orioles

Good stuff in the first (updated)

March 08, 2011, 8:27am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - I figured you could use some positive news beyond Koji Uehara being scheduled to throw on Thursday. I'm starting to feel like Debbie Downer. Jake Fox took over the team lead with six RBIs when he doubled in the first inning to score Randy Winn. Josh Bell followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead against Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. Justin Duchscherer mowed down the Phillies in the bottom of the first, retiring the three batters he faced on 10 pitches. He got...

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Check out this interview with Dave Trembley

March 08, 2011, 8:11am

Orioles

Check out this interview with Dave Trembley

When Dave Trembley was dismissed as Orioles' manager last year, a good man lost his job. I think O's fans realize that Trembley is a good guy who put everything he had into a very difficult job. I wish the guy nothing but the best in his new role with the Atlanta Braves and hope our paths cross at some point during the coming season. Feel free to check out this long interview that David Laurila did with Trembley about his time managing the Orioles. Here are some excerpts: "The first...

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Lee seeing specialist, Roberts has back spasms

March 08, 2011, 7:39am

Orioles

Lee seeing specialist, Roberts has back spasms

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter dropped a few injury nuggets on reporters as batting practice ended. I'll send quotes later. Derrek Lee is seeing a hand specialist today in Sarasota because of soreness in his right wrist area. Lee was restricted to hitting off a tee and soft toss this morning. Brian Roberts couldn't work out today because of back spasms. They apparently flared up a few days ago while he stretched, then went away. Roberts is penciled into tomorrow afternoon's...

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Fit to be tied

March 07, 2011, 5:00pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles and Yankees played to a 0-0 tie in front of 8,471, the largest baseball crowd in Ed Smith Stadium history. The Orioles pulled their goalie, but still couldn't score. Manager Buck Showalter approved of Zach Britton's outing, but noted that the left-hander needs to throw more first-pitch strikes. "That'll come," Showalter said. "Stayed off the sweet part of the bat and got a lot of ground balls. Good start for him." Showalter won't shield the minor...

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After mechanical adjustment, Steve Johnson is excited for the new season

March 08, 2011, 4:09am

Orioles

After mechanical adjustment, Steve Johnson is excited for the new season

For pitcher Steve Johnson, it had to be frustrating and confusing and a little difficult to deal with. First, he was traded to the Orioles, his hometown team as a kid from Baltimore, and that was exciting. Then, after the trade with the Dodgers, he pitched to a 2.84 ERA over seven starts with Double-A Bowie late in the 2009 season. Then he comes out in 2010, with the same club and halfway through the year is 3-6 with an ERA of 6.14 over 17 starts. "I can deal with getting hit around a...

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Orioles lineup

March 08, 2011, 5:34am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Here's the Orioles' lineup for today's game vs. the Phillies: Randy Winn CF Brendan Harris 2B Nolan Reimold LF Jake Fox DH Josh Bell 3B Brandon Snyder 1B Nick Green RF Craig Tatum C Robert Andino SS Justin Duchscherer RHP Brian Matusz, Michael Gonzalez and Jim Johnson also will pitch today.

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Injury non-updates

March 08, 2011, 3:56am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla.- It feels like I just left the Ed Smith Stadium complex about 45 minutes ago, and I'm already back here. I'll be heading to Clearwater for today's game against the Phillies. I may take a few Sun reporters with me, just for laughs. The Orioles haven't posted their lineup. Cesar Izturis won't make the trip, which must be causing the delay. He apparently rolled his ankle last night, but it's nothing serious. Justin Duchscherer and Brian Matusz are pitching today. Here's...

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Nerves? What nerves? (updated)

March 07, 2011, 2:16pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla.- Young left-hander Zach Britton looks calm and composed on the mound tonight. It doesn't matter that he's facing the Yankees before a standing-room-only crowd in a game that's airing on MASN. Britton admitted to a case of the jitters after his first appearance against the Phillies, but he mowed down the Yankees on 13 pitches in the first inning. He retired Derek Jeter on a grounder to short, Robinson Cano on a bouncer to second and Mark Teixeira on a tapper to the mound. The...

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Britton relaxed, Diaz in house

March 07, 2011, 3:39pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Cameron Diaz took her seat beside the Yankees' dugout at exactly 8:25 p.m., but who's counting? If she looks over at me one more time, I'm going to start getting uncomfortable. Kevin Gregg tossed a perfect fourth inning, striking out one. He hasn't allowed a run in three innings this spring. Jeremy Accardo survived a one-out double by Melky Mesa in the fifth and a walk to Mark Teixeira in the sixth. The Orioles have four hits, courtesy of Brian Roberts, Mark Reynolds,...

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Are the fans too hard on Jones?

March 07, 2011, 4:50am

Orioles

As we get set for our second MASNsports.com chat with fans tonight at 6 p.m at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium, I am reminded of part of the conversation there the last time. We had a question or comment from someone about Adam Jones. It probably sounded a little to the fans there like I was coming to Jones' defense, but I said that night, "Hey, Jones hit .284 last year with 19 homers. You don't just fall out of bed and do that." I was really reminded of those words reading Buck...

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VandenHurk not concerned about control

March 07, 2011, 11:06am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles lost to the Boston Red Sox, 6-5, in Fort Myers. Yamaico Navarro singled off Mark Worrell to score Oscar Tejada with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Steven Bumbry, the son of former Orioles center fielder Al Bumbry, nearly broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth with a one-out single into left field, but Daniel Nava threw out Matt Angle at the plate. Angle had reached on a bunt single to start the rally. Angle, Nolan Reimold and Cesar Izturis each had...

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Duchscherer and Matusz still ready (updated again)

March 07, 2011, 10:09am

Orioles

Duchscherer and Matusz still ready (updated again)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer is still scheduled to start tomorrow's game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. And left-hander Brian Matusz will follow. Duchscherer had his debut delayed last week by a sore left hip, but he's ready to take the ball tomorrow. "I threw BP the other day and it felt good," he said. "I'm excited. It's been a while. It's been almost a year since I pitched in the bigs. It's exciting for me. I just hope I can go out there and feel good...

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Rough first inning for Tillman (updated)

March 07, 2011, 8:36am

Orioles

Rough first inning for Tillman (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman got roughed up in the first inning today in Fort Myers, allowing three runs and four hits to fall behind 3-0 to the Boston Red Sox. Kevin Youkilis had an RBI single off Tillman, and J.D. Drew singled to drive in two more runs. Matt Angle led off the top of the first with a single and stole second. He reached third on Randy Winn's sacrifice bunt, but was stranded. Tillman hit Jason Varitek to open the second inning, but he retired the next three batters. He's...

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Higher expectations: Brian Matusz or Manny Machado?

March 04, 2011, 3:10pm

Orioles

Higher expectations: Brian Matusz or Manny Machado?

Here is an interesting question to ponder and debate. Do Orioles fans have higher expectations this season for Brian Matusz or Manny Machado? Matusz will, of course, pitch in the major leagues while Machado is set to begin his first full year in the O's minors. A lot is expected from both. Each are among the biggest stars currently in this organization. Matusz showed perhaps a glimpse of his future in his final eight starts last season when he went 6-0 with an ERA of 1.57. The club went 8-0...

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Showalter rushes to Jones' defense (updated)

March 06, 2011, 8:29am

Orioles

Showalter rushes to Jones' defense (updated)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins used a two-out double by Danny Valencia and a soft single to center field by Luke Hughes to take a 1-0 lead against Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes. On consecutive plays in the first inning, Josh Bell made a nice stop on a sharp ground ball at first base and dug out a low throw from shortstop Cesar Izturis. Jake Fox just led off the top of the second inning by singling to right field after falling behind, 0-2, in the count. Felix Pie...

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Working on their night moves (updated)

March 07, 2011, 4:00am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play under the lights tonight at the new Ed Smith Stadium. They'll also play under a blue sky this afternoon in Fort Myers. It's a split-squad kind of day, and you can be sure that the A-Team will stay back in Sarasota for the game versus the Yankees that will air on MASN. I thought about attending both games, but the logistics just don't work in my favor. The clubhouse here opens to the media at 2 p.m. and I need to be inside of it. The game against the...

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Hightopps to host O's chat, first MASN TV game March 7

February 23, 2011, 6:57am

Orioles

Hightopps to host O's chat, first MASN TV game March 7

Are you ready for Orioles baseball on television? Your wait is almost over. And you can share the MASN broadcast of the Yankees-O's game on Monday, March 7 with other baseball fans at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium. Join MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski, Jen Royle and yours truly at Hightopps at 6 p.m. for an hour of spirited baseball talk. We'll answer your questions about the 2011 Orioles, give you our thoughts on the upcoming season, ask some trivia questions and give away some...

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Guthrie talks about outing

March 06, 2011, 10:19am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Wynn Pelzer's pickoff throw in the seventh inning got past Brandon Snyder and nailed Twins first base coach Jerry White on the left shin. White hit the ground hard and stayed on his back as trainers rushed to his aid. He eventually was helped up and finished the inning before the Twins replaced him. Pelzer allowed a hit and walked two batters before recording an out on his own. Adam Donachie threw out a runner attempting to steal second before Pelzer induced a ground ball...

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Final thoughts on 3-0 loss

March 06, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Armando Gabino tossed a perfect eighth inning, and the Orioles' bullpen held the Minnesota Twins to one run over the last five innings. Unfortunately for the Orioles, they managed only four hits and were blanked, 3-0. The Orioles were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Here are some post-game quotes from manager Buck Showalter: On Jeremy Guthrie: "He gave up a duck flare in the first and made a great pitch. I think Jeremy's fine. He's right on schedule. He's...

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VandenHurk struggles with control

March 06, 2011, 10:00am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins scored once off Rick VandenHurk in three innings, increasing their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh. VandenHurk walked four batters, which overshadows everything else today. He needs to find the plate if he's got a chance to make this team. VandenHurk threw only eight strikes among his 19 pitches in the fourth inning, but he didn't allow a run until the fifth, when Denard Span singled and raced home on Tsuyoshi Nishioka's triple. Keep in mind that...