Bergesen finishes up (with intrasquad info added)

Bergesen finishes up (with intrasquad info added)
Brad Bergesen just completed his bullpen session and headed back to the clubhouse, which will open to the media in about 30 minutes. Reporters were instructed to stand outside the indoor pitching and batting cages while Bergensen threw. I learned two things: Players are amused by our obsession with Bergesen, and my hooded sweatshirt holds about five gallons of water. The rain is coming down in buckets. Chad Moeller yelled, "Ladies and gentleman, Brad Bergesen," as the right-hander...
Continue reading

Bergy on Bergy

Bergy on Bergy
Brad Bergesen was pleased with his first mound session and is confident that he'll be fine physically when he wakes up tomorrow morning. Bergesen threw about 30 pitches, most of them fastballs. He worked in a couple of changeups at the end. "I'm really relieved," he said. "I've been looking forward to getting back out there for a long time. Really, the last time I was on a mound, other than the commercial, but actually competing for something, was that last game (on July 30), so it's...
Continue reading

What everyone else is saying about Bergy

What everyone else is saying about Bergy
Brad Bergesen is scheduled to throw in the bullpen again on Monday and Wednesday before facing hitters in batting practice. He'll throw on flat ground every day, working in his breaking stuff starting tomorrow. Manager Dave Trembley chatted with reporters until catcher Matt Wieters went into his crouch and Bergesen was ready. He moved to the far side of the cage and never took his eyes off the young right-hander. It's apparent that Trembley liked what he saw. "It sure made a gray day...
Continue reading

Matusz's session mattered, too

Matusz's session mattered, too
Other pitchers threw on the covered mounds today. Brad Bergesen wasn't the only one. It just seems that way, since a small media contingent braved a torrential downpour to watch him throw and immediately retreated to the trailer as soon as he finished. Brian Matusz threw with the first group, two spots ahead of Bergesen, and was a couple of notches above outstanding. At least that's how he looked when streams of water weren't running into my eyes. Matt Wieters caught Matusz for the first...
Continue reading

Updates on Roberts and Bergesesn

Updates on Roberts and Bergesesn
I watched the Terps-Virginia Tech game with Jeff Zrebiec last night at Sports Page Bar & Grille on Main St. It's a good spot. Quality food, lots of TVs and they pretty much get every channel. The Orioles had an EAP meeting this morning, so reporters were booted from the clubhouse 15 minutes earlier than usual. Players will take the field at 9:15 a.m. for the pre-workout stretch. Brian Roberts said he might take a few swings in batting practice, so he's making progress while dealing with a...
Continue reading

Hernandez makes his pitch

Hernandez makes his pitch
Besides earning a spot on the 25-man roster, pitcher David Hernandez had two primary goals when he arrived in camp. He wanted to become more consistent with his delivery, and he wanted to begin trusting a sinking, two-seam fastball that he used sparingly late in the 2009 season. "It wasn't a pitch that I really could go to and say, 'Yeah, I can throw this and get ground balls,'" he said. Hernandez practiced the pitch during yesterday's bullpen session and was encouraged by the...
Continue reading

During today's workout...

During today's workout...
Luke Scott is working out at first base today. He took ground balls and participated in double play and cutoff drills. Scott made a few high throws to second while trying to execute the 3-6-3, but he also dug a ball out of the dirt. He seemed a little lost once while trying to get in position during the cutoff drill - catcher Matt Wieters yelled to him as Scott drifted toward the mound - but he got the hang of it. Scott later moved to left field for a pop up drill. Brian Roberts took some...
Continue reading

Koji's BP session

Koji's BP session
Koji Uehara, speaking as usual through interpreter Jiwon Bang, seemed satisfied with the results today after throwing live batting practice. "I was able to command the ball better than last time," he said. Asked whether he feels better physically compared to last spring training, Uehara replied: "It's tough to tell. One thing I can tell you is that the way I'm approaching it from last season, as a starter and as a bullpen guy, is different. The number of pitches, stuff like that." In...
Continue reading

Starters and Scott

Starters and Scott
Kevin Millwood is expected to start on Opening Day, but he won't make his Grapefruit League debut until Saturday against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland Jeremy Guthrie starts the first game on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays in Sarasota. Brian Matusz starts on Thursday against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Luke Scott will play some first base in spring training. Today marked the first time that Scott participated in team drills at the position. He's taken ground balls on his own. Scott...
Continue reading

More on B-Rob's BP session

More on B-Rob's BP session
Brian Roberts dialed up the intensity of his batting practice session against third base coach Juan Samuel. He took some light cuts against camp instructor Butch Davis earlier in the morning and didn't swing against reliever Dennis Sarfate. "It was good," Roberts said after taking some good-natured ribbing from Nick Markakis, who was dressing at the next locker. "I did get more comfortable. Certainly at first you're probably a little timid, but it got better as it went along. "I always...
Continue reading

How much does Miggi play?

How much does Miggi play?
With Miguel Tejada moving to a new position, manager Dave Trembley must decide whether to give him more starts this spring than what he'd normally schedule for a veteran player. "I'm not sure yet," Trembley said. "I know he's going to have to get game time at third, but I think you're going to have to balance it with being practical and realize that he's a veteran player and an older guy. These games don't count. You want him ready for the season. "What I probably will do for the...
Continue reading

Patton pending

Patton pending
Left-hander Troy Patton looks at all the young starters in camp and thinks that the bullpen might not be such a bad place. Patton says he hasn't been approached by anyone in the organization about changing roles, but it's interesting that he seems so open to the idea. "It's a crapshoot," he said. "There's so many good, young pitchers. It's pretty obvious that I'll be in Triple-A, but whether they want me to remain as a starter or go to the bullpen, they haven't talked to me about it...
Continue reading

Lugo arrives

Lugo arrives
Julio Lugo is on the travel roster for today's game against the Yankees in Tampa. His bag is packed and he's ready to board the bus. Lugo expects to get more playing time with the Orioles than the Cardinals, who traded him yesterday for a PTBNL or cash. "I'm just going to come here and do my best," he said. "I like to play. I'm fine. I'm happy they found a way to do it and I'm happy that I'm here." I reminded Lugo that the Orioles have Brian Roberts at second base and Cesar...
Continue reading

Orioles 4, Rays 3

Orioles 4, Rays 3
Eddie Gamboa, who pitched at three levels of the farm system last year, stranded two runners to pick up the save. Manager Dave Trembley discussed the Julio Lugo trade a few minutes ago, something he couldn't do before the game started. "I'm going to have to see when he gets here and see what we're going to do, but he's got experience, has some energy. We'll look forward to fitting him in," Trembley said. Will he fit as the utility guy? "I don't know that," Trembley replied. "I...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Nolan Reimold RF Adam Jones CF Miguel Tejada 3B Garrett Atkins 1B Matt Wieters C Ty Wigginton DH Felix Pie LF Cesar Izturis SS Alfredo Simon RHP Andy Pettitte starts for the Yankees. See you in Tampa.
Continue reading

Post-game Trembley

Post-game Trembley
Tremendous outing by Jason Berken, who shut out the Twins on two hits over four innings in the Orioles' 4-3 loss. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three. Berken lowered his ERA to 2.84 on a night that Chris Tillman labored. David Hernadez starts tomorrow against the Red Sox. Is the competition for the fifth starter's job really over or is there still time for Berken or Hernandez to force the issue? Manager Dave Trembley praised Berken and the way Nolan Reimold ran the bases and...
Continue reading

Tillman on Tillman

Tillman on Tillman
Robert Andino dropped a fly ball in left field in the eighth inning. He looked like a shortstop trying to play the outfield. Hard to pile too much blame on him. Chris Tillman found some positive aspects about tonight's start, but he didn't have many kind things to say about his 27-pitch third inning. He kept going back to how long that inning lasted, though he threw five more pitches in the second. "I thought it went well overall, but that third inning, those kinds of innings are...
Continue reading

The life of Brian

The life of Brian
Nolan Reimold homered with the count full in the seventh inning, his first of the spring. He singled earlier and scored from first base on a double. A good night for the left fielder. Twins 4, Orioles 3. Brian Roberts struck out in all three at-bats tonight before leaving the game. "It felt good just to put a uniform on and go play. Certainly it's different than BP," he said. "My body felt pretty good. Just a matter of getting in the box and seeing live pitching. But my body, it felt...
Continue reading

The offense wakes up

The offense wakes up
Craig Tatum drove in his first two runs of the spring with a double into left-center field, scoring Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold with two outs in the fifth inning. Twins 4, Orioles 2. Jones singled with one out to break up Scott Baker's no-hitter. Reimold singled with two outs and scored all the way from first base on the double. Nothing wrong with the way he circled the bases. Brian Roberts stood on deck when Cesar Izturis flied out to end the inning. He's taking the field for the top of...
Continue reading

Tillman's done (updated twice)

Tillman's done (updated twice)
Chris Tillman threw 88 pitches tonight, 51 for strikes. He's leaving the game with one out in the top of the fifth and a runner on second base. The Twins continue to lead, 1-0, but the runner is his responsibility after Denard Span drew a leadoff walk. Tillman walked four and struck out four. It was quite a struggle tonight. The best thing you can say about Tillman is he's been the master of damage control. He could teach a class at the local community college. Cla Meredith has entered the...
Continue reading