Roch Kubatko

Pre-game notes

March 24, 2010, 7:03am

It seemed like a curious move when the Orioles optioned Double-A reliever Wilfrido Perez to Double-A Bowie while also adding 17 players for tomorrow's two split-squad games. Manager Dave Trembley offered the following explanation: "The situation with him is, the minor league games have started. Let's get him pitching in the games. He's right on track to start pitching. A guy coming off arm surgery, he's done very well. Left-handed, has a lot of value and is important to us. Needs to go...

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Mike Gonzalez

More Koji (and minor leaguers added)

March 24, 2010, 7:01am

Please allow me to introduce myself...and to pass along some quotes from Koji Uehara. I've got the complete transcript for you. Enjoy. His timeline: "I am thinking to play catch tomorrow. That's what I am thinking." When he'll return to the mound: "At this moment, I don't know." How he's feeling now: "Similar to yesterday." If he's in pain: "When I am walking around, I feel fine. If I could not walk, I wouldn't be able to come here." When he'll be able to run: "We...

Matusz on the mound (part 2)

March 24, 2010, 7:00am

Brian Matusz didn't allow a ball out of the infield in the top of the first inning, getting two bouncers to short and one to second. Matusz threw eight pitches, five for strikes. Didn't the Phillies learn their lesson the last time? I'll tack on his second inning in this entry. Stay tuned. The second inning: You thought I was joking? Matusz issued his first walk in 10 spring innings when Ryan Howard reached to open the second. Raul Ibanez struck out on three pitches, but Jayson Werth...

Matusz still on the mound (part 2)

March 24, 2010, 6:58am

The Phillies didn't get the ball out of the infield in the third inning, which began with Brian Matusz striking out pitcher Kyle Kendrick and shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Shane Victorino popped to first base to keep the Phillies hitless and the game scoreless. Matusz threw 13 pitches, nine for strikes. That makes 40 pitches and 23 strikes in three innings. The Orioles have one hit, a leadoff double from Robert Andino in the first. Andino walked in the third inning, stole second and took third...

Finally, we have runs

March 24, 2010, 6:57am

The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning on singles by Lou Montanez and Josh Bell, and a walk to Chad Moeller. They scored twice to take a 2-0 lead over the Phillies. Jeff Salazar's fielder's choice grounder brought home Montanez, and Bell scored on Robert Andino's fly ball to center. Andino is 1-for-1 with a double, RBI, walk and stolen base. Nice hustle by Bell on his single. He took second on left fielder Raul Ibanez's throw back to the infield, leaving first base...

Nothing else Matusz (updated)

March 24, 2010, 6:55am

That's five hitless innings for left-hander Brian Matusz, and another nice escape. Josh Bell's throwing error allowed Jayson Werth to reach second base with no outs. Greg Dobbs grounded to first, Brian Schneider lined to second and pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. struck out. Not a problem. Matusz threw 12 pitches, nine for strikes. He's thrown 42 of his 68 pitches for strikes tonight. He also has 18 strikeouts in 14 innings this spring. Bell booted Werth's grounder, but he kept the ball...

Quick game update (updated)

March 24, 2010, 6:54am

Will Ohman retired both batters he faced, with one strikeout, after replacing Brian Matusz. He still hasn't allowed a run in six appearances. Jim Johnson, who allowed three runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings before tonight, walked a batter and struck out two in a scoreless seventh. The Phillies still don't have a hit as we enter the top of the eighth with the Orioles leading, 2-0. Update: John Mayberry Jr. singled off Dennis Sarfate with one out in the eighth inning to end the Orioles'...

As a Matusz of fact

March 24, 2010, 6:52am

Manager Dave Trembley had nothing but good things to say about Brian Matusz after tonight's 2-0 victory over the Phillies. "Doesn't matter who he faces, doesn't matter what lineup he's facing, he doesn't get out of his lane," Trembley said. "That's Brian Matusz, the way he pitches. He just has a feel for pitching. And he knows what he's doing. "He's going to be real special. We saw it last year. He's picked up right where he left off in his last start of the year. He's got great...

Orioles lineups

March 24, 2010, 6:51am

vs. Pirates in Sarasota: Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott 1B Matt Wieters C Nolan Reimold DH Ty Wigginton 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP vs. Red Sox in Fort Myers: Robert Andino 3B Justin Turner 2B Lou Montanez LF Garrett Atkins 1B Jeff Salazar CF Josh Bell DH Craig Tatum C Miguel Abreu RF Blake Davis SS Chris Tillman RHP Jake Arrieta also will pitch against the Red Sox. The Orioles get their second look at knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Nolan needs to get rollin'

March 24, 2010, 6:50am

Unless something changes in the next 24 hours, manager Dave Trembley said closer Mike Gonzalez will pitch against the Phillies tomorrow in Clearwater, rather than appear in another Triple-A game in Sarasota. As I approached Nolan Reimold's locker this morning, he grew sentimental for the days when I would check on his sore Achilles. Anything beats talk of his 0-for-19. I figured that I was doing him a favor. He was tired of updating reporters on his health and having his gait analyzed....

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where in the yard

A few nuggets (with Pirates lineup)

March 24, 2010, 6:49am

As always, choose your favorite dipping sauce. Outfielder Kyle Hudson was supposed to travel to Fort Myers as part of the minor league contingent for today's game against the Red Sox, but Ronnie Welty is taking his place. The Orioles will wear their black batting practice jerseys for that game, in case you were wondering. Here are the pitchers for some upcoming games: Tomorrow's minor league game: David Hernandez, Mark Hendrickson, Jason Berken. Tuesday in Jupiter (Marlins): Jeremy...

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Jhonatan Solano Stephen Strasburg

Quick Koji update

March 24, 2010, 6:48am

Orioles pitcher Koji Uehara decided not to play catch today to test his sore left hamstring. "Maybe tomorrow," he said through interpreter Jiwon Bang. Uehara said there's "no particular reason" why he's delaying the flat-ground session for at least one more day. "I could have done it today," he said, "but I wanted to do some weight lifting on my upper body." I'll pass along some pre-game quotes from manager Dave Trembley in a few minutes.

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Stephen Strasburg

Trembley unplugged

March 24, 2010, 6:46am

Brian Roberts hit from the left side today, taking his cuts at soft-toss and off a tee. Michael Aubrey took batting practice and fielded grounders at first base as he draws closer to playing in a game after injuring his groin last Saturday in Tampa. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells told manager Dave Trembley that it should be "any day now." "We've got, what, 16 or 15 games left to play? About half the camp," Trembley said. It's 13 after today, if you're keeping score at...

Bergy's on the mound (part 2)

March 24, 2010, 6:45am

Not a good first inning for Brad Bergesen. The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs and scored twice to take a 2-0 lead. The inning included a costly error by second baseman Ty Wigginton, who failed to backhand Ryan Doumit's grounder up the middle as the second run scored. Garrett Jones drove in the first one with a sacrifice fly. Bobby Crosby struck out on three pitches and Brandon Moss grounded to short to end the rally. Bergesen threw 16 pitches, nine for strikes. He allowed two hits...

Bergy much better (part 2)

March 24, 2010, 6:44am

Brad Bergesen struck out two in a perfect third inning. Ryan Church flied to left, Garrett Jones took a called third strike and Ryan Doumit went down swinging. Bergesen has struck out three in three innings, but the Pirates continue to hold a 2-0 lead. He's thrown 35 pitches, 24 for strikes. He's only needed 19 pitches (15 for strikes) to get through the last two innings. Nolan Reimold bounced into a double play to end the bottom of the second. Felix Pie reached on another infield hit with...

Luuuuuuke Scott (updated twice)

March 24, 2010, 6:43am

Luke Scott homered to right field with two outs in the fourth inning, reducing the Pirates lead to 2-1. Scott appeared to jump on a Charlie Morton changeup with the count full, giving him two homers and nine RBIs this spring. MASN play-by-play announcer Gary Thorne is sitting next to me in the press box. Just as he finished telling me that Pirates starter Charlie Morton is telegraphing his changeup by slowing his delivery, Scott laid into the next pitch. "There it is!" Thorne...

Bergy on Bergy (updated)

March 24, 2010, 6:41am

Brad Bergesen has a tendency to rush his delivery. It happened earlier today, as the Pirates scored twice in the first inning. It didn't continue, and Bergesen retired the last 10 batters he faced. "When I went in after that first inning and talked to Kranny, he told me to just really slow things down and guide myself over the rubber. I just tried to focus on that," he said. "Those are two of my things, sometimes rushing my delivery - so really staying back on the rubber is what Kranny...

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@userpic

You know it's spring training when... (quotes added)

March 24, 2010, 6:39am

...Paco Figueroa doubles to score his twin brother in a major league game. Figueroa's double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning plated Brandon Snyder and Danny Figueroa to extend the Orioles' lead to 5-2. Frank Mata replaced Alberto Castillo with two outs in the top of the ninth and got the final out to strand two runners and make the Orioles .500 on the day. They lost, 6-0, to the Boston Red Sox in a split-squad game in Fort Myers. Jake Arrieta gave up a run on three hits...

Clearing up some confusion

March 24, 2010, 6:37am

When I posted the pitchers for tomorrow, I specified that they were appearing in the minor league game. That's why you didn't see Kevin Millwood's name. Millwood is starting against the Phillies in Clearwater, followed by Will Ohman, Jim Johnson and Mike Gonzalez. He isn't being skipped. There's nothing wrong with him. The Phillies will counter with former Oriole Jamie Moyer and Antonio Bastardo. I really want a Bastardo jersey for my birthday. Extra medium. Speaking of confusion,...

Orioles lineup

March 24, 2010, 6:36am

Nolan Reimold DH Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP