Showalter talks about his rotation, updates Reynolds and more

Showalter talks about his rotation, updates Reynolds and more
Though he's working on minimal sleep, Orioles manager Buck Showalter looks refreshed today. He certainly looks drier than I remember him. Showalter spoke with reporters for about 20 minutes this afternoon, again coming across as loose, confident and respectful of his opponent. In other words, just another day. Showalter settled on Jason Hammel as his starter for Game 1 after sorting through what he called "a lot of different variables." "We felt like all along we didn't try to push...

Hammel gets the Game 1 assignment

Hammel gets the Game 1 assignment
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Jason Hammel will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Yankees. The rest of his rotation? Too soon. Showalter indicated that Wei-Yin Chen will start Game 2, followed by Miguel Gonzalez in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. However, he also said the weather could influence those plans. Showalter didn't name a Game 4 starter, if the series extends that far. Hammel threw 45-50 pitches in a side session yesterday at full capacity,...

Assuming it's Hammel ... (Yankees playoff rotation)

Assuming it's Hammel ... (Yankees playoff rotation)
The Orioles get the pleasure of resetting their playoff roster for the Division Series that begins Sunday at Camden Yards. Weather permitting, of course. Before anyone asks, I can only assume that a postponement Sunday would push the first two games to Monday and Tuesday, with the Orioles and Yankees losing their workout day in the Bronx. Just a hunch. Let's cross that washed-out bridge when we come to it. Manager Buck Showalter can add starters Jason Hammel, Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman...

Saunders makes Orioles history

Saunders makes Orioles history
ARLINGTON, Texas - The alarm on my phone jolted me from a deep sleep, one that lasted under three hours. My champagne-soaked clothes are stuffed in a bag inside my suitcase. I look forward to unleashing that aroma once I'm back in Sykesville. I'll be filing blog entries from Camden Yards later today. The Orioles are holding a workout that Adam Jones wished would be open to the public. He's champing at the bit to play in front of a capacity crowd at Camden Yards. What's one more...

Showalter speaks, and dries off, after 5-1 win

Showalter speaks, and dries off, after 5-1 win
ARLINGTON, Texas - Players kept asking, "Where's Buck?" Once they found him amidst the bedlam inside their clubhouse, they rushed him with bottles of champagne and absolutely soaked him. Showalter had won his first playoff game since 1995. Naturally, he deflected the credit, passing it first to his starting pitcher. "You know, in regards to what happened during the course of the game, it all starts with Joe Saunders and the outing he gave us," Showalter said. "He's had two good outings...

Champagne and comments from inside the Orioles' clubhouse

Champagne and comments from inside the Orioles' clubhouse
ARLINGTON, Texas - If anyone wondered whether the Orioles would celebrate a wild card game victory, they did so with great enthusiasm and impressive aim. Champagne and beer soaked the walls, the floor, the players, coaches, manager and executive vice president. Team employees, and yes, every member of the media. I learned that my shoes aren't liquid-proof. I'm just glad I don't have to drive back to the hotel. "Officer, I'm sure you get this all the time, but..." Jim Johnson was...

Orioles are going to the ALDS

Orioles are going to the ALDS
ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always says he can't wait to find out what the boys have in store for him. Tonight, they won the wild card game and finally got to celebrate. No wonder he couldn't wait. Joe Saunders held the Rangers to one run over 5 2/3 innings, and the bullpen worked its usual magic in a 5-1 victory over the Rangers. Darren O'Day retired six of the seven batters he faced, permitting only an infield hit to Ian Kinsler in the eighth with the Orioles...

Saunders stepping up for Orioles (O's lead 3-1)

Saunders stepping up for Orioles (O's lead 3-1)
ARLINGTON, Texas - Manager Buck Showalter is being rewarded for his faith in Joe Saunders. Saunders had held the Rangers to one run in five innings, and the Orioles have taken a 2-1 lead in the sixth on Adam Jones' sacrifice fly. J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis opened with singles, and Jones lifted a fly ball to right field to break the scoreless tie. Yu Darvish, who had retired 15 of 17 batters heading into the sixth, needed the attention of the Rangers' head athletic trainer and manager Ron...

Flaherty ruling among the postseason Rule 5s (we're tied)

Flaherty ruling among the postseason Rule 5s (we're tied)
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles' starters were just introduced, joining the reserves to form a long line from home plate to third base. Ryan Flaherty was the next-to-last player to run out of the dugout. He's also the first Rule 5 player to start a postseason game after being drafted the previous winter since the Dodgers' Chad Fonville in 1995, according to STATS Inc. Fonville was selected by the Expos from the Giants' organization in the 1994 Rule 5 draft, designated for assignment on...

Showalter meets the press before tonight's wild card game

Showalter meets the press before tonight's wild card game
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Rangers have left the field and it's the Orioles' turn to take batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter met with the media this afternoon, sitting in a chair low enough to put him eye-level with the microphone. "I know we're underdogs, but..." he said. "Maybe I'll stand today." Showalter wanted to know the name of Secretariat's jockey (that would be Ronnie Turcotte). Yes, he's relaxed. In one of those classic Showalter moments, he immediately pointed out...

A few pre-wild card notes

A few pre-wild card notes
ARLINGTON, Texas - It took 15 years for the Orioles to get back into the postseason, and they're facing a team that's beaten them 10 of their last 12 games and outscored them, 102-36. But nothing seems to faze them, so what's another challenge? Besides, maybe the tide is due to turn. The Orioles hit .120 (11-for-92) in the Tampa Bay series. That probably won't be good enough tonight. However, they posted a 2.16 ERA and the starters only gave up four earned runs in 18 innings. Cal Ripken...

O's stick with same lineup for wild card game (with Rangers lineup)

O's stick with same lineup for wild card game (with Rangers lineup)
ARLINGTON, Texas - Manager Buck Showalter is breaking out the same lineup tonight for the fifth consecutive game. It makes no difference that the Orioles are preparing for their first playoff game since 1997. Once again, Chris Davis is in right field and batting third. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base and batting eighth, with Manny Machado hitting ninth. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan...

Orioles announce wild card roster

Orioles announce wild card roster
ARLINGTON, Texas - No real surprises on the Orioles' wild card roster except perhaps second baseman Omar Quintanilla, who was a bubble guy. Starters Miguel Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen and Chris Tillman were omitted because they wouldn't have been available tonight. Keep in mind that manager Buck Showalter can make more changes to the roster if the Orioles advance to the Division Series. INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS/DH (12) Robert Andino INF Endy Chavez OF Chris Davis RF Ryan Flaherty INF Lew Ford...

Alan Mills talks about the Orioles and their bullpen

Alan Mills talks about the Orioles and their bullpen
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles had to submit their wild card roster by 10 a.m. today. That doesn't mean they had to make it public. I'm still waiting for the club to release the names, as the Rangers did with their roster much earlier. In the meantime, I had a chance to catch up with former Orioles reliever Alan Mills, the pitching coach at short-season Single-A Aberdeen who drove Kevin Gausman to Tropicana Field for his bullpen session. Mills was part of the Orioles' American League...

Will Showalter go with his familiar lineup? (ALDS times announced)

Will Showalter go with his familiar lineup? (ALDS times announced)
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Atlanta Braves already posted their lineup for today's National League wild card game. It actually was tweeted yesterday. Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't in quite the same hurry. We won't know his lineup until later this afternoon, but it shouldn't be difficult to figure out, based on the pattern that he's established. Four of Showalter's last six lineups have been identical, all of them with the Orioles facing a right-handed starter. The two exceptions came...

Showalter's return, the roster and Reynolds (updated)

Showalter's return, the roster and Reynolds (updated)
ARLINGTON, Texas - No shortage of storylines here. You want the ex-Ranger factor? The Orioles have six of them: Chris Davis, Darren O'Day, Pedro Strop, Tommy Hunter, Taylor Teagarden and Endy Chavez. Perhaps a fired manager returning to the scene tickles your fancy. Buck Showalter guided the Rangers from 2003-06. What does it mean to Showalter to be back in Arlington in the postseason, with a chance to knock out his former team? "We grinded like heck for a chance to roll the dice in...

A few words from Steve Johnson, Saunders and Jones

A few words from Steve Johnson, Saunders and Jones
ARLINGTON, Texas - Unless Joe Saunders steps on a nail on his way to Rangers Ballpark on Friday, Steve Johnson will be sitting in the Orioles' bullpen at first pitch. Johnson said he's ready to help out in a relief role. No pain in his left knee and no hard feelings over being passed over for Saunders. "Disappointed wouldn't be the right word," he said. "It was great to at least be considered. It means a lot to me. But Joe's getting them out and he's going to do a great job. I'm...

Reynolds hurting but not sitting

Reynolds hurting but not sitting
ARLINGTON, Texas - Mark Reynolds has his left foot wrapped after fouling a ball off a bone near his big toe during Wednesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. X-rays were negative, but he's hurting. Just not badly enough to consider missing the wild card game. "It's sore, but it's not anything I'm going to sit out over," he said. "It won't be a problem once you get under the lights and get a little adrenaline flowing. We know how important this game is and I'm sure all the...

Saunders will start Friday (Reynolds update)

Saunders will start Friday (Reynolds update)
ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is ignoring Joe Saunders' career stats against the Rangers and will start him Friday night in the wild card game. Saunders, who will be working on normal rest, is 3-7 with a 6.48 ERA in 11 career starts against the Rangers, and 0-6 with a 9.38 ERA in Texas, with 41 hits allowed, 16 walks and 13 home runs in 31 2/3 innings. Showalter isn't certain that rookie Steve Johnson's left knee is completely healthy. He's also comfortable playing the...

The game is bigger in Texas

The game is bigger in Texas
TAMPA - The Orioles really wanted a home game. Flying to Dallas wasn't their first or second choice. They'll have to win a wild card game before they can get back to Camden Yards. If it's any consolation, the Rangers aren't thrilled about it, either. Jim Thome actually appeared in the last playoff game at Camden Yards as a member of the 1997 Cleveland Indians. He knows all about the electric atmosphere. "Fun," he said. "Baltimore is a great baseball town and I've experienced it from...