Gregg scheduled to pitch Saturday ( with Twins lineup)

Gregg scheduled to pitch Saturday ( with Twins lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg hasn't pitched since last Sunday's B game, when he threw one inning and gave up a home run, but he'll take the mound Saturday against the Red Sox in Sarasota. The Orioles have split-squad games that day, but he'll avoid the trip to Fort Myers. Gregg insists that he's fine physically, though he's only appeared in two Grapefruit League games. He threw in the bullpen yesterday while the Orioles traveled to Lakeland. "I'm getting off the...

A few comments from Showalter after 6-1 loss

A few comments from Showalter after 6-1 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm still waiting for the Orioles to send out the names of the players who were involved in the first round of cuts. There won't be any major surprises. Maybe one name will make you say, "Wow, already?" But I'll wait until it's official. So what did manager Buck Showalter think of left-hander Dana Eveland today? "You can see why he's had some success, but as you move up levels, there's a fine line," Showalter said. "He does things that allowed him to have success...

Hearing from Matusz, Gregg and Lindstrom (and Showalter)

Hearing from Matusz, Gregg and Lindstrom (and Showalter)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's start with left-hander Brian Matusz, who allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three over two innings. "I felt really good," he said. "It felt nice to be back out there on the mound and let it fly a little bit. I felt strong. Threw a lot of strikes, attacked the zone. It felt really good to be back out there. "The Pirates executed really well and took advantage of the mistakes I made and put the ball in play. But overall I felt like I attacked the zone...

Gregg not great tonight (updated)

Gregg not great tonight (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg gave up a single to the first batter he faced. Then he gave up a fly ball that put two more runs on the board for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matt Hague followed Yamaico Navarro's single with a bomb to left field, increasing the Pirates' lead to 5-1. Gregg bounced back to strike out the next three batters - Pedro Alvarez, Gorkys Hernandez and Garrett Jones - but he probably didn't do much to win back the fans who lost patience with him last season. At least Gregg...

Orioles reach agreement with Villarreal on minor league deal

Orioles reach agreement with Villarreal on minor league deal
Following up on a tweet that I sent out earlier today, the Orioles have reached agreement on a minor league deal with right-hander Oscar Villarreal that includes a spring training invitation. Villarreal, 30, hasn't pitched in the majors since 2008 with the Houston Astros. He's 24-15 with a 3.86 ERA in parts of six seasons, including stops in Arizona and Atlanta. He's made only five starts among his 258 appearances. Villarreal was 9-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 58 games, including four starts, with...

Deciphering interest in Street (and Chong Tae-Hyon)

Deciphering interest in Street (and Chong Tae-Hyon)
The Orioles reportedly have talked to the Rockies about acquiring closer Huston Street, which leads to two not-so-bold assumptions: They're still considering the possibility of moving Jim Johnson into the rotation, and they'd prefer using Kevin Gregg in more of a set-up role. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote about the Orioles' interest in Street, who was 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA, nine walks, 55 strikeouts and a 1.217 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings. That's the highest ERA and WHIP of his career....

Daniel Moroz: Johnson's new role can't save O's from ill-advised signing of Gregg

Daniel Moroz: Johnson's new role can't save O's from ill-advised signing of Gregg
Jim Johnson now has as many saves in the last week as Kevin Gregg has since the beginning of August. That gives me a great excuse to bring out two of my favorite hobby horses: Despite what many people say (including some allusions by the Orioles themselves), Johnson is perfectly capable of being the team's closer, and signing Gregg was not a good move. Johnson once blew a save (or two), which resulted in some people deciding that he didn't have the mentality of a closer, or something like...

Kevin Gregg gives up two in the ninth as Jays stun Orioles (Frederick wins)

Kevin Gregg gives up two in the ninth as Jays stun Orioles (Frederick wins)
What a way for the Orioles to end a run of 21 2/3 straight scoreless innings by their bullpen. Kevin Gregg suffered his seventh blown save of the year as Toronto scored twice in the last of the ninth to win 5-4. After Clay Rapada began the last of the ninth with a strikeout, Gregg came on and got a second strikeout. There were two outs and none on with a 4-3 lead when Gregg unraveled. Jim Hunter asks Buck Showalter about the Orioles' 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays He then gave up a walk, single...

Closing arguments about Gregg and Stanhouse

Closing arguments about Gregg and Stanhouse
The Orioles and Yankees are playing a 1:05 p.m. game today, which means an early lineup posting and, we'll assume, a more normal outfield alignment. Nolan Reimold should be back in left field. Nick Markakis should be back in right. And please, put Mark Reynolds back at first base. I believe that Reynolds is better defensively at third than we've seen this year, but there's no question that he's a better first baseman. There's no question that the Orioles should project him as a first...

Lauren Tilley: And the Orioles' closer in 2012 should be ...

Lauren Tilley: And the Orioles' closer in 2012 should be ...
OK, before I tell you who I think the closer should be for next season, let me just preface it with a few things. Before you scream so much that spit and food crumbs end up splattered all over your computer screen, before you send me hate comments and before you send bombs to my family through your computer screen (I'm sure that piece of technology has already been created), hear me out. Read what I have to say and let me defend myself. Oh, and don't forget to breathe. Are you ready?...

Showalter speaks after 3-2 win

Showalter speaks after 3-2 win
Manager Buck Showalter spoke after tonight's 3-2 victory about the importance of Brad Bergesen keeping the deficit at two runs after Vernon Wells' homer in the first. The game could have gotten away from Bergesen and the Orioles, but they rallied. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's pick up the 3-2 win over the Angels "You see a lot of guys just let it snowball, but he didn't," Showalter said. "Pitched out of a tough jam there, first and second, nobody out. Showed a...

The risk factor (O's win 3-2)

The risk factor (O's win 3-2)
Jim Johnson threw seven pitches in a scoreless seventh inning. Koji Uehara threw nine pitches in a perfect eighth, getting a fly ball, pop up and strikeout. The baton is being passed again in a one-run game. Kevin Gregg is warming in the bullpen. Manager Buck Showalter will go with his closer, one night after Gregg served up Vernon Wells' grand slam. Gregg has allowed runs in four of his last five outings, though the four last night were unearned after Derrek Lee's error. Let's see...

Scott activated, Angle optioned

Scott activated, Angle optioned
The Orioles haven't made an official announcement regarding a roster move, but Luke Scott is batting sixth and serving as the designated hitter for tonight's game against the Angels, and Matt Angle's name isn't listed among the starters or reserves, so he apparently has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott DH Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF Blake Davis 2B Alfredo Simon RHP Kevin...

Kevin Gregg: "I hope our team always has a chip on its shoulder"

Kevin Gregg: "I hope our team always has a chip on its shoulder"
After agreeing to begin serving his suspension tonight as it was reduced from four games to three, Orioles pitcher Kevin Gregg once again talked about standing up for his team when he pitched inside to David Ortiz in the last series against Boston. "They're a good club," Gregg said. "But they look at us and when we try to pitch in and I think we've hit maybe 20 guys on the whole year and they're in the mid 50's and they get mad at us when we hit someone. "In the last series we...

Gregg suspended four games, Gonzalez three; both will appeal

Gregg suspended four games, Gonzalez three; both will appeal
Major League Baseball has handed down suspensions and fines related to the ejection-filled series between the Orioles and Red Sox at Fenway Park. Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg and Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz received four-game suspensions and undisclosed fines. Gregg's punishment was scheduled to begin tonight, but he will appeal the ban. Gregg and Ortiz threw punches Friday night, and both dugouts and bullpens emptied, after Gregg pitched inside to Ortiz and then shouted to him as...

Gregg gives Orioles a puncher's chance (Hendrickson joining club)

Gregg gives Orioles a puncher's chance (Hendrickson joining club)
Two more games before the All-Star break. Two more games before sweet relief. I'll remind all of the pessimists that the Orioles can't go 0-10 on this road trip. They won a game. Stop being so negative. Speaking of sweet relief, the Orioles could use it after Zach Britton lasted two-thirds of an inning last night and Brad Bergesen tried to shake hands with David Ortiz's line drive. The Orioles have allowed 10 runs or more in four of their last five games. Now their starters can't get...

Ortiz, Gregg throw punches (updated)

Ortiz, Gregg throw punches (updated)
David Ortiz and Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg exchanged punches in the bottom of the eighth inning. Finally, a little excitement. Ortiz started it. Gregg wasn't going to let him end it. Ortiz took exception to an inside pitch from Gregg earlier in the at-bat and started walking toward the mound. Ortiz pointed at Gregg as both dugouts and bullpens emptied. Gregg moved toward Ortiz and jawed at him with each step. Once order was restored, Ortiz flied to center field on the next pitch and...

Hearing from Guthrie, Gregg, Accardo and Reynolds

Hearing from Guthrie, Gregg, Accardo and Reynolds
Jeremy Guthrie talked about: His outing: "I think it turned out that the big home runs by Mark (Reynolds) made it so, yeah, we were in the game. Any other night, David (Price) is throwing the ball so well throughout his career that three runs could have been considered not keeping us in the game. But we had good at-bats all night, the offense took some good swings and even hit some long outs, so the credit's to the offense. That's why we were in the game. Ultimately, we're trying to win...

Showalter speaks after 7-5 loss in 11 innings

Showalter speaks after 7-5 loss in 11 innings
The Orioles failed to reach .500 tonight because they couldn't make some plays in the field and Kevin Gregg couldn't nail down the save. The Rays were better defensively - left fielder Justin Ruggiano robbed J.J. Hardy of a home run and shortstop Reid Brignac robbed him of a two-run single - and the Orioles fell to 3-5 in extra-inning games. Buck Showalter talks about what led to the Orioles giving up the lead to the Rays "We were battling a good club there," manager Buck Showalter...

Gregg getting it done

Gregg getting it done
When I first met Kevin Gregg in spring training in Sarasota, Fla., I was immediately impressed with his demeanor. He was polite, engaging, confident and eager to help the Orioles move up in the standings. As the season has progressed, Gregg has proven to be effective as the Orioles closer despite "living on the edge" in several save opportunities. Gregg has his style and he refuses to change his way and give in to hitters. He has tremendous confidence in his ability to get out of a jam,...