Notes on Hanrahan, Weeks and Yoon

Notes on Hanrahan, Weeks and Yoon
Do the Orioles retain interest in free agent reliever Joel Hanrahan? Well, they're checking his medical records again, according to an industry source. They also reviewed his records during the winter. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has declined comment when asked whether the club scouted Hanrahan, 32, last Thursday while he threw at the University of Tampa. Approximately 20 teams were represented. Duquette refuses to talk about specific free agents. Hanrahan, a two-time...

The blame starts with the starting pitching

The blame starts with the starting pitching
I'm here to offer a few simple facts and check whether you like your eggs scrambled or over easy. The starting pitching has to get better. Period. Bash the bullpen for allowing a pair of three-run homers in last night's 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Bash the offense for producing nothing except for Nelson Cruz's three-run homer. Bash Steve Lombardozzi for the error that opened both the bottom of the sixth inning and the floodgates. The bottom line is, the rotation can't give the Orioles...

A lead lost in Toronto (O's lose 9-3)

A lead lost in Toronto (O's lose 9-3)
Edwin Encarnacion is 3-for-20 lifetime against Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez. All three hits are home runs. Is that weird? Encarnacion has hit 24 home runs versus the Orioles, the most against any opponent. Gonzalez took a shutout into the sixth before Encarnacion's three-run shot. Now he's out of the game and can't get a win. The Orioles didn't have a quality start during their four-game series against the Red Sox, and they're not getting one tonight. Gonzalez struck out seven...

Machado to begin rehab assignment Friday and more notes

Machado to begin rehab assignment Friday and more notes
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed to reporters in Toronto this afternoon that third baseman Manny Machado will begin his injury rehab assignment Friday night at Single-A Frederick. His pregame interview will air on MASN2 HD, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Machado had five at-bats today at extended spring training after receiving five yesterday and four on Saturday. The Keys conclude a three-game series against Myrtle Beach on Friday before hosting Carolina in a four-game series beginning...

Orioles lineup and Machado note (and K.C. pitching matchups)

Orioles lineup and Machado note (and K.C. pitching matchups)
Shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt Wieters aren't in the Orioles lineup for tonight's game in Toronto. The Orioles are giving Hardy's hamstring an extra day to heal. No idea what's going on with Wieters, who didn't play yesterday morning following a night game. Adam Jones is 10-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak. Also, the Orioles made their roster move official, designating outfielder Steve Pearce for assignment and adding reliever T.J. McFarland to the 25-man...

Roster update and Blue Jays lineup

Roster update and Blue Jays lineup
The Orioles haven't posted their lineup for tonight's game in Toronto. Once they do, it's not expected to include outfielder Steve Pearce among the reserves. Barring a drastic change in plans, Pearce will be designated for assignment to make room for left-hander T.J. McFarland on the 25-man roster. The Orioles would temporarily go with a 13-man pitching staff to aid their bullpen, which was used extensively in Boston. One other way to make room for McFarland would have been to place...

A few afternoon notes

A few afternoon notes
The Orioles made it out of Fenway Park with a split of a four-game series. Now, they've got to figure out a way to win at Rogers Centre, where they've lost every season series since 2005. Remember when they went 1-8 in 2009 and 0-9 in 2010? Good times. The Orioles have won the last two season series against the Blue Jays, going 10-9 last year. So, they have that going for them, which is nice. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey presents a special challenge tonight, but he's 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in...

Thoughts on Pearce, Davis and a conversation between Dickerson and Schoop

Thoughts on Pearce, Davis and a conversation between Dickerson and Schoop
The Orioles may be too rested tonight as they begin their series in Toronto. A night game after a day game? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Left-hander T.J. McFarland has joined the club and will be in the visiting bullpen tonight at Rogers Centre. A corresponding move will be announced this afternoon. Eighteen games into the season and the Norfolk shuttle already is cranked up. I'm wondering about Steve Pearce's immediate future with the Orioles. As I noted yesterday,...

Hearing from Jones, Hunter and Clevenger (O's will recall McFarland)

Hearing from Jones, Hunter and Clevenger (O's will recall McFarland)
BOSTON - The Orioles were working on short rest this morning after playing late into the night. Three of their relievers - Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day - pitched in back-to-back games. A sellout crowd at Fenway Park was whipped into the usual frenzy as the Red Sox kept applying pressure, refusing to wilt after falling behind by six runs in the third. Convenient excuses if the Orioles lost. Not that anyone in the clubhouse was searching for one. "The game's a game. They say...

Showalter speaks after 7-6 win

Showalter speaks after 7-6 win
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters after today's 7-6 win over the Red Sox that the club may call up a pitcher from Triple-A Norfolk to aid the bullpen. Showalter said he wants to avoid using three relievers in Tuesday night's series opener against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Feel free to speculate. Ryan Webb, Zach Britton, Darren O'Day, Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter followed starter Wei-Yin Chen to the mound this afternoon. "There were a lot of proud moments,"...

Game update and more from Showalter (O's win 7-6)

Game update and more from Showalter (O's win 7-6)
BOSTON - Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen didn't make it past the fifth inning today. However, he stands to get the win if the bullpen can cover the rest of the game. A three-run lead at Fenway Park? What could go wrong? Chen allowed three runs and four hits in five innings, with three walks and five strikeouts. He threw 93 pitches, 57 for strikes. In his last start, Chen retired 12 of the first 13 Rays batters and left after 6 1/3 innings with the Orioles leading 7-1. Today, he took a...

Orioles have marathon inning on Patriots' Day (updated)

Orioles have marathon inning on Patriots' Day (updated)
BOSTON - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis walked in his first at-bat today. Continue to breathe normally. That's 11 walks for Davis in 18 games. He's now tied his record by reaching base in 17 consecutive games. But he didn't swipe a bag as promised. Maybe next time. Davis contributed an RBI single in the third to increase the Orioles' lead to 3-0. They went on to score three more runs, sending nine batters to the plate and bringing a chorus of boos from the Fenway Park faithful who are...

Davis: "Hopefully, I can start hitting some more homers again"

Davis: "Hopefully, I can start hitting some more homers again"
BOSTON - Chris Davis has reached base in 16 consecutive games, but it's not a cause to celebrate. His average is down to .241 and he's stuck on one home run after clubbing 53 last season. Cause for alarm? Not yet. Better to make light of it and keep grinding. "I turned over a new leaf this year. I'm trying not to hit any more home runs this year and just walk," Davis quipped. "Try to swing as few times as possible, take it easy on my body, try to get as many years out of it as...

Hardy out of lineup

Hardy out of lineup
BOSTON - The Orioles are playing their fifth Patriots Day game in Boston, having lost four of the first five. Their lone victory came in 1970, when they won 3-2. Most recently, they lost 12-1 in 2009. They also were beaten in 1956, 1989 and 1997. So yes, if they win today, they win the World Series. J.J. Hardy says his right hamstring feels better, but he's out of the lineup. Ryan Flaherty is at short, Jonathan Schoop is at third and Steve Lombardozzi is at second. Nick Markakis is serving...

Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
BOSTON - The Orioles are leaving Boston after this morning's game, and they'd like to take the transfer rule with them. Maybe dump it in an empty field, grab a few baseball bats and destroy it like the copy machine in "Office Space." Ryan Flaherty held the ball long enough last night to record the out at second base in the seventh inning. Instead, he was charged with an error and the Red Sox went on to score twice and tie the game. Umpires seem just as confused by it. Just get rid of it...

Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Flaherty and Jimenez

Hearing from Showalter, Schoop, Flaherty and Jimenez
BOSTON - Tonight's game between the Orioles and Red Sox ended with a walk-off error and manager Buck Showalter huddled with the umpires in front of his dugout. Confusion and craziness were the key ingredients in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. David Lough caught pinch-hitter Mike Carp's sinking liner in left field and made a wide throw to the plate that allowed Dustin Pedroia to score. Showalter immediately came onto the field and players hesitated before walking to the...

Hardy provides update on hamstring injury

Hardy provides update on hamstring injury
BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy doesn't expect to be included in Monday morning's lineup after straining his right hamstring while running the bases in the fifth inning. Manager Buck Showalter told Hardy that he was getting the day off anyway, but the injury sealed the deal. Hardy isn't certain of its severity, since he has no previous experience with strained hamstrings. "I know trainers don't like to hear it, but tweaked something. I have no idea. I've never had a hamstring issue....

Hardy injures hamstring (O's lose 6-5)

Hardy injures hamstring (O's lose 6-5)
BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy left tonight's game after the sixth inning with a strained right hamstring. He's listed as day to day. Hardy apparently suffered the injury while running the bases in the top of the fifth. He singled with two outs and tried to score from first on David Lough's ground rule double. Hardy had to go back to third base. Steve Lombardozzi pinch-hit for Hardy in the top of the seventh and is playing second base. Jonathan Schoop moved to third base and Ryan...

Jimenez and Peavy out of tonight's game

Jimenez and Peavy out of tonight's game
BOSTON - Before tonight, Red Sox starter Jake Peavy had allowed four earned runs in 18 2/3 innings this season. The Orioles scored five against him tonight in only 5 2/3 innings. Peavy issued an intentional walk to Chris Davis with Ryan Flaherty at third base and two outs in the sixth. Adam Jones followed with an RBI single to left field to increase the Orioles' lead to 5-0 and end Peavy's night. Jones already had two hits. Now he's produced his first three-hit game of the season. I'm...

Orioles get off to fast start (O's lead 4-0)

Orioles get off to fast start (O's lead 4-0)
BOSTON - Nelson Cruz continued his assault on Red Sox pitching this season, and the Orioles jumped out to a 3-0 lead tonight against Jake Peavy in the top of the first inning. Cruz hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot that produced his 12th RBI and his eighth against the Red Sox. The Orioles had gone four straight games without a home run. Cruz delivered their 10th of the season. Did I jinx them earlier by mentioning the streak? Chris Davis followed with a walk, extending his...