A few more pregame words from Showalter

A few more pregame words from Showalter
Manager Buck Showalter clearly is upset over the results of Randy Wolf's MRI, which he's keeping private at the moment. Showalter has gained a lot of respect for Wolf in the short amount of time that he's managed the veteran. "Randy's a guy who's going to give you a chance out there," Showalter said. "He knows what he's doing, he knows how to pitch. I think we've all seen that with him. This is a guy who's been in a lot of fires in his time professionally, so it's a loss if we do...

Showalter talks about Wolf and Ford (Hammel update)

Showalter talks about Wolf and Ford (Hammel update)
Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has a new cast on his left hand and is still expected to have the pins removed from his thumb while the Orioles are in Tampa Oct. 1-3. The cast will be replaced by a splint. Today's pregame media session was dominated by injury news and updates, beginning with pitcher Randy Wolf, who's experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired left elbow and will be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum. Appointments with Yocum and Dr. James Andrews rarely lead to good...

Injury updates on Wolf and Ford; lineups

Injury updates on Wolf and Ford; lineups
Orioles pitcher Randy Wolf underwent an MRI on his left elbow today and will consult with Dr. Lewis Yocum, who performed his ligament-reconstructive surgery back in 2005. The club isn't saying much about the injury beyond how Wolf felt discomfort in the elbow while throwing a curveball in the fifth inning of Saturday's start in Boston. Manager Buck Showalter wouldn't discuss Wolf's status with reporters until conferring with the veteran pitcher. Showalter said there are two or there...

Hoes, Bundy win Orioles minor league awards

Hoes, Bundy win Orioles minor league awards
As expected, the Orioles have named outfielder LJ Hoes as their minor league Player of the Year and Dylan Bundy as their minor league Pitcher of the Year. The winners will be honored before tonight's game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Hoes will receive the Brooks Robinson Award after batting a combined .287 with five home runs and 54 RBIs for Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie. He also had a .372 on-base percentage, 20 stolen bases and 79 runs scored - the latter stat...

Are the Orioles set at the infield corners? - Part II

Are the Orioles set at the infield corners? - Part II
I thought about having a replacement ref handle my blogging duties this morning, but he kept writing about the Royals. Manny Machado made a dazzling play at third base during the Red Sox series, diving to snatch a ground ball along the line, jumping to his feet and throwing out the runner with another one of his missiles. In Game 2 of last night's doubleheader, Machado ranged to his left to glove Yan Gomes' grounder, skidded to a stop and fired a perfect strike to first baseman Mark...

Showalter speaks after 9-5 Game 2 loss

Showalter speaks after 9-5 Game 2 loss
The Yankees won tonight while the Orioles split their doubleheader, leaving a 1 1/2-game gap between the top two teams in the American League East. Wei-Yin Chen took the loss in Game 2, allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings. He's completed seven innings only once in his last nine starts and hasn't won since Aug. 19. "It's hard to do," manager Buck Showalter said after the 9-5 loss to the Blue Jays. "He spoiled us at a very high level this year and will again. You've been...

Another sluggish start for Chen (Arrieta serves up grand slam, O's lose 9-5)

Another sluggish start for Chen (Arrieta serves up grand slam, O's lose 9-5)
The first inning jumped up and bit Wei-Yin Chen again tonight. Chen allowed two runs in the first, raising his total to 21 this season, and two more in the second to dig an early hole for the Orioles as they attempt to sweep this doubleheader. His pitch count stood at 42 as he took the mound for the third inning. Edwin Encarnacion hit his 41st homer in the top of the first inning following a leadoff walk to Brett Lawrie and Rajai Davis' strikeout. The Blue Jays collected four hits in the...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups for Game 2 (with Showalter quotes)

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups for Game 2 (with Showalter quotes)
Chris Davis will bat cleanup in Game 2 of today's doubleheader at Camden Yards. Robert Andino is starting at second base and Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Taylor Teagarden C Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie 3B Rajai Davis LF Edwin Encarancion DH Yunel Escobar SS Yan Gomes 1B Moises Sierra RF Omar Vizquel 2B J.P....

Game update and other notes (Jones & Flaherty homer, O's win 4-1)

Game update and other notes (Jones & Flaherty homer, O's win 4-1)
Steve Johnson walked the first two batters he faced today, an ominous sign if you believe in such things. Johnson retired seven in a row after the second walk, a positive sign if you're more inclined to believe in those. In the first inning, Johnson struck out Edwin Encarnacion on a 91 mph fastball and retired Adam Lind on a ground ball and Rajai Davis on a pop up. He struck out Jeff Mathis on a 90 mph fastball to end the second inning and Anthony Gose on an 89 mph fastball to open the...

Wolf has elbow discomfort (updated)

Wolf has elbow discomfort (updated)
Orioles pitcher Randy Wolf began experiencing discomfort in his left elbow Saturday and is expected to receive a cortisone injection later today. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens will exam Wolf's elbow while the Orioles prepare for their doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. The club is hoping that he will be available by Friday. "Dr. Wilckens has talked about injecting him, which would put him down for a couple days," said manager Buck Showalter. "He started feeling it in...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Matt Wieters will catch Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Jim Thome is serving as the designated hitter, with Chris Davis moving to right field. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Manny Machado 3B Steve Johnson RHP For the Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie 3B Colby Rasmus CF Edwin Encarnacion DH Adam Lind 1B Rajai Davis RF Kelly...

Double your pleasure, double your fun

Double your pleasure, double your fun
BOSTON - Rather than condense 18 innings into one game today, the Orioles will spread them out over two. Thank goodness for the expanded roster. The Orioles will play a doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards after going 6-3 on their road trip, the finale ending in their third one-run loss this month and their ninth of the season. The Orioles were held to one run for the first time since an Aug. 29 loss to the White Sox. It was their lowest output on the road since a 5-1 loss in...

Bundy gets the call - on bullpen phone

Bundy gets the call - on bullpen phone
BOSTON - The bullpen phone rang and reliever Tommy Hunter answered it. That's how Dylan Bundy's major league debut got under way. Then it got complicated ... and comical. "Tommy Hunter answered the phone and told me I was going in. I said, 'What?' and I couldn't find my glove. Took me about a minute to find it," Bundy said. "He told me to get going, so I was like, OK, its happening, and I got loose as quick as I could." Bundy said he was ready when manager Buck Showalter signaled...

Showalter speaks after 2-1 loss

Showalter speaks after 2-1 loss
BOSTON - The Orioles lost and the Yankees lost. Same as it ever was - the Orioles still one game back in the American League East. Manager Buck Showalter covered many topics in his postgame session with the media, including starter Chris Tillman, rookie Dylan Bundy's major league debut and those darned shadows over home plate that challenged umpire Al Porter as much as the hitters. "(Tillman) gave us a really good chance," Showalter said. "If we had done a couple things defensively, he...

Bundy makes debut with O's trailing 2-1 in eighth (O's lose 2-1)

Bundy makes debut with O's trailing 2-1 in eighth (O's lose 2-1)
BOSTON - The wait is over. Dylan Bundy made his major league debut in the eighth inning with a runner on second base, one out and the Orioles trailing the Red Sox 2-1 after back-to-back doubles by Dustin Pedroia and Cody Ross off reliever Luis Ayala. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway flied to center on Bundy's second pitch, a 92 mph fastball. Danny Valencia flied to right on a 2-2 pitch, a 94 mph fastball, after Bundy threw an 84 mph cutter, 94 mph fastball, 83 mph cutter that produced an ugly swing...

Andino error gives Red Sox the lead, but O's tie game (Tillman done)

Andino error gives Red Sox the lead, but O's tie game (Tillman done)
BOSTON - The Orioles went 114 innings without committing an error. Now they've made two in the last two games. Robert Andino bounced a throw to first base while attempting to turn a double play in the bottom of the fourth, and Cody Ross raced home to break a scoreless tie. Ross singled off Chris Tillman and took second when James Loney walked. With one out, Danny Valencia sent a ground ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who threw to second for the force. Andino's throw skipped off Mark Reynolds,...

Pregame comments from Showalter and Hunter

Pregame comments from Showalter and Hunter
BOSTON - Manager Buck Showalter could sense that Robert Andino was eager to get back into the lineup. "Robert's already had a sweat up," Showalter said. "He passed everything. He's been cleared by Dr. (William) Goldiner. Obviously, he's in the lineup. He didn't dodge anything, but so far, so good." Showalter said he'll remind Andino to remain calm if buzzed by a fastball. Same goes for the rest of the team. "It's one of the things on my checklist," he said. "I know our pitching...

Andino returns to lineup

Andino returns to lineup
BOSTON - Orioles second baseman Robert Andino has been cleared to play today, and he's starting at second base against Red Sox left-hander Felix Doubront. Andino sat out yesterday's game after being hit on the batting helmet Friday night. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Lew Ford RF Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Red Sox: Scott Podsednik CF Pedro Ciriaco 2B Dustin Pedroia DH Cody...

Orioles set rotation for Toronto series

Orioles set rotation for Toronto series
BOSTON - Rookie Steve Johnson is scheduled to make another start for the Orioles this week. Johnson and Wei-Yin Chen are listed as Monday's starters for the doubleheader against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Left-hander Joe Saunders will start Tuesday, and Miguel Gonzalez will pitch Wednesday on normal rest. Three rookie starters in a four-game series? Yeah, that sounds about right. In his eight relief appearances, rookie Steve Johnson is 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA (16.1IP, 2ER) and opponents are...

Orioles going for another Fenway sweep

Orioles going for another Fenway sweep
BOSTON - The Green Monster no longer terrifies the Orioles, who will attempt another sweep of the Red Sox today at Fenway Park. It happened back on May 4-6 for the first time since 1994. Now they have a chance to do it twice in the same season. The Orioles have won 16 of their last 21 games against the Red Sox, and nine of the last 10 in Boston. The Yankees outlasted the A's yesterday to maintain their one-game lead in the American League East, but the Orioles have a two-game lead in the...