Orioles cut eight players from spring camp

Orioles cut eight players from spring camp
The Orioles today announced eight spring training roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 30 players. The Orioles optioned outfielder Nolan Reimold to Triple-A Norfolk and outfielder Randy Winn asked for, and was granted, his unconditional release. Non-roster invitees left-handers Clay Rapada and Mark Hendrickson, right-handers David Riske, Ryan Drese and Pat Egan, and infielder Nick Green have been assigned to minor league camp. With the moves, the Orioles have 30 players in camp...

Don't downplay Wieters' impact on 4-0 start

Don't downplay Wieters' impact on 4-0 start
Matt Wieters has gotten a bit of heat for how he's fared early on in his major league career. You might be aware of this by now. Following a 2010 season in which Wieters hit just .249 with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs, some baseball publications were already calling him a bust, and analysts and scouts might have been left wondering whether they'd missed on a can't-miss prospect. Well, just four games into the 2011 season, it's already clear how much of a factor the Orioles' young catcher is...

Hearing from the Earl of Baltimore

Hearing from the Earl of Baltimore
Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver threw out the first pitch before today's game. He was asked what he thought about that and gave a real honest answer. "I don't want my performance to interfere and I certainly don't want to jinx them. We've gotta get a win today," he said. Weaver said he's impressed with the work of current skipper Buck Showalter. "Unreal. He's going to be a favorite here for a long, long time. Whoever invented the phrase 'Buck's Birds,' that should stick,"...

Remembering Ernie Tyler, pregame festivities (with video)

Remembering Ernie Tyler, pregame festivities (with video)
The pregame festivities began with a touching video tribute to longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler, who passed away Feb. 10. A plaque now hangs outside the Ernie Tyler Umpires' Room. The umpires will wear wrist bands with Tyler's initials. Nice touch. Manager Buck Showalter received a prolonged ovation, which he acknowledged with a tip of his cap. You knew it was coming, and it didn't disappoint. Showalter stood with his arms folded while a highlight video played on the big screen,...

Guthrie hospitalized with flu (updated)

Guthrie hospitalized with flu (updated)
Jeremy Guthrie is hospitalized with a bad case of the flu and could miss today's Orioles home opener at Camden Yards. The right-hander delivered the message in this tweet a short time ago. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed the news a few minutes later while meeting with reporters. Guthrie, who won the Orioles' season opener Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the Rays, said he will be rooting for a victory from the hospital. He's still scheduled to make Wednesday's start against the...

Dad's decision: Opener a valid reason for early dismissal

Dad's decision: Opener a valid reason for early dismissal
This morning, plenty of parents faced a dilemma as they sent their kids off to school: How to word the letter to administrators requesting an early dismissal. Officially, there are a plethora of reasons why a kid in or around Baltimore would need to leave school a little early today. Doctor's appointments usually don't arouse much suspicion. Ditto for a dental exam. Maybe a funeral. Whatever the reason, sometime around noon or a little after, little Johnny or Jane will be packing up books...

Today's lineup

Today's lineup
The batting cage has been rolled on the field. We're getting closer to first pitch. No ivy in center field. And I'm pretty sure those are drink rails in the second deck in left field. Here's the Orioles' lineup, which will look more familiar to you: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie LF J.J. Hardy SS Jake Arrieta RHP

Startling stats by starters (updated twice)

Startling stats by starters (updated twice)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Tillman and Zach Britton - not exactly the top three you envisioned when putting together your rotation over the winter - held the Rays to one run and six hits in 20 innings in this series. Jake Arrieta has three tough acts to follow in tomorrow's home opener, which I'm told will be played with temperatures in the 70s. I really hope it holds true. Guthrie tossed eight scoreless innings in Friday night's season-opener, allowing only three hits....
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Britton is here

Britton is here
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Zach Britton showed up at Tropicana Field today and sat in the left field seats. Just a rookie pitcher and his thoughts. Britton got the surprise call yesterday that he was joining the Orioles in St. Petersburg and making his major league debut tomorrow afternoon against the Rays. He'll take it all in before taking the mound. "It's exciting," he said. "I was walking around because the last time I came here, it was the game before Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit. I...

Orioles place LHP Brian Matusz on disabled list

Orioles place LHP Brian Matusz on disabled list
The Orioles today announced that they have placed LHP Brian Matusz on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 30, with a strained left intercostal muscle. The Orioles have recalled LHP Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk and he is scheduled to make his major league debut this afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. Britton, 23, won the Jim Palmer Prize as the Orioles' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2010. He will wear uniform number 53.

An exciting win and 2-0 start for the Orioles

An exciting win and 2-0 start for the Orioles
From 2 and 16 to 2 and 0. Pitching, defense and a three-run homer. Somewhere Earl Weaver must have enjoyed tonight's 3-1 win over Tampa. For someone like me that enjoys pitching and defense more than a high-scoring game, these have been two very fun games to watch. Yes, like many of you I will bet, I thought Ben Zobrist had hit a game-winning, three-run homer. But it didn't happen and Nick Markakis, maybe the best fielder in the game today without a gold glove, made a superb, game-saving...

Final thoughts on Orioles' 3-1 victory

Final thoughts on Orioles' 3-1 victory
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles were lucky to escape Tropicana Field with one win in last year's opening series. They'll go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon. Oh, how times have changed. "This has always been a tough place for us and I think for a lot of people in the last three or four years," said second baseman Brian Roberts. "You start to have flashbacks to other years. You just know how difficult it is to win here. The atmosphere, the way their team sets up, they always play...

Talking about Markakis' defensive gem

Talking about Markakis' defensive gem
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman threw six hitless innings, Brian Roberts broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer, and everybody wants to talk about Nick Markakis. I'm fine with it. Markakis made one of the most outstanding, clutch catches you'll ever see, taking away a game-tying extra-base hit from Ben Zobrist with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to preserve a 3-1 victory over the Rays. Markakis leaped for the ball, caught it at the top of the fence and crashed into the...

The value of Uehara

The value of Uehara
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Rays made things interesting in the eighth. And by "interesting," I mean heart-pounding. Michael Gonzalez returned to his little dome of horrors and walked the first two batters he faced, including Ben Zobrist on four pitches. He fell behind, 2-0, to Johnny Damon before retiring him on a foul pop. Gonzalez was done. In his place came Koji Uehara, who didn't walk a batter in his last 32 appearances of 2010. Uehara got a called third strike on pinch-hitter Sam...

Scott left game with groin injury

Scott left game with groin injury
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Luke Scott is listed as day-to-day after straining his right groin muscle during tonight's game. Felix Pie pinch-ran for Scott in the seventh inning after the veteran reached on a fielder's choice. It proved to be a key substitution, as Pie threw out B.J. Upton at the plate to end the bottom of the seventh and keep the game scoreless. Pie had replaced Scott in left field. We weren't aware of the injury until after the Orioles' 3-1 win. It just looked like sound...

Pregame notes and quotes (updated)

Pregame notes and quotes (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I had a little time to kill before the Orioles took the field for batting practice, so I asked J.J. Hardy about last night's rundown that ended with him plowing into the Rays' B.J. Upton. Third base umpire Scott Barry called Upton out, which brought manager Joe Maddon from the dugout for a prolonged argument. Hardy assumed that he was guilty of obstruction, which would have stoked an eighth-inning rally. Hardy spun around and almost spiked his glove after making...

A no-no no more (updated)

A no-no no more (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Well, it was fun while it lasted. B.J. Upton singled to center field off Orioles reliever Jeremy Accardo with two outs in the seventh inning to break up the collective no-hit bid. I could have sworn I ordered the combination no-hit platter tonight. It was a clean single, and it came after Brian Roberts made a nice backhanded stop and off-balance throw to retire Dan Johnson. Upton stole second despite a pitch-out, with catcher Matt Wieters bobbling the ball and making...

Tillman makes it interesting (updated)

Tillman makes it interesting (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Rays have two baserunners through five innings against Chris Tillman, both coming on walks. That's it. TIllman has thrown 80 pitches, so getting him through the ninth will be quite a challenge. But hey, he wasn't even supposed to start tonight. Kelly Shoppach swung through a 92 mph fastball to end the fifth, the 10th consecutive batter retired by Tillman. Tillman had to fight to make the club out of spring training, and it mostly happened because Justin...

Orioles-Rays lineup, Simon and Matusz updates

Orioles-Rays lineup, Simon and Matusz updates
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Here are the lineups for tonight's game at Tropicana Field: For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Tillman RHP For the Rays: Zobrist 2B Damon LF Longoria 3B Ramirez DH Johnson 1B Upton CF Joyce RF Shoppach C Brignac SS Shields RHP Also, an Orioles official confirmed that pitcher Alfredo Simon has obtained his visa and will enter the U.S....

Tillman in the first (updated)

Tillman in the first (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Tillman blanked the Rays in the first inning, but they made him work for it. Tillman went to a three-ball count to the first three hitters, though he retired Ben Zobrist on a foul pop up and struck out Johnny Damon on a 91 mph fastball. Evan Longoria walked after taking two curveballs out of the strike zone with a 1-1 count and a 92 mph fastball that also missed. Manny Ramirez fell behind, 0-2, looked at a 94 mph fastball that missed outside and lined to right to...