For whom the Bell tolls (Matusz done, O's lose 8-4)

For whom the Bell tolls (Matusz done, O's lose 8-4)
Josh Bell has driven in two runs for the second straight night, with his RBI single in the fifth reducing Oakland's lead to 4-3. Robert Andino reached second base with one out after Josh Willingham dropped his fly ball for the Athletics' 100th error of the season. Andino raced home when Bell followed with a single into center field. The Orioles keep pecking away at that lead. They sliced it to 4-2 in the fourth on a two-out single by Adam Jones and a Vladimir Guerrero double. Bell has made...

Facing the Mount Rushmore challenge

Facing the Mount Rushmore challenge
I was looking forward to tomorrow's off-day and a little relaxation, or what qualifies in my life, but now I'll be tracking down the results of Chris Davis' visit to orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum. Yes, it's all about me. Davis has a slight tear in his right shoulder and could be facing a shutdown or surgery. If you're Luke Scott or Jake Arrieta, it can turn into both. The Orioles are keeping Yocum on speed-dial. No truth to the rumor that they're thinking of moving the...

Matusz gives up three runs in second (trails 4-1)

Matusz gives up three runs in second (trails 4-1)
Left-hander Brian Matusz followed a scoreless first inning tonight with a messy second that's placed the Orioles in a 3-0 hole. Matusz walked a batter in the first and two more in the second. He gave up an RBI double to Scott Sizemore on an 82 mph changeup, an RBI bloop single to Cliff Pennington on a 76 mph curveball and a bloop RBI double to Jemile Weeks on a 90 mph fastball. Pitching coach Rick Adair visited the mound as Matusz struggled through a 28-pitch inning that raised his total to...
Tags:

Britton tunes up for Orioles return

Britton tunes up for Orioles return
Pitcher Zach Britton, on the disabled list with a strained left shoulder, allowed one run over five innings in tonight's start for Triple-A Norfolk. Britton gave up three hits to Charlotte, walked one and struck out three. He threw 62 pitches, 39 for strikes, before left-hander Mark Hendrickson replaced him in the top of the sixth. Hendrickson promptly surrendered back-to-back home runs that increased Charlotte's lead to 4-0. Britton fell behind, 1-0, in the first on Dallas McPherson's...

Is Chris Davis done for the year? (new lineup)

Is Chris Davis done for the year? (new lineup)
The hits just keep coming for the Orioles, and not the good kind. First baseman Chris Davis was scratched from tonight's lineup because of continuing discomfort in his right shoulder, and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed that the former Ranger has a slight tear. He's scheduled to be examined Thursday by, of course, Dr. Lewis Yocum, who's performed surgery on Jake Arrieta and Dan Klein within the past week. Dr. James Andrews must be seething. Davis will go on the...

Orioles receive some positive news on Klein (Davis scratched)

Orioles receive some positive news on Klein (Davis scratched)
Orioles pitching prospect Dan Klein underwent surgery today to repair a small tear in his right labrum and to loosen his shoulder capsule. He'll likely begin a throwing program in mid-December and could begin pitching for an affiliate by June 1. Orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum used one anchor to repair the tear. The average amount for a smaller tear is two. "That's good news. There was little damage," said John Stockstill, director of player development. Yocum also loosened the...

Chris Davis returns to lineup

Chris Davis returns to lineup
Chris Davis, who sat out last night's game with a sore right shoulder, is starting at first base tonight. He's avoided the disabled list. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP For the Athletics: Weeks 2B Crisp CF Matsui DH Willingham LF Allen 1B Sizemore 3B DeJesus RF Suzuki C Pennington SS Moscoso RHP

A few things worth noting

A few things worth noting
A victory in either of the remaining two games of this series would clinch the Orioles' first season series win over the Athletics since 1998, when they went 8-3. Warning: In the last six series where the Orioles won the opening game, they've gone 1-12 in the remaining games. They've won seven series openers on the road this year, including their last four in a row. However, the Orioles have won just two of the six road series after claiming the opening game - April 1-3 at Tampa Bay and...

Orioles DFA Lebron

Orioles DFA Lebron
The Orioles have designated reliever Luis Lebron for assignment to make room for pitcher Dylan Bundy on the 40-man roster. Bundy agreed to terms on a major league deal last night shortly before the midnight deadline, so he must be placed on the 40-man. Lebron, 26, missed the 2010 season after undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in May. He was pitching at short-season Single-A Aberdeen this season, allowing three runs and two hits in seven innings over seven...

More Bundy, more game (O's win 6-2)

More Bundy, more game (O's win 6-2)
The Orioles gave high school pitcher Dylan Bundy a five-year major league deal that starts in 2012, which requires the club to place him on the 40-man roster. Baseball America's Jim Callis tweeted that Bundy will receive a guaranteed $6.225 million. However, the $4 million signing bonus included in the deal falls $2 million short of Matt Wieters' club record. One more draft note: The Orioles gave sixth-rounder Nick Delmonico a $1.525 million signing bonus. Meanwhile, the Orioles loaded...

Hunter hanging around (Bundy deal done)

Hunter hanging around (Bundy deal done)
Tommy Hunter gave up two runs, and a lead, in the second inning, but he's giving the Orioles a quality start. Hunter has blanked the Athletics since the second. He's allowed nine hits, walked none and struck out two in six innings. Hunter gets the first two outs and then runs into a little trouble, but nothing he can't handle at the moment. The Orioles have only two hits off Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez through the sixth inning, including Matt Wieters' solo home run. Nick Markakis...

Matusz back on major league mound

Matusz back on major league mound
Isn't it nice to have the 2011 First-Year Player Draft behind us? No more speculation on who the Orioles will select. No more speculation on who they will sign. It's finally done. I would have settled for the Orioles reaching agreement with Dylan Bundy and one of the other two Top 10 picks - Jason Esposito or Nick Delmonico. Getting all three was a nice haul. It's unfortunate that Bundy fell short of the $30 million signing bonus that he sought after the Orioles drafted him, but an...

Wieters ends home run drought (Delmonico almost done)

Wieters ends home run drought (Delmonico almost done)
Catcher Matt Wieters is off to a good start tonight in Oakland. Wieters threw out Jemile Weeks trying to steal second base in the bottom of the first inning, and it wasn't even close. Shortstop J.J. Hardy took the throw. put his glove down, picked it back up, pulled out his Blackberry and updated his Facebook status, put his glove back down and let Weeks slide into it. After disposing of the Athletics' potential go-ahead run, Wieters gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the second with...

Esposito, Roberts and the farm (updated)

Esposito, Roberts and the farm (updated)
The Orioles reached agreement with their second-round pick, Vanderbilt third baseman Jason Esposito. A team official confirmed it a few minutes ago. Esposito is known more for his glove, but he hit .341 with nine homers and 59 RBIs in 65 games. Esposito posted a .405 on-base percentage and .534 slugging percentage. Esposito just tweeted the following (@jasonesposito): "3 of the best years of my life in Nashville and loved being a Commodore! Thank you to all Vandy fans! Time to move to the...

Klein to undergo shoulder surgery (with lineups)

Klein to undergo shoulder surgery (with lineups)
Reliever Dan Klein, widely regarded as the Orioles' top pitching prospect, will undergo exploratory surgery tomorrow in his right shoulder. Klein has a SLAP tear in his right labrum, but the Orioles want to make sure he isn't dealing with other issues, as well. He underwent surgery while at UCLA to clean out the capsule in his rotator cuff area. Klein hasn't pitched since June 1 at Double-A Bowie. Continuing soreness in his shoulder led to an MRI that confirmed the tear. Dr. Lewis Yocum...

Hardy named AL Player of the Week (and note)

Hardy named AL Player of the Week (and note)
The Orioles still get some respect around the league. Shortstop J.J. Hardy was named the AL's Player of the Week for the period ending on Sunday. It's the first time in his career that he's received the award. Hardy is the first Orioles shortstop to be named Player of the Week since Miguel Tejada in 2006. In seven games last week, Hardy batted .323 (10-for-31) with two doubles, four home runs, a league-leading 10 RBIs and six runs scored. Hardy produced at least one RBI in eight...

Reynolds second-decked since long home run

Reynolds second-decked since long home run
Maybe it's a jinx to hit a ball into the second deck at Camden Yards. Rex Hudler never made it into the Hall of Fame, and Mark Reynolds can't make it to first base. Reynolds is 1-for-26 with 12 strikeouts since his 450-foot blast - or his 463-foot blast, depending on who's doing the measuring. Reynolds will try to get untracked tonight against Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez. He's 0-for-2 with an RBI, three walks and a strikeout against Gonzalez, which basically tells us...

Is Bergesen better off in the bullpen?

Is Bergesen better off in the bullpen?
As you've learned by now, left-hander Brian Matusz will make tomorrow night's start in Oakland. The other candidate, Brad Bergesen, will be available in the bullpen. Bergesen tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his last outing, allowing two hits and enabling the Orioles to make only one roster move for a reliever - right-hander Willie Eyre. In his previous appearance, he gave up one run over three innings. Doing the math, that's one run over 7 1/3 innings. I'm not polishing a Cy Young...

Showalter speaks after 8-5 win

Showalter speaks after 8-5 win
The biggest upset today wasn't the Orioles' 8-5 win over the Tigers. It was the sun shining as kids ran the bases at Camden Yards. What happened to that ominous forecast? Let me guess: The front shifted slightly and blah blah blah. Mark Reynolds committed two errors today, giving him 23 and the franchise record for third basemen previously held by Brooks Robinson (21 in 1958). Robinson had 22 errors that season, but one of them occurred at second base. Jo-Jo Reyes gave the Orioles a...

Johnson restores order in 8-5 win

Johnson restores order in 8-5 win
Kevin Gregg faced six batters in the ninth inning and didn't record an out. An 8-1 lead was down to 8-4 as he walked off the mound to a chorus of boos. Three straight singles, two straight walks and another single accounted for three runs. Jim Johnson replaced Gregg and struck out Andy Dirks on three pitches. The fourth run of the inning scored on Magglio Ordonez's bouncer to short. Miguel Cabrera was walked intentionally to load the bases - a risky move, considering the go-ahead run came...