Tatum's coming back to Baltimore
Tatum's coming back to Baltimore
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have decided to recall catcher Craig Tatum from Triple-A Norfolk, and he will be in uniform for tomorrow night's game at Camden Yards. Tatum replaces Troy Patton on the 25-man roster and will give the Orioles a four-man bench. At Norfolk, Tatum had only two hits in his 21 at bats, knocking in three runs in the process.
Patton's parting words
Patton's parting words
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Troy Patton's timing could have been better. He gets called up and the rotation strings together six consecutive quality starts, making his role of long reliever obsolete. "It's really a tough situation," he said after the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. "I came up here to be a long relief guy and it just happens to be the one week of the season that literally no long relief guy was needed. I wasn't needed to go in the games. "I understand it. It's good that I go back down...
Guthrie:  "To see it happen in the last week is a great sign."
Guthrie: "To see it happen in the last week is a great sign."
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Jeremy Guthrie began his recent roll of solid pitching July 17 vs. Toronto when he gave up just one run over 6 1/3. Now his ERA is 1.78 over his last five starts and today he matched his longest outing of the year and got the win as the Orioles beat Chicago, 4-3. "I'm just trying to be more aggressive. That's about the only thing I can put a finger on. Throw more strikes and my goal is to walk zero guys each game and make them hit the ball." Guthrie gave up just one run and six hits...
O's look to keep quality starts coming for Showalter
O's look to keep quality starts coming for Showalter
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The rotation has a little competition going these days. Nobody wants to be the first pitcher to ruin the streak of quality starts, which has reached six games. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't seen a poor start since he got here. Buck Showalter meets with the media following a 4-3 win over the White Sox "I understand, I watched," he said. "I know it hasn't been the case all year, but it's not like these guys have never pitched well this year. And they seem to be feeding off each...
Close call, but victory (w/roster move)
Close call, but victory (w/roster move)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Roster move: The Orioles optioned left-hander Troy Patton to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow. Many of us are guessing Craig Tatum, who's on the 40-man roster, or Scott Moore. Alfredo Simon served up a two-run homer to Ramon Castro with one out in the ninth inning to reduce the Orioles' lead to 4-3. Tension time. Brent Lillibridge lined to short and Juan Pierre flied to left after Simon fell behind, 2-0. Simon notched his 17th...
Guthrie solid as O's go to 5-1 under Showalter
Guthrie solid as O's go to 5-1 under Showalter
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles strong run of starting pitching continued this afternoon as Jeremy Guthrie was solid again in the Birds' 4-3 win over the first-place White Sox. Guthrie gave up just one run and six hits over eight innings as he improved to 6-11, 4.04. He tied his season high in pitching eight frames, throwing 116 pitches. O's starters have now recorded six straight quality starts, with an ERA of 1.94 in that stretch. Buck Showalter meets with the media following a 4-3 win over the White...
The decision (w/Morrow & Guthrie updates)
The decision (w/Morrow & Guthrie updates)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Cesar Izturis led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left-center field, making him Mr. 1,001. Manager Buck Showalter could have ordered rookie Josh Bell to bunt, which seemed like the obvious call. He could have sent up Julio Lugo to bunt, also a valid option. Bell swung away and lined to right. Izturis was a few steps off the bag and couldn't get back to tag, though the ball wasn't hit deep enough for him to advance. Why wasn't Bell bunting? I wonder if Showalter gave Bell...
Aberdeen's All-Stars
Aberdeen's All-Stars
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Four members of the Aberdeen IronBirds, including three 2010 draft picks, have been selected to play for the American League affiliates in the New York-Penn League All-Star game set for August 17th. They are Trent Mummey, the Auburn outfielder drafted in the fourth round this past June. He is joined by teammates Tim Adleman, a 24th-round pick, Adam Gaylord, drafted in round 31 and Kipp Schutz who was taken in round 19 in 2009. An outfielder, Schutz is hitting .331-3-30 and is 5th in the...
Here and there (updated twice)
Here and there (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles and White Sox are tied, 1-1, in the sixth inning. Ageless Omar Vizquel hustled to second base while Juan Pierre was caught in a rundown in the fifth, and he scored on Alex Rios' two-out single. Guthrie is trying to give the rotation six consecutive quality starts. He's given up seven earned runs in his last 32 1/3 innings. Toronto's Brandon Morrow is no-hitting Tampa Bay through seven innings today. He struck out the side in the seventh, giving him 14. His pitch count stands at...
Can't hold them down forever
Can't hold them down forever
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Jeremy Guthrie has been making some big pitches today vs. the first-place White Sox. But, after they had gone 0 for 7 against him with runners in scoring position, Alex Rios finally got a clutch hit. His two-out single to left center in the fifth scored Omar Vizquel to tie this game at 1-1. Guthrie may be on his way to another quality start. It would be the Orioles sixth in a row and his fifth straight, which would be an O's 2010 season high. Quality starts, 2010: 14 - Guthrie 13 -...