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Orioles

Do you really care about this NFL money brawl?

Nestor Aparicio

I saw all of this coming three years ago in Palm Beach, Fla. at the NFL’s annual winter meetings amongst owners, NFL front office leaders and coaches. The owner’s voted to terminate the collective bargaining agreement, the words “uncapped year” become all the rage and here we are now at the fringe of a full-scale work stoppage, meltdown and the end of the world as we know it. I’ve spent a LOT of time over the past three years talking to virtually everyone I know in the NFL community about every facet of this negotiation in the hopes that I’d somehow be “expert” on what’s happening down in D.C. this week. I really thought that fans would be thirsty for what’s really happening behind the scenes and that somehow, there could be a happy ending behind the red, white and blue shield for 2011 football. Now that the witching hour has arrived it’s become very clear to me that the issues that are making the fight — percentages, salaries, trust, open books, medical insurance and a myriad of other arguments that have made 66 rounds of negotiating feel worthless — none of these are of any interest to most NFL

Back in Peter’s arms: When corporate media does business with Orioles the fans lose the truth

Nestor Aparicio

On Tuesday night we learned what we’ve known for months – Peter G. Angelos and WBAL Radio are going back into business together once again for the 2011 Orioles season and beyond. The old man finally gets his eternal wish – to be the king of the AM band on summer nights on a dying radio station that no one listens to anymore but cadavers and people in his age demographic who still think a “smart phone” is one with an answering machine. Funny, this is the same WBAL-AM 1090 that was also wrongfully denied media credentials the past few seasons and was considered persona non grata the nanosecond that John Angelos cut the CBS Radio deal four years ago with 105.7 FM and only after Bob Phillips squandered the longtime rights to the Ravens and allowed Ed Kiernan and the boys on TV Hill to swoop in for the purple roadkill for 98 Rock after the brand was built on the FM dial. It’s like jumping in and out of sleeping bags for both franchises and these two corporate monoliths as a formerly lucrative revenue stream – local radio rights – continues to dry up as sports fans go

Is Vlad simply Sammy Sosa version 2.0 for Orioles?

Luke Jones

It may have come seven years too late, but the Orioles finally persuaded Vlad the Impaler to bring his free-swinging talents to Baltimore. And before you shout charges of negativity and raining on a feel-good parade — fans in this town deserve a celebration as much as any city in baseball after 13 years of hell — I’ll admit to sharing enthusiastic visions of Vladimir Guerrero raking baseballs into the left field seats at Camden Yards. Guerrero brings an imposing presence to the heart of the lineup and should — along with veteran first baseman Derrek Lee — offer the legitimate protection that Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, and Adam Jones painfully lacked a season ago. He should make the team better in 2011, though how much is up for debate. My hesitation isn’t even about the $8 million price tag that so many statheads will whine about with accusations of the Orioles bidding against themselves and blocking Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie for the possible luxury of another two wins (in terms of WAR or “wins above replacement” for the sabermetrically-challenged). The reality is sabermetrics and responsible spending habits don’t exist in a vacuum when you’re playing the free-agent market

Orioles agree to 1-year deal with Duchscherer

Luke Jones

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail reiterated his desire at FanFest Saturday to add a veteran starter to the rotation mix with spring training just two weeks away. Just over 24 hours later, the Orioles appear to have found their man, agreeing to a one-year major league contract with veteran right-hander Justin Duchscherer — with all of 32 career starts — late Sunday night, according to multiple media outlets. The 33-year-old has a 33-25 career record in eight seasons with the Athletics and Rangers, spending most of his career as a reliever while making two All-Star teams (2005 and 2008). However, Duchscherer has battled health problems the last two seasons, pitching just 28 innings last season before undergoing hip surgery and missing the 2009 campaign with shoulder and back issues as well as a bout with clinical depression. His best season came in 2008 when he went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts for Oakland. Duchscherer threw in a workout for the Orioles on Friday and had reportedly narrowed his options to the Nationals and Baltimore before agreeing on the one-year deal. Given his health issues in recent seasons, any deal with the veteran was expected to be

Orioles FanFest brings optimism, but questions remain for 2011

Luke Jones

Thousands of Orioles fans flocked to the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday to mentally thaw out from the recent snow and shift their attention to spring and another baseball season. As is the case every year at this time, the optimistic superlatives were flying from every direction. Buck Showalter received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd, proving he’s still the toast of the town — at least in the baseball sense — after leading the Orioles to an uplifting 34-23 record in the final two months of 2010, avoiding the 100-loss mark for a team that appeared destined at the end of July to finish as the worst team in franchise history. Second baseman Brian Roberts declared himself as healthy as he’s been in two years after missing over 100 games with an injured back and dealing with concussion symptoms that lasted until Christmas. And numerous players and coaches spoke about the marked improvements in the lineup — and defensively — with the additions of veteran first baseman Derrek Lee, third baseman Mark Reynolds, and shortstop J.J. Hardy. Some even reminded everyone the Orioles had the best record in the American League East over the season’s final two

Here’s what I think about Derrek Lee

Nestor Aparicio

The signing today of Derrek Lee is a classic Orioles move. End of the year. Low dollars. Low risk. It gives the team an aging, qualified first baseman, who will be a nice fit on a potential 4th-place, 75-win team. He’s another Kevin Millar at this point in his career. Lee will hit .254 with 18 HR and 65 RBI. Big freaking deal. Peter Angelos just put $10 million back in his pocket that he didn’t give to Adam Dunn. Once again: Angelos wins in the pocket and the fans have a lousy baseball team and the city sits empty all summer. I’ve seen it for too long. Happy New Year, Orioles fans. Buck Showalter now once again has the worst first basemen in the AL East to try to win with.

Reports: Orioles agree to 1-year deal with 1B Derrek Lee

Luke Jones

Determined not to start the new year without a first baseman, the Orioles have reached a one-year agreement with veteran Derrek Lee, according to several sources. The 35-year-old had been in talks with the Orioles and several other teams throughout the offseason after playing for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves last season. Lee hit .260 with 19 home runs and 80 runs batted in in 2010 before undergoing thumb surgery last month. Lee is a career .282 hitter with 312 home runs in his 14-year career with the Padres, Marlins, Cubs, and Braves. He is a two-time All Star and has won three Gold Gloves. Speculation persisted for several weeks that the Orioles were targeting Adam LaRoche after Lee had originally spurned the Orioles’ initial interest, but a diminishing number of starting first-base jobs likely persuaded the veteran to accept Baltimore’s offer. Lee becomes the third new member of the projected starting infield in 2011, joining third baseman Mark Reynolds and shortstop J.J. Hardy who were acquired in separate trades earlier this offseason.

As purple Festivus season is upon us, alas the real Grinch continues to be Peter G. Angelos

Nestor Aparicio

It’s been 51 months now since the initial “Free The Birds” campaign that we launched at WNST.net in “Year Nine of The Black Cat” and motivated more than 2,000 other brave souls who said “enough is enough” to Peter Angelos and the losing and nasty ways of the Baltimore Orioles. The holiday results are in yet again for another sad orange offseason and I’m feeling pretty confident — as is Las Vegas — that the Baltimore Orioles will not be a playoff team in 2011. And the real reason the team won’t win this year is the same as last year and the year before that: they won’t (or can’t) spend all of the millions of dollars they have managed to extract from this community via their incredibly wealthy and lean “regional sports network” called MASN. We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in direct profit that was allegedly to be spent on improving the baseball team for the community to enjoy. But instead of the $150 million payrolls that were promised to “compete with the likes of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox,” that previously earmarked U.S. money donated by Middle Atlantic cable subscribers is in

My Sarasota report: Falling in love with the Orioles and spring training all over again…

Nestor Aparicio

I made a fatal yet beautiful mistake this weekend. My mother in law has a place near Sarasota area and my wife and I used the mini-bye weekend to “visit Sarasota” just like all of the ads I saw on MASN all summer said. And you know what? I fell in love with the concept of the Orioles and spring training and Sarasota once again. A proud franchise, steeped in tradition and local lore with the likes of Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken never saw a training facility like the one that is quickly getting erected off 12th Street in Sarasota. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-bldNihn68[/youtube] I walked around. I checked it out and I dreamed the dream of the orange Kool Aid. No doubt it’s a personal source of pride for the lovely Janet Marie Smith as she once watched Oriole Park at Camden Yards rise above the ashes of a dusty industrial wasteland six blocks west of the shining Inner Harbor 20 years ago. She is now overseeing this long-overdue re-working of the Orioles ways of spring and much like her predecessors, she’s abruptly stopped returning phone calls and emails from WNST.net. Work for a thug,

A gut-wrenching flashback for Orioles fans during ALCS

Luke Jones

The second inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees brought back an excruciating memory for Orioles fans tuning in on Tuesday night. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEH7r85yrU[/youtube] Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano’s drive into the right field bleachers was ruled a home run by umpire Jim Reynolds despite the protests of Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz and manager Ron Washington. It was eerily similar to one of the worst memories in Baltimore sports history — also taking place in the Bronx — with Tony Tarasco as the right fielder and Davey Johnson as skipper. You might want to scroll down if you have a heart condition or other stress-related conditions. [myspace]http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=15623423[/myspace] Unlike the blown interference call by umpire Richie Garcia in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS, umpires are now afforded the luxury to review a home run in which there is possible interference. Despite a fan clearly making contact with Cruz’s glove in the field of play, the umpires made no attempt to use instant replay to see what really happened, if even to confirm Reynolds got the call right. Was it a clear case of fan interference? Maybe not, but it

Live from Camden Yards: Game 1 of Showalter Era, Orange Crush Chat at 7 PM!

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — After weeks of speculation and a 40-minute press conference on Monday, we’ll witness the start of the Buck Showalter era in Baltimore as the Orioles (32-73) host the Los Angeles Angels (54-53) at 7:05 this evening. Showalter spoke to the media immediately after holding his first team meeting. You can hear Showalter’s first pre-game press conference with the media as well as reaction from Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault. It was a quiet clubhouse as Showalter met with his new team for the first time, but the new manager wasn’t surprised at the response given the way the season has gone and the changes the team has undergone since early June. “I tried to get a little feedback, but a little quiet right now,” Showalter said after meeting with his players. “We’ll do that one-on-one, but it was good. It was fun for me. I try to keep in mind [this] is the third time they’ve been through this, so I’m sensitive of that.” Showalter will spend the coming days trying to get a feel for the players on a different level from what he’s watched on television over the last few weeks.

Showalter impresses, but MacPhail’s actions will tell real story

Luke Jones

New Orioles manager Buck Showalter said all the right things when he was introduced to the Baltimore media on Monday afternoon. Showalter spoke with conviction and respect for the organization’s storied past, citing a desire to involve former players with the present organization. He stressed the goal to win as many games as possible—for the rest of this season and beyond. He talked about the only way to get people to return to the ballpark—a winning product. Showalter even plans on making Baltimore his permanent residence, embracing the fabric of the local community. As for playing in the top-heavy American League East? He insists it cannot, and will not, be an excuse for failing. He reminisced about his first trip to Memorial Stadium and his affection for late Orioles manager Johnny Oates—a friend and mentor of his—and how he’ll wear No. 26 in his memory. And despite the stoic, hard-nosed reputation that precedes him, Showalter showed a warm sense of humor in his first appearance as Orioles manager. However, through all of the rhetoric, one statement struck a chord more than any other throughout the 40-minute press conference. “One common denominator of all great organizations that are able to sustain

Here’s Buck…so where’s Peter?

Nestor Aparicio

As we watch the next press conference welcoming yet another Orioles manager to Baltimore amidst more rhetoric about the farm system, young players and how “tough” things are in the AL East, I’ll be wondering where the owner of the team is to take accountability for this 2010 meltdown. Now in their 13th year of nonstop losing one thing has remained constant — the man who is responsible for all of this civic tragedy, Peter Angelos, will be absent once again. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STRgnJzuHxc[/youtube] And once again, Angelos’ many employees in the media will be front and center to ask their newest co-worker, Buck Showalter, softball questions and lay-ups while the team flounders, the downtown business community decays and the team is 32-73. Today will once again illuminate the difference between the baseball team and the football team. When the Ravens hire, fire or take on water, owner Steve Bisciotti shows up for the press conference and sometimes painfully has to accept responsibility for failures at season’s end. Today, with the Orioles 13 years into a black hole, their owner Peter Angelos and his family will act the roles of cowards and  scarecrows — fingers pointed in every direction except the mirror

Orioles deal Tejada to San Diego, get a Wynn in return

Luke Jones

The Orioles may have only two wins since the All-Star Break, but they’ll be getting a Wynn on Thursday night. Multiple outlets are reporting third baseman Miguel Tejada has been dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer. The 24-year-old is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games for Double-A San Antonio. Tejada signed a one-year, $6 million deal to return to Baltimore in January but will now compete in a pennant race for the first-place Padres. The 36-year-old hit .269 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 97 games for the Orioles. The deal is pending league approval, indicating the Orioles will likely pay a portion of Tejada’s remaining salary to acquire the right-handed Pelzer from the Padres system. With Tejada being dealt, third baseman Josh Bell will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to presumably become the everyday starter at third base. Bell is hitting .263 in 19 at-bats for the Orioles this season in two brief stints in Baltimore.

Orioles finally hire Buck Showalter as next manager

Luke Jones

After weeks of speculation, the Orioles have finally hired Buck Showalter as their next manager. Currently on pace to finish with the worst record in franchise history, the Orioles (31-70) will hedge their bets on Showalter—and his .514 career winning percentage (882-833)—to steer a sunken ship for the remainder of 2010 in hopes of making improvements in the offseason. “My job with ESPN allowed me to follow this organization closely over the last several years, and although the current record may seem to indicate otherwise, I see enormous potential with this club,” Showalter said in a statement released by the Orioles. “I look forward to the challenge of competing in the American League East. Baltimore is a tremendous baseball town with passion and pride in its club and my family and I look forward to making it our new home.” Showalter will reportedly take over the club next Tuesday, Aug. 3 when the Orioles begin a seven-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels. Reports indicate he has agreed to manage the club for the rest of the season and will receive a three-year contract through 2013. “Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the

Orioles roster moves: Gonzalez back, Patton promoted (and demoted)

Luke Jones

With the bullpen completely spent after extensive work in the last three games, the Orioles needed immediate relief help. The Orioles announced a series of roster moves prior to Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez has been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, left-handed pitcher Troy Patton has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and third baseman Josh Bell has been optioned to the Tides. To make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, Jim Johnson has been moved from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list on April 10 with a strained left shoulder. At the time of his injury, Gonzalez had recorded one save in three appearances, much to fans’ chagrin. Patton was 6-9 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 starts for Norfolk this season. He posted a 3.44 ERA over his last nine outings for Norfolk. This will be Patton’s first stint in the big leagues since 2007. Patton’s stay with the Orioles could be brief, as Kevin Millwood is expected to return from the disabled list to make the start on Thursday night. Patton will wear uniform No. 54. Bell batted .263 (6-19)

Orioles option Tillman to Norfolk

Luke Jones

Chris Tillman is heading to the minors—again. After being hammered for eight runs in 2 2/3 innings in Monday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the 22-year-old has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman is 1-4 with a 7.92 ERA (25.0 IP, 22 ER) in six starts with the Orioles this season. He made two starts after being promoted for the second time this season on July 10, going 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA (10.0 IP, 8 ER), including a victory in which he pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings on July 10 against the Texas Rangers. A corresponding roster move will be announced prior to tomorrow’s game against Tampa Bay. The most likely candidates are veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (on the 15-day DL) or reliever Mike Gonzalez (60-day DL). It was announced earlier Tuesday that Millwood would make his returning start on Thursday night.

Orioles reinstate Scott from DL, demote Mata to Norfolk

Luke Jones

As expected, the Orioles have activated outfielder Luke Scott from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Scott on the roster, right-handed reliever Frank Mata has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Scott has been on the disabled list since July 1 with a strained left hamstring. At the time of the injury, Scott was batting .274 (61-223) with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 66 games for the Orioles. Mata pitched to a 7.79 ERA (17.1IP, 15ER) in 15 games for the Orioles after making his major league debut on May 26. He allowed just one earned run in his first seven appearances for the Orioles, but has given up eight earned runs in his last four appearances (5.1 innings).

Orioles place Millwood on DL, activate Pie

Luke Jones

As speculated after his miserable outing on Monday, starting pitcher Kevin Millwood has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm (flexor mass). Millwood is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA (107.2 IP, 69 ER) in a team-high 18 starts for the Orioles. The move will surely cloud his future as the Orioles were expecting to shop Millwood at the July 31st trading deadline To fill Millwood’s spot on the roster, the Orioles have activated outfielder Felix Pie, who has been on the disabled list since April 16 with a strained upper back muscle. Pie was batting .400 (8-20) with two doubles, a home run and one RBI for the Orioles at the time of his injury. By activating Pie from the 60-day disabled list, the Orioles’ 40-man roster is at capacity. The left-handed outfielder is scheduled to play left field and bat seventh in the lineup against Detroit on Tuesday night. With Millwood going to the DL, third baseman Josh Bell and reliever Frank Mata appear safe for now, though the Orioles will need a starting pitcher for Saturday night. If you’re on the WNST Text Service, you received the Kevin Millwood news first! Be sure

Enduring the second half: What I’d like to see from the Orioles (Part 1 of 2)

Luke Jones

With the Orioles officially reaching the halfway point of the season on Sunday, the second half of the schedule began much like the first—with a 12-9 loss in Detroit on Monday afternoon. It’s no secret that much of Baltimore has shifted its attention to the Ravens and the upcoming start of training camp with the Orioles appearing destined to finish with the worst record in franchise history. Whether you choose to persevere through the season’s final three months or tune out in hopes of regaining your sanity after the horrid first half, much needs to be accomplished between now and October—on and off the field. The most critical question of whether Andy MacPhail and Peter Angelos will commit to significantly improving the roster via free agency and trades in the offseason will linger long after October—and beyond—but in the mean time, a plethora of other issues can be addressed, some by the organization and others by players themselves. If I had a crystal ball to predict what will unfold over the final three months of 2010, here’s what I’d like to see: 1. A new skipper is hired This one is a no-brainer, but it’s imperative that the Orioles bring

Three on the 4th: What do Peter Angelos, Al Davis & George Steinbrenner have in common?

Nestor Aparicio

Well, since I’ve gotten your attention on the hot, sticky holiday here’s an amazing statistic that I think I sorta kinda knew, but could only be reminded of on the 4th of July. On July 4, 1929 BOTH Al Davis and Peter Angelos were born. Yes, same day, same year! And, just 365 days later, on July 4, 1930, Yankees tyrant George Steinbrenner was born. Three of the biggest jerks of their respective eras. Three sports owners. Three wealthy men. Three widely unpopular men. And currently, all three are in various states of illusion, disillusionment and/or failure in their communities to some degree. Of course, we could say that Steinbrenner — only after being banned and disgraced by his fellow owners — came out of the “dark ages” of the pinstripes with championships galore over the past 15 years. And, apparently his mental health is failing so we’ll try to be as tasteful as we can be about a guy who volumes of books were written about his eccentricities and temper over the years. But this is some “club” huh, these three wack jobs… Well just thought it was worth noting — other than comical efforts at public relations at

Orioles promote 3B Josh Bell, place Luke Scott on DL

Luke Jones

The Orioles have placed Luke Scott (left hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list. We saw that coming. What we didn’t see coming was a promotion for Triple-A Norfolk third baseman Josh Bell, but he will surprisingly take Scott’s spot on the 25-man roster. Bell batted .266 (76-286) with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 74 games for the Tides. In 24 games in June, Bell hit .272 (25-92) with nine doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and a .500 slugging percentage. Bell’s 24 doubles are second-most in the International League and tied for 12th-most in all of minor league baseball. He is tied for 10th in the league in homers. He was acquired on July 30, 2009 along with pitcher Steve Johnson from the Los Angeles Dodgers for closer George Sherrill. Bell will wear No. 25, most recently worn by Garrett Atkins. Update: Bell was 1-for-4 in his debut and made a throwing error at third base in the Orioles’ 8-1 loss to the Athletics Thursday night.

Ripken, Orioles still talking about a future role

Luke Jones

While most attention remains on the Orioles’ continued search for a manager, Cal Ripken continues to have discussions with Peter Angelos—and Andy MacPhail—about the current state of the organization. Ripken told MASN and The Sun that he continues to have an open dialogue about a future role with the club, but it’s unclear how involved he will become. “We have had some talks about learning and advising and being available when you can,” he said. “It’s sort of a secondary position or an advisory position. There’s a fairness on both sides–how much can you give, can you be involved as much as you need to be, or can’t you? Some of those issues need to be looked at.” Ripken did not rule out accepting a secondary position and working his way up the proverbial front office ladder below MacPhail. Of course, the continued discussions build on a Ken Rosenthal story from earlier in the season that claimed Ripken had asked for job only to be turned town by the club. One job Ripken won’t be taking is the Orioles’ current managerial opening, citing all of the travel conflicting with his desire to be close to home over the next two

Showalter says Orioles have “some great pieces” on Baseball Tonight

Luke Jones

Buck Showalter has been tight-lipped about last week’s interview for the Orioles managerial position, but he broke his silence on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight Sunday evening, sharing his impressions on the current state of the Baltimore Orioles. For anyone hoping to get a legitimate read on Showalter’s thoughts, you’ll probably have to wait as he was hesitant to discuss specifics, citing his respect for interim manager Juan Samuel and not wanting to comment specifically about “his” job. The 54-year-old former manager did, however, confirm his interest in the position. Despite the Orioles’ league-worst 23-52 record, the former big league manager acknowledged there is some talent with which to work in Baltimore. “It’s a tough situation, but the one mistake people make, I think, is just because a club has lost X number of games that everything there is bad,” Showalter told Karl Ravech on Baseball Tonight. “There are some great pieces there.” When asked why he would consider taking a managerial job in Baltimore given its current state and having to play in the toughest division in baseball, Showalter said any managerial job is a rare privilege. “We’ll see where it takes us and what’s presented to somebody. And you take

Live from Camden Yards: Marlins players in “shock” over Gonzalez firing

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — While the Orioles (19-51) prepare for the second of a three-game set against Florida (34-36) tonight at 7:05 p.m., the opposition is dealing with the surprising dismissal of manager Fredi Gonzalez earlier this morning. The Marlins clubhouse was filled with shock and disappointment regarding the firing, as first baseman Gaby Sanchez described it as a “shock” and Jorge Cantu did not learn of the news until this morning just like everyone else. Triple-A manager Edwin Rodriguez takes over on an interim basis as it appears Bobby Valentine will eventually become the next manager of the Marlins. He and owner Jeffrey Loria have known each other for 20 years, dating back to their days with the Texas Rangers. And, of course, if you’re on the WNST Text Service, you received the news that Valentine had official withdrew his name from consideration for the Orioles’ managerial position. It’s certainly no coincidence as Marlins president David Samson confirmed  the club had contacted Valentine earlier today about the job. The Marlins’ situation is certainly a stark contrast from the Orioles’ recent firing of Dave Trembley, who seemingly flapped around in the wind for weeks before finally receiving his walking papers. In Orioles

A staggering look at the numbers as Orioles drop to 19-51

Luke Jones

What more is there to say that hasn’t already been said after the previous 50 losses this season? The Orioles lost 10-4 to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night. Jeremy Guthrie was plagued by a four-run second inning, retired 13 of 14 batters, and then walked Chris Coghlan to begin the seventh before giving up an RBI-double to Gaby Sanchez. That marked Guthrie’s exit as he fell to 3-9 on the season. The bullpen was awful, giving up three earned runs in three innings to put the game even further out of reach than it already was. On a bright note, Matt Wieters hit a three-run, opposite-field homer in the second inning on a typical Baltimore summer night in which the ball was really carrying at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The struggling catcher now has 6 RBI in his last two games despite a .225 average. It was also the Orioles’ first three-run home run since May 1. Instead of analyzing why the Orioles lost again (it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, does it?), here’s a glimpse at some staggering numbers and scenarios: – The Orioles are now 19-51, a .271 winning percentage that now puts the club on

Live from Camden Yards: Jake Fox to O’s, Tillman optioned to Norfolk

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — As reported earlier today, the Orioles have acquired infielder/outfielder Jake Fox from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Ross Wolf and cash considerations. It’s a move that’s sure to excite few but isn’t a bad gamble if you take a look at Fox’s career minor league numbers. And, oh yeah, he’s a former Cub, which Andy MacPhail seems to like for some reason. Interim manager Juan Samuel intends to use the 27-year-old Fox in a utility role off the bench and as a third catcher to help spell Matt Wieters—who could then be the designated hitter on occasion—and backup Craig Tatum. That’s fine for now, but Fox needs to receive regular opportunities at some point. Regardless of whose playing time suffers as a result, there’s no such thing as “stepping on anyone’s toes” when the club is 19-50. “He’s an added bat,” Samuel said. “We’re going to do everything we can to get him in there and get some offense. That’s just an extra guy to help us off the bench, to pinch hit if we need to throw him in against a left-hander. … I’m going to try to play as many guys as

Orioles managerial search: Now, later, or both?

Luke Jones

With Buck Showalter scheduled to interview with the Orioles on Wednesday and Eric Wedge receiving a callback in the near future, the search continues for a permanent manager while Juan Samuel steers a sunken ship for the time being. Bobby Valentine whisked through town with an apparent “thanks, but no thanks” after taking a glimpse at a team currently 31 games below .500 and 24 games out of first place on the first day of summer. It’s no secret this job is an incredibly difficult—if not impossible—sell to any experienced name attached to the managerial search. And with Andy MacPhail proclaiming the organization’s preference for an experienced skipper, the Valentines, Showalters, and Wedges of the baseball world would need an incredible amount of hubris to willingly jump aboard now to manage a team on track to become one of the worst in the history of the game. Waiting until the off-season would not only provide an expanded field of candidates but also remove the stigma of having the eventual manager attached to whatever the final record will be for the 2010 edition of the Orioles. However, with Nick Markakis’ recent comments questioning the direction of the organization, stretching the process

The beginning of the end for Markakis in Baltimore?

Luke Jones

Just to be clear, the Orioles have no intention of trading Nick Markakis. And Markakis—despite his comments earlier this week questioning both his teammates’ approach and the direction of an organization in the midst of its 13th straight losing season—doesn’t want to leave Baltimore, at least not beyond the general sense of wishing to be anywhere else but on a team that is 31 games below .500 in the middle of June. Even so, it’s hard to imagine Markakis’ outspokenness sat very well with Andy MacPhail as he opened the paper Friday morning to see the comments questioning his vision for the organization after three years in charge. “At this point, yeah. Where are we going?” the right fielder said when asked about the current state of the franchise by Jeff Zrebiec. “I know we have a lot of injured guys. We’re in the toughest division in baseball, and we’re a last-place team. But at this point, it’s mind-boggling. You don’t even know what to think, but you still have to be professional and go out and play every day.” While most have focused on his statements about his teammates’ lack of an approach at the plate and his defense

Dear Peter Angelos: When will you fix this disgrace?

Nestor Aparicio

At the risk of “piling on,” I’ve decided to throw my two cents into the blogosphere today to briefly (insert joke here) discuss the situation regarding the Orioles as they continue their West Coast horror tour where no doubt Adam Jones will be tweeting about how great it is to be in San Diego and how pretty the girls are. Yeah, well I was almost in San Diego, too this week. When I saw the schedule come out last year I looked to do a baseball trip to my favorite city in the U.S. and watch the Orioles play and needless to say I made a great decision avoiding the So Cal and the Bay Areas this June of 2010, especially considering the U2 show on Wednesday night in Oakland was cancelled. I also thought for a while I was headed to the World Cup in South Africa, but alas, duty calls here in Baltimore in the way of running WNST.net. I’m much happier to be headed to Harford County for the day to support soccer and my country, than to be watching this dreadful 18-48 baseball team in sunny San Diego over 7 a.m. eggs and bacon. I built

O-mazin’ Orioles swept by Mets as chase of history is on

Luke Jones

It’s fitting the Orioles concluded a forgettable 2-7 homestand against the New York Mets this weekend. For it was this same Mets franchise that set the modern record for futility with a 40-120 record as an expansion team in 1962, and the Orioles’ biggest—if not only—storyline is quickly becoming where they might land among the worst teams in the history of major league baseball. With the Orioles falling 11-4 on Sunday and now holding an appalling 17-46 record (on pace to lose 119 games), it’s getting harder and harder to ignore a potential date with history, though not the kind anyone wanted to see in Baltimore this season—or any season for that matter. Those “Amazin’ Mets” lost their 63rd game of the season, giving Casey Stengel and the feeble Metropolitans a 17-46 record, the same mark the Orioles hold as they embark on a West Coast trip to San Francisco and San Diego this week. But unlike the Mets, expectations were far higher for an Orioles club many hoped would be far more intriguing—and successful—than any Baltimore has witnessed in 13 years. The decision to fire manager Dave Trembley was made in order to ignite a spark for a baseball

Live from Camden Yards: “Calm” Arrieta set to make MLB debut tonight

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Orange Crush chat right now!*** BALTIMORE — It lacks the hoopla of the “Strasburg-mania” we saw in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, but pitching prospect Jake Arrieta will make his major league debut this evening against the New York Yankees (37-22) as the Orioles (16-43) hope to salvage the finale of a three-game series. Arrieta was leading the International League in opponents batting average (.189), second in innings pitched, and tied for third with six wins. The 24-year-old was 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts for the Norfolk Tides. He will wear the No. 57, joining the likes of Juan Guzman, Karim Garcia, Erik Bedard (briefly), Julio Manon, and Garrett Olson as players to wear the number for the Orioles. Needless to say, Arrieta has little pressure living up to the history of that number. If one weakness reared its ugly head in Arrieta’s minor league career, it was his propensity for surrendering walks. The right-hander was tied for second in the International League with walks allowed (34), which may cost him dearly against the patient Yankees lineup. Arrieta appeared calm in his preparation for tonight’s start, casually walking into the office of interim

Live from Camden Yards: Arrieta to make MLB debut Thursday

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Good evening from a dreary, damp Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Orioles (16-42) prepare to battle the New York Yankees (36-22) in the second of a three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. Chris Tillman will make his third start of the season, but another young pitcher grabbed the headlines this afternoon when the Orioles announced Jake Arrieta will make his major league debut Thursday night instead of the speculated Saturday game against the New York Mets. Jeremy Guthrie’s scheduled start will be moved to Friday night, giving the right-hander an extra day of rest. Arrieta is 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts with the Norfolk Tides this season, striking out 64 while walking 34. Arrieta’s biggest struggle in the minor leagues has been limiting walks, which will present a challenge against the patient New York lineup. However, interim manager Juan Samuel showed no hesitation in sending Arrieta to the hill against the 2009 world champions. “Hey, we don’t get to pick who we play,” said Samuel, citing how well the 24-year-old as pitched at Triple A and the need for Arrieta to gain experience. With Arrieta’s promotion, it likely means Brad Bergesen will remain

Live from Camden Yards: Roberts’ back “not really good,” more tests coming

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Good afternoon from Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Orioles (16-41) prepare to welcome the New York Yankees (35-22) for the first of a three-game set this evening at 7:05 p.m. The biggest piece of news from Juan Samuel in his pre-game meeting with the media was an update on Brian Roberts described as “not really good.” After previously being scheduled to play in an extended spring training game last Friday, Roberts continues to experience lower back pain and will undergo a battery of tests over the next few days. While all parties have downplayed the possibility of surgery ever since Roberts missed most of spring training with a herniated disc, Samuel did not seem optimistic over the second baseman’s prognosis and whether he might have to undergo surgery. “We don’t know,” Samuel said. “Like I said, they’re going to run more tests here in the next two or three days, and we’ll see once the doctors evaluate his situation, we will know more on that.” Roberts is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday, but his status for the remainder of the season remains very much in doubt at this point. Mike Gonzalez

Sunday Orioles Notes: Simon on schedule to return soon

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — The woes continue for the Orioles (15-41) as they’ll try to snap a season-high 10-game losing streak and salvage a game in the series against the Red Sox (33-24) this afternoon at Camden Yards. The Baltimore lineup has produced just 10 runs in its last eight games and 16 runs in the current 10-game skid. In comparison, the Red Sox scored 11 runs in Friday night’s game alone. Trying to inject any kind of offense he can possibly find, interim manager Juan Samuel will rest the struggling Corey Patterson, replacing him with Julio Lugo in the leadoff spot and Luke Scott taking his spot in left field this afternoon. Here are this afternoon’s lineups: Boston SS Marco Scutaro 2B Dustin Pedroia DH David Ortiz 1B Kevin Youkilis C Victor Martinez 3B Adrian Beltre LF Bill Hall CF Mike Cameron RF Darnell McDonald SP John Lackey (6-3, 4.95 ERA) Baltimore 2B Julio Lugo DH Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton LF Luke Scott CF Adam Jones 3B Scott Moore C Craig Tatum SS Cesar Izturis SP Brian Matusz (2-6, 5.28 ERA) Don’t forget to join us in the Orange Crush chat this afternoon at 1:30 p.m., as

Saturday Orioles Notes: Bergesen to bullpen (at least temporarily)

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — It’s another hot day at Camden Yards accompanied by little good news as the Orioles (15-40) prepare to face the Red Sox (32-24) in the second of a three-game set after Boston battered the Baltimore pitching staff in an 11-0 rout on Friday night. Brad Bergesen has been moved to the bullpen—at least temporarily—to add another arm with the luxury of an off day on Monday. The rest of the staff will work on regular rest with the 24-year-old working in a relief role. Interim manager Juan Samuel said there are no defined plans to keep Bergesen in the bullpen long-term, but that could change as Jake Arrieta continues to dominate Triple-A batters. “We don’t know how long he’s going to be down there,” the manager said. Bergesen gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday. His earned run average now stands at 6.75 after pitching to a 3.43 clip in his rookie season a year ago. The club continues to point to an inconsistent arm slot as the main reason for Bergesen’s struggles in his sophomore campaign. The pitcher’s sinker continues to miss up in the strike zone,

Hoping for a spark, Orioles implode again in Samuel’s managerial debut

Luke Jones

It only took the Orioles a few hours to prove what everyone already knew despite the announcement of Dave Trembley being fired on Friday morning. Trembley wasn’t the one who threw 38 pitches in a three-run first inning that sealed the Orioles’ fate against the Red Sox in an 11-0 loss in front of 30,070 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, many of them Boston fans as has become the custom. He also wasn’t a member of a lineup that managed just five hits against Clay Buchholz, all singles. And while his bullpen management constantly came under scrutiny during his tenure in Baltimore, Trembley had no hand in a bullpen that surrendered seven runs when starter Chris Tillman was lifted in the second inning after giving up four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Who could blame Trembley if he checked the score of the ballgame at some point on Friday evening and breathed a sigh of relief knowing he no longer has to deal with this mess? Despite Andy MacPhail’s desire for Juan Samuel to ignite a spark—on an interim basis—for a pitiful baseball team, a plethora of grave problems remain regardless of who’s filling out the lineup card and

Trembley, Orioles point to bad breaks instead of making own luck

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — As the Orioles fall further into the abyss of the 2010 season, Thursday night’s loss ranks near the top of the most painful defeats. A 5-2 lead that appeared to be an almost certain victory transformed into an excruciating sequence of questionable decisions and bad luck in the eight inning. The final result was a 7-5 defeat and another sleepless night of asking how it went wrong for manager Dave Trembley and the Orioles (15-33). The win-loss record plainly reflects how poorly the club has played over the first two months of the season, but the bad breaks once again manifested in the eighth inning on Thursday night. A grounder deflecting off the leg of Mark Hendrickson led to an infield single and then a bad hop to Cesar Izturis kept the eventual five-run inning alive on two occasions. Later, a three-run double by Kevin Kouzmanoff sealed the Orioles’ fate as the club snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, a common theme as we approach the 50-game mark of the season. “You hate to get a game taken away from a guy who has pitched as well as [Brad] Bergesen did and lose it under those conditions,”

Live from Camden Yards: Matusz looks to rebound from recent struggles

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Good evening from Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Orioles (15-31) look to make it two in a row against the Oakland Athletics (23-23) as Brian Matusz takes the hill against left-handed starter Trevor Cahill at 7:05 this evening. Matusz hopes to bounce back from the shortest outing of his career, a 2 1/3-inning effort against Texas last Thursday in which the young lefty gave up seven runs and picked up his fourth loss of the season. After winning two of his first three starts in 2010, Matusz has not registered a win in his last six starts. His last victory came against these same Athletics in Oakland on April 18. Here are tonight’s starting lineups: Oakland CF Rajai Davis 1B Daric Barton C Kurt Suzuki 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff RF Ryan Sweeney LF Adam Rosales DH Jake Fox 2B Mark Ellis SS Cliff Pennington SP Trevor Cahill (2-2, 3.68 ERA) Baltimore LF Corey Patterson 1B Ty Wigginton RF Nick Markakis 3B Miguel Tejada C Matt Wieters CF Adam Jones 2B Scott Moore DH Garrett Atkins SS Cesar Izturis SP Brian Matusz (2-4, 5.26 ERA) Don’t forget to join us in the Orange Crush chat tonight at 7:00

Orioles use small ball to top Oakland, 5-1

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — When an offense struggles as much as the Orioles have to score runs this season, playing small-ball becomes an absolute necessity to have a realistic chance to win on a nightly basis. As their record reflects, it’s a style of play in which the Orioles have failed miserably in playing through the first quarter of the season, but it worked Tuesday night as they defeated the Oakland Athletics, 5-1. The Orioles (15-31) went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position but scored their first three runs of the contest without the aid of a hit. The club also drew six walks, one short of its season-high of seven in 2010. The deciding factor of the game was the sixth when the club plated two runs without registering a hit in the entire inning. “Four at-bats were key,” manager Dave Trembley said. “Two walks [to Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada], a wild pitch, and two sac-flies [by Ty Wigginton and Adam Jones]. That was the key to the game.” Winning 3-1 in the eighth, the Orioles added two insurance runs with Markakis’ third home run of the season and an RBI-double by Matt Wieters to put the game out of

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