Roch Kubatko

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

Joseph's last day

March 24, 2010, 6:34am

Catcher Caleb Joseph is walking around the clubhouse collecting signatures on his "2010 spring training ball," as he calls it. This is Joseph's last day in the major league camp. He'll move to the other side of the building and join the Triple-A and Double-A players. "It's almost indescribable because you gain so much experience," he said. "It's hard to put into words exactly what you learn. You know things, but it's reiterated different ways. And to be able to hang around older...

Roster cuts

March 24, 2010, 6:32am

Caleb Joseph, Miguel Abreu, Blake Davis, Matt Angle, Luis Bernardo and Michel Hernandez have been assigned to the minor league camp. They'll report on Tuesday, which means they'll simply walk to the opposite clubhouse. You don't get sent down anymore. You get sent over. Hernandez can't play anyway because of a fractured right index finger. Brian Roberts took regular batting practice from the left and right side today "with no problems," manager Dave Trembley said. Asked if there's a...

Phillies lineup

March 24, 2010, 6:30am

It's raining hard and the tarp's on the field. If this game is cancelled, the Orioles will probably use tomorrow's scheduled day off to play an intrasquad game. And my tears will fall like these raindrops. Here's the Phillies lineup: Jimmy Rollins SS Placido Polanco 3B Chase Utley 2B Ryan Howard 1B Jayson Werth RF Raul Ibanez LF Dewayne Wise CF Paul Hoover C Jamie Moyer LHP

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opening day oriole bird

Talking about the rotation

March 24, 2010, 6:29am

We tried to get manager Dave Trembley to reveal his rotation this morning, but he wouldn't bite. He's not ready to confirm whether Kevin Millwood is the Opening Day starter, though you can bet on it, or where the pitchers will be slotted. Trembley didn't look up Millwood's spring stats from past years. He'll take the right-hander's word that the numbers are poor. So what does Trembley look for during Millwood's starts? "Finish on his pitches and location," he said. "Life on his...

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Dave Trembley

More Trembley unplugged

March 24, 2010, 6:28am

No matter what numbers Kevin Millwood posts this spring, he's made a favorable impression on manager Dave Trembley. "He wants no special privileges," Trembley said. "He rides the bus, he sits in the first seat, he's the first guy in every drill, he stays and watches the game, he's the first guy out for the national anthem. He's worked for everything he's got. Nothing has been given to him. He appreciates every day he's been in the big leagues. "We were talking in the dugout. He told...

Play ball

March 24, 2010, 6:24am

We're a few minutes away from the first pitch. Nothing wrong with starting two hours late. I'm told that Cole Hamels was supposed to pitch in a B game today, but the rain forced its cancellation. He'll follow Jamie Moyer to the mound in the regular game. Trembley met with closer Mike Gonzalez last week to make sure he could count on the left-hander for Opening Day. "I said, 'Hey, I need to know that when I go to bed at night, I'm going to sleep a little bit better knowing that...

Millwood on the mound (part 2)

March 24, 2010, 6:23am

Kevin Millwood fell behind 2-0 to leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins and gave up a double to right-center field. He got a strike on Placido Polanco and gave up a single into center field. Polanco took third when Adam Jones' throw deflected off Garrett Atkins' glove. Was it too late for a rainout? Chase Utley struck out on three pitches. Ryan Howard struck out looking with the count full. Jayson Werth flied to center with the count full. It wasn't too late for a rapid recovery. Millwood threw...