Recent stories by Jeff Zrebiec
9:01 PM EDT, May 22, 2011
Guerrero's two-run homer lifts Orioles over Nationals, 2-1
Since the day Vladimir Guerrero walked into the Orioles' spring training clubhouse for the first time, his mere presence has been the source of much fascination from his new teammates.
9:41 PM EDT, May 22, 2011
Orioles' Wieters turning heads with his arm
Not long after their 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, several Orioles stopped by the team's video room to get one more look at the game-ending play and even more confirmation of what they all are starting to believe about young catcher Matt Wieters.
9:45 PM EDT, May 21, 2011
Orioles finally back Guthrie, rout Nationals, 8-3
Rap music blared in the Orioles' clubhouse, children scooted around wearing jerseys adorned with their father's name and number, and catcher Matt Wieters looked forward to dinner plans to celebrate his 25th birthday.
6:32 PM EDT, May 21, 2011
Alfredo Simon 'happy' to return to Orioles
Even when he was imprisoned for two months as the chief suspect in a fatal New Year's Day shooting in his native Dominican Republic, Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon was confident that this day would come.
8:53 PM EDT, May 21, 2011
Orioles' Roberts calls concussion symptoms 'certainly concerning'
In his first comments since going on the seven-day disabled list with concussion symptoms, second baseman Brian Roberts said his latest health issues are "certainly concerning" and casted doubt that he'll be able to return to the Orioles' lineup this week.
12:26 AM EDT, May 21, 2011
Orioles embarrassed by Nationals in opener
The Washington Nationals entered Friday night's game against the Orioles with a 19-inning scoreless streak, a major league-worst .223 team batting average and an offense performing so poorly that their designated hitter for the night, Matt Stairs, had two hits in his past 26 at-bats.
8:02 PM EDT, May 20, 2011
Orioles activate Simon from restricted list
With their bullpen taxed after another abbreviated outing by a starting pitcher, the Orioles have decided to activate right-hander Alfredo Simon from Major League Baseball's restricted list a day earlier.
2:32 AM EDT, May 20, 2011
Orioles place Derrek Lee, Brian Roberts on the DL
As it turns out, the Orioles not only blew a six-run lead on Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, they lost the right side of their infield for what could be an extended period.
2:30 AM EDT, May 19, 2011
Orioles fall apart in 15th inning, lose to Yankees, 4-1
The Orioles could have been talking about another strong outing from rookie left-hander Zach Britton, another comeback off future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and a string of successful relief outings that held the New York Yankees' offense to just one unearned run over the first 14 innings.
10:10 PM EDT, May 18, 2011
Headaches sideline Orioles' Roberts
Already dealing with several injury-related roster questions, the Orioles played Wednesday night without second baseman Brian Roberts, who has been experiencing headaches since his headfirst slide to lead off Monday's game in Boston.
11:57 PM EDT, May 12, 2011
Orioles waste Britton's gem but win on Hardy's single in 12th
Orioles rookie Zach Britton kept waiting and waiting in the hope that one run would come and the finest start of his young career would turn into his sixth victory.
6:51 PM EDT, May 12, 2011
Struggling Orioles reliever Berken says shoulder feels great
After missing the final 1 1/2 months of last season with a tear in his right labrum, an injury that he chose to rehabilitate rather than have surgery on, Jason Berken figured the questions about his health wouldn't quickly go away.
8:40 PM EDT, May 10, 2011
Hardy returns to Orioles' lineup after monthlong absence
The first play J.J. Hardy had to make in his rehabilitation assignment for Triple-A Norfolk last Friday was a hard grounder up the middle that forced the shortstop to stretch to get the ball and make an off-balance throw.
2:18 AM EDT, May 11, 2011
Wieters' RBI single in 13th lifts Orioles over Mariners, 7-6
They blew two leads and botched one opportunity after another in extra innings. But when Felix Pie slid in just ahead of Miguel Olivo's tag in the 13th inning, none of that mattered to the Orioles, who poured out of the dugout to celebrate a game that they should have won seemingly hours earlier.
7:30 PM EDT, May 11, 2011
Orioles hold slumping Reynolds out of lineup
Hitless in his past 14 at-bats, Mark Reynolds was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday night for the first time this season, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said there are no plans for the slumping third baseman to sit for an extended stretch.
7:59 PM EDT, May 8, 2011
Orioles' Markakis struggles in loss to Rays
Nick Markakis has shown signs of breaking out of his puzzling early-season slump, but the right fielder had an afternoon to forget in the Orioles' loss 5-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
7:20 PM EDT, May 9, 2011
Orioles' Scott has torn labrum in shoulder, will play through it
An MRI taken Monday on Luke Scott's ailing right shoulder revealed a partially torn labrum, an injury that won't prevent the Orioles outfielder from playing this season but could force him to have offseason surgery.
7:15 PM EDT, May 8, 2011
Orioles come up short in 5-3 loss to Rays
Five weeks earlier, the Orioles had put the finishing touches on a season-opening three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, a performance so thorough that it created hope that perhaps this season would be different for the moribund franchise.
8:36 PM EDT, May 1, 2011
O's Pie makes rare start, gets two hits
— Outfielder Felix Pie hadn't started a game since April 17, and he had just three at-bats in the Orioles' previous 11 games.
9:22 PM EDT, May 5, 2011
Orioles' Scott to see doctor, have MRI on sore shoulder
Concerned about his sore right shoulder, Orioles left fielder Luke Scott will see team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens on Friday and have an MRI on Monday.
12:24 AM EDT, May 5, 2011
Arrieta solid as Orioles top Royals, 3-2
He walked the No. 8 hitter and the No. 9 hitter, both with two outs, and by the time the bottom of the second finally ended, Orioles starter Jake Arrieta had thrown 35 pitches in the inning and appeared to be on his way to a short night.
8:25 PM EDT, May 5, 2011
Royals pound Tillman in Orioles' 9-1 loss
One thing that you'll hear from pretty much everyone who has worked with Mark Connor during his 36 years in professional baseball is that the Orioles pitching coach will tell you exactly how he feels.
8:23 PM EDT, May 4, 2011
Orioles' Hardy to begin rehab stint with Triple-A Norfolk Friday
J.J. Hardy reported to the Orioles' minor league spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla., Wednesday for what he hopes will be the last time.
8:29 PM EDT, May 2, 2011
Orioles' Simon expected to pitch for Double-A Bowie Thursday
Right-hander Alfredo Simon, who has been on major league baseball's restricted list while a suspect in a fatal shooting in the Dominican Republic, is expected to pitch, and likely start, Thursday's game for the Double-A Bowie Baysox against the visiting Harrisburg Senators.
11:33 PM EDT, April 30, 2011
Gonzalez gets out of jam, Andino stars again as O's beat White Sox, 6-2
Michael Gonzalez, the much-maligned left-handed relief specialist who Oriole fans jeer at every opportunity, got the six biggest outs of the game while the outcome was still very much in doubt Saturday. Robert Andino, the enigmatic shortstop who nobody wanted after the Orioles designated him for assignment late last spring, again displayed his all-around talent by saving runs and scoring them.
1:01 AM EDT, May 4, 2011
Orioles fall to Royals, 6-5, in 10 innings
Orioles reliever Jason Berken made six quality pitches to get out of a major jam in the ninth inning
8:43 PM EDT, May 3, 2011
Orioles' Randolph pushes Andino to be everyday player
When Orioles infield and bench coach Willie Randolph started watching Robert Andino during spring training, he was immediately impressed by the flair with which the shortstop played the position, his all-around defensive skills and his speed and athleticism. Then Randolph noticed what he called the "rough edges."
9:14 PM EDT, April 30, 2011
Showalter opts to rest Wieters
A day after he hit a go-ahead, two-run homer, drove in four runs and threw out a speedy base runner to end a difficult inning, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters was on the bench.
12:39 AM EDT, April 30, 2011
Wieters helps Orioles roll over White Sox, 10-4
One of the first things Buck Showalter did after he was named Orioles manager in August was call Matt Wieters into his office and lay out his expectations.
9:29 PM EDT, April 29, 2011
With Roberts' hamstring feeling better, Orioles could see more steals
As it turns out, Brian Roberts' reluctance to steal bases wasn't a result of concern over his back. It was because of a sore right hamstring.
9:33 AM EDT, May 3, 2011
Too little, too late for O's in 6-2 loss to White Sox
Jeremy Guthrie, whose talk with reporters after his previous start included jokes about his struggles against the Boston Red Sox and his admiration for former BYU basketball star Jimmer Fredette, spoke in measured tones with his eyes fixed on the floor.
9:07 PM EDT, April 27, 2011
Orioles reliever Johnson returns to form
Orioles reliever Jim Johnson, never one to seek the spotlight, acknowledged that he's happy with the way he has been pitching, but not before reminding a reporter that the season is not yet a month old.
11:51 PM EDT, April 27, 2011
Orioles blow lead but rally to beat Red Sox, 5-4
Second baseman Brian Roberts said the disappointment of blowing a four-run lead in the eighth inning, of wasting another strong outing by Jeremy Guthrie and of watching the potential go-ahead run get thrown out at the plate lingered for a few seconds. Then, the longest-tenured Oriole looked toward the batter's box and came to a realization.
12:09 AM EDT, April 27, 2011
Britton strong again as Orioles beat Red Sox, 4-1
On nights like this, it's easy to forget that Zach Britton, the 23-year-old rookie with the hard sinker and steely nerves, wasn't even on the Orioles' Opening Day roster and has been a big leaguer for just over three weeks.
9:17 PM EDT, April 24, 2011
Orioles' Reynolds breaks out of 0-for-22 slump with two-run homer
A homer was the last thing on Mark Reynolds' mind when he strode to the plate in the seventh inning Sunday against New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain.
8:09 PM EDT, April 22, 2011
Rainout allows Orioles to skip Tillman's next start
The Orioles series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday night was postponed because of rain, allowing the club to skip Chris Tillman's next start.
6:24 PM EDT, April 23, 2011
Orioles starter Brian Matusz out until mid-May
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that injured starter Brian Matusz won't be ready to return to the big league rotation until mid-May at the earliest.
8:21 PM EDT, April 24, 2011
Yankees rain on Orioles' parade, win, 6-3, in 11 innings
There were myriad plays or even bounces that could have gone just a bit differently in the Orioles' 6-3 loss Sunday, resulting in a satisfying victory over the New York Yankees to take into a day off that will instead be filled with lament.
10:33 PM EDT, April 8, 2011
Orioles have several questions heading into Saturday's doubleheader
As the Orioles tried to figure out their convoluted pitching situation, they were faced with another roster challenge when leadoff hitter and second baseman Brian Roberts was taken to a local hospital Friday night to have testing done on his stomach.
8:01 PM EDT, April 15, 2011
Orioles' Gregg hangs on to closer's role
A day after Kevin Gregg squandered a one-run lead in a loss to the New York Yankees, Orioles manager Buck Showalter wouldn't change his stance on the team's closer situation.
5:47 PM EDT, April 6, 2011
Machado's trip through Orioles' farm system could be a quick one
Orioles officials talked about Manny Machado this spring mostly in measured tones, as if they were trying to keep something that was painfully obvious a secret.
6:01 PM EDT, March 23, 2011
Xavier Avery turning heads at Orioles camp
It was a rainy day in West Virginia two years ago when Xavier Avery said "one of the greatest things" that Brian Graham has ever heard in three decades on a professional baseball field.
9:56 PM EDT, April 4, 2011
Roberts' three-run homer lifts Orioles to first 4-0 start since 1997
Brian Roberts has played in eight home openers at Camden Yards, and none has felt quite like this one.
10:38 PM EDT, March 23, 2011
Orioles' Gregg taking his time, making progress
Michael Gonzalez was the newly signed reliever last spring who struggled early and then spent a decent part of the Grapefruit League schedule facing minor league hitters and working on his mechanics.
8:58 PM EST, March 3, 2011
Health of several Orioles suddenly a hot topic
Questions about the health of several of the Orioles' top players dominated conversation at Ed Smith Stadium Thursday as the club learned that first baseman Derrek Lee and starter Justin Duchscherer could get game action soon, while pitchers Brian Matusz and Koji Uehara could be sidelined for a little while.
10:17 PM EDT, March 24, 2011
Arrieta uneven as O's top Pirates, 11-7
Right-hander Jake Arrieta turned in the longest big league outing this spring for an Orioles starter, fluctuating between unhittable and utterly shaky Thursday evening.
5:54 PM EDT, March 21, 2011
Guthrie feels 'strong' in minor league outing vs. Twins
On a scheduled day off at big league camp, Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie got his work in Monday, pitching six solid innings in a Triple-A game against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium.
9:55 PM EDT, March 18, 2011
Orioles' starting pitching is cause for concern
It has become almost a daily occurrence this spring.
7:43 PM EST, March 2, 2011
Orioles' Britton more mature, more focused on MLB goals
He was only 19 at the time, so you can excuse Zach Britton for the youthful exuberance.
5:18 PM EST, February 26, 2011
Roberts works out, says neck has 'continually gotten better'
After the Orioles' workout had ended Saturday and many of his teammates had headed to the clubhouse, Brian Roberts put on his batting gloves and headed to a back field to take a few more swings.
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