Quick hits from Showalter

Quick hits from Showalter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter just spent 30 minutes addressing the media in the workroom here at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Here are a few of the highlights. I'll post quotes later in the afternoon. * Showalter said he isn't antsy that the Orioles haven't made a trade and he wouldn't want them to if other executives don't place the same value on his players. * Reliever Pedro Strop will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball...

Reynolds is non-tendered (final update)

Reynolds is non-tendered (final update)
The Orioles didn't negotiate a new deal with Mark Reynolds and they didn't trade him. Faced with tonight's deadline for offering contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, they chose to non-tender their first baseman and allow him to become a free agent. "It's official," he said. Reynolds made $7.5 million this year while batting .221/.335/.429 with 26 doubles, 23 homers and 69 RBIs in 135 games. The Orioles declined to pick up his $11 million option for 2013. Reynolds could...

Marlins claim Mahoney, and a closer look at Orioles' expected non-tenders

Marlins claim Mahoney, and a closer look at Orioles' expected non-tenders
The Miami Marlins have claimed Joe Mahoney off waivers from the Orioles, who designated him for assignment on Wednesday to make room for third baseman Danny Valencia on the 40-man roster. Mahoney batted .265 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in 132 games for Triple-A Norfolk in 2012, and made his major league debut for the Orioles, going hitless in four at-bats over two games. So much for "The Big Irish" being the Orioles' first baseman of the future. Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post first...

Who's on second?

Who's on second?
While the left side of the infield is set for 2013, the right side is open for business. The Orioles probably won't pick up Mark Reynolds' $11 million option. They could non-tender him and attempt to re-sign him, rather than risk going to arbitration. Second base is especially unsettled, with Robert Andino and Omar Quintanilla non-tender candidates and Ryan Flaherty a possibility to start the season at Triple-A Norfolk, now that he's no longer a Rule 5 player. Nobody knows what to expect...

Will Showalter go with his familiar lineup? (ALDS times announced)

Will Showalter go with his familiar lineup? (ALDS times announced)
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Atlanta Braves already posted their lineup for today's National League wild card game. It actually was tweeted yesterday. Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't in quite the same hurry. We won't know his lineup until later this afternoon, but it shouldn't be difficult to figure out, based on the pattern that he's established. Four of Showalter's last six lineups have been identical, all of them with the Orioles facing a right-handed starter. The two exceptions came...

The mysterious disappearance of Omar Quintanilla

The mysterious disappearance of Omar Quintanilla
Is there a pecking order developing as the final month of the regular season plays out? Are the Orioles better than the Rays, and are the Athletics better than the Orioles? Only if you put a lot of stock in their most recent games against each other. The Orioles swept Tampa Bay at Camden Yards, flew to Oakland and promptly dropped the first two games of their series. Now they need Randy Wolf, who won one of his last 20 starts with the Brewers, to play the role of stopper. Wolf has made two...

Leftovers from Showalter and today's roster additions (and pregame notes)

Leftovers from Showalter and today's roster additions (and pregame notes)
NEW YORK - We have a 1:05 p.m. game in the Bronx today. I hope you slept fast. I wanted to give you something to read with your morning coffee before I post the lineup. Here's a quote yesterday from manager Buck Showalter, which came after a reporter asked whether he tends to look up or down at the standings. In other words, is he more focused on the Yankees or the teams he's trying to stay ahead of in the wild card race. Showalter fired off his answer without hesitation, and he repeated...

Fitting Betemit on the roster

Fitting Betemit on the roster
The Orioles are 3 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East. They head to the Bronx after Thursday afternoon's tilt with the White Sox. You see where I'm going here? It's gone from interesting to really, really interesting. Manager Buck Showalter and his players aren't thinking about the wild card. They're focused only on the division lead. Oh yeah, and Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is expected to miss the weekend series with a calf injury. Very...

Wieters catching again today

Wieters catching again today
So much for a starting catcher sitting out a day game following a night game. Matt Wieters is behind the plate again today. He spent a few minutes in manager Buck Showalter's office before bench coach John Russell posted the lineup. Omar Quintanilla is starting at second base. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Manny Machado 3B Chris Tillman RHP

Orioles getting rare chance to go Dempster diving

Orioles getting rare chance to go Dempster diving
Ryan Dempster will make his fourth start with the Rangers tonight, and only his second career start against the Orioles, who begin a three-game series in Arlington. Dempster has surrendered eight earned runs in two of his three starts since the Cubs traded him, and he's sporting an 8.31 ERA in the American League. He's served up five home runs in 17 1/3 innings. In his only game against the Orioles, Dempster allowed one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who...

Machado mashes two homers as O's rout K.C.

Machado mashes two homers as O's rout K.C.
It looks like this Manny Machado kid might work out. Tonight, Machado became the 12th youngest player since 1918 to hit two homers in one game as the Orioles beat Kansas City 7-1 in front of 17,277 at Camden Yards. Machado hit a solo shot off Luke Hochevar in the fifth which gave the Orioles a 3-1 lead, and the next inning he unloaded a three-run shot to left to make it 7-1. Tonight, Machado became the youngest Oriole to homer since Jim Palmer did so at age 19 on May 16, 1965. He then became...

Orioles-K.C. mid-game notes

Orioles-K.C. mid-game notes
A couple of notes as the Orioles lead the Kansas City Royals 2-1 in the fifth inning tonight: * After starting the year 3-0 against Kansas City in the season series, Baltimore has lost their last three games against the Royals. The O's have won the season series in six of the last eight seasons. * Coming into tonight's game, catcher Matt Wieters was 7-for-14 over his past three games with three doubles, three homers and eight RBIs. Over his past 11 games, Wieters is batting .333 with four...

Gonzalez burned by HR and benefits from one (Machado home run note)

Gonzalez burned by HR and benefits from one (Machado home run note)
Miguel Gonzalez had allowed a home run to the first batter he faced in both home starts this season - Detroit's Austin Jackson and Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings - which made his battle tonight with Kansas City's Alex Gordon must-see TV. Gordon struck out. No repeat tonight. Gonzalez retired the side in order, but catcher Salvador Perez homered with one out in the second inning to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Gonzalez has allowed 10 homers in seven starts with the Orioles. His only clean...

Orioles notes and quotes before series finale (O's down 11-1)

Orioles notes and quotes before series finale (O's down 11-1)
NEW YORK - The Orioles are going for their first sweep of a three-game series in the Bronx since June 6-8, 1986. If it happens today, it would mark the first time that the Orioles have swept the Yankees and Red Sox on the road in the same season since 1980, according to Elias. The Orioles have won four straight games in the Bronx, their longest winning streak since taking six in a row from Sept. 16, 1996-Sept. 6, 1997. The Orioles are 5-5 when going for a sweep this year, including 2-4 on...

Nice comeback: O's spot Yankees five-run lead, then rally to win

Nice comeback: O's spot Yankees five-run lead, then rally to win
For the second night in a row, the Orioles posted an impressive win in New York. Last night, they held on late to win. Tonight, they came back early on to win. After falling behind 5-0 after the bottom of the first, the Orioles erupted for seven runs in the top of the second to quickly regain the lead on their way to a 11-5 win over the Yankees. In that big inning, all seven runs scored with two outs. Mark Reynolds produced an RBI double, Omar Quintanilla added a two-run single, and then...

Quintanilla unwilling to surrender spotlight today (more on Chen)

Quintanilla unwilling to surrender spotlight today (more on Chen)
Lew Ford is playing in his first major league game since September 2007, and he's become an instant favorite of fans here who love drawing out the sound of his first name whenever he does anything - hits, runs the bases, catches a fly ball, throws out a runner, comes close to throwing out a runner, towels off his face in the dugout. Wei-Yin Chen set the record today for most strikeouts by a Taiwanese player in the majors with 12, and he received two standing ovations - once when the message...

Homer hurts Hunter again (O's lose 6-1)

Homer hurts Hunter again (O's lose 6-1)
The Orioles and Athletics were scoreless through three innings tonight before the home run bug bit Tommy Hunter again. You know exactly where it got him. Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run shot deep into the left field seats in the fourth to give Oakland a 2-0 lead. Hunter started off Cespedes with four consecutive four-seam fastballs. He threw an 83 mph slider and Cespedes launched it for his 14th homer of the season. Hunter has allowed 23 homers in 99 1/3 innings. In four innings tonight,...

Omar Quintanilla has provided a spark for the Orioles

Omar Quintanilla has provided a spark for the Orioles
Omar Quintanilla has started the last seven games for the Orioles. He has provided a bit of a spark for the team since his trade from the Mets. After a three-hit game that included a solo homer Sunday, Quintanilla is 7-for-13 over his past three games and 10-for-20 over his last five after going 1-for-6 to start his O's tenure. After the Mets designated him for assignment, he was traded to the Orioles for cash considerations on July 20 and is batting .423 in nine games so far wearing the...

Teagarden behind the plate, Wieters the DH

Teagarden behind the plate, Wieters the DH
The Orioles' lineup tonight against Tampa Bay left-hander David Price includes Taylor Teagarden behind the plate and slumping Matt Wieters batting cleanup and serving as the designated hitter. Wieters is hitting .354/.418/.524 against left-handers. He's 7-for-21 lifetime against Price. Seeking more right-handers to face Price, manager Buck Showalter is inserting Steve Tolleson in left field. However, that leaves left-handed hitting Omar Quintanilla at second base. For the Orioles: Nick...

Quintanilla starting at second base tonight

Quintanilla starting at second base tonight
Omar Quintanilla gets another start for the Orioles tonight, shifting over from shortstop to second base. Chris Davis has returned to left field after starting at first base last night. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Omar Quintanilla 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP More trade rumors: The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo tweeted that the Orioles and Marlins are "discussing scenarios." No names were...