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Orioles

Wieters, Markakis grab first Gold Glove awards

Luke Jones

For the first time since 1998, the Orioles have claimed multiple Gold Glove awards as catcher Matt Wieters and right fielder Nick Markakis each became first-time recipients when Rawlings named their 2011 recipients late Tuesday night. The 25-year-old Wieters is the first Orioles catcher to claim the award after throwing out 37 percent of runners attempting to steal and being named to his first All-Star team this season. The catcher committed five errors and had one passed ball in 132 games this year. His .995 fielding percentage tied for the American League lead among catchers. Markakis earned his first Gold Glove after committing the first error-free season by an Orioles outfielder playing at least 150 games. His 14 outfield assists was fifth in the American League. Since 2006, Markakis ranks second in the majors with 72 outfield assists, with only Jeff Francoeur (84) having more. The 27-year-old outfielder is the third Orioles outfielder to receive the honor, joining Paul Blair (1967, 1969-1975) and Adam Jones (2009). Wieters and Markakis became the 14th and 15th players in franchise history to win a Gold Glove. This season marks the 17th time the Orioles have received multiple winners but the first since 1998

Hey Peter Angelos: If you can’t honor Brooks Robinson, why the hell do you own the Orioles?

Nestor Aparicio

After attending the amazing and memorable Brooks Robinson statue unveiling in front of Pickles Pub on Saturday afternoon my emotions left me two choices – either speak out about the painfully obvious and disgraceful lack of participation by Peter G. Angelos and the Baltimore Orioles or do what the rest of these phonies in the local bought-off media have done: turn a blind eye to the biggest and smelliest orange elephant in the middle of downtown Baltimore and refuse to ask the tough questions. So today is a day when I again unleash my raging fury regarding this sham on Baltimoreans everywhere perpetrated by the smallest of small men of our time in Maryland – Peter G. Angelos. There were roughly a thousand hearty Orioles fans and Brooks admirers at the feet of that gorgeous statue this weekend for a man who literally lifted the first shovel in erecting the modern era of professional sports in Baltimore. Brooks Robinson is a walking living legend and civic treasure and one whose inherent goodness and decency has been wasted over the past 20 years by this awful, mean-spirited and petty ownership group and the Angelos ownership reign of terror that has turned

Unveiling of Brooks Robinson statue very emotional for No. 5

Nestor Aparicio

It was like a scene out of a movie today in downtown Baltimore, as Brooks Robinson was feted with a lifetime of community contributions with a beautiful statue at the foot of Russell Street on the plot of land in front of Pickles Pub. Visitors coming from the south will be greeted by a barehanded, throwing Brooks Robinson in the motion of cutting down another runner. Come with us now at WNST.net via the amazing world of WNStv and take in an afternoon in honor of Brooks Robinson from the statue site. Enjoy these incredible stories of how No. 5 helped shape our lives in sports in Baltimore. Here’s the entire speech from Brooks Robinson: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2WfCI4V59Y[/youtube] Here’s the unveiling of the statue: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrbRrcAxv_k[/youtube] Josh Charles amazing speech: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMS6gUaDac[/youtube] Barbara Mikulski’s incredibe authenticity, passion and humor: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnc03DqJWaA[/youtube] Henry Rosenberg, former CEO of Crown Central Petroleum and great friend and business partner with Brooks. He is the one who got this amazing statue built and deserves all of the credit: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=choveOOFsWk[/youtube] World-renowned sculptor Joseph Sheppard of Baltimore talks about why he made Brooks Robinson statue and all of the fun facts: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzbzh1P-Yss[/youtube]

The Orioles will be better next year — and more new lies after The MacFailure

Nestor Aparicio

Our cool, growing (and still free!) sports media company had another great B2B-Business To Business event last week in Towson with @CoachBillick and an old friend and reader of WNST.net approached me and asked the eternal Orioles question: “So, Nasty, I’ve read all of the issues regarding the Orioles and Mike Flanagan and Andy MacPhail and Free The Birds, but what are we as fans going to do? You need to offer solutions…” Well, virtually every human being I’ve spoken to over the last three years – and I still have a ton of friends in upper management at Major League Baseball and all over the league — has concurred: this just isn’t going to change on the field as long as Peter Angelos is involved in Baltimore baseball ownership. But, of course, I came to that conclusion five years ago when I did the original Free The Birds rally and campaign because in my mind – and time has proven me correct – this was long past the point of no return with the local community and most people of integrity within the baseball community in 2006. And what I’ve come to realize is that this REALLY bugs the

Happy 5th Anniversary to my Free The Birds friends who want change for Baltimore baseball

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve been watching the Baltimore Orioles since 1973 and I’m not sure any of us could’ve predicted what this franchise was to become back in the late 1980’s when Camden Yards was built, our city was starved without football and the Colts had split town. It’s amazing now because most of the people in my company and many of you reading this under the age of 35 do not remember the Colts at all. Or a time when there was no purple. Or when there was no shiny stadia downtown that we all take for granted. I watched William Donald Schaefer fight for all of this. I watched John Steadman politic and report through all of this as a colleague and a kid at The News American. I watched the first shovel go in the ground downtown. I was at that magical game in 1988 when all of this civic planning was announced on the backend of an 0-21 start that invigorated the renaissance of not only the Orioles but this community as a whole. I wrote more than 75,000 words on this topic five years ago. You can read all of it here… I was there for all of

Five years ago we did Free The Birds rally and I’m still proud of it

Nestor Aparicio

There’s been plenty written about the Orioles demise and the AL East standings and the empty stands at Camden Yards speak for themselves as to what the Baltimore community feels the value of the baseball team is circa 2011. The stadium is empty most nights. Fans stuck with tickets can’t find anyone to take them for free. The city has tumbleweed blowing down Pratt Street most nights when the Orioles play. The fan base is so angry, so disenfranchised, so beaten down and/or disillusioned that they’re literally all but gone. It’s the Fall of 2011 — the most recent version of The Apocalypse for any lifelong Orioles baseball fan and baseball lover like me. With the tragic suicide of Mike Flanagan last month – and the subsequent tales of the trail of a broken baseball man who loved this city and the Baltimore Orioles more than words can express – the Orioles have clearly hit rock bottom. Or have they? Oh, I’ve now been hearing for well over a decade that “the Orioles have bottomed out.” Heck, Ken Rosenthal was writing that stuff 12 years ago when he was covering the Orioles for The Sun. I’m not sure any of

Orioles release 2012 schedule

Luke Jones

PRESS RELEASE, courtesy of the Orioles public relations staff The Orioles will kick off their 20th anniversary season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards with an Opening Day game on April 6, 2012 against the Minnesota Twins, 20 years to the day after the ballpark originally opened. The game is the first of a six-day season-opening homestand that will also see the New York Yankees come to Baltimore. The Orioles will play each of their AL East rivals three times at Oriole Park. In addition to their opening homestand trip from April 9-11, the New York Yankees will make a two-game stop in Baltimore May 14-15 and play a four-game weekend series, September 6-9. The Red Sox will have three three-game series at Camden Yards – May 21-23, August 14-16 and September 28-30. The Tampa Bay Rays will make their first trip to Oriole Park the weekend of May 11-13, followed by two more three-game series July 24-26 and September 11-13. The Toronto Blue Jays will play in Baltimore April 24-26, August 24-26 and September 24-26. In Interleague Play in 2012 the Philadelphia Phillies will make a weekend trip to Camden Yards, June 8-10, followed by a mid-week visit by

Orioles deal Gonzalez to Texas for player to be named

Luke Jones

(Updated: 10:25 p.m.) The Orioles traded relief pitcher Michael Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later on Wednesday afternoon. Multiple reports are saying the Orioles will receive 26-year-old pitcher Pedro Strop from the Rangers. He was 0-1 with a 3.72 earned run average in 11 appearances with Texas this season. The often-maligned Gonzalez went 2-2 with one save and a 4.27 earned run average (46 1/3 innings) with the Orioles in 2011. The 33-year-old has not allowed a run in his last 13 appearances, a span of 12 1/3 innings. After a disastrous April in which Gonzalez’s ERA was 9.82 by month’s end, the southpaw pitched to a 3.23 clip from May 1 through his last appearance on Aug. 29, a span of 39 innings pitched. Signed to a two-year, $12 million contract to be the Orioles closer in December 2009, Gonzalez’s run in Baltimore was a tumultuous one after blowing two of his first three save opportunities to begin the 2010 season before being placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Gonzalez finished 2010 with a 1-3 record, one save, and a 4.01 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. The deal

USA Today says MacPhail to resign at end of season

Nestor Aparicio

Although this shouldn’t come as a shocker to anyone who has examined the Orioles’ management situation following another last place finish, the USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported tonight that Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail is expected to resign at season’s end. His quote to Nightengale was typical slippery MacPhail: “Let’s just get to the end of the year and see what unfolds,” he said. “We’ll see. We’ll see.” Nightengale’s full piece is available HERE. This is what the USA Today reported tonight: MacPhail, according to two high-ranking Orioles officials, is expected to resign from his general manager’s position. The officials are not authorized to discuss the decision publicly because it is not official. Of course from my perspective, it’ll be interesting to see if Buck Showalter senses that there’s any reason to hang around but as Andy says: “We’ll see. We’ll see.” Comments are welcomed below…

New York Daily News says Angelos family jerked around Flanagan before suicide

Nestor Aparicio

As I said during my fill-in shift yesterday on WNST-AM 1570, there will be an appropriate time later for more observations regarding why Mike Flanagan took his own life Wednesday with a gun to his head. But with the New York Yankees coming to town and so many of Flanny’s old teammates searching for answers, it hasn’t taken long for the national media to start getting to the heart of the truth of this tragedy that many in the local media are too cowardly to report. Friday’s editions of the New York Daily News contained a well-sourced story by respected, long-time MLB writer Bill Madden, who spent time with Yes broadcaster and longtime Orioles teammate Ken Singleton and former Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli discussing Flanagan’s recent path. Madden is getting the same information many in the Baltimore media are getting regarding the typical treatment that Peter Angelos affords his employees and long-time Orioles legends: “Among the other distressing stories going around Thursday was that Flanagan never got over being jerked around by Angelos and the owner’s son, John, over his broadcasting contract – one that apparently never was consummated – last year. That, too, conceivably contributed to the financial distress

Orioles postpone Saturday’s doubleheader due to Hurricane Irene

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — With the effects of Hurricane Irene bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend, Saturday’s scheduled day-night doubleheader between the Orioles and Yankees has been postponed. Saturday’s 7:05 p.m. game will be played as part of a day-night doubleheader at 7:35 p.m. on Sunday, with Sunday’s already-scheduled afternoon game taking place at 1:35 p.m. Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. game will be made up on Sept. 8 at a time that will be announced at a later date. This marks the second rescheduling of a game originally scheduled for April 22, which was also postponed due to rain. Tickets dated Aug. 27 at 1:05 p.m. or April 22 will be accepted only for the game on Sept. 8. No exchange is necessary and fans should bring their original tickets to the ballpark gates for admission. Tickets dated Aug. 27 at 7:05 p.m. will only be accepted at the 7:35 p.m. game on Sunday. No exchange is necessary and fans should bring their original tickets to the ballpark gates for admission. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled games this weekend may exchange their tickets for any remaining game during the 2011 season, subject to availability, and must be completed by Sept.

Orioles reveal plans to honor Flanagan for remainder of 2011 season

Luke Jones

Returning home to begin a five-game series with the Yankees on Friday night, the Orioles have revealed their plans to honor the late Mike Flanagan after the former pitcher, coach, executive, and broadcaster passed away on Wednesday. Starting with Friday’s game, players and coaches will wear a black circular patch with “FLANNY” written in white on their right jersey sleeves for the rest of the 2011 season. A black banner with the No. 46 in orange has been installed just above the press box and below the booth where Flanagan sat as a member of the MASN broadcast team. He had been scheduled to call this weekend’s series against the Yankees. The club will hold a moment of silence prior to Friday’s game and the No. 46 will be displayed on the out-of-town scoreboard for the entire evening at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles will also show a video tribute on the video board at the conclusion of the first inning. The Orioles flag on the right field flag court will also be flown at half staff for the remaining home games of the season. And in an effort to invite fans to share their condolences and heartfelt

I hope Ripken isn’t next Orioles hero signing up to polish Angelos’ smelly turd?

Nestor Aparicio

On Tuesday night, as Camden Yards sat mostly empty on another beautiful summer night, it happened again. No, not just another “tough-luck, one-run Orioles loss” en route to what could possibly be the worst season of this era replete with 100 losses, but instead the whining, moaning and embarrassingly homerish “media” scam pulled on a nightly basis in my living room by the likes of Jim Hunter, Mike Flanagan, Rick Dempsey and company at MASN. Along with all of the apologists at The Baltimore Sun, WBAL, PressBox and WJZ (the entire CBS “family” is in bed with the Orioles and has spent 14 years making lame, transparent excuses while taking a paycheck) – it’s amazing these employees of Peter Angelos can put their heads on a pillow at night and believe they have any integrity left in their words this community. The crazy part is that there are still hopeless fans in the orange Kool Aid bunch who refuse to even acknowledge that all of these former “heroes of Birdland” are employed by Peter Angelos and will lie to you every night like state run media in Egypt, Syria and Libya. It’s been said many times in many ways but

After Scott’s injury, Orioles should look even harder at trading Guthrie

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — With the trade deadline only a week away, the Orioles have a very difficult decision to make when it comes to the future of Jeremy Guthrie, who could be making his final start with the club at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon. Do you trade your most consistent pitcher — even with an ugly 4-13 record — and further destroy a starting rotation sporting a 7.88 earned run average over its last 23 games entering Saturday’s action? Or do you retain your lone veteran presence on a club still hoping to develop the likes of Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta, and Brian Matusz and forgo any potential return of younger players for the future? The trade winds have whispered Guthrie’s name for a few seasons now, but the Orioles ultimately viewed their de facto ace as more valuable to them than any other team trying to pluck him at the deadline. Despite a 42-61 record in five seasons with the Orioles, Guthrie has a career 4.10 ERA over that span, including three seasons in which he finished with an ERA below 3.85. By no means should the Orioles simply send Guthrie to the first taker, but perhaps a look

Sure, Angelos is at heart of Orioles misery but 25 others are accountable, too

Nestor Aparicio

This inglorious 14 years of misery, lies and ineptitude for fans of the Baltimore Orioles all over the world has been hard to watch at every level. I’m exasperated with the media corruption, lack of integrity and pure filth of heart of Peter Angelos and his profiteering and lack of civic pride for something that this community held near and dear to its heart — bringing tens of thousands to literal tears in 1991 when the memories of 33rd Street moved downtown. But circa 2011, on a night-to-night basis, the only ones who can change the course of the franchise “in the moment” are the players Peter Angelos is paying millions of dollars, Andy MacPhail has hired and the ones Buck Showalter has morbidly signed up to manage this summer. Sure, Angelos is to blame for this entire mess — that much is self-evident at this point — but that does not exonerate alleged Major League Baseball players from being able to produce in the glare of the bright lights in the eighth inning of a one-run game. Take Friday night’s multiple fiasco-fest with the game on the line vs. the Angels. Nick Markakis came to bat with two outs

Orioles fall to Angels, lose Scott for rest of season

Luke Jones

The Orioles not only lost the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels Friday night, but they lost Luke Scott for the rest of the season. After being activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Friday’s game, Scott went 0-for-3 and would not have batted in the ninth inning of a 6-1 loss had his spot in the order come to the plate. The left-handed hitter once again experienced pain in his right shoulder after deciding he would take one more trial to play through the pain of a torn labrum before electing to undergo surgery or a season-ending rehabilitation program. “Luke’s been a tough guy. A lot of guys would have flown the coop, and he wanted to play,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He knew it was something he was going to have to do, anyway. I applaud him for that, for the ‘want-to.’ It’s not fair for the Orioles or for Luke to proceed down this path anymore.” Prior to the game, Scott said he planned to play the next three to five days to gauge whether he could continue playing or would need to forgo the rest of the season and decide on a course of

Live from Camden Yards: Scott giving injured shoulder one last run as Angels come to town

Luke Jones

**Join us in the Orange Crush live chat at 7:00 as the Orioles welcome the surging Los Angeles Angels to town for a three-game set** BALTIMORE — With Vladimir Guerrero still sidelined with a broken hand and fresh off a two-homer performance in Double-A Bowie, Luke Scott will take a final chance to see how his injured right shoulder responds after a stint on the disabled list. The Orioles have reinstated Scott — who will occupy the designated hitter spot and hit sixth — and optioned outfielder Matt Angle to Triple-A Norfolk prior to the start of a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. The plan is for Scott to play the next three to five days to gauge whether he can be productive with the torn labrum in his right shoulder that’s hindered him most of the season. If Scott feels he is not being productive enough to help the team, he will elect to have season-ending surgery or go the rehabilitation route that reliever Jason Berken chose when he had his own slap tear in his pitching shoulder. The Opening Day left fielder says the shoulder doesn’t affect his throwing as much as when he’s at the

Matusz shelled in latest Triple-A outing

Luke Jones

For those looking for a bit of good news with the Orioles off on Thursday, they didn’t get it from Brian Matusz. Coming off an impressive start in which he tossed seven scoreless innings while showing slight improvement in his velocity from what we saw in Baltimore last month, Matusz allowed seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work against the Toledo Mud Hens in an 11-3 loss for Triple-A Norfolk. The left-hander gave up eight hits and three walks before being lifted in the fourth inning for Tides reliever Nick Bierbrodt. Matusz also struck out two hitters. Though we likely won’t learn what his velocity and overall stuff looked like until Buck Showalter meets with the media on Friday afternoon, whatever he had — or didn’t have — working for him obviously didn’t translate to the box score. In his four starts since being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk following a horrendous start against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 30, Matusz has completed fewer than six innings three times and has a 5.40 earned run average in 21 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old has struck out 19, allowed 24 hits, and walked 10 over the four outings. Those stats

Orioles’ second inning sets punchless tone in 4-0 loss to Red Sox

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Games are rarely won in the second inning, but they can sometimes be lost. The Orioles managed just two hits against Boston on Wednesday, falling 4-0 and failing to earn their first series win since late June when they took two of three from the Cincinnati Reds. However, Baltimore failed to capitalize on the wildness of Red Sox starter Andrew Miller in the second inning in their best chance to score all afternoon. With the game scoreless in the bottom of the second, Miller walked the bases loaded with one out and backup catcher Craig Tatum coming to the plate. Instead of showing the same patience shown by the prior three batters against a southpaw who had walked nine batters over his last two starts (7 1/3 innings), Tatum swung at the first pitch and eventually grounded into a 4-6-3 double play on a 2-2 pitch that was several inches off the plate. “He was all over the place and then I came up there and he threw me some good pitches,” Tatum said. “I don’t know. It would have been nice to hit a fly ball or [the grounder] just be a couple feet either way and

Orioles’ concerns growing over Scott’s injured shoulder

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Despite completing two rehab starts for Double-A Bowie, outfielder/designated hitter Luke Scott will not be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday as was previously hoped. And judging from comments made by the left-handed slugger and manager Buck Showalter, surgery on Scott’s torn labrum in his right shoulder appears more and more likely. Despite nearly two weeks of rest in which he didn’t swing a bat or lift any weights, Scott did not appear to be encouraged with the health of his shoulder, claiming “it is what it is.” Scott told Showalter the shoulder is at 70 percent right now. The tentative plan is for Scott to take a day or two to rest before potentially playing in a couple more minor league rehab games. “It’s just been a challenge to deal with,” Scott said. “I took 13 days completely off, not doing anything, and it’s only just two days of rehab at-bats. I’m trying to build it up some more. … If I’m not 100-percent ready or if I’m not in a position where I’m really going to step in and help the team, I need to take the necessary means to get to that point.”

With late chance to win, Orioles not nearly good enough against Red Sox

Luke Jones

I’m not exactly breaking news by telling you the Red Sox are better than the Orioles. A lot better. On most nights, you could argue they don’t even belong in the same ballpark. And yet, they were tied 7-7 entering the eighth inning at Camden Yards on Monday night. The sleep-deprived Red Sox were coming off a 16-inning marathon against Tampa Bay that caused them not to arrive in Baltimore until early that morning. Instead of slamming the door on a tired Boston lineup and turning it over to an Orioles lineup that had earlier scored five runs in the fifth inning to erase a 6-2 deficit, manager Buck Showalter turned to Michael Gonzalez, Mark Worrell, and Chris Jakubauskas to get him through the eighth inning. Yes, you read that correctly. Eight runs later, the Orioles trailed 15-7 and ultimately dropped their seventh straight game against the Red Sox, 15-10. In fairness, Showalter wasn’t exactly playing with a full deck for a bullpen that’s not exactly known for shortening games when it’s at full strength, anyway. Closer Kevin Gregg — along with Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz — began serving a three-game suspension Monday stemming from the events at

Live from Camden Yards: Gregg, Ortiz begin suspensions as Orioles welcome Boston to town

Luke Jones

**Join us in the Orange Crush live chat at 7:00 as the Orioles welcome the Boston Red Sox to town for a three-game set** BALTIMORE — For those anticipating Kevin Gregg-David Ortiz II with the Boston Red Sox rolling into town for a three-game series, they’ll have to wait. Their suspensions were reduced to three games this afternoon, and both will begin their sentences tonight as the Orioles (38-54) hope to make it three wins in a row and extract some revenge after the Red Sox embarrassed them in a four-game sweep at Fenway Park prior to the All-Star break. Gregg agreed to drop his appeal of a four-game suspension after Major League Baseball offered a three-game penalty starting Monday in Baltimore. The respective fines of Gregg and Ortiz were also reduced. “It’s principle, I want to fight for principle,” Gregg said. “But at this point, in regards to the team, I’m trying to take the best interest of the team right now, using what MLB has presented.” With Gregg serving his suspension against the Red Sox, manager Buck Showalter said the Orioles could go with a few different candidates to potentially to close, presumably Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara, or

Despite late scare, Orioles remind us what winning formula looks like

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — You knew the Orioles would eventually win another game. I was pretty sure, anyway. I just didn’t think Alfredo Simon — scheduled to return to the Dominican Republic on Sunday for a hearing regarding his manslaughter case — would be the one to provide the best start by an Orioles pitcher all month, pitching seven strong innings and allowing two earned runs to snap the club’s nine-game losing streak in a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians. And I really didn’t think maligned reliever Michael Gonzalez would be the one to slam the door on the Cleveland rally when closer Kevin Gregg walked the bases loaded and gave up a three-run double to Orlando Cabrera to turn the Orioles’ comfortable 6-2 ninth-inning lead into a one-run heart attack special. However, Gonzalez recorded his first save since April 8, 2010 after signing a two-year, $12 million contract two winters ago to be the Baltimore closer. But these are the Orioles, of course. Nothing comes easy and things rarely go according to plan, especially over the last five weeks. Aside from Gregg’s inability to throw the ball over the plate in the ninth, the Orioles played a relatively crisp game

Guerrero placed on 15-day DL with broken hand

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Following the Orioles’ 6-5 win over Cleveland to snap a nine-game losing streak, manager Buck Showalter announced Vladimir Guerrero will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a cracked bone in his right hand. The Orioles have also optioned relief pitcher Pedro Viola to Double-A Bowie. Taking their spots on the roster will be outfielder Matt Angle and reliever Troy Patton from Triple-A Norfolk. After Guerrero was hit by a pitch last Sunday in Boston, a second x-ray earlier this week revealed a small crack below his right pinkie. The designated hitter attempted to take batting practice on Friday, but he was unable to grip a bat without feeling pain. The move is retroactive to July 6. Angle, the Orioles’ seventh-round pick in 2007, was hitting .266 with four home runs and 29 runs batted in for the Triple-A Tides. The speedy center fielder also has 20 stolen bases. Patton is 4-1 with a 1.83 earned run average in 44 1/3 innings this season for Norfolk. In a brief stint earlier this season in Baltimore, the left-handed reliever allowed two earned runs and struck out three in 2 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees on May

Live from Camden Yards: No DL decision on Vlad yet, Scott close to returning

Luke Jones

**Visit the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault to hear from Buck Showalter, J.J. Hardy, and Nick Markakis prior to Saturday night’s game with the Cleveland Indians** BALTIMORE — While J.J. Hardy’s contract received the most attention Saturday afternoon, the Orioles continue to wait on a decision to place Vladimir Guerrero on the disabled list. The 36-year-old designated hitter has a broken bone in his right hand and is unable to grip a bat without pain, but the Orioles appear willing to wait for another day, leaving them again with a short two-man bench of only backup catcher Craig Tatum and infielder Robert Andino for the third game of a four-game series with the Indians. “Hopefully we’ll make a decision shortly,” said manager Buck Showalter, who has discussed Guerrero’s status with head trainer Richie Bancells. Considering Guerrero hasn’t played since Sunday in Boston, it seems pointless to wait for the Orioles to continue to wait when Guerrero could potentially return in 10 days if placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 11. Instead, the Orioles will play a man down. Outfielder Luke Scott received a cortisone injection on Friday and has taken batting practice a day late. The plan is for

Orioles shortstop Hardy relieved to have new contract

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — With the trade deadline two weeks away and the possibility of multiple teams being after his services this offseason, shortstop J.J. Hardy decided he was having too much fun with the last-place Orioles this season. The 28-year-old shortstop agreed to terms on a new three-year contract to remain with Baltimore through the 2014 season. Reports indicate the deal will pay him in the neighborhood of $22 million over the next three seasons and will include a limited no-trade clause. The deal is pending a physical and has not been officially signed. “There are a lot of things I don’t have to worry about now,” Hardy said. “It’s definitely a relief, a big weight off my shoulders, and just worry about playing baseball now.” His 13 home runs is third on the club despite missing a month of the season with a strained oblique muscle. While spending a significant portion of the season in the leadoff spot, Hardy’s .490 slugging percentage is tops among regulars in the Orioles lineup. Hardy had represented the Orioles’ biggest trade chip, but 19-year-old prospect Manny Machado is a few years away from being ready to take over the shortstop position in Baltimore, prompting

Orioles’ 5-week-long wreck painful to watch

Luke Jones

Five weeks ago, I sat in Buck Showalter’s pregame press conference as the Orioles welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays to town to conclude a nine-game homestand. Fresh off a sweep of Oakland, the Orioles were again creeping toward the .500 mark with a 29-31 record and were trying to build momentum before embarking on a nine-game road trip. I casually asked Showalter the importance of seizing the opportunity to reach the .500 mark — after doing it two weeks earlier and then dropping five in a row immediately thereafter — for a young club trying to learn how to win. “We understand the math of common denominators of teams that have a good season,” Showalter said at the time. “At some point, we’ve got to get to and pass that threshold as an organization.” The Orioles won that night to move within one game of .500 as Jake Arrieta recorded his eighth win of the season. But instead of reaching and moving beyond the threshold as Showalter suggested, the club sprinted in the opposite direction to begin a five-week nightmare that’s shattered what once looked like a promising season on which to build. Baltimore’s five-game winning streak came to an

Live from Camden Yards: Guerrero has “small crack” in hand, out again

Luke Jones

**Join us in the Orange Crush live chat at 7:00 as the Orioles face the Cleveland Indians in the second of a four-game set at Camden Yards** BALTIMORE — As if an eight-game losing streak and losing 22 of their last 28 games weren’t enough, the Orioles received bad news in regards to Vladimir Guerrero’s injured right hand prior to tonight’s game against the Cleveland Indians. A second x-ray revealed a “small crack” on the hand below the pinkie and the 36-year-old designated hitter is again out of the lineup as the Orioles hope to snap out of a month-long stretch of abysmal baseball. Guerrero attempted to take batting practice on Friday afternoon, but the session did not go well, according to manager Buck Showalter. “There comes a decision now how long we can or will wait,” Showalter said. “Depending on the severity of it and the pain, guys have played with [it]. It’s not the possibility of hurting it anymore or what have you; just a matter of when the discomfort goes away — if it does.” While Guerrero’s lack of power (seven home runs and a .385 slugging percentage) has been disappointing, this latest development may dim the

Guthrie out of answers after suffering 13th loss of season

Luke Jones

Jeremy Guthrie is one of the most standup guys you’ll find in the Orioles clubhouse. Intelligent and analytical, the Stanford product is regularly willing to talk to the media, providing thoughtful insight after wins or losses. Following Thursday’s 8-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians, in which an ineffective Guthrie suffered his major league-leading 13th defeat of the season, his frustration was clear. Normally preferring to address the media in the auxiliary clubhouse (where manager Buck Showalter’s press conferences take place) after his starts, Guthrie instead held court at his locker, and his words were uncharacteristically brief after allowing six earned runs in five innings to drop his fourth decision in his last five starts (not counting last Sunday’s loss in relief to Boston). “I felt like I wasn’t able to throw the ball where I wanted to,” Guthrie said. “I wasn’t able to get ahead in the count, and when I fell behind, I had a really hard time throwing strikes and getting back into it.” Eleven pitches and four batters into the game, the Indians held a 3-0 lead after Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo home run and Carlos Santana hit a two-run shot into the right-center bleachers before

Here’s the truth: Baltimore doesn’t want to be told the truth about Angelos and Orioles

Nestor Aparicio

I bite my tongue a lot when it comes to the Orioles. Go back and read the last two or three years’ worth of material I’ve produced when it comes to Peter Angelos and you’ll see that while the losing hasn’t subsided one iota in the standings, my bile, venom and anger have dissipated publicly for lots of reasons. Here are a few: 1.    I’m older and a tad more mellow and I openly realize that while Angelos is one day closer to not owning the team any longer, I’m also one day closer to death. I sincerely hope I outlive him and the losing but as the tragic death of WNST’s No. 1 fan Fergy Commodari taught me last week, life is short so I focus on things I can control. 2.    I’m so insanely busy building WNST.net and all of our web platforms and initiatives that writing blogs every night about why the Orioles suck just isn’t a quality use of my time, energy or ambition. 3.    It’s hard to justify writing these “anti-Angelos” blogs when I have no energy to write about it and you really have no energy to read it. But, that said, it’s during

Live from Camden Yards: Orange Crush chat at 7 as struggling Orioles begin 2nd half

Luke Jones

**Join us in the Orange Crush live chat at 7:00 as the struggling Orioles begin the second half by welcoming the upstart Cleveland Indians to town for a four-game set** BALTIMORE — Following the Orioles’ beanball series in Beantown prior to the All-Star break, suspensions were handed down prior to the start of tonight’s series against the Cleveland Indians to begin the second half. Closer Kevin Gregg and setup man Michael Gonzalez received four and three-game suspensions respectively while manager Buck Showalter will serve a one-game suspension tonight as the Orioles (36-52) begin the second half with bench coach John Russell serving as manager. Both pitchers are appealing their suspensions and are available to the club tonight. “I played the game. I pitched inside and got him out and then I defended myself when [David Ortiz] came across out to the mound,” Gregg said about the altercation. “Words are exchanged. People say I was yelling at him; well, he was yelling at me. It happens a lot in this game. To think anything of exchanging words with a player is ludicrous.” The Red Sox designated hitter was also suspended four games after charging the mound against Gregg last Friday night.

Picking up the pieces for the Orioles’ second half

Luke Jones

Despite rumors to the contrary and the wishes of many, the Orioles will play the remaining 74 games of the 2011 season. Over the Orioles’ current stretch of losing 21 of their last 27 games that’s left them 18 games behind first-place Boston, I’ve constantly thought back to the spring of 2009. Former manager Dave Trembley made proclamations of the cavalry being on its way, labeling Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, and Jake Arrieta as “three legitimate top-of-the-rotation talents.” He gushed over the development of wunderkind catching prospect Matt Wieters, coming off a historically-great minor league season in 2008. The Orioles were coming off their first last-place finish since 1988, but with young pitching and the club’s best prospect since Ben McDonald, fans finally had hope that didn’t center around aging veterans, middle-of-the-road starters, or reclamation projects. The fortunes of 2011 or 2012 looked more promising than at any other point since the Orioles’ last winning season in 1997. Questions remained, but there was real hope. Light at the end of the tunnel. Over two years later, Matusz and Tillman find themselves languishing in the minor leagues — along with Zach Britton as a result of a service-time decision — and

Orioles catcher Wieters named to first All-Star Game

Luke Jones

Facing a mountain of expectations long before making his major league debut on May 29, 2009, Matt Wieters can finally call himself an All-Star. The 25-year-old catcher was selected by Texas manager Ron Washington as an American League reserve, becoming the first Orioles catcher to make the All-Star team since Mickey Tettleton in 1989. Despite a modest .262 average and seven home runs, Wieters’ defensive prowess had to catch Washinton’s eye as the catcher has thrown out 23 runners attempting to steal (45 percent) and has made just one error all season. His performance behind the plate has quickly earned him the reputation as one of the finest backstops in all of baseball. Wieters is hitting .426 (23-for-54) with runners in scoring position while driving in 33 runs in 2011. The catcher is the Orioles’ lone representative as center fielder Adam Jones and shortstop J.J. Hardy were not selected as reserves. The Orioles have not had multiple players selected to the All-Star Game since 2005 when Miguel Tejada, Melvin Mora, Brian Roberts, and B.J. Ryan were chosen to play in Detroit. Jones has been included as one of five American League choices in the “Final Vote,” allowing fans to vote

Orioles, Britton struggle in uninspiring loss to Cardinals

Luke Jones

The St. Louis Cardinals arrived in Baltimore having lost 12 of 15 and licking their wounds from a three-game sweep to Toronto in which they scored a paltry total of seven runs, but you wouldn’t know it as the Orioles were the ones going through the motions in a 6-2 loss Tuesday night. The recent struggles of Zach Britton continued as the rookie allowed four earned runs in a rain-shortened 5 2/3 innings to fall to 6-6 on the season after an electrifying 5-1 start to begin the season. As has become a common theme of late, Britton struggled with his command and left pitches up in the strike zone, including a rocked over the right-field scoreboard hit by Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus in the sixth inning. Over his last six starts, the left-hander has dropped four decisions while pitching to a 5.35 earned run average. Needless to say, the Rookie of the Year discussion has cooled as Britton has just one victory in his last 10 starts dating back to May 6. Of course, the Orioles hitters provided little assistance as St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse shut them out for five innings before a 28-minute rain delay caused

Live from Camden Yards: Orange Crush chat at 7 as Cardinals make first ever visit to Baltimore

Luke Jones

**Join us in the Orange Crush live chat at 7:00 as the Orioles welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Baltimore for the first time ever in an interleague three-game set with Zach Britton taking the hill against Kyle Lohse** BALTIMORE — Feeling refreshed after an off day and a series win over Cincinnati over the weekend, the Orioles welcome the struggling St. Louis Cardinals to town for the first time ever. Still reeling from the loss of Albert Pujols, the Cardinals (41-38) have lost 12 of 15 games and have scored just 21 runs in six games since losing arguably the best hitter on the planet, 12 coming in their only win during that stretch.The pitching hasn’t helped either, as St. Louis has posted a major-league-worst 4.95 earned run average in the month of June. On the other hand, the Orioles (35-40) found their bats heating up over the weekend, hitting nine home runs in the Reds series to give them 32 home runs in the month of June to lead the American League. The left side of the Baltimore infield has been especially potent this month, as shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Mark Reynolds make up the only

Before we cry for Westminster and crush NFL, let us not forget what Orioles have done to Baltimore’s business community

Nestor Aparicio

So, here’s where we call a spade a spade and separate the “righteous” from the wretched in the media. With all of the drama unfolding this week between the fans and the NFL teams in every city as the witching hour looms and there’s no labor deal and only haphazard snippets of alternating optimism and doom and gloom, I’ve remained pretty unfazed. Let’s also call a spade a spade here and say that very few businesses in Baltimore would be greater impacted by a lost NFL season than the one I own at WNST.net. If the Ravens don’t play in 2011 the impact on my life and the lives of my employees will be devastating. It would be a virtual tsunami to my company and many others who are directly related to the NFL and fall sports in America. So, I’m not some loud-mouthed outsider or a disgruntled fan simply throwing out an opinion, here. I’m the “affected” in this dispute between rich players and wealthy owners. And that’s before I start to discuss that I’m also a customer who buys PSL’s, all kinds of NFL purple swag and spends gobs of my hard-earned money chasing the Ravens around the

Guthrie gets overdue help from offense in Orioles’ 7-5 win over Reds

Luke Jones

It was far from Jeremy Guthrie’s best performance in a 7-5 win to give the Orioles their first series win since June 6-8. But the bats owed him one. Guthrie pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and six hits while uncharacteristically walking four batters in an afternoon in which deep counts caught up with him, forcing an early exit against the Cincinnati Reds. However, five runs in the first four innings and two late insurance runs proved to be enough despite eight walks by Baltimore pitching. Receiving the ninth-worst run support in the American League entering Sunday, Guthrie was grateful for the extra hand in securing his third win of the season despite a very respectable 3.93 earned run average in 16 starts. It marked the first time since May 26 that Guthrie had received five or more runs and just the fifth time all season. “Winning three games in three months, it’s frustrating,” said Guthrie, who improved his record to 3-9. “I want to be better; I want to have better results. At times, momentum seems to swing against the Orioles, so it’s nice to have held on and won this game. It’s important for the team.”

Orioles’ wait for old Matusz to return coming up empty

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — The Orioles keep knocking on the door, waiting for the old Brian Matusz to reappear, but continue to get no answer. And it’s growing more concerning with every start. On a night when the ball was flying out of Camden Yards with a combined nine home runs hit in the Reds’ 10-5 victory on Saturday night, Matusz looked more like the batting practice guy than the left-hander projected to be the No. 2 starter entering spring training. In just 4 2/3 innings against the Reds, Matusz gave up a season-high six earned runs, three home runs (tying a career-high), and nine hits while striking out five and walking one. His fastball touched 91 miles per hour once in the first inning, but consistently sat between 86 and 88 miles per hour for most of the evening. “The velocity obviously isn’t there,” said Matusz, who believes his changeup is getting better, but is still haunted by poor location. “Being in my fifth start, I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress, but I’ve just got to continue working and get a lot better.” In a sad contrast, Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman was hitting 101 on the stadium gun

MacPhail speaks to fans at State of the Orioles address

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Prior to the start of the second of a three-game between the Orioles and Cincinnati Reds, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and manager Buck Showalter addressed season ticket holders in a question and answer forum on the state of the organization. While many questions were of the run-of-the-mill variety on topics such as the Yankees and the health of Brian Roberts, MacPhail addressed his overall assessment of the Orioles since taking charge of the front office in the summer of 2007. “We’re better. We’re gradually getting better, better, better,” said MacPhail. “We’re not where we want to be yet. It’s coming in some respects, truthfully, not as quickly as I hoped it would, but we’re trying to build this thing from within with an emphasis on young arms. But we’re better. “We’re literally months ahead of the curve of where we were a year ago, and we’ve done that despite some setbacks in terms of health that really every team has to endure. We’re no different than them.” MacPhail quipped that the Orioles could lose their next 33 games and still be ahead of where the team was last season at that same point (a hypothetical 34-72

Orioles release 2012 schedule

Luke Jones

PRESS RELEASE, courtesy of the Orioles public relations staff The Orioles will kick off their 20th anniversary season at Oriole

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