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More notes and quotes from today's workout

February 25, 2011, 12:52pm

Orioles

More notes and quotes from today's workout

SARASOTA, Fla. - I can't close out the day without letting manager Buck Showalter say a few words. Showalter noted that second baseman Brian Roberts' neck showed some improvement again today. "Better than yesterday, and the other day was better than that," Showalter said. "We'll see what tomorrow brings." Showalter confirmed that no further tests are scheduled for Roberts. X-rays came back negative. He's apparently been bothered by spasms. "They pretty much feel like they've got...

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More Roberts, more Lee

February 25, 2011, 9:20am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - No sense ignoring Brian Roberts in this entry. He's been a constant presence, though Derrek Lee provided a slight distraction earlier today. Roberts said his neck is "getting better every day." He received more treatment today to alleviate the soreness and also rode a stationary bike. "It's definitely better than it was a couple days ago," he said. "It's the time of the year where you just want to get it completely gone before you go back out there again." Asked...

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Lee hitting outdoors today

February 25, 2011, 3:36am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee will take batting practice off one of the coaches later this morning, after the Orioles hold another series of meetings that caused the clubhouse to close to the media 30 minutes earlier than usual. Lee has been hitting soft tosses in the indoor cage. He's also stepped to the plate during live batting practice with instructions to not swing the bat. You can tell it's been tough for him. He wants to take some hacks, but he's being cautious after having surgery in...

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Quick hits from workout

February 25, 2011, 8:55am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'll plug in more quotes later, but here are some short items from today's workout: Brian Roberts said his neck feels better every day. He also said he could play if it were the regular season. "It's definitely better than it was a couple days ago," he said. Asked if he might work out tomorrow, Roberts said, "I don't try to guess about tomorrow. To tell you the truth, it probably hasn't really been my call. It's a group effort." Derrek Lee will see how his thumb...

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Roberts sits for third straight day (updated)

February 25, 2011, 6:04am

Orioles

Roberts sits for third straight day (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts didn't take the field for the pre-workout stretch and catch, and he was absent during infield drills. Roberts continues to receive treatment on his neck. He told reporters yesterday that he hoped to get back on the field today or tomorrow. Looks like today is out. Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris took grounders at second. Izturis looks every bit as smooth there as he did at short. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said no further tests on...

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Riske getting down to business

February 25, 2011, 5:09am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - One of Alfredo Simon's representatives sent out a text last night alerting reporters that there could be a positive development today in the reliever's case. Simon remains jailed in the Dominican Republic, and he was denied bail again yesterday. It's the never-ending story. Justin Duchscherer noted yesterday that his curveball was much better during his live BP session. One reason: Duchscherer is breaking in a new glove and he's had some trouble gripping the ball. Things...

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Machado is ready for his anticipated first full season in O's organization

February 25, 2011, 4:44am

Orioles

Machado is ready for his anticipated first full season in O's organization

After a winter of workouts where he put on a few pounds to get stronger, shortstop Manny Machado describes himself as "super excited" for his first full season with the Orioles. Machado, the third pick in round one of last June's draft, spent time working out this winter near his Miami home where his workout partners sometimes included the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez. "This whole winter I've been here in Miami working out at the University of Miami with my trainer, Monica Swasey," Machado...

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A few quick hits

February 24, 2011, 9:15am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Before I dash across the street to pick up lunch, I wanted to pass along a few short items. Manager Buck Showalter described second baseman Brian Roberts as being 50 percent improved. Showalter seems fairly confident that Roberts will be back on the field tomorrow morning. "You could tell he felt a lot better today," Showalter said. Roberts wasn't going to play in Monday's exhibition opener in Bradenton. The original plan called for him to start Tuesday's game in...

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Keys GM addresses the team's lease situation

February 24, 2011, 6:27am

Orioles

Keys GM addresses the team's lease situation

Here is an update on the Frederick Keys and their lease situation. Last week, the city of Frederick released a request for proposals for use of Harry Grove Stadium for the 2012 season. Those proposals must be submitted to the city by April 15. The Keys, who have minor league territorial rights to Frederick and Montgomery counties, are the only affiliated team that can file a proposal to play there. But an independent league team could and it appears an Atlantic League team could file a...

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A few observations from camp

February 24, 2011, 8:13am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - With Brian Roberts unable to work out again today, Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris took ground balls at second base. J.J. Hardy and Nick Green took turns at shortstop. Derrek Lee and Jake Fox played first base. Mark Reynolds stood alone at third. Robert Andino worked out at shortstop on another field. Reynolds had one bad sequence where he mishandled a chopper and bounced a throw after fielding the next ball cleanly. Otherwise, he was fine. Reynolds and Fox had a mild...

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More on Frank Robinson's speech

February 24, 2011, 10:16am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - According to this report, Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon remains in police custody in the Dominican Republic after he was again denied bail today. Frank Robinson stood underneath his No. 20 that's mounted on Hall of Fame row in the clubhouse and addressed the team before today's workout. "He obviously can command a room," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's been in front of players for quite a while. You can tell he has a real affinity for the Orioles." "The guy's...

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Roberts taking another day off

February 24, 2011, 4:24am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts said his neck is feeling better, but he'll get more treatments today and bypass the workout. Roberts is hoping to take the field again tomorrow or Saturday. X-rays taken on Roberts' neck yesterday were negative. "I'm just trying to get it calmed down," he said. Former Orioles David Segui and Paul Bako are in camp today. Vladimir Guerrero still has his goatee. It's been a slow morning, but at least the clubhouse was open to the media for an hour. It...

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Delaware North Sportservice names chefs for Oriole Park at Camden Yards

February 24, 2011, 7:27am

Orioles

Delaware North Sportservice names chefs for Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Delaware North Companies Sportservice and the Baltimore Orioles today announced that Joshua Distenfeld will serve as the executive chef for Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Baltimore native David Friendlich will serve as sous chef. Distenfeld is an American Culinary Federation (ACF) Certified Executive Chef with 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including managing large-scale culinary operations. Most notably, he has served as executive chef at Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel and...

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Two Orioles make Baseball America's top 100 prospects list

February 23, 2011, 5:36am

Orioles

Even though he has only played nine pro games, Orioles shortstop prospect Manny Machado has been rated as the game's 14th-best prospect by Baseball America. O's lefty pitching prospect Zach Britton was rated 28th by Baseball America, which today is releasing its latest top 100 prospects list. Earlier, Britton was rated 11th by ESPN's Keith Law and 19th by MLB.com. Machado was ranked 24th by MLB.com and 26th by ESPN's Law. No other O's prospects came close to making Baseball America's...

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Scene and heard at Ed Smith Stadium

February 24, 2011, 5:29am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Scene from the clubhouse this morning: Terry Crowley talking hitting while standing with Vladimir Guerrero and Felix Pie. Another scene: Mark Reynolds, Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold sitting at Brady Anderson's locker after the former Orioles outfielder finished working out. A scene that took place behind closed doors, so I didn't actually witness it: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson talking to the team before the workout. His retired number hangs on a wall. Brandon Snyder...

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Post-workout notes

February 23, 2011, 10:05am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rick VandenHurk will follow Jeremy Guthrie to the mound in the second exhibition game. Left-hander Zach Britton will replace Justin Duchscherer in the third game. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem overly concerned about second baseman Brian Roberts' neck. "Muscle spasm. Nothing other than that. Trapezius. Is that right? Day-to-day," Showalter said. "They didn't see any disk issues or anything. It is what it is. We've all woke up with a stiff neck." Showalter...

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Roberts downplays neck issue

February 23, 2011, 8:34am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - It appears that Brian Roberts is fine and only dealing with some stiffness in his neck after leaving camp this morning and undergoing X-rays. Roberts will continue to receive treatment. He's unsure whether he'll return to the field tomorrow, which makes him day-to-day. "Just a stiff neck," he said, downplaying the situation when approached by reporters. "We've probably all had a stiff neck at some point in our life, right? I'm not overly concerned." True, but we...

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Callis feels O's best move is for Britton to start at Triple-A

February 23, 2011, 8:16am

Orioles

Callis feels O's best move is for Britton to start at Triple-A

In an interview, Baseball America's Jim Callis talked about Zach Britton's readiness to pitch in the major leagues. But Callis believes the Orioles' best move is for Britton to begin this season back in the minor leagues. "I think he is ready for the big leagues. He has no obvious weakness and did get in 12 starts last year at Triple-A and pitched well," Callis said. "That said, the Orioles have no shot at contending this year, so from a team standpoint, I don't think it makes any sense...

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Lee could take BP Friday (updated)

February 23, 2011, 8:15am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee is hoping to take batting practice on the field Friday after being restricted to hitting soft tosses in the cage during the first days of the full-squad workouts. Lee, three months removed from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb, won't take BP with the team. The veteran will take his swings against one of the minor league coaches. Earlier today, Lee stood in the cage but kept the bat on his shoulder while Brad Bergesen threw live batting...

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Pitchers added to early exhibition games

February 23, 2011, 6:54am

Orioles

Pitchers added to early exhibition games

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton and right-hander Rick VandenHurk also will make appearances during the first week of the exhibition schedule. Jeremy Guthrie will start the March 1 home opener against the Rays, and Justin Duchscherer will start the following day against the Phillies in Clearwater. Britton will pitch in one of those games, with VandenHurk taking the mound in the other. Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman will pitch in the first game Feb. 28 against the Pirates in...