Orioles option three players and reassign five

Orioles option three players and reassign five
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made their first round of cuts today, reducing their camp roster by eight players and leaving them with 49. The Orioles optioned infielders Ryan Adams and Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk, and pitcher Dylan Bundy to Single-A Delmarva. Also, outfielders Xavier Avery and LJ Hoes, catchers Michael Ohlman and Brian Ward, and pitcher Steve Johnson were reassigned to minor league camp because they're not on the 40-man roster. You're optioned if you're on the 40-man,...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jai Miller is starting in center field today for the Orioles, which is a switch. He's been a corner outfielder. Also, Wei-Yin Chen gets the start against the Blue Jays, a decision that manager Buck Showalter confirmed after yesterday's game. And John Hester is behind the plate again today instead of Taylor Teagarden, who's been receiving treatment for lower back stiffness. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF Robert Andino 2B Nick Johnson DH Joe Mahoney 1B Jai Miller CF Ryan...

O's trim roster by eight

O's trim roster by eight
The Orioles today announced eight spring training roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 49 players. The Orioles optioned infielders Ryan Adams and Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk. Right-hander Dylan Bundy has been optioned to Single-A Delmarva. Outfielders Xavier Avery and LJ Hoes, catchers Michael Ohlman and Brian Ward, and right-hander Steve Johnson have been reassigned to minor league camp.

A few comments from Showalter after 6-1 loss

A few comments from Showalter after 6-1 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm still waiting for the Orioles to send out the names of the players who were involved in the first round of cuts. There won't be any major surprises. Maybe one name will make you say, "Wow, already?" But I'll wait until it's official. So what did manager Buck Showalter think of left-hander Dana Eveland today? "You can see why he's had some success, but as you move up levels, there's a fine line," Showalter said. "He does things that allowed him to have success...

B game, Reimold, Wada, Wieters, etc. (corrected)

B game, Reimold, Wada, Wieters, etc. (corrected)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tommy Hunter went three innings and recorded 13 outs in today's B game against the Red Sox on the Camden Yards field. The Orioles want to increase his pitch count, so they kept him on the mound for the extra batters. Hunter threw 42 pitches. He gave up two hits, though the second one came after he had retired the first three batters. Kevin Gregg threw 15 pitches in the fourth and gave up a solo homer to Juan Carlos Linares. He struck out one batter. Linares glanced back at...

O'Day scratched, five cuts confirmed

O'Day scratched, five cuts confirmed
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Darren O'Day was supposed to pitch the ninth inning today, but he was scratched because of some tightness in his groin. Oliver Drake worked the ninth and gave up a run in a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox. The Orioles were held to three hits, including Steve Tolleson's leadoff double in the ninth. Tolleson was thrown out at the plate to end the game. He briefly disputed the call. As for O'Day, he said the discomfort surfaced while he was warming up in the...

Eveland's assessment of himself today: "Not very good"

Eveland's assessment of himself today: "Not very good"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Dana Eveland was charged with only one earned run in two innings today. A run wouldn't have scored in the first if he gloved Ryan Sweeney's comebacker with two outs. He would have been spared two unearned runs in the second if Chris Davis made a better throw to second base. None of that mattered to Eveland, who allowed six hits and fell behind too many batters. He didn't try to put a positive spin on his outing, much to his credit. "Not very good," he...

Some impressions from the early games (updated with contract signings)

Some impressions from the early games (updated with contract signings)
As we near the end of the first week of exhibition games, here are some very early impressions of what we've seen and heard so far from Florida: * Jake Arrieta certainly had a dominant outing Friday against Tampa Bay, pitching two scoreless innings where the Rays didn't get a ball out of the infield. He was hitting 97 mph on the stadium radar gun. Heck, that's Dylan Bundy territory. Whether that gun was a tick or two fast or not, what was most encouraging is that Arrieta is pitching...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing two games today. Here are the lineups for the "real" one that begins at 1:05 p.m. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Wilson Betemit LF Chris Davis 1B Jai Miller RF Ryan Adams DH Dana Eveland LHP For the Red Sox: Spears 3B Pedroia 2B Ellsbury CF Ortiz DH Sweeney RF Aviles SS Ross LF Shoppach C Anderson 1B Lester LHP Lester is 14-0 lifetime against the Orioles. The numbers won't be adjusted...

O's complete 2012 contract signings

O's complete 2012 contract signings
The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with 17 players on one-year contracts. The list of players signed includes Ryan Adams, Jake Arrieta, Josh Bell, Jason Berken, Zach Britton, Chris Davis, Oliver Drake, Ryan Flaherty, Tommy Hunter, Joe Mahoney, Troy Patton, Zach Phillips, Nolan Reimold, Alfredo Simon, Pedro Strop, Taylor Teagarden and Chris Tillman. Additionally, the Orioles renewed the contract of catcher Matt Wieters.

Hearing from Matusz, Davis and Wieters

Hearing from Matusz, Davis and Wieters
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Many scouts had Brian Matusz's fastball in the 90-91 mph range today, but at least one scout clocked him at 93-94 mph. I guess it depends on the gun. "I didn't know that," he said, his eyes widening and a smile creasing his face. "I felt like it was coming out pretty good. I wasn't sure exactly how hard it was, but it felt like it was coming out effortlessly. Nice explosion." Matusz shut out the Phillies on three hits over four innings, with no walks and four...

Reimold and Teagarden updates (and Phillies lineup)

Reimold and Teagarden updates (and Phillies lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold has so much swelling on the left side of his face, it looks like he stuffed a grapefruit in his jaw or went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. Reimold is fine besides the swelling and a chipped tooth in the back of his mouth. The Alex Cobb fastball that drilled him in the face yesterday didn't break any bones. And much to Reimold's relief, he didn't lose any teeth, which seemed to be his primary concern. "I feel pretty good besides being swollen up," he said....

Matusz goes four scoreless, Davis homers

Matusz goes four scoreless, Davis homers
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Brian Matusz turned in an impressive outing today against the Phillies, blanking them on three hits over four innings and striking out four batters - including Jim Thome and Hunter Pence to end the fourth. We assumed that Matusz was done after three innings and 37 pitches, including 25 for strikes, but he returned for the bottom of the fourth. Didn't see that coming. The hardest-hit balls came from Thome on a long fly to right-center field in the second and Shane Victorino...

Reimold, Paulino, the B game and more

Reimold, Paulino, the B game and more
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Nolan Reimold has a dentist appointment Monday and could return to the lineup Tuesday. Showalter contemplated putting Reimold in the lineup for Sunday's B game, but decided against it. He won't take Reimold to Dunedin on Monday. Life is a little crazy for Reimold right now. His wife is due with their second child next week. Catcher Ronny Paulino passed his physical this morning and worked out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex....

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
SARASOTA, Fla. - We're on the road again, this time making the drive to Clearwater for today's game against the Phillies. Nolan Reimold just walked into the clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium. He was smiling and appears to be fine, but I'll attempt to talk to him before leaving the complex. For the Orioles: Ryan Flaherty SS Wilson Betemit 3B Nick Johnson DH Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Jai Miller RF Joe Mahoney LF Matt Antonelli 2B Xavier Avery CF Brian Matusz LHP

Reimold's CT scan negative

Reimold's CT scan negative
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The best news to come out of today's 3-3 tie reached us after the final out, when manager Buck Showalter informed reporters that Nolan Reimold's CT scan didn't reveal any broken bones in his face. Reimold is bruised and he has a loose tooth. That's apparently the extent of the damage from an Alex Cobb fastball that nailed him on the left side of his face. "The lowlight was Nolan getting hit and the highlight was finding out that he didn't have a break, and I...

Arrieta: "I've really never felt this good" (updated twice)

Arrieta: "I've really never felt this good" (updated twice)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Seven months after having a bone spur removed from his right elbow, Jake Arrieta says he's never felt better. The results today backed up that claim. Arrieta didn't allow a ball out of the infield in two innings and topped out at 97 mph multiple times. He walked one batter, struck out one and threw 17 of his 24 pitches for strikes. "I'm very happy," he said. "That's really the best I've felt, not only this year in spring training, but I think in my professional...

Showalter speaks after 3-3 tie

Showalter speaks after 3-3 tie
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Rays rallied in the bottom of the 10th against Steve Johnson, getting singles from Hak-Ju Lee and Chris Gimenez to put runners on first and second with one out. But Johnson struck out the next two batters, including Stephen Vogt to end the game. Vogt's at-bat lasted eight pitches, which were clocked at 67, 90, 88, 76, 68, 91, 90 and 77 mph. Jake Arrieta was outstanding, as you've read in previous entries today. "Jake threw the ball well," manager Buck...

Reimold hit in face by pitch (Arrieta and Reimold updates)

Reimold hit in face by pitch (Arrieta and Reimold updates)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was hit on the left side of his face by a pitch from Rays starter Alex Cobb in the top of the first inning. Reimold grabbed his head and fell to the ground. He laid on his stomach as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter rushed on the field. Reimold stayed down for several minutes before finally sitting up. He stood up under his own power and didn't appear to be bleeding, and he rode on the back of a cart to...

What could go right or wrong during the 2012 season?

What could go right or wrong during the 2012 season?
Trying to predict how many games the Orioles will win this year is a dicey proposition. If some of their young players take steps forward and the team has a healthy year, maybe they approach or even better a .500 mark. But if some of the opposite occurs and the team once again gets overwhelmed by its American League East rivals, the 2012 Orioles could approach or reach 100 losses. That seems to be a big swing from the most optimistic outlook to the most dire. By the way, just twice in club...