Jays get early lead on Britton, O's

Jays get early lead on Britton, O's
The Toronto Blue Jays have taken a 3-0 lead to the bottom of the third tonight against Zach Britton and the Orioles. This would probably be a bad time to remind everyone that Toronto went 15-3 against the Orioles last year and has won 20 of the last 26 games between the teams. They out-homered the Orioles last season 34-8 in the 18 games. It wasn't a longball tonight, but a Mark Reynolds' error that helped Toronto to two runs in the second. After a leadoff single by Juan Rivera, catcher...
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Are AL hitters making adjustments against Zach Britton?

Are AL hitters making adjustments against Zach Britton?
Manager Buck Showalter was asked today if American League hitters are starting to make some adjustments against lefty Zach Britton, who is pitching tonight here against Toronto. Over his last two starts against K.C. and Oakland, Britton has allowed 19 hits and nine earned runs over 11 2/3 innings as his ERA has increased from 2.14 to 2.93. Buck Showalter talks about if it's time for Zach Britton to begin making adjustments "No. There are no secrets," Showalter said. "They had watched...
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Jones on the catch: "If I get an ESPY, we'll talk about it."

Jones on the catch:  "If I get an ESPY, we'll talk about it."
Adam Jones was in no mood to brag about his great catch against Seattle on Wednesday earlier today in the Orioles' clubhouse. He was asked what it was like to get national attention over the play where he ran back to the warning track and made a basket catch with his back to the infield to rob Miguel Olivo of extra bases. It was the Play of the Night on ESPN's "SportsCenter" and a top web gem on "Baseball Tonight." "I don't care. It's a great catch, but that was Wednesday and today...
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Showalter talks about Nick Markakis' struggles at the plate (with Pie note)

Showalter talks about Nick Markakis' struggles at the plate (with Pie note)
One of the biggest issues surrounding the Orioles lately has been the continued lack of production from right fielder Nick Markakis. Markakis does not have an extra-base hit over the last 15 games and 64 at-bats and has just two over his last 24 games. He has now gone 10 games without a multi-hit contest. Buck Showalter discusses Nick Markakis' struggles with the media "I think it's been frustrating for him," manager Buck Showalter said. "A day or two goes and you think he is on his...
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Showalter pregame updates on Lee, Duchscherer, Fox and more

Showalter pregame updates on Lee, Duchscherer, Fox and more
Derrek Lee will bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter tonight for Double-A Bowie. Showalter said it's not certain how many games Lee will play with Bowie. He did say the plans for his grandfather's funeral were finalized and it will be next Friday in California. Lee will leave the team Thursday (he likely would be activated by then) and perhaps be placed on bereavement leave where he can come off the roster for several days. "We'll go day-to-day with that (Lee)," Showalter said....
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Is it too risky to draft a high school pitcher?

Is it too risky to draft a high school pitcher?
The debate will rage on at least for a few more days. Should the Orioles shy away from drafting a high school pitcher with the fourth pick in round one of Monday's First-Year Player Draft? Should they take a college player or pitcher that is likely closer to getting to the majors? The last three times the Orioles drafted a high school pitcher in Round 1, they took Matt Hobgood in 2009, Adam Loewen in 2002 and Richard Stahl in 1999. Only Loewen ever made the majors and Hobgood is rehabbing...
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Steve Johnson gets on a roll at Double-A Bowie

Steve Johnson gets on a roll at Double-A Bowie
For right-handed pitcher Steve Johnson, the start of the season this year has been quite different than last season. The kid from Baltimore was 3-6 with an ERA of 6.14 in his first 17 starts for Double-A Bowie last year as he battled issues with control and his pitching mechanics. But he had a solid second half last summer and then further retooled his mechanics this winter and it looks like it is all paying off for him now. He is 4-1 with an ERA of 2.02 in eight Bowie starts after pitching...
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Updates on Schoop and Machado

Updates on Schoop and Machado
It looks like Jonathan Schoop, the 19-year-old infielder for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, should return to the lineup soon after missing games Tuesday and Wednesday. Schoop, from Willemstad, Curacao, recently fouled a ball off his foot, forcing him out of the Shorebirds' lineup. Schoop is off to a great start for Delmarva, batting .305 with 12 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 30 RBIs. He has a .362 OBP, a .498 slugging percentage and an .859 OPS. Schoop, who last played on...
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Will Buck Showalter have input in the Orioles' draft?

Will Buck Showalter have input in the Orioles' draft?
There have recently been some rumblings in baseball circles and some reporters have been wondering whether Orioles manager Buck Showalter will have any input into the team's selections in the upcoming First-Year Player Draft. The theory is that Showalter wants to win now and doesn't have time to wait around for a high school player to get to the majors. Thus, he would want the Orioles to draft a closer-to-ready college player with the fourth pick of the first round "The X-factor for the...
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Matusz pitches, Orioles win

Matusz pitches, Orioles win
Well, it's not that simple, but the Orioles are now 9-0 over Brian Matusz's last nine starts after winning today at Seattle. During that stretch, the Orioles have five wins over AL East opponents. It's a big lift to the team to have a healthy Matusz back, and, even though he did not get the win today, the team did and that is the most important thing. Over his last nine starts, dating to last August, Matusz is now 6-0 with an ERA of 1.57. The Orioles have beaten, in order, Texas, the...
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Matusz, Jones and 'pen all come up big as road trip ends with a win

Matusz, Jones and 'pen all come up big as road trip ends with a win
Brian Matusz returned to the Orioles today to start what he hopes will be a solid season and Adam Jones saw his solid season continue this afternoon as the Orioles won the final game of their road trip, 2-1 at Seattle. The win snapped the Orioles' five-game losing streak. Gary Thorne interviews Buck Showalter after the O's 2-1 win For the second time this year, the Orioles won a game started by Mariners' rookie sensation right-hander Michael Pineda, even though he didn't get tagged with...
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Best catch and best sight of the day

Best catch and best sight of the day
The best play of today was that catch by Adam Jones in the Seattle fourth. Running full go with his back to the plate, he reached out to rob Miguel Olivo just as he got to the wall. He had to take his eyes off the ball at the last moment, and I'm not sure how he could see the ball enough to get it in his glove, but he did, with a remarkable running catch. That might be the best catch I've ever seen Jones make, and that is saying something. Between his arm this year and his glove, his play on...
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Updating Mahoney, Machado and Tillman; Bergesen Triple-A start set

Updating Mahoney, Machado and Tillman; Bergesen Triple-A start set
The Orioles were hoping that 2010 minor league Player of the Year Joe Mahoney could return to the Double-A Bowie Baysox by Sunday, but that is now very unlikely. Mahoney, who has been on the disabled list twice this year with a quad injury and has had just 34 at-bats with Bowie, has suffered a setback at extended spring training. The Orioles were hoping he could get into an extended spring training game Tuesday, but Mahoney is now out with a tight hamstring. Right now, that is a day-to-day...
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O's offense didn't produce much in April, and May was not any better

O's offense didn't produce much in April, and May was not any better
The Orioles have now lost all five games on this road trip by a combined 10 runs. They have lost the last four by two, two, one and one run. It is big-time frustrating to lose close games and they are now 11-11 on the year in games decided by two runs or less. A batting average of .158 (6-for-38) on this trip with runners in scoring position has been a major factor contributing to the close losses as the Orioles have scored just 13 runs in Oakland and Seattle. The concern level for the...
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Guthrie's outing spoiled by late homer as the losing streak reaches five

Guthrie's outing spoiled by late homer as the losing streak reaches five
For the Orioles, this was one of the most frustrating losses of the year. On a night when Jeremy Guthrie outpitched former Orioles lefty Erik Bedard for most of the game, one key error and one bad pitch cost him the game as the Mariners beat the Orioles 3-2 to take the first two games of the series in Seattle. The O's took a 2-0 lead to the last of the eighth and Guthrie got the first two outs. But Ichiro Suzuki reached when Guthrie was charged with an error in taking a throw from first...
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Those early-inning woes for the O's

Those early-inning woes for the O's
In addition to a current losing streak of four games and inconsistent play, the Orioles have another problem that is contributing a lot to some of their losses: They can't seem to get out of the gate well. The Orioles have been outscored by their opponents 252-212 on the year. That is a run differential of minus-40. Most of that has come over the first two innings of games, where the Orioles have been outscored by 34 runs. In the first inning this year, the O's have been outscored 26-9 and...
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Joe Jordan not scared of high school talent in first round

Joe Jordan not scared of high school talent in first round
Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan has taken four high school players and two collegians with his six first-round picks since he was named to that post in November of 2004. Right now, he is in the final days of his preparation for another draft and the Orioles have the fourth pick in Round 1 next Monday night. There are several draft projections and predictions that have the Orioles taking Oklahoma right-handed high school pitcher Dylan Bundy with that pick. There is also a segment of fans...
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Losing streak reaches four as O's fall at Seattle

Losing streak reaches four as O's fall at Seattle
The Orioles are now one loss away from following a five-game win streak with five consecutive losses. They are now 0-4 on their current road trip after this afternoon's 4-3 loss at Seattle, as they fall to 24-28. The Mariners have won 10 of 12 games to improve to 27-26. Jake Arrieta had the shortest start of his career as he allowed four runs and four hits in just 2 1/3 innings and 68 pitches. He falls to 6-3 with an ERA of 4.97. Arrieta issued two bases-loaded walks in the Seattle third, a...
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Checking in with some Orioles & Mariners notes

Checking in with some Orioles & Mariners notes
Here are some notes and stats about the Orioles and Mariners as they begin a three-game series this afternoon. It's the second leg of a two-city road trip for the Orioles, who are 24-27 overall and 9-13 in road games. * The Orioles swept a three-game series from the Mariners May 10-12 in Baltimore by scores of 7-6, 4-2 and 2-1. They won the first and third games of the series with walk-off, extra-inning wins. O's starting pitchers worked to an ERA of 1.29 in that series. * The Mariners are...
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Minor league updates on Machado, Mahoney, Hobgood and more

Minor league updates on Machado, Mahoney, Hobgood and more
The Orioles are hopeful that 2010 first-round draft pick Manny Machado will play in extended spring training games in Sarasota, Fla., starting Wednesday or Thursday. Machado has been out since May 5 with a left knee injury. In 25 games with Single-A Delmarva before that, he was hitting .333 with five homers, 21 RBIs and a 1.062 OPS. If he continues to progress he could return to the Delmarva lineup sometime next week. Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney, who has been on the disabled...
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