Challenging Pettitte

Challenging Pettitte
Andy Pettitte is 27-6, 3.57 all time vs. the Orioles in 41 games, 39 starts, covering 247 1/3 innings. In his only previous start vs. the O's this year, he beat them 7-5 on May 5th, allowing just one run over five innings. Pettitte is pitching in the Majors for the first time since he left a start on July 18 vs. the Mariners in the third inning with a strained left groin and later went on the DL. He recently pitched nine innings, allowing two runs over two rehab starts, with Double-A...
Continue reading

Andino gets his chance and runs with it

Andino gets his chance and runs with it
Robert Andino, a player who was dropped from the O's 40-man roster in April, is now impressing his manager and perhaps laying the groundwork for a shot at a roster spot in 2011. Andino has proven to be versatile, while at the same time showing pop in his bat, in the chances he has gotten in recent days. "I'm just going out here and playing hard. They've given me an opportunity and I put my time in, put my work in. Just go out, have fun and play hard." On Saturday night, Andino had...
Continue reading

Guthrie on his outing vs. New York

Guthrie on his outing vs. New York
After going 3-0, 0.81 and allowing just two runs total over his last three starts, tonight Jeremy Guthrie gave up six runs, one off his season high in an 11-3 loss to the Yankees. Guthrie gave up two runs and two hits in the opening inning. "That more than anything, probably set the tone. If I get out of that, you're rocking and rolling and going forward from there. "My command wasn't great, that was evident from the first pitch on. I didn't throw the ball very often where I was...
Continue reading

Yankees get to Guthrie, top Orioles, 11-3

Yankees get to Guthrie, top Orioles, 11-3
The Orioles run of excellent starting pitching came to an end tonight as Jeremy Guthrie was touched for six runs as the Yankees beat the Orioles, 11-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 48,775 at Camden Yards. Jorge Posada's two-run single in the first gave New York the lead and Robinson Cano added a two-run homer in the fifth as Guthrie gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings. Guthrie falls to 10-14, 3.92 and failed to pitch six or more innings for the first time in 12 starts. He is...
Continue reading

A six-spot vs. Guts (updating Andino)

A six-spot vs. Guts (updating Andino)
Jeremy Guthrie had been pitching so well, but when he gave up a two-run homer to Robinson Cano in the 5th, New York moved ahead 6-2. They have scored in four of their five at bats vs. the O's righty, who has allowed six runs on seven hits through five frames. Guthrie was 7-2, 2.29 in 11 starts since the All-Star break, but entered with a 3-8, 5.33 mark in 13 career starts vs. New York. It feels like a long time since he has given up six runs in a start, but it happened on August 18 and 24th...
Continue reading

Jeter hit, A-Rod still running

Jeter hit, A-Rod still running
Is there some bad blood now festering between the O's and Yankees? Derek Jeter was hit to start this game. This ball actually did hit him. No, really it did. Later in the inning, when Alex Rodriguez scored the second run on a Jorge Posada two-run single, he crossed home plate and kept running. Right toward the O's dugout. I mean he got within a few feet of it and was close enough to high five Buck Showalter. That had to get under the Orioles skin, I would think and hope. Seemed over...
Continue reading

The Arrieta numbers

The Arrieta numbers
With the Orioles deciding today that Jake Arrieta's season is over, here are his Major League numbers in some detail from this year. Arrieta told reporters today he has a bone spur in his right elbow, it does not cause him pain or any problems when pitching, he said, but he will undergo a procedure to remove it and Arrieta will not pitch any more this year. *Arrieta was 6-6, 4.66 in 18 Orioles starts. *Over 100 1/3 innings, he allowed 106 hits, 9 homers, 48 walks, had 52 strikeouts and a...
Continue reading

Arrieta says bone spur is not a problem

Arrieta says bone spur is not a problem
O's pitcher Jake Arrieta revealed this afternoon that he has a bone spur in his right elbow. He said it does not impact his pitching and he has no pain from it, but the Orioles are considering Arrieta undergo a procedure to have it removed. "I've got a bone spur and I've had it for years. It's never bothered me. I think they just want to monitor it and make sure it's not getting any bigger. I think if it does, they might take it out. "They could shave it off. It's limited my...
Continue reading

O's now try to bounce back from a gut-wrenching loss

O's now try to bounce back from a gut-wrenching loss
So the Orioles are 9-3 in their last 12 games. Two of the losses have come vs. the Yankees with Koji on the mound in the ninth inning. The other came at Detroit, when the O's led 2-1 going to the last of the eightth, but gave up five runs. They were several outs away over three games from a possible 12-game winning streak. That would have been one uplifting win for the Orioles had they held on Friday night. They would have been 4-1 in their last five games versus the Yankees with a win...
Continue reading

Millwood and Koji talk about the loss to the Yankees

Millwood and Koji talk about the loss to the Yankees
For the second time in eight games, the Yankees beat Koji Uehara and the Orioles on a ninth inning homer. A-Rod's three-run shot off Koji on a 2-2 pitch gave the Yankees a 4-3 comeback win over the Orioles on a night when the O's were a strike away from a win over the New Yorkers. "I feel bad. The pitch before the home run, the fastball inside, I didn't get that call. Little disappointed," Koji said through his interpreter. He was asked again if he felt that 1-2 pitch to A-Rod, the...
Continue reading

A-Rod's three-run homer in the 9th sinks the Birds, 4-3

A-Rod's three-run homer in the 9th sinks the Birds, 4-3
Down to their last out and last strike tonight, New York's Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer to left off Koji Uehara to give the Yankees a stunning, 4-3 comeback win over the Orioles tonight in front of 32,874 at Camden Yards. The O's took a 3-1 lead to the 9th, but Koji gave up singles to Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson. He faced A-Rod with two on and out and just missed on an inside fastball on the 1-2 count. The next pitch sailed over the left field fence to give the Yankees the...
Continue reading

Did the umps miss another one involving Jeter?

Did the umps miss another one involving Jeter?
With runners on first and second and none out in the O's second inning, Adam Jones hit a grounder to first. Mark Teixeira fielded the ball and threw to Derek Jeter covering the bag at second. Replays showed that the ball quickly popped out of Jeter's glove, but an out was ruled by second base ump Paul Nauert. I guess he was ruling that the ball was coming out of the glove as Jeter was reaching in to get it. Didn't look that way to me. The O's still had a chance with runners on first...
Continue reading

Troy Patton still waiting for his chance

Troy Patton still waiting for his chance
Left-hander Troy Patton is back with the Orioles, for the third time, but still waiting to get into his first game. He was with the club for just one day, on July 21st, then returned from August 1-8 and was recalled on September 7th. "I'm just waiting, they keep telling me to be ready. I've never been in this situation. But I'm here. So, that's the biggest thing, I'm here and I'll wait my turn." Patton is trying to stay game ready by throwing bullpen sessions, but doesn't want to...
Continue reading

Mahoney on winning the Brooks Robinson award

Mahoney on winning the Brooks Robinson award
He wasn't on Baseball America's list of the O's top 30 prospects in the pre-season, but he will be now. Joe Mahoney is at Camden Yards tonight to receive his Brooks Robinson O's Minor League Player of the Year award. "Great honor. To get the call was definitely a good day. It means a lot. The Orioles are a great organization and for them to give me this award speaks a lot about the year I've had. "I've come a long way and been working hard. Trying to be the future first baseman...
Continue reading

Britton on his award and the call that didn't come

Britton on his award and the call that didn't come
Zach Britton is at Camden Yards tonight. But to get an award and not pitch in a game, like he had hoped. Britton was named the winner today of the O's Jim Palmer award, which goes to their Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Britton went 10-7, 2.70 between Bowie and Norfolk and was hoping he'd pitch for the Orioles this month as a September callup. "This experience of not coming up here in September is going to light a fire under my butt and push me to try and win a spot in spring...
Continue reading

Britton and Mahoney honors now official

Britton and Mahoney honors now official
The Orioles have now made it official with their announcement that Joe Mahoney has won the Brooks Robinson Award as their minor league player of the year. Zach Britton is the Jim Palmer Award winner as minor league pitcher of the year. Here is the news from the O's press release: The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2010, including INF JOE MAHONEY as the club's top minor league player and LHP ZACH BRITTON as the club's top minor...
Continue reading

The standings with Buck: O's lead the East by 3 1/2 games

The standings with Buck:  O's lead the East by 3 1/2 games
If baseball passed a rule that stated the standings didn't count this year until beginning with the games of August 3rd, the Orioles would be okay with that. That is the day Buck Showalter managed his first O's game this year and since then the Orioles are the AL East division leaders - by 3 1/2 games and the Yankees are in fourth place. Team.......W....L.......Pct........GB Orioles.... 26-15.......634.........-- Bos/TB.......
Continue reading

One manager's take on Britton and Mahoney

One manager's take on Britton and Mahoney
They are home-grown, drafted and developed, Orioles' products. One selected out of high school, the other from college. Later today, the O's will make the announcement official. Joe Mahoney is expected to be named winner of the Brooks Robinson O's Minor League Player of the Year award and Zach Britton winner of the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year honor. Both players are expected at Camden Yards tonight and will be introduced to the crowd as they get their awards. Britton...
Continue reading

Rowell had solid finish at Frederick

Rowell had solid finish at Frederick
After three seasons and 348 games in a Frederick Keys uniform, Billy Rowell is more than ready to play for a different minor league team. For the first time in a few years, Rowell's career move be on the move upward. The O's first-round pick in 2006, Rowell hit .275-11-61 this year with 25 doubles in 117 Keys games. His average was up from last season's .225 and his OPS increased from .620 to .756. "I just wanted to stay consistent throughout the second half. Consistency is part of the...
Continue reading

The four seamer helps Bergy get on a roll

The four seamer helps Bergy get on a roll
Blame Yunel Escobar. If he didn't hit a liner off Brian Matusz's left triceps Tuesday night, the Orioles might have a streak of nine straight quality starts right now. We don't know how well Matusz would have done had he stayed in that game, but he's been pitching well, so I'd like his chances to get it done. O's starting pitching has gone from good to great. Here are the latest numbers: *ERA of 0.56 in the Toronto series. *ERA of 0.61 over last five games. *Starters are 5-0, 1.66 the...
Continue reading