Tracking down former Nats position players

Tracking down former Nats position players
Baseball rosters are a constantly changing entity. Teams make moves throughout a season and offseason, calling up this player, sending another player down, trading this one away, signing this one off the open market. In the process, a lot of players who become well-known and popular among fans, teammates and media alike disappear, never to be heard from again in these parts. The Nationals, like every other team in baseball, have parted ways with plenty of once-popular players over the years....

Lombardozzi back in Nats system, Harper's brother promoted

Lombardozzi back in Nats system, Harper's brother promoted
Steve Lombardozzi is returning to the Nationals organization, signing a minor league contract after re-establishing himself this season playing independent ball in Waldorf. Lombardozzi will report to Triple-A Syracuse. He's not on the Nationals' 40-man roster. A 19th-round pick in the 2008 draft, Lombardozzi became one of the Nats' top prospects and made his major league debut in September 2011. The Columbia native wound up a key member of the 2012 National League East championship roster,...

Orioles trade Lombardozzi to Pirates

Orioles trade Lombardozzi to Pirates
The Orioles are having a busy day. The club just announced that it traded minor league infielder Steve Lombardozzi, a graduate of Atholton High School, to the Pirates for cash considerations. Earlier today, the Orioles sent minor league catcher Michael Ohlman to the Cardinals in another cash transaction. Lombardozzi isn't the player to be named in the Travis Snider trade. This is a separate transaction with the Pirates. The PTBNL will be announced in spring training. Lombardozzi, 26,...

Lombardozzi and McCoy outrighted, MLB takes a stand against lung cancer

Lombardozzi and McCoy outrighted, MLB takes a stand against lung cancer
SAN DIEGO - The Orioles just announced that they've outrighted infielder Steve Lombardozzi and left-hander Pat McCoy to Triple-A Norfolk after both players cleared waivers. The 40-man roster is down to 37. McCoy and Scott Barnes were left-handed relievers added to the 40-man roster after the season. The Rangers claimed Barnes off waivers this morning. I'll have more on the roster moves after meeting with executive vice president Dan Duquette at 3 p.m. PST. As public relations...

Heading to San Diego for the Winter Meetings

Heading to San Diego for the Winter Meetings
Welcome to the last blog entry filed in Maryland until Friday morning. The Winter Meetings are set to begin in San Diego, which brings as much joy to this reporter as being bled with leeches or watching Season 1 of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." The Orioles need at least one outfielder - the possibilities still include Delmon Young, Michael Morse, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Melky Cabrera - and a left-hander for their bullpen. They're interested in finding another catcher to provide depth...

Expanded thoughts on September roster

Expanded thoughts on September roster
During yesterday's pregame session with manager Buck Showalter, a reporter asked whether the Orioles will expand their roster next month to the full 40 players permitted by Major League Baseball, or at least an amount close to it. The Orioles won't get anywhere near that total. Showalter hasn't laid out an exact figure, but he'd be comfortable staying in the five-to-seven range of additions. He doesn't want a clubhouse and dugout filled with guys who are only taking up space. "First of...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
While wondering whether Orioles pitchers had accounted for both of the team's errors in a game before last night... It took 12 innings and just about everyone in the bullpen for Orioles manager Buck Showalter to claim his 1,222nd career victory. Not the way he preferred it, but never look a walk-off win in the mouth. Or something along those lines. I guess Manny Machado figured a 12th-inning home run was the perfect anniversary gift for Showalter, hired by the Orioles exactly four years ago...

Orioles option Lombardozzi

Orioles option Lombardozzi
Infielder Steve Lombardozzi lasted one day with the Orioles before returning to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles optioned Lombardozzi this afternoon to create a spot for catcher Nick Hundley on the 25-man roster. They also placed Chris Davis on paternity leave and activated reliever Preston Guilmet from the taxi squad. Lombardozzi, 25, is batting .292 with two RBIs in 19 games with the Orioles. He's hitting .294 in 17 games with Norfolk. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to give Hundley a day to...

"Because You Asked" - Seventh Inning Fetch

"Because You Asked" - Seventh Inning Fetch
The Orioles don't have a game tonight and it has nothing to do with rain. There's an open date on their schedule. Triple-A Norfolk has one, as well, and should savor every second of it. After today, the Tides have one off-day scheduled prior to the All-Star break. They play on 54 of the next 55 days. Heath Bell made his Norfolk debut yesterday and retired the side in order on eight pitches, including six strikes. Fans ask why the Orioles would bother signing Bell, who hasn't really been good...

Orioles hoping to contain Butler, figure out Ventura

Orioles hoping to contain Butler, figure out Ventura
The Orioles have lost four straight games, which makes Wei-Yin Chen their stopper tonight in the opener of a four-game series in Kansas City. Chen is 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three road starts this season and 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA in five career starts against the Royals. He allowed three earned runs over 7 1/3 innings in his only start at Kauffman Stadiium on July 24, 2013. Billy Butler is 8-for-15 with two doubles, a triple (a triple??), two homers and four RBIs against Chen, but the...

More notes and quotes before Game 1

More notes and quotes before Game 1
The Orioles and Pirates aren't allowed to call up a 26th player today because this isn't a split doubleheader. Also, the doubleheader wasn't scheduled before yesterday. Those are the rules. The Orioles had consecutive games postponed due to rain for the first time since April 13-14, 2004 in Boston. Here are the pitching matchups for the series in Minnesota: Friday: Ubaldo Jimenez versus Ricky Nolasco Saturday: Wei-Yin Chen versus Kevin Correia Sunday: Miguel Gonzalez versus Phil...

Lombardozzi optioned and other notes

Lombardozzi optioned and other notes
The Orioles announced that they optioned infielder Steve Lombardozzi to Triple-A Norfolk today to make room for third baseman Manny Machado on the 25-man roster. Lombardozzi, 25, batted .292/.301/.333 (21-for-72) in 19 games at second base for the Orioles this season. Ryan Flaherty remains on the roster and could start at first base tonight in Game 2. The Orioles like him defensively in the infield and he also can play the outfield. He's basically the backup first baseman with Chris Davis on...

Machado not in Game 1 lineup, Lombardozzi not listed among reserves

Machado not in Game 1 lineup, Lombardozzi not listed among reserves
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado isn't starting Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Pirates at Camden Yards. He's listed among the reserves, with Ryan Flaherty starting at third. Infielder Steve Lombardozzi isn't listed among the Orioles reserves. He's apparently been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Machado on the 25-man roster. Lombardozzi said he's not injured and wouldn't comment further. Jemile Weeks is leading off again today. Steve Pearce is playing first...

Toronto's trio of three-run shots lead Jays past O's

Toronto's trio of three-run shots lead Jays past O's
The Orioles have not been hitting many homers this year, but did get one tonight. But Toronto hit three and those three big swings produced a 9-3 win for the Blue Jays over the Orioles at Rogers Centre. The O's let another lead get away. They led 3-0 heading to the last of the sixth. Evan Meek started the last of the eighth of a 3-3 tie. He had pitched 9 1/3 scoreless innings this season. But he gave up a single, walk and then three-run homer to Brett Lawrie. It was the fourth of the year...

A lead lost in Toronto (O's lose 9-3)

A lead lost in Toronto (O's lose 9-3)
Edwin Encarnacion is 3-for-20 lifetime against Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez. All three hits are home runs. Is that weird? Encarnacion has hit 24 home runs versus the Orioles, the most against any opponent. Gonzalez took a shutout into the sixth before Encarnacion's three-run shot. Now he's out of the game and can't get a win. The Orioles didn't have a quality start during their four-game series against the Red Sox, and they're not getting one tonight. Gonzalez struck out seven...

Daniel Clark: Looking at how the newest Orioles have fared

Daniel Clark: Looking at how the newest Orioles have fared
The Orioles are now eight games into the 2014 season and have a record of 3-5. However, the team is on a high after a great win over the Yankees on Tuesday. Prior to that, there seemed to be a lack of spark and many rallies were being killed by poor baserunning and poor pitch selection. Thankfully, it's only the early days of a new season and it could have been worse. There's also the encouraging thought of Manny Machado's future return, which will likely be later this month. Of the 25...

O's offense breaks out big in 14-5 rout of the Yankees

O's offense breaks out big in 14-5 rout of the Yankees
The Orioles began today with a team batting average of .231 and just 22 runs scored over their first seven games. But their offense broke out in a big way this afternoon, as the Orioles routed the Yankees 14-5 to even this series at a win each. The Orioles had hit just three homers on the season until Adam Jones, Delmon Young and Matt Wieters connected for two-run homers today. The O's 14 runs and 20 hits were easily season highs, topping the previous bests of six runs and 10 hits. This is...

Steve Lombardozzi on opening day, his O's debut and more

Steve Lombardozzi on opening day, his O's debut and more
After being traded twice since the end of last season, infielder Steve Lombardozzi would like to find a home with the Orioles. The Fulton, Md., native, and graduate of Atholton High School near Baltimore in Columbia, played the last three seasons for the Nationals. He was traded by Washington to Detroit in the Doug Fister deal and then Detroit traded him to the Orioles March 24 for Alex Gonzalez. He enjoyed his first opening day as an Oriole on Monday and tonight he makes his debut with the...

Updating Santana, Bundy, Peguero, Markakis, Patton and more

Updating Santana, Bundy, Peguero, Markakis, Patton and more
Left-hander Johan Santana threw 30 pitches off a full mound yesterday in Saraosta, mixing in everything in his repertoire. "That's progressing well," said manager Buck Showalter. "Don't ask me exactly what's next. I haven't heard anything else. Scotty McGregor updates us every day. "It's encouraging to see that Johan is throwing all his pitches. He's pitching like he's in a five-man rotation. Pitch, work day, pitch." Assistant athletic trainer Chris Correnti, who worked with...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
Steve Lombardozzi is starting at second base tonight for the Orioles, while Ryan Flaherty remains at third. Jonathan Scoop takes a seat on the bench. David Lough is in left field and Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF David Lough LF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Steve Lombardozzi 2B Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Red Sox Daniel Nava RF Dustin Pedroia 2B David Ortiz DH Mike Napoli 1B Jonny...