Lee looking like trade chip (Tigers out on Guthrie?)

Lee looking like trade chip (Tigers out on Guthrie?)
With so much attention given to the non-waiver trade deadline and players increasing their value, it was easy to overlook how the Orioles actually beat the Yankees last night in New York. Oh, by the way ... It seems like such a rare occurrence, it should be savored instead of ignored. Now, getting back to the trade deadline and players increasing their value, it wouldn't surprise me if Derrek Lee is the first Oriole to change teams this weekend. Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara are the prime...

Did Guthrie increase his trade value?

Did Guthrie increase his trade value?
Next question: Did Jeremy Guthrie pitch his last game for the Orioles? Guthrie held the Yankees to one run, a Mark Teixeira homer, over seven innings. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out five. He threw 114 pitches, 69 for strikes. Timing is everything. Guthrie didn't find an easy mark. Before tonight, he was 3-9 with a 5.46 ERA in 16 career games against the Yankees. The Tigers and Indians remain serious suitors for Guthrie. The Orioles need a major league-ready arm. They'd...

Reynolds continues to own Burnett (O's lead 4-1)

Reynolds continues to own Burnett (O's lead 4-1)
Mark Reynolds hit his first home run at Yankee Stadium tonight, and it came against a pitcher who's always made him feel comfortable. OK, it's a small sample size, but Reynolds' two-run shot in the second inning made him 4-for-5 with two doubles, two homers, three RBIs and a walk lifetime against A.J. Burnett. Reynolds went to right-center field after Derrek Lee walked, upping his home run total to 22 this season. Reynolds also has 53 RBis. He's batting .219. Since the game is underway,...

Orioles and Yankees lineups (game under way)

Orioles and Yankees lineups (game under way)
For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP For the Yankees: Gardner LF Jeter SS Granderson CF Teixeira 1B Cano 2B Swisher RF Chavez 3B Posada DH Martin C Burnett RHP The tarp is on the field at Yankee Stadium, and first-pitch is expected to be pushed back because of rain. A postponement could further complicate the Orioles' rotation...

One year ago today (and Worrell clears waivers)

One year ago today (and Worrell clears waivers)
On this date in 2010, the Orioles traded third baseman Miguel Tejada to the San Diego Padres and hired Buck Showalter as their third manager of the season. They could make a trade this weekend, but they won't be changing managers. The Orioles acquired right-hander Wynn Pelzer from the Padres. I don't believe you could view that deal as a Wynn-win. Tejada batted .268 with eight homers, 32 RBIs and a .730 OPS in 59 games with the Padres. He signed with the Giants over the winter and is...

Still pitching a fit

Still pitching a fit
Brad Bergesen mentioned after last night's 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays that he failed to slow down the game in the third inning. He was gripping and ripping. As I've written in the past, a lot of young starters tend to slow the pace too much and compound their problems. The defense falls asleep. But in Bergesen's case, he can't find the brakes when he needs to pump them. The defense should have been on its toes, with Bergesen pitching like his hair was on fire, but it was dismal. The...

Take a lead, give up a lead (and lose by three)

Take a lead, give up a lead (and lose by three)
J.J. Hardy and Vladimir Guerrero homered in the top of the first inning to provide an early cushion for starter Brad Bergesen. It deflated in a hurry. The Blue Jays scored twice in the bottom half of the inning, a bases-loaded walk producing the first run. So much for early momentum. I won't search for excuses for Bergesen. I don't know what's in his head tonight. But if my wife were due to give birth this weekend, I'd be seriously challenged to focus on the task at hand. More power to...

Reimold returns to lineup (more on DH and Izturis)

Reimold returns to lineup (more on DH and Izturis)
Nolan Reimold is starting in left field tonight for the series finale against the Blue Jays. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Brad Bergesen RHP For the Blue Jays: Escobar SS Rasmus CF Bautista 3B Lind 1B Encarnacion DH Thames RF Hill 2B Snider LF Arencibia C Villanueva RHP Hardy is 4-for-6 lifetime against Villanueva. Reynolds is 3-for-7 with a...

More roster moves coming

More roster moves coming
Left-hander Zach Britton and infielder Cesar Izturis will join the Orioles in New York, which means the 25-man roster will undergo another transformation. Britton is slated to pitch the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees, so he'll be recalled over the weekend. He was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three games with Double-A Bowie, with 14 hits, two walks, 15 strikeouts and three home runs allowed in 11 2/3 innings. Izturis has been on an injury rehab assignment at Bowie...

Filling out the rotation

Filling out the rotation
I'm always entertained by the trade speculation that builds during the last week of July. B.J. Upton isn't included in the Rays' lineup last night, a few Nationals regulars take a seat on the bench, and it's assumed that the two clubs are on the verge of finalizing a deal. Maybe it will happen, but Upton was spotted in the trainers room and manager Joe Maddon told reporters that the center fielder was a little "beat up." I'm starting to get punchy. I hear it's Edwin Jackson's...

It never fails

It never fails
The Orioles scored 12 runs last night and reached double digits in hits during the anthem. You knew what was coming next. A shutout. Four hits ... and a shutout. The Orioles offered little resistance tonight against Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero. And their modest two-game winning streak at Rogers Centre came to a screeching halt. Well, a two-game streak doesn't really screech. The air bags won't deploy. But it's definitely come to a stop. Buck Showalter tells Gary Thorne how hard...

Stats eliminate start for Reimold

Stats eliminate start for Reimold
Just a quick note before I start ordering off the menu (yes, dinner plans tonight): Nolan Reimold is fine physically. His exclusion from tonight's lineup, after he homered last night, is based on statistics. Reimold is 1-for-13 lifetime against Toronto left-hander Ricky Romero. Also, left-handers are hitting .285 lifetime against Romero. Right-handers are batting .242. Felix Pie gets the start. Reimold gets a seat on the bench. Don't shoot the messenger.

Pie in left field tonight (and Jays lineup)

Pie in left field tonight (and Jays lineup)
Maybe the Blue Jays will be too distracted by today's trade activity to concentrate on the Orioles. The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Colby Rasmus from the Cardinals as part of a three-team trade that also involved the White Sox. The Cardinals acquired starter Edwin Jackson, which likely ends their interest in Jeremy Guthrie. They also obtained relievers Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski, which likely ends their interest in Koji Uehara. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam...

Scott says surgery "went well"

Scott says surgery "went well"
Orioles outfielder Luke Scott says via a text message that yesterday's surgery on his right labrum "went well" and provided a clearer explanation why his swing was hindered before the club shut him down for the season. Renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Pensacola, Fla. Scott wrote that he's feeling "so-so, more disappointment than anything, but they fixed the problem." "It was more posterior than SLAP, which was not revealed as much on the...

Simon under the dome - if it's closed

Simon under the dome - if it's closed
The Orioles couldn't win at Rogers Centre. Now they can't lose. They've won two straight games in Toronto after losing 16 in a row, proving that baseball really does go in cycles. I'm just used to the Orioles blowing out a tire. They'll have Alfredo Simon on the mound tonight, trying to register his third consecutive quality start. Do you remember Simon's last visit to Rogers Centre on Sept. 26, 2010? He was ejected after drilling Jose Bautista, who left last night's game after being...

Quick Matusz update (O's win 12-4)

Quick Matusz update (O's win 12-4)
Brian Matusz lasted five innings tonight in his fifth start with Triple-A Norfolk since being optioned. He allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits, with three walks and no strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches, 56 for strikes. I don't have any radar readings. He's mostly been 87-88 mph in his last few starts, though he's touched 90. I'm not sure how he avoided giving up a run in the fourth. Brandon Inge doubled and apparently stopped at third base on Clete Thomas' one-out...

Orioles stay homer happy (updated twice)

Orioles stay homer happy (updated twice)
Nolan Reimold led off the top of the fourth inning with his sixth home run, increasing the Orioles' lead to 5-3. Robert Andino singled, and J.J. Hardy belted his second homer of the night, a two-run shot that upped his season total to 16. Brandon Morrow had surrendered only five homers in his first 17 starts before tonight. The Orioles have hit three against him. Reimold reached the second deck in left-center field. Nobody questions his power. Keep running him out there and let him stake a...

Arrieta escapes trouble in first, Matusz does not (updated twice)

Arrieta escapes trouble in first, Matusz does not (updated twice)
The first two Blue Jays reached base against Orioles starter Jake Arrieta in the bottom of the first inning. Yunel Escobar singled and Eric Thames walked. Instant trouble for Arrieta, but it was a hollow threat. Arrieta retired the next three batters, and the Orioles rewarded him with Derrek Lee's two-run double in the top of the second. Vladimir Guerrero singled in his first at-bat since coming off the disabled list. Matt Wieters also singled, and Lee followed with a double to left...

Worrell optioned to Norfolk, Britton will start Saturday

Worrell optioned to Norfolk, Britton will start Saturday
The Orioles finally made it official. Vladimir Guerrero has been activated from the disabled list after completing batting practice today at Rogers Centre. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Orioles optioned right-hander Mark Worrell to Triple-A Norfolk. Guerrero is batting cleanup as the designated hitter. He had been on the disabled list since suffering a fractured bone in his right hand on July 10 in Boston. Guerrero is hitting .279 with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 83...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Vladimir Guerrero is batting cleanup tonight in Toronto. Still waiting for the Orioles to reveal the corresponding roster move. They have to make sure Guerrero gets through batting practice without any setbacks. Also, left-hander Michael Gonzalez will start serving his suspension tonight, but he can't be replaced on the roster, so the Orioles must eliminate a player while adding Guerrero. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C...