SARASOTA, Fla. - Senior citizens were invited to run the bases after today's 7-4 loss to the Blue Jays.
Brady Anderson walked past me on the field and asked whether I was going to run.
Ouch.
Manager Buck Showalter basically has two decisions remaining before the Orioles break camp and head to St. Petersburg for Thursday's workout.
Showalter must decide whether Chris Tillman or Brad Bergesen makes Sunday's start at Tropicana Field. But he'll also need to know whether Bergesen or...
The Orioles have announced plans for the first home game of their 58th season and their 20th year at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The team will face the Detroit Tigers on Monday, April 4, at 3:05 p.m.
PRE-GAME FUN AROUND THE YARD
To allow fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of Opening Day, the entire ballpark will open at noon on Monday. Each fan will receive a 2011 schedule/car magnet, courtesy of Brothers Services Company, at the gates. Roving musical groups will entertain...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton said he wasn't surprised when he was called into manager Buck Showalter's office and told that he had been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
"Right when they called me in, I figured, 'Hey you were either making the team or not making the team.' I was leaning toward not making the team, so I expected it," he said.
What will he take away from camp?
"Just the experience and getting to know the guys," Britton said. "Whenever I get up there, it will be nice to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Josh Rupe gave up his first two earned runs of the spring in the seventh inning, and the Blue Jays took a 5-4 lead.
Former Orioles farmhand Mike McCoy drove in the go-ahead run.
Robert Andino made a dazzling play at second base, backhanding a ball in front of the bag and making an off-balance throw as his momentum carried him toward shortstop. First baseman Tyler Townsend dug the ball out of the dirt for the out.
Former Oriole Adam Loewen pinch-ran in the eighth and scored...
As the Orioles prepare to celebrate their 20th season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2011, the ballpark has undergone numerous renovations designed to keep the facility at the top of its class, while also preserving the iconic look and feel that made the ballpark the standard-bearer for the 20 major league ballparks that have opened since that time.
Renovations primarily focused on the seating bowl, club level, lower concourse and concessions areas.
SEATING BOWL
This past off-season,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - My eyes weren't deceiving me. Blue Jays manager John Farrell ordered an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero in the fourth inning with runners on second and third and two outs.
In a spring training game.
Luke Scott was robbed of a hit on a diving stop by second baseman Aaron Hill.
Michael Gonzalez struck out two in a scoreless fourth inning, throwing six of 11 pitches for strikes. Kevin Gregg walked a batter and struck out one in the fifth, throwing seven of 15 for...
After an absence of more than 15 years, National Bohemian beer will return to Camden Yards for 2011, the Orioles and Pabst Brewing Company announced today. The partnership includes a branded Natty Boh Bar on the first base side of the lower concourse and a new Natty Boh Brat, a bratwurst sandwich featuring Baltimore's own Roma Sausage infused with the taste of National Bohemian beer, sold during home games.
Natty Boh will be served on draft at several locations throughout the stadium and will...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee picked up his first RBI of the spring, in the final exhibition game. He lined a single into center field off Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil (Maryland) with two outs in the second inning to score Brian Roberts and give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.
Matt Wieters doubled to score Adam Jones, who reached on a bunt single, and he came home on Brian Roberts' double. Nick Markakis walked before Lee stepped to the plate.
Koji Uehara struck out two batters in a perfect...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make three more cuts after batting practice, though they could adjust the roster if Brad Bergesen experiences a setback tomorrow.
Bergesen and Jake Arrieta will face minor league hitters tomorrow at Ed Smith Stadium. Bergesen could get Sunday's start against the Rays at Tropicana Field if he makes it through the game without a hitch.
Backup catcher Craig Tatum will leave the team tomorrow to be with his wife for the birth of their child on Thursday. Tatum is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Another domino fell in Orioles camp today when they placed pitcher Justin Duchscherer on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hip.
We knew it was coming. Now it's official.
Duchscherer threw two innings in yesterday's simulated game against six minor league hitters.
The Orioles are hoping that he'll be ready to pitch on April 21 against the Twins at Camden Yards.
Here's how the 25-man roster breaks down:
Rotation:
Jeremy Guthrie
Brian Matusz
Brad...
The Orioles today announced four roster moves, bringing their spring roster to 26 players.
The Orioles optioned left-hander Zach Britton and catcher Craig Tatum to Triple-A Norfolk and assigned infielder Brendan Harris to minor league camp.
Right-hander Justin Duchscherer was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hip.
With the moves, the Orioles have 26 players in camp including 13 pitchers (one non-roster invitee), five outfielders, six infielders and two catchers.
The...
For those watching at the time, it had to be an intriguing matchup. LJ Hoes was in the batter's box and Brian Matusz on the mound.
But then Hoes took a swing and one of the O's top prospects hit a liner that drilled one of the O's top pitchers in the left arm.
For Hoes, it was a scary moment. He didn't want his name to get in the headlines for this. He didn't want to be the guy that hit a line drive that injured Matusz.
"He was trying to get his work in," Hoes said by phone last...
SARASOTA, Fla. - So, anything going on today?
Brian Matusz has a pressure pad on his left biceps to reduce the swelling after an LJ Hoes line drive slammed off his arm during today's simulated game on Field No. 4.
Matusz was working his second inning. He was supposed to get up six or seven times to increase his pitch count, but fate intervened again.
"I was feeling good. I was starting to get in a good grove, and then L.J. came up and I threw a fastball and he hit a line drive right back...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen is receiving treatment today on his right arm, but he isn't scheduled to throw. He's supposed to pitch tomorrow.
The question is where.
Bergesen could head over to Twin Lakes Park. The Orioles could arrange an intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. We should know more later today.
Bergesen said his arm feels good after being hit Friday by a Denard Span line drive in Fort Myers. He hopes to start Sunday's game at Tropicana Field, but that decision hasn't been...
SARASOTA, Fla. - They also played a game here today.
The Orioles gave up six runs in the top of the ninth, but held on for a 14-9 win over the Tigers before 7,621, the 10th sellout at Ed Smith Stadium this spring.
Ryohei Tanaka was charged with six runs in one-third of an inning. Brandon Cooney got the last two outs, though he gave up a hit and a bases-loaded walk.
Good times.
Justin Duchscherer threw two innings in the simulated game on Field No. 4 and didn't experience any problems with...
Opening day at Camden Yards is a week away, and preparations at the ballpark continue to get it ready for the Tigers-Orioles game that will be cause for civic celebration, innovative excuses for missing school and work, and early afternoon beers at Pickles Pub. Whatever your opening day traditions are - and feel free to share them in the comments section below, where you can be part of the trial of our new commenting system - I'm sure your time-tested plans are well under way.
The MASN...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz was hit by a line drive on the left biceps in the second inning of today's simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
X-rays have not been scheduled, but the left-hander's status for the second game of the regular season against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., is unknown.
Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Matusz threw 29 pitches before being hit. The game ended after that incident.
Showalter said that Zach Britton, who is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton knows what's coming. It isn't necessarily fair, but he's heard enough chatter to know that he's going to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Britton talked about today's outing, and eventually, the likelihood that he'll begin the season in the minors.
"In the fourth inning, I was trying to do a little bit too much, but I was happy to minimize damage in both (the fourth and fifth) innings, and I think that's big, too," he said. "I thought that...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game. If so, he'll leave camp having allowed three runs in 20 official spring innings.
Britton gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings today, walking one and striking out four. The Orioles lead the Tigers, 13-2, heading to the top of the seventh inning.
Britton threw 94 pitches, 58 for strikes.
Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and Vladimir Guerrero each have three hits. Luke Scott has...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles should have their camp roster down to 27 or 28 by the end of the day, and it won't include two left-handed relief candidates.
Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada are counted among today's cuts. Hendrickson can seek a major league job and decline an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.
Those moves leave Michael Gonzalez as the only left-hander in the bullpen for the April 1 opener against the Rays.
Other cuts include David Riske, Ryan Drese, Rick VandenHurk and Nick...