orioles

Notes on Bergesen, Britton and Rupe

March 29, 2011, 6:06am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen is receiving treatment today on his right arm, but he isn't scheduled to throw. He's supposed to pitch tomorrow. The question is where. Bergesen could head over to Twin Lakes Park. The Orioles could arrange an intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. We should know more later today. Bergesen said his arm feels good after being hit Friday by a Denard Span line drive in Fort Myers. He hopes to start Sunday's game at Tropicana Field, but that decision hasn't been...

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Final thoughts on 14-9 victory

March 28, 2011, 1:22pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - They also played a game here today. The Orioles gave up six runs in the top of the ninth, but held on for a 14-9 win over the Tigers before 7,621, the 10th sellout at Ed Smith Stadium this spring. Ryohei Tanaka was charged with six runs in one-third of an inning. Brandon Cooney got the last two outs, though he gave up a hit and a bases-loaded walk. Good times. Justin Duchscherer threw two innings in the simulated game on Field No. 4 and didn't experience any problems with...

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Monday Memory: Now pitching, Jim Palmer

March 28, 2011, 6:49am

Orioles

Opening day at Camden Yards is a week away, and preparations at the ballpark continue to get it ready for the Tigers-Orioles game that will be cause for civic celebration, innovative excuses for missing school and work, and early afternoon beers at Pickles Pub. Whatever your opening day traditions are - and feel free to share them in the comments section below, where you can be part of the trial of our new commenting system - I'm sure your time-tested plans are well under way. The MASN...

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Matusz struck by line drive in simulated game

March 28, 2011, 12:37pm

Orioles

Matusz struck by line drive in simulated game

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz was hit by a line drive on the left biceps in the second inning of today's simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. X-rays have not been scheduled, but the left-hander's status for the second game of the regular season against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., is unknown. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Matusz threw 29 pitches before being hit. The game ended after that incident. Showalter said that Zach Britton, who is...

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Britton on Britton

March 28, 2011, 11:58am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton knows what's coming. It isn't necessarily fair, but he's heard enough chatter to know that he's going to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Britton talked about today's outing, and eventually, the likelihood that he'll begin the season in the minors. "In the fourth inning, I was trying to do a little bit too much, but I was happy to minimize damage in both (the fourth and fifth) innings, and I think that's big, too," he said. "I thought that...

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Last look at Britton

March 28, 2011, 11:09am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game. If so, he'll leave camp having allowed three runs in 20 official spring innings. Britton gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings today, walking one and striking out four. The Orioles lead the Tigers, 13-2, heading to the top of the seventh inning. Britton threw 94 pitches, 58 for strikes. Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and Vladimir Guerrero each have three hits. Luke Scott has...

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Hendrickson and Rapada cut, Gonzalez only left-handed reliever

March 28, 2011, 7:10am

Orioles

Hendrickson and Rapada cut, Gonzalez only left-handed reliever

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles should have their camp roster down to 27 or 28 by the end of the day, and it won't include two left-handed relief candidates. Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada are counted among today's cuts. Hendrickson can seek a major league job and decline an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Those moves leave Michael Gonzalez as the only left-hander in the bullpen for the April 1 opener against the Rays. Other cuts include David Riske, Ryan Drese, Rick VandenHurk and Nick...

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Looking back at roster (corrected)

March 28, 2011, 10:16am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis just doubled off Tigers reliever Enrique Gonzalez in the third inning to drive in two more runs and complete the line for starter Max Scherzer. Scherzer is charged with 12 runs, 11 earned, in 2 1/3 innings. Vladimir Guerrero followed with his second single and RBI. Orioles 13, Tigers 0. Luke Scott struck out to end the inning. Bench him. Zach Britton has allowed two hits in three scoreless innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. He's thrown 41 pitches,...

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Scott's slam (updated twice)

March 28, 2011, 9:35am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Luke Scott kept fouling off pitches from Tigers starter Max Scherzer in the first inning. Adding to the drama - the bases were loaded. Scott finally got hold of a ball that didn't slam against the screen behind him, and he drove it over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 4-0 lead. Scott has endured a terrible spring at the plate, but his RBI total climbed to 10 today. He began the day batting .185 with two homers. Brian Roberts led off the inning with a double....

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Bergesen, more notes and Tigers lineup (corrected)

March 28, 2011, 8:04am

Orioles

Bergesen, more notes and Tigers lineup (corrected)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen said he threw about 30 pitches off a bullpen mound today and is scheduled to pitch one or two innings on Wednesday. He's not sure whether that will take place at Twin Lakes Park or during the workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "I threw all my pitches, regular bullpen, and I felt good," he said. "The plan is Wednesday throw one inning, two innings. I don't know exactly. But everything felt good. I feel fine to throw in a game." Bergesen threw only...

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Leftover notes and quotes

March 28, 2011, 9:14am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're ready for today's game, which seems like the least important thing happening in camp today. The Orioles added a bunch of minor leaguers, including Jeff Fiorentino, Rhyne Hughes and Blake Davis. Here are some leftover pregame quotes from manager Buck Showalter: On starting the year with one lefty reliever: "It's not the conventional, but .... with so many young pitchers in our rotation, we're going to err on the side of length there. Like I told you, Clay (Rapada),...

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Two predictions for the O's win total in 2011

March 27, 2011, 2:30pm

Orioles

Two predictions for the O's win total in 2011

I am going to cut to the chase here today. My goal and also prediction for the Orioles for this year is for a season of 82 and 80. That would put to rest the streak of 13 consecutive losing seasons and provide the club with it's most wins since the 1997 group went 98-64, a wire-to-wire first place finish. That would represent a very nice improvement and provide the Orioles with some respectability. It would put them on the road to hopefully a two-year surge upward and perhaps back into a...

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Reimold optioned to Triple-A Norfolk

March 28, 2011, 7:59am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Nolan Reimold was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk this morning, so you can add his name to the list of roster cuts. Reimold batted .315 with three doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage and a .537 slugging percentage. Felix Pie made the team over Reimold, as expected. He's out of options and he's the backup center fielder. Pie is batting .254 with three doubles, one triple, one homer, eight RBIs, a .254 on-base percentage and a .390 slugging...

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Today's lineup

March 28, 2011, 7:22am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The sun is shining here and it looks like we'll play. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C J.J. Hardy SS Zach Britton LHP I should have added in my last post that Mark Hendrickson has been given 48 hours to find another major league job. He isn't obligated to stay in the organization. Nick Green and Clay Rapada will remain in camp despite being cut. Also, Brad...

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Checking on Guthrie (and updating Tillman)

March 27, 2011, 10:23am

Orioles

Checking on Guthrie (and updating Tillman)

SARASOTA, Fla. - While the Orioles are playing the Red Sox today at Ed Smith Stadium, Jeremy Guthrie is making his final exhibition start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. According to the box score, Guthrie has allowed four runs and eight hits in three innings, with one walk, one strikeout, one wild pitch and one hit batter. The Sun's Dan Connolly tweets that Guthrie has thrown 65 pitches, 42 for strikes. Yunel Escobar homered off Guthrie in the third. Guthrie's spring ERA has jumped to...

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Cuts have started (updated)

March 28, 2011, 4:36am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We had thunderstorms overnight and the fields are soaked. No idea whether the Orioles will play today, since the forecast today calls for more rain. It's clearing right now - I see blue sky - but that could change. Still no lineup posted, but David Riske, Rick VandenHurk and Randy Winn have been eliminated from the camp roster. More cuts are coming, but those three are confirmed. Riske and VandenHurk apparently left last night. VandenHurk is out of options, so he would have...

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Tillman on Tillman

March 27, 2011, 11:53am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg allowed a hit and walk and struck out a batter in one scoreless inning. Matt Wieters' two-run single in the bottom of the eighth tied the game, 3-3, and Ryan Adams followed with a single to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Chris Tillman told reporters that he's changed his delivery in the later days of camp, which is interesting timing as he tries to make the team. "I think I felt OK today," he said. "I was talking with Goose (Mark Connor) and Wieters, talking...

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Final thoughts on 4-3 victory

March 27, 2011, 1:13pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Michael Gonzalez breezed through the ninth inning to record the save in the Orioles' 4-3 victory over the Red Sox at sold-out Ed Smith Stadium. Manager Buck Showalter said he contacted Terry Francona before the game, after learning that the Boston manager was aggravated by his comments about general manager Theo Epstein that appear in the April edition of Men's Journal. "I talked to Terry a little bit before the game. I would be, too," Showalter said. "I just felt like...

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Bergesen throws, Francona vents

March 27, 2011, 8:04am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen threw from 60 and 120 feet on flat ground today. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow if the discomfort doesn't return, and he could start Tuesday's exhibition finale against the Blue Jays in Sarasota. "Everything felt OK," he said. "A little tight, a little tender, but it's nothing I can't throw through. I think right now the plan is hopefully a bullpen tomorrow. That's just where we are right now." Bergesen could be instructed to throw...

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Tillman's day (and Uehara's)

March 27, 2011, 11:04am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman threw 103 pitches in 5 2/3 innings today, leaving with two Boston runners on base after he got ahead of Paul Hoover, 0-2, and walked him. Tillman allowed three runs and six hits, with four walks and three strikeouts. He hit David Ortiz to lead off the sixth. That's a lot of pitches in fewer than six complete innings, and the walks remain a concern. However, Tillman's 3.93 ERA makes him look like a staff ace, not someone trying to earn a spot in the...