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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...

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Back-to-back web gems

March 14, 2011, 10:40am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Pirates put runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth inning against reliever Jeremy Accardo. They didn't score. They didn't erase a 3-2 deficit. Finally, a little excitement in this game. Pedro Alvarez sent a screaming liner to third baseman Mark Reynolds, who made the catch and lunged at the bag to double off John Bowker. Two outs. Matt Diaz followed with a single into right field. Nick Markakis charged the ball and made a perfect one-hop throw to...

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Arrieta talks about outing (updated)

March 14, 2011, 11:24am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles increased their lead to 7-2 in the seventh inning on Jake Fox's leadoff home run, his fourth this spring, and Matt Angle's RBI single that followed a Nolan Reimold bloop double into left field. Ryan Adams reached on an infield hit in his first at-bat today. Former Oriole Garrett Atkins, batting for the pitcher, flied to center. Update: Nick Green, batting .087 with no homers or RBIs, cleared the left field fence in the eighth. Josh Bell tripled. The Orioles...

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Final thoughts on 8-2 victory

March 14, 2011, 12:05pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Both teams pounded out 14 hits today, but the Orioles made more of them count. Manager Buck Showalter met with reporters on the field after an 8-2 victory over the Pirates that improved their spring record to 8-7-2. Showalter didn't have any updates on Justin Duchscherer or Brian Roberts. Koji Uehara threw a bullpen session today, will take tomorrow off and will throw on the side again Wednesday. He could pitch in a game by the end of the week. Asked about Jake Arrieta's...

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He who hesitates ... (updated)

March 14, 2011, 9:31am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis lined a two-out double down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning. He didn't stop there. Well, he sort of did, and then he kept going. Markakis slowed up after rounding second base and was thrown out at third to end the inning. That split second of indecision cost him. Ryan Adams did the same thing in Kissimmee after rounding first base on a single, but he made it to second for the double. Jake Arrieta allowed a leadoff single to Pedro...

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Zach Britton: Can he make this team now?

March 13, 2011, 1:34pm

Orioles

Zach Britton: Can he make this team now?

Heading into spring training, I had assumed that Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta were pretty much locks to make the starting rotation and that, if healthy, Justin Duchscherer would join them. That would allow for Rick VandenHurk to compete for a bullpen role and Chris Tillman and Zach Britton to begin the year at Triple-A. Well, those plans could be changing. The Orioles knew Duchscherer making the opening day rotation was a gamble, thus the...

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Pregame Showalter, Mahoney cut

March 14, 2011, 8:14am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'll let manager Buck Showalter pass along the injury updates. Why should I have all the fun? "(Justin) Duchscherer's got a chiropractor today and he's got an MRA at 4 o'clock today," Showalter said. "(Brian) Roberts has an MRI at 3:30. The doctor he's been seeing, he'll see him tomorrow at 9 o'clock when they've got all the pictures and all the stuff to make sure what we're dealing with. We'll have a better idea tomorrow. Derrek Lee hit off the tee today. Went...

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Showalter talks about Mahoney

March 14, 2011, 8:35am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter was clearly impressed with first baseman Joe Mahoney, the organization's minor league Player of the Year in 2010 who was cut earlier today. Mahoney was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after going 7-for-17. "One thing you have to realize is this guy went from 250, 260 to 20-something pounds less than he was," Showalter said. "He's done a lot to put himself on the map. Keep in mind he was our minor league Player of the Year. This guy really popped last...

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Monday Memory: O's TV ad from 1994

March 14, 2011, 8:21am

Orioles

We're three weeks away from the Orioles' home opener, and preparations are coming along to get Camden Yards ready for the April 4 game against the Detroit Tigers. From my fifth-floor warehouse window, I've been watching the grounds crew turn the infield dirt and work on the home plate area. A surveyor's tripod rests on the pitcher's mound. Work crews are putting the finishing touches on newly installed seats throughout the ballpark, and masonry workers are performing maintenance on the...

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Quick injury updates

March 14, 2011, 7:09am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Justin Duchscherer is visiting a chiropractor today because of soreness in his left hip. He's scheduled to receive an MRA at 4 p.m., which shouldn't be confused with an MRI. An MRA is an MRI that also includes an arthrogram. Dye will be injected into the hip to reveal any potential structural damage. Brian Roberts will undergo an MRI on his back this afternoon and visit a specialist tomorrow. Derrek Lee hit off a tee today. He'll hit soft toss and perhaps...

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Today's lineup (with Pirates)

March 14, 2011, 5:36am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here's the Orioles lineup for today's game against the Pirates: Randy Winn LF Felix Pie CF Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Robert Andino 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Pirates: Pedro Ciriaco 2B John Bowker 1B Andrew McCutchen CF Pedro Alvarez 3B Matt Diaz LF Steve Pearce RF Josh Rodriguez SS Jason Jaramillo C Kevin Correia RHP A change in Houston's pitching for tomorrow: Aneury Rodriguez will start for the...

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Talking about Britton and other stuff

March 14, 2011, 4:56am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - No NIT invite for the Terps? There goes my bracket. I already had them winning the whole thing. Obviously, I should have waited. Loved the Fab Five documentary last night, though I watched it in two parts. Missed the first half of it on ESPN, but caught the replay in ESPN2 immediately afterward and pieced it together in my head. No wonder I'm tired. The clubhouse is closed to the media again this morning and won't open until batting practice ends. I'll pass along the...