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Orioles

Surgery could have Markakis back in four weeks

Luke Jones

Injured right fielder Nick Markakis told reporters Sunday he will undergo surgery on his broken left thumb that could speed up his recovery time in hopes of return for the postseason. On Saturday, manager Buck Showalter spoke about surgery as a definitive season-ending possibility for the Orioles’ leadoff hitter, but the doctor who performed the procedure on Markakis’ right wrist in June took a look at the CT scan and X-rays and determined surgery might actually speed up the initial estimate of a six-week recovery period. Markakis told reporters the procedure would involve the insertion of a T-plate in the top of the thumb and could trim three weeks off the recovery time. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Brian Schofield, the same surgeon who removed Markakis’ broken hamate bone in his right wrist in early June. Showalter ruled out any possibility of Markakis returning for the end of the regular season, saying the Orioles would need to make a significant run in the postseason for the right fielder to have any chance at playing again this year.

Yankees' Rodriguez gives post-game nod to Ray Lewis

Luke Jones

After hitting a two-run homer to help the Yankees beat the Orioles Friday night, Alex Rodriguez paid tribute to Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis in his post-game interview. Rodriguez wore a No. 52 University of Miami jersey in the Yankees clubhouse following their 8-5 win over the Orioles to retake sole possession of first place in the American League East. The third baseman grew up in Miami and attended Westminster Christian High School before being drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the first overall pick in the 1993 amateur draft. Lewis played his college football for the Hurricanes from 1993 through 1995 before entering the NFL draft after his junior season. “He’s my boy,” Rodriguez said. “I love Ray Lewis, I love the University of Miami, and I’m in his hometown. So, I’m honoring the Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.” Though Rodriguez offered respect to one of Baltimore’s greatest sports heroes of all time, it’s highly unlikely the veteran won over any local fans as the Orioles are in the midst of their first pennant race in 15 years. Here’s the post-game interview, courtesy of the YES Network:

Yankees’ Rodriguez gives post-game nod to Ray Lewis

Luke Jones

After hitting a two-run homer to help the Yankees beat the Orioles Friday night, Alex Rodriguez paid tribute to Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis in his post-game interview. Rodriguez wore a No. 52 University of Miami jersey in the Yankees clubhouse following their 8-5 win over the Orioles to retake sole possession of first place in the American League East. The third baseman grew up in Miami and attended Westminster Christian High School before being drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the first overall pick in the 1993 amateur draft. Lewis played his college football for the Hurricanes from 1993 through 1995 before entering the NFL draft after his junior season. “He’s my boy,” Rodriguez said. “I love Ray Lewis, I love the University of Miami, and I’m in his hometown. So, I’m honoring the Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.” Though Rodriguez offered respect to one of Baltimore’s greatest sports heroes of all time, it’s highly unlikely the veteran won over any local fans as the Orioles are in the midst of their first pennant race in 15 years. Here’s the post-game interview, courtesy of the YES Network:

Orioles pitcher Hammel to throw off mound Saturday

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel will throw off the front of a mound Saturday as he takes the next step in his recovery from right knee surgery. Hammel will be in Baltimore for the throwing session and if the knee responds well the following day, the Orioles have a schedule in place for the right-hander to start bullpen sessions and then go on a minor league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old underwent surgery to have a piece of loose cartilage removed from his knee the week after the All-Star break. “He’s had a ball in his hand for awhile now,” manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s not that long where it’s like a spring training thing with the arm strength. It’s not so much, for me, Saturday as it is how he feels Sunday. If he doesn’t have any issues there, then we can proceed with a plan to have a little more definitive date about when he’ll be able to pitch for us.” Showalter’s estimated timetable all along has been early September for Hammel’s return to the Baltimore rotation, but the Orioles manager could see that being a bit earlier if the pitcher gets through Saturday’s session without any

Morning Reaction Orioles 10-Game Scorecard (Games 96-105)

Luke Jones

Throughout the 2012 season, The Morning Reaction’s Drew Forrester and Luke Jones rate the club in 10-game increments in a number of categories and begin looking ahead to how Baltimore will fare over the next 10 games on the schedule. To hear the full explanation from Monday morning, click HERE. 1. Should the Orioles have been better or worse than their 4-6 mark? Drew: Better Luke: Better 2. Most Valuable Player/Least Valuable Player Drew: MVP – Chris Tillman; LVP – Zach Britton Luke: MVP – Chris Davis; LVP – Zach Britton 3. Biggest surprise Drew: Infielder Omar Quintanilla looking like a useful player Luke: Taking two out of three games at Yankee Stadium 4. Best thing about the 10-game stretch Drew: The Orioles are still in the race Luke: The Orioles didn’t trade any top prospects for a rental 5. Ten games from now… Drew: The Orioles will still be very much in the thick of the race. Luke: We will see the return of either Jake Arrieta or Brian Matusz. 6. Record in the next 10 games (three at Tampa Bay, three with Seattle, four with Kansas City) Drew: 7-3 Luke: 6-4 7. Stock rising/falling over the next 10

Arizona claims Orioles pitcher Bergesen off waivers

Luke Jones

After being designated for assignment for the second time this season earlier this week, Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen has found a new baseball home in Arizona. As first reported by Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, the Diamondbacks claimed the right-handed pitcher on waivers after Bergesen was removed from Baltimore’s roster on Wednesday to make room for starting pitcher Tommy Hunter. The Orioles hoped Bergesen would clear waivers like he did back in May, but the Diamondbacks will place him on their 40-man roster. Pitching for Triple-A Norfolk this season, Bergesen was 4-3 with a 4.03 earned run average and one save in 22 games that included 10 starts. He allowed 90 hits, struck out 41, and walked 23 in 80 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old did not appear in a game for the Orioles this season. Bergesen’s best season for the Orioles came in 2009 when he went 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts as a rookie. However, a line drive off the bat of Kansas City’s Billy Butler struck the pitcher’s shin on July 30 of that season, ending his rookie campaign. That incident coupled with an offseason shoulder injury led to little success the next two seasons

Orioles officially recall Britton, add Bergesen for bullpen help

Luke Jones

The revolving roster door swung open again Tuesday as the Orioles officially recalled left-handed pitcher Zach Britton and purchased the contract of right-hander Brad Bergesen to add a fresh arm to a weary bullpen prior to the second of a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins. Right-hander reliever Miguel Socolovich was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and second baseman Robert Andino was placed on the 15-day disabled list after Monday’s MRI revealed the infielder would miss at least three weeks with a left shoulder injury. To clear room for Bergesen on the 40-man roster, designated hitter Nick Johnson (right wrist) was moved to the 60-day disabled list. Britton’s 2012 debut came much later than anyone expected after the 24-year-old opened the season on the disabled list with a nerve impingement in his left shoulder. Upon being activated on June 6, the left-hander was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk where the Orioles wanted to see him continue to build arm strength as well as work on commanding his breaking pitches better. In eight starts with the Tides, Britton was 4-1 with a 4.15 earned run average over 47 2/3 innings. In his final tuneup in Triple A on July 12, he pitched seven

Andino latest to join growing Orioles’ infirmary report

Luke Jones

After announcing pitcher Jason Hammel would undergo right knee surgery, the Orioles added another to their ever-increasing MASH unit when second baseman Robert Andino left Sunday’s game with a left shoulder injury. Andino injured himself diving for a grounder to his left in the sixth inning and will remain in Baltimore to undergo an MRI on Monday while the Orioles begin a four-game series in Minnesota. X-rays taken on Sunday were negative, and the Orioles will keep their fingers crossed that Andino’s injury is not serious. “The trainers are telling me what [the doctors] said and what initially they think, but it’s just pure speculation until they get the pictures back,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I think we’ll be able to make a decision on it by Tuesday and where it could affect some roster things we have to do.” The Orioles are already without second baseman Brian Roberts, who is on the 15-day disabled list and weighing having surgery on his injured hip that would likely end his season. Andino remained optimistic following the 4-0 loss to the Tigers that he would only miss a short time and avoid the 15-day disabled list. “For me, I don’t think I’ll

Teagarden, Socolovich up for Orioles; Eveland, Paulino sent out

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Only one game into the second half of the season, the Orioles have made more roster changes as catcher Taylor Teagarden was activated from the 60-day disabled list and Triple-A Norfolk reliever Miguel Socolovich had his contract selected prior to Saturday’s game. To clear room for both players on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have outrighted catcher Ronny Paulino to Norfolk and designated pitcher Dana Eveland for assignment. Paulino has three days to accept the assignment to Triple A or he can become a free agent. Eveland must pass through waivers and would be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday if he clears. Teagarden was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury on April 4 and transferred to the 60-day DL on May 9. He batted .250 in nine rehab games with Gulf Coast, Single-A Delmarva, and Double-A Bowie — playing three games for each affiliate. He was acquired by the Orioles from Texas on December 1, 2011. Socolovich has been one of Norfolk’s best pitchers this season, going 3-0 with a 1.77 earned run average in 45 2/3 innings of work. He walked only 11 and struck out 50 in 24 games with the

Hammel leaves Friday’s start early with knee injury

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Making the first start of the second half for the Orioles on Friday, Jason Hammel left the game in the top of the fourth inning with a right knee injury. Hammel appeared to land awkwardly after delivering a 1-2 pitch to Brennan Boesch. After throwing a couple practice pitches and being examined by the training staff and manager Buck Showalter, Hammel walked gingerly to the dugout and was replaced by reliever Luis Ayala. He will be evaluated further on Saturday, the club announced. The right-hander has dealt with right knee soreness for most of the season despite being the Orioles’ best starting pitcher. He entered the night with an 8-5 record and a 3.47 earned run average. According to Hammel’s brother Bill, the 29-year-old felt as though something popped in his right knee but was not experiencing much swelling in the later innings of the game. The pitcher will undergo an MRI tomorrow. Hammel and Saturday’s starter Wei-Yin Chen are the only current members of the starting rotation left from the beginning of the season after Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, and Tommy Hunter were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk before the All-Star break. Given the Orioles’ starting pitching woes

Britton primed for Tuesday call-up after strong Norfolk start

Luke Jones

Opportunity has been ringing like an alarm clock pitcher Zach Britton has slept through for the better part of the last five weeks. With three-fifths of the Opening Day rotation now working in Triple-A Norfolk and the Orioles needing a starter on Tuesday in Minnesota, it appears the left-hander is finally ready to answer the bell after struggling with consistency upon being activated from the disabled list. Britton pitched seven shutout innings for Triple-A Norfolk against Lehigh Valley on Thursday, putting himself in position to be recalled for the first time this season. The southpaw allowed four hits, struck out six, and walked none over his 93 pitches of work in the 7-0 victory for the Tides. He also induced 10 groundball outs compared to three fly outs and reportedly showed excellent fastball command in the lower half of the strike zone. The stellar outing improved Britton’s record to 4-1 and lowered his earned run average to 4.15. Over his last five starts, the 24-year-old has allowed 10 earned runs and 24 hits in 32 innings while striking out 23 and walking 12. The organization has wanted to see Britton improve his command while continuing to build strength in his

Orioles “poking around” at Seattle pitcher Vargas?

Luke Jones

As fans dreamed about the possibility of acquiring Milwaukee’s Zack Greinke or Cubs pitcher Matt Garza over the All-Star break, the Orioles are apparently kicking the tires on a far less intriguing and cheaper option. ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported Thursday the Orioles have cooled on the possibility of trading for Garza and are “poking around” at the possibility of trading for Seattle pitcher Jason Vargas. The first-blush numbers suggest it wouldn’t be a bad move as the left-hander has an 8-7 record with a 4.09 earned run average in 19 starts for the lowly Mariners this season. Vargas has a 1.15 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitcher) and has struck out 86 while walking 32 in 126 innings this season. However, a deeper look at the stats suggest the soft-tossing 29-year-old is far from an ideal target to compete in the American League East. Vargas has thrived at cavernous Safeco Field this season, posting a 2-3 record with a 2.84 ERA in eight starts (57 innings), but his road numbers paint a different picture entirely. The southpaw has a 6-4 record with a 5.09 ERA and has allowed 17 home runs in 11 starts (69 innings) outside Seattle. Those

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