Now what for the O's and Mora?
He's played ten years with the Orioles and in over 1,200 games. He is in the top ten all-time in some O's career offensive categories and it seemed that some year down the line he'd be headed to the Orioles Hall of Fame.
But Sunday, with the MASN camera rolling and reporters scribbling notes as fast as they could, Melvin Mora took his biggest swing of this season - and burned a bridge along the way.
I don't understand why he made the comments he did. Was he set off because David Ortiz...
With his first start, and all the hype that went with it, now out of the way, Chris Tillman takes the mound tonight in Detroit for his second Major League start.
"I feel like I'll be a lot more comfortable," Tillman said. "That first outing had a lot to do with nerves, trying to do too much. Now that I got my feet under me a little, I should do better.
"I need to get my off-speed stuff over for strikes. Last outing, my changeup was okay early but fell off late in the game. I didn't...
Game Preview
Orioles (44-60) at Detroit (54-49)
With Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz expected to start the next two nights for the Orioles, the pressure is on that pair to restore order to Orioles' pitching.
They'll take the mound in Detroit where tonight the O's and Tigers begin a four-game series.
The Red Sox hit .395 over the weekend vs. O's pitchers with 28 runs on 47 hits. They capped a three-game sweep with Sunday's 23-hit, 18-10 victory.
O's starters worked to an ERA of 10.22...
RHP Chris Tillman (0-0, 5.79) tonight makes his second career Major League start.
Wednesday vs. Kansas City in his big league debut, Tillman gave up seven hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings. He walked one with two strikeouts and threw 93 pitches.
A late O's rally led to a 7-3 win and took Tillman off the hook for a loss. He gave up three solo homers to KC after allowing just one homer in his last six Triple-A starts.
The 21-year-old right-hander was acquired by the O's from Seattle...
Another night and another frustrating loss for the Orioles.
Tigers outfielder Clete Thomas hit a solo homer to center with two outs in the last of the ninth off Danys Baez to give Detroit a 6-5, walk-off win over the Birds to start this four-game series.
The O's and rookie Chris Tillman could not hold a 5-0 lead they gained in the top of the first inning.
Gary and Buck interview Dave Trembley after the O's 6-5 loss to the Tigers
For the second straight start, Tillman did not get a...
The O's current stretch of losing close games continued with Monday's 6-5, bottom of the ninth loss at Detroit. Nine of the Orioles last 12 losses have come by one or two runs.
The O's fall to 11-14 in one-run games and have lost their past five one-run decisions.
The Rookie - Rookie Chris Tillman did not get a decision again in his second Major League start. He gave up three runs in the first inning, but on the night allowed seven hits and five runs over six innings. Tillman threw 100...
I'll pass along some thoughts here on Brian Matusz who will make his Major League debut for the Orioles tonight.
I have seen Matusz pitch several times this year at both Frederick and Bowie.
I don't see the game with the critical eye of a scout and can't quite project if what I saw of Matusz at Bowie will translate vs. big league hitters. I can just tell you what I saw first-hand.
First off, don't expect Matusz to light up any radar guns. He throws 90, 91 mostly and I don't remember...
Brian Matusz retained his rookie status this season.
Now he needs to become the stopper in the opening series of 2010.
Is there anything else he can do for us? Is he taking lunch orders, too?
Matusz will try to block the Rays' attempts to post a three-game sweep, which would make that early-morning arrival into BWI tomorrow seem even more cruel.
He's pitched once at Tropicana Field and won, though he allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and didn't issue...
When the Orioles drafted right-hander Pedro Beato with their second pick, the 32nd overall selection, in the 2006 June draft, he came with a lot of promise and a lively fastball.
But the 6'6" hurler from Brooklyn, New York has had limited success on the stat sheet and a fastball that sometimes lost velocity later in games.
Now, 83 starts and 444 innings later, he will try a new role this year when the Double-A Bowie Baysox open the season tonight hosting Richmond - pitching out of the...
Game Preview
Orioles (44-61) at Detroit (55-49)
It was a promising start followed later by a deflating finish.
The Orioles took a 5-0 lead in the top of the first against Justin Verlander Monday night. But Detroit battled back to tie the game in the 5th and win it 6-5 on a Clete Thomas homer off Danys Baez in the last of the ninth.
That's how the Orioles began a four-game road series and seven-game road trip.
Tonight in game two at Detroit, Brian Matusz will make his Major League debut...
LHP Brian Matusz, who has had a brilliant season in the Orioles minor leagues this year, tonight makes his Major League debut.
In 19 starts this year between Frederick and Bowie, the 22-year-old Matusz went 11-2, 1.91 and fanned 121 in 113 innings.
He began the year at Frederick, going 4-2, 2.16 in 11 starts.
Matusz made his first Double-A start on June 17th and pitched even better with Bowie than he had at Frederick. In eight Baysox starts, he went 7-0, 1.55.
In 46 1/3 innings he allowed...