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

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...

Markakis quotes and upcoming pitching schedule

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...

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

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...

The last cuts are the deepest

The last cuts are the deepest
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...

Chen throws five innings at the minor league complex

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...

The McFarland debate

The McFarland debate
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...

A take on Givens

A take on Givens
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...

Orioles option Hoes after game in Clearwater (updated)

Orioles option Hoes after game in Clearwater (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles optioned outfielder LJ Hoes to Triple-A Norfolk today after he collected a hit and an RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Hoes, 23, was 8-for-25 this spring. The cut leaves the Orioles with 48 players in their major league camp. "I'll tell you the thing I was most impressed with was how far he's come defensively," said manager Buck Showalter. "He played a good outfield here. That's encouraging to see. If our guys hadn't figured it out...

Game update and quotes from Steve Johnson (O's win 7-1)

Game update and quotes from Steve Johnson (O's win 7-1)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving him two more hits on the spring, and Lew Ford drove in two runs with a single in the sixth. Orioles 7, Twins 0. Two of the club's hottest hitters have stepped up again today. Wieters is 12-for-24 with three homers and 12 RBIs. Ford is 14-for-29. Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day have each thrown a scoreless inning today. Johnson walked a batter. O'Day gave up an infield hit. Jair Jurrjens...

Wieters keeps swinging a hot bat (updated)

Wieters keeps swinging a hot bat (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters seems to get most of the attention for his work behind the plate, but has anyone noticed what he's doing beside it? Wieters singled leading off the bottom of the second inning today and later scored the game's first run on Chris Dickerson's infield hit. Wieters is 11-for-22 with two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored in 10 games. The Orioles collected four hits and scored twice in the second inning against Minnesota Twins starter Vance Worley....

Reimold's return to left field delayed few more days (updated)

Reimold's return to left field delayed few more days (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold won't return to left field until Wednesday or Thursday, according to manager Buck Showalter. Reimold will continue to work out in the field. "He's really going to let it go and see how he responds," Showalter said. Adam Jones will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Sarasota. Brian Roberts, Chris Davis and Nate McLouth are tentatively scheduled to make the trip to Fort Myers on Tuesday for the game against the Boston Red...

Notes on Tillman, Reimold and Valencia

Notes on Tillman, Reimold and Valencia
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman threw 36 pitches in two innings yesterday at Twin Lakes Park and said he "felt great." No more discomfort in his abdomen. "Physically, I felt great. No problems pitching at all. Good to go," he said. The rest of his schedule remains unclear. "I don't know where we're going from here," he said. "I haven't talked to anybody yet." Nolan Reimold is still expected to play left field Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. He continues with a...

Bundy views time in camp as "another step for me"

Bundy views time in camp as "another step for me"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy is sitting at his locker this morning. He's still in camp, but not for long. The Orioles optioned Bundy to Double-A Bowie yesterday, which requires him to report to Twin Lakes Park and prepare to pitch for the Baysox. "Obviously, I didn't break camp, so I need to go down there and get more innings in and hopefully build up a workload to start the season," he said. "I've got a bullpen today, so I'd imagine that I'd start in one or two days. I don't know....

Orioles lineups for split-squad games

Orioles lineups for split-squad games
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are posting two lineups today because they're playing two games. They're home against the Minnesota Twins - a game that will air on MASN - and in Clearwater to take on the Philadelphia Phillies. For the Orioles at home: Brian Roberts 2B Manny Machado 3B Nate McLouth CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Conor Jackson DH Chris Dickerson RF Lew Ford LF Steve Johnson RHP Jair Jurrjens, Jim Johnson, Darren O'Day, Tim Bascom and Pat Egan are also listed as...

Now it's Steve Johnson's turn

Now it's Steve Johnson's turn
SARASOTA, Fla. - Now that Jake Arrieta has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings in his last two starts, Steve Johnson gets his chance today to complicate manager Buck Showalter's decision regarding the back end of the rotation. Arrieta most likely has become the favorite for the job, though he's still prone to falling behind in the count. The Orioles need him to throw more strikes. Johnson wasn't happy with his last Grapefruit League outing on March 5, when he allowed two runs and two hits in...

Bundy move expected and unexpected

Bundy move expected and unexpected
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's announcement that that Orioles optioned Dylan Bundy to Double-A Bowie was inevitable. It just didn't appear to be imminent. The Orioles weren't going to plug Bundy into their rotation or bullpen coming out of spring training. He's been projected to begin the 2013 season with the Baysox. It's been written here all winter and before the open of camp. The rotation at Triple-A Norfolk will be crowded, but the Orioles can make room later this summer or leapfrog Bundy...

More on Gonzalez's outing, McFarland's improvement and Wada's recovery

More on Gonzalez's outing, McFarland's improvement and Wada's recovery
SARASOTA, Fla. - No sign of Adam Jones in the clubhouse this morning following Team USA's elimination last night in the World Baseball Classic. Manager Buck Showalter had indicated that he would give Jones a few days off. Chris Tillman will throw two innings today at Twin Lakes Park, his first game action since being scratched from his last start because of abdominal soreness. He hasn't pitched since he allowed two runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings on March 3 against the Philadelphia...

Reimold at DH, Martinez making trip

Reimold at DH, Martinez making trip
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold will serve as the designated hitter again today, as the Orioles travel to Dunedin for a third time this spring to play the Toronto Blue Jays. Catcher Luis Martinez, who had been sidelined by a strained left oblique, is making the trip. Manager Buck Showalter wants to give him some innings and evaluate him. Taylor Teagarden is starting behind the plate. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla SS Lew Ford CF Nolan Reimold DH Conor Jackson 1B Steve Pearce RF Taylor...

Now it's Arrieta's turn

Now it's Arrieta's turn
SARASOTA, Fla. - The competition for the last spot in the Orioles rotation heats up again today with Jake Arrieta taking the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. Everyone here would appreciate a little heat. We're enduring another chilly morning, which brings little sympathy from my friends up north. Arrieta was fantastic in his last start, blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates on two hits, walking none and striking out five in four innings. The only criticism was his ball/strike...

Orioles trade Michael Flacco, more from today's game

Orioles trade Michael Flacco, more from today's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - You can't keep the Flaccos out of the news these days. The Orioles announced this afternoon that they traded minor league infielder Michael Flacco to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations or a player to be named later. His brother, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco recently signed a six-year contract worth $120.6 million that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history. At least the Orioles aren't having salary cap issues. And now, New England can boast that it has a...