Roch Kubatko

Interested in intrasquad?

March 11, 2013, 6:34pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today is technically an off-day for the Orioles, which means that manager Buck Showalter scheduled something for them to do. Not all of them. Most of the position players can hit the links or the beach. But Jason Hammel and Jair Jurrjens will start in the 10:30 a.m. intrasquad game that Showalter arranged on the Camden Yards field. Steve Johnson, Troy Patton, Mike Wright and Eduardo Rodriguez also are listed as available pitchers today for a game that will last eight to 10...

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Markakis update and postgame quotes

March 11, 2013, 12:33pm

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Well, it's not much of an update, but Nick Markakis had an MRI on his neck this afternoon and the Orioles will examine the results later tonight. The club isn't expected to pass along the results until Tuesday morning. Also, Zach Britton will take off three days and make Friday's start against the Boston Red Sox in Sarasota. Britton only went two innings today, and manager Buck Showalter wants to get him back on the mound and extend him. It worked today with Jake...

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Arrieta reflects on outing (O's lose 4-3)

March 11, 2013, 11:42am

Orioles

Arrieta reflects on outing (O's lose 4-3)

BRADENTON, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton gave up an RBI double to Josh Harrison in the bottom of the seventh inning to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-1 over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jake Arrieta stepped outside the clubhouse while icing his right arm and met with reporters. Here's a sampling: On how he felt about his start: "Overall, I liked the outing. I started out very strong. I talked to Rick (Adair) about this a lot and we've continued to work, bullpen session after bullpen session,...

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Ford cruising in Grapefruit League (Arrieta update)

March 11, 2013, 10:07am

Orioles

Ford cruising in Grapefruit League (Arrieta update)

BRADENTON, Fla. - You can't stop Lew Ford. You can only hope to contain him. Ford is 2-for-2 today with a single and home run, and the Orioles have taken a 2-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Ford, re-signed to a minor league deal over the winter, is now 11-for-19 with two home runs this spring. The Orioles scored in the second inning on consecutive singles by Danny Valencia, Yamaico Navarro and LJ Hoes. Ford homered with one out in the third off Pirates left-hander...

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Roberts remains confident that he will play on opening day

March 11, 2013, 8:55am

Orioles

Roberts remains confident that he will play on opening day

BRADENTON, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts remains convinced that he will be in the opening day lineup on April 2, his body holding up under every test this spring. "Everything's been great," he said this morning. "It's been nice to get out, play and just kind of be normal again and be like everybody else. We're having a good time and everybody seems to be playing well. We think that things are going in the right direction for everybody at this point." Roberts is the one under the...

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Notes on tomorrow's intrasquad game and more (with quotes)

March 11, 2013, 8:02am

Orioles

Notes on tomorrow's intrasquad game and more (with quotes)

BRADENTON, Fla. - Jason Hammel and Jair Jurrjens will be the starters for Tuesday morning's intrasquad game on the Camden Yards field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The game will last eight to 10 innings, weather permitting. Rain is in the forecast, which would force some pitchers to throw indoors. Nolan Reimold, Wilson Betemit and Taylor Teagarden will bat each inning. Betemit, who's 1-for-17 with a home run this spring, approached manager Buck Showalter with a request to play in the...

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Avery, Clark and Belfiore optioned to Triple-A Norfolk (and note)

March 11, 2013, 6:38am

Orioles

Avery, Clark and Belfiore optioned to Triple-A Norfolk (and note)

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles made three roster moves before today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, optioning outfielder Xavier Avery and pitchers Zach Clark and Mike Belfiore to Triple-A Norfolk. They will report to the Twin Lakes Park complex until the Tides' season starts. Avery went 2-for-11 with two RBIs in 12 games. He never had a chance to make the 25-man roster with an abundance of outfielders in camp. Clark (UMBC) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings, and manager...

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Orioles lineup against the Pirates (updated)

March 11, 2013, 4:15am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are keeping their regulars at the Ed Smith Stadium complex while they travel to Bradenton to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alexi Casilla is leading off again and playing shortstop, with Yamaico Navarro getting the start at second base. Conor Jackson will play first base instead of the outfield. Steve Pearce is the designated hitter. Taylor Teagarden originally was supposed to start today, but he appeared in yesterday's game against the Pirates and will make the...

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Looking ahead to the Pirates and back at McFarland

March 10, 2013, 5:35pm

Orioles

Looking ahead to the Pirates and back at McFarland

SARASOTA, Fla. - I've gotten out of bed the last two mornings, it's been dark and chilly, and I've felt as though I should be walking to the bus stop. I need that hour back. The Orioles should want their lives back. They're making a third trip to Bradenton, where they'll pretend that they haven't memorized the Pittsburgh Pirates' entire camp roster. They'll get another look at reliever Erik Cordier, the poor soul who couldn't throw a strike against them Friday night, though he did...

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Hearing from Showalter and Flaherty after 5-2 loss

March 10, 2013, 12:35pm

Orioles

Hearing from Showalter and Flaherty after 5-2 loss

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter took the windy conditions into account today while critiquing starter Miguel Gonzalez. "We counted five outs he got that the conditions changed," Showalter said following a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. "Five outs - you know, a couple foul balls that would have been caught that were blown out." Gonzalez was victimized by Nate McLouth's error in the second on a fly ball that shifted a few times before falling inside the left field...

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Teagarden replaces Wieters behind the plate (O's lose 5-2)

March 10, 2013, 11:03am

Orioles

Teagarden replaces Wieters behind the plate (O's lose 5-2)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden is off the injury list and back on the field. Teagarden replaced Matt Wieters behind the plate in the top of the seventh inning, his first appearance since being shut down with tightness in his lower back. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters a few days ago that Teagarden most likely would return to the lineup on Monday. Teagarden is appearing in only his third game this spring. He's 2-for-6 with two RBIs after striking out today leading...

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Rough second inning for Gonzalez (updated)

March 10, 2013, 9:59am

Orioles

Rough second inning for Gonzalez (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The box score shows Miguel Gonzalez with one earned run allowed in two innings this afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The scoreboard has the Orioles trailing 4-0. Gonzalez labored in the second inning, facing eight batters and allowing all four of his hits, along with a walk. Nate McLouth lost his footing on a fly ball down the left field line for an error that eventually led to three unearned runs. The wind here is brutal again today. Every fly ball is an adventure,...

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Pregame Showalter and pitching notes

March 10, 2013, 7:47am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter offered his support of minor league catcher Chris Robinson, who was directly involved in yesterday's brawl between Canada and Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Robinson drew the ire of Mexico's players for bunting in the ninth inning with his team ahead 9-3, but run differential is a tie-breaker in the WBC. When someone joked about Robinson being in the middle of an international incident, Showalter replied, "And he was...

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Orioles lineup against the Pirates (updated)

March 10, 2013, 4:55am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado has returned to the Orioles lineup for today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Brian Roberts is leading off. Ryan Flaherty is starting in right field. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nate McLouth LF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit DH J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson CF Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty RF Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Pirates: Martin C Presley CF Tabata LF Alvarez 3B Walker 2B Sands RF Hawpe DH Hague 1B Barmes...

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Markakis and Tillman updates

March 10, 2013, 4:23am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis confirmed that he will undergo an MRI on his neck Monday morning, saying that it's being done as a precaution and his condition isn't believed to be serious. Chris Tillman confirmed that he was scratched from today's start because of soreness on his left side that doesn't involve his oblique. Let's start with Markakis. "I think it's probably more of a precaution thing to see what's going on in there and identify exactly what it is that's bothering me,"...

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The good and the bad from Saturday

March 09, 2013, 7:40pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman dazzled the Orioles and Tsuyoshi Wada encouraged them. Glass half-full. Nick Markakis will undergo an MRI on his neck, Dylan Bundy's velocity is down and Chris Tillman has been scratched from today's start with abdominal soreness. Glass half-empty. We had lots to discuss and debate yesterday. Who knew a trip to Fort Myers could bring so much information and angst? Gausman's outing against the Boston Red Sox was the highlight. He pumped upper-90s fastballs...

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Tillman scratched from Sunday start (and more from Showalter)

March 09, 2013, 4:56pm

Orioles

Tillman scratched from Sunday start (and more from Showalter)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The nagging injuries in Orioles camp have claimed another victim. Chris Tillman was scratched from Sunday's start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sarasota because of abdominal soreness, according to manager Buck Showalter, who met with reporters following tonight's 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Miguel Gonzalez, who was supposed to follow Tillman to the mound, will make the start. Tillman, who's allowed two runs and five hits in two appearances covering 4 1/3...

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Bundy and Gausman reflect on their outings (O's win 5-2)

March 09, 2013, 4:12pm

Orioles

Bundy and Gausman reflect on their outings (O's win 5-2)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dylan Bundy returned to the ballpark tonight where he debuted in the Grapefruit League last spring. He won't leave here feeling all warm and fuzzy. Bundy wasn't pleased with his performance for the Orioles tonight. The two walks in two innings. Only 18 strikes among his 35 pitches. The drop in velocity. "Two walks. I'm never happy with that," he said. "Leave a fastball up in the zone and he (Mitch Maier) hits it down the line. But really, the two walks are about the...

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Bundy completes his start (with Gausman update)

March 09, 2013, 2:52pm

Orioles

Bundy completes his start (with Gausman update)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dylan Bundy was tagged with an unearned run tonight in his two innings against the Boston Red Sox. Bundy allowed one hit, a two-out double by Mitch Maier in the second, walked two and struck out one. His fastball was mostly 90-92 mph, according to the NESN radar gun readings. The run scored when right fielder Conor Jackson had trouble picking up the ball on Maier's hit, allowing Will Middlebrooks to race home and tie the game at 1-1. Bundy issued a two-out walk to Jackie...

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The WBC brawl, Machado, Canzler, Wada and the intrasquad game

March 09, 2013, 1:25pm

Orioles

The WBC brawl, Machado, Canzler, Wada and the intrasquad game

FORT MYERS, Fla. - So, anything interesting happen today in the World Baseball Classic? Reporters here were glued to the press box televisions as the brawl unfolded between Canada and Mexico, and Orioles farmhand Chris Robinson was directly involved in it. Robinson bunted for a hit with Canada leading 9-3 in the ninth. I'm pretty sure that's a violation of baseball's unwritten rule. Also, Robinson slid hard into second base earlier in the game, so Mexico's players already were irritated...