Guthrie's day, and his velocity (updated)
Guthrie's day, and his velocity (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Jeremy Guthrie gave the Orioles' 6 2/3 innings in Game 1 of today's doubleheader, and he left with a 6-3 lead. Guthrie allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five. He out-pitched Francisco Liriano, and he came into today as the decided underdog in that matchup. The two home runs put me on edge, and the Twins were launching some monstrous foul balls, but Guthrie held them in check and turned in a quality start. A few readers wondered about the decrease in Guthrie's velocity. I...
To Raise a Closer
To Raise a Closer
Josh Land
Nationals
It's one of the most difficult roles in baseball. Closers need a short memory, a lot of confidence, composure and nasty stuff. They must channel their adrenaline, turn it into a positive force and ultimately shut down the opponent. It's a unique role only suited to certain pitchers. One of those special players is Drew Storen, currently closing games for the Syracuse Chiefs. Storen's been effective and impressive since signing with the Nationals last June. After seven appearances with...
You go, Lugo
You go, Lugo
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
That sentence would have taken on a vastly different meaning earlier this season, but Julio Lugo might be winning over some fans. Lugo is 3-for-4 with an RBI from the leadoff spot. Actual production from the top of the order. Don't adjust your sets. In his last three starts, Lugo has gone 7-for-12 with a walk, RBI and run scored to raise his average to .250. Could he also get the start in Game 2, perhaps at shortstop, with Ty Wigginton replacing him at second? There aren't many hot hands...
No longer leery of Liriano
No longer leery of Liriano
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Who saw this coming? Be honest. The Orioles took a 5-2 lead over Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano in the fourth inning before Michael Cuddyer led off the bottom half with a shot into the left field seats. They've collected nine hits, including an assortment of bloops and well-placed ground balls. At last count, the Orioles were 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position. All the runs have come with two outs - pretty impressive considering they were batting .176 with two outs and RISP this...
Lonely at the top (updated)
Lonely at the top (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I caught a little of manager Dave Trembley's dugout session with the media earlier today while I waited for O's Xtra to start on MASN2, and he indicated that Adam Jones could bat lower in the lineup. Julio Lugo is hitting first in Game 1, with Jones moving down to second. Trembley noted how Jones continues to struggle at the plate and is chasing bad pitches. It doesn't sound like the leadoff experiment will continue, though finding a replacement has proven difficult. It's not like Lugo...
Game 1 lineups
Game 1 lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles: 2B Lugo CF Jones RF Markakis 3B Tejada DH Wigginton C Wieters 1B Atkins LF Reimold SS Izturis RHP Guthrie Twins: CF Span 2B Hudson 1B Morneau DH Thome RF Cuddyer LF Kubel C Ramos SS Harris 3B Punto LHP Liriano
Checking on two prospects
Checking on two prospects
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Josh Bell hit a walk-off home run last night for Triple-A Norfolk, belting a 1-1 offering from Toledo reliever Jay Sborz over the right-center field wall in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Tides their third straight win. Sborz hadn't allowed an earned run in 10 games before last night. His eight saves are tied for the International League lead. Bell went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two walks. He's homered in three straight games, giving him six on the year to go with 18 RBIs, and...
Some stats to ponder before today's doubleheader
Some stats to ponder before today's doubleheader
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Some notes, stats and facts to ponder while we await the start of a long day of Orioles baseball. The Orioles are 6-5 since their 2-16 start. In those 11 games, the team average is .258 and they have scored 44 runs. The team ERA is 4.18 during that run. O's runs scored on the year: *78 in 21 games vs. AL East, 3.7 per game. *21 in 8 games vs. everyone else, 2.6 per game. They are scoring less right now in a small sample, outside of the division. That is skewed somewhat by their 36 runs...
Strasburg lights out against Gwinnett
Strasburg lights out against Gwinnett
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Syracuse Chiefs starter Stephen Strasburg rolled past the Gwinnett Braves in his Triple-A debut from a sold out Alliance Bank Stadium. Strasburg continued to hit 96-99 miles per hour on his fastball, a drop off the table curve ball and an assortment of off-speed stuff that confused the G-Braves hitters. Strasburg also added 2 RBI as Syracuse led 3-0 when he left the game. He had run scoring single in the 2nd inning and a perfect bunt in the 4th that scored the 3rd Chiefs run. His line was...
Mother's Day with the O's
Mother's Day with the O's
Josh Land
Orioles
In the past, when the O's were at home at Camden Yards on Mother's Day, there's typically been some sort of giveaway as you enter the ballpark. From picture frames to pink hats, moms are somehow acknowledged at the ballpark for their work, love and dedication throughout the year. This year, the O's will be in Minnesota on mom's special day, and the Twins earrings they're giving out at Target Field won't do an Orioles fan much good. But, you can still appreciate the pink bats and sweat...