Not putting "fun" in fundamentals (updated)

Not putting "fun" in fundamentals (updated)
The Orioles haven't been particularly sharp in the early innings tonight. They put runners on first and second with no outs in the first inning on Robert Andino's bunt single and an error. Andino popped up another bunt, but this one cleared the mound. Nick Markakis failed to advance the runners, flying to left field. With Vladimir Guerrero at the plate, Andino broke too soon for third base and got caught in a rundown. So much for that rally. Second baseman Ryan Adams made a diving stop of...

Ryan Adams looks back on his first night in the major leagues

Ryan Adams looks back on his first night in the major leagues
Now that he is on his third day in the big leagues, Ryan Adams is getting more and more comfortable being in a big league clubhouse. He made his major league debut Friday night, batting ninth at second base and got his first hit, going 1-for-4 against Washington. He has been hearing from a lot of family and friends since his call-up from Triple-A Norfolk, but he said today it took a while for some of those messages to get to him. "When I was in Lehigh Valley, before we went to Syracuse, my...

Arrieta's night is over, Adams gets 1st hit (updated)

Arrieta's night is over, Adams gets 1st hit (updated)
Jake Arrieta turned in his second-shortest outing tonight, leaving after 3 2/3 innings and being charged with six runs. The last run scored when Jason Berken hit Jayson Werth with the bases loaded. Arrieta allowed six hits, walked three, struck out three and hit a batter. He threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes. PItch counts have been an issue with Arrieta, but he took it to the extreme tonight. That 37-pitch second inning set quite a tone. Arrieta allowed eight runs and six hits in 3 1/3...

Adams gets first AB out of the way (updated twice)

Adams gets first AB out of the way (updated twice)
Second baseman Ryan Adams saw two pitches in his first major league at-bat, getting ahead 1-0 before bouncing to third base on an 88 mph fastball from Nationals starter Jason Marquis. Adams was hitting .303 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and eight RBIs for Triple-A Norfolk, but the Orioles are paying closer attention to his defense. He committed four errors with the Tides, and the reports apparently have been encouraging. "I think it's as much for Ryan selling himself to the...

Ryan Adams talks about making his major league debut tonight

Ryan Adams talks about making his major league debut tonight
Ryan Adams started at second base last night for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in Syracuse. He didn't know then that after the game he would be told he was coming to Baltimore to make his major league debut. Tonight, Adams will bat ninth and play second for the Orioles here at Camden Yards. He will make his big league debut after 458 minor league games in the O's organization. "I had no idea (I'd get called up)," Adams said. "I'd just been focusing on playing hard and taking care of what...

Pregame news and notes

Pregame news and notes
Second baseman Ryan Adams is making his major league debut tonight, but Robert Andino will get the start tomorrow afternoon. Manager Buck Showalter told Andino that he'll still get opportunities to play. He won't be buried on the bench while Adams is here. Adams moved to third base last summer at Double-A Bowie and he played the hot corner in the Arizona Fall League. However, Showalter has no plans to use Adams at third. Nolan Reimold will start in left field tomorrow. Will there be a...

From Bluefield to Baltimore, Ryan Adams gets set for his major league debut

From Bluefield to Baltimore, Ryan Adams gets set for his major league debut
As the Orioles welcome Nolan Reimold and Ryan Adams to the roster today, it has to be exciting for Reimold to return to the major leagues and for Adams to make it to the show for the first time. Adams' long road through the Orioles' minors began when they drafted him out of a Louisiana high school in the second round in 2006. Since then, he has played for six O's farm clubs over six seasons, making it from Rookie League Bluefield to Triple-A Norfolk this year and now Baltimore. The...

Jakubauskas and Patton down, Adams and Reimold up

Jakubauskas and Patton down, Adams and Reimold up
Chris Jakubauskas and Troy Patton pitched tonight and packed their bags. They're heading back to Triple-A Norfolk. Ryan Adams and outfielder Nolan Reimold are expected to report to Camden Yards tomorrow, giving the Orioles 12 pitchers and a full bench. It's interesting that both players were in Norfolk's lineup tonight instead of being late scratches. Reimold went 2-for-4 with his 22nd RBI, leaving his average at .237. He hit his sixth home run last night. Adams went 1-for-3 and is batting...

Caught in the middle infield (with Roberts update)

Caught in the middle infield (with Roberts update)
The Orioles finished batting practice and the tarp went back on the field. The sky is threatening. I'm keeping one hand on my wallet. Just when we thought it was safe to memorize the 25-man roster, the Orioles will alter it again tomorrow afternoon. They'll bring up one or two position players from the minors. A middle infielder is needed with Brian Roberts and Cesar Izturis on the disabled list. And it's possible that Triple-A Norfolk catcher Craig Tatum will be recalled if he's ready to...

Orioles' minor league teams are playing well now

Orioles' minor league teams are playing well now
Charlie Sheen would like the Orioles' minor league affiliates these days as they have been doing a lot of winning lately. Triple-A Norfolk has won four of its last six games to get to 7-15 on the season. Double-A Bowie is 6-3 over its past nine games to get to 11-10. Single-A Frederick has won five of six to get to 10-10 and Single-A Delmarva has won eight in a row to improve to 13-9. That is the Shorebirds' longest win streak since a nine-gamer in May of 2006. At Norfolk, Brandon Snyder is...

Minor league notes on Snyder, Adams and Avery

Minor league notes on Snyder, Adams and Avery
After a slow start, Brandon Snyder's bat is suddenly stirring at Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder is now batting .324 with a homer and eight RBIs after an impressive three-game batting surge. He had just three hits over his first six games, but has had eight in the past three contests. After batting just .150 in those first six games, Snyder had two homers among his three hits in last night's 10-5 Norfolk win over Charlotte. He is 8-for-13 over three games with a double, three homers and six RBIs,...

Triple-A Tides look to avoid 0-5 start tonight

Triple-A Tides look to avoid 0-5 start tonight
Like their parent club, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides have not gotten their offense going much this year. But unlike the Orioles, Norfolk is winless and is last in the league in batting. The Tides scored just five runs in going 0-4 in their season-opening series at Charlotte. The Tides' team batting mark of .165 is last in the International League. Norfolk plays at Gwinnett tonight looking to avoid its first 0-5 start since 1993. Ryan Adams has begun the season at 1-for-12 while Brandon Snyder...

Norfolk Tides release roster

Norfolk Tides release roster
Here is info from a Norfolk Tides press release with roster info for the O's Triple-A squad which opens its season on Thursday. Loads of experience and two local products headlined the 2011 Norfolk Tides roster when it was released Tuesday. Virginia Beach's Michael Ballard and Chesapeake's Clay Rapada are both expected to play big roles with their hometown team after being assigned to Norfolk. Ballard is expected to join the rotation while Rapada will see action as a left-handed specialist...

Adams and Henson likely to start at Triple-A & Mahoney at Double-A

Adams and Henson likely to start at Triple-A & Mahoney at Double-A
The minor league rosters for the Orioles four full season affiliates are not officially set yet but it appears that second baseman Ryan Adams and outfielder Tyler Henson are likely to begin the year with Triple-A Norfolk. Adams hit .298 with 43 doubles, 15 homers and 68 RBI at Double-A last summer. He had ten hits in 19 at bats in Major League spring training games. Henson, a fifth-round pick in 2006, batted .278 with 12 homers, 37 doubles and 60 RBI at Bowie in 2010. O's 2010 Minor League...

A quick glimpse at the O's minor leagues

A quick glimpse at the O's minor leagues
Even though the Orioles' 2011 season begins tonight, the club has still not finalized its minor league rosters. The full season affiliates don't begin their seasons until next Thursday, April 7 (or Friday, April 8 in the case of Single-A Frederick). What I wrote about Feb. 12 has pretty much come to pass. It certainly appears that the Triple-A Norfolk roster will be one with more veterans than in previous seasons and not many up-and-coming prospects. One reason for that is Orioles manager...

Adams homers again, Bergesen speaks (updated)

Adams homers again, Bergesen speaks (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Adams hit his second spring training home run, and it went a mile. He cleared the palm trees in right field - yes, the opposite field - against Pirates reliever Joel Hanrahan in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Adams' two-run shot followed a walk to Nolan Reimold, Brandon Snyder's RBI double and Craig Tatum's RBI single. Snyder is 2-for-2 with a walk. Tatum is 2-for-2. Adam Jones doubled later in the inning, making him 2-for-3. Nolan Reimold has...

Adams trying to fix defensive reputation

Adams trying to fix defensive reputation
SARASOTA, Fla. - Just a reminder that the clubhouse is closed to the media this morning while the Orioles conduct physicals, and dental and vision exams. They're expected to take the field around noon for the first full-squad workout. Perhaps Vladimir Guerrero will step into the cage and take batting practice in full view of his teammates, fans and the media. And I can provide the latest facial-hair update. No day is complete without one. Ryan Adams, the Orioles' second-round pick in 2006,...