Roch Kubatko

Pregame quotes from Showalter

March 13, 2013, 2:14pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter still hasn't revealed whether Dylan Bundy or Kevin Gausman will start Thursday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sarasota. Showalter will check with pitching coach Rick Adair and let us know following tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins. Showalter noticed that Nick Markakis was feeling much better today, easily turning his head from side to side and proclaiming that he could play on Thursday. It wasn't a temptation for...

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Pitching notes and Twins lineup (updated)

March 13, 2013, 12:39pm

Orioles

Pitching notes and Twins lineup (updated)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Minnesota Twins are taking batting practice now while the Orioles gather in the visiting clubhouse at Hammond Stadium for their last road night game of the spring. The Orioles still haven't named a starter for Thursday afternoon's game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sarasota. It's Dylan Bundy or Kevin Gausman. I bet we can pry the answer out of manager Buck Showalter later this afternoon. Bundy and Gausman were playing bumper billiards earlier today in the Orioles'...

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Markakis "optimistic" about opening day

March 13, 2013, 10:31am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is back in camp today and pain-free after being examined yesterday by spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Markakis is taking a medicine pack for another six days to alleviate the discomfort in his neck caused by a small herniated disc, and is hopeful that he'll be on the field in a week or two. "He basically told me what was going on and what to expect and that was pretty much it," Markakis said. "It's a slight...

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Orioles lineup against Twins

March 13, 2013, 8:53am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Taylor Teagarden gets the start behind the plate, as expected, for tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers. Ryan Flaherty will get another look at shortstop, with Alexi Casilla playing second base. Manny Machado is making another trip, getting the start at third base. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla 2B Ryan Flaherty SS Manny Machado 3B Jason Pridie LF Taylor Teagarden C Travis Ishikawa 1B Danny Valencia DH Chris Dickerson RF Trayvon Robinson CF Brian Matusz...

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Today's game and yesterday's news on Markakis

March 12, 2013, 5:19pm

Orioles

Today's game and yesterday's news on Markakis

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's back to Fort Myers and back under the lights tonight, as the Orioles visit the Minnesota Twins for a 7:05 p.m. game at Hammond Stadium. Brian Matusz will make the start after three two-inning appearances. He's allowed three runs - all against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 2 - and six hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Tommy Hunter also is slated to pitch. Taylor Teagarden will start behind the plate after asking to enter Sunday's game to further test his lower...

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Notes off today's intrasquad game

March 12, 2013, 9:46am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles continue to dodge the raindrops in today's intrasquad game on the Camden Yards field. Jason Hammel went four innings, allowing two runs and five hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. Jair Jurrjens went three innings, allowing one run and two hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts. He stayed on the mound in the second inning to record a fourth out and elevate his pitch count. Taylor Teagarden, Nolan Reimold and Wilson Betemit batted every half-inning....

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Markakis has small disc herniation (with quotes and note)

March 12, 2013, 7:06am

Orioles

Markakis has small disc herniation (with quotes and note)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has been diagnosed with a small disc herniation in his neck. He flew to Baltimore today to be examined by spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley at Johns Hopkins Hospital and is expected to return to camp Wednesday. The slight tear, discovered yesterday after he underwent an MRI, is located in C4-C5, according to manager Buck Showalter. The normal healing period is seven to 14 days, and Markakis already has been shut down for week. The hope is that...

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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...