Look for the union label

Look for the union label
The clubhouse remained closed to the media today, with players taking the field for batting practice after their union meeting adjourned. Michael Weiner, general counsel to the players association, has two more camps to visit this spring. His car was pointed in the general direction of Fort Myers. "It's mostly about getting ready for bargaining because there's such turnover in the player composition that you have a lot of players who haven't been through it before," he said. "The...
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The lineups

The lineups
For the Orioles: Felix Pie LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Luke Scott DH Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Yankees: Derek Jeter SS Nick Johnson DH Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Nick Swisher RF Marcus Thames LF Randy Winn CF Francisco Cervelli C Alfredo Aceves RHP
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Subtract Arrieta

Subtract Arrieta
The Orioles have assigned pitcher Jake Arrieta to the minor league camp, reducing their spring training roster to 47 players. Arrieta needs the innings, and they won't come in Grapefruit League games with the projected starters being stretched out. Look for Arrieta to reappear in Triple-A Norfolk's rotation in April. The right-hander allowed three earned runs (five total) and seven hits in five innings this spring, with four walks and nine strikeouts.
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Where am I?

Where am I?
This place looks familiar. Is it...could it be...Sarasota? I might drive around Ed Smith Stadium 172 times before parking my car, just so it feels like a road trip. The Orioles are home for three straight games, beginning today against the New York Yankees. That means they'll be able to work on some fundamentals on the back fields, a luxury they didn't have because of all the recent travel. The clubhouse won't be open to the media in the morning because the players have a union meeting....
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The Stockstill Switch

The Stockstill Switch
I was told again this afternoon that the Orioles won't be issuing a statement regarding the Stockstill brothers before Friday. They're expected to announce that David and John have switched roles. David will become director of international scouting, and John will become director of player development. Sounds like a Lindsay Lohan movie. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail declined to comment when I approached him in the visiting clubhouse after the game, but a member of the...
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Post-game Trembley

Post-game Trembley
Opening statement: "We pitched good enough to win. I'm glad we got Matusz stretched out. We got those other guys in." On Brian Matusz: "He wasn't as crisp, he wasn't as sharp, but he knows how to pitch. He knows how to pitch without his best stuff. That was obvious today. And he was good. He was good." On Will Ohman: "It seems like every situation I've brought him in has been to match up and he's gotten the job done. That's what you want. You want a guy who doesn't take long to...
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Cardinals 4, Orioles 2

Cardinals 4, Orioles 2
Brian Matusz didn't have his best stuff today, but he turned in a quality start. Another encouraging sign from him. "Today was one of those days where I never really got in a good groove, and you're going to have those days," he said. "You have games where you feel great, and games where you have to grind and battle through it. I was having a tough time getting on top of my pitches. I feel like I didn't have a very good downward plane on my fastball. And all the other pitches work off...
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Pitching update

Pitching update
Will Ohman faced one batter and struck him out. That's 6 1/3 scoreless innings for Ohman this spring, with two hits allowed, two walks and 10 strikeouts. Think he'll make the team? Jim Johnson retired both batters he faced after replacing Ohman. Mike Gonzalez allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth. He threw 23 pitches, 11 for strikes. Gonzalez walked the leadoff hitter, Colby Rasmus, and David Freese's two-out double increased St. Louis' lead to 4-2. Gonzalez should have gotten a...
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Getting ready for the intrasquad game

Getting ready for the intrasquad game
I asked Chris Tillman about his back again this morning. "Real good," he said. And that's your Chris Tillman back update for the day - until he starts for the Orange Team in today's intrasquad game that begins at 1:05 p.m. Tillman will oppose Jake Arrieta, but not for long. They're both scheduled to pitch one inning. We'll also get a look at Alfredo Simon, who hasn't pitched since undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on May 5. His velocity has been...
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Today's lineups (updated)

Today's lineups (updated)
It was only a matter of time. ORANGE TEAM Felix Pie LF Cesar Izturis SS Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Lou Montanez RF Justin Turner 2B Jeff Salazar CF Luis Bernardo DH BLACK TEAM Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Luke Scott 1B Ty Wigginton 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chad Moeller C Blake Davis SS Caleb Joseph DH Rhyne Hughes will replace Pie and play left field in the fourth inning. Also in the fourth, Pedro Florimon will replace Izturis, Scott Moore will replace...
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Bergy's bullpen

Bergy's bullpen
Brad Bergesen threw 35 pitches in the bullpen today, emptying his bag of tricks, and will increase that total to 45-50 before possibly facing live hitters on Friday. The dead ones always get the "take" sign. Bergesen said his tempo improved over his first mound session on Saturday. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bullpen coach Alan Dunn told Bergesen that his arm angle looked "normal." "Today was my first day throwing breaking stuff," Bergesen said. "Obviously, the first couple...
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Tillman's intrasquad inning

Tillman's intrasquad inning
Chris Tillman struck out the first batter he faced, Robert Andino, on four pitches to begin today's intrasquad game. Now this is baseball. Tillman ran the count full to Nick Markakis, who fouled off one pitch and almost nailed Luke Scott on the on-deck circle. Markakis doubled to the fence in left field for the Black Team's first hit, but Adam Jones bounced to short and Scott flied to center. Jeff Salazar made a sliding catch in left-center to rob Scott. Tillman threw 15 pitches, 11 for...
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Arrieta's intrasquad inning

Arrieta's intrasquad inning
Jake Arrieta threw 11 pitches, six for strikes, while stranding a runner on second base. Felix Pie flied to left, but Cesar Izturis lined a double to right-center field. Miguel Tejada bounced to the mound after coming within a few feet of ripping an extra-base hit down the left-field line. Matt Wieters bounced to short.
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Rough day for Hinckley

Rough day for Hinckley
It's only an intrasquad game, but Mike Hinckley labored in the second inning while the Black Team took a 2-0 lead. Ty Wigginton drew a leadoff walk and scored with two outs on a Blake Davis single to left field. Davis stole second and raced home on Caleb Joseph's single to left. Davis fisted the ball and looped a hit to the opposite field. Joseph ripped a line drive that left a vapor trail. Jim Johnson struck out Garrett Atkins on three pitches to start the bottom of the second inning....
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No defense for that inning

No defense for that inning
The Black Team committed three straight errors in the bottom of the third inning with Luis Lebron on the mound. Luis Bernardo struck out looking to begin the inning. Felix Pie reached on an infield hit and took second on Robert Andino's errant throw. Blake Davis made a high throw that allowed Cesar Izturis to reach, and Ty Wigginton botched Miguel Tejada's bouncer as Pie scored. Craig Tatum, pinch-hitting for Matt Wieters, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Wilfrido Perez retired all three...
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Ugly fourth inning

Ugly fourth inning
It's a good thing this is an intrasquad game and not the home opener against Toronto. The Orioles halted the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs because Troy Patton reached his pitch limit. Rhyne Hughes had a two-run single, Pedro Florimon had an RBI single and Craig Tatum increased the Orange Team's lead to 5-2 with a sacrifice fly. We have two more errors on the board for the Black Team, giving them five for the day. Right fielder Jonathan Tucker dropped a fly ball near the line,...
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Tillman talks about his outing

Tillman talks about his outing
The Black Team's Robert Andino hit a two-run homer off Josh Perrault in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game, 5-5. Chorye Spoone gave up a run in the fifth, reducing the Orange Team's lead to 5-3, but I was in the clubhouse and nobody is keeping a scorebook on an intrasquad game, so I can't pass along any details. Here's what Chris Tillman said about his scoreless inning: "I felt great. As I was warming up, I thought, 'Yeah, this feels real good.' I would have liked to throw a...
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More Millwood (part 2)

More Millwood (part 2)

Nolan Reimold's sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field in the third inning brought home Ty Wigginton with the tying run. Wigginton doubled and took third on Jimmy Rollin's error. Nick Markakis has the Orioles' other hit, a double in the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Millwood wiggled off the hook. Millwood gave up a leadoff single to Rollins on a fly ball that dropped near the line. Luke Scott ran a long way and still didn't get close to it. Placido Polanco fouled out to catcher Matt Wieters, who made a nice catch in front of the folding chairs that line part of the padded fence beside the dugout. Chase Utley struck out for the second time, the bat flying out of his hands and sailing over Garrett Atkins' head. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth walked to load the bases, but Raul Ibanez bounced to second. Millwood threw 28 pitches, 16 strikes. He's up to 57 pitches. This is Millwood's longest official outing - we're not counting his five innings in an intrasquad game - and it's the first time an opponent hasn't batted around against him. Hope I didn't jinx him. Part 2: Kevin Millwood struck out two batters and walked pitcher Jamie Moyer in a scoreless fourth. Dewayne Wise and Paul Hoover went down swinging. Millwood threw 20 pitches, 13 for strikes. He's thrown 77 pitches, 47 strikes, through four innings. Cody "Give me back my son!" Ransom has replaced Rollins at shortstop.

Jones homers (w/Guthrie update)

Jones homers (w/Guthrie update)
Adam Jones just homered to right-center field on a 2-1 pitch to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead. Nolan Reimold flied to right before Jones stepped to the plate against Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco. Jones has three homers and five RBIs this spring. Nick Markakis followed with a single into center field. Update: Jeremy Guthrie retired the first two batters, getting a called third strike on Cameron Maybin, but he walked Hanley Ramirez and gave up a run-scoring single to Jorge Cantu....
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Who needs a DH?

Who needs a DH?
Florida pitcher Ricky Nolasco singled with two outs to score Brett Hayes and give the Marlins a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Once again, Guthrie got into trouble after retiring the first two batters, including a strikeout of Gaby Sanchez. Hayes doubled off the left field fence and Nolasco bounced a single into left field. Luke Scott made a strong throw to the plate, but Hayes avoided catcher Matt Wieters' sweeping tag. Guthrie threw 18 pitches, 12 for strikes. That's 41 pitches, two runs, three hits, one walk and two strikeouts in two innings.