Jakubauskas gets activated, awaits his first O's appearance

Jakubauskas gets activated, awaits his first O's appearance
Chris Jakubauskas is back in the major leagues. This time he wants to stick around longer than 12 pitches. Jakubauskas was officially recalled today by the Birds as Brad Bergesen was sent back to Triple-A. He will possibly be the starting pitcher tomorrow, but that plan could get foiled if the O's need to use him in either of the two games here today. "All I've been told is (I'm the) emergency arm for tonight and tomorrow will be handled later tonight, probably after the game I'll find...
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Jakubauskas here, Bergesen headed to minors (updated)

Jakubauskas here, Bergesen headed to minors (updated)
The Orioles didn't wait until the conclusion of Game 1 to make a roster move. Brad Bergesen has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and Chris Jakubauskas takes his place on the 25-man roster after having his contract purchased this morning. The Orioles didn't need a corresponding move involving the disabled list because Jakubauskas wasn't on the 40-man roster. Jakubauskas most likely will start tomorrow against the Rangers, with Jeremy Guthrie pushed back to Tuesday in New York. However,...
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Roberts in lineup

Roberts in lineup
Brian Roberts is back in today's lineup for Game One after being sent to the hospital last night with stomach pains. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Zach Britton LHP
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Roberts update

Roberts update
The tests on Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts came back negative. No appendicitis, nothing serious. A team official confirmed that Roberts has been cleared to play. Roberts won't need to go on the disabled list and could return to the lineup for today's doubleheader against the Rangers at Camden Yards. It depends how he's feeling when he arrives at the ballpark. I'll obviously have more information when I get to Camden Yards around 1 p.m. Roberts was scratched from last night's...
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Ripken having '89 flashbacks

Ripken having '89 flashbacks
I'm rushing around this morning, which seems to be my usual routine, but I wanted to post some comments from Cal Ripken before getting ready for the Wall to Wall Baseball show on MASN - I'm on the air from 11 a.m. to noon - and the doubleheader at Camden Yards. Who needs sleep? We'll find out later today if Brian Roberts' stomach pains were a virus or something more serious that could put him on the disabled list and free up a spot for a reliever if the bullpen is stretched too thin. A...
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Koji's amazing streak

Koji's amazing streak
Fred Lewis is the answer to a trivia question. That question: Who is the last batter to draw a walk vs. Orioles' reliever Koji Uehara? It was in a 4-2 Toronto win over the Birds last July 16th at Camden Yards. Ricky Romero got the win and Kevin Gregg, now with the O's, picked up his 21st save. In the top of the 9th of that game, Lewis walked versus Koji. The O's pitcher has now fanned 46 batters since that last walk over 35 appearances. That is the most consecutive strikeouts without a...
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Another day, another issue for the Orioles

Another day, another issue for the Orioles
It's almost as if the baseball gods don't want O's fans to be able to enjoy the good start to this season. Win some games and then watch Jeremy Guthrie deal with a form of pneumonia. See a great comeback win over Detroit. Send Brian Roberts to the hospital with stomach pain. J.J Hardy, he came up with tightness in his side, an issue he's never had before. Watch two pitchers get hit by line drives. This is getting crazy at this point. Hopefully the issues with Roberts and Hardy will be...
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Sorting through the pitching mess

Sorting through the pitching mess
Zach Britton will oppose the Rangers' Colby Lewis in Game 1 of tomorrow's doubleheader. Jake Arrieta will oppose Matt Harrison in Game 2. That's about all we know. The Orioles would like to add a reliever, but the process is complicated by a rule that prohibits teams from calling up players on the 40-man roster until 10 days have passed in the season, unless another player goes on the disabled list. Jeremy Guthrie and J.J. Hardy don't appear to be DL candidates at the moment. Manager...
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Roberts taken to local hospital with stomach pain

Roberts taken to local hospital with stomach pain
Second baseman Brian Roberts was scratched from the lineup about 20 minutes before the scheduled first pitch because of stomach pains that wouldn't subside. Roberts was taken to a local hospital for tests. The Orioles are hoping it's just a virus that's going around. We'll obviously know more tomorrow.
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Tonight's game postponed (updated)

Tonight's game postponed (updated)
The rain is coming down harder, and tonight's game has been postponed. So much for that window. Better close it so you don't get wet. The Orioles and Rangers will play a straight doubleheader tomorrow, with the first game starting at 4:30 p.m. Zach Britton will pitch in one of the games. I'm heading to manager Buck Showalter's office for more details. It seems almost certain that the Orioles will make a roster move to add a reliever. Update: Britton and Jake Arrieta will pitch...
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Hardy and Guthrie speak (with game update)

Hardy and Guthrie speak (with game update)
J.J. Hardy says he probably could have played tonight if the weather conditions weren't so bad. Hardy is day-to-day with tightness in his left ribcage area that surfaced during yesterday's batting practice session. "We'll give it another day and kind of reevaluate tomorrow," Hardy said. "I've never had anything like it, but being able to throw, being able to run around and not feel pain, I feel like it can't be that big a deal, so I'm hoping - I don't know what their time schedule...
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Texas provides good early test for improved O's

Texas provides good early test for improved O's
As we continue to learn more about the Orioles with each game this season, maybe we all will get a real education on the club this weekend. Some fans have said the Rays' poor start took some of the luster off the O's three-game sweep there. But in beating Tampa, they did knock off the defending American League East champs. In taking two of three, they won a series against a well-regarded Detroit club. But beating a 6-0 Texas team, the defending AL champs, would be rather impressive.The...
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Showalter talks about Guthrie, Hardy and pitching

Showalter talks about Guthrie, Hardy and pitching
Let me begin by saying I don't have any inside weather information. The Orioles like their chances of playing tonight, but that's all I know. They're not making any guarantees, and they haven't set an exact time when they'd announce a postponement if the rain doesn't cease. The pitching picture is a bit fuzzy. OK, it's really, really fuzzy. Jeremy Guthrie did some long-tossing and threw off an indoor mound. He could make Sunday's start, but it's also possible that he could wait until...
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Will Britton need Plan B tonight?

Will Britton need Plan B tonight?
It may not be a good sign when Zach Britton gets more outs through the air than the ground. That happened during his major league debut against Tampa, but he still pitched well and won the game. On Sunday versus the Rays, Britton got five outs on the ground and six in the air. Britton said Sunday was a day he didn't have either good command or good movement on the sinker - the one pitch he is known for and the one pitch that helped get him to the majors. So he had to go another route in...
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Waiting on Hardy (updated)

Waiting on Hardy (updated)
The Orioles' lineup is posted, but the shortstop position is blank. It's still being determined whether J.J. Hardy is available. Update: Hardy is considered day-to-day. He's not starting tonight, but he's available if needed. It looks like he could avoid the disabled list. Here's the lineup so far: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Zach Britton LHP Also, Manny Ramirez has...
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Head to Hightopps for baseball chat, O's-Yankees on April 14

Head to Hightopps for baseball chat, O's-Yankees on April 14
Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium will host another in MASNsports.com's series of Orioles baseball chats Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m. in conjunction with that evening's O's-Yankees game in the Bronx. Join Steve Melewski and myself for an hour of dugout chatter before the game, then stick around for O's-Yankees action on the many televisions at Hightopps. Some special unannounced guests may join us, and there will be plenty of time for fans' questions and some trivia...
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Patton coming here, no move made so far (updated)

Patton coming here, no move made so far (updated)
An Orioles official confirmed that left-hander Troy Patton will be added to the 25-man roster if the Orioles use the disabled list today. However, we might not have a game tonight because of the rain, which could keep Patton from being officially recalled from Triple-A Norfok. The Orioles would lose a bench player if shortstop J.J. Hardy goes on the disabled list with tightness in his left ribcage area. They need the extra arm in the bullpen because Josh Rupe and Jeremy Accardo aren't...
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Some O's minor league video

Some O's minor league video
It was opening day in minor league baseball on Thursday and three of the O's four full-season affiliates were on the field while Single-A Frederick plays its opener tonight. Charlotte beat Norfolk 4-3 in a game where Nolan Reimold homered and Tyler Henson went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles in his Triple-A debut. Double-A Bowie lost 5-0 at Harrisburg and struck out 15 times in being shutout. Single-A Delmarva used a big hit by last year's first-round pick, Manny Machado, to win its...
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Rangers come to Baltimore with MLB's best record

Rangers come to Baltimore with MLB's best record
Here is an update on the Texas Rangers, the majors' only unbeaten team at 6-0, as they come to Camden Yards this weekend. The defending American League champions, Texas has outscored Boston and Seattle 42-20 during its six wins. The Rangers have won their first two series for the first time since 1996. If they win the series opener in Baltimore, they will tie their club record for best-ever start at 7-0 set by the 1996 team. Best-ever Texas Rangers starts: 1996: 7-0 1979 & 2011: 6-0 1977 &...
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Stacey Long: Keep O's hot start in perspective

Stacey Long: Keep O's hot start in perspective
Did you know that the Orioles, not counting this year, have started the season 5-1 10 times (11 if you count the 1889 Orioles; I don't)? It seems like it's been forever since they started off a season this well, right? Wrong. The 2008 Orioles also started the season 5-1. They ended the season 68-93. They also started 5-1 in 2000 and ended with 74 wins, and in 1998 when they ended with 79 wins. In 1987 they started 5-1 and ended up with just 67 wins. Ouch. They also started 5-1 in 1966,...
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