Tonight's lineups and notes

Tonight's lineups and notes
For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Kevin Millwood RHP For the Indians: Michael Brantley CF Asdrubal Cabrera SS Shin-Shoo Choo RF Shelley Duncan DH Trevor Crowe LF Matt LaPorta 1B Jason Donald 2B Andy Marte 3B Lou Marson C Jeanmar Gomez RHP The Orioles agreed to terms with three more draft picks: Pitcher Daniel Klein (third round), third baseman Connor Narron (fifth round)...
Tags:

Orioles extend agreements with minor league affiliates

Orioles extend agreements with minor league affiliates
The Orioles announced today that they've extended their working agreements with their top three minor league affiliates through 2014. Norfolk has been the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate for the past four seasons. Double-A Bowie and Single-A Frederick have been with the Orioles since 1993 and 1989, respectively. "We are very pleased to continue our working agreements with the Norfolk, Bowie and Frederick clubs," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said in a statement. "We have...

Does third base ring a Bell?

Does third base ring a Bell?
Former Ravens cornerback Frank Walker is headed to Miami? I bet the receivers get there ahead of him. If you woke up feeling a little different, it's probably because the Orioles are 40-74 and the Pirates are 39-74. That's what happens when one team goes 8-2 in its last 10 games, and the other goes 3-7. Interesting observation from West Coast O's Fan: Orioles starters have been victimized by only one bad inning in the last nine games. Jake Arrieta allowed five runs in the fourth inning...

Bergesen's sleeper hold (updated)

Bergesen's sleeper hold (updated)
What a perfect description from MASN analyst and former Orioles pitcher and executive Mike Flanagan. Brad Bergesen has applied a sleeper hold on the Indians. I'm waiting for George "The Animal" Steele to jump in the ring and eat a turnbuckle. Bergesen just struck out two batters in the eighth inning, and the Indians seemed dazed as he delivered another breaking ball. All they can do is check their swings and hope for a reprieve from the first or third base umpires. He's allowed one run...
Tags:

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Brad Bergesen RHP For the Indians: Michael Brantley CF Asdrubal Cabrera SS Shin-Soo Choo RF Shelley Duncan DH Jordan Brown LF Matt LaPorta 1B Luis Valbuena 3B Jayson Nix 2B Chris Gimenez C Josh Tomlin RHP Remember when the Orioles were last in the league with runners in scoring position with a .217 average? Since Aug. 3, they rank first...
Tags:

Injured Orioles heading to Bowie

Injured Orioles heading to Bowie
I was preparing to write an entry about outfielder Lou Montanez reporting to Double-A Bowie today when I received an e-mail from the club's public relations director, Tom Sedlacek, announcing that Montanez and Jim Johnson would report this week. Great minds thinking alike. Montanez (oblique) and Johnson (elbow) are moving their injury rehab assignments from the Gulf Coast League team. Montanez will join the Baysox tonight, and Johnson will arrive tomorrow. Montanez was named the Eastern...

Left to figure it out

Left to figure it out
The wins keep coming - seven in the last eight games - and fans keep wondering how much credit should go to the new manager. I don't think it's possible to come up with an exact formula. Would any pie chart - as opposed to a Pie chart - be totally accurate? No matter how you slice it, Buck Showalter has made a positive impact on this organization. There's more energy, more focus. We kept hearing talk of players being held accountable, but perhaps they believe it more when the words come...

And so it continues...

And so it continues...
I remember when that title conjured up nothing but negative images. But not anymore. Did Buck Showalter spike the Gatorade? I'm running out of ideas. The Orioles are winning games every way imaginable. Low-scoring, high-scoring, tie-breaking, come-from-behind. Tonight, they simply bashed the Indians into submission, erupting for 14 runs in their gaudiest display of the season. Are you sold yet? I don't know how long it's going to last, and I don't care. I'm just going to enjoy...

Way to rebound (updated)

Way to rebound (updated)
I keep waiting for the Orioles to revert to their previous form, and they keep surprising me. I'm beginning to like this arrangement. Jake Arrieta issues a two-out walk in the third inning, commits a throwing error and surrenders a run-scoring single to Asdrubal Cabrera - the Indians first hit - to fall behind, 1-0. No big deal. The Orioles jumped all over Cleveland starter Justin Masterson in the top of the fourth, scoring four times to take the lead. Three of the runs are unearned...
Tags:

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: 2B Brian Roberts RF Nick Markakis 3B Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott CF Adam Jones LF Felix Pie CA Matt Wieters DH Corey Patterson SS Cesar Izturis RHP Jake Arrieta For the Indians: CF Michael Brantley SS Asdrubal Cabrera RF Shin-Soo Choo 1B Matt Laporta DH Jordan Brown LF Trevor Crowe 3B Luis Valbuena 2B Jason Donald CA Lou Marson RHP Justin Masterson
Tags:

A few notes

A few notes
Buck Showalter, Earl Weaver and Davey Johnson are the only Orioles managers to start out 6-1 in their first seasons. Did you know that Weaver won his first six games and lost each of his next three by one run? According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Showalter is the first manager since 1924 to win three of his first seven games in walk-off fashion. I'm not sure what that says about Showalter or his team, but it's a fact. The Orioles have nine walk-off wins this season, and their 10...

Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
I haven't seen a replay of the Orioles scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning last night, but I still find it hard to believe that Paul Konerko didn't step on first base before throwing home. It sure looked like he did, but he insisted that he stopped and umpire Brian O'Nora agreed. As I wrote last night, it doesn't change a whole lot except for how the official scorer reports it. Matt Wieters would have been out 3-unassisted, which is what I wrote on my sheet. I'm not sure if it...

Sorting through the sixth (w/Showalter quotes)

Sorting through the sixth (w/Showalter quotes)
As it turns out, what transpired in the bottom of the sixth inning isn't quite what we believed. I'll start by saying that the Orioles' run still counts. They're not resuming play with the score tied or awarding Chicago the win. But Paul Konerko never stepped on first base after fielding Matt Wieters' ground ball. He stopped short and threw home, but Luke Scott was ruled safe because catcher A.J. Pierzynski didn't make contact with the plate - eliminating the force - and didn't tag the...
Tags:

The decision (w/Tillman update and B-Rob walk-off)

The decision (w/Tillman update and B-Rob walk-off)
B-Rob walk-off: Brian Roberts just hit his first home run of the season, leading off the bottom of the 10th with a drive onto the flagcourt in right against J.J. Putz. That's the Orioles' first walk-off homer of the year, and the first since Matt Wieters on Sept. 16, 2009 vs. Tampa Bay. Manager Buck Showalter pulled Koji Uehara after two perfect innings and gave the ball to Alfredo Simon. One pitch, and we're tied. Paul Konerko crushed a 95 mph fastball for his 28th home run. Brian...
Tags:

Taking the lead (updated)

Taking the lead (updated)
Tonight's attendance: 14,135. The Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead and position Brian Matusz for the win. Matusz is charged with one run and three hits in six innings, with two walks (one intentional), four strikeouts and one hit batter. He threw 99 pitches, 60 for strikes. That's seven consecutive quality starts from the rotation, the first time it's happened since July 2003. The starters have allowed 10 earned runs in their last 47 2/3 innings. Ty...
Tags:

Chisox keeping Matusz busy

Chisox keeping Matusz busy
Brian Matusz has allowed one run over three innings, and the White Sox are making him work hard. Matusz threw 14 pitches in the first inning, 23 in the second and 23 in the third, giving him 60 for the game. (I decided to save you the math.) Brent Lillibridge lined out to open the third, but he saw seven pitches. Matusz hit Juan Pierre - who never should have worn his lucky bullseye on this trip - Alexei Ramirez grounded out and Alex Rios doubled to left field on Matusz's fifth pitch. Paul...
Tags:

More pre-game chatter and notes (w/GCL update)

More pre-game chatter and notes (w/GCL update)
Manager Buck Showalter knew a few days ago that Cesar Izturis was approaching 1,000 career hits. The veteran shortstop reached 1,001 in yesterday's game. "I think about how underappreciated that he is. He's just solid," Showalter said. "It's not always a look-at-me mentality. He just brings it. He's just solid. That's the most common description of him from everybody. He's a guy you can count on. He's very durable. I was happy for him to have a moment yesterday. He's a good...
Tags:

Showalter talks about the roster move

Showalter talks about the roster move
Craig Tatum is back in the home clubhouse after going 2-for-21 at Triple-A Norfolk. He hit .271 in 32 games with the Orioles before they optioned him. "Tatum's been struggling a little offensively down there compared to what he was doing here," manager Buck Showalter said. "We thought we'd get him back to the big leagues so he could start hitting again." Tatum's arrival gives the Orioles a four-man bench. "It's a little more comforting," Showalter said. "You're always thinking...

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Brian Matusz LHP For the White Sox: Pierre LF Ramirez SS Rios CF Konerko 1B Quentin DH Pierzynski C Viciendo 3B Jones RF Lillibridge 2B Jackson RHP
Tags:

What Showalter says about Simon

What Showalter says about Simon
Manager Buck Showalter must take his pre-game questions black, because this one wasn't sugarcoated. A reporter asked Showalter about Alfredo Simon, who would pick up his 17th save later in the day. "Based on what you've seen, is this guy a major league closer?" "Never overlook an orchid while searching for a rose," Showalter replied. "We'll see. You see the stuff and see why he's had success. Who knows? We've got to know. We don't want to be guessing about it. When we get through...