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Orioles notebook, 8/25
Guthrie felt special connection to Flanagan
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
“Since the day I was given No. 46, I’ve had thousands of people tell me that was the number of their favorite pitcher for the Orioles when they were growing up,” Guthrie said. “So from Day 1, I think I’ve been reminded of the legacy and of the work that Mike did not only as a player, but also as a member of the community in Baltimore.
“It’s always been special, and now I think it takes on even a new level. He’s not going to be forgotten soon, that’s for sure.”
After thinking about it overnight, Guthrie is considering hanging up his No. 46 for the rest of the season in honor of Flanagan.
Guthrie is looking for input from a number of people, including fans.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of emotions flying around right now … but it’s a response that doesn’t surprise me from Jeremy,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “We’ll see. I’m not going to really weigh in on whether [he should do it]. It’s a nice gesture.”
Jones sits out finale with soreness
MINNEAPOLIS — After leaving games early on consecutive nights, center fielder Adam Jones was out of the Orioles lineup for Thursday’s series finale with the Twins.
Jones left Tuesday’s game after just one inning and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. On Wednesday night, Jones left after six innings with soreness in his neck, shoulder and chest.
“Hopefully, today will be good for him, and he’ll get back in there tomorrow,” said manager Buck Showalter. “I’ve got some options with him off the bench.”
The soreness Jones experienced on Wednesday and was still dealing with on Thursday morning likely was related to what forced him out of the game on Tuesday, when he had trouble catching his breath.
“Sometimes things like that could bring on the symptoms and some of the stuff he had,” Showalter said. “He felt great in BP yesterday, so I’ll take that as a positive.”
Guerrero returns in finale vs. Twins
MINNEAPOLIS — Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was back in the lineup on Thursday afternoon after missing Wednesday’s game with a left wrist contusion.
Guerrero, who was hit on the underside of his wrist by a ball during batting practice, was held out of the lineup as a precaution.
In the clubhouse after Wednesday’s game, Guerrero had his wrist heavily wrapped and iced, but said he was fine.
“It was a little puffy [on Wednesday],” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “We probably could’ve pushed the envelope on him [on Wednesday], but with the quick turnaround with the day game and [lefty Francisco] Liriano pitching [on Thursday], we wanted to be careful.
“So far so good, but we’ve got some options if he gets in there and can’t go.”
Showalter said Guerrero was intent on playing on Wednesday, despite the injury, but the manager decided otherwise, making him a late scratch from the lineup.
“He was all taped up and ready to go and trying to play yesterday,” Showalter said. “I just stopped him and said, ‘Let’s be smart with this.'”
Flanagan family issues statement for fans
MINNEAPOLIS — The Flanagan family issued a statement on Thursday regarding the death of former Orioles pitcher, executive and broadcaster Mike Flanagan.
The statement read:
“We thank you for your support and kind words at this difficult time. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we grieve.
“A private memorial will be held at a later date.”
–The Flanagan Family
Pie clears waivers, faces decision
MINNEAPOLIS — Felix Pie cleared waivers on Thursday, and the Orioles left fielder was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
Pie now has the option to become a free agent, which would mean forfeiting what is left of his $985,000 salary for 2011. He can also accept his assignment and report to the Tides, but he must make his decision by Saturday morning.
“It’s good for us, not particularly good for him right now,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “But it may work out real well in the long haul for both of us.
“[Pie] and his agent and his family will make a decision, what’s best for him in his career. We hope it includes us.”
The Orioles designated Pie for assignment on Tuesday in an effort to get him some at-bats in the Minors and perhaps solve his offensive struggles.
Pie has batted just .220 this season, while slugging .280 with a .264 on-base percentage. All three numbers are well below Pie’s career numbers. The former Cubs top prospect has also struggled defensively and on the basepaths.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Orioles notebook, 8/24
Vlad scratched from lineup with bruised wrist
MINNEAPOLIS — Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was a late scratch from Wednesday’s lineup with a left wrist contusion.
With Guerrero out, catcher Matt Wieters batted cleanup, while Mark Reynolds and Robert Andino also moved up one spot each to the fifth and sixth spots, respectively.
Jake Fox, who was called up on Tuesday from Triple-A Norfolk, batted seventh as the DH in place of Guerrero. For Fox, it was his first start since May 27.
In six games this year against the Twins, Guerrero is batting .346 with two home runs, five RBIs and two doubles. Guerrero was 3-for-5 on Tuesday night with a double and three runs scored.
After the O’s 6-1 win, Guerrero said his wrist — which was heavily wrapped — was fine.
Angle looking to snap his offensive funk
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he was not worried about Angle trying too hard or putting too much pressure on himself to get the first hit out of the way.
“It’s going to happen,” Showalter said. “He’s done some good things [in the past] and he’s a baseball player. He’ll get a hit.”
Jones feeling better, returns to O’s lineup
MINNEAPOLIS — After giving his team and its fans a scare on Tuesday night, Adam Jones was back in the Orioles’ lineup on Wednesday against the Twins.
Jones left the second game of the series after just one inning due to what was announced as an illness. He was later taken from Target Field to the Hennepin County Medical Center during the middle innings for further evaluation.
“I just didn’t feel myself,” Jones said. “So, I guess the team wanted to make sure I was OK. But I feel fine today.”
Jones went 0-for-4 at the plate and was replaced in the field by Matt Angle in the bottom of the seventh.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he made out two lineups on Wednesday, one with Jones in it and one with him out.
Jones was his usual upbeat self during the team’s pregame stretch on Wednesday, which was a good sign of how he felt, as Jones was more subdued a night earlier.
“You can tell he’s a lot more engaged,” Showalter said. “I should’ve known something was up because usually he’s real engaging. He always sticks his head in and we shoot the breeze a little bit.”
After feeling fine through the Orioles’ pregame stretch and batting practice on Tuesday, Jones’ symptoms popped up early in the game. When it continued to persist through the top of the second, Jones left the game and was replaced by Angle.
The Orioles decided shortly thereafter that it would be best to have Jones go to the hospital and go through a number of tests to figure out what exactly was going on.
Said Jones of how long he was at the hospital: “Too long. I should’ve been there for two minutes, but was there a little bit longer. But I’m all right, and that’s the important thing.”
Jones said he did not know, nor did he care, what they were testing him for at the hospital. All that mattered was that he was healthy and back in the lineup a day later.
“It was nothing that’s going to keep me out of a game,” Jones said. “It took me out of one, but it won’t keep me out of another.”
Showalter said he still was not entirely sure what Jones was dealing with, but thought it was primarily due to dehydration.
Reynolds’ glove becoming O’s first option
MINNEAPOLIS — While he has logged 638 games at third base over five years, Mark Reynolds has only played first base 48 times. And 14 of those games at first have come this season with the Orioles.
Reynolds has looked comfortable at first base, though, even making a key play on Tuesday night that led to an inning-ending double play.
After center fielder Ben Revere grounded out to first, Reynolds fired home to cut down Twins infielder Luke Hughes, getting him caught in a run down as he tried to score.
“That was a big play there in a lot of ways looking back on it,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Mark made sure he got that out [at first] and still had another out there.
“I know coaching third base, that’s a tough play for a runner and a third-base coach. If you go directly to the plate you’re probably out. If you wait too long… it’s a tough one. We were fortunate it was hit in the right place and worked out for us.”
Reynolds has become the Orioles’ everyday first baseman since Chris Davis has been sidelined since Aug. 14 due to a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder.
With Reynolds at first, Robert Andino has taken over as the No. 1 option at third base, and Ryan Adams is now the Orioles’ everyday second baseman. Those three, along with J.J. Hardy at shortstop, have provided solid infield defense this week at Target Field.
“Robert’s handled third base well in two games, and I felt confident he would,” Showalter said. “So far so good. Obviously defense is a big part of being able to sustain some things over the course of a season.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Jones taken to hospital following illness
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Orioles center fielder Adam Jones left Tuesday’s 8-1 victory against the Twins after becoming ill just one inning into the contest and was taken to a Twin Cities hospital.
“He was feeling a little down and just weak. After his first at-bat and everything it didn’t get any better,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “We didn’t like what he was describing, so we decided to get him out of there and let the doctors take a look at him.
“They’re still looking into it, haven’t really been able to nail it down. We just want to rule a lot of things out. To be on the safe side, we’re going to let them do some more tests at the hospital.”
Outfielder Matt Angle, who was recalled before the game from Triple-A Norfolk, pinch-hit for Jones in the second inning and remained in the game in center field.
Jones struck out in the first in his only at-bat against Twins lefty Brian Duensing.
Angle also struck out against Duensing in a four-run second inning for the O’s, capped by a three-run homer from Nolan Reimold. In his first game back with the Orioles in a month, Angle finished 0-for-4.
Showalter did not rule out the possibility of Jones spending the night at the hospital.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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