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MacPhail: Duchscherer passed two-day physical exam

February 04, 2011, 12:52pm

Orioles

MacPhail: Duchscherer passed two-day physical exam

New Orioles right-hander Justin Duchscherer passed his physical today, but the 33-year-old has had a past that includes two hip operations and just five starts over the last two years. But O's president Andy MacPhail feels good about Duchscherer's health heading into spring camp. The Orioles' doctors gave Duchscherer a more extensive look than usual. "He had a two-day workover," MacPhail said. "They looked at every aspect and he passed. Given his history, it's quite possible there...

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Duchscherer passes physical, signing official (updated)

February 04, 2011, 9:01am

Orioles

Duchscherer passes physical, signing official (updated)

Justin Duchscherer has passed his physical examination, making his one-year contract with the Orioles official. Duchscherer's signing takes the Orioles' 40-man roster to its limit. The right-hander is expected to be part of the team's starting rotation and will report to spring training in Sarasota, Fla., later this month. The Orioles will make Duchscherer available to reporters via a conference call at an undetermined time. His travel plans altered the original schedule. The important...

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The next step for Matt Hobgood

February 03, 2011, 8:14am

Orioles

Pitcher Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 2009, will be seen by O's team physicians in the middle of this month at spring training in Sarasota, Fla.. At that time, the doctors then will determine what will come next for the 20-year-old right-hander. Hobgood has been rehabbing a strained rotator cuff. The examination in mid-February will determine if the rehab process has led to improvement for Hobgood's shoulder. He has yet to begin a throwing program that pitchers...

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Orioles announce spring training invites

February 03, 2011, 12:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles have signed and invited 16 non-roster players to their major league spring training camp. Let's start with the pitchers: Right-handers Mitch Atkins, Ryan Drese, Armando Gabino, Wynn Pelzer, Raul Rivero and Josh Rupe, and left-handers Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada. Position players include catchers Adam Donachie, Michel Hernandez and Caleb Joseph; outfielders Tyler Henson and Randy Winn; and infielders Ryan Adams, Nick Green and Brendan Harris. Randy Winn? Did I forget about...

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MacPhail is playing his cards well with Guerrero

February 04, 2011, 4:39am

Orioles

MacPhail is playing his cards well with Guerrero

No truth to a rumor that, while walking into the warehouse Wednesday Andy MacPhail saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of Vladimir Guerrero rumors. Can anyone even stand six more hours of this? I'm still waiting to find out who offered Guerrero that $8 million dollar deal. Yeah, right. I think MacPhail has handled this situation/negotiation with Guerrero perfectly. He is not going to bid against himself and if Guerrero falls to the Orioles, he'll take him. But clearly, the O's...

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Roberts talks about Showalter

February 03, 2011, 12:02pm

Orioles

One of the biggest curiosities among fans and media is how spring training could change under manager Buck Showalter's guidance. I've never spent seven weeks with him in Florida or Arizona, so I'm not qualified to say. He's built a reputation as a no-nonsense guy, but it's not like the other managers hung piÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â±atas on the backstops and used their stopwatches for potato sack races. Second baseman Brian Roberts was asked at FanFest whether he anticipated a different climate...

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Bordick and Surhoff lend a hand to O's minor leaguers

February 01, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Bordick and Surhoff lend a hand to O's minor leaguers

They are former Orioles and they are still around to help the orange and black. Over the last month, as some of the organization's minor league players took part in drills under the stands at Camden Yards, B.J. Surhoff and Mike Bordick have been among those lending a hand. Players like Tyler Townsend, L.J. Hoes and Tyler Henson have taken part in the three-day-a-week voluntary workouts. The group was led by O's strength and conditioning coach Joe Hogarty and Gary Kendall, who will manage...

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Wondering whether we should be concerned about the Keys' future in Frederick

February 02, 2011, 3:42pm

Orioles

Wondering whether we should be concerned about the Keys' future in Frederick

Here is something I didn't think I'd have to ponder and write about it. It is possible that the Frederick Keys, the Orioles' Single-A Carolina League affiliate, could leave town after this season and move somewhere else? I would guess that is a real long shot, and it's probably too soon to get alarmed, but right now the team and city of Frederick seem locked in a dispute over money and how much the team should pay the city to lease Harry Grove Stadium. Frederick Mayor Randy McClement...

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Where does Duchscherer fit into the rotation?

February 02, 2011, 5:51pm

Orioles

Where does Duchscherer fit into the rotation?

I'm running on fumes this morning. I'll check for more FanFest leftovers later before they go bad like the onion dip that I found in the back of my fridge last week (speaking of fumes). I wanted to address a question regarding new pitcher Justin Duchscherer and the possibility that he could be the Orioles' opening day starter with a good spring. I don't think that manager Buck Showalter has slotted his starters two months before the first game. He still needs to choose five arms. But...

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Nothing new on Vladimir Guerrero

February 02, 2011, 12:22pm

Orioles

I walked into the gym this afternoon and heard the question. It could have been anywhere. Grocery store, bank, dentist's waiting room. "Vlad?" It's been shortened to one word. "Vlad?" I still don't know whether the Orioles will sign him. I still don't know whether that $8 million offer from another team actually exists. I still don't know why he wouldn't accept it if it's true. The Orioles made their offer and aren't budging from it. They hope he accepts it. They won't come...

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More Fanfest leftovers

February 01, 2011, 4:24pm

Orioles

Pitcher Justin Duchscherer will take his physical today. I'm still trying to find out whether his school was delayed two hours. I promised some FanFest leftovers a few days ago and got sidetracked by Duchscherer. And if I had a nickel for every time I wrote the phrase "sidetracked by Duchscherer," I could retire today. New bench coach Willie Randolph was asked whether he reached out to any players over the winter. "Guys nowadays don't call you back too often," he said, laughing....

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Willie Randolph's new culture club

February 02, 2011, 8:42am

Orioles

New bench coach Willie Randolph knows winning. It's on his resume. So how can a team like the Orioles change a losing culture? Let's ask him. "It takes individuals, it takes guys who are willing to commit to changing that as a group, as a team," Randolph said during a break at FanFest. "Changing a culture is not all that tough if you want to get on board and get back to where you were as an organization and as a team. So it's really not that difficult, but that's why it's so important...

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Orioles release 11 minor leaguers

February 02, 2011, 8:44am

Orioles

The Orioles recently released 11 more minor league players, bringing the total number of players released to 33 since the end of last season. The club has two fewer minor league teams now after dropping its Bluefield affiliate and cutting back to one team in the Dominican Summer League. Probably the most well-known of the latest group of players released were infielder Tyler Stampone and pitcher Mick Mattaliano. The 23-year-old Stampone played two seasons for the club and batted .247 with 30...

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Orioles' Brandon Snyder looks to get the magic back in his bat

January 31, 2011, 6:32pm

Orioles

It has been an eventful offseason for Brandon Snyder. He bought a house, added a puppy to the family and got engaged. A fall wedding is planned. Now he wants to have an eventful season and get back to spraying line drives like he did at Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie; he's been unable to do that consistently yet at Triple-A Norfolk. In the summer of 2009, Snyder's star was on the rise. The year before, he had hit .315 with 13 homers and 80 RBIs at Frederick and then he started...

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Hendrickson staying in organization (with quotes)

January 31, 2011, 8:15am

Orioles

Hendrickson staying in organization (with quotes)

The Orioles have reached agreement with free-agent left-hander Mark Hendrickson on a minor league deal with a spring training invitation, according to a team official. Just when Hendrickson thinks he's out, they pull him back in. Actually, the York, Pa. resident never wanted to leave. Hendrickson will try to join Michael Gonzalez as the second left-hander in the bullpen. He'll get competition from Clay Rapada, also signed to a minor league deal over the winter. The Orioles re-signed...

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Simon denied bail, will remain in prison

February 01, 2011, 6:24am

Orioles

Simon denied bail, will remain in prison

According to an Associated Press report in the Dominican Republic, Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon has been denied bail and will remain in prison following the shooting death of his cousin. Here's the story. Defense attorney Dinosa Dilone plans to appeal Tuesday's ruling, according to the report. Simon is accused of firing a shot on New Year's Eve that killed 25-year-old Michel Castillo and injured his brother, 17-year-old Starlling Castillo, in the city of Luperon in Puerto Plata. Simon...

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More Orioles minor league signings

February 01, 2011, 3:09pm

Orioles

According to Baseball America's Matt Eddy, the Orioles have signed three more pitchers to minor league deals. It's not believed that anyone in the group has been invited to spring training, though the complete camp roster hasn't been released. The Orioles reached agreement with right-handers Chris Jakubauskas and Mark Worrell, and left-hander James Houser. This is what you call minor league pitching depth. Houser, a former second-round pick of the Rays, posted a 3.67 ERA for the Marlins'...

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Will Matusz be the man in 2011?

January 30, 2011, 4:54pm

Orioles

If you took a fan vote and asked which O's starter is the best pitcher of the bunch, I bet Brian Matusz would win the vote. He sure ended last year doing a lot of winning on the field. After he picked up just three wins in his first 21 starts through the end of July, the 24-year-old lefty won seven of his final 11 starts of 2010. Matusz went 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his final 10 starts after Buck Showalter took over as manager and was 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA over his final eight starts. The...

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A clearer view of the 25-man roster

January 31, 2011, 1:44pm

Orioles

Now that the Orioles have reached agreement on a one-year deal with pitcher Justin Duchscherer and a minor league deal with left-hander Mark Hendrickson, the 25-man roster comes a little more into focus. However, there are still some fuzzy patches. It's sort of like looking at the flash on a camera. I'm still seeing spots. The 12-man pitching staff is much clearer. Though it isn't a certainly, it's likely that the rotation will consist of Duchscherer, Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Brad...

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Duchscherer's agent talks about the Orioles' appeal

January 31, 2011, 8:04am

Orioles

One of the primary reasons that pitcher Justin Duchscherer chose the Orioles over the Nationals and the other teams interested in signing him was their "serious commitment to winning," according to his agent, Damon Lapa of All Bases Covered Sports Management. "And there's also the fact that the club, at least on paper, has become a formidable lineup," Lapa said. "Any pitcher wants to end up on a team and in a city that can score runs and has veterans behind him and plays good defense. We...