Bergesen's sleeper hold (updated)
Bergesen's sleeper hold (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
What a perfect description from MASN analyst and former Orioles pitcher and executive Mike Flanagan. Brad Bergesen has applied a sleeper hold on the Indians. I'm waiting for George "The Animal" Steele to jump in the ring and eat a turnbuckle. Bergesen just struck out two batters in the eighth inning, and the Indians seemed dazed as he delivered another breaking ball. All they can do is check their swings and hope for a reprieve from the first or third base umpires. He's allowed one run...
Erbe headed for surgery
Erbe headed for surgery
Steve Melewski
Orioles
O's pitching prospect Brandon Erbe will undergo shoulder surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum. Erbe was seen by Dr. Lewis Yocum today, and as a result of that exam, Friday's surgery has been scheduled. They won't necessarily know the extent of the injury until the procedure or how much time Erbe will miss. The 22-year-old right-hander from Baltimore has not pitched since a July 24 injury-rehab start with Aberdeen and was on the road back to Triple-A when he was sent to...
Another pitcher's duel? (updated)
Another pitcher's duel? (updated)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After last night, when these teams combined for 22 runs, one more than the O's and White Sox had combined to score during their entire four-game series, maybe the O's and Cleveland will return to a pitcher's duel tonight. The O's lead 2-0 after four on a Luke Scott RBI groundout in the first and a Cesar Izturis RBI single in the fourth. Brad Bergesen is off to a good start. The Indians do not yet have a hit and he has thrown just 42 pitches. He has gotten two double plays behind him...
Tonight's lineups
Tonight's lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
For the 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 Brad Bergesen RHP For the Indians: Michael Brantley CF Asdrubal Cabrera SS Shin-Soo Choo RF Shelley Duncan DH Jordan Brown LF Matt LaPorta 1B Luis Valbuena 3B Jayson Nix 2B Chris Gimenez C Josh Tomlin RHP Remember when the Orioles were last in the league with runners in scoring position with a .217 average? Since Aug. 3, they rank first...
No worries about Avery to Double-A
No worries about Avery to Double-A
Steve Melewski
Orioles
I see where some fans think the Orioles may be rushing 20-year-old outfielder Xavier Avery by promoting him to Bowie, a story we reported here yesterday. To that I say, don't worry about it. The O's are providing a player who has had a solid year with a new challenge and a chance to get his feet wet at the level he would likely be sent to next year anyway. In a best-case scenario, he does well and starts next season full of confidence beginning it at Bowie and maybe ending up making...
Injured Orioles heading to Bowie
Injured Orioles heading to Bowie
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I was preparing to write an entry about outfielder Lou Montanez reporting to Double-A Bowie today when I received an e-mail from the club's public relations director, Tom Sedlacek, announcing that Montanez and Jim Johnson would report this week. Great minds thinking alike. Montanez (oblique) and Johnson (elbow) are moving their injury rehab assignments from the Gulf Coast League team. Montanez will join the Baysox tonight, and Johnson will arrive tomorrow. Montanez was named the Eastern...
Left to figure it out
Left to figure it out
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The wins keep coming - seven in the last eight games - and fans keep wondering how much credit should go to the new manager. I don't think it's possible to come up with an exact formula. Would any pie chart - as opposed to a Pie chart - be totally accurate? No matter how you slice it, Buck Showalter has made a positive impact on this organization. There's more energy, more focus. We kept hearing talk of players being held accountable, but perhaps they believe it more when the words come...
Callis on Machado and the O's unsigned draft picks
Callis on Machado and the O's unsigned draft picks
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If you missed my story yesterday with Jim Callis of Baseball America, he believes very strongly that the Orioles will sign their top draft pick, prep shortstop Manny Machado, by next week's Monday midnight deadline. The Orioles have five players unsigned among players they drafted in the first 15 rounds: Round one pick Manny Machado Round three pick Dan Klein Round six pick Dixon Anderson Round seven pick Matthew Bywater Round 11 pick Alexander Gonzalez The club has not officially announced...
Uggla and Ramirez find way to solve Strasburg
Uggla and Ramirez find way to solve Strasburg
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Okay, so he is human. The Marlins scored six runs on Stephen Strasburg in Tuesday's 8-2 win at Nats Park, doubling the most earned runs Strasburg had allowed in nine previous major league starts. Second baseman Dan Uggla got on Strasburg early with a two-run blast in the first inning and then a two-run double in the third. Uggla said Strasburg wasn't in the same groove as the first time he faced him on July 16. "It is his first start back. He was out there, kind of feeling for it a...
And so it continues...
And so it continues...
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I remember when that title conjured up nothing but negative images. But not anymore. Did Buck Showalter spike the Gatorade? I'm running out of ideas. The Orioles are winning games every way imaginable. Low-scoring, high-scoring, tie-breaking, come-from-behind. Tonight, they simply bashed the Indians into submission, erupting for 14 runs in their gaudiest display of the season. Are you sold yet? I don't know how long it's going to last, and I don't care. I'm just going to enjoy...