Orioles prepared to move Matusz to bullpen (with rotation update)

Orioles prepared to move Matusz to bullpen (with rotation update)
The Orioles have discussed placing left-hander Brian Matusz in Triple-A Norfolk's bullpen, a move that is expected to happen in the near future and could lead to a role change in the majors. Matusz is still scheduled to make another start for the Tides, but he most likely will be pulled from the rotation. Manager Buck Showalter said the club has discussed this move for a few weeks, and the lefty is open to the idea. Anything to get back in the majors. Left-handers are batting .223/.281/.384...

Patton on injury, Romero on joining the Orioles

Patton on injury, Romero on joining the Orioles
Troy Patton sprained his right ankle Sunday night after rolling it in his parking garage, a "freakish" injury that's forcing him on the 15-day disabled list. "I was walking in the garage where I stay and caught it on the edge of the curb, at angle, and just turned it quick," he said. "I didn't think it was very bad until I woke up the next day, and it was very, very swollen. I thought it was just a little tweak, no problem." It's a problem. Patton will go on the disabled list...

Chen starting, Steve Johnson in bullpen, Patton heading to DL

Chen starting, Steve Johnson in bullpen, Patton heading to DL
Wei-Yin Chen remains the starter for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Steve Johnson and J.C. Romero are listed among the relievers. Troy Patton, with crutches leaning against his locker, is headed to the disabled list with an ankle injury. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

Just to recap ... (with Hammel update)

Just to recap ... (with Hammel update)
The Orioles have a lot to learn about taking a day off. They completed a trade yesterday for left-handed reliever J.C. Romero, who will join the team this afternoon at Camden Yards. They altered their plans to call up pitcher Jason Berken after discovering that left-hander Troy Patton rolled his ankle Sunday night after leaving the ballpark. They summoned Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk in case Patton needs to go on the disabled list. They also learned that rookie Manny Machado was...

Machado wins honor; Orioles reacquire Romero (Patton likely headed to DL)

Machado wins honor; Orioles reacquire Romero (Patton likely headed to DL)
Manny Machado's first taste of the majors keeps getting sweeter. Machado and Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending August 12th. Machado batted .375 (6-for-16) with a double, triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored in four games after the Orioles selected his contract from Double-A Bowie on Thursday. He homered twice on Friday in his second game. Machado shares the record with at least one...

A few off-day notes

A few off-day notes
Triple-A Norfolk infielder Blake Davis has been named the International League's Batter of the Week after he hit .565 with four RBIs, four runs scored and five multi-hit games. Davis collected 13 hits in 23 at-bats. He had four hits Friday night against Charlotte. Davis is batting .265/.313/.365 with 17 doubles, four triples, two homers and 32 RBIs in 93 games. Jason Hammel threw in the bullpen this morning at Camden Yards and the results remain encouraging. Hammel expects to take off a...

The rotation and the Most Overlooked Oriole

The rotation and the Most Overlooked Oriole
The Orioles are off today, which means that I'm sort of off today. My immediate plans are to go outside and run around in circles while waiving my arms over my head. That's it. Just ... go outside and run around in circles. And the arms thing. In case you missed my tweet last night (and shame on you for not following me at @MASNroch), Jake Arrieta's latest start at Triple-A Norfolk was a dud. He allowed six runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, with five walks and five strikeouts. He threw...

Socolovich optioned to Norfolk

Socolovich optioned to Norfolk
The Orioles have optioned reliever Miguel Socolovich to Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding roster move will be announced later. Socolovich has appeared in six games, allowing eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for a 6.97 ERA. He let two inherited runners score last night after replacing starter Chris Tillman and also was charged with one run. Socolovich has posted a 1.90 ERA in 28 appearances with the Tides. He was chosen to the International League All-Star team. Could the Orioles be...

Machado: "I haven't settled in yet, but I'm getting there"

Machado: "I haven't settled in yet, but I'm getting there"
Imagine how good Manny Machado will be once he actually settles in and gets comfortable. Machado is 6-for-16 with a double, triple, three home runs, seven RBIs and five runs scored in his first four major league games. He shares the Orioles club record with at least one extra-base hit in four consecutive games to begin his career, joining Ray Knight (1987), Lee May (1975) and Frank Robinson (1966). Machado hit his third home run today, though it took a review to have a double overturned. "I...

Showalter speaks after 5-3 win

Showalter speaks after 5-3 win
The Orioles are nine games above .500 again. They improved to 17-11 in two-run games with today's 5-3 victory over the Royals. They're also 47-0 when leading after the seventh inning and 49-1 when leading after the eighth. Credit the bullpen with four scoreless and hitless innings, beginning with Luis Ayala and ending with closer Jim Johnson. Manager Buck Showalter also used Troy Patton and Pedro Strop to piece together the last four innings. "Well, I think because we have an off-day...

Machado does it again (O's win 5-3)

Machado does it again (O's win 5-3)
Just Manny being Manny again. Manny Machado hit his third major league home run today, and his first that was reviewed by umpires. Machado's two-run shot, initially ruled a double, gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The ball hit the top of the center-field fence and kicked off the back wall. The review lasted about 12 seconds. Machado crushed two hanging breaking balls in his second major league game. Today, he launched an 86 mph sinker from former Orioles...

Pregame notes on Hammel, Jones, Flaherty and more

Pregame notes on Hammel, Jones, Flaherty  and more
Jason Hammel said his knee felt good after throwing off the front slope of the mound yesterday. He has a bullpen session scheduled for Monday morning. Hammel doesn't know how many pitches he'll throw or what he'll do after Monday. It's one step at a time. Hammel told Orioles manager Buck Showalter that he got out of bed and didn't give the knee a thought, which is a positive sign. Adam Jones is making his first career start as a designated hitter. He was used as a pinch runner five...

Jones serving as DH today, Machado moves up the order

Jones serving as DH today, Machado moves up the order
One way to provide a little rest for Adam Jones is to take him out of center field and make him the designated hitter. Nate McLouth is only the second player to start in center field for the Orioles. Manny Machado has moved up to seventh in the lineup. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J Hardy SS Nate McLouth CF Adam Jones DH Lew Ford LF Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Taylor Teagarden C Tommy Hunter RHP

While waiting for the lineup...

While waiting for the lineup...
The Orioles have a later reporting time today after last night's debacle. May as well let the players catch a few hours sleep before they try to catch a fly ball. Former Orioles left-hander Bruce Chen is starting for the Royals, which means manager Buck Showalter will break out his right-handed lineup. Taylor Teagarden will catch today, and Showalter must decide whether to use Matt Wieters as the designated hitter or give him the day off. Lew Ford will start in left field. Mark Reynolds...

Showalter speaks after 7-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 7-3 loss
A rain delay that lasted more than three hours tonight provided a convenient excuse for the Orioles if they chose to reach for it. Manager Buck Showalter's arms aren't that long. "It was a challenging night and they did a better job with it than we did," Showalter said after the Orioles lost to the Royals 7-3 at Camden Yards. "It was impressive that Tilly (Chris Tillman) fought his way through five-plus. Usually, three or four runs, you can hold them right there. I thought giving up the...

Machado hits for the cycle - in three days (O's lose 7-3)

Machado hits for the cycle - in three days (O's lose 7-3)
Not only did Manny Machado break up Luis Mendoza's shutout in the seventh inning, he hit for the cycle in a three-day period. I know it doesn't count, but humor me. Machado tripled and reached on an infield hit Thursday in his major league debut, and he homered twice on Friday. All that remained was the double, which he collected off Mendoza to score Wilson Betemit. Omar Quintanilla, who went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer last night, followed with a two-run double to reduce the Royals'...

Flaherty will report to Norfolk

Flaherty will report to Norfolk
Infielder Ryan Flaherty, on the disabled list with a bacterial infection, is scheduled to report to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. He could begin his rehab assignment that night if his health has improved. Flaherty can remain on his assignment for a maximum of 20 days (30 for pitchers), but only if his physical condition warrants it. Major League Baseball makes sure players aren't being stashed. Jason Hammel threw off the front slope of the bullpen mound this afternoon. The Orioles will check...

McLouth moves up in the lineup, Machado stays in it

McLouth moves up in the lineup, Machado stays in it
Nate McLouth is batting third tonight for the Orioles, with Chris Davis dropping down to seventh. Manny Machado remains at third base and in the eighth slot. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Omar Quintanilla 2B Chris Tillman RHP

Remembering how Machado got here

Remembering how Machado got here
I've heaped a lot of praise on manager Buck Showalter this season, and rightfully so, but let's not forget that former scouting director Joe Jordan used the third pick in the 2010 player draft on Miami prep shortstop Manny Machado. The Orioles had serious interest in Texas high school right-hander Jameson Taillon, but the Pirates grabbed him with the second pick. That left Machado, who wasn't getting past the Orioles. Here are the top 10 selections from that year: 1. Bryce Harper, OF,...

It starts at the bottom

It starts at the bottom
With all due respect to new leadoff hitter Nick Markakis, the bottom third of the Orioles' lineup did the heavy lifting last night. No. 7 hitter Nate McLouth, No. 8 hitter Manny Machado and No. 9 hitter Omar Quintanilla were a combined 7-for-12 with a double, three home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored. Seven RBIs. In a 7-1 victory over the Royals. That's heavy lifting. Manager Buck Showalter didn't want Quintanilla's two-run homer in the second inning to get lost in the Machado...