Machado exits with injured knee (updated)

Machado exits with injured knee (updated)
Single-A Delmarva shortstop

Rupe a silver lining in 9-1 loss (updated)

Rupe a silver lining in 9-1 loss (updated)
It's hard to find anything positive to say about a 9-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, but I'll focus on reliever Josh Rupe. Rupe replaced starter Chris Tillman in the fourth and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed only one hit, walked one and struck out two, and lowered his ERA from 7.59 to 5.65. Welcome back to Kansas City, Josh. Rupe had surrendered nine earned runs and 15 hits in his last seven appearances covering 9 2/3 innings. Clay Rapada replaced Rupe and served up Melky...

Tillman gone after 3 2/3 innings

Tillman gone after 3 2/3 innings
I didn't make it back home from Bowie before Chris Tillman had walked off the mound for the last time. Tillman lasted only 3 2/3 innings in today's start in Kansas City, allowing eight runs and 10 hits to raise his ERA to 7.16. I wonder if manager Buck Showalter will mention pitch sequences again in his post-game session with the media. Tillman threw a flat breaking ball on a 2-2 count to the Royals' No. 8 hitter, Brayan Pena, in the fourth inning. He threw the same pitch with the count...

Simon talks about today's start

Simon talks about today's start
Alfredo Simon threw 81 pitches in five innings today in his first start on his rehab assignment, which ended with Harrisburg defeating Bowie, 8-6. The Senators scored twice in the ninth off Brandon Cooney. Simon read his prepared statement in one of the third-level suites at Prince George's Stadium and took questions from reporters related to today's outing. The entire session lasted about six minutes. Alfredo Simon talks about his rehab start with Double-A Bowie "I feel great. My pitches...

Statement from Simon

Statement from Simon
Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon read the following statement concerning his legal issues in the Dominican Republic. He later took baseball-related questions from a small group of reporters at Prince George's Stadium: "Today is the day that I'm addressing everyone in my personal and professional life. "I want to take this opportunity to apologize to my sport, to the entire Baltimore Orioles organization, the owner, general manager, the front office, the coaches, my teammates, sponsors, and...

MacPhail on Simon; O's-Royals should start at 2:45 p.m. on MASN

MacPhail on Simon; O's-Royals should start at 2:45 p.m. on MASN
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said pitcher Alfredo Simon will make his next start with Double-A Bowie next week at Prince George's Stadium. The Orioles have an agreement with Major League Baseball that Simon can remain on the restricted list and continue his assignment as if he's going through a regular spring training. "I think the deal that was worked out in New York is pretty reflective of what you'd expect for spring training. That's how much time he gets, what a...

Simon done after five innings

Simon done after five innings
Alfredo Simon threw 81 pitches in five innings, and a reliever is warming in Double-A Bowie's bullpen. It looks like his first start in an affiliated game is over. Simon is charged with four runs (three earned) and six hits, with no walks and five strikeouts. He also hit a batter and threw two wild pitches. We had trouble getting an accurate read on the speed of his pitches. One fastball was clocked at 122 mph on the ballpark's radar gun. Another ball, which Harrisburg No. 9 hitter Archie...

Fox catching today for Orioles (Simon update)

Fox catching today for Orioles (Simon update)
The Orioles just passed along their lineup from Kansas City, and it includes Jake Fox behind the plate. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C Robert Andino SS Chris Tillman RHP Alfredo Simon allowed a leadoff double in the second inning, but he retired the next three batters, getting a called third strike on Tim Pahuta. Simon has allowed one run and three hits, and struck out four, over two innings....

Simon strikes out three in first inning

Simon strikes out three in first inning
Alfredo Simon, pitching for Double-A Bowie in his first affiliated game since being jailed in the Dominican for almost two months, struck out three Harrisburg batters in the top of the first inning. Simon threw 23 pitches, 18 for strikes. His fastball topped out at 95 mph and was mostly in the 92-93 range. Simon also allowed a run on two hits, though the RBI double by Tyler Moore should have been ruled an error. Xavier Avery ran down the ball in right-center field, and it bounced out of his...

More pregame notes from Bowie

More pregame notes from Bowie
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, director of baseball operations Matt Klentak and director of player development John Stockstill are in Bowie. So is instructor Mike Bordick. Alfredo Simon is on a pitch count of 75-80 today. Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall isn't sure how long Simon will remain on the roster. "It's a stop along the way," Kendall said. "We didn't know if it was going to be one or maybe two starts. I don't have that information. But we're happy to...

Baysox lineup

Baysox lineup
Alfredo Simon looks thinner, and we've been told that he dropped around 30 pounds over the winter. He doesn't look that much thinner, but there's a noticeable difference. Here's the Bowie Baysox's lineup: Xavier Avery CF Greg Miclat 2B Robbie Widlansky 1B Brandon Waring 3B Ronnie Welty RF Steve Lerud C Carlos Rojas SS Adam Donachie DH Kyle Hudson LF Alfredo Simon RHP Dan Klein (UCLA) is expected to pitch today. Donachie was added to the Bowie roster from extended spring training....
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Heads-up play by Jones, Gonzo great again (O's win)

Heads-up play by Jones, Gonzo great again (O's win)
Adam Jones took a huge risk in the bottom of the eighth inning by holding up his arms and calling for time as the ball Mike Aviles hit wedged underneath the padding on the left-center field fence. Jones wanted a ground-rule double, which would have forced Alcides Escobar to stop at third base and Aviles to hold at second with one out and the Orioles clinging to a 3-1 lead. Both runners crossed the plate while Jones waited for the umpires to make the call. Jim and Rick talk with Adam Jones...

Markakis having a night (updated)

Markakis having a night (updated)
Nick Markakis has a run-scoring single and solo home run tonight, and the Orioles have knocked out Kyle Davies in a game they lead, 3-1, in the top of the seventh. Before tonight, Markakis was in a 12-for-70 (.171) slump that had dropped his average from .268 to .207. Fans want him lowered in the order. They want him benched. They want him placed on waivers and let go like Alex Rios. I doubt that tonight's game will silence the critics. He'll need to heat to a boil for that to happen. But...

Waiting to find out what Simon says (updated)

Waiting to find out what Simon says (updated)
I'll point out one more time that "Modern Family" is the funniest show on television, and I'll wrestle anyone who disputes this indisputable fact. If you missed last night's episode and you treat DVR the way I treat splitting the atom ... or DVR ... that's too bad. Another classic. Anyway, I'm heading down to Bowie for today's 11:05 a.m. game between the Baysox and the Harrisburg Senators. Alfredo Simon is pitching, so I figure it's a good idea to check on him. Simon will issue a...

Reynolds wrapped in 8th spot

Reynolds wrapped in 8th spot
Mark Reynolds is batting eighth tonight for only the fourth time in his career. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Kansas City that Reynolds will be hitting in another spot tomorrow afternoon. But he also pointed out that Reynolds' slotting is up to the third baseman, who began tonight batting .168 with three homers and 15 RBIs. Reynolds is in a 3-for-25 slump. Or it's a 5-for-36 slump if you go back to his last 10 games. Or it's a 7-for-62 slump if you go back to April 14. Reynolds...

Roberts returns to Orioles' lineup

Roberts returns to Orioles' lineup
Second baseman Brian Roberts is back in the lineup after missing last night's game in Kansas City following a root canal. Vladimir Guerrero will sit for the first time. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino SS Jake Arrieta RHP Here's the Royals' lineup: Aviles 2B Cabrera CF Gordon LF Butler DH Francoeur RF Betemit 3B Ka'aihue 1B Treanor C Escobar SS Davies RHP Arrieta is 3-0 with a 2.12...

Quick updates on Matusz, Simon and Hardy

Quick updates on Matusz, Simon and Hardy
I just chose the order at random. Brian Matusz threw a bullpen session and live batting practice today at Twins Lakes Park in Sarasota. Matusz felt strong and had good command of his fastball. He also threw some breaking balls. Matusz threw 30 pitches in the bullpen and 20 more to live hitters. He'll start Saturday's extended spring training game. The Orioles confirmed via a press release that Alfredo Simon will start tomorrow for Double-A Bowie. The Baysox are hosting Harrisburg at Prince...

Davey Johnson's stepson dies

Davey Johnson's stepson dies
Condolences go out to former Orioles second baseman and manager Davey Johnson, whose stepson Michael Jacob 'Jake' Allen, 34, died Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Washington Nationals. Allen died from pneumonia and infection at Florida Hospital in Orlando with his parents and siblings at his side. He had been hearing and visually impaired since birth. In lieu of flowers, the Johnson family requests that contributions be made, in Jake's memory, to Lighthouse Central Florida...

Rowell headed to DL (Mummey injury update)

Rowell headed to DL (Mummey injury update)
The Orioles are busy today doing a makeover on Double-A Bowie's roster. They traded outfielder Jeff Fiorentino to the Braves for cash considerations. They promoted outfielder Kyle Hudson from Single-A Frederick to Bowie. And they're placing infielder Billy Rowell on the seven-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left ankle. Rowell is batting .231 with four RBIs, two walks, 12 strikeouts and a .510 OPS in 14 games and 39 at-bats in his first season in the Eastern League. He spent the...

Fiorentino gone again

Fiorentino gone again
Jeff Fiorentino is packing his bags again. According to this tweet from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Orioles traded Fiorentino to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations. Here today, gone tomorrow, here again, gone again... Fiorentino was batting .250 with one double, two triples, two homers and 13 RBIs in 20 games with Double-A Bowie. He'll report to the Braves' Double-A affiliate in Mississippi. Fiorentino appeared in 56 games with the Orioles over parts of the 2006, 2007...