Roch Kubatko

Orioles preparing for two games today in latest scheduling challenge

March 04, 2015, 4:42pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't been allowed to ease into their exhibition schedule this spring. Rather than stick their toe in the water, they basically have to get a running start and cannonball into the pool. The first day required a trip to Lakeland to play the Tigers. The Orioles already have split-squad games on tap today against the Rays in Port Charlotte and the Blue Jays in Sarasota, and they travel to Dunedin on Friday. If they had to rate their least favorite trips on the...

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Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss in exhibition home opener (O's sign Beato)

March 04, 2015, 12:25pm

Orioles

Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss in exhibition home opener (O's sign Beato)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Bud Norris will make his first exhibition start for the Orioles on Saturday against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Ubaldo Jimenez returns to the mound on Sunday against the Twins in Fort Myers, and Chris Tillman makes his first start Monday against the Phillies in Sarasota. Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez will pitch Tuesday against the Yankees in Sarasota. I wrote earlier that Mike Wright is pitching Friday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, but here's a reminder. Playing in his...

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Orioles hire Ramon Martinez, game update, Gausman quotes (O's lose 5-4)

March 04, 2015, 9:32am

Orioles

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Tigers 5, Orioles 4 Recap: J.J. Hardy had both Orioles hits before leaving the game for a pinch-runner in the sixth inning. Ryan Flaherty singled in the seventh. The Orioles scored three runs in the eighth on Dariel Alvarez's RBI single and Nolan Reimold's two-run single. Jayson Nix hit a two-out homer in the ninth, the Orioles' first longball of the spring. Kevin Gausman faced three batters in a scoreless first inning, allowing a leadoff single to Anthony Gose,...

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Gausman tosses scoreless inning (with pictures and video)

March 04, 2015, 8:39am

Orioles

Gausman tosses scoreless inning (with pictures and video)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman worked only one inning today, throwing 10 of his 16 pitches for strikes by my unofficial count in a scoreless first. Gausman's fastball touched 96 mph on multiple pitches. He allowed a leadoff single to Anthony Gose before getting a double play grounder from Jose Iglesias and striking out J.D. Martinez, who froze on a 96 mph heater. Gausman was ahead of Gose 1-2 before the Tigers designated hitter lined a single up the middle. J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit...

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Showalter on Matusz, Rays starters, Arencibia and Jones (with photos)

March 04, 2015, 7:13am

Orioles

Showalter on Matusz, Rays starters, Arencibia and Jones (with photos)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman and Bud Norris aren't scheduled to pitch in an exhibition game before the weekend due to the amount of innings they logged last season as the Orioles reached the American League Championship Series. Showalter said he pushed them back and provided extra work days because of the "extra load in October last year." Tillman told me that he's starting on Monday against the Phillies in Sarasota, but the Orioles haven't confirmed it. Norris could start this weekend....

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More notes before today's home exhibition opener

March 04, 2015, 5:21am

Orioles

More notes before today's home exhibition opener

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland and right-hander Dylan Bundy will follow starter Kevin Gausman to the mound today in the Orioles' home exhibition opener against the Tigers. Mike Wright is listed as the Orioles' starter Friday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Toronto is starting knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Another reminder that left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez are starting the two split-squad games on Thursday. The Rays are starting Nathan Karns in Port Charlotte and...

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Health updates on Matusz and Janish

March 04, 2015, 4:20am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Brian Matusz had a cortisone injection in his right shoulder on Monday to alleviate the discomfort caused by a strained AC joint. The concern is minimal because it's Matusz's non-throwing arm. However, the pain was affecting his ability to work out. Matusz said the strain occurred about six weeks ago while he was bench pressing as part of his offseason conditioning program. "It's something that hasn't affected anything on the baseball field, but in the...

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Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

March 04, 2015, 3:05am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alejandro De Aza is leading off and playing right field today for the Orioles in their home exhibition opener against the Tigers. Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup. J.J. Hardy is batting second. Delmon Young is starting in left field. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Still no baby. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young LF Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph...

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Orioles trying to rebound today in home opener

March 03, 2015, 5:11pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter admitted yesterday that he was scrambling for ways to sound positive about his team's performance in its exhibition opener. Shovel in hand, he kept digging through the rubble of a 15-2 loss to the Tigers. "I'm sure Jonesy and those guys will have some choice words in the morning," Showalter said, anticipating the barbs coming from Adam Jones and other veterans who stayed back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Henry Urrutia, who's been working...

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Showalter speaks after 15-2 loss

March 03, 2015, 11:35am

Orioles

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Orioles scored twice in the ninth inning today, but the Tigers proved that some leads are safe for their bullpen. Julio Borbon's RBI double scored Drew Dosch, who reached on an infield hit, and Henry Urrutia had a run-scoring single in the Orioles' 15-2 loss at Joker Marchant Stadium. Michael Almanzar was picked off first base by catcher James McCann before Dosch reached. Not the impression you want to leave with your manager. Showalter didn't sound concerned about...

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Jimenez: "I don't have to change anything" (Orioles fall 15-2)

March 03, 2015, 10:16am

Orioles

ORIOLES QUICK WRAPScore: Tigers 15, Orioles 2Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez struck out two in a scoreless first inning, but the wheels came off in the second. He recorded only one out and was charged with six runs (five earned). Jimenez walked two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. Chris Jones replaced Jimenez with one out in the second and served up a three-run homer to Ian Kinsler. Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam off Oliver Drake (Navy) in the fourth. Eddie Gamboa gave up an RBI triple to...

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Jimenez records only four outs in spring debut

March 03, 2015, 9:02am

Orioles

Jimenez records only four outs in spring debut

LAKELAND, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only 1 1/3 innings today for the Orioles and was charged with six runs (five earned), the last three scoring on Ian Kinsler's home run off left-hander Chris Jones. The Tigers lead 7-0 in the bottom of the third. Jimenez allowed three hits, walked two, struck out two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. The strikeouts came against the first two batters he faced. I've got Jimenez with 42 pitches, 21 in each inning, and 27 for strikes. The Tigers'...

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More on upcoming pitching

March 03, 2015, 6:26am

Orioles

LAKELAND, Fla. - It's been a few years since I covered a game at Joker Marchant Stadium. I forgot that press box seating is limited, to put it mildly. One seat for five Orioles beat writers is bad math. When the music stops ... Manager Buck Showalter didn't plan on leaving the Sarasota complex until around 10:30 a.m. The team bus was behind me as I pulled into the stadium lot here and the Orioles just started to take batting practice. The Orioles were 13-9-4 last spring, including 6-5-1 at...

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Orioles' first exhibition lineup (with Tigers lineup)

March 03, 2015, 3:11am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is leading off and playing shortstop today in the Orioles' first exhibition game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Matt Tuiasosopo is serving as the designated hitter and batting fourth. J.P. Arencibia is behind the plate. Henry Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez are on the trip as reserves. For the Orioles Everth Cabrera SSJonathan Schoop 2BNolan Reimold RFMatt Tuiasosopo DHTravis Snider LFJimmy Paredes 3BJ.P. Arencibia CDavid Lough CFChristian Walker 1B Ubaldo...

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Kicking off the exhibition schedule

March 02, 2015, 5:09pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first exhibition game is upon us. All it requires is about a 90-minute drive to Lakeland, Fla. Don't bother looking for the regulars. Orioles manager Buck Showalter already confirmed that Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and Steve Pearce aren't making the trip. And neither is Caleb Joseph, who's staying in Sarasota until his son is born. Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start and is scheduled to throw two innings. The bullpen includes Eddie Gamboa,...

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Norris: "There's a bigger buzz in the clubhouse, for sure"

March 02, 2015, 10:15am

Orioles

Norris: "There's a bigger buzz in the clubhouse, for sure"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Bud Norris is celebrating his 30th birthday today. He's used to being in spring training for the occasion and much prefers spending it in Sarasota after training with the Astros in Kissimmee. "My girlfriend's here and her birthday was yesterday," Norris said. Norris isn't certain when he's scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut, but he's ready. "You work a lot of the offseason to get your body in shape, but really for the pitchers and catchers our...

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Notes from today's final full workout

March 02, 2015, 9:45am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to work two innings in Tuesday's exhibition opener against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. The travel squad will include infielder Drew Dosch, outfielder Julio Borbon and pitcher Mychal Givens from minor league camp. Manager Buck Showalter said Pat Connaughton, the Orioles' fourth-round pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft who plays for the Notre Dame men's basketball team, has been throwing to stay sharp and get his arm ready for minor league...

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Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the pitching schedule

March 02, 2015, 5:05am

Orioles

Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the pitching schedule

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Paul Janish, who underwent surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago to remove bone chips from his right elbow, will take ground balls for the first time Tuesday and make throws this weekend. Janish's goal is to play in his first game March 20 or 21. "Relatively speaking, it feels about as well as it can up to this point. Probably a little bit ahead of schedule, which is a difficult thing to kind of expedite on the training room side of it," said Janish, who signed a minor league...

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This, that and the other

March 01, 2015, 3:25pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are down to their final day of strictly workouts before their first exhibition game on Tuesday against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Players have reached the point in camp where they're ready for the competition, ready to do something different besides going field to field for various drills, throwing off practice mounds and hitting in the cage. They want to face an opponent and reduce the distance between themselves and opening day. Yesterday's intrasquad game...

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Wrapping up today's intrasquad game

March 01, 2015, 11:46am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - A scoreless tie in an intrasquad game still held a certain measure of significance for a few players beyond facing live pitching and hitting on the first day of March. Matt Wieters caught for the first time since May, though he didn't make any throws to second base. Manny Machado batted for the first time since Aug. 11 and lined out to center field in his first trip to the plate. Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia was so impressive in his one inning of work, a few players moved from the...