Roch Kubatko

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....

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Mike Hinkley Orioles Spring Training

No defense for that inning

March 24, 2010, 12:47pm

Orioles

The Black Team committed three straight errors in the bottom of the third inning with Luis Lebron on the mound. Luis Bernardo struck out looking to begin the inning. Felix Pie reached on an infield hit and took second on Robert Andino's errant throw. Blake Davis made a high throw that allowed Cesar Izturis to reach, and Ty Wigginton botched Miguel Tejada's bouncer as Pie scored. Craig Tatum, pinch-hitting for Matt Wieters, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Wilfrido Perez retired all three...

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Orioles Spring Training orioles cook-off

Ugly fourth inning

March 24, 2010, 12:46pm

Orioles

It's a good thing this is an intrasquad game and not the home opener against Toronto. The Orioles halted the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs because Troy Patton reached his pitch limit. Rhyne Hughes had a two-run single, Pedro Florimon had an RBI single and Craig Tatum increased the Orange Team's lead to 5-2 with a sacrifice fly. We have two more errors on the board for the Black Team, giving them five for the day. Right fielder Jonathan Tucker dropped a fly ball near the line,...

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Orioles Spring Training luke scott orioles cook-off

Tillman talks about his outing

March 24, 2010, 12:46pm

Orioles

The Black Team's Robert Andino hit a two-run homer off Josh Perrault in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game, 5-5. Chorye Spoone gave up a run in the fifth, reducing the Orange Team's lead to 5-3, but I was in the clubhouse and nobody is keeping a scorebook on an intrasquad game, so I can't pass along any details. Here's what Chris Tillman said about his scoreless inning: "I felt great. As I was warming up, I thought, 'Yeah, this feels real good.' I would have liked to throw a...

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Chris Tillman Orioles Spring Training

Rays lineup

March 24, 2010, 12:16pm

I made it to Charlotte Sports Park, but not before detouring through half the state because of an accident or some really intrusive construction. Here's the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup: Gabe Kapler RF Carl Crawford LF Evan Longoria 3B Carlos Pena 1B Pat Burrell DH Sean Rodriguez SS Kelly Shoppach C Reid Brignac 2B Fernando Perez CF Jeff Niemann RHP

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Tampa Bay Rays Matt Wieters

Pie says he's OK (updated twice)

March 24, 2010, 11:54am

The lineup that's posted in the clubhouse has Robert Andino playing shortstop, but the sheet that's been distributed lists Cesar Izturis. More on that later. Update: Izturis has been scratched with the flu. Felix Pie expects to start tomorrow's game against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland after "stretching" his quad yesterday while legging out a triple. "It's good," he said. "I'm ready to go." Pie admitted that he was "a little scared," but that feeling has passed. "I'm not...

Quick updates (updated)

March 24, 2010, 11:53am

Cesar Izturis was sent back to the team hotel because of a sore throat. Blake Davis has replaced Justin Turner at second base. Turner took a line drive off his foot during batting practice, but he could enter the game later tonight. Brad Bergesen threw another live batting practice session, and has one more scheduled for Sunday. If he continues to feel good, he could start Wednesday's game. Chris George, slowed by a sore hamstring, also threw live BP. Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie took...

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Adam Jones Corey Patterson Nick Markakis

Turner update

March 24, 2010, 11:50am

X-rays taken on Justin Turner's left foot were negative, and he's listed as day-to-day like the rest of us. Turner's injury is classified as a left foot contusion. You can call it a bruise if you prefer.

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Alfredo Simon

Leftover Trembley

March 24, 2010, 11:49am

On how he's privately and publicly criticized Matt Albers' conditioning: "I would just say I've been critical (laughing). Whether it's public or private, I've been critical. Let's not sugarcoat it." More on Albers: "What I'm more concerned about with Albers, and it's just like everybody else, pound the strike zone with the fastball, rediscover your sinker and get people out. That's what he needs to do. What I think he's doing is he's going to the curveball instead of a slider, or...