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No need to fret over Reynolds' strikeouts in 2011

March 23, 2011, 4:56am

Orioles

No need to fret over Reynolds' strikeouts in 2011

One player that I predict will be much-discussed by fans this year is O's third baseman Mark Reynolds. If he gets off to a slow start with the strikeouts mounting, I can see fans getting frustrated. Not Garrett Atkins type frustrated, but still agitated. There is no doubt in my mind that Reynolds' high number of strikeouts is going to bother some fans. There is also no doubt that Reynolds will have a lot of strikeouts. He has averaged 213 strikeouts over the last three years. He won't...

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Showalter and more Britton

March 22, 2011, 12:09pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles defeated the Yankees, 6-2, before 8,347 at Ed Smith Stadium. Would be much nicer if it happened at Camden Yards with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano in the Yankees' lineup, but a win is a win. Manager Buck Showalter will decide tomorrow afternoon whether Derrek Lee is making the trip to Fort Myers for the night game against the Twins. If Lee goes, he'll play first base. Lee didn't run full-speed to first base on a grounder to short, but he was...

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Quick note on Britton (updated twice)

March 22, 2011, 9:34am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton has extended his scoreless-innings streak to 11 today by blanking the Yankees over the first two. He allowed back-to-back singles in the second inning, one off a broken bat, but retired the next two batters on ground balls. Britton's fastball is registering 96 mph on the stadium gun. Not sure how accurate it is, but that's what it says on the scoreboard. You can tack on five more scoreless innings for Britton if you include a minor league game,...

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Updating Duchscherer and Harris

March 22, 2011, 8:16am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's a scorcher here today at Ed Smith Stadium. I'm looking for the sunscreen vendor. The Orioles don't need a fifth starter until April 10, which has become a target date for Justin Duchscherer. Duchscherer has pitched in only one game this spring, totaling two innings in Clearwater, because of stiffness in his left hip. He threw from 120 feet again today and is scheduled for a bullpen session tomorrow. "Everything's good," he said. "It's more flexibility than...

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Gregg and Uehara pitch at Twins Lakes

March 22, 2011, 9:16am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg faced five batters today in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park. He allowed two hits struck out two and hit a batter. He threw 23 pitches, 16 for strikes. "I felt good today," Gregg said. "I got my mechanics back to where they need to be." Koji Uehara, pitching in his first game since the Feb. 28 opener in Bradenton, threw 11 of his 12 pitches for strikes and fanned one in one inning. "Physically, I felt real good. The elbow felt good," he said through...

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Tillman update, Hardy homers (updated twice)

March 22, 2011, 10:21am

Orioles

Tillman update, Hardy homers (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman worked six innings today in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park. Facing a collection of Red Sox Triple-A hitters, Tillman allowed one earned run and seven hits, and struck out four. Tillman faced extra hitters in two innings, allowing him to increase his pitch count and record 22 outs. Tillman and Zach Britton, who's allowed one run and five hits to the Yankees over four innings, are trying to avoid assignments to Triple-A Norfolk. Britton has thrown 67...

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Pregame Showalter

March 22, 2011, 9:05am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wrote out two lineups for today's game - one with Derrek Lee and one without him. He decided to list Vladimir Guerrero as the designated hitter and bring Lee off the bench. Lee continues to receive treatment on his left foot after fouling a ball off it during Sunday's game against the Phillies. "I didn't want to put him on the field with that today," Showalter said. "It feels good. He'd play during the season if he had to, but I didn't...

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In search of a 20-game winner

March 21, 2011, 7:20pm

Orioles

I am not necessarily looking to confuse my readers, but now that I wrote in yesterday's blog that a starting pitcher's win total is no way to tell us if that pitcher is any good, let's talk about wins. I'm wondering where all the 20-game winners have gone? The Orioles haven't had one since Mike Boddicker went 20-11 in 1984. From 1968 through 1980, the O's had at least one 20-game winner every year. In 1971, they had four 20-game winners in Jim Palmer, Pat Dobson, Mike Cuellar and Dave...

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Lee will come off bench today (updated)

March 22, 2011, 6:58am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee isn't in today's lineup, but we're told that he'll replace Vladimir Guerrero as the designated hitter later in the game For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Matt Wieters C Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B J.J Hardy SS Jake Fox 1B Zach Britton LHP Update: Justin Duchscherer threw off flat ground again today and is scheduled for a bullpen session tomorrow. He's aiming to pitch on April 10, when the Orioles need...

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Guthrie talks about his day

March 21, 2011, 8:57am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie wanted to increase his pitch count, work on his stuff and maintain it through six innings. He had a productive day. Guthrie, expected to take the ball for the April 1 opener, allowed one run and recorded 20 outs over six innings against a Twins Triple-A team. "I enjoyed building up again and trying to get six innings, which we did. I was working on the execution of pitches, working on a couple of sequences," he said. "I felt a lot better today. I felt...

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Guthrie goes six

March 21, 2011, 8:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie threw six innings in today's game against the Twins' Triple-A team at Ed Smith Stadium. He recorded 20 outs after facing an extra batter in the second and third innings to increase his pitch count. The rules are relaxed on these days. Guthrie allowed one run and four hits, walked none and struck out four. He threw 82 pitches, 56 for strikes. The run scored in the second inning on a one-out double by Erik Lis and a two-out single by Dustin Martin. Ryan Adams...

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Off-day? What off-day?

March 21, 2011, 4:49am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ignore the spring training schedule. Specifically, the word "off" next to today's date. Camp is still open for business. Manager Buck Showalter arranged to have Triple-A and Double-A games played at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, so minor leaguers are heading over from Twin Lakes Park. Jeremy Guthrie will pitch in one of the 11 a.m. games to remain on his regular schedule. That's why the media, which normally finds something else to do on this day, will be charting his...

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Lee unsure about today (with Yankees lineup)

March 22, 2011, 5:00am

Orioles

Lee unsure about today (with Yankees lineup)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter will wait to determine first baseman Derrek Lee's status before posting today's lineup. Lee is hoping to play against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium, but he'll do some running first to test his left foot. He'll aim for tomorrow if he's still experiencing some discomfort. Lee fouled a ball off his foot Sunday on the first pitch he saw from Cole Hamels in his first exhibition game. "It's feeling good," he said. "I'll test it out today and...

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What stats should we use to rate a starting pitcher?

March 20, 2011, 8:35pm

Orioles

What stats should we use to rate a starting pitcher?

When I was hosting a radio sports show about a week ago on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, a caller came on to say how mediocre he thought Jeremy Guthrie was and that his lack of wins proved that fact. Guthrie went 11-14 with an ERA of 3.83 over 32 starts in 2010. My argument was then, and often is about starting pitchers, that the win category is pretty much the last stat you should look at to rate a pitcher. It is one stat almost out of their control. What if the team doesn't score any runs...

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Orioles reassign Wynn Pelzer

March 21, 2011, 8:02am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced they have assigned RHP WYNN PELZER to minor league camp. With the move, the Orioles now have 40 players remaining in camp.

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Orioles trim spring roster by four

March 21, 2011, 7:59am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced four roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 41 players. The Orioles optioned OF MATT ANGLE and INF BRANDON SNYDER to Triple-A Norfolk and sent INF RYAN ADAMS and RHP ARMANDO GABINO to minor league camp.

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Mike Bordick elected to Orioles Hall of Fame

March 21, 2011, 7:57am

Orioles

Former Orioles shortstop and current minor league instructor Mike Bordick has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame, the team announced today. Head Athletic Trainer Richie Bancells is this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. Bordick spent six seasons with the Orioles from 1997-2002. He has the third-highest fielding percentage (.982) among shortstops with at least 1,000 games played in major league history, trailing only Omar Vizquel (.985) and Jimmy Rollins (.983). As a member of the...

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Orioles Reach food drive to be held next Sunday, March 27, at Ed Smith Stadium

March 21, 2011, 7:55am

Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles, their community outreach program, OriolesREACH, and SNN Local News 6 will partner to fight hunger in the Sarasota area with a food drive next Sunday, March 27, at Ed Smith Stadium. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items or a cash donation to that day's 1:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox. All donations will benefit the All Faiths Food Bank of Sarasota. The first 500 fans who donate at least three canned goods or $5.00 will receive an autographed...

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Green delivers in clutch, Orioles win 9-8

March 20, 2011, 12:26pm

Orioles

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Have yourself a day, Nick Green. Green, who was 3-for-27 with two RBIs and 13 strikeouts before today, lined a two-out, two-run single into center field in the ninth inning to give the Orioles a 9-8 victory over the Rays. Mike Ballard threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Brendan Harris and Xavier Avery singled, and Josh Bell walked to load the bases for Green. Manager Buck Showalter did the usual drill after the game, meeting with reporters on the field...

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Roberts' next game on Tuesday

March 20, 2011, 11:21am

Orioles

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts confirmed that his next start will come Tuesday against the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Roberts won't play in tomorrow's minor league games after going 0-for-2 with a walk and strikeout this afternoon. Roberts hadn't been in the lineup since March 7, also against the Yankees. "Better than sitting on the sidelines," he said. "It was a beautiful day, good atmosphere. It was fun to get out there and play." Roberts...