Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin Youtube Spotify Podcast

Paid Advertisement

Orioles

Orioles focus heavily on pitching for Day 2 of amateur draft

Luke Jones

A day after selecting right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman with the fourth overall pick of the 2012 amateur draft, the Orioles were busy adding more pitching to their farm system in rounds 2 through 15. Of the 14 players selected on Tuesday, scouting director Gary Rajsich drafted nine pitchers, including second-round choice Branden Kline, a right-hander from the University of Virginia and a Frederick native. Kline throws a fastball in the low 90s and possesses a hard curveball, and scouts envision him as either a closer or at least a successful arm in the back-end of the bullpen. Two South Carolina teammates were chosen in the first seven rounds as fourth-round first baseman Christian Walker and seventh-round pitcher Matthew Price play for the vaunted Gamecocks program. The draft will conclude on Wednesday with rounds 16 through 40. To this point, the Orioles have selected four left-handed pitchers and six right-handed pitchers, one catcher, one first baseman, two shortstops, and one outfielder. ORIOLES 2012 DRAFT SELECTIONS  ROUND    PLAYER                 POS    SCHOOL                   HOMETOWN          D.O.B          HT     WT    B    T 1 (4)            Gausman, Kevin          RHP      Louisiana State Univ.     Centennial, CO            01/06/91      6’4      195     L      R 2 (65)         Kline, Branden            RHP      Univ. of Virginia               Frederick, MD              09/29/91     

Orioles bring back Bill Hall with Markakis officially on DL

Luke Jones

(Updated: 5:00 p.m.) With right fielder Nick Markakis undergoing surgery to remove the broken hamate bone in his right wrist on Friday, the Orioles have brought back veteran Bill Hall to replace him on the 25-man roster. The move became official before Friday’s series opener in Tampa Bay as the Orioles selected Hall’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk and placed him on the 40-man roster. The club placed second baseman Brian Roberts on the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot on the 40-man for Hall, which won’t interfere with the projected date of June 12 for his return to the big leagues should his minor league rehab assignment continue to go smoothly. Hall will begin his second stint with the Orioles this season after playing in six games and going 2-for-7 with a home run last month. In 21 games with the Tides this season, the 32-year-old Hall is hitting .221 with three home runs and 10 runs batted in over 86 at-bats. He has played 79 games in left and 24 in right over the course of his 11-year career in the majors. Manager Buck Showalter will face the challenge of now finding production in both right and left

Morning Reaction Orioles 10-Game Scorecard (Games 41-50)

Luke Jones

During the 2012 season, Drew Forrester and Luke Jones of The Morning Reaction will provide the “10-Game Scorecard” for the Orioles, rating the club in 10-game increments in a number of categories and 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 3-7 mark? Drew: Better Luke: Better 2. Most Valuable Player/Least Valuable Player Drew: MVP – Adam Jones; LVP – Matt Wieters Luke: MVP – Adam Jones; LVP – Tommy Hunter 3. Biggest surprise Drew: The long-term signing of Adam Jones Luke: The continued struggles of Matt Wieters 4. Best thing about the 10-game stretch Drew: Brian Matusz continues to make progress from last season Luke: Zach Britton and Brian Roberts moving closer to a return 5. Ten games from now… Drew: Fans will officially be worried about the state of the Orioles. Luke: Mark Reynolds will reestablish himself as a lineup regular. 6. Record in the next 10 games (**0-1 already, three at Tampa Bay, three at Boston, three with Philadelphia) Drew: 3-7 Luke: 4-6 7. Stock rising/falling over the next

Roberts working on “getting his clock back” in early stages of rehab assignment

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Three games into his minor rehab assignment, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts thankfully hasn’t suffered any setbacks. However, after a yearlong layoff from playing in real games, Roberts is still re-adjusting to the speed of the game at the minor-league level. In case anyone was wondering, that’s to be expected, according to manager Buck Showalter. “He’s starting to get his clock back,” Showalter said. “If this thing, the way that he’s got it drawn it up and we have, he’d have the equivalent of spring training under his belt — at-bats-wise. He’d be in the mid-50s [for] plate appearances. He’s doing probably more work before the game [so far].” Roberts has played second base and received six plate appearances in his first three games at Double-A Bowie before receiving the day off on Saturday. The 34-year-old has yet to collect a hit but has walked twice and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly on Friday night. The plan is for Roberts to receive three plate appearances in Bowie on Sunday and Monday before heading to Single-A Delmarva on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he is expected to receive four plate appearances per game. Beyond that, Showalter wants

Orioles agree to minor-league deal with veteran reliever Romero

Luke Jones

Considering the workload their bullpen has received over the first seven weeks of the regular season, the Orioles added veteran reliever J.C. Romero on a minor-league deal Thursday to boost their relief depth. The 35-year-old left-hander was most recently with the St. Louis Cardinals and struggled immensely before being released earlier this month. Romero posted a 10.13 earned run average in 11 appearances covering a span of eight innings after signing with St. Louis in the off-season. Though the club currently has left-handers Troy Patton and Dana Eveland in its bullpen, Romero would provide another left-handed option down the line, joining Zach Phillips at Triple-A Norfolk for the time being. Despite his ineffectiveness this season, Romero had a 4.01 in 36 appearances with Colorado and Philadelphia in 2011. He has a career 4.15 ERA over 14 big-league seasons. The southpaw has pitched for six organizations in his career.  

Orioles hoping second epidural “does trick” for Reimold

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Still experiencing numbness in his fingers and forearm, injured Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold will receive a second epidural injection to alleviate the pain from a herniated disc. Reimold hasn’t played since the end of April and the first epidural he received nearly two weeks ago has done little to eliminate the discomfort from a bulging disc in his neck. The 28-year-old Reimold remains with the team and is expected to have the second injection on Friday, according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “We’re hoping this does the trick,” said Showalter, who could not offer an idea of a projected date for a return. “That’s what we’re hoping, but there’s always that potential.” The absence of Reimold and veteran Endy Chavez figured to leave a giant hole in left field, but the Orioles have found unexpected relief from 22-year-old Xavier Avery over the last 10 days. His emergency is even more remarkable when you consider the organization debated whether to send Avery to Triple-A Norfolk or back to Double-A Bowie after an underwhelming 2011 season with the Baysox. Avery is hitting .278 in 36 at-bats and has already walked five times, showing impressive patience at the plate for a

Morning Reaction Orioles 10-Game Scorecard (Games 31-40)

Luke Jones

During the 2012 season, Drew Forrester and Luke Jones of The Morning Reaction will provide the “10-Game Scorecard” for the Orioles, rating the club in 10-game increments in a number of categories and 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 7-3 mark? Drew: Worse Luke: Worse 2. Most Valuable Player/Least Valuable Player Drew: MVP – Adam Jones; LVP – Chris Davis Luke: MVP – Wei-Yin Chen; LVP – Chris Davis 3. Biggest surprise Drew: The emergence of Xavier Avery Luke: Plate discipline of Xavier Avery 4. Best thing about the 10-game stretch Drew: The Orioles keep fighting despite injuries and adversity Luke: The club continuing to play well away from Camden Yards 5. Ten games from now… Drew: Tampa Bay will be in first place. Luke: People will be feeling better about the development of Brian Matusz. 6. Record in the next 10 games (**1-2 already, two with Boston, three with Kansas City, two at Toronto) Drew: 5-5 Luke: 6-4 7. Stock rising/falling over the next 10 games Drew: Rising –

Orioles pitcher Britton remains on track for June return

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Needing a win to salvage a split in a brief two-game set and improve their 2-5 mark against the New York Yankees in 2012, the Orioles couldn’t ask for a more difficult task than trying to solve lefty CC Sabathia. The burly left-hander has manhandled the Orioles over the course of his career, owning a 16-2 record with a 2.86 earned run average in 23 career starts. Even pitching in homer-happy Camden Yards, Sabathia has a 10-1 mark with a 2.95 ERA. His only loss in Baltimore came in his first start as a Yankee in the 2009 season opener. Speaking of left-handed starters, the Orioles received more encouraging news on 24-year-old Zach Britton this afternoon after he pitched four innings in an extended spring training game. Britton threw an additional inning on the side to complete a total of 67 pitches. The young southpaw is scheduled to have one more outing in Sarasota on Monday. If all goes to plan, the club will then decide whether Britton will go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment at that point. Manager Buck Showalter has targeted an early June return for Britton if all goes to plan without any unexpected

Veteran utility player Bill Hall to be promoted to Orioles on Saturday

Luke Jones

With three players from the Orioles’ Opening Day roster now on the 15-day disabled list and at least one roster move being made every day this week, another change is coming as veteran infielder Bill Hall will become the latest member of the Norfolk Tides to head north to Baltimore. Hall posted an update from his official Twitter account early Saturday morning that he was being called up after spending the last few weeks at Triple-A Norfolk. He told WNST.net he will fly to Baltimore Saturday morning. “Got the word a [little] while ago,” Hall said on Twitter. “Just got called up to [the] Orioles. See [you] guys at Camden Yards [Saturday] night. Let’s go O’s!” The veteran signed a minor-league deal in late April after failing to make the New York Yankees’ 25-man roster out of spring training. Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette cited Hall’s ability to play multiple positions as well as his ability to hit left-handed pitching as reasons for his addition to the organization at the time of the signing. It remains unclear whose place Hall will be taking on the roster, but the Orioles need production in left field with Nolan Reimold

Orioles continue to shuffle roster in Texas series

Luke Jones

(Updated: 8:20 p.m.) BALTIMORE — As if allowing 24 runs over the last two nights wasn’t bad enough, the Orioles pitching staff appears to be suffering another blow with the revelation that starter Jason Hammel will be scratched on Thursday. Dealing with right knee soreness in recent weeks, Hammel underwent an MRI that revealed no structure damage. Manager Buck Showalter labeled the Orioles’ top starter through the first month of the season as a “realistic” possibility to be pushed back, but he did not consider it to be a serious issue that could land the right-hander on the 15-day disabled list. With Norfolk’s Dana Eveland the likely starter on Friday in place of Tommy Hunter, the Orioles may need to deep into their Triple-A team again for the series finale against the Rangers. Brad Bergesen is scheduled to make Thursday’s start for the Tides. Another possibility for Thursday’s start could be Hunter, who would be eligible to return to the Orioles should the team place a player on the disabled list. Outfielder Endy Chavez has been dealing with an intercostal strain and was not in Wednesday’s lineup. (Update: The Orioles announced Hunter will be recalled to start the nightcap of

Orioles pitcher Wada’s status in jeopardy after MRA reveals elbow ligament damage

Luke Jones

The good vibes of a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays faded on Tuesday night when Orioles manager Buck Showalter delivered discouraging news on pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada. An MRA revealed the Japanese southpaw has ligament damage in his pitching elbow, putting his status in doubt for the foreseeable future. Showalter would not specify how severe the damage was nor what treatment route the club and Wada would take, but Showalter met with executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette following Tuesday’s game. “We’ll contemplate, along with him, what the next direction (is) to take, but it showed some damage in there with the ligament that didn’t show up in the physical he took when he signed,” Showalter said. Without knowing the severity of the ligament tear, the two treatment options would presumably be the rest-and-rehab approach or surgery, which would presumably end his season. The 31-year-old had been durable during his career in Japan before signing a two-year, $8.14 million contract in December. “I’m trying to be as frank with you without stepping into something I think he deserves to address,” Showalter said. “We were hoping for a little better news about when we might get him back,

Orioles trade infielder Josh Bell to Arizona for player to be named

Luke Jones

After designating him for assignment earlier in the week, the Orioles have traded infielder Josh Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later. The Orioles removed Bell from the 40-man roster on Monday to create room for catcher Luis Exposito, who was claimed on waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Despite a few different stints in Baltimore, Bell was never able to establish himself as a major leaguer, hitting .200 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in over 79 games with the Orioles in 2010 and 2011. Bell had 78 strikeouts and only six walks in 226 plate appearances in the big leagues the last two seasons. Bell was off to a miserable start at Triple-A Norfolk, going just 3 for his first 32 with one home run before being designated for assignment. The switch-hitting infielder was acquired on July 30, 2009 along with right-handed pitcher Steve Johnson from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Orioles closer George Sherrill.

8

Paid Advertisement

Podcast Audio Vault

Spotify Apple Youtube
8
8
8

Paid Advertisement

Scroll to Top
Verified by MonsterInsights