Roch Kubatko

Up and Adam (w/Bergy update)

March 31, 2010, 8:08am

Orioles

Adam Jones just hit a two-run homer and a bus. Jones launched a pitch from Alfredo Aceves over the left field fence in the second inning, and the ball slammed off one of the buses that transported the Yankees to Sarasota. That's four homers and six RBIs for Jones, who jumped on an 0-1 pitch after Matt Wieters walked and gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Update: Brad Bergesen retired the first seven batters of the game before Randy Winn blooped a double near the left field line. Felix Pie seemed...

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orioles spring training

Bergy off to a hot start (updated)

March 31, 2010, 8:02am

Orioles

Brad Bergesen needed only six pitches to get through the top of the first inning. Five of them were strikes. Derek Jeter grounded to second, with Ty Wigginton ranging far to his right to make the backhanded pickup. Nick Johnson flied to center, and Mark Teixeira grounded to Cesar Izturis, who was playing on the right side as part of the infield shift. Of course, you already know this if you're watching the game on MASN. See you in the bottom of the fifth inning. Update: Bergesen has...

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orioles spring training

The Arrieta Up There

March 31, 2010, 8:02am

Orioles

Jake Arrieta told reporters earlier today that he met with manager Dave Trembley, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail about joining the minor league camp. The idea apparently came from the young right-hander, which is an unusual occurrence. Arrieta only pitched five innings, not counting an intrasquad game. He knew where he'd start the season, and it wasn't in the Orioles' rotation or bullpen. No sense delaying the inevitable. "During BP I...

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orioles spring training Mike Griffin

Roberts will play tomorrow

March 31, 2010, 8:01am

Orioles

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will make his first spring start tomorrow night against the Minnesota Twins. Manager Dave Trembley isn't certain how long Roberts will play or how many at-bats he'll receive. Trembley also must decide whether to play Roberts in consecutive games or give him Saturday off. "The only thing I'm saying today is he's going to play tomorrow," Trembley said. "It's been kind of a little bit of a hectic day for us with the meetings. I'd like to look at it...

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orioles spring training

Look for the union label

March 31, 2010, 8:01am

Orioles

The clubhouse remained closed to the media today, with players taking the field for batting practice after their union meeting adjourned. Michael Weiner, general counsel to the players association, has two more camps to visit this spring. His car was pointed in the general direction of Fort Myers. "It's mostly about getting ready for bargaining because there's such turnover in the player composition that you have a lot of players who haven't been through it before," he said. "The...

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orioles spring training

The lineups

March 31, 2010, 8:00am

Orioles

For the Orioles: Felix Pie LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Luke Scott DH Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP For the Yankees: Derek Jeter SS Nick Johnson DH Mark Teixeira 1B Alex Rodriguez 3B Robinson Cano 2B Nick Swisher RF Marcus Thames LF Randy Winn CF Francisco Cervelli C Alfredo Aceves RHP

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orioles spring training

Subtract Arrieta

March 31, 2010, 7:59am

Orioles

The Orioles have assigned pitcher Jake Arrieta to the minor league camp, reducing their spring training roster to 47 players. Arrieta needs the innings, and they won't come in Grapefruit League games with the projected starters being stretched out. Look for Arrieta to reappear in Triple-A Norfolk's rotation in April. The right-hander allowed three earned runs (five total) and seven hits in five innings this spring, with four walks and nine strikeouts.

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orioles spring training Andy MacPhail

Where am I?

March 31, 2010, 7:59am

Orioles

This place looks familiar. Is it...could it be...Sarasota? I might drive around Ed Smith Stadium 172 times before parking my car, just so it feels like a road trip. The Orioles are home for three straight games, beginning today against the New York Yankees. That means they'll be able to work on some fundamentals on the back fields, a luxury they didn't have because of all the recent travel. The clubhouse won't be open to the media in the morning because the players have a union meeting....

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orioles spring training

The Stockstill Switch

March 24, 2010, 1:06pm

Orioles

I was told again this afternoon that the Orioles won't be issuing a statement regarding the Stockstill brothers before Friday. They're expected to announce that David and John have switched roles. David will become director of international scouting, and John will become director of player development. Sounds like a Lindsay Lohan movie. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail declined to comment when I approached him in the visiting clubhouse after the game, but a member of the...

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orioles spring training Jake Arrieta

Post-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 1:05pm

Orioles

Opening statement: "We pitched good enough to win. I'm glad we got Matusz stretched out. We got those other guys in." On Brian Matusz: "He wasn't as crisp, he wasn't as sharp, but he knows how to pitch. He knows how to pitch without his best stuff. That was obvious today. And he was good. He was good." On Will Ohman: "It seems like every situation I've brought him in has been to match up and he's gotten the job done. That's what you want. You want a guy who doesn't take long to...

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orioles spring training Dave Trembley

Cardinals 4, Orioles 2

March 24, 2010, 1:04pm

Orioles

Brian Matusz didn't have his best stuff today, but he turned in a quality start. Another encouraging sign from him. "Today was one of those days where I never really got in a good groove, and you're going to have those days," he said. "You have games where you feel great, and games where you have to grind and battle through it. I was having a tough time getting on top of my pitches. I feel like I didn't have a very good downward plane on my fastball. And all the other pitches work off...

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orioles spring training

Pitching update

March 24, 2010, 1:04pm

Orioles

Will Ohman faced one batter and struck him out. That's 6 1/3 scoreless innings for Ohman this spring, with two hits allowed, two walks and 10 strikeouts. Think he'll make the team? Jim Johnson retired both batters he faced after replacing Ohman. Mike Gonzalez allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth. He threw 23 pitches, 11 for strikes. Gonzalez walked the leadoff hitter, Colby Rasmus, and David Freese's two-out double increased St. Louis' lead to 4-2. Gonzalez should have gotten a...

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orioles spring training

As a Matusz of fact (updated)

March 24, 2010, 1:03pm

Will Ohman is warming in the bullpen, so Brian Matusz appears to be done after six innings. Matusz allowed three runs and nine hits. That's two more hits than his spring total before today. He also walked a batter and struck out one. I'll update this entry with his official pitch count. My unofficial total is 83, but I don't trust me right now. Update: It's safe to trust me. Matusz threw 83 pitches, 53 for strikes. Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday were a combined 0-for-5 with a...

Family Matusz (updated twice)

March 24, 2010, 1:03pm

Did I mention that Brian Matusz's grandparents are here today? Matusz has raised the bar so high this spring, today's effort looks like a real struggle. The Cardinals strung together back-to-back singles with one out in the fourth, executed a double steal and tied the game on David Freese's double to right. Matusz has allowed two runs and six hits through the fourth. He's thrown around 60 pitches. I've lost track, but I'll get the official count later. Brandon Snyder is having a nice...

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where in the yard

Getting ready for the intrasquad game

March 24, 2010, 12:51pm

Orioles

I asked Chris Tillman about his back again this morning. "Real good," he said. And that's your Chris Tillman back update for the day - until he starts for the Orange Team in today's intrasquad game that begins at 1:05 p.m. Tillman will oppose Jake Arrieta, but not for long. They're both scheduled to pitch one inning. We'll also get a look at Alfredo Simon, who hasn't pitched since undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on May 5. His velocity has been...

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Orioles Spring Training ty wigginton

Today's lineups (updated)

March 24, 2010, 12:50pm

Orioles

It was only a matter of time. ORANGE TEAM Felix Pie LF Cesar Izturis SS Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Lou Montanez RF Justin Turner 2B Jeff Salazar CF Luis Bernardo DH BLACK TEAM Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Luke Scott 1B Ty Wigginton 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chad Moeller C Blake Davis SS Caleb Joseph DH Rhyne Hughes will replace Pie and play left field in the fourth inning. Also in the fourth, Pedro Florimon will replace Izturis, Scott Moore will replace...

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Orioles Spring Training Brian Roberts

Bergy's bullpen

March 24, 2010, 12:50pm

Orioles

Brad Bergesen threw 35 pitches in the bullpen today, emptying his bag of tricks, and will increase that total to 45-50 before possibly facing live hitters on Friday. The dead ones always get the "take" sign. Bergesen said his tempo improved over his first mound session on Saturday. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bullpen coach Alan Dunn told Bergesen that his arm angle looked "normal." "Today was my first day throwing breaking stuff," Bergesen said. "Obviously, the first couple...

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Orioles Spring Training

Tillman's intrasquad inning

March 24, 2010, 12:49pm

Orioles

Chris Tillman struck out the first batter he faced, Robert Andino, on four pitches to begin today's intrasquad game. Now this is baseball. Tillman ran the count full to Nick Markakis, who fouled off one pitch and almost nailed Luke Scott on the on-deck circle. Markakis doubled to the fence in left field for the Black Team's first hit, but Adam Jones bounced to short and Scott flied to center. Jeff Salazar made a sliding catch in left-center to rob Scott. Tillman threw 15 pitches, 11 for...

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Chris Tillman Orioles Spring Training

Arrieta's intrasquad inning

March 24, 2010, 12:48pm

Orioles

Jake Arrieta threw 11 pitches, six for strikes, while stranding a runner on second base. Felix Pie flied to left, but Cesar Izturis lined a double to right-center field. Miguel Tejada bounced to the mound after coming within a few feet of ripping an extra-base hit down the left-field line. Matt Wieters bounced to short.

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Jake Arrieta Orioles Spring Training

Rough day for Hinckley

March 24, 2010, 12:48pm

Orioles

It's only an intrasquad game, but Mike Hinckley labored in the second inning while the Black Team took a 2-0 lead. Ty Wigginton drew a leadoff walk and scored with two outs on a Blake Davis single to left field. Davis stole second and raced home on Caleb Joseph's single to left. Davis fisted the ball and looped a hit to the opposite field. Joseph ripped a line drive that left a vapor trail. Jim Johnson struck out Garrett Atkins on three pitches to start the bottom of the second inning....