Roch Kubatko

Ishikawa wants to add to his Camden Yards memories

February 15, 2013, 3:55pm

Orioles

Ishikawa wants to add to his Camden Yards memories

SARASOTA, Fla. - Travis Ishikawa hopes that his next visit to Camden Yards includes a uniform and a locker. Ishikawa, the first baseman signed as a minor league free agent on Dec. 19, has never played a game in Baltimore. However, he's not a total stranger to the ballpark, having made one trip with his parents back in 1997. Here's where it gets a little weird. In that game, a 10-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on July 20, plate umpire Al Clark ejected Cal Ripken in the bottom of the second...

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Showalter on Reimold: "I expect that if he's healthy, he's on our club"

February 15, 2013, 10:28am

Orioles

Showalter on Reimold: "I expect that if he's healthy, he's on our club"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter pulled Nolan Reimold aside yesterday and made sure the outfielder didn't feel as though he had to push himself too hard in an attempt to make the club. Reimold has been participating in all the drills and taking batting practice this spring, eight months after undergoing surgery to remove a herniated disc in his neck and fuse two vertebrae. "I had a little conversation with Nolan yesterday," Showalter said. "I think he needs to know that if...

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Roberts feels ready to reclaim second base job

February 15, 2013, 9:16am

Orioles

Roberts feels ready to reclaim second base job

SARASOTA, Fla. - At various points during today's workout, Brian Roberts joked with teammates, joked with reporters, looked like a guy who was having more fun than anyone else. He's the longest-tenured Oriole, but he's feeling like a kid again. Roberts, 35, is full-go at spring training, which included today's batting practice session. No concussion symptoms, no pain in his hip, no restrictions following sports hernia surgery in December. "Feels nice to be one of the guys and start off...

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A few quick hits (and one more)

February 15, 2013, 7:28am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The pitchers have finished their bullpen sessions and batting practice is winding down. Another workout is almost in the books. Brian Roberts took BP today in the same group as Nolan Reimold, Chris Davis and Nick Markakis. No need to wonder if Markakis is OK following thumb surgery in September. Same swing. And the ball is jumping off his bat. Zach Britton was impressive during his side session. He's a completely different pitcher from the one who reported to camp last...

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Still waiting for Ayala's decision on WBC

February 15, 2013, 4:58am

Orioles

Still waiting for Ayala's decision on WBC

SARASOTA, Fla. - Stop me if you've heard this one: Reliever Luis Ayala says he will decide tomorrow whether to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Ayala was expected to announce his intentions this morning, but he's going to wait one more day. Ayala still hasn't thrown a bullpen session in spring training because of his workload in the Caribbean Series. The Orioles would prefer to bring him along slowly in camp - and have him stay in camp. Ayala said he isn't sure when he...

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Spring training leftovers for breakfast

February 14, 2013, 3:30pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We have another 10 a.m. team stretch today. Same schedule as yesterday. The temperature is falling here and the forecast still includes rain. It's actually dipping into the 50s tonight and we'll have a low of 40 on Sunday. I don't expect a pity party, considering the snow that fell in the Baltimore area Wednesday, but it's still a shock to the system. We're in Florida, for crying out loud. I'd like to have the ability to measure how many miles manager Buck Showalter...

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A good day for Gausman (and Jurrjens note)

February 14, 2013, 10:11am

Orioles

A good day for Gausman (and Jurrjens note)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The media's interest in today's bullpen sessions peaked with Kevin Gausman's spring debut. Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, joined Mike Belfiore and Eduardo Rodriguez in Group 4. Minor league catcher Allan de San Miguel set the target. "It's all good," Gausman said. "First time in front of the coaches in front of the mound. They've seen me in Tampa when I was kind of in-season and after it. Nobody's expecting me to throw 95 today....

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Hendrickson experiment continues, Robinson clears waivers

February 14, 2013, 9:30am

Orioles

Hendrickson experiment continues, Robinson clears waivers

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Mark Hendrickson is adjusting to more than just a new arm slot in his delivery. He's also throwing a new pitch. Hendrickson is throwing a slider for the first time in his career. "To be honest, I'm a completely different pitcher than anybody's ever seen because I never threw the slider," Hendrickson said after today's bullpen session and workout. "I always threw the curveball. But down there, you can kind of mess with some grips and see how it comes out....

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Ayala undecided about WBC (with quotes)

February 14, 2013, 8:13am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Luis Ayala hasn't made a final decision on whether he will pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Ayala said he expects to inform the team Friday morning. The Orioles made the assumption that Ayala would leave camp to participate in the WBC, along with center fielder Adam Jones, reliever Pedro Strop, infielder Jonathan Schoop, and catchers Chris Robinson and Allan de San Miguel. The team would prefer that Ayala rest after pitching for Mexico in the...

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Today's bullpen schedule

February 14, 2013, 5:14am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The threat of rain hangs in the air, along with the dark clouds that remind us of it. Wei-Yin Chen, Jason Hammel and Chris Tillman will throw in Group 1 today; Miguel Gonzalez, Pedro Strop and Mark Hendrickson in Group 2; Daniel McCutchen, Troy Patton and Daniel Schlereth in Group 3; Mike Belfiore, Kevin Gausman and Eduardo Rodriguez in Group 4. Rodriguez, 19, is regarded as the third-best pitching prospect in the organization behind Dylan Bundy and Gausman. The left-hander...

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Thursday morning musings

February 13, 2013, 5:26pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitchers and catchers take the field at 10 a.m. today for the pre-workout stretch. We're moving toward a more normal spring training schedule. The clubhouse will be open to the media from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., and again following the workout. Perhaps infielder Yamaico Navarro will make an appearance and complete the roster. Then again, it could expand if outfielder Trayvon Robinson cleared waivers. We're supposed to find out today. And hey, there's that whole Jair Jurrjens...

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Leftovers from Showalter

February 13, 2013, 1:12pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first round of physicals and workouts each spring training always brings the same first question: Did you make it through the day without any injuries? That seems to be the case today with the Orioles. "As far as I know," said manager Buck Showalter. "Richie (Bancells) didn't come to me about ... It seems like every spring, somebody's got a flag in the physicals that pulls them out, but nothing today. We'll see how we get post-workout. I haven't spoke to him yet. I...

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Reimold remains encouraged after today's batting practice session

February 13, 2013, 12:01pm

Orioles

Reimold remains encouraged after today's batting practice session

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Nolan Reimold didn't have any restrictions during today's workout. He participated in drills and took batting practice on the Camden Yards field. Reimold swung against camp instructor Scott McGregor on Tuesday, and he joined a batting practice group today that included Manny Machado, Ryan Flaherty and Lew Ford. "It was good. Just progressing into it," Reimold said later while standing at his locker. "I felt pretty good yesterday. Still trying to get stronger...

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Valencia: "I've never, ever taken a PED in my life" (updated)

February 13, 2013, 10:54am

Orioles

Valencia: "I've never, ever taken a PED in my life" (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Danny Valencia is attracting attention in camp for the wrong reason. For now, Valencia is known more for being a player whose name appears in the records of the Miami-area Biogenesis clinic that is alleged to have distributed performance-enhancing drugs to a number of players. He's looking forward to having the focus shift back to baseball, and he took a step toward reaching that goal this afternoon. Valencia already issued a statement denying any involvement with...

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Quick hits from the first workout

February 13, 2013, 10:17am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - No major news came out of today's first workout for pitchers and catchers - and all the position players who reported early. The only position players still marked absent are Travis Ishikawa and Yamaico Navarro. We haven't seen Wilson Betemit, but he reported. We heard Adam Jones in the outdoor batting cage as reporters walked past it. He wanted to get our attention in the usual humorous manner. Nolan Reimold took batting practice in the same group as Manny Machado, Ryan...

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The first workout

February 12, 2013, 4:21pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - So far, the two most interesting stories in Orioles camp involve players who aren't here - literally or technically. Jair Jurrjens can't report until the Orioles decide whether he passed a physical. Trayvon Robinson apparently is here, but his dateline reads "LIMBO" until it's determined whether he passed through waivers. Otherwise, the biggest buzz yesterday may have come from Nolan Reimold, who hit live pitching for the first time since his surgery. After some...

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Duquette on Jurrjens, the roster, the division and more

February 12, 2013, 10:47am

Orioles

Duquette on Jurrjens, the roster, the division and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette stopped by the media workroom earlier today and touched on a variety of topics. Immediately, he was asked about former Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens, who's agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Orioles. Jurrjens completed his physical last week, and we're still waiting for an official announcement. "We're still working on that issue," Duquette said. "We don't have that resolved yet. We hope to get it resolved...

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Hearing from Buck Showalter

February 12, 2013, 9:56am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent about 25 minutes with the media earlier today after conducting a meeting with coaches, instructors and the athletic training staff. He was in a good mood, joking with reporters and telling stories in between nuggets of information. Here's a sampling: "We spent the first 45 minutes, 50 minutes of the meeting updating everybody in camp physically. Working with a whole different timeframe here with the WBC. It's changed at least how we're...

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Quick hits from camp

February 12, 2013, 8:43am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette didn't have an update on pitcher Jair Jurrjens, saying only that he hoped the matter would be resolved in the next few days. He didn't provide any specifics, including whether the Orioles could tweak the original agreement. Also, the Orioles hope to know by Thursday whether Trayvon Robinson cleared waivers. Tsuyoshi Wada has progressed to a long toss program in his recovery from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. He's still...

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It's report day for pitchers and catchers (updated)

February 11, 2013, 4:04pm

Orioles

It's report day for pitchers and catchers (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nothing much to report after yesterday's arrival. The Lifestyle gym that I join every year was taken over by LA Fitness. The Sweetbay Supermarket, also located on North Beneva Road, closed last week. The Publix in the next shopping center remains open, and I can stock up on Kangaroo brand multi-grain garden herb pita chips. No need to worry about me. Oh, yeah, and it's supposed to be 81 degrees today, dipping into the 60s at night. Again, stop worrying. I know it's...