Remarks about the closer
Remarks about the closer
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
How strange that Mike Gonzalez keeps facing the bottom of the order in his save opportunities. Maybe he should start in the middle. Can that be arranged? Manager Dave Trembley's patience is being tested. It shows on his face and in his answers. He's trying to remain supportive of Gonzalez, but he's also frustrated that a 3-1 record has been turned around. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays "The bottom line for me is today is a game you have to...
Closing remarks
Closing remarks
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Mike Gonzalez sat at his locker again, waiting for reporters to talk about his latest destructive outing. It must be getting old - for a lot of people. "It's definitely not the way I wanted to start off, but I definitely have the utmost confidence in my ability," he said. "There's no doubt in my mind that I can get the job done. I just got off to a bad start and that's all I can say about that. "The thing I'm most frustrated about is the way this team's playing now. We're hitting...
Gonzalez on the boos:  "I understand it."
Gonzalez on the boos: "I understand it."
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Can a season start worse for a closer? Two blown saves in four games for Mike Gonzalez and a 1-3, not 3-1 start for the Orioles. Gonzalez was booed loudly after blowing the save in the home opener. But he was also booed on his way into the game as fans remembered his opening night struggles too. "I understand it obviously. They brought me here for a reason. That was to close games and get the job done. That's twice I've done it in a row and I understand their frustration," Gonzalez...
The boo birds rang down
The boo birds rang down
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Well, if new O's closer Mike Gonzalez had started the season pitching real well, the Orioles could be 3-1 and he could already have three saves. But Gonzalez suffered his second blown save in four games on Friday and the Orioles lost again in the ninth, 7-6 to Toronto. The crowd of 48,891 is a new Opening Day record at Camden Yards. Less than 24 hours after his shaky save vs. Tampa Thursday, Gonzalez entered in the 9th on Friday trying to preserve a 6-5 O's lead. But he issued a leadoff...
The longest walk
The longest walk
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
It wasn't a 15-pitch free pass from closer Mike Gonzalez. I'm referring to his walk back to the dugout after being removed from the game with two outs in the top of the ninth and the Blue Jays ahead, 7-6. Fans showered Gonzalez with boos long before he hit the real showers. He's surrendered two leads in four games, and last night's save was a buzz kill. Manager Dave Trembley replaced Gonzalez with Cla Meredith. He was one batter away from making the same switch last night. Brian Roberts...
No, no, no...good play (updated)
No, no, no...good play (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Felix Pie scored from first base on a single. Felix Pie scored from first base on a single. If I type it enough times, maybe it will start to make sense. Pie, pinch-running for Matt Wieters, raced home with the tie-breaking run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth on Cesar Izturis' single into right-center field. Pie just kept motoring - and he wasn't running on the pitch, so he had a lot of ground to make up - and beat the relay from Toronto second baseman John McDonald. Catcher...
The second half begins:  O's at Sox
The second half begins: O's at Sox
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Game Preview Orioles (40-48) at Chicago White Sox (45-43) After winning their last two series before the All-Star break, the O's begin the second-half tonight at Chicago. It's game one of a three-game series and a nine-game, ten-day road trip. The Orioles, who have won four of five games, won six of their last nine series before the break, going 15-12 over the last 27 games. The O's are 13-12-4 in 29 series thus far. The Orioles are just 14-27 on the road this year, losing seven of the...
Tonight's pitchers:  Berken vs. Danks
Tonight's pitchers: Berken vs. Danks
Steve Melewski
Orioles
RHP Jason Berken (1-6, 5.87) tonight makes his 10th start of the year, his 4th on the road and the 1st of his career vs. the White Sox. Berken took a loss last Friday, giving up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 vs. Toronto. After the game, Berken was encouraged by his outing said he "made some adjustments to clean up his delivery. It gives me something to build on for the second half." Berken has allowed exactly 2ER in three of his last four starts, pitching to an ERA of 4.58 over that...
Noting Tillman and Markakis
Noting Tillman and Markakis
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Norfolk RHP Chris Tillman picked up his 8th win of the year tonight in game one of a doubleheader. Tillman and Norfolk beat Charlotte, 5-1. The righty went 6 2/3 and gave up seven hits and one run with no walks and seven strikeouts. Tillman, who had not allowed a run over his previous two outings, is now 3-0, 0.44 over his last three starts, allowing just one run in 20 1/3 innings. He improves to 8-5, 2.42 on the year and has allowed 2ER or less in 13 of 17 starts. Just a guess, but...
Thome time
Thome time
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Jim Thome took over the game tonight in Chicago, hitting two homers in two innings as the Sox pulled away from a 3-3 tie to lead the O's 10-5 in the seventh. Thome hit a 2-0 pitch for a three-run shot in the 5th to break a 3-3 tie. After an Adam Jones homer pulled the O's within 6-5, Thome hit a 2-1 pitch from Danys Baez out to center for a Grand Slam and a 10-6 lead. That's 7 RBI tonight for Thome and 14 in his last three games. He has nine career Slams. His last before tonight was on...