Showalter speaks after 2-1 win

Showalter speaks after 2-1 win
Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't wait for reporters to fire off questions tonight before commenting on pitcher Chris Tillman, who held the Toronto Blue Jays to one run over 6 2/3 innings. "Tillman was good, huh?" Showalter said after the Orioles' 2-1 victory at Camden Yards. "That was an impressive outing. To have that kind of command of the curveball and off-speed pitches on a night where the feeling in your fingers, ball's slick. That was pretty impressive. I'm proud of...

Orioles still waiting for a starter to complete seven innings (O's win 2-1)

Orioles still waiting for a starter to complete seven innings (O's win 2-1)
We're tied tonight and Chris Tillman won't get a decision. It sure looked like he was barreling toward a win. Tillman allowed three of his four hits in the seventh inning, and Colby Rasmus' two-out single with the count full scored Edwin Encarnacion and erased the Orioles' 1-0 lead. Darren O'Day replaced Tillman and walked Brett Lawrie to load the bases again. Emilio Bonifacio struck out to keep the game tied. The Orioles still don't have a starter who's gone seven innings this...

Game update and more from Showalter (O's lead 1-0)

Game update and more from Showalter (O's lead 1-0)
Chris Tillman retired the first four Toronto Blue Jays tonight, gave up a single a walk, and induced a double play grounder from Colby Rasmus. The third inning was a breeze - and trust me, it's breezy tonight. And bitter cold. Tillman retired the Blue Jayas in order on two fly balls and a pop up. He's thrown 35 pitches, 22 for strikes. Tillman has gone 3 2/3, 5 1/3 and five innings in his first three starts. Alex Burnett is the long man tonight if he makes an early exit. Blue Jays starter...

Showalter on Arrieta

Showalter on Arrieta
The vast majority of today's pregame media session with manager Buck Showalter, which lasted more than 16 minutes, was devoted to today's roster move. Jake Arrieta down, Alex Burnett up. Here is a sampling of Showalter's comments: "He's obviously got to stay down there 10 days unless there's an injury and we've got him pitching on his normal day down there. I can't sit here and tell you that anything that's necessarily going to go on down there physically is going to be a big...

Arrieta talks about his demotion

Arrieta talks about his demotion
Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta emerged from a closed-door meeting with manager Buck Showalter this afternoon and headed to the video room to watch more tape of himself. The work continues. The process of turning him into a consistent major league pitcher continues. Arrieta said he understood why the Orioles optioned him today to Triple-A Norfolk. "I wasn't doing my job well enough. That's the bottom line," he said. "The team needs me. They need me to be better. That's the bottom line,...

What's next for Arrieta and the pitching staff?

What's next for Arrieta and the pitching staff?
Orioles manager Buck Showalter just completed his pregame media session, and I'll post his comments later this afternoon. In the meantime, Showalter stressed that Jake Arrieta was sent down today only because the Orioles needed a long reliever for the next few days after using Tommy Hunter and T.J. McFarland for multiple innings the past two games. Otherwise, Arrieta would still be on the 25-man roster. Showalter said he's convinced that Arrieta is a guy who could help the Orioles make the...

Burnett in the clubhouse (Arrieta sent down)

Burnett in the clubhouse (Arrieta sent down)
Alex Burnett is in the Orioles clubhouse and Jake Arrieta just left Orioles manager Buck Showalter's office. Draw your own conclusions. We were waiting for a roster move, and that could be it. Nothing official yet, but it looks like there is a No. 68 jersey waiting for Burnett. Burnett is a 25-year-old right-hander who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays on April 12. Ironically, tonight's opponent is the Blue Jays. He's 8-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 174 career major league games with the...

Strong-arming the Orioles' catchers

Strong-arming the Orioles' catchers
Unsure whether the Orioles would make a postgame roster move yesterday, I checked my phone approximately 72 times per minute. And ... nothing. No demotions, no promotions. It's conceivable that they will do something before tonight's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. If not, manager Buck Showalter will be asked about his discussions with executive vice president Dan Duquette and the state of their bullpen. The Orioles still need a starter for Wednesday. Eventually, we're going...

Showalter speaks after 7-4 loss

Showalter speaks after 7-4 loss
Orioles starter Jake Arrieta didn't point fingers and he didn't make excuses. He took full blame for today's 7-4 loss to the Dodgers at Camden Yards. "Really feel like the Dodgers didn't beat us today, I beat us. It's unacceptable," he said. He later added, "I'm so close to being so good and everybody knows it. And that's what's frustrating." Arrieta stood at his locker following the game. Whether he's there on Monday, or whether someone from Triple-A Norfolk is there, was...

The Two Jakes make another appearance (O's lose 7-4)

The Two Jakes make another appearance (O's lose 7-4)
Jake Arrieta struck out two batters in a routine first inning and needed only nine pitches to dispose of the Dodgers in the second. He threw 37 pitches in the third while walking three batters and surrendering a run. He struck out two and retired the side in order in the fourth. He couldn't record an out in the fifth and was gone. The Orioles are still trying to figure out a way for Arrieta to become a consistent major league starter. Game to game would be preferred. Right now, they would...

Game update and more notes (Jones homers)

Game update and more notes (Jones homers)
Orioles starter Jake Arrieta struck out the first two Dodgers batters he faced in the first inning and got the final out on a routine ground ball to second. Fourteen pitches, 11 for strikes. The Orioles gave him a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Nate McLouth's leadoff single, a wild pitch by emergency Dodgers starter Stephen Fife, Nick Markakis' RBI single and J.J. Hardy's two-run single. Fife had hit Adam Jones with a pitch and allowed a single to Chris Davis to load the bases...

Bundy ready to resume throwing

Bundy ready to resume throwing
Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy will throw from 75-90 feet on Monday as he begins a progression that should lead him back to the mound. Bundy has been shut down with tightness in his right elbow, but he's been pain-free and symptom-free for a while, according to manager Buck Showalter. "They've just been doing some stuff to make sure it doesn't occur again, hopefully," Showalter said. "He's going to be on the mound mid to the end of next week, I think." Steve Johnson threw a...

Orioles lineup against Dodgers (updated)

Orioles lineup against Dodgers (updated)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter had Matt Wieters catch Game 1 of yesterday's doubleheader so the two-time Gold Glove winner could return to the lineup this afternoon. Day game after a day game. Nolan Reimold is the designated hitter. His right hamstring is fine. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Nolan Reimold DH Jake Arrieta RHP For the Dodgers Carl Crawford LF Mark Ellis...

A leftover from Game 1 and Game 2 (updated with new LA starter)

A leftover from Game 1 and Game 2 (updated with new LA starter)
The next time you hear from me this morning, I'll be posting the lineups for the series finale between the Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers at Camden Yards. The Orioles will be facing right-hander Chad Billingsley, and their exposure to him is limited. Nate McLouth is 5-for-16. J.J. Hardy is 2-for-10 with a home run. Chris Dickerson is 1-for-3 with a double. Alexi Casilla is 0-for-2 with a walk. McLouth figures to be in left field today. Reimold could serve as the designated hitter, assuming...

Showalter speaks after sweep

Showalter speaks after sweep
The Orioles sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sort of like the 1966 World Series, only different. The starters went six innings in both games, and Tommy Hunter covered the last three in Game 2 to spare the bullpen. "I would have signed up for that in blood before we started, to try to get through it," said manager Buck Showalter after the 6-1 victory in Game 2. "Mac (T.J. McFarland) is available tomorrow. Well, everybody is available with the exception of Tommy (Hunter)." Hunter picked up...

Davis muscles up and ties game (O's complete sweep with 6-1 win)

Davis muscles up and ties game (O's complete sweep with 6-1 win)
Need more proof that Chris Davis is freakishly strong? Davis unloaded on Dodgers starter Josh Beckett in the second inning of Game 2, homering to straightaway center field to tie the game, 1-1. The ball easily cleared the 410 foot sign and kept going, traveling an estimated 448 feet. Davis is now tied for the 11th-longest home run in Camden Yards history. It's the third-longest by an Oriole. Jeffrey Hammonds has the longest at 460 feet on Sept. 15, 1997 off the Indians' Eric Plunk, and...

First inning continues to be haunt Orioles

First inning continues to be haunt Orioles
The Orioles didn't allow a run in the first inning over their first 12 games of the season. Now they can't stop it from happening. The Tampa Bay Rays scored in the first inning in all three games of their series here, and the Los Angeles Dodgers scored in the first in both ends of today's doubleheader. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen hit Carl Crawford with a pitch, Nick Punto dropped a single into center field and Adrian Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly to left field with one out to give Los...

Showalter speaks after 7-5 Game 1 victory (updated)

Showalter speaks after 7-5 Game 1 victory (updated)
The Orioles are setting up for the Earl Weaver tribute that will take place on the field before Game 2 of today's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers. I'm told that Frank Robinson won't be here. He was supposed to speak, along with Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, manager Buck Showalter and others. Update: Palmer also couldn't attend the tribute, but Cal Ripken Jr. is here. As Showalter reflected on today's 7-5 Game 1 victory, he kept going back to pitcher Jason Hammel. "I'll...

Orioles Game 2 lineup (and Dodgers lineup)

Orioles Game 2 lineup (and Dodgers lineup)
Adam Jones is making his first start as the Orioles' designated hitter tonight in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chris Dickerson is starting in center field. Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate, and Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson CF Taylor Teagarden C Ryan Flaherty 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Dodgers Carl Crawford LF...

A 32-pitch first inning for Hammel (O's win 7-5)

A 32-pitch first inning for Hammel (O's win 7-5)
The Orioles are playing two games today, which could tax their bullpen. Jason Hammel's 32-pitch first inning won't offer much relief. Hammel allowed back-to-back singles to Mark Ellis and Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier belted a three-run homer onto the flag court in right field to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Ethier jumped on Hammel's first pitch, a 93 mph fastball, and almost deposited it onto Eutaw St. Former Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez walked with two outs before Skip...