Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories

Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories
Until the lockout ends and major league spring training camps finally open, I'm left to reminisce about past stays in Florida. The many stories that unfolded, some of which never made it into print. The many mornings spent inside the clubhouse and on the back fields. The road trips, more grueling when the home site was down in Fort Lauderdale. The unexpected arrivals and departures. I'll share a few more today: Betemit's knee injury Media wanting to interview the starting pitcher or a...
    

Suzuki on rough ninth-inning throwing error and subsequent ejection

Suzuki on rough ninth-inning throwing error and subsequent ejection
The last inning was not exactly how catcher Kurt Suzuki wanted it to go. A double steal attempt by the Cubs was set up Alfonso Soriano racing to third base in the top of the ninth of a 1-1 game. Suzuki's throw to third base hit Welington Castillo's bat. The ball rolled into foul territory, which allowed Soriano to score the go-ahead run. Later, a called third strike and subsequent argument with home plate umpire John Tumpane got him tossed. Who could have thought the Nationals appeared...
    

Gregg released, Adams outrighted

Gregg released, Adams outrighted
The Orioles announced today that they released veteran reliever Kevin Gregg and outrighted minor league second baseman Ryan Adams to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. No surprises here. Gregg is hoping to catch on with another team and the Orioles couldn't come up with a trade partner over the winter or during the season. He figured to be cut loose after they designated him for assignment Tuesday. Gregg went 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 40 appearances for the Orioles this season. He...
    

Showalter talks about Gregg

Showalter talks about Gregg
The Orioles tried to trade Kevin Gregg over the winter and in spring training. He was available at the non-waiver deadline. They couldn't strike a deal, continued to use him sporadically and finally had to designate him for assignment today to create room on the 40-man roster. Signed to a two-year, $10 million contract with a $6 million team option for 2013, Gregg failed to hold onto the closer's job after converting 22 of 29 save opportunities last season. He never had a defined role this...
    

Chavez and Hoes join Orioles, Gregg and Adams DFA'd

Chavez and Hoes join Orioles, Gregg and Adams DFA'd
The Orioles made a series of roster moves today, selecting the contracts of outfielders Endy Chavez and LJ Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk and designating reliever Kevin Gregg and second baseman Ryan Adams for assignment. Chavez was expected here today, and Adams was my guess to be removed from the 40-man roster. However, the Orioles changed their plans with Hoes after Nick Markakis suffered a broken left thumb. Chavez batted .190/.222/.281 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 47 games with the...
    

Orioles match last year's win total, but who's counting?

Orioles match last year's win total, but who's counting?
If I didn't know better, I'd swear that the Orioles aren't keeping track of the standings. They're not counting up the wins. They're not comparing this season to last season. They really are ... gulp ... taking it one day at a time. "We're a better team than we were last year," reliever Kevin Gregg said last night after striking out the side in the ninth inning. "We're putting a lot of things together and playing good baseball as a team. Getting the job done. "Everybody in the...
    

Before you injure both fists bashing Kevin Gregg ... (O's lose 12-3)

Before you injure both fists bashing Kevin Gregg ... (O's lose 12-3)
Here we go again. Kevin Gregg has a bad inning and the venom flows like Dick Vermeil's tears. Fans demand that the Orioles trade or release him. They say he only pitches effectively if inactive for long periods. They say he never should enter a game with runners on base. They blame him for the economy and Arsenio Hall's return to late-night television. OK, let's start with the reason he's pitching today: Zach Britton lasted 2 2/3 innings and - stop me if you've heard this one before -...
    

Orioles are taking a left turn

Orioles are taking a left turn
After watching the Orioles for 95 games, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing they do consistently is fail to hit with runners in scoring position. Otherwise, they're all over the map. The rotation is good, bad and good again. It's strung together five consecutive quality starts, which was unimaginable a week ago. The bullpen has been outstanding for most of the season, but the starters' early exits had caused cracks to form in it. Remove the ninth inning yesterday, and the...
    

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)

Lindstrom leaves with injury (O's win 10-2)
Orioles reliever Matt Lindstrom took a Johnny Damon line drive off the inside portion of his left knee, forcing him out of the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Lindstrom bent at the waist a few times and kept grimacing as manager Buck Showalter and assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel checked on him. He didn't bother to throw a few warmup tosses. His night was over. Kevin Gregg replaced Lindstrom with the bases loaded and retired Casey Kotchman on a fly ball to center...
    

Starters have ended the bullpen's effectiveness

Starters have ended the bullpen's effectiveness
So, about that rotation ... Zach Britton didn't record an out in the fifth inning last night. Chris Tillman didn't get out of the first inning on Monday. Miguel Gonzalez couldn't get the final out in the sixth on Sunday. Now it's Tommy Hunter's turn - because the Orioles don't have a whole lot of choices. Hunter is working on normal rest. He's on the 40-man roster. He's got a pulse. Advantage, Hunter. The bullpen is completely out of whack. Manager Buck Showalter has done a...
    

Showalter speaks after 8-6, 13-inning victory

Showalter speaks after 8-6, 13-inning victory
Taylor Teagarden hadn't hit a home run in the major leagues since Aug. 18, 2010. He hadn't played in a major league game since Aug 20, 2011. Of course, Teagarden homered tonight to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the 13th inning and give the Orioles a rousing 8-6 win over the Tigers before 43,215 at Camden Yards. The Orioles blew a 4-1 lead in the ninth. They overcame a 5-4 deficit in the 11th. They overcame a 6-5 deficit in the 13th. Manager Buck Showalter referred to the Orioles as a...
    

The O's bullpen has been mighty indeed (draft update)

The O's bullpen has been mighty indeed (draft update)
The Orioles have now won nine extra-innings games in a row for the first time in team history. Here is what Matt Wieters said after yesterday's game when asked the key reason for the streak: "You know, it's the bullpen. The bullpen is doing a great job of just keeping teams where they are at. If you keep the other team from scoring, eventually someone will get the run. The bullpen has been great keeping us in games." If there is one segment of this team that has been rock solid...
    

Boston rallies against Hunter and Gregg to win series opener

Boston rallies against Hunter and Gregg to win series opener
After making seven straight scoreless appearances covering 9 1/3 innings, that streak ended for pitcher Kevin Gregg tonight and the runs he gave up led to an Orioles loss. Boston pushed across a pair of runs in the seventh against Gregg on an Adrian Gonzalez sac fly and a Will Middlebrooks single to break a 5-5 tie before adding a run against Troy Patton in the eighth. That carried the Red Sox to an 8-6 win over the O's at Camden Yards. Boston rallied from a 5-2 deficit to improve to 9-2...
    

Showalter: "They have a lot of confidence in close ballgames"

Showalter: "They have a lot of confidence in close ballgames"
WASHINGTON - Another extra-inning game, another extra-inning win. And on the road, of course. The Orioles defeated the Nationals 2-1 in 11 innings. They're 6-2 in extras, with all six wins coming in succession away from Camden Yards. They're also in first place in the American League East, two games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. How does manager Buck Showalter explain all those road wins? "Pitching in general," he replied. "You'd like to do some things and not have that happen. I think...
    

Orioles going for the sweep on little sleep

Orioles going for the sweep on little sleep
Manager Buck Showalter most assuredly told reporters in Kansas City to "sleep fast." The Orioles have a day game after a night game that ended in the early morning. That's a quick turnaround. The Orioles were down by two runs in the top of the ninth inning, but they tied the game and won it in the 15th on Adam Jones' 12th home run of the season. The Orioles are 11-1 when Jones hits a home run. Nine of those homers have tied the game or given them a lead. Cha-ching! Didn't Tommy...
    

Another rough outing for Arrieta (Wieters homers)

Another rough outing for Arrieta (Wieters homers)
The Orioles have lost six of their last seven games on Mother's Day, and they've drained much of the energy from today's crowd. The Rays lead 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth, and Kevin Gregg has replaced starter Jake Arrieta, who allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. Arrieta walked two, struck out six and threw a wild pitch. He threw 79 pitches, 50 for strikes. The 10 hits are a career high for Arrieta, who seems far removed from those eight scoreless innings in New York on May...
    

Gregg delivers again (we're tied in the 15th)

Gregg delivers again (we're tied in the 15th)
BOSTON - Kevin Gregg was forced to go two innings today, and he shut out the Red Sox on one hit. He also struck out four batters. Don't look now, but Gregg hasn't allowed a run in his last four appearances covering five innings. He's permitted two hits, walked two and struck out six. In his last three appearances covering four innings, he's allowed one hit, walked none and struck out six. Gregg's ERA is down to 5.19. Gregg pitched two innings only one other time this season, when he...
    

Gregg returns to mound (O's lose 5-2)

Gregg returns to mound (O's lose 5-2)
Kevin Gregg made his first appearance tonight since April 18 in Chicago, his introduction greeted with boos from what remained of an announced crowd of 18,297. By the third out, they were applauding Gregg, who struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth inning and induced a fly ball to shallow right field. Gregg threw 10 pitches, seven for strikes, and lowered his ERA from 9.64 to 7.94. Gregg has turned in two straight scoreless outings since allowing six of seven Blue Jays to...
    

From bad to worse

From bad to worse
Kevin Gregg needed to get one out to complete the sixth inning today after replacing starter Brian Matusz. It eventually happened - after two inherited runners scored. And after three more scored that were charged to Gregg. And after Gregg had thrown 27 pitches. The inning began with the Orioles leading, 2-1. It ended with the Blue Jays ahead, 8-2. Fans that booed Gregg when he entered the game - and I'm talking about the ones at Rogers Centre - were cheering as he departed. They were...
    

Are the Orioles shopping Kevin Gregg and Mark Reynolds?

Are the Orioles shopping Kevin Gregg and Mark Reynolds?
All it takes is one. One tweet from Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com saying that the Orioles are shopping both Kevin Gregg and Mark Reynolds, and soon everyone is picking up the report and it is almost taken as fact. The report could very well prove to be true, but I think you always have to be somewhat skeptical of trade rumor talk. Gregg's name has been out there before, but I don't recall any reports about Reynolds. No doubt many fans would be happy if Gregg were removed from the roster....