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Today's lineups

March 02, 2011, 3:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm heading to Clearwater later this morning. Here's the Orioles' lineup: Randy Winn RF Felix Pie CF Josh Bell 3B Matt Wieters DH Nolan Reimold LF Jake Fox C Brendan Harris 2B Joe Mahoney 1B Cesar Izturis SS Chris Tillman RHP Left-hander Zach Britton will follow Tillman to the mound. Left-hander Michael Gonzalez also will pitch today. Mahoney said he's eager to get some at-bats after fouling a ball off his right knee during Sunday's intrasquad game. For the...

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Ken Rosenthal takes a shot or two at the Orioles

March 01, 2011, 3:58pm

Orioles

Well, it wasn't Keith Law this time. A frequent critic of the Orioles over the years, Ken Rosenthal takes a few pokes at the team in a column today. The former Baltimore Sun reporter and columnist, who now works for Fox Sports and MLB Network, makes some valid points and remains, in my opinion, one of the top writers/analysts that covers the game. However, Rosenthal does seem to often have a little extra zing or two heading the O's way. To me, the timing of today's posting, on the same...

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Showalter time

March 01, 2011, 11:17am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter gave today a passing grade. A nice ceremony before the first pitch to celebrate a refurbished Ed Smith Stadium, and an inspired power display that triggered a 12-6 victory over the Rays. Who could complain? "I'm glad that the weather held out for us," Showalter said. "It was a lot of fun. You couldn't have scripted it much better. It was a good start for the ballpark and everything. The organization and the city of Sarasota put a lot of time and...

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Markakis speaks

March 01, 2011, 10:24am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's attendance: 7,497. That's a record for Ed Smith Stadium. Jason Berken gave up two runs in the top of the seventh inning while I was waiting for Nick Markakis in the clubhouse. That's what happens when I leave my seat. The Orioles held a 10-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh until Brandon Snyder doubled to score two runs. Make it 12-6. David Riske only retired two batters in the sixth. He allowed the back-to-back homers to Manny Ramirez and B.J. Upton, and Casey...

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Guthrie talks about today's outing

March 01, 2011, 9:43am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here are some quotes from Jeremy Guthrie, who retired all six batters he faced today: On his outing: "Everything felt like it left off at the end of last season, so that's good. I haven't thrown a strike in five months, so it's nice to go out there and be able to do that. Work ahead. The command wasn't tremendous, but I told Matt (Wieters) we would work on corners the next couple times, I guess. We worked on strikes." On the offensive outburst: "The guys are taking...

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Markakis having big day (updated)

March 01, 2011, 9:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - First base coach Wayne Kirby walked over to Nick Markakis this morning and asked whether the right fielder was ready to go to work after he stayed back in camp yesterday while the Orioles opened their exhibition schedule in Brandenton. Markakis responded with a nod and a fist bump. Boy, was he ready. Markakis has homered twice, singled and driven in four runs through four innings. He connected twice off Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine and lined an RBI single off reliever...

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Markakis, Guerrero and Jones homer in first

March 01, 2011, 8:20am

Orioles

Markakis, Guerrero and Jones homer in first

SARASOTA, Fla. - I almost forgot that a game was being played today. Brian Roberts singled off Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine in his first spring at-bat, and Nick Markakis followed with a home run to right field on a 1-1 pitch. One out later, Vladimir Guerrero crushed the first pitch thrown to him. The ball cleared the left-center field fence in about three seconds. Orioles 3, Rays 0. Update: Adam Jones just cleared the seats in the party deck beyond the left field fence. That's three...

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Duchscherer feeling fine this morning (updated)

March 01, 2011, 4:00am

Orioles

Duchscherer feeling fine this morning (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer remains encouraged by the condition of his left hip this morning. "Everything was OK yesterday," he said. "It's one of those weird things where guys who have surgery and come back might have a day or two where they just feel concerned, worried. So far, since the other day, everything's felt fine. I threw off flat ground, and they have a half mound, and everything was fine. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it was just a one-day cranky...

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Fox and Markakis tee off in second (updated)

March 01, 2011, 8:37am

Orioles

Fox and Markakis tee off in second (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Fox just unloaded on Andy Sonnanstine, figuring that the Rays' starter is fair game today. Fox, batting ninth today, homered to left-center field on the first pitch thrown to him. Orioles 5, Rays 0. Matt Wieters flied to left before Fox stepped to the plate. Fox is starting at first base today. He's trying to make the club as the backup catcher or second utility infielder. Just as I was going to send this entry, Nick Markakis launched his second home run in two...

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Passing along rehab advice: Spoone has been where Erbe is going

February 28, 2011, 6:50pm

Orioles

Passing along rehab advice: Spoone has been where Erbe is going

As Brandon Erbe continues to progress from his surgery last August to repair a torn labrum, he can turn to Chorye Spoone for advice. A fellow Maryland native, Spoone had shoulder surgery in September 2008 and has pretty much made a full recovery after pitching 132 innings last summer for Double-A Bowie. "I told him there will be days when you feel like something is hurt in your arm and it hurts to throw, like during your throwing program," Spoone said. "But you need to realize that the...

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Lee: "I don't foresee it being too much longer"

March 01, 2011, 7:11am

Orioles

Lee: "I don't foresee it being too much longer"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee took batting practice for the third straight day as he draws closer to playing in his first exhibition game. Lee can't pinpoint when he'll debut for the Orioles, but his surgically repaired right thumb is responding well to the BP sessions and fielding drills. "Hopefully soon," he said. "Today was the third day in a row hitting off coaches and it's still feeling good. I don't see a reason to keep delaying it. I'm still going to be cautious, but I'm...

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Waiting on Lee

March 01, 2011, 5:51am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - A light rain is falling at the newly refurbished Ed Smith Stadium as the Orioles take batting practice. Not a drop the entire time we've been here until today. Naturally. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't provided an exact date when first baseman Derrek Lee will make his Orioles' debut in an exhibition game. He's mostly leaving it up to Lee, who continues to take batting practice and participate in fielding drills. "I don't think anything's imminent," Showalter said....

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Showalter time

February 28, 2011, 11:34am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - With the wind blowing out to left field today, and lifting up a few houses, manager Buck Showalter had to be pleased with his pitchers. They allowed four runs, the last two on Miles Durham's homer off Josh Rupe in the bottom of the ninth that produced two unearned runs. Lyle Overbay homered off left-hander Clay Rapada in the fifth inning. "Rapada had as good an inning as anybody and gave up (a home run)," manager Buck Showalter said. "You've got to look at the...

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Bergesen: "I felt good today for the first outing" (updated)

February 28, 2011, 9:48am

Orioles

Bergesen: "I felt good today for the first outing" (updated)

BRADENTON, Fla. - Craig Tatum's infield single produced another run in the sixth inning and increased the Orioles' lead to 3-1. Matt Angle crashed into the center field fence while running down a long drive in the bottom of the sixth. He collapsed to the ground after making the throw, but he stayed in the game. Koji Uehara ran the count full to the leadoff hitter, Jose Tabata, and gave up a single into center field. Must be the first exhibition game. A run scored off Uehara with two...

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Encouraging news on Duchscherer and others

February 28, 2011, 11:06am

Orioles

Encouraging news on Duchscherer and others

BRADENTON, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer has a lot to learn about being shut down for 48 hours. After playing catch yesterday, Duchscherer threw off flat ground, a flat mound and a half mound this morning in Sarasota. Manager Buck Showalter stayed back to watch before heading to Bradenton for the Orioles' 6-4 victory over the Pirates. Showalter said that Duchscherer was throwing with "some hops" on the half mound and didn't have any discomfort in his left hip. Duchscherer will take off...

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Orioles build on lead (updated)

February 28, 2011, 10:25am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Brendan Harris doubled with the bases loaded to score two runs in the top of the eighth, and Robert Andino followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the Orioles' lead to 6-2. Does this make you feel any better about the 1979 World Series? What about '71? Same here. I'm still bitter. Nolan Reimold has homered and walked three times. He raced home on Harris' double to right-center field. As I mentioned earlier, Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-3 in his Orioles' debut. When...

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Reimold goes deep (updated)

February 28, 2011, 8:25am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Nolan Reimold just gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead over the Pirates with a long home run leading off the second inning. Reimold crushed a 1-0 pitch from left-hander Paul Maholm. There's a strong wind blowing out to left, but Reimold didn't need much help with that one. The Orioles hit three homers in yesterday's intrasquad game, though those stats aren't official. Reimold and Felix Pie could be competing for one outfield spot. Pie doubled and scored in the first, and also...

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What to make of spring training stats?

February 28, 2011, 5:48am

Orioles

So now we get to the next phase of spring training. The games begin. They don't count, but for the fans not heading to Sarasota, it gives them some stats, pitching lines, home runs, and wins and losses to track. Mike Hargrove used to say something about September and March being like fool's gold. A player's performance at the end of the year after the callups, or in spring training can be quite deceiving. Every year, someone hits a ton in March then can't buy a hit the first week of...

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Two scoreless for Drese (updated)

February 28, 2011, 9:14am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Drese retired all six batters he faced today, getting four ground balls, a fly ball and a called third strike. All three outs in the third inning came on grounders to shortstop J.J. Hardy. Andrew McCutchen almost beat out a grounder in the fourth. Cesar Izturis bobbled the ball and took his time making the throw to first. McCutchen can fly. Drese hasn't pitched in the majors since making two starts with the Nationals in 2006. He looked good today. Clay Rapada is...

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Guerrero legs out another one (updated)

February 28, 2011, 8:16am

Orioles

BRADENTON, Fla. - Former Pirates manager John Russell was announced as the third base coach, bringing a huge outbreak of indifference. You could have heard a pin drop - much like the crowd's reaction at every joke from last night's Oscar telecast. No applause for Russell, no jeers, nothing but absolute silence. So much for a warm homecoming. J.J. Hardy struck out looking to begin today's game. Felix Pie followed with a sharp grounder that deflected off third base and skipped into left...