The Orioles have claimed right-hander Armando Gabino off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and added him to the 40-man roster.
Gabino, 26, went 6-4 with three saves and a 2.94 ERA in 38 games (seven starts) with Triple-A Rochester. He also appeared in two games with the Twins.
And I'll admit that I can't picture the guy. Name sounds familiar, but...nothing. I'll do some research.
Update: Gabino went 0-0 with a 17.18 ERA in his two appearances with the Twins. He made his major league...
The general manager meetings begin today in Chicago, which will bring more rumors and speculation than actual activity.
Some deals are struck, but it's mostly a way for executives to lay the groundwork for next month's winter meetings in Indianapolis. They'll express interest in players, discuss parameters of a deal and agree to continue those talks. It gives them a better sense of who's available and whether there's a potential match.
Otherwise, there's a lot of business discussed...
Every game seems to bring a press box debate, or at least a quiet discussion in the interview room before manager Dave Trembley takes a seat behind the microphone.
Since I'm not ready to let go of today's victory, I'll pass along how we talked about Seattle third base coach Mike Brumley's decision to send Josh Wilson with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.
Left fielder Corey Patterson scooped up Ichiro Suzuki's single and fired the ball to the plate, where catcher Matt Wieters...
I just spoke with an Orioles official with some clarity on Jim Johnson's examination today.
The Orioles continue to classify Johnson's injury as a sprained ligament in his right elbow following the reliever's visit with Dr. James Andrews. They say the exam didn't reveal anything new.
Johnson will spend the next four weeks at the minor league complex in Sarasota. Team officials don't anticipate that Johnson will require surgery.
When I asked one official whether Johnson has a slight...
I'll pass on the obvious joke here.
You're welcome.
Luke Scott gave the Orioles a 6-5 lead with a grand slam in the eighth inning. Corey Patterson began the rally with a home run and ended the game with his throw to the plate. Catcher Matt Wieters made a tremendous tag, blocking the plate while reaching far to his right for the ball.
Dave Trembley talks about the O's dramatic 6-5 win over the Mariners
That's the obvious stuff.
Now for the little things.
Did anyone notice how Nick...
Luke Scott swung at the first pitch from reliever Brandon League with the bases loaded in the eighth and destroyed Seattle's 5-2 lead.
Scott hit his second career grand slam, and the first by an Oriole since Michael Aubrey on Oct. 2.
If only he could have enjoyed the trip around the bases from the first few steps.
Scott pumped his fist in the air and shouted with joy as he rounded first, but Ty Wigginton began to wave him back to the bag, thinking the ball was still in play.
Left...
Ichiro Suzuki, Mike Sweeney and Michael Saunders had combined for one home run in 185 at-bats before today's game. They each took Kevin Millwood deep in the right-hander's 6 2/3 innings.
That'll leave a mark.
Saunders raised his season's total to two and knocked out Millwood, who has been replaced by Mark Hendrickson with the Orioles trailing, 5-1.
Suzuki was a lifetime .394 hitter vs. Millwood before today, including one home run in 71 at-bats.
Millwood has surrendered 10 homers this...
Kevin Millwood just fumbled a 1-0 lead in the fifth on Michael Saunders' two-out single that scored Ryan Langerhans and Ichiro Suzuki's first home run of the season.
Seattle 3, Orioles 1.
Langerhans led off with a double and took third on Josh Wilson's fly ball to right. Rob Johnson sent a bouncer up the middle against the Orioles drawn-in infield, and shortstop Cesar Izturis made a clean pick-up and throw for the out as Langerhans held at third. I thought the ball might sneak through or...
Triple-A Norfolk infielder Scott Moore left today's game in Syracuse after one at-bat because of a strained hamstring. He's expected to be sidelined for about a week.
Paco Figueroa, just promoted from Double-A Bowie, replaced Moore at second base.
Ty Wigginton has the game's only hit as we enter the bottom of the third inning. He lined a single to left field.
He's my favorite player today, in case you didn't notice.
Here are a few more pre-game comments from manager Dave Trembley, who...
Happy Birthday, David Hernandez.
And what better way to celebrate your 25th than having manager Dave Trembley tell reporters this morning that the organization hasn't discussed replacing you in the rotation.
Hernandez's 11 consecutive losses are two shy of Mike Boddicker's club record. He was charged with five runs (four earned) and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks, four strikeouts and two wild pitches, in Tuesday's start against the Mariners.
Trembley mentioned how Hernandez...
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....