Fox and Markakis tee off in second (updated)

Fox and Markakis tee off in second (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Fox just unloaded on Andy Sonnanstine, figuring that the Rays' starter is fair game today. Fox, batting ninth today, homered to left-center field on the first pitch thrown to him. Orioles 5, Rays 0. Matt Wieters flied to left before Fox stepped to the plate. Fox is starting at first base today. He's trying to make the club as the backup catcher or second utility infielder. Just as I was going to send this entry, Nick Markakis launched his second home run in two...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Markakis, Guerrero and Jones homer in first

Markakis, Guerrero and Jones homer in first
SARASOTA, Fla. - I almost forgot that a game was being played today. Brian Roberts singled off Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine in his first spring at-bat, and Nick Markakis followed with a home run to right field on a 1-1 pitch. One out later, Vladimir Guerrero crushed the first pitch thrown to him. The ball cleared the left-center field fence in about three seconds. Orioles 3, Rays 0. Update: Adam Jones just cleared the seats in the party deck beyond the left field fence. That's three...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

Lee: "I don't foresee it being too much longer"

Lee: "I don't foresee it being too much longer"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee took batting practice for the third straight day as he draws closer to playing in his first exhibition game. Lee can't pinpoint when he'll debut for the Orioles, but his surgically repaired right thumb is responding well to the BP sessions and fielding drills. "Hopefully soon," he said. "Today was the third day in a row hitting off coaches and it's still feeling good. I don't see a reason to keep delaying it. I'm still going to be cautious, but I'm...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Waiting on Lee

Waiting on Lee
SARASOTA, Fla. - A light rain is falling at the newly refurbished Ed Smith Stadium as the Orioles take batting practice. Not a drop the entire time we've been here until today. Naturally. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't provided an exact date when first baseman Derrek Lee will make his Orioles' debut in an exhibition game. He's mostly leaving it up to Lee, who continues to take batting practice and participate in fielding drills. "I don't think anything's imminent," Showalter said....
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

Duchscherer feeling fine this morning (updated)

Duchscherer feeling fine this morning (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer remains encouraged by the condition of his left hip this morning. "Everything was OK yesterday," he said. "It's one of those weird things where guys who have surgery and come back might have a day or two where they just feel concerned, worried. So far, since the other day, everything's felt fine. I threw off flat ground, and they have a half mound, and everything was fine. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it was just a one-day cranky...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Passing along rehab advice: Spoone has been where Erbe is going

Passing along rehab advice: Spoone has been where Erbe is going
As Brandon Erbe continues to progress from his surgery last August to repair a torn labrum, he can turn to Chorye Spoone for advice. A fellow Maryland native, Spoone had shoulder surgery in September 2008 and has pretty much made a full recovery after pitching 132 innings last summer for Double-A Bowie. "I told him there will be days when you feel like something is hurt in your arm and it hurts to throw, like during your throwing program," Spoone said. "But you need to realize that the...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Showalter time

Showalter time
BRADENTON, Fla. - With the wind blowing out to left field today, and lifting up a few houses, manager Buck Showalter had to be pleased with his pitchers. They allowed four runs, the last two on Miles Durham's homer off Josh Rupe in the bottom of the ninth that produced two unearned runs. Lyle Overbay homered off left-hander Clay Rapada in the fifth inning. "Rapada had as good an inning as anybody and gave up (a home run)," manager Buck Showalter said. "You've got to look at the...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Encouraging news on Duchscherer and others

Encouraging news on Duchscherer and others
BRADENTON, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer has a lot to learn about being shut down for 48 hours. After playing catch yesterday, Duchscherer threw off flat ground, a flat mound and a half mound this morning in Sarasota. Manager Buck Showalter stayed back to watch before heading to Bradenton for the Orioles' 6-4 victory over the Pirates. Showalter said that Duchscherer was throwing with "some hops" on the half mound and didn't have any discomfort in his left hip. Duchscherer will take off...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Orioles build on lead (updated)

Orioles build on lead (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Brendan Harris doubled with the bases loaded to score two runs in the top of the eighth, and Robert Andino followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the Orioles' lead to 6-2. Does this make you feel any better about the 1979 World Series? What about '71? Same here. I'm still bitter. Nolan Reimold has homered and walked three times. He raced home on Harris' double to right-center field. As I mentioned earlier, Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-3 in his Orioles' debut. When...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

Bergesen: "I felt good today for the first outing" (updated)

Bergesen: "I felt good today for the first outing" (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Craig Tatum's infield single produced another run in the sixth inning and increased the Orioles' lead to 3-1. Matt Angle crashed into the center field fence while running down a long drive in the bottom of the sixth. He collapsed to the ground after making the throw, but he stayed in the game. Koji Uehara ran the count full to the leadoff hitter, Jose Tabata, and gave up a single into center field. Must be the first exhibition game. A run scored off Uehara with two...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Two scoreless for Drese (updated)

Two scoreless for Drese (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Drese retired all six batters he faced today, getting four ground balls, a fly ball and a called third strike. All three outs in the third inning came on grounders to shortstop J.J. Hardy. Andrew McCutchen almost beat out a grounder in the fourth. Cesar Izturis bobbled the ball and took his time making the throw to first. McCutchen can fly. Drese hasn't pitched in the majors since making two starts with the Nationals in 2006. He looked good today. Clay Rapada is...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Reimold goes deep (updated)

Reimold goes deep (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Nolan Reimold just gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead over the Pirates with a long home run leading off the second inning. Reimold crushed a 1-0 pitch from left-hander Paul Maholm. There's a strong wind blowing out to left, but Reimold didn't need much help with that one. The Orioles hit three homers in yesterday's intrasquad game, though those stats aren't official. Reimold and Felix Pie could be competing for one outfield spot. Pie doubled and scored in the first, and also...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Guerrero legs out another one (updated)

Guerrero legs out another one (updated)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Former Pirates manager John Russell was announced as the third base coach, bringing a huge outbreak of indifference. You could have heard a pin drop - much like the crowd's reaction at every joke from last night's Oscar telecast. No applause for Russell, no jeers, nothing but absolute silence. So much for a warm homecoming. J.J. Hardy struck out looking to begin today's game. Felix Pie followed with a sharp grounder that deflected off third base and skipped into left...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

What to make of spring training stats?

What to make of spring training stats?
So now we get to the next phase of spring training. The games begin. They don't count, but for the fans not heading to Sarasota, it gives them some stats, pitching lines, home runs, and wins and losses to track. Mike Hargrove used to say something about September and March being like fool's gold. A player's performance at the end of the year after the callups, or in spring training can be quite deceiving. Every year, someone hits a ton in March then can't buy a hit the first week of...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Pirates lineup

Pirates lineup
BRADENTON, Fla. - For the Pirates: Jose Tabata LF Josh Rodriguez SS Andrew McCutchen CF Pedro Alvarez 3B Lyle Overbay 1B Garrett Jones RF Ryan Doumit DH Chase d'Arnaud 2B Jason Jaramillo C Paul Maholm LHP Jeff Karstens, Tyler Yates, Jeff Locke and Mike Crotta also are scheduled to pitch for the Pirates. The Pirates have two split-squad games, and former Oriole Garrett Atkins is in Port Charlotte. Sorry. Jeremy Guthrie, Rick VandenHurk, Mark Hendrickson, Jason Berken, David Riske and...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

Today's lineup vs. Pirates (updated)

Today's lineup vs. Pirates (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Felix Pie RF Mark Reynolds 3B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Nolan Reimold LF Brandon Snyder 1B Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis 2B Brad Bergesen RHP Other pitchers on the trip include Ryan Drese, Koji Uehara, Kevin Gregg and Jeremy Accardo.
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Updating Mahoney and more

Updating Mahoney and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Joe Mahoney received treatment after taking a foul ball off his right knee, and he'll be re-evaluated tomorrow morning before the club decides whether to send him to Bradenton for the exhibition opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mahoney had a slight limp as he returned to his locker following his team's 7-4 intrasquad victory. "Missed the knee cap, though" Mahoney said, showing off the red mark on the inner part of his knee. "I'm just happy I didn't...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
0 Comments

Mahoney limps off field (updated)

Mahoney limps off field (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Joe Mahoney fouled a ball off his right knee in the top of the sixth inning and limped to the clubhouse. Mahoney, named the organization's minor league Player of the Year in 2010, took a few steps up the first base line and bent at the waist. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter came out of the dugout, and Showalter stopped the inning with two outs. Mahoney, who was facing left-hander Pedro Viola, grabbed his bag of bats and walked...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

Jones also goes deep

Jones also goes deep
SARASOTA, Fla. - Adam Jones is the latest Oriole to clear the 366-foot sign in left-center field, connecting off Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jones, Mark Reynolds and Randy Winn have homered today. Reynolds flied to the fence in his second at-bat before Jones stepped to the plate. Rosario knocked Cesar Izturis to the ground with an inside pitch in the third inning. He's allowed two runs, two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. Josh Bell singled off Troy...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments

Reynolds clears bases with one swing (updated)

Reynolds clears bases with one swing (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Third baseman Mark Reynolds hit a grand slam off minor league pitcher Chorye Spoone in the bottom of the first inning of today's intrasquad game. Spoone walked the first two batters he faced and threw a wild pitch, and Vladimir Guerrero reached on an infield hit to load the bases after Luke Scott flied out. Shortstop Pedro Florimon ranged far to his right to rob Guerrero of an RBI. Reynolds launched a 1-2 pitch over the 366-foot sign in left-center field. Spoone threw 23...
Continue reading
  0 Comments
Tags:
0 Comments