Roch Kubatko

The One Jake

April 01, 2010, 12:31pm

Jake Arrieta surrendered a two-run homer to Evan Longoria in the first inning. Tampa Bay 2, Orioles 0 Carl Crawford singled with one out and stole second base as Ben Zobrist struck out looking. Longoria launched a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence. Carlos Pena doubled to right, but the Rays fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle after B.J. Upton flied to the warning track in left. Arrieta, who will join Triple-A Norfolk's rotation later this month, threw 15 of his 23 pitches for...

Trade official (updated)

April 01, 2010, 12:27pm

The Orioles just announced that they've acquired infielder Julio Lugo and cash from the Cardinals for a PTBNL or cash. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated first baseman Michael Aubrey for assignment. Aubrey barely played this spring because of a minor medical procedure on his back and a groin injury sustained while running the bases in Tampa. He batted .289 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 31 games last season. Robert Andino learned of the trade earlier today, but he...

Pre-game Trembley

April 01, 2010, 12:13pm

Orioles manager Dave Trembley couldn't confirm the Julio Lugo trade, so we'll continue to wait for the commissioner's office to make it official. Isn't this fun? "I'm sure if something like that happens, I'll be informed, but I haven't been informed about it yet," Trembley said. Robert Andino, who committed two more errors yesterday and has looked bad tracking popups at second base this spring, remains in the starting lineup and is taking batting practice. "I don't think it's...

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J.J. Hardy

Moeller update

April 01, 2010, 12:13pm

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed that the Orioles have granted catcher Chad Moeller his release. The Orioles hoped that Moeller would accept an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, and they would have released him later if another team expressed interest in adding him to its 25-man roster. However, the veteran wanted to seek a job on his own. The Orioles were willing to let Moeller go because they expect Michel Hernandez [fractured right index finger] to be ready in a few...

Rays lineup (and news)

April 01, 2010, 12:12pm

Jason Bartlett SS Carl Crawford LF Ben Zobrist 2B Evan Longoria 3B Carlos Pena 1B B.J. Upton CF Pat Burrell RF Hank Blalock DH Kelly Shoppach C Mike Ekstrom RHP I joined the debate team this morning, and it was me vs. me. I couldn't decide whether to make the trip to Port Charlotte or stay back and watch Kevin Millwood and Chris Tillman pitch in minor league games. Chad Moeller was waiting to meet with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail when I finally left the clubhouse and...

Orioles lineup

April 01, 2010, 5:29am

Felix Pie CF Ty Wigginton 2B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott LF Nolan Reimold DH Scott Moore 1B Brandon Waring 3B Craig Tatum C Robert Andino SS Jake Arrieta RHP

Red Sox 14, Orioles 6

April 01, 2010, 5:28am

Today's attendance: 7,659. Ryan Adams' sacrifice fly scored Ty Wigginton in the eighth, Caleb Joseph had an RBI bloop single in the ninth and Wigginton followed with a three-run shot to left, but the Orioles fell eight runs short. Manager Dave Trembley met with the media on the field after the last out. "Pitched behind, walks, some miscues in the field," he said. "I liked the way (Brian) Roberts played. It's good to see him bouncing around the way he did in the field and on the bases....

Quick game update (updated)

April 01, 2010, 5:26am

Not much to say about this one. Mark Hendrickson allowed a hit and walked a batter, but he kept the Red Sox scoreless in the fifth inning. Mike Gonzalez turned in a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, but the Red Sox scored a run off Dennis Sarfate in the seventh. Boston 10, Orioles 1 Update: I hit the "save" button and Kevin Frandsen hits a grand slam off Dennis Sarfate in the eighth. That's two for the Red Sox today. Boston 14, Orioles 1 The Orioles have three hits today. Special thanks to...

'Penned up emotions (updated)

April 01, 2010, 5:25am

The Red Sox are mistreating two pitchers who are projected members of the Orioles' bullpen this season. Jim Johnson followed Jason Berken to the mound. He should have turned right and kept walking. Single, hit-by-pitch, single, grand slam. Boston 9, Orioles 1. Victor Martinez followed his two-run shot off Berken in the third with a bases-clearing blast off Johnson in the fourth, the ball sailing over the center field fence with none out. Johnson hadn't allowed a run in his last four...

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Mark Hendrickson

Berken up the wrong tree

April 01, 2010, 5:24am

The Red Sox didn't go easy on Jason Berken today. Victor Martinez followed Dustin Pedroia's leadoff single in the third inning with a two-run homer. Kevin Youkilis doubled off the fence in left-center field and scored on J.D. Drew's sharp single to right. Boston 5, Orioles 0. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz went to the mound and removed Berken, who allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out the first two batters of the game. Berken, who's ticketed for long relief in the Orioles'...

B-Rob's first inning (updated twice)

April 01, 2010, 5:22am

I usually focus on the starting pitcher, but Brian Roberts is stealing Jason Berken's thunder. We have plenty of witnesses. Ed Smith Stadium is packed again. Roberts ranged far to his left to glove Victor Martinez's grounder and throw to first for the second out of the inning, but that wasn't his finest play. He made a diving stop and throw to rob Kevin Youkilis of a hit and send Berken back to the dugout.. Most important, Roberts quickly rose to his feet without a trace of discomfort in...

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Luke Scott

Montanez gone (w/lineup change and Jones update)

April 01, 2010, 5:20am

The Orioles optioned Lou Montanez to Triple-A Norfolk before today's game. If you're counting, that's 32 players left in camp. Montanez never had a chance to make the club without an injury opening up a spot in the outfield. He hit .319 with three doubles, one triple and eight RBIs. His 20 at-bats ranked second to Robert Andino's 21. Meanwhile, Adam Jones has been scratched from the lineup. Felix Pie will bat second and play center field. Nolan Reimold moves down to fifth. No word on...

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Bryce Harper

Pre-game notes

March 31, 2010, 10:09am

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail doesn't expect to have an update on Chad Moeller's situation before tomorrow. MacPhail is checking whether any clubs have openings for Moeller on their 25-man roster, but he doesn't sound optimistic that it will happen. Moeller apparently hasn't given an indication whether he'd accept an assignment to Triple- A Norfolk. "First, we both agreed to let the 25-man opportunity play out and then we'd take it from there," MacPhail...

Red Sox lineup

March 31, 2010, 10:09am

Marco Scutaro SS Dustin Pedroia 2B Victor Martinez C Kevin Youkilis 1B David Ortiz DH J.D. Drew RF Mike Lowell 3B Josh Reddick LF Che-Hsuan Lin CF Jon Lester LHP

Moeller in a holding pattern

March 31, 2010, 10:08am

Chad Moeller was standing at his locker this morning in a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. No uniform jersey and pants. Nothing that would suggest he'll be working out with the team. Moeller is in a holding pattern of sorts (hence, the title of this entry). He's hoping to find out within the hour whether he'll be moving to another organization or reassigned to the minor league camp. And he wouldn't speculate on his next move if the latter occurs. It's also possible that the wait will...

Orioles lineup

March 31, 2010, 10:07am

Brian Roberts 2B Nolan Reimold LF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Adam Jones CF Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Jason Berken RHP Jon Lester is starting for the Red Sox.

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Matt Wieters

A few quick answers

March 31, 2010, 10:06am

I had to approve the last batch of comments without addressing individual questions. I'll try to knock off a few of them here. * What happens to Jason Berken? He begins the season in long relief for the Orioles. They need a pitcher who's been stretched out, and Berken earned a spot with a strong spring. * Will Nolan Reimold sit for the entire Tampa Bay series? Manager Dave Trembley hasn't given us his lineups. Perhaps Reimold serves as the DH if Trembley wants to keep him off the turf....

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Alfredo Simon

Trembley unplugged - Part 3

March 31, 2010, 10:05am

As I wrote earlier, the Orioles want Chad Moeller to stay at Triple-A Norfolk and continue working with young pitchers such as Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Troy Patton and Brandon Erbe. But they understand his desire to play in the majors and will attempt to work out a deal for him. "We want to see how this unfolds with (Craig) Tatum," manager Dave Trembley said. "This doesn't mean it's etched in stone, but we want to give Tatum a shot. We like the way he throws. We're confident that he...

Trembley unplugged - Part 2

March 31, 2010, 10:05am

How difficult has it been for manager Dave Trembley to make these roster cuts? Let him explain. "That's why I didn't want to meet with you (reporters) at 11 today. I couldn't," he said. "I walked around those back fields all morning, kind of like, 'How am I going to talk to some of these guys?' It was tough for me to tell Brandon Snyder he was going out of camp. I had the kid in instructional league. And (Alberto) Castillo. Do you know his story? A refugee from Cuba played independent...

Trembley unplugged

March 31, 2010, 10:04am

Manager Dave Trembley met with reporters for about 17 minutes after today's game. That's an unusually long session, and it became emotional as he recounted how he broke the roster news to several disappointed players. Chris Tillman will throw in a minor league game on Thursday to raise his pitch count in the 90-100 range. Then he'll go to Triple- A and try to get back to the majors. "What we're doing is the best thing for the team and for his development," Trembley said. "He was put in...