Showalter, Tillman and Jones talk before today's workout

Showalter, Tillman and Jones talk before today's workout
Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Game 1 starting pitcher Chris Tillman were brought into the interview area - it's not actually a room - before today's workout at Camden Yards. The clubhouse opened to the media for an hour, but it will be closed prior to the Division Series games, per Major League Baseball rules. Here's a portion of the transcripts from today's interviews, starting with Showalter: On whether the intensity is picking up "I don't feel like it's picking up. I mean,...

ALDS notebook: Hardy on intensity, Cruz on crowd, Scherzer on facing the O's and more

ALDS notebook: Hardy on intensity, Cruz on crowd, Scherzer on facing the O's and more
The Orioles clinched the American League East on Sept. 16 and they played 11 games since with a postseason berth already assured. We saw the Orioles end the season playing with less intensity than they had before the clincher. Now they need to get that back for the AL Division Series that starts at Camden Yards Thursday against Detroit. Will it be hard to get it back? "No, I don't think so," shortstop J.J. Hardy said before today's workout. "Not with the way these fans are going to be....

Showalter debating 10 or 11 pitchers, Gausman to 'pen, Machado with team

Showalter debating 10 or 11 pitchers, Gausman to 'pen, Machado with team
The Orioles are working out at Camden Yards this afternoon before opening the Division Series on Thursday against the Tigers. Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson spoke to the team before they headed out to the field. Manager Buck Showalter was late to his media session, but as he said, "I couldn't shorten Brooks up." "I didn't want to miss that," Showalter added. "That's pretty good there. Wish he could have kept going. He may come back. That was pretty cool." Showalter still hasn't...

Manager Brad Ausmus, pitcher Max Scherzer talk about Detroit's postseason experience

Manager Brad Ausmus, pitcher Max Scherzer talk about Detroit's postseason experience
During separate press conferences this afternoon at Camden Yards, Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and Game 1 starting pitcher Max Scherzer gave quite different answers when asked about the club's playoff experience. This is the fourth year in a row that Detroit has reached the postseason and the Tigers have won the American League Division Series the last three years by winning Game 5 on the road each time. "For guys that have been through it, the experience is an enormous help," Ausmus...

Opposite dugout: Tigers bring power arms, power bats into ALDS

Opposite dugout: Tigers bring power arms, power bats into ALDS
Manager: Brad Ausmus, first year Record: 90-72 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.313/.371/.524, 52 doubles, 25 HR, 109 RBIs, 101 R); DH Victor Martinez (.335/.409/.565, 33 doubles, 32 HR, 103 RBIs); RHP Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA, 1.18 WHIP); LHP David Price (15-12, 3.26 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 5-1, 33 runs scored, 20 runs allowed Pitching probables Game 1, Oct. 2: Max Scherzer vs. Chris Tillman, 5:30 p.m., TBS Game 2, Oct. 3: Justin Verlander vs. TBA, 12...

How Orioles hitters match up against Tigers rotation

How Orioles hitters match up against Tigers rotation
Did you wake up this morning nursing a Ned Yost hangover and appreciating Buck Showalter just a little bit more than usual? One of the biggest challenges for any manager is handling a bullpen. I've seen it done poorly and I've seen Showalter practically master the art. The Royals have a great 'pen and they advanced to the Division Series, but they must be doing it with mirrors, because Yost is a poor reflection of... OK, you get the point. Let the man up. Wait, I've got one more. Yost...

Operation October: Preparing for the postseason

Operation October: Preparing for the postseason
It's officially October, which means postseason baseball at Camden Yards is finally here! It's been two long weeks since the Orioles clinched the American League East title, and the city of Baltimore has been more than ready for the Birds to host the AL Division Series. As dedicated O's fans, we know you #StayHungry for more Orioles access, so we'll be giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of our social media journey each day of the Birds' playoff run. Be sure to check in to Operation...

Duquette: "I like our chances with this ballclub"

Duquette: "I like our chances with this ballclub"
We're down to the final workout before Game 1 of the Division Series. One more day and Camden Yards comes alive again - dressed in orange, volume cranked to the maximum. The 5:37 p.m. starting time may not suit everyone, but why complain when the alternative is spending the postseason on your couch? As Orioles manager Buck Showalter says, you show up when they tell you and you play the games. Chris Tillman opposes Max Scherzer in Game 1. Showalter should clue us in on the rest of his...

Will playoff experience be important?

Will playoff experience be important?
How critical will playoff experience be when the Orioles and Detroit Tigers meet beginning Thursday in the American League Division Series? Detroit has a lot of it. In fact, the four pitchers named to start today for Detroit - Max Scherzer in Game 1 followed by Justin Verlander, David Price and Rick Porcello - have made a combined 30 playoff starts. We don't yet know the O's order beyond Chris Tillman in Game 1, but Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris have combined for two...

Tigers announce starters for Division Series

Tigers announce starters for Division Series
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters today in Detroit that he's sending Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Price and Rick Porcello to the mound for the Division Series. Mickey Lolich must not be available. Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA in 33 starts) is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles, with nine walks and 45 strikeouts in 39 innings, and 1-0 with a 4.95 ERA in three starts at Camden Yards. Scherzer is 11-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 starts at home and 7-4 with a 3.49...

Three reasons why Orioles can beat Tigers and three reasons why they may not

Three reasons why Orioles can beat Tigers and three reasons why they may not
From the "Did you know?" department ... Nelson Cruz pretty much single-handedly destroyed the Detroit Tigers while with Texas in the 2011 American League Championship Series. As the Rangers won that series in six games, Cruz went 8-for-22 with two doubles, six homers, 13 RBIs, a 1.273 slugging percentage and 1.713 OPS. He hit the first postseason walk-off grand slam in Game 2 of that series. His six homers and 13 RBIs are the most by one player in one postseason series in baseball...

Taking a look at the Tigers, the O's opponents in the ALDS

Taking a look at the Tigers, the O's opponents in the ALDS
The Detroit Tigers will be in Camden Yards on Thursday to play the Orioles in the American League Division Series. Here are 10 things to know about the Tigers: * The Tigers have a rookie manager in Brad Ausmus, a former catcher known for communication. General manager Dave Dombrowski went with a rookie after the experience of Jim Leyland couldn't bring Detroit a World Series title in the first three years of the Tigers' postseason run. Dombrowski said that when Leyland retired, he had a...

Division Series start times announced through Sunday

Division Series start times announced through Sunday
Major League Baseball has announced the starting times of the Division Series games through Sunday. Game 1 between the Orioles and Tigers at Camden Yards will start at 5:37 p.m. if the Royals win the American League wild card game, and 6:07 p.m. if the Athletics are victorious. Game 2 on Friday at Camden Yards will begin at 3:07 p.m. if the Pirates win the National League wild card game, and 12:07 p.m. if the Giants are victorious. Game 3 on Sunday in Detroit is slated for 3:45 p.m. That time...

Notes on the AL East, O's hot hitters and more

Notes on the AL East, O's hot hitters and more
With the Orioles' win on Wednesday in New York, the American League East champion has won 95 or more games for 14 consecutive seasons, dating back to 2001. No other division comes even close to that. On another note, this year will be the first time since 1993 that neither the Yankees or Red Sox will be in the postseason. That will come as music to the ears of some Orioles fans. As we get into next week, and the national media begins to focus solely on the playoff teams, some may portray the...

What they're saying about ALDS Game 4

What they're saying about ALDS Game 4
The Orioles and Yankees are headed to a decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series on the heels of a 13-inning 2-1 win by the Birds on Thursday night in the Bronx. Here's a round-up of what local, national and out-of-town media are saying about Game 4 and what lies ahead tonight. * Albert Chen of SI.com says what fans in Baltimore have known for weeks and months: Orioles magic is still alive. * Newsday's David Lennon writes about how Yankees skipper Joe Girardi coped privately...

Thome continues to marvel at Machado

Thome continues to marvel at Machado
NEW YORK - Whether 42-year-old future Hall of Famer Jim Thome is in today's Game 5 lineup for the Orioles or sitting on their bench - well, he'd be doing it either way, since he's the designated hitter - he will continue to appreciate the contributions of 20-year-old rookie third baseman Manny Machado. Machado is 2-for-14 in the American League Division Series, but he's homered, doubled and scored the decisive run in last night's 2-1 13-inning thriller over the Yankees. He also made...

It's Hammel vs. Sabathia in Game 5

It's Hammel vs. Sabathia in Game 5
NEW YORK - So it comes down to this. Jason Hammel gets the ball this afternoon knowing the Orioles' bullpen is running on fumes, knowing the entire team is attempting to move forward while having its backs against the proverbial wall. Do or die, just like the wild card and Game 4 of the American League Division Series. Win and advance. Lose and go home. "You know, it's obviously an honor to be the one toeing the slab, but it's been a team effort to get here," Hammel said. "It's been a...

Super pitching and even temperament carry Orioles to within a game of ALCS

Super pitching and even temperament carry Orioles to within a game of ALCS
It has been interesting to see the national media somewhat surprised at how low-key the Orioles are. They are getting a lot of questions about being subdued as a team and not getting too high or too low. They simply have been that way all year. If fans could have joined Baltimore reporters in that clubhouse after games at times this year, you truly wouldn't know whether they'd won or lost. I think it has become a team trait and a team strength. It helps them shake off tough losses like the...

Does Johnson get the ball again tonight?

Does Johnson get the ball again tonight?
NEW YORK - It's a situation that manager Buck Showalter would sign up for in blood, to use one of his favorite expressions. The Orioles take a slim lead into the ninth inning tonight. Does Jim Johnson close Game 4 of the American League Division Series? Johnson threw 22 pitches last night, a fairly low total considering that he worked two innings. He's been kept busy lately, saving an Oct. 2 victory against the Rays, pitching the ninth inning in Friday's wild card game, losing Game 1 of...

Still no confirmation on Game 4 starter

Still no confirmation on Game 4 starter
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter joked today about needing a cup of coffee before he could begin his conference call with reporters. He also needs a starter for Game 4, which he isn't ready to disclose. "Well, it's kind of like you know the options that we have, and a lot will depend on what happens tomorrow night," he said. "We're going to take each game as it comes and try to win that game and stay in that game and those nine innings, or whatever amount of innings it is, and...