Outfield platoon talk

Outfield platoon talk
How many platoon spots in the outfield are too many? Right now, the Orioles appear headed for platoon situations in both left and right field. That is probably fine, since the only other lineup spot looking at a potential platoon is designated hitter, pending how the rest of the offseason goes with signings and/or acquisitions. Going by the 2016 statistics, the Orioles ranked below average on offense in left field, above average in center field and well above average in right field. But Adam...

Poised for the start of free agency

Poised for the start of free agency
I've been rooting for a Game 7 all along. Nothing beats it in sports and it delays the start of free agency, which extends my downtime a little bit longer. It's always about me. I've got five days before the free agent market is open for business once the World Series ends, and I'll only leave Twitter at my own risk. Five days before beat writers are challenged to separate fact from fiction as rumors surface of the Orioles' interest in ... insert any name. Let me get a head start by saying...

A few more health updates

A few more health updates
Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard has avoided surgery on his right thumb as the offseason moves through October. Rickard didn't play after July 20 due to a torn ligament in the thumb sustained in a collision with the right field fence at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles transferred him to the 60-day disabled list on Aug. 31. They're hoping that Rickard won't need surgery over the winter and compromise his availability in spring training and perhaps opening day. A second opinion from hand specialist...

Should Orioles try to steal more wins?

Should Orioles try to steal more wins?
The Orioles stole 19 bases this season, the lowest total in club history. Which brings us to today's debate, and one that won't be parodied on SNL. Does it matter? Manager Buck Showalter wants a new leadoff hitter. Executive vice president Dan Duquette again will place emphasis on improving the team's on-base percentage, which plummeted in the second half. But what about the stolen bases? Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard led the Orioles with four steals and he didn't play after July 20. Michael...

Orioles announce wild card roster

Orioles announce wild card roster
TORONTO - The Orioles are going with 10 pitchers and 15 position players on their wild card roster as they await tonight's game against the Blue Jays. Rookie Trey Mancini made the cut, along with veteran outfielder Drew Stubbs. The bullpen includes starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Dylan Bundy, as expected. Brian Duensing gives manager Buck Showalter a third left-hander along with Donnie Hart and closer Zach Britton. No Vance Worley for the wild card. Here's the entire roster: Pitchers Brad Brach...

Orioles and Diamondbacks lineups

Orioles and Diamondbacks lineups
Trey Mancini is making his third major league start tonight, again serving as the designated hitter as the Orioles attempt to clinch a series win against the Diamondbacks at Camden Yards. Chris Davis is batting second. Drew Stubbs is in left field and batting ninth. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo RF Trey Mancini DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Drew Stubbs LF Wade Miley LHP For the Diamondbacks Jean Segura 2B Chris Owings SS Paul...

Miley vs. Ray tonight at Camden Yards

Miley vs. Ray tonight at Camden Yards
Can Trey Mancini hit a home run in his first three major league games? Will his mother hug the entire lower bowl? We'll find out tonight because Mancini figures to be in the lineup against Diamondbacks left-hander Robbie Ray. Mancini's father wasn't able to attend the games earlier this week, but he arrived in town and will have a good seat for it. Mark Trumbo is 2-for-3 with a double against Ray and Drew Stubbs is 0-for-2. That's it for Orioles who have faced him. Ray is 8-13 with a 4.66...

Orioles win in 12 innings on Trumbo's walk-off home run

Orioles win in 12 innings on Trumbo's walk-off home run
Mark Trumbo wasn't letting tonight's game go past the 12th inning. Enough already. Trumbo led off the inning with his 44th home run, a shot to left field off the Diamondbacks' Matt Koch, and the Orioles gained a much-needed 3-2 win before 37,815 at Camden Yards. They stranded 14 runners, but didn't let the entire night go to waste. The Orioles have their sixth walk-off win of the season. It's the fifth walk-off home run of Trumbo's career. Oliver Drake retired the side in order in the top...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
Trey Mancini is getting his second major league start tonight as the designated hitter against Red Sox's left-hander David Price. Chris Davis is batting second for the Orioles. Drew Stubbs is in left field and Caleb Joseph is catching. Manny Machado is 2-for-21 in his last six games. Adam Jones has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 home games since Aug. 23, batting .386/.417/.545 (17-for-44) with a double, two home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored. Reliever Oliver Drake (Navy) has...

Showalter speaks after 7-6 loss

Showalter speaks after 7-6 loss
The Orioles had their chances tonight. Plenty of them. Chances to take the lead, a chance maybe to move into a first-place tie in the American League East. If they selected Chance Sisco's contract, it would have been a perfectly-themed night. The Rays continue to revel in their role of spoiler, scoring in each of the first four innings and getting timely outs in a 7-6 victory over the Orioles before 19,233 at Camden Yards. The Red Sox scored five runs in the ninth to beat the Yankees and now...

Orioles lineup vs. Rays (updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Rays (updated)
The Orioles have lost pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne on a waiver claim by the Marlins. Despaigne was placed on waivers a few days ago, after the Orioles were unable to complete a trade. They designated him for assignment on Sept. 5. Despaigne was 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA in 16 relief appearance with the Orioles, who acquired him from the Padres in February for short-season Single-A Aberdeen pitcher Jean Cosme. Despaigne averaged 4.9 walks per nine innings, an issue that kept him from cracking the...

Pearce out of Orioles lineup tonight

Pearce out of Orioles lineup tonight
BOSTON - Nolan Reimold is in left field tonight and Drew Stubbs is in right, as the Orioles face left-hander Drew Pomeranz in the second game of their series against the Red Sox. Steve Pearce is out of the lineup after feeling another twinge in his right forearm/elbow area last night on a throw to second base. Reimold is making his first start since Sept. 3. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter tonight. Matt Wieters is catching. Manny Machado hit his 35th home run last night to tie his career...

Random notes and thoughts

Random notes and thoughts
TAMPA - The Orioles have so much going on that they're probably still percolating on their day off. The rotation is listed as day-to-day with six starters in the fold after Chris Tillman comes off the disabled list for Sunday's series finale in Detroit. The bullpen will gain Darren O'Day next week, but Jayson Aquino no longer is expected to be part of it, with manager Buck Showalter saying the left-hander will head down to Sarasota as part of the minicamp or taxi squad or whatever we're...

Rickard, new outfielders, Pearce and football talk (O's lose 5-2)

Rickard, new outfielders, Pearce and football talk (O's lose 5-2)
Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard still hasn't swung a bat after being cleared on Friday to begin baseball-related activities. Manager Buck Showalter has been checking the reports and figures to speak with Rickard, who's currently at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. Rickard could make the drive over to St. Petersburg, Fla. while the Orioles are there for a three-game series against the Rays that begins Monday afternoon. That's usually how we get caught up with players who are...

Stubbs and Bourn talk about being the newest Orioles

Stubbs and Bourn talk about being the newest Orioles
Outfielders Drew Stubbs and Michael Bourn were in the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon, their lockers separated only by Hyun Soo Kim, and they're on the bench for tonight's game against the Yankees. A clubhouse, bench and a pennant race. The Orioles acquired Stubbs off optional waivers from the Rangers and sent minor league pitcher Jason Heinrich to the Diamondbacks for Bourn. Both players are now eligible for the postseason. "It's always kind of a whirlwind whenever you get shifted around...

Orioles recall Joseph, Wilson and Aquino

Orioles recall Joseph, Wilson and Aquino
The Orioles began their roster expansion today by recalling catcher Caleb Joseph, right-hander Tyler Wilson and left-hander Jayson Aquino from Triple-A Norfolk. Outfielders Drew Stubbs and Michael Bourn have reported to the Orioles and also will be available for tonight's series opener against the Yankees. Joseph, 30, has batted .193/.240/.211 (22-for-114) with two doubles and six runs scored over 40 games with the Orioles this season. He's still looking for his first RBI. Joseph hit...

Is a division title chance slipping away from O's and will wild card be next?

Is a division title chance slipping away from O's and will wild card be next?
On kind of a strange Wednesday for the Baltimore Orioles, their front office was quite active but their offense was not. While the Orioles scored just one run until down to their final out last night, they added two outfielders to their team. They acquired Drew Stubbs on a waiver claim from Texas. They traded for Michael Bourn from Arizona and gave up minor league outfielder Jason Heinrich. Bourn, 33, has batted .261/.307/.362 with 12 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 43 runs scored, 30...

Reflections on new reserve outfielders

Reflections on new reserve outfielders
I feel an obligation to start this morning's blog entry with the following disclaimer: The Orioles know that they need to upgrade their rotation. Did they do it? Not unless Drew Stubbs really is Drew Pomeranz and Michael Bourn is really ... not another backup outfielder. The Orioles filled a different need yesterday. The filled it twice. They seem confident that Adam Jones will return on Friday, but they wanted an extra outfielder who could play everywhere and was most comfortable in center....

Showalter on Gallardo, acquistions and 5-3 loss (updated)

Showalter on Gallardo, acquistions and 5-3 loss (updated)
The Orioles' much-maligned rotation produced three straight quality starts against the Blue Jays. Yovani Gallardo was the latest tonight, retiring the last 10 batters he faced and leaving with three runs against him, all tallied in the first inning. It must have been the consolation prize. The Orioles dropped two of the three games, losing tonight 5-3 before 16,161 at Camden Yards. They're four games out of first place and tied with the Tigers for the second wild card spot. May their off day...

Duquette calls Stubbs "a good, solid, dependable defensive outfielder"

Duquette calls Stubbs "a good, solid, dependable defensive outfielder"
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette left open the possibility this afternoon that he could make another move before midnight. He's had ongoing talks with several teams, with pitching remaining a priority. In the meantime, he's acquired left-hander Kyle Lobstein from the Pirates and designated the reliever for assignment a few hours later to make room for outfielder Drew Stubbs on the 40-man roster. Stubbs has been claimed off release waivers from the Rangers and will join the...