Wada day (with Orioles lineup)

Wada day (with Orioles lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles haven't posted their lineup for today's game against the State College of Florida. I guess there's no rush on the final day of spring training. They didn't take the field for the pregame stretch until 10:30 a.m. and the clubhouse closed to the media more than an hour ago, which meant one more breakfast at the 12th St. Cafe. It's my second one of the day, but who's counting? Jason Hammel will oppose Tsuyoshi Wada today, as the Orioles supply pitching for...

Talking predictions and prospects

Talking predictions and prospects
It is time for your official predictions for the Orioles for the 2012 season. Post them here and we will revisit this many months from now in the winter. I said I would do that last winter, but this time I really mean it. I'm going with 75 wins. The offense was just about league average last year. If Nolan Reimold and Chris Davis produce some numbers, they could improve a tick or two on that. If he's healthy and stays that way, I see Jim Johnson having a very good year as closer. They...

Shorebirds announce current roster

Shorebirds announce current roster
Here is a press release from the Delmarva Shorebirds: Salisbury, Md. - In conjunction with the Baltimore Orioles, the Delmarva Shorebirds are excited to release the "Break Camp Roster" for the 2012 season. Headlining the roster is Dylan Bundy, the Orioles first round selection in 2011, and the top overall prospect in the farm system according to Baseball America. The Shorebirds roster features four of the top ten prospects in the system according to Baseball America; RHP Dylan Bundy (#1),...

Johnson on Johnson (O's win 14-1)

Johnson on Johnson (O's win 14-1)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jim Johnson kept hearing all winter how he'd make a start in spring training. It just took until the next-to-last game in Florida for it to happen. Johnson pitched the first inning tonight and retired all three Florida Southern batters that he faced, striking out two of them. "Everything's fine," he said. "I had to stay on a schedule. I'm not going to be on a mound the next two days." That's because Johnson will be with his wife, Elizabeth, when doctors induce labor...

Hearing from Showalter and Arrieta

Hearing from Showalter and Arrieta
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter called Jake Arrieta into his office today with news that the right-hander would start the April 6 opener against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. Arrieta had a pretty good idea that Showalter was informing the pitchers of their slots in the rotation. And now everyone knows. "Jake will pitch on that day and we will go from there," Showalter said. Arrieta, 26, went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA in 22 starts last season before undergoing surgery to remove a...

Sending Dylan Bundy to Delmarva is the right move

Sending Dylan Bundy to Delmarva is the right move
I see that several fans are expressing the opinion that the Orioles should be starting their top pitching prospect, Dylan Bundy, at Single-A Frederick and not Single-A Delmarva, where he is going to begin the season. I think the Orioles are doing exactly the right thing with Bundy in sending him to the Shorebirds right now. The fans' expectations are that Bundy will dominate from the start and blow through the South Atlantic League like a hot knife through butter. That could happen, but it...

Stay tuned for announcement on opening day starter (updated)

Stay tuned for announcement on opening day starter (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will reveal his opening day starter before tonight's game against Florida Southern. Initially, Showalter told reporters that he'd wait until after the game, but he relented and promised to tell us sooner so we can interview the pitcher. Jason Hammel apparently will pitch the third game on Sunday, but that's not official. The rotation could be adjusted. Don't write down anything in permanent marker. Reliever Matt Lindstrom's right hamstring...

Still feeling discomfort, Dan Klein is scheduled to see shoulder specialist

Still feeling discomfort, Dan Klein is scheduled to see shoulder specialist
Dan Klein, the Orioles' third-round draft pick in 2010 out of UCLA and a pitcher the team had high hopes for, will see shoulder specialist Dr. Craig Morgan on April 13. Klein had shoulder surgery last Aug. 16 and had still been experiencing some discomfort at camp at Twin Lakes Park. Klein was able to do some light throwing during camp, but when he extended the distance and velocity he began to feel the discomfort, according to a club official. Dr. Morgan is the same doctor that recently...

Will a pitcher's mound be in Rowell's future?

Will a pitcher's mound be in Rowell's future?
Although no one will say much about it, it appears the Orioles have asked Billy Rowell, their first-round draft pick in 2006, to consider converting from a position player to a pitcher. Rowell was drafted as an infielder and has played at first base, third base and right field in the minors. But after producing some solid offensive numbers very early in his career, he has struggled at bat since and has not lived up to the promise of a first-round pick. After spending three seasons in A-ball,...

Simon still in holding pattern (with tonight's starter)

Simon still in holding pattern (with tonight's starter)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are preparing for tonight's game against Florida Southern at Ed Smith Stadium, and I'm guessing that we'll have a lot of first-pitch swinging. Alfredo Simon won't be part of it. He's already left the complex carrying his equipment bag, still uncertain where he'll be unpacking it. The Orioles placed Simon on waivers Friday, so it shouldn't be much longer before the right-hander learns his fate. "I don't know nothing yet," he said. "I'm thinking maybe...

Orioles announce opening day plans for 20th anniversary season of Camden Yards

Orioles announce opening day plans for 20th anniversary season of Camden Yards
The Orioles have announced plans for the first game of their 59th season and the 20th anniversary celebration of Oriole Park at Camden Yards - The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball. The team will face the Minnesota Twins on Friday, April 6, at 3:05 p.m., 20 years to the day that Camden Yards hosted its first regular season game in 1992. Pregame fun around the Yard To allow fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of opening day, the entire ballpark will open at noon on Friday....

Sutcliffe-Hoiles battery returns for 20th anniversary of Camden Yards

Sutcliffe-Hoiles battery returns for 20th anniversary of Camden Yards
When the Orioles open the 2012 season Friday against the Twins - and begin a season-long celebration of the 20th anniversary of Camden Yards - they'll turn back the clock to 1992 for the ceremonial first pitch. Rick Sutcliffe and Chris Hoiles, who were the pitcher and catcher during the ballpark's debut two decades ago, will reprise their role as battery mates for Friday's festivities. Sutcliffe, you'll remember, threw a five-hit shutout against the Indians on April 6, 1992 in the first...

And down the stretch we come ... (updated)

And down the stretch we come ... (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - I always know we're nearing the end of spring training when I buy a case of bottled waters and immediately stress over the possibility that I won't have enough time to drink all of it before boarding my flight to Baltimore. Two days and 17 bottles left. Unless I'm confronted with a major thirst, I don't like my chances. The four Myoplex french vanilla protein shakes, the two yogurts, the one bag of frozen Brussels sprouts and the half an avocado are going down. Just not...

Flashback: Spring training, Thomasville, Ga., and the "Oriole Way"

Flashback: Spring training, Thomasville, Ga., and the "Oriole Way"
One of the major benefits to the Orioles' move to Sarasota, Fla., from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., three years ago was the shortening of the distance between the club's major and minor league spring facilities. Even though the O's big league camp had been at Fort Lauderdale Stadium from 1996-2009, the minor leaguers remained at least a three-hour drive away at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, making it difficult to get pitchers extra innings against farmhands or for a major league manager to easily...

Hunter on Hunter

Hunter on Hunter
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles hit four home runs today and still lost to the Rays, 8-5, at Ed Smith Stadium. J.J. Hardy homered twice. Nick Johnson and Nick Markakis also connected. The last three homers came against Rays reliever Matt Torra. I'll pass along manager Buck Showalter's quotes a little later, including how he confirmed that Wei-Yin Chen is in the rotation. He also mentioned that Alfredo Simon didn't pitch in a minor league game today. It was the club's decision and it wasn't...

A little Chen music

A little Chen music
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen said he mostly threw fastballs in today's start against the Rays. The Rays didn't miss many of them. "They're a great team," Chen said through his interpreter after giving up three home runs in five innings and allowing seven runs total (three earned). "They have great hitters and they hit me well with my fastball." Chen said he was making adjustments with pitching coach Rick Adair. "the first inning I was still getting a feeling and in the last three...

Chen's tuneup a clanker (updated)

Chen's tuneup a clanker (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen faced his third division opponent of the spring today, and he learned that the Rays' lineup can be dangerous from top to bottom. Tampa Bay outfielder Desmond Jennings had no homers and one RBI before today, when he launched a solo shot in the third inning and a grand slam in the fourth. Evan Longoria also homered leading off the fifth, Chen's final inning of the day. Update: Jennings hit his third home run, a solo shot off Kevin Gregg in the top of the seventh....

Wheeler on Wheeler

Wheeler on Wheeler
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zelous Wheeler is still adjusting his body clock after going from Arizona to Florida for spring training. Nothing to be alarmed about. The Orioles claimed Wheeler off waivers from the Brewers on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk, but he'll stay with the team through Wednesday's exhibition game against the Tides. "It's been kind of crazy," he said. "I got in last night. Everything's fine. Just trying to get used to the time. It's three hours behind here....

Lindstrom has successful minor league start

Lindstrom has successful minor league start
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Lindstrom just returned to the Ed Smith Stadium complex after starting a 10 a.m. game against the Orioles' Triple-A team at Twin Lakes Park. Lindstrom faced four batters and struck out two of them, including third baseman Josh Bell on a backdoor slider after getting ahead in the count with his splitter. He also induced a ground ball and a fly ball. "The first three got themselves out pretty quick," Lindstrom said. Lindstrom said he used all of his pitches and didn't...

Machado, Schoop assigned to Double-A Bowie

Machado, Schoop assigned to Double-A Bowie
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are in the process of setting their minor league rosters. More tweaking is likely as players in major league camp are reassigned and others in the system are released. At this moment, the Orioles have assigned top position prospects Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop to Double-A Bowie, and No. 1 overall prospect Dylan Bundy to low Single-A Delmarva. Bundy's current assignment isn't a surprise. It's been speculated for months that he'd debut with the Shorebirds....