Pre-game notes

Pre-game notes
Manager Dave Trembley expects to split today's DH duties between Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie. Each player will get two at-bats under the current plan. David Hernandez and Jason Berken will pitch in a minor league game today. Cla Meredith has been dealing with a stomach virus for the last three days. Trembley wants to give him an inning today, but might have to settle for one batter. Trembley indicated that the final roster decisions are set, but a few players still need to be notified. He...

Pie could play

Pie could play
Felix Pie said there's "no question in my mind" that he'll be ready for Opening Day after being hit near the right ankle by a Mariano Rivera pitch during yesterday's game in Tampa. Pie said the ball struck the edge of his shin guard. X-rays taken on his ankle were negative. "I feel a lot better," he said. "There's a little pain when you touch it, but I'm OK." Pie thought he might have broken a bone until being examined. Though he's not in today's lineup, Pie said he could swing...

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold DH Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Brian Matusz LHP Kam Mickolio will throw another bullpen session today and pitch in an intrasquad game tomorrow. "From there," he said, "I have no idea."

Remembering Mike Cuellar

Remembering Mike Cuellar
One of the biggest sports thrills of my life, and it may rank No. 1, was attending the final game at Memorial Stadium and choking back tears as the Field of Dreams music played and the four 20-game winners from the '71 season stood together on the mound. I can't believe only one of them is still with us. We lost Mike Cuellar today after a courageous battle with stomach cancer that he never had a chance to win. I guess heaven needed another crafty left-hander. David McNally passed away in...

Pie's OK

Pie's OK
X-rays taken on Felix Pie's right ankle came back negative. Pie was nailed by a Mariano Rivera pitch in the sixth inning and limped off the field. He returned to Sarasota for the X-rays. Rivera was off his game today, walking the leadoff batter and lacking his usual pinpoint control. I doubt that he targeted Pie with two outs and a runner on first base as retaliation for Jeremy Guthrie hitting Mark Teixeira earlier this week, though it spiced up an otherwise nondescript Grapefruit League...

What's next for Atkins and team?

What's next for Atkins and team?
As the Orioles introduced Garrett Atkins to the media earlier today, they still couldn't commit to him as a first or third baseman. His position will depend on what moves follow before spring training opens in two months. Andy MacPhail, Orioles president of baseball operations, noted that the club has "internal options we could live with based on what position Garrett plays." He mentioned Michael Aubrey, Rhyne Hughes and Brandon Snyder and first base, and Ty Wigginton and Scott Moore at...

Still waiting on Atkins (updated again)

Still waiting on Atkins (updated again)
Garrett Atkins is undergoing his physical exam in Baltimore, and his signing should become official later today. The only real news would come if he failed it, which would be an upset of major proportions. The only drama for me - and this is purely for selfish reasons - is whether I'm driving to the warehouse for another media gathering in the Jay Payton Room, as I refer to it, or introducing myself to Atkins via conference call. A trip to the warehouse would occur later this afternoon. The...

Conversation with Rich Hill

Conversation with Rich Hill
Pitcher Rich Hill told me last night that he's heard from a "pretty good amount of teams" that are interested in signing him, but he's still waiting for a major league deal that will return him to a 40-man roster. Hill estimated that he could make a decision within the next two weeks, and the Orioles remain in the mix. He elected to become a free agent after being outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, but they're apparently open to re-signing him to a minor league deal. "Anything is...

Trading places

Trading places
This little nugget probably won't make you feel any better about those 12 straight losing seasons that are continually thrust into our faces, but did you know that the Orioles are the fifth-best trading team of the 20th century? I doubt that the 2000 season is included in this survey. I received an e-mail earlier today from ACTA Sports that credits statistical consultant Doug Decatur for using "Win Shares," a statistic developed by baseball guru Bill James to determine how many wins a...

The Bedard debate

The Bedard debate
As I scrolled through the comments yesterday, I noticed a little back-and-forth among fans regarding pitcher Erik Bedard. And since the forecast doesn't call for an avalanche of news to bury the blog this week, I'll gladly take the opportunity to turn the discussion into an entry. (Before you ask, nobody is getting a check in the mail for giving me the idea. Nice try, though.) Bedard carries the reputation as a guy who asks out of games early, who doesn't shoulder enough of the workload...

Agents of fortune

Agents of fortune
A neighbor was nice enough to lend me his snow shovel so I could dig out my car. It was falling apart, and the crack running through it widened by the time I finished, so I'll buy him a new one to show my gratitude. He'd rather have Jason Bay, but he'll settle for a shovel. Does anyone want Bay? The Mets look like they're the only bidder, though I still expect another team to jump out of the shadows, similar to the Yankees with Mark Teixeira last winter. Bay apparently wants a fifth year...

A few extras from Trembley

A few extras from Trembley
I just realized that I don't own a snow shovel or a broom. This isn't good. I did stock up on food, and I have a bottle of Grey Goose in the freezer. I'm not totally unprepared. I wonder if the neighbors will laugh at me if I take a mop outside to knock the snow off my car. Or whether they'll laugh when I'm unable to find my car. I'll be standing on the roof and not even know it. Orioles manager Dave Trembley believes closer Mike Gonzalez can bring the same leadership and steadying...

Getting warm by the hot stove

Getting warm by the hot stove
So is it true that snow's in the forecast today? Last night's Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300 sparked an interesting discussion regarding Jeremy Guthrie's slotting for next season. With Kevin Millwood sitting atop the rotation, the natural assumption has been that Guthrie will slide down to No. 2. But as host Jim Hunter pointed out, the Orioles could lower Guthrie to fourth, putting another 200-inning starter near the backend and perhaps easing some of the strain on the...

Trembley chimes in

Trembley chimes in
Orioles manager Dave Trembley spoke to reporters via a conference call after Mike Gonzalez left the room. Gonzalez should have stuck around. Trembley had plenty of good things to say about him. "I'm glad we have him. Thrilled," Trembley said. "I talked to him earlier today. He has experience, he's pitched late in the game, he's left-handed. More importantly, he's excited to be with us. I think all those things are very favorable for all of us." Trembley has no qualms about referring...

More Gonzo

More Gonzo
Reliever Mike Gonzalez said the Orioles were "definitely on his radar" when the free-agent market opened for business. "Just seeing the talent alone that these guys had," he said. "Sometimes, they get a little overshadowed just because of the other teams - the Yankees and the Red Sox - but this is a good ballclub. And these guys are only going to get better. "I'd like to thank Andy (MacPhail) and my agent Scott (Boras) for making this very quick and easy and painless. Those were kind...

Gonzalez: Meet the press

Gonzalez: Meet the press
The first thing I learned about reliever Mike Gonzalez today is he's obviously done his homework on the Orioles. "Looking at the lineup, seeing the core, these guys are not just young, but very talented guys," he said. "You look at the defense. I've got a great middle defense up in the front, the middle infield and the outfield. As a pitcher, that's what you want, that's what you look for. It seemed like a good fit for me. "They're exciting, they're young, they're very talented....

Gonzalez official

Gonzalez official
It isn't breaking news, but reliever Mike Gonzalez passed his physical and will meet with reporters at the Warehouse at 4:00 p.m. He'll fly out of Baltimore a few hours later, and we'll wait for Garrett Atkins' arrival. I'll post Gonzalez's comments before heading to the station for the Hot Stove Show.

On today's agenda

On today's agenda
The Mike Gonzalez signing will become official later today, assuming there are no issues with his physical. I expect to be meeting him at the warehouse this afternoon. It still appears that we'll have to wait on Garrett Atkins until early next week. Shameless plug alert: The Hot Stove Show is back on 105.7 The Fan beginning tonight at 8 p.m. (no MASN). We'll hear from manager Dave Trembley and pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. The trade for Kevin Millwood knocks Guthrie from the top of the...

B-Rob on the trades and his Holliday wish

B-Rob on the trades and his Holliday wish
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts has played on the same team as new closer Mike Gonzalez, but that was eight years ago in the Arizona Fall League. "We're going to come full circle after a long while," Roberts said earlier today during his weekly call-in segment on the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks Show on MASN and 105.7 The Fan. "I'm excited. I think any time you can add somebody like that to the back of the bullpen, that's a great addition for us. You're hoping that when you get...

More on the Orioles

More on the Orioles
The club isn't going to confirm the Mike Gonzalez and Garrett Atkins signings until both players pass their physicals. Technically, they're still not Orioles property. The Orioles are in the process of arranging for Gonzalez to report to Camden Yards tomorrow, but Atkins is more likely to arrive early next week. Gonzalez moved to the top of the Orioles' wish list because the system is thin in left-handed pitching, and he can close or work in a set-up role. He's likely to get the bulk of...