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Matusz through the third (updated)

March 18, 2011, 3:53pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Time to take a closer look at Brian Matusz after three innings. The young left-hander has allowed one run to the Twins, on shortstop Matt Tolbert's first spring homer, and four hits. Luke Hughes led off the second with a bunt single and Steve Holm doubled with two outs, but the Twins didn't break through until one out in the third. Matusz has struck out six batters, raising his spring total to 11 in 10 2/3 innings. His changeup has been especially impressive. He's thrown...

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Pregame Showalter (and Lee update)

March 18, 2011, 12:57pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee took batting practice outdoors and said his right wrist felt fine. He isn't sure about tomorrow's schedule, however. He'll see how the wrist responds overnight. He could take live BP again or possibly make his Orioles debut. Also, the Orioles aren't currently interested in second baseman Luis Castillo, released earlier today by the Mets. Here are a few comments from manager Buck Showalter, which were delivered while the Orioles took batting...

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Roster cuts tomorrow

March 18, 2011, 12:31pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make another round of roster cuts tomorrow morning. Manager Buck Showalter said the total will be "more than three, less than 10." Justin Duchscherer threw off flat ground from 120-130 feet. Yesterday, he threw from 100 feet. I'm not good at math, but it sounds like he threw from a greater distance today. Derrek Lee and Brian Roberts are taking live batting practice. They haven't been ruled out for tomorrow's game against the Phillies in Sarasota....

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Two quick injury updates (with Duchscherer quotes)

March 18, 2011, 11:02am

Orioles

Two quick injury updates (with Duchscherer quotes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - A day without injury updates is like a day without sunshine. Justin Duchscherer threw off flat ground from 100 feet yesterday, and he'll do the exact same thing today. That's as much as we know about his schedule. Duchscherer is still confident that he will be ready by the April 1 opener. He isn't worried about logging enough innings. Manager Buck Showalter may feel differently, but we'll see how it all plays out. Duchscherer is being treated for some tightness in his...

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The last words on 13-3 win

March 17, 2011, 12:50pm

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - It never fails. A team is almost no-hit one night, and it erupts for 13 runs the next day. Josh Rupe extended his scoreless innings streak to 11 2/3 by completing the last three today. I guess we can't eliminate him from the bullpen discussion. Manager Buck Showalter playfully reminded reporters that he batted Matt Wieters fourth today. Showalter didn't seem real sympathetic about the higher bullpen mound and how it distracted Chris Tillman. "I don't really want to...

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Decisions looming two weeks before the opener

March 18, 2011, 5:30am

Orioles

Decisions looming two weeks before the opener

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're under the lights again tonight, which means the clubhouse won't open to the media until 2 p.m. You know the drill. The Twins are coming to town, and left-hander Francisco Liriano will try to forget about his last visit to Sarasota. He allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings back on March 9 in an 11-2 loss to the Orioles. Joe Nathan also is scheduled to pitch for the Twins. Left-hander Brian Matusz will make his fourth appearance for the Orioles. He's allowed four earned...

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Tonight's lineup

March 18, 2011, 10:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here's the Orioles lineup for tonight's game vs. the Twins: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Luke Scott LF Jake Fox 1B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis 2B Brian Matusz LHP

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Orioles lineups present and past

March 18, 2011, 7:47am

Orioles

When watching the MLB Network's "30 Clubs in 30 days" show this week on the Orioles, they listed the club's potential starting lineup. 2B - Brian Roberts RF - Nick Markakis 1B - Derrek Lee DH - Vladimir Guerrero LF - Luke Scott CF - Adam Jones 3B - Mark Reynolds C - Matt Wieters SS - J.J. Hardy This lineup makes a lot of sense in that it puts several players in spots where they figure to be quite comfortable and where they have succeeded before. When batting second last year, Markakis...

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Fox does it again, Tillman talks (updated)

March 17, 2011, 11:34am

Orioles

Fox does it again, Tillman talks (updated)

BRADENTON, Fla. - Jake Fox is out of control. Fox homered for the second time today, and the seventh time this spring. It was another two-run shot that easily cleared the left field fence. Contact was so loud, he made heads turn all the way down in Fort Lauderdale. Matt Wieters has three hits, including two doubles. He reached second base in the top of the seventh and trotted home on Fox's blast. Update: Wieters just reached on an infield single, his fourth hit of the game. Fox leads all...

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Fox trots

March 17, 2011, 12:08pm

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles pushed across three runs against left-hander Joe Beimel in the top of the eighth to increase their lead to 12-3. Matt Angle had an RBI single. Nick Green and Brendan Harris drove in runs with ground balls. Robert Andino's RBI triple in the eighth upped the lead to 13-3. Pirates right fielder Miles Durham crashed into the fence and had to leave the game after staying down for several minutes. Matt Wieters has four hits to raise his average from .207 to...

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Lapses in first inning (and second)

March 17, 2011, 9:31am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - I'm not sure how Chris Tillman got out of the first inning without allowing a run. Tillman walked the leadoff hitter, Jose Tabata, and another batter reached on an error. Another play wasn't made cleanly, and the Orioles almost botched a rundown. Still scoreless as we head to the bottom of the first. Neil Walker followed Tabata's walk with a grounder to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who bobbled the ball and settled for the force at second base. Andrew McCutchen reached on third...

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Josh Bell's wild ride (with Britton update)

March 17, 2011, 10:31am

Orioles

Josh Bell's wild ride (with Britton update)

BRADENTON, Fla. - With the time change last weekend, Josh Bell might want to set his clock back 24 hours. He's having a bad, bad day. I already wrote about Bell's error and his mental lapse on a rundown. He just got tagged out in the fourth inning as Felix Pie drew a walk. Bell was running on the pitch, slid into second and assumed that he was out. He didn't realize that Pie had taken ball four. Bell got up and started to jog toward the dugout, realized his mistake and got caught in a...

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Orioles and Delaware North Sportservice previewing new signature menu items

March 17, 2011, 11:35am

Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles and Delaware North Companies Sportservice will hold a food tasting of new signature menu items for media at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Representatives of the news media and blogs that focus on the Orioles or regional food tastes will have the opportunity to sample the menu items, most of which will be available to all fans in general concessions, and ask questions of Orioles and Sportservice representatives. Scheduled to attend are...

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Orioles take lead in 3rd, Fox homers

March 17, 2011, 10:12am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Jake Fox completed a six-run third inning with a mammoth two-run shot to left field off Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf. That's six homers for Fox. If you connected them, they would reach my townhouse in Sykesville. This ball bounced off the roof of a building that sits beyond the fence. If I were Fox, I'd still be striking a pose at home plate. Fox followed Matt Wieters' two-run double to left, though that one was charitable. Jose Tabata should have made the catch, but...

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Roberts 50-50 for weekend

March 17, 2011, 6:40am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts is scheduled to hit soft toss and off a tee this morning, and also participate in defensive drills. Manager Buck Showalter said Roberts is "50-50" to return to the lineup this weekend. Roberts hasn't played since March 7 because of back spasms. First baseman Derrek Lee will take batting practice in the indoor cage today off former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick. Lee could end up playing in Monday's minor league game that Showalter has...

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Pre-game Showalter (and Pirates lineup)

March 17, 2011, 8:16am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter met with reporters in his office before heading to McKechnie Field for today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. I passed along the highlights, but here are some quotes to go with them. On Derrek Lee taking batting practice today: "He feels really good today. It's different from some things in the past. So far so good." On Lee's game schedule once he starts playing: "It's not going to be every day. Keep in mind, we can create as many at-bats...

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MLB Network talks Orioles

March 16, 2011, 7:25pm

Orioles

The Orioles were the featured team last night on MLB Network's 30 in 30 club previews. Analysts John Hart and Dan Plesac had several positive comments about the club and its outlook for 2011. "There should be a lot of excitement with the finish they had with Buck Showalter," Hart said. "There used to be a time when the Oriole Way really meant something. I see that coming back with Showalter - attention to detail, fundamentals. I think they are really going to make an improvement, even...

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Today's lineup

March 17, 2011, 4:49am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Top of the morning to you. I'm leaving in an hour to make my third trip to Bradenton this spring. Don't be green with envy. For the Orioles: Felix Pie CF J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Matt Wieters DH Jake Fox C Randy Winn RF Brendan Harris 2B Josh Bell 3B Brandon Snyder 1B Chris Tillman RHP Josh Rupe and Jeremy Accardo also are scheduled to pitch. The Pirates are listing Ross Ohlendorf, Evan Meek (still trying to inherit the earth) and Joe Beimel. Left-hander Zach...

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Final thoughts on 10-0 loss

March 16, 2011, 5:51pm

Orioles

TAMPA, Fla. - I'll be brief, and not because I'm facing an hour drive back to Sarasota. The Orioles were held to one hit, Vladimir Guerrero's double off Mariano Rivera with two outs in the seventh. If you love a parade, you were in heaven with all the relievers used tonight. "Some guys threw the ball well, some guys struggled," manager Buck Showalter said. "We didn't swing the bats very well. Another day. We'll see more games, see more people play." The Orioles need to see better...

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There goes the no-no

March 16, 2011, 4:44pm

Orioles

TAMPA, Fla. - The Orioles were spared the indignity of being no-hit in an exhibition game. They just needed someone named Mariano Rivera to replace Ivan Nova. Vladimir Guerrero doubled to right-center field off the Yankees' closer with two outs in the seventh. Finally, a hit. Nova hit a batter and walked one through the sixth. He threw only 59 pitches. The Yankees were going to push him to 75, but I guess they wanted this Rivera kid to get some work. Guerrero flied out and struck out...