Orioles replacing Alvarez in GCL (and other notes)

Orioles replacing Alvarez in GCL (and other notes)
With less than a week remaining until the start of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League season, the Orioles are in the process of naming a new pitching coach after removing Wilson Alvarez. I've heard that Wilson was let go Thursday after six seasons with the GCL team. Minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt is in Sarasota as the temporary replacement for Alvarez until the new hire is announced. Former Orioles pitcher and bullpen coach Alan Mills is beginning his first season as manager at...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
As the Orioles continue their search for starting pitchers, casting a wide net that covers the free agent, trade and international markets and potential non-tenders, they also are banking on two strong halves from Kevin Gausman. Tabbed as this year's opening day starter due to Chris Tillman's shoulder injury, Gausman registered a 5.85 ERA and 1.763 WHIP before the All-Star break and a 3.41 ERA and 1.204 WHIP after it. In 2016, he had a 4.15 ERA and 1.304 WHIP before the break and a 3.10 ERA...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
Shortstop J.J. Hardy gets the day off this afternoon as the Orioles attempt to gain a split of their four-game series against the White Sox in Chicago. Rubén Tejada is playing shortstop. Welington Castillo is the designated hitter against left-hander David Holmberg and Trey Mancini is playing first base with Chris Davis on the disabled list. Joey Rickard is leading off. Four of Castillo's five home runs this season have tied the game or given the Orioles a lead, according to ESPN Stats...

More on Asher and Jiménez, plus injury updates (O's down 2-0)

More on Asher and Jiménez, plus injury updates (O's down 2-0)
HOUSTON - Ubaldo Jiménez is moving to the bullpen beginning tonight, as the Orioles shake up their rotation by inserting Alec Asher for Sunday's series finale against the Astros. Manager Buck Showalter said his decision was made Wednesday while Asher worked two scoreless innings on 24 pitches. He just wasn't making it public. "We could have put him out there for a third inning, but didn't want to," Showalter said. "I thought it was a perfect spot for him to get three days down and...

The scoop on Chris Davis

The scoop on Chris Davis
The play drew more attention to third baseman Manny Machado, which tends to happen with any ball hit in his general direction. The magician with leather on his left hand and a cannon for a right arm leaped to knock down a line drive Wednesday night, reached back with the casual manner of someone picking up a quarter off the floor and fired to first baseman Chris Davis. Or in his general direction. Machado trusted that Davis would come off the bag, play the hop and record the out. Davis obliged,...

Left field lessons continue for Christian Walker

Left field lessons continue for Christian Walker
SARASOTA, Fla. - The first day of minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex includes a morning meeting before the Orioles take the field around 11 a.m. The clubhouse opened to the media for an hour. A few players, including reliever Mychal Givens and outfielders Christian Walker and Henry Urrutia, live in the area and decided to show up despite not receiving a formal invitation. Other players at minicamp include pitchers Mike Wright, Logan Verrett, Chris Lee, Jason Garcia, Brian Gonzalez, Joe...

Urrutia's tweet, Hall of Fame veterans and Ohlman's new team

Urrutia's tweet, Hall of Fame veterans and Ohlman's new team
Since I've been covering the Orioles fulltime in 1997, there haven't been many feel-good stories that can top Henry Urrutia's climb to the majors. His defection from Cuba after a failed attempt, the struggle to get from Haiti to Miami, his acclimation to life in the U.S. - including how he crashed through the language barrier - the walk-off home run against the Mets and the tears that followed as he talked about giving the ball to his infant son. Urrutia isn't feeling good these days. His...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
So much for the Orioles having four Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners in their infield. The best they can do is two after first baseman Chris Davis and third baseman Manny Machado were named finalists yesterday in the American League. No team has sported four Gold Glove winners in the infield in the same season, but the Orioles came close in the past. Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger and Davey Johnson won the award in 1969 and 1971, and Robinson, Belanger and Bobby Grich won it from 1973-1975....

As the offense struggles, Chris Davis is bearing the brunt of the criticism

As the offense struggles, Chris Davis is bearing the brunt of the criticism
Chris Davis' struggles have frustrated and angered Orioles fans, who are lashing out at the first baseman who signed a seven-year deal worth $161 million in January. Right now, and for a while now, Davis is not giving the fanbase a reason to embrace him. He hit a 418-foot homer on Sunday at Chicago, but he is 0-for-9 since that blast. Since the All-Star break, Davis is batting .118 with one homer and three RBIs in 22 games. In that span, he has struck out 32 times in 76 at-bats, has a slugging...

More on Miley, the rotation and roster (O's win 5-1)

More on Miley, the rotation and roster (O's win 5-1)
An examination yesterday on outfielder Joey Rickard's right thumb didn't reveal anything that should push back the timetable for his return. Rickard actually may be ahead of schedule after going on the disabled list retroactive to July 21. "The four-to-six weeks was a pretty loose guideline," he said. "It's pretty average just given that I'm still pretty young and they expect me to heal sooner than later." The checkup didn't show anything "specific" or "crazy," Rickard said. "I'm...

Urrutia outrighted to Bowie

Urrutia outrighted to Bowie
Outfielder Henry Urrutia cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Double-A Bowie, keeping him in the organization now that he's off the 40-man roster. Multiple sources confirmed that Urrutia cleared waivers and the Orioles later announced it on Twitter. Urrutia, 29, didn't have a previous outright and had to accept his assignment to Bowie, where he batted .298/.333/.408 with 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 23 RBIs in 48 games. The Orioles sent Urrutia to Bowie after he batted...

Early notes from Camden Yards

Early notes from Camden Yards
Not much in the way of news this afternoon at Camden Yards. The updates were also scarce. Vance Worley will be in the bullpen Thursday night, which makes him available to back up Ubaldo Jimenez in the event of an abbreviated start. Worley could get another start, but he's shifting back into a relief role. One reason why the Orioles went with 13 pitchers was to "buy another day or two of rest for Vance," said manager Buck Showalter. "He's shown that he's capable of doing...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
NEW YORK - If there's any good to come out of the Orioles' offensive slump, at least it's taking some of the heat off the rotation. Has your concern shifted or are you still pitching a fit over the pitching? The Orioles have been held to a single run in each of the first two games of this series. They entered it having scored at least two runs in 53 consecutive games, a streak dating back to at least 1913. The Orioles are 9-for-60 (.150) with a double, home run, seven walks, 12 strikeouts...

Recapping a busy day for the Orioles (O's lose 7-1)

Recapping a busy day for the Orioles (O's lose 7-1)
NEW YORK - Today is one of those days when the game almost seems like a side note to the flurry of activity. The Orioles wanted to wait until Wednesday to make a decision on Hyun Soo Kim, but the roster wouldn't allow it. Funny how these things work out. All of a sudden, Chris Davis comes down with a stomach virus, Matt Wieters is hit on the foot and the bench is too thin for the club to remain patient with Kim. Julio Borbon is swinging a hot bat and he brings speed and outfield versatility to...

O'Day will pitch Friday at Bowie (plus other notes)

O'Day will pitch Friday at Bowie (plus other notes)
NEW YORK - Orioles reliever Darren O'Day will go on a brief injury rehab assignment, pitching Friday night at Double-A Bowie if he continues to feel good after today's simulated game. The Baysox are hosting Erie at 7:05 p.m. O'Day threw 15 pitches today, rested and threw 10 more while facing Hyun Soo Kim and Joey Rickard. The Orioles are hoping to activate him from the disabled list on Sunday or Monday during the next homestand. Left-hander T.J. McFarland, on the DL with a knee injury,...

Orioles designate Henry Urrutia for assignment

Orioles designate Henry Urrutia for assignment
NEW YORK - The Orioles designated outfielder Henry Urrutia for assignment today to create a spot for outfielder Julio Borbon on the 40-man roster. Borbon's contract was selected today from Double-A Bowie and outfielder Hyun Soo Kim went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 11 with a strained right hamstring. Kim can return on July 26. Borbon, 30, hasn't played in a major league game since Aug. 2, 2013 with the Cubs. He collected a hit in his only at-bat versus the Dodgers. Borbon,...

Urrutia reports to Baysox

Urrutia reports to Baysox
Outfielder Henry Urrutia has joined Double-A Bowie and officially been added to the roster. He's batting third tonight and playing right field. The Baysox are in Harrisburg for a three-games series. The Orioles promoted outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday and assigned Urrutia to Bowie, a move that disappointed him and raised questions whether he'd report. He had until today to do so and arrived in Harrisburg earlier this afternoon. Urrutia was batting .245/.347/.304 with...

Bundy anointed long reliever tonight (O's win 5-2)

Bundy anointed long reliever tonight (O's win 5-2)
The Orioles have received five straight quality starts from Chris Tillman and they seriously could use more of the same tonight. Vance Worley saved the bullpen last night with three scoreless innings after starter Ubaldo Jimenez and left-hander Brian Matusz combined to allow 10 runs. That's the silver lining. The hard reality is that manager Buck Showalter doesn't have a long reliever for tonight's game if Tillman is knocked out early. Showalter always considers the what if, such as, "What...

Orioles' winning streak ends at seven games with 6-5 loss

Orioles' winning streak ends at seven games with 6-5 loss
Darren O'Day was so confident today that he struck out J.D. Martinez to end the top of the eighth inning, he took a couple of small steps toward the Orioles dugout while waiting for confirmation. First base umpire Mark Wegner, on the appeal, ruled that Martinez checked his swing. Two pitches later, the Tigers had the lead. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back home runs off O'Day, who's been scored upon in only two of his 17 appearances. He allowed only one homer before today. O'Day...

A look at the O's minor league affiliates so far

A look at the O's minor league affiliates so far
The Orioles' four full-season minor league affiliates are a combined 21-33 to date. Triple-A Norfolk is 4-9, Double-A Bowie 5-8, high Single-A Frederick 5-9 and Single-A Delmarva 7-7. Norfolk had scored just 31 runs in its first 11 games and then the Tides burst out in a big way during Tuesday's 20-4 win at Charlotte. The 20 runs were the most a Tides club has scored as an Orioles affiliate and were the most for the franchise since Tidewater won at Rochester 23-1 on opening day of the 1982...