Scott should have the surgery

Scott should have the surgery
The Orioles have scored one run since Tuesday. This is a problem. It's also due to an off-day on Thursday, but still ... They also have five hits in their last two games. The rotation looks a lot better, however. And isn't that typical of the Orioles? They have four quality starts in their last six games, and the offense has taken a powder. The starters have completed six or more innings in six of the last 23 games. That's actually an improvement. I've written plenty about Luke Scott...

Showalter and Simon speak after 6-1 loss

Showalter and Simon speak after 6-1 loss
There wasn't much to feel good about tonight, but Alfredo Simon turned in his second quality start after carrying a shutout into the seventh inning. He was charged with two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings and tied his career high with 96 pitches. "He gave us a real good chance to win," manager Buck Showalter said. "I was pleased with his performance again. Had him maybe a tick above where we had hoped to take him with pitches and everything. We should be in position to turn him loose...

Scott returning to disabled list (with Showalter quotes)

Scott returning to disabled list (with Showalter quotes)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters after tonight's 6-1 loss to the Angels that Luke Scott is headed back to the disabled list. Scott was activated this afternoon, but he was in obvious pain during his three plate appearances and would have been removed for a pinch-hitter if his turn came up in the bottom of the ninth inning. Scott will have to decide whether to rehab the shoulder or undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum. His season could be over. The Orioles could recall...

Orioles have one hit, one deficit (and a bigger one)

Orioles have one hit, one deficit (and a bigger one)
Tonight's attendance: 24,823 The Angels broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning and drove Alfredo Simon from the game. Mike Trout doubled with one out and Maicer Izturis doubled with two outs. Jason Berken replaced Simon and gave up Torii Hunter's double. Angels 2, Orioles 0. Simon is charged with two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, with one walk, three strikeouts and a hit batter. He threw 96 pitches, 59 for strikes. Simon was good tonight. Ervin Santana was...

Waiting on the first hit (and there it is)

Waiting on the first hit (and there it is)
The 104-degree temperature hasn't heated up the Orioles' bats. Angels starter Ervin Santana has allowed one baserunner in five innings, and it wasn't his fault. Luke Scott reached on second baseman Maicer Izturis' error with two outs in the second. Right fielder Torii Hunter made an outstanding running catch to rob Derrek Lee of an extra-base hit in the fifth inning. It looked like a double when it left Lee's bat, but Hunter sprinted toward the line, reached out and made the...

In the heat of the night (updated)

In the heat of the night (updated)
Tonight's first-pitch temperature was 104 degrees. That's the second-highest temp here in the last 15 years. It was 105 degrees for a July 6, 1999 game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Alfredo Simon has shut out the Angels on two hits over the first three innings. He escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the third by striking out Bobby Abreu on an 89 mph slider. Simon threw 21 pitches through two innings, 20 in the third. He's allowed two runs and five hits over 10 innings in his two starts...

Showalter talks about Scott, Angle and Matusz

Showalter talks about Scott, Angle and Matusz
Manager Buck Showalter is in a wait-and-see mode regarding outfielder Luke Scott, who will take the next three to five days to determine whether the pain in his right shoulder, and the restrictions caused by it, will force him to shut down for the rest of the season. "I talked with him some today," Showalter said. "It's kind of is what it is. We'll see what we've got and see if he can play the rest of the year with what he has. That's what we talked about today. We'll see if it's...

Updates on Scott, Roberts, Gonzalez, Izturis and more

Updates on Scott, Roberts, Gonzalez, Izturis and more
Luke Scott reports that he's still only 70 percent despite his two-homer, six-RBI night at Double-A Bowie. The discomfort remains in his right shoulder, so he'll take the next three to five days to determine whether he can stay on the active roster. Scott's other options are surgery or rehabbing his shoulder. It appears that he's leaning toward surgery if he needs to be shut down again. The Orioles announced Scott's activation from the disabled list. Matt Angle was optioned to Triple-A...

Scott activated, Angle optioned

Scott activated, Angle optioned
The Orioles haven't made an official announcement regarding a roster move, but Luke Scott is batting sixth and serving as the designated hitter for tonight's game against the Angels, and Matt Angle's name isn't listed among the starters or reserves, so he apparently has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott DH Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Blake Davis 2B Alfredo Simon RHP Kevin...

It's still got to be pitching for pitching

It's still got to be pitching for pitching
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was interviewed earlier today on MLB Network Radio's "Power Alley." He stressed again, as we've heard, that the Orioles will need to receive pitching in return if they make a trade at the non-waiver deadline. That's especially true if they move Jeremy Guthrie - the Tigers, Indians, Rangers and Reds are interested, among others - but it pretty much applies to any trade. Starting pitching is the No. 1 priority. A team looking to add an...

Is it time to activate Scott?

Is it time to activate Scott?
Tonight's game got a little more interesting, and not because I'm placing odds on how many innings I survive before I collapse on the press box floor in a huge puddle of sweat. Did I hear something about a 115-degree heat index? But the good news is sportswriters voted back when Camden Yards was being built to have an open-air press box. No air conditioning. Because, you know, everybody likes heat stroke. Anyway, the Orioles must decide whether to activate Luke Scott from the disabled...

Reviewing Luke Scott's six-RBI night

Reviewing Luke Scott's six-RBI night
My guess is the Orioles will give serious consideration to activating Luke Scott from the disabled list this weekend. After being shut down for two days with lingering discomfort in his right shoulder, Scott homered twice and drove in six runs tonight in seven innings at Double-A Bowie. It appears that he's done for the night. I don't think another at-bat is necessary. Scott drove in a run in the first inning with a ground ball, launched a two-run homer to center field in the third,...

Luke Scott homers again at Bowie (adds two-run double)

Luke Scott homers again at Bowie (adds two-run double)
Luke Scott hit his second home run tonight in three injury rehab games at Double-A Bowie. Scott launched a two-run shot to center field in the third inning, allowing Greg Miclat to score and temporarily giving Bowie the lead. Trenton tied the game in the top of the fourth. Scott has three RBIs tonight. He drove in a run with a ground ball in the first inning. Scott has homered twice, singled and walked twice since joining the Baysox on Sunday. Before tonight, he hadn't played since Monday...

Scott resumes rehab assignment at Bowie

Scott resumes rehab assignment at Bowie
Orioles outfielder Luke Scott will continue his injury rehab assignment tonight after being shut down for a few days. Scott will bat third and serve as the designated hitter for Double-A Bowie, as he's done in two previous games. Scott has homered, singled and walked twice since joining the Baysox. He hasn't played since Monday night. Though eligible to come off the disabled list two days ago, Scott wasn't deemed ready because of persistent discomfort in his right shoulder related to a...

Mud Hens prevent clean outing from Matusz (and note)

Mud Hens prevent clean outing from Matusz (and note)
Left-hander Brian Matusz tossed seven scoreless innings in his last start for Triple-A Norfolk, but he took a step backward today against the Toledo Mud Hens. Matusz was charged with eight runs (seven earned) and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings, with three walks and two strikeouts. He left after throwing 85 pitches, 53 for strikes. Nick Bierbrodt let two inherited runners score after replacing Matusz. Clete Thomas hit a three-run homer off him. Matusz retired the side in order in the first...

Johnson destined for rotation

Johnson destined for rotation
There's no baseball tonight, which means I'm going to drag my tired and battered body onto the tennis courts this morning and subject it to the stifling heat and my inconsistent backhand for at least two sets. I'll stop once the dehydration chills set in. Not the initial chills, but the steady, unrelenting ones that have me digging my medical card out of my wallet. The Orioles' rotation has produced three quality starts in the last four games, which is enough to conjure up images of the...

Showalter speaks after shutout loss

Showalter speaks after shutout loss
The Orioles had plenty of scoring opportunities today, which makes it more frustrating that they didn't score in a 4-0 loss to the Red Sox before 35,174. Manager Buck Showalter talked about the following: Buck Showalter talks about the O's 4-0 loss to the Red Sox On whether this is the best he's seen Jake Arrieta: "I've seen him as good, if not better. He's pitched some good games for us this year, and in the past I've seen him like that. He deserved a better fate. They pitched a...

Albers torturing former teammates (updated)

Albers torturing former teammates (updated)

Matt Albers has retired all four batters he's faced today since replacing starter Andrew Miller in the sixth inning. He's gotten two ground balls and struck out two.Albers has allowed no runs or hits, walked one and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings against the Orioles this season. His ERA this summer is down to 2.29, and I doubt that many Red Sox fans are concerned whether his weight is up.The Orioles non-tendered Albers in December, and the Red Sox signed him 14 days after he was granted free agency.He's always had good stuff, but he couldn't display it with any consistency with the Orioles. And each bad outing would raise more concerns about his conditioning and the tear in his right shoulder.Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta became the second consecutive Orioles starter to go seven innings, but he stands to be the loser today after allowing three runs and nine hits. He didn't issue a walk for the first time this season, and only the second time in his career.Mark Hendrickson loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth and walked Carl Crawford to force in a run. And here comes Mark Worrell, again brought into a game with the sacks full and no outs.Update: The results couldn't have been more different. Worrell got two strikeouts and a fly ball to escape the jam. Very impressive. He also circled the mound so many times, he might have killed the grass.

No no-hitter, but where are the runs? (updated twice)

No no-hitter, but where are the runs? (updated twice)
Red Sox left-hander Andrew Miller has littered the bases in this game, but the Orioles can't clean up. Miller didn't allow a hit until catcher Craig Tatum bounced a single up the middle with one out in the fifth. Tatum came within a foot or so of dropping a double down the left field line earlier in the at-bat. Miller walked a batter in the first. He walked the bases loaded in the second. He walked a batter in the third. He hasn't exactly been sharp - unless you consider a stick of butter...

This and that (updated)

This and that (updated)
It's only 95 degrees at Camden Yards. I hope my box score and game notes don't blow out of the press box. Jake Arrieta struck out Kevin Youkilis looking at a 94 mph fastball to end the first inning. So far, manager Buck Showalter only plans to shut down Zach Britton later in the season, once the left-hander gets to around 175 innings. The other starters aren't facing the same restrictions. "Right now, innings-wise, Zach's the only one that would fit into that mode," Showalter said. "I...