Tatum not concerned about knee (updated)

Tatum not concerned about knee (updated)
Backup catcher Craig Tatum took batting practice and said his knee "feels fine." "They just wanted to get an MRI, I guess, to see if there's anything wrong," he said. Tatum said the knee is sore, but he hasn't gotten the results of the MRI and doesn't expect them to be serious. "I can play. I played all day Sunday with it," he said. "I don't think it'll affect me right now, but we'll see what it says. If there's anything they want to do, whatever they want to do. "I guess...

Pre-game Showalter

Pre-game Showalter
Manager Buck Showalter talked about the Orioles' ability to overcome adversity, and whether he's looking for a certain mindset from his players. "Even an umpire's call. There are so many opportunities in baseball to make something not matter," he said. "It's kind of a team thing. If one guy struggles, can you pick him up? It's a pass-the-baton mentality. OK, let's turn the page on that. We'll identify why it happened and correct it, but you can't cry over spilled milk. You just move...
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Tatum undergoes MRI

Tatum undergoes MRI
The Orioles sent backup catcher Craig Tatum for an MRI on his sore right knee, and they're waiting for the results. The knee started bothering Tatum during Sunday's start against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't believe that Tatum will need to go on the disabled list, "but that could change depending on what the MRI shows," he said. Showalter was going to use Jake Fox as his designated hitter tonight, but Tatum isn't available. Fox is needed as a potential...

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
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
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MacPhail on the midnight deadline

MacPhail on the midnight deadline
How close did the Orioles come to losing the rights to high school shortstop Manny Machado? Scouting director Joe Jordan estimated last night that the Orioles were down to the last three minutes before the midnight deadline. "I think it was about one minute," said president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Three of Scott Boras' clients hadn't agreed to contract terms as we entered the final 15 minutes - Machado, first overall pick Bryce Harper and seventh overall pick Matt Harvey....

What will today bring?

What will today bring?
A walk-off win and a contract agreement with their first-round draft pick. What will the Orioles do for an encore? A 2 hour, 20 minute game would be a nice gesture - ending with another victory, of course. They've posted seven at home under manager Buck Showalter, and four have been of the walk-off variety. Adam Jones accounted for two of them with a single into left field and last night's bunt to third. For the sake of accuracy, it wasn't a suicide squeeze. Nick Markakis didn't break...

Jordan: "We've got a new player"

Jordan: "We've got a new player"
The Orioles reached agreement with shortstop Manny Machado about three minutes before the midnight deadline. Scouting director Joe Jordan said the bonus doesn't exceed the $6 million given to catcher Matt Wieters. "It played the way we thought it was going to play," Jordan said. "We had a really good read on the financial side, what it was going to take, and again, they played it until the end. We're very happy. It's a good deal for the club and the player. "It's one of those...

Jones talks about his bunt

Jones talks about his bunt
Adam Jones got the idea to bunt just before he squared up. No regrets. "I can bunt. I've been bunting this year. Good idea to do it," he said. "I looked at him (Jose Lopez) and I saw where he was playing me all night, all my at-bats, and when I was on third I was talking to him and said, 'I'm not going to bunt on you. I'm not going to bunt this series.' Hey, he moved back. "It was hot. I wish it ended in nine. As long as we came out victorious, it was worth it." The O's Xtra...
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Showalter talks about extra-inning win

Showalter talks about extra-inning win
Did manager Buck Showalter call for the bunt with Adam Jones at the plate, Nick Markakis at third base and two outs in the bottom of the 11th? "Yeah, we've been working on that," he said, grinning. "No. You've got good players making good decisions. A lot of opportunities there to throw in the towel and we kept grinding. I'm proud of them. We refused to give in there and it was fun to watch. It wasn't always fun to watch, but it was fun to watch. "I love it. I think it's a great...

A walk-off bunt?

A walk-off bunt?
That's correct. Adam Jones laid down a bunt with two outs in the bottom of the 11th to score Nick Markakis, who reached base on his 200th career double and took third on Ty Wigginton's tapper to the mound. Markakis held on Corey Patterson's sharp grounder to short, but Jones shocked everyone with a bunt that third baseman Jose Lopez couldn't pick up cleanly. That's 11 extra-inning wins for the Orioles.

Simon serves one up (updated)

Simon serves one up (updated)
Mariners catcher Adam Moore just homered off Alfredo Simon with one out in the 10th inning to give Seattle a 4-3 lead. Moore jumped on a 2-1 pitch, a 95 mph fastball, and deposited it into the left field seats for his third homer of the season. Simon has given up a home run in each of his last four appearances, and in six of his last 10. Update: The Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th on Luke Scott's infield hit, Adam Jones' walk and a one-out intentional walk...
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The decision (& the decision II)

The decision (& the decision II)
Manager Buck Showalter removed Koji Uehara after two consecutive strikeouts in the eighth inning. He brought in left-hander Michael Gonzalez to face Ichiro Suzuki with runners on the corners and the game tied. He could have let Uehara face Ichiro. He could have ordered an intentional walk and let Uehara face Chone Figgins. He could have ordered the intentional walk and brought in Gonzalez. Showalter let Gonzalez pitch to Ichiro, and his faith was rewarded. Gonzalez recorded the strikeout and...
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Tonight's version of Bergy (updated)

Tonight's version of Bergy (updated)
We're not seeing the same Brad Bergesen who threw the complete-game two-hitter in his last start. Or the same Bergesen who allowed four runs in his last three starts covering 23 innings. Tonight, Bergesen has given up three runs and seven hits - including back-to-back homers by Russell Branyan and Jose Lopez in the third that tied the game. Branyan's ball traveled 436 feet. Bergesen has thrown 79 pitches through four innings. The Orioles twice failed to turn double plays in the fourth that...
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VandenHurk speaks (w/game update)

VandenHurk speaks (w/game update)
Newest Oriole Rick VandenHurk is wearing No. 54. VandenHurk found out yesterday that the Orioles were calling him up to the majors - about two weeks after they traded for him. "You never know when it's going to happen, but I was happy getting traded, to come over here," he said. "There's going to be opportunities for me. It's going to be good. I'm going to try to make the most out of it." VandenHurk will be used in relief, but he could make some starts before the season...
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Berken MRI reveals tear

Berken MRI reveals tear
The news on Jason Berken is more discouraging than we believed. Berken told reporters that the MRI revealed a tear in his labrum and some inflammation in his rotator cuff. Surgery still hasn't been considered and Berken didn't completely dismiss the possibility of pitching again this season, but it seems more unlikely. "There's time enough for some good rest, and hopefully that kind of calms everything down, and at some point start a rehab process," he said. "It could have been a lot...

More pre-game Showalter

More pre-game Showalter
On the challenges associated with losing David Hernandez and Jason Berken in the bullpen: "It's probably not something that's foreign here. This year's been a challenge physically, and I look at it as an opportunity to see some other people and see them rise to the occasion. (Armando) Gabino, we've heard so much about his slider and we've gotten to see that through necessity some. We've got other people. As the old scouts say, 'Never overlook an orchid while searching for a rose.' I...
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Berken to DL (w/quotes)

Berken to DL (w/quotes)
The Orioles are making the expected move and placing Jason Berken on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Rick VandenHurk is joining the club from Triple-A Norfolk and will be available tonight. Manager Buck Showalter didn't want to discuss the MRI results until the doctor met with Berken, but he said it isn't a surgery situation. The Orioles are hoping that Berken can pitch again this season. Berken's DL assignment is retroactive to Friday. He's eligible to return on Aug....

Orioles lineup (w/note added)

Orioles lineup (w/note added)
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 Update: Jason Berken is still awaiting the results of his MRI, but pitcher Rick VandenHurk appears among the relievers on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse.
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A call to arms?

A call to arms?
So what else is happening today besides the countdown to the midnight deadline for signing draft picks? Well, reliever Jason Berken will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder this afternoon in Baltimore. The results might not be immediately available, but a trip to the disabled list isn't an outrageous assumption. His shoulder is sore, and rest and treatments aren't alleviating the problem. David Hernandez already is on the DL, so it figures that Berken could join him. You just can't...

Machado Man

Machado Man
I decided to fire off one more blog entry before bed, which technically qualifies as a Monday morning post. Maybe I'll sleep an extra 30 minutes. Doubtful. I nap more than I sleep, which is one of my more annoying qualities. And yes, I have many to choose from, but why go there? The Orioles return to Camden Yards tonight to begin a seven-game homestand - three vs. the Mariners and four vs. the Rangers, who are still venting over that sweep in Arlington. I'll be handling the game coverage...