Roch Kubatko

More notes from pregame session with Showalter

March 09, 2012, 7:55am

Orioles

More notes from pregame session with Showalter

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Travis Adair, the son of Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair, has been hit in the head three times this spring. Fortunately, he seems to be fine, but he must be questioning his luck. The latest incident took place last night on a pickoff throw at first base. Adair dived back into the bag and ... bam. Adair was hit by a line drive in batting practice before Monday's exhibition-opener against the Rays. He also was nailed by a throw at second base on a stolen base during an...

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Lindstrom scratched, Berken hurting and other notes

March 09, 2012, 7:33am

Orioles

Lindstrom scratched, Berken hurting and other notes

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Reliever Matt Lindstrom was scratched from Saturday's game against the Phillies in Clearwater because of lower-back discomfort. Manager Buck Showalter said four or five players are dealing with the same health issue, including third baseman Mark Reynolds and catcher Taylor Teagarden. They've being pushed back a day. Teagarden was supposed to catch today, but John Hester gets the start. Showalter is hoping it's just the usual camp soreness. (Showalter was including...

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Nick Johnson in the field today

March 09, 2012, 5:22am

Orioles

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - I arrived at the Tampa Bay Rays' spring complex ahead of the Orioles' bus this morning. It's one of our shortest drives. I made it from Sarasota in under an hour. The Rays are on the field for batting practice. Though I'm sitting in the third-level press box, I'm pretty sure I spotted former Oriole Luke Scott playing catch in the outfield. The rifle and deer carcass gave him away. Seriously though ... Nick Johnson will make his first start at first base today...

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Orioles lineup vs. Tampa Bay

March 09, 2012, 3:36am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Johnson will play his first game at first base today, as the Orioles travel to Port Charlotte to face the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time this spring. We'll also see Jake Arrieta for the first time. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Nick Johnson 1B Chris Davis DH Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Flaherty SS Josh Bell 3B Xavier Avery CF John Hester C Jake Arrieta RHP

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Showalter speaks after 2-1 victory

March 08, 2012, 10:58am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Troy Patton was handed the ball in the ninth inning today, and he picked up the save by retiring the side in order and striking out one in the Orioles' 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Manager Buck Showalter touched on the following topics: On Jason Hammel: "He was good. He's facing a team that obviously knows him and has seen a lot of him. He's working on getting his times to the plate faster. We've challenged our pitchers with Matt (Wieters) and...

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Talking to Hammel and Markakis (updated twice)

March 08, 2012, 9:43am

Orioles

Talking to Hammel and Markakis (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel says he was more amped up for Friday's intrasquad start than today's Grapefruit League outing against the Atlanta Braves. Hammel retired the side in order in his only inning on Friday. Today, he allowed two hits and a walk in two scoreless innings. "Honestly, for the first time out, considering all things, the results were good," he said. "The fastball was a little erratic today. That was my goal, to work on fastball command. The first inning...

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Hammel goes two scoreless innings

March 08, 2012, 8:41am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel provided quite a contrast to yesterday's starter, Wei-Yin Chen, and not only for the obvious reasons. Chen was a strike-thrower yesterday. Hammel had trouble finding the plate this afternoon. However, Hammel also gave the Orioles two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and walking a batter. Hammel walked Braves leadoff hitter Luis Durango on four pitches and fell behind, 2-0, to Martin Prado. But Matt Wieters threw out Durango trying to steal second, and...

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Duquette on Damon, Ohlman update

March 08, 2012, 7:13am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette may have delivered the final blow to the ongoing rumors that the club might sign free agent Johnny Damon. The following exchange took place this morning as Duquette walked past a small group of reporters outside the clubhouse. Reporter: "Are you going to sign Johnny Damon?" Duquette (laughing): "I don't think so. I already signed Johnny Damon when he was 28." Meanwhile, catcher Michael Ohlman will be examined Friday by team...

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Markakis set to make spring debut on March 14

March 08, 2012, 6:05am

Orioles

Markakis set to make spring debut on March 14

SARASOTA, Fla. - Now that Nick Markakis is running sprints, the Orioles are able to map out his schedule in an attempt to get him ready for opening day on April 6. Markakis is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter on March 14, his first game action since undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn abdominal muscle. Markakis has been taking batting practice, gradually increasing the intensity of his swings, and shagging fly balls in the outfield. The sprints yesterday gave manager...

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Orioles lineup vs. Braves

March 08, 2012, 4:31am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel makes his first spring start today. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Wilson Betemit 1B Jai Miller RF Ryan Adams DH Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that he wanted to see more of Miller, who had a three-run double yesterday, and the former Oakland Athletics outfielder is starting in right today. Also, Showalter indicated that Nick Johnson would play first...

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Showalter speaks after 6-0 victory

March 07, 2012, 11:08am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Nick Markakis ran sprints today for the first time and continues to feel good. He's making a nice recovery from the abdominal surgery and continues to believe that he'll be ready by opening day. As Showalter loves to say, "So far, so good." "That's a good sign," he said. Nick Johnson will play first base tomorrow. Showalter noted that Wei-Yin Chen had "a little bit better command" today. "It's part of the progression...

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Chen finds comfort and strike zones (updated twice)

March 07, 2012, 9:36am

Orioles

Chen finds comfort and strike zones (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen seemed more relaxed today in his exhibition debut against the Minnesota Twins. It didn't matter that a crowd was watching. Pitching in front of empty seats for the intrasquad game didn't do much to soothe his nerves. "Last time, I didn't feel comfortable on the mound, but today I adjusted a lot and I felt more confident to throw the ball to Matt (Wieters)," Chen said through his interpreter after blanking the Twins on one hit and striking out three in two...

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Chen much more impressive in exhibition debut

March 07, 2012, 8:45am

Orioles

Chen much more impressive in exhibition debut

SARASOTA, Fla. - The last time we saw Wei-Yin Chen, he was throwing 31 pitches in two-thirds of an inning in an intrasquad game. He allowed one run and two hits, walked one and struck out one. Fast-forward to today's exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins. Chen was much more effective, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings and striking out the side in the second. Chen's fastball topped out at 91 mph, but he fanned Brian Dinkelman and Sean Burroughs with 89 mph heaters. The only...

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Wada and Eyre complete their bullpen sessions

March 07, 2012, 7:18am

Orioles

Wada and Eyre complete their bullpen sessions

SARASOTA, Fla. - The injury news is good concerning pitchers Tsuyoshi Wada and Willie Eyre. Wade (elbow) and Eyre (groin) looked good during their bullpen sessions this morning. "Obviously, Willie Eyre is healthy, and Wada was outstanding," said pitching coach Rick Adair. "The ball's coming out of his hand much better. I think we're always concerned to a certain degree until you know and they get in game speed, but it was good today. Encouraging." Wada mixed in his changeup and slider...

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Ohlman escapes serious harm in vehicle accident

March 07, 2012, 5:55am

Orioles

Ohlman escapes serious harm in vehicle accident

SARASOTA, Fla. - Minor league catcher Michael Ohlman was involved in an accident yesterday while leaving the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Ohlman appeared to be fine, but doctors were checking the catcher's right shoulder. "He's got some discomfort there," Showalter said. "We're just happy that it isn't anything life threatening." Ohlman, who played in 105 games with Single-A Delmarva last summer, was brought to camp because of a shortage of...

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Roberts remains the same

March 07, 2012, 4:46am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts said he's having more good days than bad days, but he still can't provide a timetable for his exhibition debut this spring. Nothing much has changed with Roberts. He's still taking ground balls and running sprints and taking batting practice from coaches. "It's a pretty systematic approach," he said. "I don't just go and do whatever I want every day. My doctor lays out a plan each day and we kind of go by that." Asked if he sees himself...

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Orioles and Twins lineups

March 07, 2012, 4:12am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen makes his first exhibition start for the Orioles today after lasting two-thirds of an inning in last week's intrasquad game. Hopefully, he'll be more comfortable on the Ed Smith Stadium mound this afternoon. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Wilson Betemit DH Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP Armando Galarraga, Matt Lindstrom, Luis Ayala and Steve Johnson also are...

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Matusz and a special guest

March 06, 2012, 5:24pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Before retiring for the night, I wanted to pass along a note regarding a tour that Brian Matusz will be giving Thursday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, thanks to the Casey Cares Foundation. The foundation is sending Carly Shulman - a 15-year-old Hodgkins Lymphoma patient from Hampstead - her parents, brother, and care-taker to the Orioles' spring training camp tomorrow morning. The group will attend the Orioles' 1:05 p.m. game against the Twins, but that's not all....

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Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss

March 06, 2012, 12:15pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles rallied from a four-run deficit to tie today's game, but the Red Sox reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning against Oliver Drake and held on for a 5-4 victory at JetBlue Park. Most of the postgame chatter centered on Dylan Bundy, who settled down after a four-pitch walk to blank the Red Sox in the fifth inning in his first exhibition appearance. "I thought T (Taylor Teagarden) did a good job with him," manager Buck Showalter said. "That's why I wanted him...

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Hearing from Bundy, Teagarden, Eveland and Tillman

March 06, 2012, 11:12am

Orioles

Hearing from Bundy, Teagarden, Eveland and Tillman

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The four Baltimore-based reporters who made the trip to JetBlue Park today also made the rounds inside the cramped visitors clubhouse in the middle of the game. (Hard to believe this place is new. It's got some nice features and it holds almost 10,000 fans, but Ed Smith Stadium kicks its butt.) Here's Dylan Bundy, who walked one batter in a scoreless fifth inning and settled down after catcher Taylor Teagarden visited the mound following a four-pitch walk to Dustin...