Roch Kubatko

The catching situation

March 21, 2015, 3:04pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will attempt to win their fifth game in a row today when they play the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles totaled 11 runs during a five-game losing streak. They've scored 50 while winning five of their last six. Their only loss in that stretch was 10-9 to the Twins. It looks like the offense is catching up to the pitching. Bud Norris makes his fourth start of the spring. He's surrendered 10 runs and 13 hits over 7 2/3 innings, with five walks and four...

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Hunter Harvey's X-ray negative

March 21, 2015, 2:26pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles received good news today on pitching prospect Hunter Harvey. An X-ray taken on Harvey's right ankle came back clean. He didn't sustain a fracture after being hit by a comebacker during a minor league game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Harvey would have gone two innings for Single-A Frederick, but he was forced to leave the game. A team official said Harvey will see a doctor Sunday morning as part of a follow-up examination. Earlier today, director of player...

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Buck Showalter speaks after 5-3 win over Twins

March 21, 2015, 12:20pm

Orioles

Buck Showalter speaks after 5-3 win over Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey is having precautionary X-rays taken on his shin after being hit by a comebacker today in a minor league game in Fort Myers. The Orioles ran their winning streak to four games today with a 5-3 win over a Twins split-squad. Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett earned the save by stranding a runner at second base in the ninth. Verrett has allowed two runs in 10 innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. Here's a sampling of manager Buck...

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Steve Pearce on home runs, Miguel Gonzalez on outing (O's win 5-3)

March 21, 2015, 11:37am

Orioles

Steve Pearce on home runs, Miguel Gonzalez on outing (O's win 5-3)

ORIOLES QUICK RECAP Score: Orioles 5, Twins 3 Recap: Steve Pearce launched a three-run homer in the top of second inning to break a 1-1 tie. Caleb Joseph doubled to score Jonathan Schoop and Paul Janish singled before Pearce's at-bat. Delmon Young hit his first spring home run with two outs in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. He absolutely crushed it. Miguel Gonzalez threw 80 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and six hits. T.J. McFarland allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings. Zach Britton...

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Game update and more from Showalter

March 21, 2015, 10:46am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez failed to complete four innings today, but he definitely increased his pitch count. Gonzalez threw 80 pitches, 57 for strikes, and left with the Orioles ahead 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. T.J. McFarland stranded Kurt Suzuki, who doubled with two outs. Gonzalez was charged with two runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Gonzalez was hoping to today become the first Orioles starter to exceed four innings in a...

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Matt Wieters appears headed to disabled list (with quotes and game update)

March 21, 2015, 9:16am

Orioles

Matt Wieters appears headed to disabled list (with quotes and game update)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said today it's "unlikely" that catcher Matt Wieters will start the season on the 25-man roster. Wieters is expected to be placed on the disabled list. He would be eligible to return on April 11. Showalter said Wieters hasn't experienced a setback and is on or ahead of schedule. However, the recovery from ligament-reconstructive surgery on an elbow normally is a 10-month process, and Wieters had the procedure on June 17. Team orthopedist Dr....

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Notes on Alejandro De Aza, Tim Berry, Mike Wright and Steve Johnson

March 21, 2015, 7:38am

Orioles

Notes on Alejandro De Aza, Tim Berry, Mike Wright and Steve Johnson

FORT MYERS, Fla. - In my last blog entry, I wrote that outfielder Alejandro De Aza returned to Sarasota yesterday after flying to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday for his grandfather's 99th birthday party. "It was awesome," De Aza said this morning. "It's always good to see family, especially a granddad who's 99. He was happy for me to be there." The last time De Aza attended his grandfather's birthday? "Before I got signed," said De Aza, who joined the Dodgers as an amateur free...

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Orioles option Henry Urrutia

March 21, 2015, 6:39am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles optioned outfielder Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk this morning, leaving 42 players in camp, including nine non-roster invitees. Urrutia went 8-for-25 with two doubles, a home run, seven RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and two strikeouts in 15 games. He also showed improvement in the outfield. There's no doubt that Urrutia, 28, made a favorable impression in camp. Bud Norris is the confirmed starter for Sunday's game against the Cardinals in Sarasota....

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Orioles lineup vs. Twins (update)

March 21, 2015, 3:48am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado and Adam Jones are making the trip to Fort Myers for today's game against the Twins at Hammond Stadium. Machado is leading off again and Jones is batting third. Paul Janish is starting at shortstop. He's been brought along slowly after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Update: Relievers Zach Britton and Ryan Webb are also on the trip to Fort Myers. Webb had been sidelined with a sore left knee. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Steve Pearce...

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Miguel Gonzalez, Adam Jones and more

March 20, 2015, 6:24pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are back in Fort Myers today because they can't get enough of I-75 south. Just slow down through the construction zones. The rotation is a work in progress - my idea of a segue - with six starters vying for five spots. Miguel Gonzalez returns to the mound today against the Twins and will attempt to push his pitch count to 70-75. He'll also attempt to stay in the majors rather than being optioned before opening day. Gonzalez allowed one hit in two scoreless innings...

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Orioles option Tim Berry

March 20, 2015, 3:55pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles ended up making two camp cuts today with the announcement that they optioned left-hander Tim Berry to Triple-A Norfolk. Earlier in the day, the Orioles optioned pitcher Mike Wright to Norfolk. With these moves, the Orioles have 43 players in camp, including nine non-roster invitees. Berry allowed two runs (one earned) in one inning today against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. In four spring games, he surrendered five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings,...

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Updating Chen and Gausman at minor league complex

March 20, 2015, 12:02pm

Orioles

Updating Chen and Gausman at minor league complex

SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman got in their work this afternoon on adjacent fields at the Twins Lakes Park complex. That was pretty much the goal besides staying healthy. Chen and Gausman were facing Single-A teams in the Red Sox organization. Chen, pitching for the Frederick Keys, allowed one run and two hits in five-plus innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Gausman, pitching for the Delmarva Shorebirds, allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless...

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Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox (Napoli scratched)

March 20, 2015, 6:43am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough is starting in center field for the Orioles today after sitting out a few games with a sore left hamstring. Henry Urrutia is in right field one day after hitting a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning. Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate and Steve Clevenger is serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Everth Cabrera SS David Lough CF Jimmy Paredes 3B Travis Snider LF Henry Urrutia RF Steve Clevenger DH Chris Parmelee 1B Ryan Lavarnway C Ryan Flaherty...

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Lough update and Red Sox lineup (with note)

March 20, 2015, 5:28am

Orioles

Lough update and Red Sox lineup (with note)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't posted their lineup and the bus left for Fort Myers a while ago. Guess we're in a holding pattern. Many of the regulars are staying back, of course. Adam Jones sat at his locker this morning, amusing reporters with various quips. Chris Davis and Manny Machado also are in the clubhouse. David Lough made the trip and said he's starting today. Manager Buck Showalter held him out of the lineup for a few days because of a sore left hamstring. "I'm fine,"...

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Matt Wieters: "It was more of the body telling me to slow down"

March 20, 2015, 4:32am

Orioles

Matt Wieters: "It was more of the body telling me to slow down"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters remains hopeful that he can return to catching on Wednesday after an X-ray on his elbow yesterday didn't reveal any structural damage. Wieters is letting the elbow "rest" after being diagnosed with tendinitis following his Grapefruit League debut behind the plate on Tuesday. Asked whether he's concerned, Wieters replied, "No. It's a matter of we put in a lot of work in the nine months of rehab and the body was just telling me, 'OK, we've put in a lot of...

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Another Brian Matusz start, another road game, the latest on Henry Urrutia

March 19, 2015, 5:13pm

Orioles

Another Brian Matusz start, another road game, the latest on Henry Urrutia

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz is making another start today for the Orioles after throwing three scoreless innings with no walks on March 14 against the Rays. Matusz hasn't issued a walk in 6 1/3 innings this spring. He's allowed one run and five hits and struck out eight batters. Whether he stays in the organization is another matter. The trade rumors continue to swirl. I'll be at Twin Lakes Park today, where Kevin Gausman and Wei-Yin Chen are pitching in separate Single-A...

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Matt Wieters' X-ray clean and other notes following 6-4 win

March 19, 2015, 12:45pm

Orioles

Matt Wieters' X-ray clean and other notes following 6-4 win

SARASOTA, Fla. - The X-rays on Matt Wieters' right elbow came back clean today, according to manager Buck Showalter, who added that no further tests were scheduled. Wieters caught his first Grapefruit League game on Tuesday and was diagnosed with tendinitis in the elbow the following day. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells arranged the X-rays today as a precaution. "There's no reason to have any other tests," Showalter said after a 6-4 win over the Pirates. "I talked to him when he got...

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Updating Tillman's latest start (Orioles win 6-4)

March 19, 2015, 10:33am

Orioles

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 6, Pirates 4 Recap: Henry Urrutia homered on the first pitch from Stolmy Pimentel leading off the bottom of the eighth to break a 4-4 tie and Ryan Lavarnway added an RBI double later in the inning. Chris Tillman allowed one run and four hits in four innings, with no walks and five strikeouts. Ryan Flaherty and Adam Jones homered off Pirates reliever Arquimedes Caminero in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Jones gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first with...

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Buck Showalter continues to evaluate his Rule 5 pitchers (game update)

March 19, 2015, 8:58am

Orioles

Buck Showalter continues to evaluate his Rule 5 pitchers (game update)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's starter for the Pirates, Radhames Liz, hasn't pitched in the majors since making two appearances with the Orioles in April 2009, allowing 10 runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. Liz, 31, is 6-8 with a 7.50 ERA in 28 appearances (21 starts) over parts of three major league seasons, all of them with the Orioles. Manager Buck Showalter isn't in a rush to make a decision on Rule 5 pitchers Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett, who can't be optioned without passing through...

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Notes on Matt Wieters, David Lough, Alejandro De Aza and lots more

March 19, 2015, 7:31am

Orioles

Notes on Matt Wieters, David Lough, Alejandro De Aza and lots more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is having his right elbow X-rayed today as a precaution after being shut down with tendinitis. He's expected back in camp by the start of today's game. "Just making sure everything's structurally right," said manager Buck Showalter. "Richie (Bancells) and them decided by the time I got back (yesterday) they were just going to go ahead and set it up and get it done. They talked with Dr. (Michael) Jacobs a little bit just to make sure we've got...