Gregg gives Orioles a puncher's chance (Hendrickson joining club)

Gregg gives Orioles a puncher's chance (Hendrickson joining club)
Two more games before the All-Star break. Two more games before sweet relief. I'll remind all of the pessimists that the Orioles can't go 0-10 on this road trip. They won a game. Stop being so negative. Speaking of sweet relief, the Orioles could use it after Zach Britton lasted two-thirds of an inning last night and Brad Bergesen tried to shake hands with David Ortiz's line drive. The Orioles have allowed 10 runs or more in four of their last five games. Now their starters can't get...

Ortiz, Gregg throw punches (updated)

Ortiz, Gregg throw punches (updated)
David Ortiz and Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg exchanged punches in the bottom of the eighth inning. Finally, a little excitement. Ortiz started it. Gregg wasn't going to let him end it. Ortiz took exception to an inside pitch from Gregg earlier in the at-bat and started walking toward the mound. Ortiz pointed at Gregg as both dugouts and bullpens emptied. Gregg moved toward Ortiz and jawed at him with each step. Once order was restored, Ortiz flied to center field on the next pitch and...

Orioles trying to rally (Boston expands lead)

Orioles trying to rally (Boston expands lead)
The Orioles scored three runs in the fifth inning off Boston starter Josh Beckett, the first on Derrek Lee's leadoff homer. Red Sox 8, Orioles 3. Nick Markakis and Adam Jones had RBI singles, but Vladimir Guerrero stranded two runners by striking out. Dagger. Brad Bergesen was diagnosed with a bruised right forearm. He also took a liner off his arm in an exhibition game this spring. And we'll never forget Billy Butler's shot off his shin on July 30, 2009. His days as a target need to...

When it rains, it floods (and gets deeper and deeper)

When it rains, it floods (and gets deeper and deeper)
The Orioles are already trailing the Red Sox, 7-0, with two outs in the first inning and Zach Britton is out of the game. Only the circumstances seem to change. Tonight, it was a sharp ground ball that eluded shortstop J.J. Hardy and opened to door for the outburst, and a mental cramp from second baseman Robert Andino that expanded the lead and again turned bad into embarrassment. It didn't take nearly as long tonight. Hardy had a chance to start a double play after back-to-back one-out...

Scott MRA doesn't show additional damage

Scott MRA doesn't show additional damage
I swapped text messages a few minutes ago with outfielder Luke Scott, who was relieved that the MRA taken earlier today didn't reveal a more significant tear in his right shoulder. The Orioles think it's possible that Scott will be ready to come off the disabled list when he's eligible on July 19. The MRA is similar to an MRI, except dye is injected into the shoulder. Scott went on the disabled list retroactive to Monday when the Orioles needed to clear room on the 25-man roster for...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
No surprises in tonight's lineup. Felix Pie gets the start in left field against Boston right-hander Josh Beckett. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP In his only start against the Red Sox on April 26 in Baltimore, Britton picked up the win by holding them to one run and five hits, with two walks, over six innings. The Orioles are batting .111...

Talking about Adair and accountability

Talking about Adair and accountability
Manager Buck Showalter is taking heat from a lot of fans for the Orioles' collapse, if that's what we're calling it, as we near the All-Star break, but I'll give him major props for not burning out his bullpen. He's on the phone more than a teenage girl. I'm waiting for him to start texting instructions to bullpen coach Don Werner. "OMG, get JJ 4 me. LOL!!" Jason Berken replaced starter Jake Arrieta last night and gave up a home run. Pedro Viola replaced Berken and gave up a home...

From bad to embarrassing (O's lose 10-4)

From bad to embarrassing (O's lose 10-4)
The bullpen isn't doing any better than the rotation tonight. The Red Sox have hit six home runs, the last four off Orioles relievers. Jacoby Ellsbury took Jason Berken deep in the sixth inning. Pedro Viola replaced him in the seventh and gave up consecutive bombs to David Ortiz, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Red Sox 10, Orioles 3. I guess this is rock bottom. Viola walked the next batter and was gone. He didn't record an out. It was the first time that the Orioles...

Errors in their way (Arrieta exits)

Errors in their way (Arrieta exits)
The Orioles committed 18 errors in their last 23 games before tonight. And that total didn't include plays that should have been made and were scored as hits. Jake Arrieta and Nick Markakis were charged with errors in the fourth inning tonight, and the Red Sox reclaimed the lead 4-3. Arrieta missed the bag after taking Derrek Lee's flip, allowing Josh Reddick to reach, though I swore that his heel nicked it. Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed with a single into right field, and Reddick took...

Shocking developments in first inning (updated twice)

Shocking developments in first inning (updated twice)
I'm not sure what rates higher on the Shock Scale. You can decide. The Orioles got a hit with a runner in scoring position. Adam Jones singled to score J.J. Hardy, who led off the game with a single off the Green Monster and advanced to second on Nick Markakis' single. Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller deflected the ball, but couldn't stop it from rolling into right field. The Orioles were 4-for-37 with runners in scoring position before tonight. Matt Wieters walked with two outs and stole...
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Roberts tweets update

Roberts tweets update
Brian Roberts tweeted earlier today that he's been taking swings in the cage "the past few days." I was told that Roberts will be re-evaluated by Dr. Michael Collins next Wednesday in Pittsburgh, which is a longer wait than I expected. Roberts is hoping to be cleared for full baseball activities. Swinging a bat represents progress, considering that he had been limited to playing catch and tracking pop ups, along with his conditioning program. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Alfredo...

Lineup includes Reimold, Guerrero batting fourth

Lineup includes Reimold, Guerrero batting fourth
The Orioles will lean heavily to the right tonight against Red Sox left-hander Andrew Miller. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

Is there a silver lining at Fenway Park?

Is there a silver lining at Fenway Park?
I would never suggest that the Orioles are catching a team at a good time. Not the way they're playing. But they won't have to face Boston starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and they won't have to pitch to Carl Crawford. Crawford is expected to be activated from the disabled list on July 18, when the Red Sox visit Camden Yards. All good things must come to an end. Adrian Gonzalez, the American League's Player of the Month for June, missed last night's game with a stiff neck, but...

Pitching a poor fit

Pitching a poor fit
I could keep beating the same drum about the Orioles' poor starting pitching, but it's starting to sound like a Neil Peart solo. And I'm not getting a Rush from it. See what I did there? Oriole starters have posted an 8.19 ERA in the last 12 games. You can find more distasteful stats if you go back further, but really, why do that to yourselves? "It needs to do better," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said earlier this week. "I feel pretty good when (Jake) Arrieta,...

The less said, the better

The less said, the better
The Rangers completed their sweep of this three-game series tonight with a 13-5 victory over the Orioles. It wasn't that close. Orioles pitching allowed 18 hits to go with those 13 runs. Jim Hunter asks Buck Showalter his thoughts on the Birds' 13-5 loss to Texas Jeremy Guthrie surrendered six runs and eight hits in five innings. Michael Gonzalez gave up two runs and three hits in one inning. Brad Bergesen allowed four runs and four hits - including Mike Napoli's three-run shot - in one...

Guthrie done, Orioles trail by six (Vlad homers)

Guthrie done, Orioles trail by six (Vlad homers)
Jeremy Guthrie settled down after allowing four runs in the first inning, but the Rangers scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 6-2. Michael Gonzalez replaced Guthrie in the sixth. Guthrie allowed six runs and eight hits, increasing his ERA to 4.23. He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes. The Orioles had runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the sixth and failed to score. That won't help their runners in scoring position...

Rough start for Guthrie (updated)

Rough start for Guthrie (updated)
When a pitcher loads the bases with no outs, he figures to sit in the dugout after the inning and count all the runs he surrendered. Jeremy Guthrie was hoping to count his blessings, maybe hold the Rangers to one run. It didn't happen. The Rangers scored four runs in the bottom of the first to put the Orioles in a big, early hole. Guthrie gave up a leadoff double to Ian Kinsler and issued back-to-back walks to Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton. He lost Hamilton after getting ahead,...

A few pregame notes (and Orioles lineup)

A few pregame notes (and Orioles lineup)
For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Derrek Lee 1B Felix Pie LF Robert Andino 2B Jeremy Guthrie RHP The game-time temperature for the Orioles the last two days has been over 100 degrees. According to the club's PR staff, the last time the Orioles played as many as three games in a season in 100-plus degree weather was 2006 (July 18, Aug 1 and Aug 2), all at home. Anyone remember sweating out at least one of...

Weekend starters still undecided

Weekend starters still undecided
The Orioles haven't listed a starter for Sunday's game in Boston that closes out the first half, but if you do the math, it's Mitch Atkins' turn in the rotation. Atkins held the Rangers to one run over six innings last night. He didn't walk a batter and threw 58 of his 90 pitches for strikes. As I pointed out in another entry, he retired the side only once in those six innings. He didn't dominate, but he didn't fold, either. Atkins gave the Orioles a quality start. Somebody had to...

Taking a closer look at Jim Johnson

Taking a closer look at Jim Johnson
Before we point too many fingers at reliever Jim Johnson for causing last night's 4-2 loss to the Rangers, it's important to note that the Orioles went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. And three kids. And a dog and cat. Also a hamster. Two solo home runs won't usually get you a victory in Texas. Hitting in the clutch hasn't been this team's strength. And that observation most likely will be the biggest understatement that you encounter today. Getting...