SARASOTA, Fla. - The date has been marked on manager Buck Showalter's calendar for a long time, an anniversary that he wishes did not exist, a day that he knows will bring back memories both warm and heartbreaking.
Tears can moisten the eyes and cheeks no matter which thoughts rise to the surface.
On the morning of Feb. 28, 2014, Orioles public relations director Monica Pence Barlow passed away after a courageous and inspiring 4-1/2 year battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. I received the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have announced their starters for Sunday's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium.
The game begins at 1 p.m. and is closed to the public.
Zach Britton, Ryan Webb, Mark Hendrickson, Tim Berry, Tyler Wilson and Chaz Roe are pitching for the home team. T.J. McFarland, Wesley Wright, Mike Wright, Jason Garcia, Logan Verrett and Hunter Harvey are pitching for the away team.
The Athletics claimed outfielder Alex Hassan off waivers from the Orioles. He was taken off the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman will start the Orioles' home exhibition opener on March 4 against the Tigers.
Ubaldo Jimenez already was confirmed as the March 3 starter against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.
Gausman is among the six starters competing for five spots in the rotation. He could be moved to the bullpen or optioned to Triple-A Norfolk if he fails to win a job.
The popup drill on the Ed Smith Stadium field was received favorably by players who liked the idea of simulating game...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles moved to the Ed Smith Stadium field this morning for popup drills, a day earlier than scheduled.
Crowd noise from Game 2 of the American League Division Series, when Delmon Young cleared the bases with a three-run double, was piped into the ballpark.
Infielders called off teammates to catch the ball as the noise level was raised. Outfielders chasing balls down the line were subjected to the same treatment.
The noise was so loud, the resident of a nearby house filed...
SARASOTA, Fla. - When the Orioles take the field this morning for another spring workout under an overcast sky, infielder Everth Cabrera is expected to work out at his third position since signing his one-year deal.
Cabrera took ground balls and made throws at shortstop on Wednesday and slid over to second base yesterday. Manager Buck Showalter said Cabrera probably will move to third base today and eventually will shag fly balls in the outfield.
Though he's a candidate to wrestle the second...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles clubhouse is closed to the media this morning because players are meeting with officials from Major League Baseball. Reporters will have access to them after the workout.
Another group of pitchers warmed up on the side mounds yesterday and threw inside the covered batting cage. It won't be much longer before they're throwing live batting practice, with hitters taking their cuts.
We're getting closer to the exhibition games, which gets us closer to the ones that...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Former Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis said today he regrets comments that appeared in a USA TODAY article and holds no animosity toward the organization.
Markakis said he was responding to a specific comment from a reporter, which was passed along following an interview with a member of the Orioles' front office, regarding the team's failure to offer him a fourth guaranteed year during negotiations over the winter. The Braves signed Markakis to a four-year, $44 million...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez says he's looking to get a fresh start. It begins on March 3 when he gets the start in the first exhibition game against the Tigers.
"Last year was really tough," said Jimenez, who was 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA in his first season with the Orioles after signing a four-year, $50 million contract. "This is the beginning of 2015 and I'm excited to be part of the first game."
This won't be Jimenez's last road game of the spring.
"It puts him on the gray pants...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Ubaldo Jimenez will start the March 3 exhibition opener against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.
The Orioles are playing only one intrasquad game, on March 1 on the Ed Smith Stadium field. The following day will be a normal workout.
Matt Wieters will catch in the intrasquad game, as previously reported, but he won't throw.
Showalter repeated that Wieters, Manny Machado and Chris Davis will get extra at-bats this spring, which means more road...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitchers will warm up on the side mounds again today and head to the indoor batting cage for their bullpen sessions. Hitters will track the pitches.
Dane De La Rosa, Wesley Wright, Steve Johnson, Chris Jones, Mike Wright, Eddie Gamboa, Hunter Harvey, Brian Matusz, Oliver Drake, Chaz Roe, Tyler Wilson, Tim Berry, Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett are scheduled to throw.
Here are some leftover quotes from center fielder Adam Jones, who spoke to reporters at his locker this...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Center fielder Adam Jones was surrounded by media at his locker this morning, everyone wanting his reaction to former teammate Nick Markakis' comments about the Orioles yesterday that appeared in a USA TODAY article.
Markakis vented about how the Orioles handled his negotiations this winter, accusing them of withholding the truth about their concerns over the MRI on his neck, which later required surgery to remove a herniated disc and fuse vertebrae.
"Don't believe a word...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles went 2-for-3 last spring in signing players with baggage, striking it big with Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young and striking out on Alfredo Aceves.
They'll gladly take that average.
Cruz led the majors in home runs. Young batted .302, emerged as baseball's best pinch-hitter and delivered perhaps the most electrifying moment in Camden Yards history with his three-run double in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Aceves creeped out everyone, gave up five runs...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said today that Everth Cabrera's legal issues are resolved and the infielder can concentrate on playing baseball and trying to make the team in spring training.
A trial was scheduled for April after Cabrera's arrest in San Diego for suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana that led to a charge in November of resisting arrest. Cabrera has been placed on three years of probation and will perform 80 hours of community...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles held their first full-squad workout today and it included outfield and infield drills, as well as batting practice on multiple fields.
New infielder Everth Cabrera hit from both sides of the plate and fielded balls hit to him at shortstop. He impressed manager Buck Showalter with his arm.
Third baseman Manny Machado was full-go in bunt and pickoff drills. Chris Davis and Steve Pearce worked out together at first base.
Pitchers warmed up on the mounds next to the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera arrived in the Orioles clubhouse today around 9:50 a.m. with his Padres bat bag in one hand and a smile on his face. He was directed to his locker on the opposite side from where he stood.
Cabrera was placed between Jonathan Schoop and Rey Navarro in a row that also includes J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado and Adam Jones.
Jayson Nix inherited Alex Hassan's No. 57. Hassan was designated for assignment to make room for Cabrera on the 40-man roster.
Steve Johnson said...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles announced today that they've signed infielder Everth Cabrera to a one-year contract. He's going to work out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex this afternoon and be made available to the media when he's done.
Cabrera will wear No. 1. To make room for Cabrera on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated outfielder Alex Hassan for assignment.
Cabrera, 28, became the first Nicaraguan position player to be named to an All-Star team in 2013 with the Padres. He batted...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Anyone complaining about college kids storming the court after a big win should be punched in the throat. No exceptions.
They're not overturning cars near the visitor's bench. They're jumping up and down after their team's upset victory. If that upsets you, give me your address so I can stand on your lawn.
The Orioles may finally announce the signing of infielder Everth Cabrera today to a one-year, $2.4 million contract. And manager Buck Showalter may finally be able to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Everth Cabrera is still en route to Sarasota and won't report to camp until Wednesday.
Manager Buck Showalter won't refer to Cabrera by name until the deal is official, but he talked about the possible impact of having a player like him.
"That kind of player would have to make the club if he had an option, first of all," Showalter said. "That's another attractive thing about a player like that if they have an option. It makes them more attractive.
"There's...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Delmon Young and infielder Michael Almanzar have reported to camp this morning, giving the Orioles their full camp squad.
No sign of infielder Everth Cabrera, but he was headed to Sarasota last night and his one-year, $2.4 million deal could be announced later today or early Wednesday.
None of the pitchers will throw bullpen sessions today. They can focus on fielding drills and the media can pay closer attention to batting practice.
Outfielder Henry Urrutia told...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The last few Orioles position players are due to report today, and they should be joined by infielder Everth Cabrera, who was headed to Sarasota last night.
We may never run out of players to interview.
Cabrera might not be made available to the media before the deal becomes official, but we're getting real close.
The Orioles already know that Cabrera can play shortstop and they assume that he can make a smooth transition to second base. They also will put him in the outfield...



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