orioles

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...

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VandenHurk ineffective again

March 16, 2011, 5:09pm

Orioles

TAMPA, Fla. - Rick VandenHurk faced six batters tonight and retired none of them. VandenHurk was removed after allowing three runs. Armando Gabino inherited a bases loaded mess, so his line wasn't officially complete. It is now. Another run scored on a fielder's choice grounder from Alex Rodriguez. Robinson Cano followed with an RBI single. Five runs charged to VandenHurk. Yankees 9, Orioles 0 VandenHurk gave up three hits, walked three batters and threw a wild pitch. He's surrendered...

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Tatum sits and waits

March 16, 2011, 3:24pm

Orioles

TAMPA, Fla. - Craig Tatum doesn't like missing games unless it's part of his life as a backup catcher. Tatum remains shut down with tightness in his right oblique. He hopes to take batting practice tomorrow. Tatum sustained the injury while slipping on the plate during an infield drill, and he aggravated it while rounding third base in Saturday's game in Kissimmee. "Buck (Showalter) asked me if I could play and I was like, 'Yeah, I can play.' And they were like, 'We're going to shut...

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Johnson on Johnson (updated twice)

March 16, 2011, 4:03pm

Orioles

TAMPA, Fla. - Jim Johnson was amused to find two reporters waiting for him outside the clubhouse after tonight's start. "Are you kidding?" he asked with a grin. Nope. We needed the starter, and Johnson qualified tonight. Johnson allowed one run on three hits. Derek Jeter reached on an infield hit after the ball deflected off Johnson's glove. Nick Swisher singled on a hit-and-run, and Mark Teixeira doubled for a 1-0 lead. "Oh, I was so nervous," Johnson said, clearly in jest. He...

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More injury updates (updated)

March 16, 2011, 2:28pm

Orioles

TAMPA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Brian Roberts, Derrek Lee and Koji Uehara could appear in games this weekend. Roberts hit off a tee from both sides of the "plate" and is encouraged by his progression. Lee didn't take live bating practice, instead hitting soft toss, but it could happen tomorrow. His debut is tentatively set for this weekend. Koji Uehara had another positive bullpen session and is close to appearing in his second spring game. "I've got all three...

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Reynolds trying to get untracked

March 16, 2011, 5:22am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - After a nice stretch of home cooking, the Orioles hit the road again for another game played under the lights. The clubhouse opens to the media at 2 p.m. and I'll be Tampa-bound about an hour later for tonight's matchup with the Yankees. Since Jeremy Guthrie is getting his innings at the minor league complex, the Orioles will dip into their bullpen for tonight's game. Jim Johnson, Rick VandenHurk, Mark Hendrickson, Michael Gonzalez, David Riske and Clay Rapada are making...

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Tonight's lineups

March 16, 2011, 9:51am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Josh Bell 1B Cesar Izturis SS Jim Johnson RHP No, the Orioles aren't considering a role change for Johnson. It's just a bullpen game while Jeremy Guthrie threw five innings against a bunch of Red Sox Triple-A hitters at Twins Lake Park. Guthrie allowed two runs and six hits, with two walks and one strikeout. He induced three double play...

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Draft could be focus in baseball labor talks

March 16, 2011, 5:51am

Orioles

Draft could be focus in baseball labor talks

No one is talking about any strikes or lockouts in Major League Baseball, but the collective bargaining agreement in the sport does expire after this coming season in December. The sides have already had labor talks in Florida and they are expected to resume soon in Arizona. Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan expects discussion about the First-Year Player Draft and the possible changes to it to be on the table over the next several months. "Yeah, I do. I don't know necessarily what...

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Joe Mahoney: It was a good first impression

March 14, 2011, 7:20pm

Orioles

Joe Mahoney: It was a good first impression

After producing seven hits in 17 at-bats for a .412 batting average in his first major league spring training camp, Orioles' first base prospect Joe Mahoney seems to have made the most of his initial chance to play for the Birds. "It was a great experience. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot," Mahoney said last night. "I was fortunate enough to play well and hopefully make a good first impression with both the coaching staff and management." "I think he's primed to have that year...

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Encouraging news on Roberts, Duchscherer, Lee, Uehara

March 15, 2011, 7:14am

Orioles

Encouraging news on Roberts, Duchscherer, Lee, Uehara

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter provided a quick health update during batting practice. It never gets old. Showalter said the MRI on Brian Roberts' back didn't show anything new. He still believes that Roberts, who's visiting a back specialist this morning, could be ready for the April 1 opener. "I'm going to speak to Robby at lunch time," Showalter said. "I know talking to Richie (Bancells) that the MRI was nothing new there to speak of, so that's good news. Hopefully, we're...

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Roberts starts progression toward opener

March 15, 2011, 8:15am

Orioles

Roberts starts progression toward opener

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts returned to the clubhouse after visiting a back specialist today. He described his back as feeling "much better, definitely. Quite a bit better." And he remains hopeful of starting the April 1 opener after assuring reporters following yesterday's MRI that the discomfort wasn't related to his herniated disk. "Saw the doc today and got good, encouraging news, so I'll start to try to progress starting today," Roberts said. "He just said that...

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Final thoughts on 14-8 loss

March 15, 2011, 12:10pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles didn't go down quietly in the ninth, scoring four runs in a 14-8 loss to the Astros before 5,262. Robert Andino hit a two-run homer, Nolan Reimold and Michel Hernandez doubled, and Ryan Adams stroked an RBI single. Manager Buck Showalter noted that Brad Bergesen's command "wasn't real good." "He had one good inning. Got his work in, got his pitch count up a little bit. We'd like to see him be a little more sharp, but at this stage of spring training,...

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Hearing from Bergesen and Gregg

March 15, 2011, 11:32am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - That escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast. It jumped up a notch. The Astros lead the Orioles, 14-4, in the ninth. They're outhitting the Orioles, 15-4. Ryan Drese was charged with five runs and seven hits in three innings. That's no way to compete for a starting job. Kevin Gregg talked about the mechanical adjustment, which didn't prevent him from serving up Brett Wallace's grand slam. (Is it just me, or has Wallace already played for half the...

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More pregame Showalter

March 15, 2011, 8:45am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I passed along a few quotes from manager Buck Showalter this morning before heading to the clubhouse. Here are a few more: On the results of Justin Duchscherer's MRA and Brian Roberts' MRI: "With him and Robby, there wasn't anything new going on there, but that doesn't mean everything is fine. There's still things that have been a challenge for both of them." On whether Duchscherer has been eliminated from the opening day rotation: "Not yet. But it's certainly in...

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The line on Bergesen

March 15, 2011, 9:59am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen was pulled from today's game after four innings and 52 pitches, 26 for strikes. Bergesen faced the minimum number of batters through 3 1/3 innings despite two four-pitch walks, but he allowed back-to-back singles, a sacrifice fly by Jason Michaels and Bill Hall's two-run homer. Astros 3, Orioles 1. Bergesen walked two and struck out one. In his last three starts, Bergesen has allowed nine earned runs and 16 hits, and walked five, in 9 2/3 innings. Kevin...

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From bad to worse

March 15, 2011, 10:54am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg allowed five runs (four earned) and three hits, with one walk, in one-third of an inning. Brett Wallace hit a grand slam, and Wynn Pelzer replaced Gregg after a runner reached on an error. Pelzer had his own issues, surrendering a two-run double to Brian Bogusevic and hitting J.R. Towles. Gregg explained later that he made a mechanical adjustment that pitching coach Mark Connor recommended. Gregg was focused on leaning forward, rather than staying back, to get...

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Fox still mashing (updated twice)

March 15, 2011, 9:43am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I vowed to withhold this blog entry until Jake Fox's ball landed, but I don't have all day. Fox crushed a 1-1 pitch from Astros starter Aneury Rodriguez and cleared everything in left field. Pretty much everything in Sarasota. Fox's fifth spring home run gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. He also has eight RBIs. Manager Buck Showalter gave Fox a start behind the plate and has been rewarded in multiple ways. Fox also threw out Bill Hall trying to steal to end the second...

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Guest bloggers expand reach of Orioles Buzz

March 15, 2011, 6:33am

Orioles

The start of a new baseball season brings some changes at Orioles Buzz. Beginning the first full week of the 2011 campaign, there will be some new names, viewpoints and voices associated with MASNsports.com's blog dedicated to all things Birdland. Beginning April 4, Orioles Buzz will feature guest bloggers every weekday. MASNsports.com recognizes that the blogosphere contains all sorts of opinions on the O's, and bloggers following the orange and black are a particularly hearty breed of fan....

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Lee: "It won't be much longer before I'm in a game"

March 15, 2011, 8:27am

Orioles

Lee: "It won't be much longer before I'm in a game"

SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee said his wrist felt good after hitting soft tosses, and he'll take live batting practice tomorrow. "It'll be a good test," he said. "If it feels good off coaches' BP, then it won't be much longer before I'm in a game. I just want to make sure I get it right so I can be out here with these guys when it counts." And when will that happen? "No, I am not saying. I got in trouble (with that) last time," he said, grinning. "The doctor gave me...

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Duchscherer update and lineup

March 15, 2011, 5:09am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Justin Duchscherer is waiting for the results of yesterday's MRA, but he struck an ominous tone this morning when he compared the stiffness in his left hip to the way it felt before his most recent surgery. "The best I can describe it is it felt like it did last year before I had to have it operated on, so I thought the smart thing to do was not go out there and try to throw three innings when it was already hurting in warmup," he said. "Get some images on it and...