More Matusz on Matusz (updated)
More Matusz on Matusz (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Brian Matusz didn't know his pitch count when Rick Kranitz instructed him to go back out for the fifth inning. The plan was four innings. His count must have been low. "If I can keep getting ahead of hitters and doing that, I can go deep into games, and that's what's really important," he said. "I didn't have any three-ball counts today. I had a couple two-ball counts, but I didn't have any three-ball counts and I didn't walk anybody, so that's a positive. It means I'm really...
Trembley tackles topics
Trembley tackles topics
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Koji Uehara picked up the save in a 4-3 victory over the Phillies, getting a 9-3 double play to end it. Miguel Abreu, who keeps moving around, made the catch and throw in right field. Manager Dave Trembley said he planned to remove Nolan Reimold after two at-bats. It didn't happen because Reimold's Achilles forced him from the game. "Reimold ran much better yesterday. I got a very good report on Reimold ," Trembley said. "He got some new orthotics yesterday, so he's a lot more...
MacPhail talks about Roberts
MacPhail talks about Roberts
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he isn't sure whether the latest news on Brian Roberts is a setback until the club hears from Dr. Lee Riley, a back specialist at Johns Hopkins, "but clearly our preference would be to have him out on the field." MacPhail repeated that he's alerted his scouts to be on the lookout for a potential replacement at second base, something he first told reporters on Tuesday when he admitted to having concerns about Roberts' availability for the...
More post-game chatter
More post-game chatter
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Manager Dave Trembley hasn't shown a hint of concern over the rotation's inability to reach its innings limit before today, but it had to be satisfying to sit in the dugout and watch Brian Matusz make it through the fifth. "It sets the tone," he said. "That's what the good ones do, they set the tone, and he did today. In order for us to be successful, we're going to have to have good starting pitching. We're going to have it on a consistent basis." Matusz held the Phillies' potent...
Orioles lineup
Orioles lineup
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Jonathan Tucker CF Justin Turner 3B Lou Montanez LF Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 2B Jeff Salazar RF Brandon Snyder 1B Craig Tatum C Pedro Florimon SS Brad Bergesen RHP Also scheduled to pitch: Chris Tillman, Mark Hendrickson, Cla Meredith and Alfredo Simon. Not exactly the A lineup for this Fort Myers trip. Scott is the only player you could classify as a starter.
Pie update
Pie update
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will be taking their swings against Tim Wakefield, Brian Shouse, Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima. Good luck. The club is expected to make some cuts this morning. Felix Pie said his left shoulder feels "much better." He'll do exercises today and attempt to hit and throw tomorrow before returning to the lineup. "The pain is almost gone," he said. Pie was diagnosed with tendinitis in his shoulder after lifting too much weight while working out. "It has to calm down,"...
Cuts like a knife
Cuts like a knife
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles optioned four players this morning and assigned three others to minor league camp. The Orioles optioned Brandon Erbe and Troy Patton to Triple-A Norfolk, and Luis Lebron and Chorye Spoone to Double-A Bowie. Armando Gabino, Chris George and Mike Hinckley were assigned to the minor league camp. You're "optioned" if you're on the 40-man roster. You're "assigned" if you're a non-roster invitee.
M. Hernandez injured
M. Hernandez injured
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Michel Hernandez, who was competing for the backup catching job, will miss the next four to six weeks with a fractured right index finger. The competition is down to Chad Moeller and Craig Tatum. Hernandez suffered the injury while blocking a ball in the dirt. He got three at-bats Saturday in Tampa, but he couldn't throw the next day. X-rays revealed the fracture. Trembley said the club might add a catcher, along with some other players, for Saturday's split-squad game.
Pre-game nuggets
Pre-game nuggets
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
You can choose your own dipping sauce. David Hernandez, Koji Uehara and Dennis Sarfate are slated to pitch tomorrow against the Twins in Fort Myers. Kevin Millwood is scheduled to throw five innings in the B-squad game in Sarasota, with Jim Johnson going the last two. Matt Wieters will catch Millwood. Jason Berken will start Wednesday against the Blue Jays in Sarasota, followed by Kam Mickolio and Cla Meredith. Jeremy Guthrie pitches Thursday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, followed by...
Trembley unplugged
Trembley unplugged
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Manager Dave Trembley understands why Troy Patton believes he could evolve into a reliever in this organization, with so many young starters ahead of him and jostling for position in the upper levels of the minors. But the left-hander's role won't undergo any immediate changes. "I brought that up early in the year in our meetings, if we could ever envision him being a guy like (Mark) Hendrickson - a long guy, a left-handed guy, a swing guy. But I don't think we're ready to do that with...