst on tonight's O's Xtra pre-game show on MASN2.
I tapped on my horn earlier today to alert the pickup truck in front of me that the light had changed to green about 30 seconds earlier and he might want to step on the gas. Then I noticed the large sticker on the back of his vehicle that promoted his status as a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
Luke Scott's still in Minnesota, right?
Hall of Famer Eddie Murray makes his MASN broadcast debut tomorrow night, and he'll work the final three games of the Twins series. He'll...
When the Orioles embarked on their road trip, I told a few people that I'd be satisfied with the club taking one of three from the Yankees and splitting with the Twins. I wasn't reaching for the stars. I get dizzy just standing on my toes.
The Orioles were swept in the Bronx, so that goal's already been shattered. Now I want three of four in Minnesota.
It shouldn't be so hard...except the Twins just swept the Tigers, they've scored two runs in the first inning in six consecutive games...
The Orioles have optioned left-hander Alberto Castillo to Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding move will be announced tomorrow.
That would be Koji Uehara.
Castillo was 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in six games. He got off to a fine start and looked like he might stick around for a while, but that Norfolk shuttle always seems to be calling.
Uehara is expected to come off the disabled list and join the team in Minnesota. He turned in four scoreless appearances on his injury rehab assignment at Double-A...
We know Ty Wigginton won't be going down to Triple-A Norfolk.
Wigginton belted his ninth home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning, a two-run shot off Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre that landed in the second deck in left field and cut the deficit to 6-3.
Too little, too late?
That's my guess, but we'll find out.
Instant update: It's now 7-3 in the bottom of the eighth. I'll continue to trust my instincts.
Interesting comments today from president of baseball operations...
Orioles starter David Hernandez has surrendered bases-empty home runs to Nick Johnson and Nick Swisher in the first two innings.
Maybe that's a good sign for Nick Markakis.
The Yankees tacked on another run in the third, but Lou Montanez cut down Johnson at the plate.
I hate having the feeling that this game is already over, but with Andy Pettitte on the mound, I'm not exactly brimming with confidence.
Pitching coach Rick Kranitz was tossed from the game for arguing balls and strikes from...
Sorry to be late with this information, but I sent along an entry earlier today that didn't post. Now that I'm back at my laptop, I can take care of it.
Adam Jones was a late scratch with a right hip strain. He also dealt with a sore shoulder last night, but that's not the issue today.
Jones was removed as a precaution, with Lou Montanez replacing him in center field and Julio Lugo batting leadoff. He's expected to start tomorrow night in Minnesota.
Orioles:
CF Adam Jones
2B Ty Wigginton
RF Nick Markakis
3B Miguel Tejada
1B Garrett Atkins
DH Matt Wieters
LF Nolan Reimold
C Craig Tatum
SS Julio Lugo
RHP David Hernandez
Yankees:
SS Derek Jeter
DH Nick Johnson
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
RF Nick Swisher
CF Brett Gardner
C Francisco Cervelli
LF Randy Winn
LHP Andy Pettitte
Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez aren't hitting in this series. Mariano Rivera isn't available, and Jorge Posada can be used only in an emergency.
The bottom of the Yankees' lineup last night included Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena.
I'm glad the Orioles caught the Yankees at the right time.
It's the bottom portion that keeps hurting the Orioles - along with starters CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. And they get Andy Pettitte today, another pitcher they can't touch without getting...
Second and third, none out and a run already across in the third inning.
The Orioles could have busted the game wide open, but their only run scored on pitcher A.J. Burnett's throwing error. Three straight batters went down swinging.
Leadoff double for Miguel Tejada in the fourth. Tejada moves to third with one out.
The Orioles could have snapped a 1-1 tie, but they failed to score. Luke Scott struck out and Garrett Atkins fouled out.
Why was the game tied in the top of the fourth?...
For the Orioles:
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters C
Miguel Tejada 3B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Luke Scott LF
Garrett Atkins DH
Rhyne Hughes 1B
Cesar Izturis SS
Brian Matusz LHP
For the Yankees:
Derek Jeter DH
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames LF
Brett Gardner CF
Francisco Cervelli C
Ramiro Pena SS
A.J. Burnett RHP
Cano is the only left-handed batter to record an extra-base hit off Matusz in 25 at-bats this year (homer and double April 29 in...
Left-hander Zach Britton tossed five scoreless innings today in Double-A Bowie's 9-0 win over Harrisburg.
Britton allowed two hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out two while improving his record to 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA. Unfortunately, he was hit in the chest by a comebacker on his third pitch of the fifth inning and eventually left the game.
I doubt that it's serious or he would have come out immediately, but I might have an update later.
Former starter Pedro Beato followed Britton to...