The Orioles have not yet announced their pitching rotations for three of their four full-season minor league clubs. But at this point, it's worth taking an educated guess at what we might see on the mound starting next Thursday.
A few days ago, O's skipper Dave Trembley told reporters that Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton and Alfredo Simon would begin the year in the Norfolk Triple-A rotation.
The order of the rotation has not been announced.
Here are some guesses at...
The Orioles are not confirming anything yet, but it appears there have been internal discussions about moving Billy Rowell from outfield back to the infield.
Rowell, who played third base his first three seasons in the organization, played right field last year for the Class-A Frederick Keys.
The 21-year-old Rowell struggled at bat the last two years with Frederick, but also had a tough time last season adjusting to right field.
The O's 2006 first-round draft pick, he made 15 errors with a...
Mike Cuellar, one of the greatest pitchers in Orioles history, died today in Orlando, Florida. The Cuba-born Cuellar, who won 143 games with the Birds, was 72.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Cuellar had been in failing health since January and was dealing with the effects of a brain aneurism and stomach cancer.
Cuellar was a mainstay in the Orioles rotation during some of the club's glory years and pitched in three straight World Series from 1969 to 1971.
He was nicknamed "Crazy...
The O's can only hope the saying "it's darkest before the dawn" might apply to baseball as well.
It's getting pretty dark around here lately. Until this ten-game losing streak, the Orioles were not only competing with but they were beating good teams.
They took two of three from Texas and won back to back series over the Yankees (on the road) and vs. Tampa.
That all happened in September, although it seems years away now.
With some recent blowout losses, the teams' effort can be...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-95) at Tampa (79-76)
After going winless at Toronto and Cleveland, the O's play at Tampa tonight. It's the start of the final week and final road series of the year.
The Orioles are 0-6 on this trip and have lost ten games in a row.
Tonight, the Rays host the Orioles in the opener of a four-game series at Tropicana Field at 7:08 p.m.
Pitching Matchups - Tampa series:
Mon, 7:08p - Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.37) v. Jeff Niemann (12-6, 3.81)
Tues, 7:08p - Jeremy...
LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.37) tonight makes his 10th start of this season, his 5th on the road and his 4th vs. Tampa Bay.
Hendrickson pitched well, but did not get a decision Tuesday at Toronto. Over six innings, he gave up four hits and two runs, throwing 68 pitches.
Hendrickson, 2009 season:
As starter: 1-5, 5.73, nine starts
As reliever: 4-0, 3.44, 42 games
The Hendrickson-Niemann pitching matchup tonight features a pair of 6'9" hurlers.
Hendrickson pitched with Tampa from...
The O's got a decent outing from a starter and six runs on offense, but their struggling bullpen could not hold on again.
Tampa pushed across a run in the last of the 8th to snap a 6-6 tie and beat the Orioles 7-6, handing the Birds their 11th straight loss.
It's the longest losing streak since the O's lost 12 in a row from August 16-28, 2004.
Ben Zobrist doubled off Chris Ray leading off the 8th and moved to third on a groundout. Danys Baez came on and Pat Burrell's sac fly put Tampa...
The pen falters again - The O's bullpen went from bad to worse Monday night. The pen could not protect a 6-3 lead after six and a half innings. Willie Aybar's three-run, pinch hit homer tied it in the 7th and Tampa scored the winning run in the 8th.
Tonight the O's pen allowed four hits and four runs over three innings. The pen ERA on this road trip is 8.37. The bullpen ERA over the last 29 games is 6.77.
Dave Trembley talks with Gary and Jim after the O's 7-6 loss
Starter Mark...
There was a time when it seemed like the Orioles were one of the favorites to sign Dominican shortstop Miguel Angel Sano.
That no longer seems to be the case, but the O's aren't out of it yet, either.
John Stockstill, the O's director of international scouting said, "We have had talks with Sano in the past few days."
While the signing of Sano by any team doesn't seem imminent, Stockstill added, "Things have stepped up in recent weeks."
Baseball sources indicate something that has...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-96) at Tampa (80-76)
You need to get 27 outs to win a baseball game. The way the O's bullpen is performing recently, those final few outs have been hard to pick up.
The O's pen blew a 7th-inning, 6-3 lead Monday night and Tampa beat the Orioles 7-6 extending the season's longest losing streak to 11 games.
That's no where near the club record 21-game streak set in 1988, but it is the 6th losing streak of 11 or more games in franchise history.
The last time the...
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-16, 5.10) tonight will make his 32nd start of this season, his 16th on the road and the 9th of his career vs. Tampa.
Guthrie is 0-3, 6.38 over his past three starts. This follows a four-start stretch where he went 3-1, 1.33.
Guthrie is the AL leader in losses, earned runs and homers allowed with 32.
Guthrie, 2009 season:
First half: 6-8, 5.35, 18 starts
Second half: 4-8, 4.80, 13 starts
Guthrie needs to work 5 2/3 tonight to reach a career high 191 innings.
He has...
Looking like a team on an inevitable march toward 100 losses, the O's lost 3-1 Tuesday night at Tampa.
The O's have now lost 12 in a row, matching their losing streak of 12 in a row from August 16-28, 2004.
At least they couldn't blame the bullpen this time.
Tampa got a pair of clutch, two-out hits in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Ben Zobrist had an RBI double and Willy Aybar added an RBI single.
Gary and Jim ask Dave Trembley about the O's 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay
Luke Scott's single...
That's a Dozen - The O's suffered their 12th straight loss with Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Tampa. It's the most consecutive losses since the Birds lost 12 in a row from August 16-28 in 2004.
The losing streak is the longest in the Majors this year.
No beef - The O's offense was held to one run on nine hits tonight. The O's went 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base. The Birds have scored just 36 runs during the 12-game losing streak and have left 95 on base...
Game Preview
Orioles (60-97) at Tampa Bay (81-76)
Heading into tonight's game at Tampa, the O's need a win to end a 12-game losing streak and three wins in the next five games to avoid a 100-loss season.
Tonight, in game three of a four-game series, David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) pitches vs. Tampa's James Shields (10-12, 4.17).
The O's losing streak is the longest in the Majors this year. Tampa (September 3-13) and Cleveland (September 13-24) both lost 11 in a row earlier this...
RHP David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) tonight makes his 19th start of this season, his 10th on the road and the 2nd of this year vs. Tampa.
Even though he is winless over his last eight starts, Hernandez has pitched better in his last two starts, going 0-1, 3.75 vs. Boston and Cleveland. His last win was August 11th vs. Oakland.
Hernandez has recorded eight quality starts on the season.
Hernandez, 2009 season:
First 10 starts: 4-4, 3.81
Last 8 starts: 0-5, 7.34
The Orioles are 5-13 when...
The Orioles rally from a five-run deficit came up short Wednesday night as they lost 5-3 to Tampa at Tropicana Field.
The O's remain winless on this road trip and their losing streak, the longest in the Majors this year, has reached 13 games.
That's the O's longest since a 14-game streak in August of 1954 and the 1988 team began 0-14 on its way to an 0-21 start.
Down 5-0, the O's scored three in the 8th vs. James Shields on Chad Moeller's sac fly and a pinch hit, two-run homer from Ty...
Not his night - O's starting and losing pitcher, David Hernandez, had another poor outing. Coming off his last two starts, he had pitched pretty well, with an ERA of 3.75.
But tonight he gave up five runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. Over his last nine starts, Hernandez is 0-6, 7.65. The Orioles are 5-14 when he starts, losing the last nine in a row.
Hernandez has lost two starts this season vs. Tampa, pitching a combined 7 1/3 innings and giving up 16 hits and 10ER.
Winning...
Fans have asked about the Orioles moving forward - what is "the plan"?
It's not something that is written on paper. The O's don't have a mission statement like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire (remember, that was not a memo).
The proof is in their actions.
They have drafted pitchers. And then drafted more pitchers in recent years. They are trying to acquire young position player talent that can stick around awhile.
They are not chasing big-money free agents right now, much...
.......why not send in a comment or question to me while you are tuned in.
I'll be watching today's game from home here in beautiful Harford County.
While you are tuned in and also keeping up with all of Roch's great reporting from the game itself, feel free to send me a comment as well.
We've gotten a lot of interesting comments today on my blog about Guthrie & Tillman. Feel free to keep the comments coming there or you can write them here now as well. (No need to repeat what you...
When Robinson Cano launched that 3-1 pitch over the fence Monday night, you could almost feel Orioles fans confidence in Jeremy Guthrie drop another notch.
He has not done much this spring to provide fans with hope that he will have a bounce back season.
But I do think the concern, some would say panic, over Guthrie's struggles, is a little over the top.
*Why is he being handed a starting rotation spot?
That is the question from some fans. He does have a track record of success, two years...