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After hand and hamstring injuries, Townsend could be poised for big year

March 04, 2011, 4:34am

Orioles

After hand and hamstring injuries, Townsend could be poised for big year

If you wanted to pick an Orioles' minor leaguer that could put up some real solid numbers this year, you could probably do a lot worse than Tyler Townsend. The 22-year-old first baseman, the O's third-round pick out of Florida International in 2009, hit very well last year - when he could get on the field. The lefty hitter was limited to 52 games because of a recurring hamstring injury, but in those games, most of which came at Delmarva and Frederick, Townsend batted .325 with six homers...

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Matusz says finger is "not a huge issue"

March 03, 2011, 1:11pm

Orioles

Matusz says finger is "not a huge issue"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz says he developed a wart on his middle finger "a couple months ago" and thought it might be a blister. He's never had one before and alerted head athletic trainer Richie Bancells after reporting to camp with the other pitchers. "It's not bothering me," Matusz said. "It doesn't affect me at all. It's on the side of my middle finger. The only time it actually comes into play is when I throw my curveball and it touches the seam. It...

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Today's lineup

March 04, 2011, 3:14am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I've got the Garmin warmed up and I'm ready for the long drive to Lakeland for today's game against the Tigers. Here's the Orioles' lineup: Randy Winn CF Brendan Harris 1B Felix Pie RF Jake Fox DH Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell 3B Nick Green SS Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis 2B Jake Arrieta RHP Ryan Drese, Jason Berken and David Riske also are slated to pitch today. Rick Porcello is starting for the Tigers. Left-handers Brad Thomas, Charlie Furbush and Fu-te Ni also are...

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Bell starting at first base

March 03, 2011, 5:35am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Josh Bell played first base in the ninth inning of Tuesday's home exhibition opener. Today, Bell will make his first start there. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott LF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Josh Bell 1B Brian Matusz LHP

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Uehara speaks (through his interpreter)

March 03, 2011, 7:40am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't concerned about Koji Uehara, and neither is their reliever. Uehara received a cortisone injection in his right elbow today because of some soreness. He'll be shut down for several days. Uehara thinks he'll be ready to pitch again in a week. "It's not even serious. I'm not concerned about it," he said through interpreter Jiwon Bang. "I'm just being on the safe side. I'm not really worried." Uehara described his condition as "arm fatigue." I...

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Matusz talks about his outing (updated twice)

March 03, 2011, 9:36am

Orioles

Matusz talks about his outing (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're still scoreless through six innings. Josh Bell doubled off the fence in right-center field leading off the bottom of the sixth, but he never made it past second base. Left fielder Jason Repko made a lunging catch to rob Nick Markakis and hold Bell at second. The wind knocked down Bell's ball. It looked like a home run when it left his bat. Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario threw a scoreless fifth. Bell started a dazzling 3-6-1 double play. Josh Rupe gave up a leadoff...

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It's the bullpen for O's third-round pick Dan Klein

March 02, 2011, 6:34pm

Orioles

It's the bullpen for O's third-round pick Dan Klein

If you were under the impression, as I was, that O's pitching prospect Dan Klein would be used as a starting pitcher this year, that is not the case. The decision has been made to use Klein, the O's third-round pick in the draft last June, out of the bullpen this season in the minor leagues. The biggest factor seems to be the fact that Klein pitched just 58 1/3 innings last year. The O's don't feel he can or should be asked to handle the number of innings needed for a starting pitcher...

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Orioles agree to terms with 22 players, renew Berken

March 03, 2011, 12:55pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with 22 players on one-year contracts. The list of players recently signed includes: Robert Andino, Matt Angle, Jake Arrieta, Josh Bell, Brad Bergesen, Zach Britton, Brandon Erbe, Pedro Florimon Jr., Jake Fox, Luis Lebron, Joe Mahoney, Troy Patton, Nolan Reimold, Adrian Rosario, Alfredo Simon, Brandon Snyder, Chroye Spoone, Craig Tatum, Chris Tillman, Rick VandenHurk, Pedro Viola and Matt Wieters. Additionally, the Orioles renewed the...

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Matusz leaving team for procedure

March 03, 2011, 10:50am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Matusz is flying to Philadelphia at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning to have a wart removed from the middle finger on his pitching hand. He's expected back in Sarasota later that night. Is that enough health news for one day? Manager Buck Showalter told reporters about Matusz's procedure following a 2-0 loss to the Twins. The wart is located on the side of his finger near the nail. He feels it while trying to throw his breaking ball. Matusz tossed two scoreless innings...

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Peter Angelos speaks on O's fortunes, Guerrero, Sarasota renovations

March 01, 2011, 11:01am

Orioles

Peter Angelos speaks on O's fortunes, Guerrero, Sarasota renovations

Orioles managing partner Peter G. Angelos took in today's home exhibition opener in the renovated Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., and spent a few minutes chatting with WBAL-AM announcers Joe Angel and Fred Manfra during the top of the eighth inning during broadcast of the game. "We always like the club in the beginning of the season," Angelos said, referring to the O's victory in their Grapefruit League opener Monday and a 12-6 lead over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. "Hopefully, this will be...

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Uehara shut down with sore elbow (updated)

March 03, 2011, 7:04am

Orioles

Uehara shut down with sore elbow (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Koji Uehara, who was scheduled to pitch today, has come down with a sore right elbow and will receive a cortisone shot this afternoon. Uehara will be shut down for the next few days and re-evaluated. The Orioles don't believe it's anything serious, but it counts as another health issue in spring training. Uehara has been sidelined with sore hamstrings the last two years. Here's the Twins lineup: Denard Span CF Tsuyoshi Nishioka SS Luke Hughes 3B Joe Benson...

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Matusz tosses two scoreless (updated)

March 03, 2011, 8:34am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz didn't allow a hit in two scoreless innings today against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Matusz walked one and struck out two. He went to a full count with Denard Span leading off the first inning and Jason Repko leading off the second, but he retired both batters. Matusz threw 35 pitches, 20 for strikes. His fastball topped out at 91 mph. Josh Bell, starting at first base, caught Repko's pop up. The Orioles are hacking against Twins...

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Jim Callis and Joe Jordan on high school vs. college in the draft (with update)

March 02, 2011, 7:48am

Orioles

Jim Callis and Joe Jordan on high school vs. college in the draft (with update)

It's a topic that followers of the first year player draft in baseball have debated for years: Should a club draft more high school players that may have a higher ceiling with their talent or more college players that they have scouted more and are closer to the majors? In the recent listing by Baseball America of its top 100 prospects in the game, there was some interesting math worth discussing. Of the game's current top 100 prospects on that list, 50 were drafted out of high school and...

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Orioles hang on for 6-5 win

March 02, 2011, 11:28am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies homered twice off left-hander Nick Bierbrodt in the bottom of the ninth, and another run scored on Chris Jakubauskas' wild pitch, but the tying run was stranded on second base. Orioles 6, Phillies 5. Manager Buck Showalter must have really wanted this win. He removed Bierbrodt with one out and a runner on third, and his last two relievers were warming up in the bullpen. He didn't need Mike Ballard or Chris George. Jakubauskas retired Harold Garcia and...

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Duchscherer makes progress, Lee targeting Saturday

March 03, 2011, 6:31am

Orioles

Duchscherer makes progress, Lee targeting Saturday

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer played catch again this morning and threw from the half mound. He's now moved over to a regular mound. Duchscherer is making significant progress from the hip soreness that kept him off the field Saturday. Also, Derrek Lee is penciled into Saturday's lineup. Josh Bell still projects as the third baseman at Triple-A Norfolk if he doesn't make the club out of spring training.

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Fox talks about Britton

March 03, 2011, 3:56am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Minnesota Twins are coming here from Fort Myers. Better that they make the trip than me. The lineup hasn't been posted, and the Orioles closed the clubhouse to the media at 8:30 a.m. for a players association meeting. Bobby Bonilla and Phil Bradley are in the house. Left-hander Brian Matusz is starting for the Orioles today. Adrian Rosario, Kevin Gregg, Koji Uehara, Jeremy Accardo, Clay Rapada and Josh Rupe also are slated to pitch. The Twins are sending pitchers Carl...

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Britton battled Phillies and nerves

March 02, 2011, 10:09am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Matt Wieters has three singles and two RBIs today. Felix Pie contributed a run-scoring double in the seventh, and Wieters delivered pinch-runner Nick Green for a 5-1 lead, though an interference call on the third baseman took away the RBI. Zach Britton walked into the hallway outside the visiting clubhouse, saw the five reporters waiting for him and brought up the elephant in the room. "Could you tell how nervous I was?" he asked with a grin. "I have no idea what...

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Game update and Tillman

March 02, 2011, 10:44am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Brian Bass pitched the eighth inning for the Phillies, and his former team loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Robert Andino, Brandon Snyder and Pedro Florimon. Matt Angle's bouncer to first scored Andino for a 6-1 lead. Michael Gonzalez and Jim Johnson each threw a scoreless inning. Pedro Viola is pitching the bottom of the eighth, and he just gave up a run on Delwyn Young's single. Orioles 6, Phillies 2. Chris Tillman said he was a little too "jumpy" on the...

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Fox on the run (updated)

March 02, 2011, 9:20am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jake Fox homered, singled and drove in two runs in yesterday's home exhibition opener. Apparently, the bus ride didn't cool him off. Fox has singled twice today as the starting catcher. He played first base yesterday. Joe Mahoney is starting at first today, and he singled to right field in the fourth inning. Left-hander Zach Britton was a little too amped up in the third inning. He appeared to be overthrowing, and Fox made two trips to the mound to settle him...

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Talking Tillman and Samuel (updated)

March 02, 2011, 8:27am

Orioles

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Chris Tillman retired the first two batters he faced in the first inning, striking out Jimmy Rollins, but he's behind 1-0 as we move to the top of the second. Raul Ibanez singled with two outs and scored on Ryan Howard's double to right. The wind might have knocked down the ball and prevented it from landing on the hill beyond the fence. Tillman threw 21 pitches, 12 strikes. Randy Winn, who couldn't make a play on Howard's fly ball, led off the game with a walk, but...