Roch Kubatko

This, that and the other

March 20, 2013, 7:46pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have another home game on the agenda, and it's going to be played under the lights The Pittsburgh Pirates are traveling to Ed Smith Stadium, which means the lights will be bright. Go to their home ballpark and it's like each dugout is given a candle and a box of matches to illuminate the field. Jake Arrieta, Luis Ayala, Tommy Hunter and Troy Patton will pitch for the Orioles tonight. Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez is starting for the Pirates. Arrieta blanked the...

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Showalter on Roberts, Britton and McFarland

March 20, 2013, 1:14pm

Orioles

Showalter on Roberts, Britton and McFarland

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he already planned to remove Brian Roberts from today's game in the top of the seventh inning. It wasn't done after the second baseman fouled a ball off his right ankle. Roberts completed his at-bat before Yamaico Navarro replaced him in the field. "Everybody was getting their fourth at-bat," Showalter said. "We'll see. It was a pretty good one. I'm not going to say that was the best ball he hit today, because it wasn't the best...

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Roberts fouls ball off ankle, Britton talks about outing (O's win 6-5)

March 20, 2013, 11:52am

Orioles

Roberts fouls ball off ankle, Britton talks about outing (O's win 6-5)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts fouled a ball of his right ankle in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter out of the dugout. Roberts crouched down in obvious pain, then tried to walk it off. He stayed in the game and struck out, then was replaced by Yamaico Navarro in the top of the seventh. Showalter has removed most of his starters, so it may have been Roberts' turn to come out anyway. Darren O'Day went two...

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Disappointing start for Britton (Roberts gives O's lead)

March 20, 2013, 10:03am

Orioles

Disappointing start for Britton (Roberts gives O's lead)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles wanted to stretch out left-hander Zach Britton to five or six innings today. He didn't make it out of the second. Britton allowed five runs and seven hits, including a homer by Emilio Bonifacio, in 1 2/3 innings. He walked two of the first three batters he faced and struck out one before manager Buck Showalter removed him from the game. Britton threw 59 pitches, 36 for strikes, in his second-shortest outing of the spring. He went one inning in his debut on Feb....

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Orioles make three more roster cuts

March 20, 2013, 8:40am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned pitchers Daniel Schlereth and Adam Russell to minor league camp. Exposito is on the 40-man roster, which is why he's been optioned rather than reassigned. Exposito was 8-for-21 in 14 games, with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. His work behind the plate was shaky, however, and included a catcher's interference call for using his mask to retrieve the ball. The Orioles have plenty of...

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A few pregame notes

March 20, 2013, 7:45am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter may allow infielder Jonathan Schoop to play today instead of waiting until later this week. Showalter talked about giving Schoop the day off, but he could be persuaded to change his mind. Schoop told reporters this morning that he was ready to play after flying back to Florida early this morning from the World Baseball Classic. "If he wants to play today, I'm going to play him," Showalter said. "I'm going to talk to him. We'll see. In that...

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McLouth and Robinson switch places in interview

March 20, 2013, 6:23am

Orioles

McLouth and Robinson switch places in interview

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate McLouth told me this morning that today's plan calls for him to move back and forth from right field to a fifth-infielder position. Me: "Really??" McLouth: "No." Yeah, he got me. McLouth and Trayvon Robinson switched places in left and center field yesterday through the first six innings of the Orioles' 8-7 win over the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Manager Buck Showalter came up with the idea as a way for both players to get more comfortable with the replica...

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Schoop back in camp and ready to play

March 20, 2013, 5:28am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter expected Jonathan Schoop to arrive in camp at 8 a.m. this morning following the infielder's stint in the World Baseball Classic. Instead, Schoop arrived in a cab shortly before 7:30 a.m. Slightly rested, and definitely ready. Schoop said he slept on the plane - his flight arrived in Orlando early this morning - and could play today if the Orioles want to use him, but Showalter intends to give him the day off. "I'm ready to go," he...

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Reimold in left field today

March 20, 2013, 4:16am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold has returned to left field and Adam Jones is in center for the Orioles' game against the Toronto Blue Jays today at Ed Smith Stadium. Brian Roberts is playing in back-to-back games, and he's also scheduled to start on Thursday. J.J. Hardy is serving as the designated hitter. The weather could be a factor. There's rain in the forecast. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth RF Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy DH Nolan Reimold...

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This, that and the other

March 19, 2013, 5:13pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. The Orioles are home today to play the Toronto Blue Jays, and it's Zach Britton's latest chance to make a push for the last spot in the rotation. Britton allowed only one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his last outing against the Boston Red Sox. Brian Matusz went five innings yesterday in Fort Myers. Jake Arrieta went 4 2/3 innings in Dunedin. Wei-Yin Chen went five innings at Twin Lakes Park. This seems like a good time for Britton to pitch into the fifth. Miguel...

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Showalter speaks after 8-7 win

March 19, 2013, 1:27pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles could make their next round of cuts on Thursday after conducting a noon meeting at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Kevin Gausman will be discussed, along with many others in camp. Gausman struck out three batters, including Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltlamacchia to begin the sixth, in two scoreless innings. "He was good again," said manager Buck Showalter. "You can see why everybody's so high on him. He's thrown well here. I'm impressed with the little things,...

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Game update and latest from Roberts and Matusz (O's win 8-7)

March 19, 2013, 12:31pm

Orioles

Game update and latest from Roberts and Matusz (O's win 8-7)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox scored twice off Daniel Schlereth and had the bases loaded with one out when Adam Russell replaced him. Russell let all three inherited runners score, and Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to tie the game 7-7. Schlereth was charged with five runs. He's been scored upon in his last five appearances, allowing nine runs in five innings. Danny Valencia homered off Terry Doyle with two outs in the top of the ninth, his first of the spring, to give the Orioles an 8-7 lead....

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Robinson switches positions and homers (Matusz and game updates)

March 19, 2013, 10:32am

Orioles

Robinson switches positions and homers (Matusz and game updates)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Trayvon Robinson started today's game in left field, with Nate McLouth playing in center, but they switched positions in the bottom of the second inning. Robinson led off the top of the third inning with a home run. Coincidence? You be the judge. Robinson went back to left field and McLouth returned to center in the third inning. Now I'm convinced they're just messing with us. No idea why Robinson and McLouth keep changing places, but that will be one of the questions...

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Notes on Reimold, Jones, Roberts, Schoop and Wada (with quotes)

March 19, 2013, 9:22am

Orioles

Notes on Reimold, Jones, Roberts, Schoop and Wada (with quotes)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter has made out his lineup for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and it includes Nolan Reimold in left field. Reimold is throwing to the bases today in a drill back in Sarasota. If his right shoulder is fine, he will finally get a start in left. Adam Jones, back from the World Baseball Classic, is listed as the center fielder. Showalter indicated that Jones instead could be used as the designated hitter, but it's more likely that he's on...

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Markakis quotes and upcoming pitching schedule

March 19, 2013, 7:04am

Orioles

Markakis quotes and upcoming pitching schedule

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nick Markakis finished his medicine pack a few days ago, spoke with a team physician yesterday and plans on resuming baseball activities later this week. All positive developments after Markakis was diagnosed with a small herniation in his neck. "He said to check back with him Thursday or Friday and hopefully they'll release me to do some baseball stuff," Markakis said this morning. "There's just a little bit of soreness in there. Hopefully, these next couple of days...

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Roberts on the road (Tillman update and Red Sox lineup)

March 19, 2013, 4:15am

Orioles

Roberts on the road (Tillman update and Red Sox lineup)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts will make his first road trip of the spring today when the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Boston Red Sox. Nate McLouth and Chris Davis also are traveling. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Ryan Flaherty SS Nate McLouth CF Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit DH Manny Machado 3B Trayvon Robinson LF Taylor Teagarden C Jason Pridie RF Brian Matusz LHP Chris Dickerson, Travis Ishikawa, Russ Canzler, Luis Exposito, Lew Ford, Yamaico Navarro, Steve...

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The last cuts are the deepest

March 18, 2013, 5:42pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles dive back into their Grapefruit League schedule today, and they're heading down I-75 south toward Fort Myers for the third time in nine games. Brian Matusz gets the start against the Boston Red Sox, who are sending Ryan Dempster to the mound. Matusz's last start also came in Fort Myers, though he faced the Minnesota Twins. He tossed four scoreless and hitless innings, walking one and striking out seven. Manager Buck Showalter may try to get five innings out of...

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Chen throws five innings at the minor league complex

March 18, 2013, 11:56am

Orioles

Chen throws five innings at the minor league complex

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles provided Wei-Yin Chen with five innings today and a lesson in facing low-level minor league hitters. Chen took on a lineup filled with Tampa Bay Rays Single-A players in a light, steady rain at Twin Lakes Park. He allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits, with one walk, two strikeouts and one hit batter. The Orioles kept him on the mound for an extra out in the third inning, resulting in his second strikeout, to increase his pitch count. The defense behind...

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The McFarland debate

March 17, 2013, 4:58pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Before the Orioles decide whether to keep Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland, they must figure out where to pitch him during these final weeks in camp. "There's two thoughts," explained manager Buck Showalter. "Do you pitch him against teams up here and let scouts see him so they claim him? Do you hide him out, but not get a proper evaluation and pitch him somewhere else? The whole idea is to get the best evaluation of him here against the best competition, so he'll continue to...

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A take on Givens

March 17, 2013, 4:43pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are off today, which means something is going on someplace else. The Ed Smith Stadium complex is closed, but the real action will take place over at Twin Lake Park, where Wei-Yin Chen is scheduled to pitch five innings in a Single-A game. I'll try to control my breathing. Chen is tucked away at the minor league complex again so he can build up his innings and pitch count in a controlled environment, one that doesn't include a division rival that's taking...