Hearing more from Showalter following today's workout

Hearing more from Showalter following today's workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter knew that reporters were waiting for third baseman Manny Machado to enter the interview room today, so he offered to cut short his post-workout session with the media. Machado had to meet with the training staff, shower and put on his street clothes, which gave Showalter a few extra minutes to address a variety of subjects. Let's start with Showalter's refusal to pester Machado every day with questions about the knee. "He knows how much we...

A look at Mike Mussina's chance to get the call to the Hall and other notes

A look at Mike Mussina's chance to get the call to the Hall and other notes
Former Orioles right-hander Mike Mussina may make the Hall of Fame one day, but it appears today will not be that day. He may well come up short on a ballot plentiful with worthy candidates. It is clear to me that all these years later some O's fans are still bitter about Mussina's signing with the Yankees as a free agent. What is not clear is exactly what percentage of O's fans feel that way. I would think time heals some wounds, but not all of them for some fans. If Mussina does someday...

Orioles sign Gamboa and Clark to minor league deals

Orioles sign Gamboa and Clark to minor league deals
The Orioles announced this afternoon that they signed knuckleballers Eddie Gamboa and Zach Clark to minor league contracts. Gamboa has received an invitation to spring training. Gamboa, 29, was 4-6 with a 3.64 ERA in 16 starts at Double-A Bowie and 2-5 with a 6.23 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Norfolk. He's 37-34 with a 3.37 ERA in six minor league seasons in the Orioles system. The highlight for Gamboa last year was throwing a seven-inning no-hitter for Bowie on June 30 against...

More on J. Johnson and Gamboa, plus some Wieters speculation

More on J. Johnson and Gamboa, plus some Wieters speculation
The trade of Jim Johnson sure brought on an avalanche of reaction, much of it questioning the return the Orioles got in Jemile Weeks from Oakland. In acquiring Weeks, the Orioles got a player who didn't even play much in the majors last year and has not been able to duplicate his big league success of 2011, when he hit .303 in 97 games. It appears Weeks is not being handed the second base job, so the O's did not get back a top prospect or a player guaranteed to be a regular in exchange for...

Eddie Gamboa's passionate take on making the 40-man roster

Eddie Gamboa's passionate take on making the 40-man roster
You have to feel good for a guy who, after pitching for six seasons in 164 games and over 584 1/3 innings, gets his first shot on a club's 40-man roster. Right-hander Eddie Gamboa, who will turn 29 in December and who was drafted by the Orioles in round 21 in 2008, finally made it to the 40-man for the first time last night. His long road to get there included a lot of time in Double-A Bowie, nine games this season at Triple-Norfolk and his conversion this season to a knuckleball...

Berry and Ohlman on the 2013 success that led them to 40-man roster

Berry and  Ohlman on the 2013 success that led them to 40-man roster
To hear Tim Berry tell it, his biggest strides this season were made in the mental part of the game. That led him to perform better physically, and that led him to a spot on the Orioles' 40-man roster. A 22-year-old left-handed pitcher, Berry was added to the O's 40-man last night, joining right-hander Eddie Gamboa and catcher Michael Ohlman on the roster before the midnight deadline. Berry went 11-7 with a 3.85 ERA at Single-A Frederick this season and then pitched to a 1.84 ERA in the...

Berry and Ohlman react to making Orioles' 40-man roster

Berry and Ohlman react to making Orioles' 40-man roster
The Orioles added three players from their minor leagues to their 40-man roster tonight, with the additions of pitchers Tim Berry and Eddie Gamboa, and catcher Michael Ohlman. The 22-year-old Berry went 11-7 with an ERA of 3.85 this past season at Single-A Frederick. Over 152 innings and 27 starts, he gave up 40 walks with 119 strikeouts. Berry went 7-3 with an ERA of 3.27 in 14 starts after the All-Star break. Berry pitched well in the Arizona Fall League, going 2-0 with an ERA of 1.84 over...

Orioles add Berry, Gamboa and Ohlman to 40-man roster

Orioles add Berry, Gamboa and Ohlman to 40-man roster
The Orioles have added left-hander Tim Berry, knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa and catcher Michael Ohlman to their 40-man roster, raising the total to 36. No other players may be added to the roster before the Dec. 12 Rule 5 draft unless they're acquired from outside the organization. Berry, 22, went 11-7 with a 3.85 ERA in 27 starts at Single-A Frederick. He walked 40 and struck out 119 in 152 innings. Berry finished second in the Carolina League in wins, starts and innings. He also went 2-0...

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
The Orioles begin a four-game series tonight in Kansas City, where Scott Feldman is 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 10 career appearances, including five starts. Manager Buck Showalter moved Feldman ahead of Jason Hammel in the rotation following the All-Star break. Alex Gordon is 6-for-15 with a double and triple against Feldman. Billy Butler is 5-for-24 with a home run. J.J. Hardy is 8-for-22 with three doubles against Royals starter Wade Davis. Matt Wieters is 8-for-23 with two doubles. Wieters...

O's agree with two more draft picks, set Hunter Harvey's pro debut

O's agree with two more draft picks, set Hunter Harvey's pro debut
The Orioles' first-round draft pick, right-hander Hunter Harvey, is expected to make his pro debut July 19 pitching in the Gulf Coast League. Harvey has been at the club's facility in Sarasota taking part in a throwing program leading up to that debut. The O's third-round pick, lefty pitcher Stephen Tarpley, is expected to make his debut in the GCL on July 18. The Orioles have reached agreements with two more draft picks, coming to terms with their seventh-round selection, Youngstown...

Gamboa moving up to Norfolk

Gamboa moving up to Norfolk
Eddie Gamboa, the knuckleball pitcher who recently threw a seven-inning no-hitter at Double-A Bowie, will make his next start for Triple-A Norfolk. Gamboa is scheduled to make his 2013 Tides debut Wednesday night at Gwinnett. Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who's been working with Gamboa on his signature pitch, is expected to be in Gwinnett. Gamboa, 29, is 4-6 with a 3.64 ERA in 16 starts with Bowie. He's allowed 82 hits, walked 31 and struck out 79 in 99 innings. He allowed one hit over 14...

Urrutia, Gamboa honored by organization, O's take lead in eighth (O's win 4-2)

Urrutia, Gamboa honored by organization, O's take lead in eighth (O's win 4-2)
The Orioles have chosen outfielder Henry Urrutia as their minor league Player of the Month and knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa as their Pitcher of the Month for June. Hard to argue with those choices. Urrutia moved up to Triple-A Norfolk, where he's 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored tonight to leave his average at .238 with the Tides. He batted .365/.433/.550 with 16 doubles, seven homers and 37 RBIs in 52 games with Double-A Bowie to earn the promotion. In the month of June, Urrutia hit...

With new pitch and better results, Gamboa's stock is now on the rise

With new pitch and better results, Gamboa's stock is now on the rise
Right-hander Eddie Gamboa has pitched well enough the last few seasons for Double-A Bowie to keep his spot on the staff, but never quite well enough to get a promotion or to be considered one of the club's top pitching prospects. Gamboa is back at Bowie again this season. But armed with a new pitch and now producing strong results, Gamboa is finally getting noticed. Now his dream of someday making it with the Orioles doesn't seem like the real long shot it once did. The Orioles discovered...

Jair Jurrjens on today's roster move; Eddie Gamboa no-hitter notes and quotes

Jair Jurrjens on today's roster move; Eddie Gamboa no-hitter notes and quotes
It was a new one for me today when Jair Jurrjens was designated for assignment off the 25-man roster. There is a difference between DFA and this designation of DFA "off the roster." To cut to the chase, it appears that Jurrjens, after a 48-hour window, is very likely to remain in the organization, and will likely head back to pitch for Triple-A Norfolk. "They needed to put B-Rob on the roster, and I was the guy that came out from the bullpen yesterday. I'm the guy out," Jurrjens said...