The poles are open for Jones
The poles are open for Jones
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Adam Jones couldn't deliver with the bases loaded in the first inning, but he just slammed a ball off the foul pole in left field to break a scoreless tie and give the Orioles a 3-0 lead. Andy Sonnanstine, whose ultimate goal is to reach 100 pitches before the fourth inning, tried to tempt Jones with another breaking ball. It worked. Jones jumped all over it. Ty Wigginton singled and Luke Scott walked before Jones came to the plate, giving the Orioles seven baserunners in two-plus innings....
Gray uniforms? (updated)
Gray uniforms? (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
How boring. The Orioles used a walk to Brian Roberts, an error, a double steal and a walk to Luke Scott to load the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. Who needs hits? The Orioles did. Adam Jones took a curveball that appeared to miss outside, but plate umpire Brian Knight called it a strike. Jones swung through a fastball to fall behind, 0-2, fouled off a pitch while trying to protect the outer half of the plate - he no longer could trust Knight - and popped up the next one...
Conley to Frederick
Conley to Frederick
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Outfielder Brian Conley, a Gaithersburg, Maryland native and Towson University product, has been promoted from Delmarva to Frederick today. Conley, a 17th-round pick in 2008, is having his best professional season. In 98 games, he hit .270 with 16 doubles and 29 RBIs. The 24-year old ranks fourth in the South Atlantic League in on-base percentage (.393) and second in the league in walks (70). Conley was selected to the SAL All-Star Game. Recently, he was recognized as having the "Best...
Desmond loves being #2
Desmond loves being #2
Byron Kerr
Nationals
A few weeks ago in Cincinnati I asked Ian Desmond if he preferred hitting in the 2 slot and he said he absolutely loved it. He always felt like he was more a part of the action in the 2 hole, and saw better pitches. At that time, he had had only 34 at bats in the 2 slot, but the numbers were much better for him at the plate from the top of the order than anywhere else. Now with 78 plate appearances in the #2 slot, the numbers are still very good and usually better than if he batted further...
Erbe update
Erbe update
Steve Melewski
Orioles
This will be a short update. A club official said Brandon Erbe's shoulder surgery yesterday "went well, better than expected." At this point, I don't have any further update but may have more later today, so check back here. Erbe has not pitched since a July 24th injury-rehab outing with Aberdeen. He was 0-10, 5.73 over 14 starts this year at Triple-A Norfolk. He was the O's third-round pick in 2005.
Orioles lineup
Orioles lineup
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Brian Matusz LHP
Back to School Drive
Back to School Drive
Josh Land
Nationals
My close friends know that I've been pining for fall for awhile. I'm ready for sweaters, scarves, boots, pumpkin spice lattes and a nice cool breeze at Nationals games. Tonight, I can pretend it's fall by donating notebooks, pencils and pens to the Nationals' fourth annual Back to School Drive. Fans may donate new school supplies at the Center Field Gates from the time gates open through the fourth inning. Backpacks, calculators, composition and spiral notebooks, crayons, glue sticks,...
A few pre-game notes
A few pre-game notes
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles have won three straight series for the first time since June 12-21, 2009 vs. Atlanta, the Mets and Philadelphia. They haven't won four straight since Aug. 3-15, 2004, when they went 3-0 vs Seattle, 4-0 vs Texas, 2-1 at Anaheim and 2-1 at Toronto. The Orioles are batting .302 since Aug. 3, the highest team average in the AL and second in the majors behind St. Louis (.304 in three fewer games). The 54 runs scored since Aug. 3 is tied for second (with the White Sox) behind Minnesota...
At what point do O's consider long-term deal for Guthrie?
At what point do O's consider long-term deal for Guthrie?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
O's pitcher Jeremy Guthrie is throwing so well now, that even on a night when he doesn't have his best command, he didn't give up a run. "I didn't have a great feel for any of my pitches and had to battle," Guthrie told reporters after pitching six innings of two-hit, shutout ball in Friday's win over Tampa. You wonder what he might have done if he felt good about how he was throwing? Guthrie continued his great second-half pitching in the win over the Rays and is 4-1, 1.51 over his...
This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
So what's the Orioles' uniform of the day? Maybe all black with an orange cap and cartoon bird. Or go all orange again until they lose. But please, no pillbox caps like the Pirates wore. A victory today would give the Orioles four straight series wins, all since Buck Showalter took over as manager. This would be the first of the group against a division opponent, which happens to lead the American League's wild card race. Don't forget Showalter's quote during the last homestand about...