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A few pre-intrasquad notes

February 27, 2011, 7:49am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee looked impressive in the cage today during the club's first batting practice session inside Ed Smith Stadium. He won't play in the intrasquad game, but he took some of the most significant swings of the day. "He's getting a little more comfortable turning it loose," manager Buck Showalter said. Lee's surgically-repaired thumb doesn't restrict his throwing. He's been active in infield drills every morning. Vladimir Guerrero put on another show, launching...

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Duchscherer says no discomfort throwing (updated)

February 27, 2011, 6:48am

Orioles

Duchscherer says no discomfort throwing (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer says he threw from 90 feet today without any discomfort in his hip. He's taking medication to reduce the inflammation. Duchscherer won't make Wednesday's start in Clearwater, but at least he sounded encouraged. "We'll treat it symptomatically," he said. "Hopefully, it's just inflammation." Duchscherer will be re-evaluated tomorrow. He was told yesterday to rest for 48 hours. I'll pass along the adjusted rotation for the first week of exhibition...

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Today's lineups

February 27, 2011, 4:52am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're only talking intrasquad here, but it's still a game and it still comes with lineups. Enjoy. Team 1: Matt Angle RF Randy Winn DH Felix Pie CF Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell 3B Joe Mahoney 1B Ryan Adams 2B Craig Tatum C Pedro Florimon SS Chorye Spoone RHP Team 2: Cesar Izturis 2B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott LF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Adam Jones CF J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Brandon Snyder 1B Chris Jakubauskas RHP Other pitchers scheduled to throw include...

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Roberts is on the field (updated)

February 26, 2011, 5:09am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts has taken the field for the pre-workout stretch. He's also expected to participate in infield drills. Roberts had to get the approval of the athletic training staff. He stated yesterday that it's been a "group effort" when determining whether he could work out. Roberts spent the last three days getting treatment for a stiff neck. He hasn't been able to participate in baseball activities, but he noted that his neck kept improving each...

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Duchscherer's start in question

February 26, 2011, 8:26am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making contingency plans in case Justin Duchscherer is unable to start Wednesday's exhibition game against the Phillies in Clearwater. Duchscherer is being shut down for 48 hours while dealing with a sore hip. The Orioles will re-evaluate him before determining his status for Wednesday. "We'll see what the next step is where he's concerned," manager Buck Showalter said. "There are no tests scheduled at this point. We'll just kind of see what we're...

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Izturis making short to second look simple

February 26, 2011, 4:54am

Orioles

Izturis making short to second look simple

SARASOTA, Fla. - It appears that Twitter has taken the morning off. I haven't been able to access it or post an update in more than an hour. So much for following me at @MASNroch. It's probably just as well. I've been known to stop short. The Orioles put a ping pong table in the middle of the clubhouse, which proves that manager Buck Showalter isn't all business. He'll let the guys have a little fun, as long as it doesn't interfere with their work. J.J. Hardy is ridiculously good. So...

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Duchscherer: "I'm concerned"

February 27, 2011, 3:41am

Orioles

Justin Duchscherer will attempt to play catch today while dealing with soreness in his left hip that could prevent him from making Wednesday's exhibition start against the Phillies in Clearwater. Duchscherer has undergone three hip surgeries, the most recent on his left side on June 7. He skipped yesterday's workout and received treatment. "I feel OK," he said. "I threw my BP session the other day and it felt great. Came in, and the next couple days I've had just a little bit of...

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Is the Baseball America list a sign of trouble for the Orioles?

February 26, 2011, 6:24am

Orioles

I have gotten a similar question this week after just two Orioles were listed among Baseball America's top 100 prospects for 2011. The Rays had seven and the Yankees six players on the same list. "How can the O's have lost for 13 years and that's all we have to show from our farm system," several fans have asked? We need to keep in mind that the Orioles had four players on the same lists in 2009 and 2010. If one big job of a farm system is to send players to the majors, the O's have...

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A few updates and observations

February 26, 2011, 7:04am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer is in the clubhouse, but he's not throwing or talking. Derrek Lee is in uniform, but he's not hitting. Brian Roberts took ground balls at second base and moved to a batting cage for situational hitting. He swung from both sides of the plate without any restrictions against Double-A Bowie pitching coach Kennie Steenstra. There's a piece of good news. Hitting coach Jim Presley kept barking out situations for each hitter. Infield back, man on third. Man...

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Duchscherer dealing with hip soreness (updated)

February 26, 2011, 6:10am

Orioles

Duchscherer dealing with hip soreness (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer isn't on the field today, and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed that the pitcher is dealing with some hip soreness. Add Brian Roberts, lose Duchscherer. Not the kind of break-even day the Orioles wanted. Duchscherer will take off the next 48 hours and be re-evaluated. He's been told to rest and receive treatment. "We'll just have to see how it plays out in the next 48 hours," MacPhail said. "Then, we'll have an idea what...

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Lee not hitting today (updated)

February 26, 2011, 3:50am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee won't take batting practice today after hitting outdoors for the first time yesterday afternoon. Lee said his surgically repaired right thumb is "a little bit tender." "Probably as expected, since it was the first time I hit on the field," he said. Lee plans to take BP tomorrow. "Overly cautious," he said. "I was hoping I would wake up feeling 100 percent, but I kind of knew I'd wake up sore." Meanwhile, Brian Roberts is outside...

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More notes and quotes from today's workout

February 25, 2011, 12:52pm

Orioles

More notes and quotes from today's workout

SARASOTA, Fla. - I can't close out the day without letting manager Buck Showalter say a few words. Showalter noted that second baseman Brian Roberts' neck showed some improvement again today. "Better than yesterday, and the other day was better than that," Showalter said. "We'll see what tomorrow brings." Showalter confirmed that no further tests are scheduled for Roberts. X-rays came back negative. He's apparently been bothered by spasms. "They pretty much feel like they've got...

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More Roberts, more Lee

February 25, 2011, 9:20am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - No sense ignoring Brian Roberts in this entry. He's been a constant presence, though Derrek Lee provided a slight distraction earlier today. Roberts said his neck is "getting better every day." He received more treatment today to alleviate the soreness and also rode a stationary bike. "It's definitely better than it was a couple days ago," he said. "It's the time of the year where you just want to get it completely gone before you go back out there again." Asked...

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Lee hitting outdoors today

February 25, 2011, 3:36am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee will take batting practice off one of the coaches later this morning, after the Orioles hold another series of meetings that caused the clubhouse to close to the media 30 minutes earlier than usual. Lee has been hitting soft tosses in the indoor cage. He's also stepped to the plate during live batting practice with instructions to not swing the bat. You can tell it's been tough for him. He wants to take some hacks, but he's being cautious after having surgery in...

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Quick hits from workout

February 25, 2011, 8:55am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'll plug in more quotes later, but here are some short items from today's workout: Brian Roberts said his neck feels better every day. He also said he could play if it were the regular season. "It's definitely better than it was a couple days ago," he said. Asked if he might work out tomorrow, Roberts said, "I don't try to guess about tomorrow. To tell you the truth, it probably hasn't really been my call. It's a group effort." Derrek Lee will see how his thumb...

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Roberts sits for third straight day (updated)

February 25, 2011, 6:04am

Orioles

Roberts sits for third straight day (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts didn't take the field for the pre-workout stretch and catch, and he was absent during infield drills. Roberts continues to receive treatment on his neck. He told reporters yesterday that he hoped to get back on the field today or tomorrow. Looks like today is out. Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris took grounders at second. Izturis looks every bit as smooth there as he did at short. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said no further tests on...

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Riske getting down to business

February 25, 2011, 5:09am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - One of Alfredo Simon's representatives sent out a text last night alerting reporters that there could be a positive development today in the reliever's case. Simon remains jailed in the Dominican Republic, and he was denied bail again yesterday. It's the never-ending story. Justin Duchscherer noted yesterday that his curveball was much better during his live BP session. One reason: Duchscherer is breaking in a new glove and he's had some trouble gripping the ball. Things...

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Machado is ready for his anticipated first full season in O's organization

February 25, 2011, 4:44am

Orioles

Machado is ready for his anticipated first full season in O's organization

After a winter of workouts where he put on a few pounds to get stronger, shortstop Manny Machado describes himself as "super excited" for his first full season with the Orioles. Machado, the third pick in round one of last June's draft, spent time working out this winter near his Miami home where his workout partners sometimes included the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez. "This whole winter I've been here in Miami working out at the University of Miami with my trainer, Monica Swasey," Machado...

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A few quick hits

February 24, 2011, 9:15am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Before I dash across the street to pick up lunch, I wanted to pass along a few short items. Manager Buck Showalter described second baseman Brian Roberts as being 50 percent improved. Showalter seems fairly confident that Roberts will be back on the field tomorrow morning. "You could tell he felt a lot better today," Showalter said. Roberts wasn't going to play in Monday's exhibition opener in Bradenton. The original plan called for him to start Tuesday's game in...

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Keys GM addresses the team's lease situation

February 24, 2011, 6:27am

Orioles

Keys GM addresses the team's lease situation

Here is an update on the Frederick Keys and their lease situation. Last week, the city of Frederick released a request for proposals for use of Harry Grove Stadium for the 2012 season. Those proposals must be submitted to the city by April 15. The Keys, who have minor league territorial rights to Frederick and Montgomery counties, are the only affiliated team that can file a proposal to play there. But an independent league team could and it appears an Atlantic League team could file a...