Roch Kubatko

Feeling left out

March 24, 2010, 10:52am

Mike Hinckley was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning in today's 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins, the Orioles' fifth defeat in a row. He also gave up the winning run against the Tampa Bay Rays on a triple, two walks and a single. Hinckley allowed two runs in the intrasquad game, which don't count in the Grapefruit League stats. "Falling behind (in the count), and he really didn't have a lot of snap on his breaking ball today," manager Dave Trembley said. "His breaking...

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luke scott

A good Ohman

March 24, 2010, 10:52am

The role of situational left-hander might fit Will Ohman, but he'd rather not be typecast. Ohman has held lefties to a .204 average during his career, compared to a .260 average for right-handers. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract, after expressing interest in him last winter without striking a deal, because they wanted him to compete for a spot in the bullpen as... Well, you know the rest. One left-hander, Mike Gonzalez, will be the closer. Another one, Mark...

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 10:51am

Robert Andino 2B Nolan Reimold LF Nick Markakis RF Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 3B Rhyne Hughes DH Chad Moeller C Matt Angle CF Pedro Florimon SS Chris Tillman RHP

Keep on Nolan

March 24, 2010, 10:49am

Nolan Reimold played a few innings in left field in the intrasquad game, but he'll make his first start there in an exhibition game at 1:05 p.m. Set your watches. You can't stop the presses on a blog, but you can make a big deal over anything. "I heard it's supposed to be a sellout," Reimold said. Thanks for playing along, Nolan. I reminded him that he's the second-biggest story today, behind Stephen Strasburg's debut for the Nationals. But I'm sure MASN will switch over each time...

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Jeremy Guthrie

Contract updates

March 24, 2010, 10:48am

Justin Turner and Robert Andino are taking ground balls at second base in early infield drills. No sign of Brian Roberts. The Orioles renewed the contracts of four players, including outfielders Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold, and catcher Matt Wieters. Jason Berken also is on the list. No substantial bumps for three of the better players on the team, who aren't arbitration-eligible, didn't voluntarily come to terms and had to settle for what the Orioles offered. Jones is eligible for...

Roberts temporarily shut down

March 24, 2010, 10:47am

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was confined to the trainers room today after taking medication on Sunday that upset his stomach. Roberts was prescribed a megadose pack, similar to a cortisone shot, to reduce the inflammation in his back caused by a herniated disk. His reaction to it forced the Orioles to eliminate his baseball-related activities for three days. Roberts began feeling ill last night. Manager Dave Trembley described Roberts' condition as "a stomach virus." "He'll be...

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Rhyne Hughes

Run for cover

March 24, 2010, 10:46am

The next issue of Sports Illustrated hits newsstands nationwide tomorrow, and you'll recognize the player on the cover. Matt Wieters better not believe in jinxes. Wieters is the subject of the cover story, written by Tom Verducci. No Oriole has appeared on the front of the magazine in more than 13 years, according to an SI spokesman. Verducci goes into great detail about how rare it is for an MLB team to find a young catcher who has great skills, both offensively and defensively. "In...

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Matt Chico

Mr. Jones and me (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:46am

Adam Jones found out last week that the Orioles were renewing his contract for $465,000. Jones, who earned $435,000 last year, seems to be taking the news in stride. It may be more upsetting than he's showing, but I give him credit for not creating a controversy. "It's part of the process. You sign and play out this year," he said. "You keep it in-house. There's no bad blood between both sides." Jones is arbitration-eligible after the season, so his millions are...

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Jeremy Guthrie

Tillman's slow start (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:45am

Chris Tillman threw 20 pitches in the first inning, 12 for strikes, and fell behind, 1-0, to the Tampa Bay Rays. Sean Rodriguez led off with a single and scored one out later on Evan Longoria's double to left-center field. Nolan Reimold couldn't run down the ball on the warning track. A few reporters sitting in the press box believed Felix Pie would have caught it. Carlos Pena popped up on one pitch, and B.J. Upton bounced a 2-0 pitch to short for the final out. Time was called with Upton...

Another catcher might be jinxed (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:44am

Forget Matt Wieters on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Chad Moeller might have been dealing with evil forces in the third inning. Carl Crawford reached on catcher's interference, stole second, moved to third on Moeller's throwing error and scored on Evan Longoria's sacrifice fly to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead. Moeller's throw skipped into center field. Carlos Pena walked, and manager Dave Trembley signaled to his bullpen. Cla Meredith is warming up. Another starter fails to complete three...

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where in the yard

Moeller fights back (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:43am

Not only did Chad Moeller throw out Carlos Pena trying to steal to end the top of the third, he homered off Jeff Niemann leading off the bottom half of the inning. Take that! Moeller's blast to left field increased the Orioles' home run total to 13. It also cut the Rays' lead to 2-1. Moeller has accounted for the Orioles' lone hit off Niemann as we enter the top of the fourth. Robert Andino just struck out on three pitches and took a really bad swing on the last one. Dennis Sarfate is...

Tillman on Tillman (updated twice)

March 24, 2010, 10:43am

Consecutive singles by Rhyne Hughes, Chad Moeller and Matt Angle have put another run on the board in the fifth. Tampa Bay 3, Orioles 2. Jake Arrieta is pitching the sixth. Update: Carlos Pena struck out looking to begin the inning, but Josh Bell's throwing error and a walk put Arrieta in hot water. Dioner Navarro and Reid Brignac followed with run-scoring singles, and Fernando Perez lifted a sacrifice fly after Arrieta threw a wild pitch. Tampa Bay 6, Orioles 2. Chris Tillman was satisfied...

For whom the Bell tolls (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:38am

Josh Bell is having a nightmarish day - if that's possible - at third base. And he's only played two innings since replacing Ty Wigginton in the top of the sixth. Bell has committed two errors and unleashed at least two bad throws. He bounced one in the seventh after making a nice stop on a sharp grounder, but the play was scored a hit. Bell's fielding error in the seventh extended Alberto Castillo's inning. The lefty had to get approximately nine outs before returning to the dugout with...

MacPhail: Renewals and Roberts

March 24, 2010, 10:37am

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he doesn't particularly care for the process of renewing players' contracts, but it's part of the system that's been around for a while. "I think we counted over 200 guys who have been renewed in this last CBA," he said. "If I could create my ideal system, this wouldn't be it, but this is just the way we operate. It's the same system that's been in place here since the CBA. And I think, to some degree, it's a byproduct of having...

Post-game notes and Trembley

March 24, 2010, 10:37am

Ryan Adams got his first at-bat since arriving at the major league camp. He struck out looking to begin the ninth inning in an 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Trust us, Ryan, it's not your fault. Tough day for Josh Bell. Besides two errors and a few poor throws, he also struck out to strand Lou Montanez at third base. Montanez has three hits in 13 at-bats this spring - all doubles. He also has four RBIs. Tough day for Garrett Atkins, too. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a double...

The Bradenton Bunch

March 24, 2010, 10:36am

We have another night game, this time in Pirate City, which means the lineup won't be posted until 2 p.m. I'm told Bradenton is the shortest trip of the spring, about 15 minutes from the Orioles' complex. The Pirates worked out and dressed at their home site before heading here last week, but the Orioles will wait until they arrive at McKechnie Field. Brad Bergesen makes his first exhibition start, and he's slated to go two innings or throw 35 pitches. The Orioles will get another look...

Second to none

March 24, 2010, 10:35am

If the Orioles look outside the organization for a second baseman to replace Brian Roberts, they'll need to scan the rosters of the other teams. The middle infield shelves are bare in the free-agent market. If you check mlbtraderumors, you'll find the following players listed at the two positions: Second basemen: None Shortstops: None Must be brothers. Julio Lugo, Delwyn Young, Ramon Vazquez, Augie Ojeda, and Gregorio Petit are mentioned as possible fits. The Orioles will see Young...

Flanny on board (with quotes)

March 24, 2010, 10:34am

Former Orioles pitcher, pitching coach and executive Mike Flanagan is returning to the MASN broadcast booth. The network announced that Flanagan will replace Buck Martinez as an analyst. He'll work the games that Jim Palmer misses, which is approximately half of the schedule. It's nice to collect Cy Young winners. "I'm excited about being back and look forward to working with MASN to make it the best possible network, and hopefully add to that, to enrich the broadcast. I'm excited about...

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nick markakis

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 10:33am

Felix Pie LF Cesar Izturis SS Adam Jones CF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott 1B Ty Wigginton DH Lou Montanez RF Justin Turner 2B Brad Bergesen RHP Along with the other pitchers I mentioned earlier today, the Orioles also will bring Jason Berken, Brandon Erbe, Luis Lebron, Frank Mata, Josh Perrault and Ross Wolf.

Roberts: "I'm not concerned about missing Opening Day yet."

March 24, 2010, 10:31am

Brian Roberts said his stomach is feeling a lot better, though he's uncertain whether he had a reaction to medication or a virus, and he's hoping to resume baseball-related activities tomorrow. "I don't really have a timetable for sure yet," he said. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail expressed some concern about Roberts' herniated disk and the delay in getting him into the lineup. Is Roberts worried? "It's not ideal at this point, but I'm not concerned about missing...