Roch Kubatko

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...

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Orioles rally in fifth (Bundy update)

March 06, 2012, 10:06am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles waited until the fifth inning to collect their first hit of the day. Two more followed, including a two-run single to center field by Double-A outfielder Xavier Avery that cut Boston's lead to 4-2. Avery was picked off first base by Red Sox reliever Alex Wilson. Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty grounded a single into right field with one out in the fifth after Taylor Teagarden walked, and Josh Bell followed with a looping single into right to load the bases. Avery...

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Notes on Johnson and Lindstrom (and Reyes)

March 06, 2012, 8:42am

Orioles

Notes on Johnson and Lindstrom (and Reyes)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - I finally made it to the JetBlue Park after being stuck in one of the worst traffic jams in history. It's a nice facility, but you need to arrive a few hours before first pitch. I'm thinking 12 hours to be safe. Anyway, here are a few quotes from Jim Johnson regarding today's simulated game: "It feels good. It feels a lot better today mechanically. I felt like I was repeating my delivery pretty good. There's still a lot left in the tank as far as velocity, but it was...

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Simulated game, Wada and international signing (with quotes)

March 06, 2012, 5:34am

Orioles

Simulated game, Wada and international signing (with quotes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles just completed their simulated game on the Camden Yards field. It technically lasted two innings, with Tommy Hunter working the two top halves and Zach Britton and Jim Johnson each working a bottom half. Hunter threw 37 pitches. I counted 20 pitches for Johnson, though the official total is 17. Britton threw 16. Nick Markakis took two cuts against Johnson and lined a ball into center field. "I'm ready," he said, walking away from home plate. John Hester, Jai...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

March 06, 2012, 3:43am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have a 1:35 p.m. game against the Red Sox today in Fort Myers. Once again, most of the regulars will stay back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF Ryan Adams 2B Nick Johnson DH Wilson Betemit LF Joe Mahoney 1B Taylor Teagarden C Ryan Flaherty SS Josh Bell 3B Xavier Avery CF Dana Eveland LHP Chris Tillman, Pat Neshek, Jon Link and Oliver Drake also will pitch today. For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Lavarnway C Ross...

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Hearing from Matusz, Gregg and Lindstrom (and Showalter)

March 05, 2012, 4:26pm

Orioles

Hearing from Matusz, Gregg and Lindstrom (and Showalter)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's start with left-hander Brian Matusz, who allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three over two innings. "I felt really good," he said. "It felt nice to be back out there on the mound and let it fly a little bit. I felt strong. Threw a lot of strikes, attacked the zone. It felt really good to be back out there. "The Pirates executed really well and took advantage of the mistakes I made and put the ball in play. But overall I felt like I attacked the zone...

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Gregg not great tonight (updated)

March 05, 2012, 3:14pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg gave up a single to the first batter he faced. Then he gave up a fly ball that put two more runs on the board for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matt Hague followed Yamaico Navarro's single with a bomb to left field, increasing the Pirates' lead to 5-1. Gregg bounced back to strike out the next three batters - Pedro Alvarez, Gorkys Hernandez and Garrett Jones - but he probably didn't do much to win back the fans who lost patience with him last season. At least Gregg...

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Matusz down 2-0 in first inning (3-1 after second)

March 05, 2012, 2:26pm

Orioles

Matusz down 2-0 in first inning (3-1 after second)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Three of the first four batters reached against Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz tonight, and the Pirates grabbed a quick 2-0 lead. That's the bad news. Here's the encouraging part: Only one ball was hit hard - an RBI rope double by Josh Harrison that followed a bloop single by leadoff hitter Alex Presley. Matt Hague delivered the second run with one out on a ground ball that scooted between shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Mark Reynolds. Matusz got called third...

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Rick Adair talks about his son's injury

March 05, 2012, 1:06pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair says his son, Travis, is doing well after being hit in the back of the head during batting practice this morning. A CT scan came back negative, and Travis returned to the Ed Smith Stadium complex with the rest of his teammates following a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. "I didn't see it," Rick Adair said. "I just walked in and he was walking in, too. But he'll be fine." Travis Adair suffered a major concussion at age...

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Reimold ready for leadoff duties (O's beat Rays 3-1)

March 05, 2012, 10:33am

Orioles

Reimold ready for leadoff duties (O's beat Rays 3-1)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold is batting leadoff in tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which he accepts with a shrug of his shoulders. Reimold might be the least animated guy in the Orioles' clubhouse. He isn't going to get all worked up over any assignment. "I just took a peek over there and saw my name on the top of the lineup, so I'll be ready to go first at-bat," he said. In his perfect world, would he be the everyday leadoff hitter? "In my perfect world, I'm in the...

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Orioles and Pirates lineups, Simon update

March 05, 2012, 8:50am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Simon threw two scoreless innings today against the Rays in Port Charlotte. He allowed a double to Ben Zobrist and struck out two. Brad Bergesen will replace Simon for the third inning. Nolan Reimold is batting leadoff tonight against the Pirates. Should we read anything into it? For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Ryan Adams DH Chris Davis 1B Jai Miller RF Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP For the...

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Today's lineups

March 05, 2012, 4:24am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla, - For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF Matt Antonelli 2B Nick Johnson DH Wilson Betemit 1B Joe Mahoney LF Taylor Teagarden C Ryan Flaherty SS Josh Bell 3B Xavier Avery CF Alfredo Simon RHP You'll notice that Mahoney is playing left field. Go get it, Big Irish. Also, Flaherty has a chance to show that he's adept at playing shortstop. The Orioles are supposed to take three "regulars" on every trip, but teams always dance around that unwritten rule. I'm not sure who qualifies in...

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Let the (almost) real games begin

March 05, 2012, 3:10am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've moved past the intrasquad games, at least for now, but we're still a month away from opening day in Baltimore. The next step in our baseball progression is the start of the Grapefruit League schedule. The Orioles are taking the Ernie Banks approach by playing two. Manager Buck Showalter isn't thrilled with the idea of a spring doubleheader, but there's no way to avoid it. Alfredo Simon gets the start in Port Charlotte today against the Tampa Bay Rays. I can't make...

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Showalter speaks after Sunday workout

March 04, 2012, 8:54am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter said pitcher Zach Britton and reliever Jim Johnson are "right where they need to be." And he didn't mean Sarasota. Also, pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada played catch again today and will throw off flat ground from 120 feet tomorrow and throw off a half mound. Exactly one week ago, he had his left elbow drained and received a cortisone injection. Time flies. "His arm was working uninhibited today," Showalter said. Showalter still isn't ready to name a...

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Reyes released, updating Johnson

March 04, 2012, 8:22am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have released pitcher Dennys Reyes for failure to report to camp. That'll do it. Reyes was having visa issues and the club hadn't been in contact with him. At least they've spoken to catcher Ronny Paulino, whose car showed up without him. If you're keeping tabs on the spring training roster, Paulino is a no-show, Reyes has been released, pitcher Ryan Edell retired and catcher Dane Sardinha failed his physical. Reliever Jim Johnson threw another bullpen...

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Britton, Johnson and probable pitchers

March 04, 2012, 7:01am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton and Jim Johnson threw their bullpen sessions side-by-side this morning before heading indoors for a team meeting. Both pitchers are progressing as the club had hoped. So far, there haven't been any setbacks. Britton was throwing off a regular mound for the second time this spring. He pushed his pitch count beyond 30 and mixed in his slider and changeup. "I think it was a lot better than the first one," he said. "I felt more comfortable on the mound today. I...

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Britton throwing, Chen glowing

March 04, 2012, 4:42am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton will throw his bullpen session this morning, a day earlier than he originally expected. "I was feeling good and they had a couple different plans mapped out, depending on how I felt," Britton said. "This probably gets me on a mound for a game a little sooner." Britton will do some light tossing tomorrow and is expected to throw again on Tuesday, either in the bullpen or for batting practice. Meanwhile, Wei-Yin Chen didn't sound discouraged...

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Quotes from Saturday's intrasquad game

March 03, 2012, 11:01am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The visiting Orioles swept the home Orioles in this two-game intrasquad series, winning today, 3-2, at Ed Smith Stadium. J.J. Hardy hit 30 home runs last season, and he's got one this spring with a bases-empty shot off Armando Galarraga in the first inning. It won't count in the Grapefruit League standings, but we saw it happen. "It's always fun," he said. "I don't even know if I've hit a homer yet in coaches BP, so it kind of caught me off guard." Asked if he's...

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Bundy shines, Chen doesn't

March 03, 2012, 10:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I apologize for the lateness of this intrasquad update, but I'm having more laptop issues - and this one is brand new - and I'm unable to tweet on my iPhone inside the stadium. A Twitter glitch, I suppose. Anyway, here are a few highlights and lowlights. I'll try to file quotes later. Dylan Bundy was outstanding in his debut, striking out Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds looking and retiring Matt Wieters on a lazy fly ball to right field. He threw Jones fastballs away for the...