More on Machado and leftover Strop quotes

More on Machado and leftover Strop quotes
CHICAGO - There's good news coming from the Orioles. Manny Machado only has two knees. I got it confirmed late last night. Seriously, the Orioles must be hopeful that Machado will come back stronger and the knee-buckling, season-ending injuries will be behind him. Fix the other abnormality. Exercise to strengthen the areas around both knees. The Orioles haven't publicly confirmed the pending surgery. I got it from an industry source. Executive vice president Dan Duquette figures to do it...

Orioles alumni report

Orioles alumni report
Within the span of a few weeks in July, the Orioles traded for four players, three of which were pitchers. In those deals they traded away five players. Here is a look at how those five players have done for their new organizations since those deals. On July 2, the Orioles acquired pitcher Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop and international signing bonus slots numbers 3 and 4. Arrieta first was sent to...

Will Feldman be a Joe Saunders-type acquisition for the Orioles?

Will Feldman be a Joe Saunders-type acquisition for the Orioles?
The Orioles struck quickly today in adding a pitcher for their starting rotation. It will be possibly as soon as tomorrow when we begin to find out if Scott Feldman will be a key addition for this team like Joe Saunders was late last season. Feldman was having a solid year for the Cubs going 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA and nine quality starts in 15 outings. Opposing batters are hitting just .234 against him, a stat that puts him ahead of Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and Jason Hammel. Feldman could...

Orioles trade Arrieta, Strop to Cubs for Feldman, Clevenger

Orioles trade Arrieta, Strop to Cubs for Feldman, Clevenger
The Orioles didn't wait until the final hours of the non-waiver trade deadline to acquire a starting pitcher. Looking to improve their rotation, the Orioles have obtained pitcher Scott Feldman and catcher/corner infielder Steve Clevenger from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop, and international signing bonus slots 3 and 4. Feldman, 30, is 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA and nine quality starts in 15 outings with the Cubs, with 79 hits, 25 walks and 67 strikeouts in 91 innings....

O's can't hold late lead as Blue Jays walk off with 7-6 win

O's can't hold late lead as Blue Jays walk off with 7-6 win
Well, that was a tough one to lose. Down 3-1 early in the game, the Orioles moved ahead 5-3 in the sixth and 6-4 in the seventh, but lost 7-6 in the last of the ninth as the Toronto Blue Jays won their ninth in a row. Maicer Izturis led off the ninth with a single off Brian Matusz and advanced to second on a sac bunt. An intentional walk and groundout followed, advancing runners to second and third. Pedro Strop came on to face Rajai Davis and his line drive single to left provided Toronto...

Strop with another scoreless inning, Davis homers in 13-3 win (rotation update)

Strop with another scoreless inning, Davis homers in 13-3 win (rotation update)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter found another safe spot for reliever Pedro Strop today, inserting him into the eighth inning with a six-run lead. Strop responded by retiring all three Tigers he faced, striking out two, and watched the Orioles extend their lead to 13-3. The Orioles tacked on four more runs against Jose Valverde in the top of the ninth on Adam Jones' two-run double that followed singles by Manny Machado and Nick Markakis, and a long two-run homer by Chris Davis that may have...

The bullpen, McFarland's first win and team chemistry

The bullpen, McFarland's first win and team chemistry
I find it absolutely shocking that the Orioles are 10 games above .500. Judging by some of the comments here after Wednesday's loss, I thought the season was over and a managerial change was on the horizon. The bullpen has been instrumental in these last two victories, both of them against the first-place team in the American League East. A bullpen that Buck Showalter refused to completely torch on Wednesday in order to avoid using Pedro Strop, who had struck out two in a scoreless inning in...

Anthony Amobi: Can Strop figure it out?

Anthony Amobi: Can Strop figure it out?
Wednesday afternoon was a case study in frustration if you are an Orioles fan. The Orioles faced the Los Angeles Angels and were hoping a series sweep. Despite their talent level, the Angels have been lackluster this season, but they took advantage a Baltimore pitcher during the top of the seventh inning. The pitcher on the mound for the Orioles: Pedro Strop. That name has caused fans to react with occasional outbursts of anger all season long. When Strop came into the game, the Orioles...

Showalter on Strop

Showalter on Strop
Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked today whether he's comfortable using reliever Pedro Strop in any situation after yesterday's outing, when the right-hander allowed two inherited runners to score and four of his own. "What does 'comfortable' mean," Showalter replied. Will Showalter use Strop in any situation? "Well, it depends what the needs of our bullpen are," he said. "Yesterday, we had three or four guys that we weren't going to use. We've got some guys who, when...

Pedro Strop: "I can't wait to pitch again"

Pedro Strop: "I can't wait to pitch again"
Pedro Strop said he is turning the page. Even as he is the primary topic on the local talk shows. and the focus of stories and blogs and message boards, Strop said he is focusing now on the next game and not his last game. "This is a new day," he said moments ago in the Orioles clubhouse. "I can't wait to pitch again. I can't wait to be back on the mound and do whatever I have to do to help my team win." He was asked if he is physically sound right now. "Yeah, my body feels pretty...

Should Strop have heard the boo birds? (plus Aberdeen's preliminary roster)

Should Strop have heard the boo birds? (plus Aberdeen's preliminary roster)
There is no question that fans have a right to boo. They pay good money to attend the games at Camden Yards and that is a way to show their displeasure with a player's performance. That doesn't mean I have to like it. As he struggled on the mound and was hearing a chorus of boos when he left it yesterday, I was feeling for Pedro Strop. He pitched very poorly and his performance directly contributed to a loss. He wasn't the only reason the Orioles lost. I believe Jason Hammel was...

Orioles facing decision on Strop

Orioles facing decision on Strop
I didn't plan on writing about Pedro Strop this morning as yesterday's game moved past the middle innings. But then, you know, stuff happened. I was surprised that starter Jason Hammel returned for the seventh inning. My ears were ringing from all the loud outs. It was a gutsy performance on a day when Hammel's command wavered, and I thought that trying to squeeze one more inning out of him was risky. However, it was clear that manager Buck Showalter wanted to avoid using a few of his...

Showalter: "We can't pitch the same guys every night"

Showalter: "We can't pitch the same guys every night"
Without revealing the names, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he had two or three relievers that he wasn't going to use today. Pedro Strop wasn't on that list. Strop allowed two inherited runners to score and four of his own in the Orioles' 9-5 loss to the Angels before 25,964 at Camden Yards. The seventh inning unraveled after Strop, inheriting two runners from starter Jason Hammel with no outs, leaping for Hank Conger's high chopper and failed to make a play. If he doesn't touch...

Strop and Hammel weigh in on O's loss to Angels

Strop and Hammel weigh in on O's loss to Angels
In the quiet of the Orioles clubhouse after today's game, I interviewed Pedro Strop for the "O's Xtra" postgame show on MASN. Here are his comments after he allowed four runs and three hits today in just one-third of an inning to take the loss for the Orioles. Q: You could not hold the lead today. What is your take on the outing? Strop: "Not good. Only thing I can say. I couldn't do the job." Q: Do you think it was location or stuff or a combination? Strop: "I would say location....

O's lose 4-2 lead as Angels avoid sweep at Camden Yards

O's lose 4-2 lead as Angels avoid sweep at Camden Yards
This one got away. The Orioles took a 4-2 lead to the top of the seventh this afternoon, but Jason Hammel appeared to tire and Pedro Strop struggled yet again. The Angels scored six times that inning to take an 8-4 lead and went on to post a 9-5 win over the Orioles. Hammel issued a single and walk to end his day. Strop got Hank Conger to hit a high chopper toward the mound. Had he fielded it cleanly or even let it go, it might have been a double play, but it hit off his glove for a single...

Strop enters game and loses lead (O's lose 9-5)

Strop enters game and loses lead (O's lose 9-5)
The first two batters reached against Jason Hammel in the top of the seventh inning, and manager Buck Showalter called for Pedro Strop. It didn't go as planned. Hank Conger reached on an infield hit to load the bases, the ball deflecting off Strop's glove, and Erick Aybar followed with a three-run triple. Aybar scored on Ryan Flaherty's throwing error on the relay to third base. In the blink of an eye, the Angels had four runs and fans were booing Strop, who was making his second...

After DL stint, Strop looks for command and consistency

After DL stint, Strop looks for command and consistency
The Orioles and their fans are hoping Pedro Strop will soon show a return to the form he showed much of last season when he had an ERA of 1.43 in late August. A pitcher with a history of some control issues, Strop walked 5.0 batters per every nine innings last season and that figure is up to 6.8 this year. He just came off the disabled list on Saturday and pitched a scoreless inning on just 12 pitches in the game that day against Tampa Bay. He said the DL stint provided him time to work on...

Game update and more notes (O's lose 8-0)

Game update and more notes (O's lose 8-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked before today's game whether he will use reliever Pedro Strop in the same role or ease him back into competition after a stint on the disabled list. "He's physically ready to go," Showalter said. "We'll let the game dictate it and the needs of our bullpen physically. But I'm hoping there was a byproduct of him having the injury in that it gave him a fresh start, something he didn't get with the WBC." Strop hasn't pitched...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pedro Strop is listed among the Orioles' relievers on their lineup card today, so he's coming off the disabled list. The lineup doesn't offer any surprises. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson DH Ryan Flaherty 2B Kevin Gausman RHP For the Rays Matt Joyce RF Ben Zobrist 2B Kelly Johnson LF Evan Longoria 3B James Loney 1B Desmond Jennings CF Luke Scott DH Jose...

Orioles option Belfiore

Orioles option Belfiore
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For the second day in a row, the Orioles recalled a player from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned him following the game. One and done. Left-hander Mike Belfiore was sent back to Norfolk after tonight's 2-1 loss to the Rays. He wasn't being punished. He didn't pitch. He just sat in the bullpen and watched for nine innings. The move was anticipated, and it's a clear signal that the Orioles plan to activate reliever Pedro Strop from the 15-day disabled list before...