Roch Kubatko

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...

Cover me

March 24, 2010, 10:30am

Matt Wieters walked to his locker this afternoon without a photographer tailing him. It's been a slow day. Wieters referred to his Sports Illustrated cover shot as "a great honor." He's also prepared to grab some extra copies for family members. "Whatever they want, I'll get for them," he said, adding that he'd like a framed copy. Wieters doesn't fear the SI cover jinx. "It's how hard you work and what you put into it," he said. "Baseball is a tough game already without...

Pirates lineup

March 24, 2010, 10:27am

I'll go on record right now as saying I'm not terribly impressed with Bradenton, or the person who insisted that the drive from Sarasota would take 15 minutes. It's a little sketchy around here. (I'm only saying this so the Bradenton Chamber of Commerce will treat me to dinner.) I already said my goodbyes to Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck because I don't like our chances of getting back to the car alive. It's quite a trip. But I will enjoy sitting on a stool in the press box for nine...

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garrett atkins

Pre-game Trembley

March 24, 2010, 10:27am

Not much to report from manager Dave Trembley's pre-game media session. We already knew that the club is looking for two innings or 35 pitches from right-hander Brad Bergesen. "Whichever comes first," Trembley said. The Orioles will reevaluate Brian Roberts tomorrow and try to get him back on the field. "We're hoping that," Trembley said. "That would be nice." Trembley wouldn't elaborate when I asked whether he'll begin to rotate guys at second base in case Roberts isn't ready...

Bergesen's back

March 24, 2010, 10:23am

I mean he's returned to the rotation. He's not experiencing back pain. Brad Bergesen allowed one hit in a scoreless first inning, throwing nine of his 17 pitches for strikes. Bergesen fell behind 3-1 to the leadoff hitter, Andrew McCutchen, and 3-0 to Bobby Crosby before retiring them on bouncers to short. Garrett Jones fell behind 0-2 before lining a double to right-center field, the ball glancing off Adam Jones' glove as he dived for it. Ryan Doumit bounced to second on a 1-1...

Bergesen's night (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:22am

Brad Bergesen was removed with one in the second inning and the Orioles leading, 3-1. Steve Pearce lined Bergesen's 35th pitch into left field for a single, bringing manager Dave Trembley from the dugout. The last three batters reached on a walk, Pedro Alvarez's RBI double to right-center field and Pearce's single, which put runners on the corners. Luis Lebron has entered the game. Bergesen's velocity looked good. He didn't have pinpoint control, but I wasn't expecting it. He gave up...

Bergy on Bergy

March 24, 2010, 10:21am

Jason Berken retired six of the seven batters he faced, including a strikeout. He allowed a two-out single to Ryan Doumit in the third. Mark Hendrickson replaced him in the fifth with the Orioles leading, 3-2. Berken hasn't surrendered a run in three appearances covering four innings this spring. Brad Bergesen's shoulder felt good tonight. No problem with the shin, either. He just couldn't throw enough strikes and had difficulty slowing his tempo. "I would have liked to have been a...

You know it's spring training when... (updated)

March 24, 2010, 10:20am

...Rhyne Hughes is your leadoff hitter. Hughes replaced Felix Pie in left field, and atop the order. He came to the plate with runners on the corners and none out in the seventh and struck out. Hughes has four hits in 11 at-bats, with three homers, six RBIs and four runs scored. He's also struck out five times. Manager Dave Trembley made wholesale changes in the bottom of the sixth. Jeff Salazar went to right field, and he opened the top of the seventh by drawing a walk off left-hander...