Roch Kubatko

Moeller-ing it over

March 24, 2010, 7:51am

Again, a real reach. I admit it. I'm tired from all the driving today. Have mercy on me. Chad Moeller caught Brian Matusz yesterday, so I sought his opinion on the rookie's performance and future in baseball. Me: "What did you think of the way he was throwing?" Moeller: "Good." Me: "What specifically was he doing that impressed you?" Moeller: "Throwing strikes." The veteran catcher's devilish grin widened. He had me on the ropes. Work with me here, Chad. I'm begging...

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 7:49am

Robert Andino SS Justin Turner 2B Nolan Reimold DH Luke Scott LF Lou Montanez RF Scott Moore 1B Josh Bell 3B Chad Moeller C Jeff Salazar CF David Hernandez RHP I had a tough call to make this morning. The Orioles are in Fort Myers for another game against the Twins, hopefully without the rain that soaked their last meeting, but the club's also playing an intrasquad game in Sarasota. Kevin Millwood is throwing five innings, and Jim Johnson the last two. Their combined ERAs equal the...

Injury updates

March 24, 2010, 7:47am

Closer Mike Gonzalez, who's been bothered by some tightness in his lower back, continues to increase his workload and believes he's close to pitching again. "I feel much better," he said. "I did more activities yesterday and I'll do a little more today. I've been playing catch every day to keep my arm in shape. It's just a matter of getting back on the mound and seeing how it goes. "We're going out there today to see how it feels. I'll run a couple sprints and see how it feels,...

This and that

March 24, 2010, 7:47am

Zach Britton was scheduled to go two innings in today's intrasquad game in Sarasota. Kevin Millwood allowed a hit and walk through two innings, striking out four consecutive batters. David Hernandez will be on a 50-pitch limit today in Fort Myers. Nolan Reimold will serve as the designated hitter again tomorrow, giving him consecutive starts. The club is hoping he'll get seven at-bats over the two days. Felix Pie is supposed to hit and throw today and might return to the lineup for...

Twins lineup

March 24, 2010, 7:46am

Ben Revere CF Orlando Hudson 2B Joe Mauer C Michael Cuddyer 1B Jason Kubel DH Brendan Harris SS Danny Valencia 3B Jacque Jones LF Juan Portes RF Scott Baker RHP Mike Maroth, Clay Condrey, Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek and Jose Mijares also are available to pitch today. A reminder that Jason Berken makes his first spring start tomorrow. Brian Tallet starts for the Blue Jays.

Meanwhile, back in Sarasota...

March 24, 2010, 7:44am

Kevin Millwood made it through five innings in today's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium, taking a shutout into his last frame before surrendering three runs. He threw 88 pitches, 56 for strikes. Millwood allowed three hits, walked two and struck out seven. I'm told his curveball was outstanding. Millwood's fastball topped out at 88 mph. He usually sits in the low 90s. Brandon Waring hit a two-run homer off Jim Johnson in the fourth inning. Johnson threw 29 pitches, 19 for...

If you're wondering about Wieters... (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:43am

Matt Wieters' work schedule is about to gain a few more pounds. It's getting heavier. Wieters caught Kevin Millwood today, as I mentioned earlier. He'll catch tomorrow, serve as the designated hitter on Thursday and catch back-to-back games over the weekend, as I mentioned earlier. So why am I writing about him again? Because he's 1-for-13 this spring, which prompted me to ask manager Dave Trembley about Wieters' slow start at the plate. "I've seen good at-bats," Trembley said. "He...

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David Hernandez

Updating Hernandez (with two updates)

March 24, 2010, 7:42am

David Hernandez has given the Orioles three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out two. He's also walked a batter. Ben Revere lined a single up the middle leading off the third inning, but Orlando Hudson grounded into a 6-3 double play, with shortstop Robert Andino fielding the ball with one foot on the bag. Joe Mauer singled to center, but Michael Cuddyer flied to right. Hernandez has thrown 50 pitches, 33 for strikes. The Twins put two runners on base in the second inning...

Quick game update (with Hernandez quotes added)

March 24, 2010, 7:41am

Chad Moeller just clubbed a two-run homer off Clay Condrey in the top of the seventh to increase the Orioles' lead to 3-0. Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless fifth and Will Ohman was perfect in the sixth, though he needed some defensive help. Robert Andino made a nice play at short to retire Joe Mauer, and Jeff Salazar made another running catch near the warning track in right-center field. Matt Albers has entered the game in the bottom of the seventh. Update: Albers didn't allow a run, and...

Strange day for Sarfate

March 24, 2010, 7:40am

Dennis Sarfate didn't allow a hit in the eighth inning, but the Twins scored a run to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-1. Sarfate threw two wild pitches, the first as he recorded a strikeout and the ball got past catcher Caleb Joseph. He also committed a balk and issued a walk. The run scored on Drew Butera's ground ball to short. Sarfate struck out two batters. His fastball reached 94 mph.

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@userpic

Post-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 7:39am

Josh Perrault picked up the save in the Orioles' 3-1 victory, their third win in a row. Danny Valencia doubled over the head of center fielder Jeff Salazar, who froze on the ball before breaking late, but Perrault retired the last two batters. Salazar ended the game with a diving catch in right-center field to rob Juan Portes. As always, manager Dave Trembley met with reporters on the field after the game ended. "Most of the guys had command of their fastball," he said. "Hernandez was...

Johnson returned to Orioles (with quotes added)

March 24, 2010, 7:37am

While I was driving back from Fort Myers, the Orioles announced that pitcher Steve Johnson has been returned to the organization by the San Francisco Giants. Johnson has been assigned to Double-A Bowie and will report to the minor league camp. The Giants selected Johnson in the Rule 5 draft in December, costing them $50,000 in the process. The Orioles pay half that amount to reclaim him. Johnson, the son of former Orioles pitcher and current MASN analyst Dave Johnson, allowed three runs and...

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 7:37am

Cesar Izturis SS Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Nolan Reimold DH Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Jonathan Tucker LF Jason Berken RHP Felix Pie remains out of the lineup with some soreness in his left shoulder. He hit off a tee and threw yesterday, and will consult today with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. "It feels much better today," Pie said. "Maybe Saturday I'll play in a game." Mike Gonzalez said he won't pitch today. The clubhouse...

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matt wieters t-shirt tuesday

Free your mind and the rest will follow

March 24, 2010, 7:36am

The rain is coming down hard here, but it's expected to stop before the first pitch is thrown. Just a morning shower, or so we're told. I'm savoring a rare morning at Ed Smith Stadium. We travel to Dunedin tomorrow and Clearwater on Friday and Sunday. The Orioles also play a split-squad game in Fort Myers on Saturday, but I'll cover the Sarasota game. Former Orioles farmhand Rommie Lewis accompanied the Blue Jays to Sarasota today. So did Raul Chavez and Joey Gathright. But no Adam...

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Craig Tatum

Gonzo almost a go

March 24, 2010, 7:34am

Closer Mike Gonzalez threw a bullpen session this morning and expects to pitch in Friday's game in Clearwater. "A couple batters came up and I tried to let it go a little bit," he said. Gonzalez, who has been dealing with tightness in his lower back, will play light catch tomorrow. "It's just little nagging aches," he said. "I've got to get it out."

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Adam Jones

B-Rob update

March 24, 2010, 7:33am

Second baseman Brian Roberts will wait another day to determine whether the epidural had a positive effect on his back, consult with Dr. Lee Riley in Baltimore and proceed from there. Not much of an update, but it's all I've got. "I'm just waiting a day or two to see what the results are," he said. "Not a whole lot different yet. "I had an epidural shot. Now it's just giving it a day or two to settle in. I'm not really doing much of anything right now." Roberts said he doesn't...

Pre-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 7:32am

Mike Gonzalez is scheduled to throw one inning against the Phillies on Friday. Felix Pie threw and hit again today and will play in one of the intrasquad games on Saturday. "He probably could play on Friday, but because it's a night game, I'll hold him back and play him on Saturday," manager Dave Trembley said. "I'm encouraged by both Gonzalez and Pie." Trembley won't make more roster cuts before the split-squad games. Trembley said Chris Tillman, David Hernandez and Jason Berken...

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Dave Trembley

Berken's workin' (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:31am

Jason Berken threw 12 of his 13 pitches for strikes and escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the first inning. Jarrett Hoffpauir reached on an error by left fielder Jonathan Tucker, who couldn't hold onto a sinking liner, and Alex Gonzalez followed with a broken-bat single into center field. Jeremy Reed struck out, Randy Ruiz popped to short and Brian Dopirak grounded to second. Cesar Izturis led off the bottom of the first with a single into right field. Meanwhile, the White Sox have released...

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Mike Gonzalez

Blue Jays take the lead (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:28am

Jason Berken allowed three runs and four hits in the third inning. He also walked a batter. Alex Gonzalez lined a single into left field with one out. Jeremy Reed grounded a single into right and Nick Markakis overran the ball, allowing Gonzalez to score and Reed to take third base. Randy Ruiz walked on four pitches and Brian Dopirak lifted a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back singles by Travis Snyder and Brad Emaus increased the lead to 3-0 and brought pitching coach Rick Kranitz to the...

Berken on Berken (updated)

March 24, 2010, 7:27am

Travis Snider hit an opposite-field home run off Kam Mickolio in the fifth. Blue Jays 4, Orioles 0. Mickolio has walked three batters in two innings. Matt Wieters threw out Brad Emaus trying to steal in the fifth. The Orioles have one hit, Cesar Izturis' leadoff single in the first. Update: Fifteen straight Orioles were retired until Ty Wigginton walked to open the sixth. Still only one hit as we enter the bottom of the seventh. Pedro Florimon pinch-ran for Izturis, who reached on a...