Orioles, Yankees Both Experience Second Rain-Out In A Week

The Orioles were set to defend their first place standing in their series-opener against the Yankees, until rain spoiled the opener. The Orioles had already been rained out on Saturday in their opener against the Rangers, and the Yanks had been rained out in the Bronx as well. 

                  Orioles get off the field to escape the rain. 


The Orioles will kick off their series tonight instead, with Chris Tillman leading the Orioles against Phil Hughes. Hopefully Tillman can keep the runs down, and the Orioles can hit some runs in. Go O's!

Duchscherer Hopes to Debut April 21

Looks like I won't be going to an Orioles game for my birthday. Frequently-injured, inconsistent Justin Duchscherer hopes to make his Orioles debut on April 21 in the series finale against the Minnesota Twins.

Duchscherer joined Baltimore to try and jump-start his career after serveral injury-plagued seasons in Oakland.

Roberts Three Run Homer Powers Orioles Past Tigers

Jake Arrieta pitched a solid 6 innings today, giving up 6 hits hits in 6 innings, allowing an unearned run and no earned runs. But, the real story was Brian Roberts.  Roberts continued to prove critics wrong, jacking a three-run shot in the bottom of the 5th, putting the O's up 4-1. The clutch bomb proved to be the game winning hit, as the Orioles went on to win 5-1. Keep it up Birds, the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than you think. Keep it up.

 

Roberts celebrating after his home run.

For God's Sake, Give The O's a Break

Jeremy Guthrie was hospitalized early Wednesday because of a viral infection... God's latest sign that he does not want the O's to win. Need I go through the list?

1. In 1997 Robbie Alomar had a homerun taken out of his glove by some stupid 13-year-old that probably still has not hit puberty. If I ever meet him, I vow to punch him in the face.
2. When St. Cal Ripken retired, his replacement-plan (aka Miguel Tejada) did not work out as planned. Turned out Miggy juiced and could only hit homeruns in the homerun derby.
3. Enter 2011. Brian Matuz is put on the DL on Opening Day. Justin Duchscherer is recieving pain treatment on his back (again). Now Jeremy Guthrie will most likely miss his next start, scheduled for Wednesday, against the Tigers.

I hope the O's keep winning and if for some odd reason Buck Showalter gets struck by lightning because of it, I volunteer to be eletricuted next.

Justin Duchscherer Receiving Pain Treatment

Orioles starting pitcher Justin Duchscherer is receiving pain management treatment procedure for his lower back. The Orioles gamble has not paid off thus far with the frequently injured Duchscherer. However, you can't blame Andy McPhail for signing Duchscherer. The starting pitcher market was thin, and we needed another arm. Fear not O's fans, Britton, Tillman, and Arrieta have all pitched well, with Bergesen in line to put up good numbers next. One can assume Jason Berken will take the 5th rotation spot until Guthrie, Matusz, or Duchscherer returns, as he is, sadly, the best (and I use that term loosely) remaining option on our roster. Hopefully a Spring Training under Buck Showalter has improved Berken.

Roberts Homer Plus Markakis Catch Lift O's Past Rays

Game Recap

Pitching

The Orioles saw 6 strong no-hit innings from Chris Tillman. He may have gone longer had his pitch count not been at 101. Jeremy Accardo came in to pitch a lights out 7th inning. Mike Gonzalez, however, was less than stellar. He allowed 1 run on 1 hit and 2 walks, pitching only 1/3 of an inning. Koji Uehara came in to relieve him, holding the Rays to no runs on 1 hit through the remaining 2/3 of the 8th. As always, the last inning was a bit of a scare. After recording the first two outs, Kevin Gregg gave up 1 hit and 1 walk, leaving runners on first and second. Then Ben Zobrist hit what appeared to be a game-tying double, but Nick Markakis made a fantastic leaping catch, ending the game, and saving the win for the Orioles. Markakis' catch was later recognized as the #1 play of the night on Sportscenter's "Top 10 Plays."

Hitting

Not an explosive night, but the Orioles managed 3 runs, which proved to be enough. Brian Roberts continued putting up numbers, hitting a bomb and driving in all 3 runs of the night. Luke Scott and Adam Jones were both hitless for the second straight game, leaving a combined 4 runners on base. Hopefully they pick up the pace soon.

Defense

Nick Markakis' phenomenal catch put this game on the map. His catch saved 2 runs (if not 3) from scoring, and put him on Sportscenter's "Top 10" as the #1 play of the night!
Preview

Today at 1:40 PM EST, Orioles top prospect Zach Britton will be taking the mound at the Trop. Britton was originally scheduled to be a late April call up (to push back his service time), but due to Brian Matusz's injury, the Orioles had no choice but to call up their top prospect. Britton was lights-out in Spring Training, posting a 3-0 record and a flashy 1.35 ERA in 20 innings pitched. Hopefully Britton brings those numbers to the mound with him today, and gets us a road sweep to kick off the season.

Britton to Make Debut Sunday

Top prospect Zach Britton will make his first career major league start tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Rays. Britton was originally expected to be a late April call-up, but his clock has been pushed up due to the injury of Brian Matusz. Britton was lights-out this spring, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings.

Matusz Out 3-4 Weeks

Brian Matusz is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a sore back. Chris Tillman start for him tonight against Tampa Bay.

Orioles Sign Justin Duchscherer

Yesterday, the Orioles signed Justin Duchscherer to a 1-year deal that can be worth up to $4.5 million. The 2-time All-Star has spent the last 7 seasons in Oakland, missing almost all of 2010 due to injury.

The Orioles haven't guarenteed him a spot in the rotation, but if he is healthy, they hope to slot him into the #2 or #3 starter's position behind Jeremy Guthrie and possibly Brian Matusz.

Troy Patton Arrested

Orioles pitcher Troy Patton has been arrested in Houston, Texas for drunk driving.

Orioles Reactions to Wells Trade

Now that the Angels have traded for Vernon Wells, they will not likely have room for Vladimir Guerrero. So, if the reports are true that the Orioles are indeed pursuing Guerrero, this eliminates another possible suitor, a better suitor, thus creating a better chance for the birds.

Orioles Want Vlad?

The Orioles, Angels, and Rays are aggresively pursuing Vladimir Guerrero, reports ESPN.

Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Hardy

The Orioles have avoided arbitration with shortstop J.J. Hardy, reaching a 1-year, $5.95 million contract. Hardy was acquired from the Twins earlier this offseason and is likely the starting shortstop next year.

O's Avoid Arbitration With Jim Johnson

The Orioles have avoided arbitration with Jim Johnson, agreeing to a 1-year, 950k contract.

Let's Take On a Project or Two

The Orioles' Manager, Buck Showalter, is known for getting the best out of his players. The Orioles need to bring some washed-up has-been players for Showalter to get the best out of. Some players that come to mind are Ben Sheets, Lastings Milledge, and Chris Ray.

Let's break these players down by what is wrong with them, and what they bring to the table:

Ben Sheets

Ben Sheets' days of hitting 98 MPH are likely over. However, Sheets was a great player when he was healthy, and started the 2008 All-Star Game for the National League. If he could stay healthy, he could be a solid addition to a struggling Orioles Starting Rotation.  Sheets spent last year with Oakland, but missed most of the year with a torn flexor in his right elbow.

When healthy, Sheets flashes a solid fastball (92-95 MPH), a knee-buckling curveball (78-82 MPH), and also contains a slider and a changeup in his arsenal of pitches. The Orioles could definitely use another veteran starter to pair up with Jeremy Guthrie at the front of the Orioles rotation, and Sheets is definitely worth the risk. He will not demand a large contract, and has huge upside.

Lastings Milledge

Lastings Milledge was once a "Can't Miss" prospect in the Mets' farm system. He made his major league debut in 2006. He missed the first half of 2007 with a foot injury. Milledge was traded to the Nationals in November of '07 for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. Milledge started as the starting center fielder in D.C., but once again, injuries hampered Milledge. On June 28, Milledge suffered a groin injury, and missed a month. In June of 2009, Milledge was traded again. This time, it was to the Pirates. The Nationals sent Milledge and Joel Hanrahan to the Pirates for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett. Milledge disappointed this past season with the Pirates, and they did not tender him a contract for 2011.

The thing that people often forget about Milledge is that he is still only 26 years old. There are many players who don't begin to produce until their late 20's, such as Nelson Cruz and Jayson Werth. Milledge provides speed, and has some pop in his bat on an inconsistent basis, so he does have potential. He showed he has some speed with Washington in 2008, when he stole 24 bases, and showed a bit of pop with his 14 bombs. He has the tools, he just hasn't been able to put it all together.

Chris Ray

Ray is a former Oriole who was traded with cash to the Texas Rangers last offseason for veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood. Ray was then traded midseason to the Giants with pitching prospect Michael Main for Bengie Molina.

Ray is a side-arm pitcher, and adding a side-armer would give the O's some flexibility. They have righties and lefties, but now, if Ray could produce in the bigs, they'd have a side-arm guy as well that they could bring out.

Kevin Gregg Likes the Orioles' Direction

Just thought I'd pass along a link to an article about Kevin Gregg : http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/gregg-likes-orioles-direction.html Well written by Ben Nicholson-Smith of the MLBTR Staff.

Orioles Sign Kevin Gregg

The Orioles officially announced the signing of Kevin Gregg. His deal is worth $10 million and has an option that, if vested, could make the deal worth between $16-$20 million. Gregg will probably join Mike Gonzalez, Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara, and Jeremy Accardo in the Orioles' bullpen.

Will/Should the Orioles Make A Legitament Run At The Prince?

A few days ago, the Orioles signed Derrek Lee to a 1 year contract. People wondered why the Birds would get Lee on a one year deal, instead of signing Adam LaRoche to a 2 or 3 year deal. Then, speculation came up that it may very well be because the Orioles have plans to make a push for Prince Fielder next offseason. We've seen that the O's are not afraid to spend cash, when they offered Mark Texiera a 7 year, $165 million contract. They were outbid by the Nationals, Yankees, and Red Sox, and Texiera ultimately signed with the Yankees, but the fact that the Orioles made that big a push gives fans hope that they will continue to pursue these top-tier free agents. So, why not Prince?

Derrek Lee is out after this season. So, unless the Orioles see very big potential from Brandon Snyder, or more likely, from Josh Bell or Nolan Reimold, the Orioles will likely pursue another free agent first baseman. To compete in the AL East, they will need all the pop they can get in their offense. So, they need to pursue Prince to compete with the Yankees, and the reguvenated Red Sox. Adding Prince to an offense with Brian Roberts, Matt Weiters, Mark Reynolds, and Adam Jones will make for as good an offense as the Rays have, about as strong as the current Yankees, and atleast closer to the Red Sox offense than they are now. Also, with young pitchers like Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Zach Britton, and Chris Tillman on the rise, they will have a strong pitching staff coming with the offense. So, Prince is the missing piece to the puzzle that is the new, competing Orioles in 2012 and beyond.

Orioles Agree to Sign Kevin Gregg

The Orioles have added to their bullpen by signing Kevin Gregg to a two-year, 10 million dollar contract with an option. Gregg saved 37 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, and will battle with Koji Uehara for the closer role for next year. Gregg joins Jeremy Accardo as two former Blue Jays who will likely contribute to the Baltimore Bullpen this coming year. Although Gregg has Type-A status, the Orioles will not lose their draft pick, as it is protected. The Blue Jays will instead get a supplemental first round pick.

Alfredo Simon Primary Suspect in Shooting

Orioles relief pitcher Alfredo Simon is a primary suspect in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old man Michael Castillo Almonte. Castillo Almonte's half-brother, Starlin Castillo Hernandez, was also injured in the incident and remains hospitalized. This incident occured in the Dominican Republic, and today, Simon surrendered himself to the Dominican Police. Simon, his lawyer, Carlos Olivares, and former Orioles utility-man, Julio Lugo, met with the police chief, Jose Polanco today in Santo Domingo. Simon is being charged with manslaughter, and if he is found guilty, he could serve up to 2 years in prison. Victor Mueses, a Dominican public prosecutor, told the Associated Press that he'll request that Simon remain in detention for three months while the case is investigated further.

Information from the NY Daily News and the Associated Press was used in this report.

Why the Orioles Should Sign Jim Thome

Jim Thome is one of the best free agents available, and I think he is the best DH-type player available on the free-agent market. The Orioles could use another bat to compete with the solid pitching rotations of the AL East, and I think that Thome could be the perfect fit.

Yesterday, the Orioles inked Derrek Lee to a 1-year deal, which could be worth up to $10M, and, provided he doesn't get injured in Spring Training, he will be the first baseman in 2011. But, the Orioles could insert Thome into the DH role. Luke Scott is the primary candidate to be the primary DH next year, allowing Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie to battle for the starting left field job. But, Scott could take over the left field job if Thome was signed.
              Also, the Orioles have a very small fan base. These fans need something to be happy about. The O's have made a big splash this year, bringing in J.J. Hardy, and much more notably, Mark Reynolds, but even that hasn't brought many fans to Baltimore. Adding a man who is chasing history, 600 home runs, could at least bring in some ticket sales, if not some actual fans, because people will want to A) watch a an improved offense, and B) try to catch the game that Thome hits his 600th bomb. Thome is also a smart move financially. The Orioles still want to make some more moves this year. They sit in the middle of the financial game. Thome will likely come cheaper than Vladimir Guerrero or Manny Ramirez, the other top outfield/DH-type players available. Guerrero had a phenomenal season last year, and will likely seek a large contract. Also, he has the Cliff Lee-less Texas Rangers chasing after him, so they will be aggresive and will likely drive up his price. Manny brings a troubled player and always seeks a large deal, so he doesn't seem to make much sense for a young club seeking leadership.
               Now, if there are any possible concerns, here is the biggest one.  On December 21, 1998, the Orioles signed Albert Belle, who was on the back end of his career, to a 5 year, $65 million deal. At that time, that was the largest contract in Orioles history. Belle was a bust, and because of his outbursts of anger at the media, he brought negative attention to a club that was trying to get on track to win. So, Owner Peter Angelos may be hesitant to handing over an expensive contract to another player on the decline, such as Thome.

However, Thome is asking for roughly $8 million for one year, so it is a much less risky contract. Althought it would be an expensive investment, it will only be for one season, and Thome will provide the Orioles with a true leader, and a solid bat. He also has a great work ethic, and never has problems with the media.  I think that all of this makes the $8 million completely worth it. Thome provides the Orioles with the final piece they need to have a potent offense.

This signing could be quite attractive to Thome as well. The future Hall of Famer is sitting at 589 home runs, 8th on the all-time list, and hitting in Camden Yards, a hitter's park, would create a very good opportunity for him to reach the 600 home run milestone. Also, the Orioles have one of, if the greatest manager in baseball, Buck Showalter. Showalter is known for winning, and for getting the most out of his players.  Thome would benefit because it would help prevent him from suffering a serious drop in production, as he turned 41 this offseason, and most players start declining around age 35. He’s not getting any younger, and this could very well be his last season, so why not spend it in Baltimore?