Roch Kubatko

More pre-game Trembley

March 31, 2010, 9:42am

Orioles manager Dave Trembley has told players where they'll bat on Opening Day, but he'll continue to move guys around during the final week of spring training. "You always have to have other plans and other backups," he said. "You've got to keep playing with it and use spring training for your benefit. Spring training is to have options, experiment, move guys around. I'm not trying to decoy anybody. I'm not trying to keep you guys (reporters) guessing. It's a long season. You're...

Millwood finally official (updated twice)

March 31, 2010, 9:41am

Orioles manager Dave Trembley announced that Kevin Millwood will start the opener at Tropicana Field.. Continue to breathe normally. Trembley also said he'll probably reveal the rest of his rotation after tomorrow's game. The decision won't hinge on the upcoming starts by Chris Tillman and David Hernandez. Both pitchers will know their roles before taking the mound. Sure sounds like Hernandez is going to be the fifth starter. Trembley dropped a strong hint that Felix Pie will be in the...

Yankees lineup (and upcoming pitchers)

March 31, 2010, 9:34am

Derek Jeter SS Nick Johnson DH Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Marcus Thames LF Randy Winn RF Francisco Cervelli C Greg Golson CF Javier Vazquez RHP Brad Bergesen will oppose Detroit's Dontrelle Willis tomorrow afternoon. Chris Tillman faces Boston's Jon Lester on Wednesday. The Orioles travel to Port Charlotte on Thursday, where David Hernandez will face Tampa Bay's Mike Ekstrom.

MASN rotation tonight

March 31, 2010, 9:33am

The Miami Herald's Clark Spencer tweets that the Pirates claimed former Orioles pitcher Hayden Penn off waivers. The Marlins tried to sneak him through. Let's keep talking about former Orioles. Eddie Murray is scheduled to join the MASN booth tonight in the third inning. Mike Boddicker will stop by in the sixth. MASN sideline reporter Amber Theoharis will interview Ben McDonald in the fourth and Brady Anderson in the seventh. Murray, Boddicker and McDonald are inside the Orioles...

Mickolio update

March 31, 2010, 9:32am

Kam Mickolio is hoping to pitch tomorrow after being shut down for a few days with a sore groin. Mickolio hasn't pitched since Thursday. He said the discomfort started while he was running spints as part of his conditioning drills. "I think I'm back to almost full strength," he said. "It's just a little soreness."

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Mark Reynolds

Matusz on Matusz

March 31, 2010, 9:32am

Brian Matusz felt like he went eight innings today, though it was closer to nine. The official count says seven. That's what happens when you keep tacking on more outs. The Orioles wanted to raise his innings and pitches, and give him the feel for staying on the mound while a little fatigued. "It was good. I was getting ahead of guys, throwing strikes," he said. The Orioles also wanted Matusz to work on his slide step, which is one reason they put runners on base. Somebody had to do...

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Adrian Beltre

Orioles lineup

March 31, 2010, 9:30am

Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott 1B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins DH Nolan Reimold LF Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP Javier Vazquez is starting for the Yankees.

More Matusz (updated)

March 31, 2010, 8:56am

Brian Matusz has completed five innings in the intrasquad game, and he hasn't allowed a runner to reach since my last entry. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz wanted Matusz to work from the stretch, so he put a runner on second base in the fifth. Yes, you know it's spring training when... The Orioles want Matusz to throw around 100 pitches. Alfredo Simon gave up a run in the fourth. This game is comprised mostly of minor leaguers. Craig Tatum is catching Matusz. Update: Kranitz put a runner...

Matusz pitching today

March 31, 2010, 8:56am

Brian Matusz has allowed one baserunner through three innings in an intrasquad game. Matusz walked the leadoff batter and got a double play. Josh Bell made a diving stop and throw along the third base line to rob Pedro Florimon in the third inning. Rain forced cancellation of the minor league game, so the Orioles are improvising.

Evening shade

March 31, 2010, 8:55am

The last game under the lights will be played tonight at Ed Smith Stadium, and you can catch it on MASN and 105.7 The Fan. You also can stick close to the blog. I'll be cranking out the copy again. The Yankees are in town, but that's not all. New MASN analysts Eddie Murray, Brady Anderson, Ben McDonald and Mike Boddicker also are here. We should know soon whether Koji Uehara is beginning the season in the bullpen or on the disabled list. He's got to have a side session this week and pitch...

Updating the day

March 31, 2010, 8:54am

I don't have a trick knee, but something told me that today's game would get rained out. Why else would I have stayed back - besides dumb luck? Alfredo Simon was supposed to start against the Yankees tomorrow night, but that opportunity was washed away. The Orioles aren't going to skip Jeremy Guthrie's turn, and Brian Matusz already is slated to start a minor league game. I arrived back at my hotel today at the exact same time as Simon. Coincidence? Yes, that would be it. Bob Dutton...

Lebron update

March 31, 2010, 8:47am

Reliever Luis Lebron was expected to resume throwing today after being shut down for about a week. Lebron, who made a strong impression on manager Dave Trembley during his time in the major league camp, had been experiencing some slight "tenderness" in his arm, according to John Stockstill. "We decided to give him a few days off as a precaution," said Stockstill, who will officially take the title of director of player development on April 5. Lebron caught Trembley's eye with a major...

Trying to catch on

March 31, 2010, 8:47am

Chad Moeller re-signed with the Orioles because he figured to remain their backup catcher. The best opportunity was found in Baltimore. Otherwise, he might have kept looking for a job rather than accept their minor league offer and spring invite on Dec. 15. Manager Dave Trembley suggested yesterday that the competition between Moeller and Craig Tatum would carry into the final days of spring training. So much for being the overwhelming favorite. Moeller doesn't possess Tatum's arm, but...

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Paul Konerko

Orioles lineup (with Matusz update)

March 31, 2010, 8:46am

Brian Roberts 2B Felix Pie CF Nolan Reimold RF Luke Scott 1B Garrett Atkins DH Lou Montanez LF Scott Moore 3B Chad Moeller C Robert Andino SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP I won't be traveling to Dunedin today, but I'll check in later with a recap. Update: Matusz is done after seven innings. The only hit and run he allowed came on a Billy Rowell homer to center field in a strong wind. Matusz got four outs in the sixth and five in the seventh. Yes, you know it's spring training when...

Millwood in the opener

March 31, 2010, 8:45am

Manager Dave Trembley might not be ready to announce his starting rotation on Monday. "We're going to let the next time through go, but I don't think there's any doubt now who's going to be the No. 1 guy," Trembley said. "I guess he threw eight scoreless innings in the back. Monday I'll be able to tell you who that guy is." Trembley chuckled, knowing that Kevin Millwood was the obvious choice all along. I guess this little nugget will have to pass for news today. Millwood is the No....

Hernandez's day

March 31, 2010, 8:44am

Scott Moore lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth and Justin Turner hit a three-run double to increase the Orioles' lead to 6-0.. Did David Hernandez do enough today to push Chris Tillman from the fifth starter's slot? We still don't know, and neither does Hernandez. "I'm just trying to go out there and do the best I can every performance," he said. "Whether it's good enough or not, all I can say is I went out there and gave it my best effort. And today, the results...

Millwood's day

March 31, 2010, 8:43am

Kevin Millwood tossed eight scoreless innings in the minor league game. He threw 102 pitches. Yes, he's stretched out. "Everything felt good," he said. "It was like a normal day out on the mound. I felt like I located my fastball real well today. I threw some good changeups, I threw some good sliders. At times my curveball was good. I would take that stuff any day on a big league field." Millwood will be limited to 50-60 pitches in his final outing.

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Matt Albers

Sweet relief

March 31, 2010, 8:43am

Cla Meredith induced three ground balls from the Red Sox in a routine sixth inning, and Will Ohman again retired all three batters he faced in the seventh. Orioles 2, Red Sox 0. Ohman hasn't allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings. He's surrendered only one hit. David Hernandez has finished running in the outfield, and I'll be heading downstairs shortly to interview him.

Hernandez takes the fifth (updated)

March 31, 2010, 8:42am

David Hernandez has made it through five scoreless innings today. Tug Hulett flied out on Hernandez's first pitch, but Dusty Brown walked after working the count full. Jacoby Ellsbury singled to left, and both runners advanced on Dustin Pedroia's fly ball to the warning track in right. Markakis slammed into the fence after making the grab and seemed to be a little shaken up, but he stayed in the game. Bullpen coach Alan Dunn visited the mound - he's filling in for pitching coach Rick...

Hernandez's great escape

March 31, 2010, 8:41am

The Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth, but David Hernandez did a masterful job of keeping the game scoreless. Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez singled, and Adrian Beltre walked to put the right-hander in a serious jam. Hernandez responded by striking out Mitch Dening, Marco Scutaro and Josh Reddick. "Impressive" doesn't quite do it justice. On the downside, the Red Sox worked Hernandez for 27 pitches to raise his count to 75. He isn't stretched out enough...