A noteworthy afternoon

A noteworthy afternoon
One night after Jason Hammel tried to make amends for tying his career high for most runs allowed in a start, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will attempt to do the same. Hammel limited the Mariners to one run heading into the seventh inning last night before being charged with four in 6 2/3. Chen gave up six runs to the Indians in 6 1/3 innings after allowing two earned runs or fewer in three of his previous four starts and four of six. Tonight marks his first appearance against the Mariners. The...

Olivia Witherite: A true designated hitter for the Orioles at Camden Yards

Olivia Witherite:  A true designated hitter for the Orioles at Camden Yards
About midway through the Saturday afternoon game at Camden Yards, the comment at work was made that the mentions of the Orioles on Twitter were blowing up. Granted, it wasn't for the Birds' game in the least, as they eventually dug their own graves in an 11-5 loss to Cleveland. Instead, attached to every tweet was the name of Jim Thome. A veteran in the truest sense of the word, the 41-year-old is once again on an American League roster and serving as the O's designated hitter. As an...

Seeing the Earl of Baltimore highlights busy weekend at the Yard

Seeing the Earl of Baltimore highlights busy weekend at the Yard
So, did anything happen the last two days at Camden Yards? Well, first Earl Weaver was honored and it was amazing, emotional and special. Just as we were finishing writing our stories on that came word of a trade and that Jim Thome would be headed to Baltimore. Then we interviewed the other players talking about Thome's addition. Then we found out the Orioles had three All-Stars and Jason Hammel could become a fourth. Then we interviewed them to talk about the honor. Then the game...

Matusz struggles again as Tribe takes series finale

Matusz struggles again as Tribe takes series finale
After getting hammered in two mid-week games against the Angels, the Orioles were hoping to get back on track with a four-game series against Cleveland. The Tribe came to Camden Yards riding a five-game losing streak and a record of 11-19 over its previous 30 games. But another poor outing by another starter led to another loss today as the Tribe beat the Orioles 6-2. Cleveland scored 32 runs in the series in taking three of four. Today, Brian Matusz could not get an out in the fifth inning...

Hardy on Thome: "He's the perfect teammate"

Hardy on Thome: "He's the perfect teammate"
J.J. Hardy is the one Orioles player who has been on the same team with Jim Thome. They played together with Minnesota in 2010 and Hardy said Thome will bring a lot to the Orioles on the field and in the clubhouse. "You guys will all see. He's probably one of the best guys to ever play the game personality-wise. A leader, just a great guy," Hardy said. Hardy said Thome called him yesterday to ask about his new team. "We're pretty close," Hardy said. "I know he's excited and so am I....

And the Thome era officially begins (Matusz's day ends)

And the Thome era officially begins (Matusz's day ends)
Jim Thome received a nice ovation as he walked to the plate with one out in the bottom of the second inning. The cartoon bird looked a bit strange on his helmet, but we'll get used to it. He's worn many hats over the years. In his first at-bat with the Orioles, who completed a trade with the Phillies yesterday that included Single-A pitcher Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino, Thome fell behind 0-2 and sent a hard bouncer off Indians pitcher Justin Masterson's leg. Masterson covered the...

Jim Thome talks about joining the Orioles

Jim Thome talks about joining the Orioles
Jim Thome will make his Orioles debut today, batting fifth as the designated hitter. Not long after arriving at the ballpark, he talked about joining the Orioles. "I'm excited to be here," Thome said. "These guys have had a great year and done some special things. Hopefully, we can continue to do that." Thome is batting .242 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 62 at-bats on the year. He hit .333 in nine interleague games with four homers and 14 RBIs and had a 1.062 OPS in June. He has 18...

Thome in lineup, batting fifth (updated with Avery move)

Thome in lineup, batting fifth (updated with Avery move)
Jim Thome will make his Orioles debut today in the finale of a four-game series against the Indians. He's in the lineup, hitting fifth as the designated hitter. Here's the Orioles lineup for Sunday: Brian Roberts 2B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Jim Thome DH Wilson Betemit 1B Ryan Flaherty LF Ronny Paulino C Robert Andino 3B Brian Matusz, P Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez is in the clubhouse, but no roster move has been announced to accommodate his placement on the 25-man roster....

Postgame chatter and speculation following 11-5 loss

Postgame chatter and speculation following 11-5 loss
The Orioles are prepared to make two roster moves tomorrow after Dana Eveland threw 77 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and Tommy Hunter threw 51 in 1 2/3 relief innings in an 11-5 loss to the Indians before 35,335 at Camden Yards. Veteran designated hitter Jim Thome will arrive tomorrow, but the Orioles apparently aren't ready to go back to a four-man bench with left-hander Brian Matusz starting the series finale. Miguel Gonzalez was scratched from tonight's start at Triple-A Norfolk, with Oscar...

Chris Davis on the Thome trade: "I think it's exciting"

Chris Davis on the Thome trade: "I think it's exciting"
After he talked about today's game and his homer against Cleveland, Chris Davis was asked about the Orioles adding Jim Thome to the team. "I think it's exciting. He's a guy I loved to watch play growing up. I have a lot of respect for him and I'm excited to have him here, not only as a player, but as kind of a mentor. He's been on winning teams," Davis said. "He obviously knows the game and I've heard nothing but great things about him as far as his character and his personality....

Duquette discusses today's trade for Jim Thome (updated)

Duquette discusses today's trade for Jim Thome (updated)
The Orioles completed a trade today that brings veteran designated hitter Jim Thome to Baltimore for Single-A Frederick pitcher Kyle Simon and Single-A Delmarva catcher Gabriel Lino. Thome is expected to be in uniform for tomorrow's game against the Indians. Executive vice president Dan Duquette told reporters that the two sides were engaged in trade talks for about a week before completing it today. "Jim Thome's a real pro and he specializes in hitting home runs and getting on base....

Taking a look at what the O's gave up for Thome

Taking a look at what the O's gave up for Thome
OK, first question. Did the Orioles give up too much for Jim Thome in trading prospects Kyle Simon and Gabriel Lino? Simon, their fourth-round pick out of Arizona last year, is a 21-year-old righty that was with Single-A Frederick. He is 2-8 with a 3.96 ERA over 14 starts. In 72 2/3 innings, he has walked 21 and fanned 49. Simon was supposed to start for Frederick tonight at Winston-Salem, but I heard that he was told a few hours before the game he was not pitching. After going 0-4 with an...

Orioles on verge of completing trade (Simon and Lino headed to Phils)

Orioles on verge of completing trade (Simon and Lino headed to Phils)
The Orioles are close to completing a trade for a hitter, according to a source outside the organization, and speculation centers on veteran Jim Thome, who isn't in the Phillies lineup today. No one with the Orioles will confirm that a deal is in place, but an announcement is expected following today's game against the Indians at Camden Yards. Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia is reporting that the Orioles and Phillies are engaged in serious talks involving Thome. It appears that an...

Would Jim Thome be a good fit for the Orioles?

Would Jim Thome be a good fit for the Orioles?
ESPN's Buster Olney says the Orioles would be a good fit for the Phillies' Jim Thome, and I agree with him. The question always is, at what price? What would it cost in a trade to get a 41-year-old slugger to see if he has one last push left to help an offensively challenged club? Olney posted this on his Twitter account tonight: My speculation and nothing more, at this point: I think that on paper, Orioles and Rangers are two best possible fits for Thome. Thome has always hit with plenty...