More on Matusz's start last night

More on Matusz's start last night
Left-hander Brian Matusz allowed three runs over seven innings last night for Triple-A Norfolk, with six hits, two walks, one strikeout and two home runs in the Tides' 6-5, 13-inning loss to Columbus. He threw 92 pitches, 59 for strikes. Those are the raw numbers, which I passed along last night. Here's more: Matusz's fastball was mostly 88-89 mph and topped out at 91, which is an improvement over past starts. He was usually in the 85-89 mph range before last night. "His velocity was up...

Things we need to find out

Things we need to find out
What's the best way to approach a new month? If you're the Orioles, you don't play. Take a day off. Regroup. Try to find five capable starters for your rotation. Try to read the name "Davis" on the back of the first baseman's jersey without thinking of Glenn. Now that the non-waiver deadline smoke has cleared, we can look forward to the August trade speculation. Deals are still consummated after July 31. Jeff Conine was dealt to the Marlins on Aug. 31, 2003 for Don Levinski and Denny...

Quick Matusz update

Quick Matusz update
Brian Matusz made another start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, and he went seven innings in the Tides' 6-5, 13-inning loss to Columbus. Matusz allowed three runs and six hits, walked two, struck out one and surrendered two home runs. He threw 92 pitches, 59 for strikes. I don't have radar gun readings, so I can't help you there. Matusz faced Toledo in his last two starts and allowed 12 runs (10 earned) and 15 hits in 8 2/3 innings. Josh Rupe took the loss tonight, allowing the winning run...

Viola, Ballard optioned to Bowie (updated with MacPhail quotes)

Viola, Ballard optioned to Bowie (updated with MacPhail quotes)
The Orioles optioned left-handers Pedro Viola and

Day One without Uehara (no more trades, O's lose)

Day One without Uehara (no more trades, O's lose)
Jake Arrieta faced two batters in the sixth inning, walked them both and was removed from the game. And so it begins. Manager Buck Showalter took his new bullpen for a test drive at Yankee Stadium. It won't always look this way, unless you expect Pedro Viola and Mike Ballard to stick around for a while, but it never will be the same without Koji Uehara. Jim Johnson, normally seen in the seventh or eighth inning, took the ball with no outs in the sixth and escaped the jam on nine pitches. He...

Arrieta flirted with disaster and got slapped (updated twice)

Arrieta flirted with disaster and got slapped (updated twice)
If Jake Arrieta is going to keep loading the bases, bad things are going to happen. A three-run triple by Brett Gardner qualifies as a bad thing. A walk, error and single filled the bases with no outs in the fourth inning, and Gardner emptied them with a shot down the right field line. Gardner scored with one out on Curtis Granderson's grounder to first. Yankees 4, Orioles 1. J.J. Hardy's miscue on a potential double play ball was critical. Now Hardy's in a fielding slump. What's...

Davis whiffs in debut at-bat (F-7 in next one)

Davis whiffs in debut at-bat (F-7 in next one)
New Orioles first baseman Chris Davis led off the top of the second inning today by chasing a 2-2 changeup from Yankees starter Freddy Garcia and swinging through it. Get used to it. Davis strikes out a lot. He also hits tape-measure home runs. You could say he's a left-handed version of Mark Reynolds, who followed Davis to the plate and also struck out. Davis has struck out 303 times in 954 plate appearances over parts of four major league seasons. He also will bounce a few baseballs on...

Berken optioned to Norfolk

Berken optioned to Norfolk
The Orioles optioned reliever Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk, recalled left-hander Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie and purchased left-hander Mike Ballard's contract from the Baysox. Berken gave up seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings in Game 2 last night. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in New York that there were two reasons for Berken's demotion. "We have a need for pitchers," Showalter said, "and he hasn't pitched well." Berken was optioned earlier this season. He's...

Davis starting at first base

Davis starting at first base
Chris Davis will make his Orioles debut today at first base. He's batting fifth behind Vladimir Guerrero. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Chris Davis 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

Viola meeting Orioles in New York (Ballard, too)

Viola meeting Orioles in New York (Ballard, too)
The Orioles have summoned left-hander Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie, but no decision has been made whether to recall him for today's game against the Yankees. Viola knows the drill. He's been through it before. The bullpen was abused in yesterday's doubleheader, and it didn't help that Mark Hendrickson and Michael Gonzalez were hit by comebackers in the nightcap. Troy Patton pitched both ends. Jason Berken took a beating after replacing rookie Zach Britton. The Orioles could make...

O's lose nightcap, 17-3, MacPhail talks about trade, Lee trade official

O's lose nightcap, 17-3, MacPhail talks about trade, Lee trade official
The Yankees completed their doubleheader sweep with a 17-3 victory in Game 2. They only outscored the Orioles 5-3 after the first inning, so the game was closer than...never mind. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail talked about the appeal of trading for first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter, who will join the Orioles tomorrow in New York. Buck Showalter talks with Gary Thorne about the Orioles' 17-3 loss to the Yankees "We got two 25-year-old players who have...

Lee to Pirates close, Guthrie likely to stay, Gonzalez hurt

Lee to Pirates close, Guthrie likely to stay, Gonzalez hurt
The Orioles are getting close to a trade that would send first baseman Derrek Lee to the Pirates for a lower-level minor league player. They'd like to get it done before tomorrow. Either way, first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter are joining the Orioles in New York tomorrow. Hunter will take Koji Uehara's place on the roster. Davis would replace Lee if the Orioles can complete the deal with Pittsburgh. Nothing is finalized, but it's the next logical step after today's trade...

We said it wouldn't get weird (trade official)

We said it wouldn't get weird (trade official)
The Yankees scored 12 runs in the first inning of Game 2. Then they added those all-important tack-on runs. Their lead has grown to 16-1 as we head to the top of the sixth inning. Slightly awkward. Zach Britton allowed nine runs (six earned) and seven hits in one-third of an inning. Jason Berken gave up seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. Chris Jakubauskas allowed three hits in the fourth without a run scoring. Jakubauskas retired the side in order in the fifth. He's got my vote...
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Britton done after 10 batters (Yankees score 12 in 1st)

Britton done after 10 batters (Yankees score 12 in 1st)
Did they really need to play both ends of this doubleheader? Zach Britton lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his last start with the Orioles, on July 8 in Boston, before they optioned him to Double-A Bowie. Tonight, he exited after retiring one batter. Britton was charged with seven earned runs (eight total) and six hits in Boston. He's allowed seven so far tonight in New York, and he leaves with runners on second and third and still only one out. The rookie surrendered seven hits and...

Lee not in Game 2 lineup (more)

Lee not in Game 2 lineup (more)
Mark Reynolds is starting at first base in Game 2 of today's doubleheader. Let the speculation continue. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 1B Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell 3B Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP It's obvious that the Orioles are trying to move Lee to another team, and they must be close if he's not in the lineup. They'll gladly take the salary relief, as well as free up a spot for Chris...

Uehara headed to Texas (Tillman optioned)

Uehara headed to Texas (Tillman optioned)
The Orioles have reached agreement with the Rangers on a trade that would send reliever Koji Uehara to Texas for first baseman Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter, according to multiple sources. Uehara is 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 43 games, with only 25 hits allowed, eight walks and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings. He hasn't allowed a run in 10 appearances this month covering 11 innings, with four hits, one walk and 15 strikeouts. Uehara is 12 appearances shy of having his $4 million vesting...

Lee still an Oriole for now

Lee still an Oriole for now
When a player who's drawing some trade interest is removed from a game with 24 hours left before the non-waiver deadline, a few eyebrows are going to be raised. Manager Buck Showalter sat Derrek Lee in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1. Mark Reynolds moved to first and Josh Bell took over at third. Let the speculation begin. Now let it end. I'm told that Lee was removed because it's hot in New York and the Orioles have another game to play tonight. You have to admit, the...

Promising start unravels for Tillman (Reynolds homers)

Promising start unravels for Tillman (Reynolds homers)
Chris Tillman mowed through the Yankees for the first two innings, striking out four batters and topping out at 94 mph, but his start went south in a hurry. He's expected to do the same after Game 1, returning to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for left-hander Zach Britton. Tillman was charged with seven runs (five earned), the last two scoring after Troy Patton replaced him, and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six. He threw 80 pitches, 50 for strikes. Tillman threw...

Tillman muscling up early (Yankees lead again)

Tillman muscling up early (Yankees lead again)
Chris Tillman has retired the first six Yankees he's faced in Game 1 of today's doubleheader, striking out four in a row. Tillman's fastball is 92-94 mph, and he froze Nick Swisher on a curveball for one of those strikeouts. Swisher might have froze because the ball was a little outside, but that's pretty much been the norm in this series. The strike zone has been expanded. Tillman has thrown 24 pitches, 17 for strikes. Ten of the 26 runs that he's allowed this season have come in...

Pie, Tatum and Davis in Game 1 lineup

Pie, Tatum and Davis in Game 1 lineup
For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Craig Tatum C Blake Davis 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Yankees: Gardner CF Nunez SS Teixeira DH Cano 2B Swisher RF Chavez 3B Posada 1B Dickerson LF Cervelli C Colon RHP Also, the Tigers reportedly have completed their deal for Mariners pitcher Doug Fister. Former Oriole David Pauley also is going to Detroit. Charlie Furbush and former Towson University...