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A few observations from camp

February 24, 2011, 8:13am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - With Brian Roberts unable to work out again today, Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris took ground balls at second base. J.J. Hardy and Nick Green took turns at shortstop. Derrek Lee and Jake Fox played first base. Mark Reynolds stood alone at third. Robert Andino worked out at shortstop on another field. Reynolds had one bad sequence where he mishandled a chopper and bounced a throw after fielding the next ball cleanly. Otherwise, he was fine. Reynolds and Fox had a mild...

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More on Frank Robinson's speech

February 24, 2011, 10:16am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - According to this report, Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon remains in police custody in the Dominican Republic after he was again denied bail today. Frank Robinson stood underneath his No. 20 that's mounted on Hall of Fame row in the clubhouse and addressed the team before today's workout. "He obviously can command a room," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's been in front of players for quite a while. You can tell he has a real affinity for the Orioles." "The guy's...

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Roberts taking another day off

February 24, 2011, 4:24am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts said his neck is feeling better, but he'll get more treatments today and bypass the workout. Roberts is hoping to take the field again tomorrow or Saturday. X-rays taken on Roberts' neck yesterday were negative. "I'm just trying to get it calmed down," he said. Former Orioles David Segui and Paul Bako are in camp today. Vladimir Guerrero still has his goatee. It's been a slow morning, but at least the clubhouse was open to the media for an hour. It...

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Delaware North Sportservice names chefs for Oriole Park at Camden Yards

February 24, 2011, 7:27am

Orioles

Delaware North Sportservice names chefs for Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Delaware North Companies Sportservice and the Baltimore Orioles today announced that Joshua Distenfeld will serve as the executive chef for Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Baltimore native David Friendlich will serve as sous chef. Distenfeld is an American Culinary Federation (ACF) Certified Executive Chef with 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including managing large-scale culinary operations. Most notably, he has served as executive chef at Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel and...

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Two Orioles make Baseball America's top 100 prospects list

February 23, 2011, 5:36am

Orioles

Even though he has only played nine pro games, Orioles shortstop prospect Manny Machado has been rated as the game's 14th-best prospect by Baseball America. O's lefty pitching prospect Zach Britton was rated 28th by Baseball America, which today is releasing its latest top 100 prospects list. Earlier, Britton was rated 11th by ESPN's Keith Law and 19th by MLB.com. Machado was ranked 24th by MLB.com and 26th by ESPN's Law. No other O's prospects came close to making Baseball America's...

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Scene and heard at Ed Smith Stadium

February 24, 2011, 5:29am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Scene from the clubhouse this morning: Terry Crowley talking hitting while standing with Vladimir Guerrero and Felix Pie. Another scene: Mark Reynolds, Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold sitting at Brady Anderson's locker after the former Orioles outfielder finished working out. A scene that took place behind closed doors, so I didn't actually witness it: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson talking to the team before the workout. His retired number hangs on a wall. Brandon Snyder...

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Post-workout notes

February 23, 2011, 10:05am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rick VandenHurk will follow Jeremy Guthrie to the mound in the second exhibition game. Left-hander Zach Britton will replace Justin Duchscherer in the third game. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem overly concerned about second baseman Brian Roberts' neck. "Muscle spasm. Nothing other than that. Trapezius. Is that right? Day-to-day," Showalter said. "They didn't see any disk issues or anything. It is what it is. We've all woke up with a stiff neck." Showalter...

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Roberts downplays neck issue

February 23, 2011, 8:34am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - It appears that Brian Roberts is fine and only dealing with some stiffness in his neck after leaving camp this morning and undergoing X-rays. Roberts will continue to receive treatment. He's unsure whether he'll return to the field tomorrow, which makes him day-to-day. "Just a stiff neck," he said, downplaying the situation when approached by reporters. "We've probably all had a stiff neck at some point in our life, right? I'm not overly concerned." True, but we...

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Callis feels O's best move is for Britton to start at Triple-A

February 23, 2011, 8:16am

Orioles

Callis feels O's best move is for Britton to start at Triple-A

In an interview, Baseball America's Jim Callis talked about Zach Britton's readiness to pitch in the major leagues. But Callis believes the Orioles' best move is for Britton to begin this season back in the minor leagues. "I think he is ready for the big leagues. He has no obvious weakness and did get in 12 starts last year at Triple-A and pitched well," Callis said. "That said, the Orioles have no shot at contending this year, so from a team standpoint, I don't think it makes any sense...

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Lee could take BP Friday (updated)

February 23, 2011, 8:15am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee is hoping to take batting practice on the field Friday after being restricted to hitting soft tosses in the cage during the first days of the full-squad workouts. Lee, three months removed from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb, won't take BP with the team. The veteran will take his swings against one of the minor league coaches. Earlier today, Lee stood in the cage but kept the bat on his shoulder while Brad Bergesen threw live batting...

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Pitchers added to early exhibition games

February 23, 2011, 6:54am

Orioles

Pitchers added to early exhibition games

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton and right-hander Rick VandenHurk also will make appearances during the first week of the exhibition schedule. Jeremy Guthrie will start the March 1 home opener against the Rays, and Justin Duchscherer will start the following day against the Phillies in Clearwater. Britton will pitch in one of those games, with VandenHurk taking the mound in the other. Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman will pitch in the first game Feb. 28 against the Pirates in...

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Comparing Connor to Kranitz

February 23, 2011, 3:07am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - So did I hear correctly that the Gino Giant is coming back to Baltimore? Best burger around when I was a kid. The clubhouse is closed to the media for the second time in three mornings. On Monday, it was due to physicals and dental and vision exams. Today, our access is limited because of team meetings, including one with umpires. I've been asked many times about the differences between former pitching coach Rick Kranitz and the man who replaced him, Mark Connor. Are...

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Roberts leaves camp

February 23, 2011, 6:21am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - I just arrived in the workroom to find out that Brian Roberts isn't working out today. He left camp with a sore neck. Roberts might need X-rays. That's all we really know at the moment. But since he exited the facility, it makes sense that he'd be going for X-rays. At least it's not his back, though I only play a doctor on this blog, so there could be a connection that I'm missing. Cesar Izturis was re-signed to back up at second base. Robert Andino, Brendan Harris and...

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Scott back in outfield of dreams

February 22, 2011, 1:39pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Want to get under Luke Scott's skin? Are you nuts? It's probably not a good idea, but here's one suggestion if you're in that sort of devious and daring mood: Suggest that he's only suited to be a designated hitter. Then run, do not walk, to the nearest exit. That's been Scott's primary role with the Orioles, but he's projected to be the starting left fielder in 2011. A future Hall of Famer is taking over his former duties. You might have heard of the guy - Vladimir...

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One time through the rotation

February 22, 2011, 9:18am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - You already know that Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman are pitching in the first exhibition game on Feb. 28 versus the Pirates in Bradenton. Here's what you didn't know until today: Jeremy Guthrie is starting the March 1 home exhibition game against Tampa Bay. Justin Duchscherer will start March 2 against the Phillies in Clearwater. Brian Matusz and Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario will pitch in the March 3 game against the Twins in Sarasota, and Jake Arrieta and Ryan Drese will...

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Looking back on one very wise decision

February 22, 2011, 5:06am

Orioles

If we think back to last July, as it appeared that the Orioles were likely to name Buck Showalter as their next manager, there was one great debate ongoing. The debate was about just when Showalter should take over the team. Many fans, it seemed well over 50 percent to me, felt Showalter should not take over the club until the season was over so he could start fresh in the dugout on opening day 2011. We can look back now and say that Andy MacPhail's timing of Showalter's hire could not...

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The time of year when hope does spring eternal

February 19, 2011, 7:10am

Orioles

The time of year when hope does spring eternal

Fans can come up with some interesting theories. One I saw recently was that the reason it was taking so long for Vladimir Guerrero to get his Orioles physical was because he was having second thoughts about signing with the club and would end up elsewhere even after agreeing to terms. Then I saw the headline on Peter Schmuck's Baltimore Sun column that read, "Guerrero looks a bit subdued in signing with the Orioles." Oh, no, I know what is coming next. "See, he really doesn't want to...

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Simon could be released from jail this week

February 21, 2011, 3:49pm

Orioles

Simon could be released from jail this week

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon could be released from a Dominican jail this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday, according to his representatives. Simon has been detained for 49 days following the shooting death of his cousin on New Year's Eve in the town of Luperon. Another man was injured during the celebration. Phil Isaac of the Para Sports Group said a ballistics test proved that the bullet that killed Michael Esteban Castillo Almonte, 25, didn't come from the gun Simon...

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Two thumbs up for Showalter's film

February 21, 2011, 9:54am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The reviews keep pouring in, and it's apparent that manager Buck Showalter's inspirational film is a huge hit with his players. Showalter took his team to a local movie theater last night after everyone gathered at Ed Smith Stadium for a pre-workout meeting. They were treated to a short video that included highlights of past and present players, and a sold-out Camden Yards. Just a reminder of what it was like, and what it could be again. "It was awesome. It was off the...

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Guerrero and Scott take their cuts

February 22, 2011, 7:20am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Minor league catching instructor Don Werner threw batting practice on the Camden Yards back field this morning. He actually turned and watched one of Vladimir Guerrero's fly balls clear the left field fence, and the young boy standing behind it. It was that impressive. Guerrero and Luke Scott drove the ball to the opposite field during their first rounds of BP. Then it was time to unload. Guerrero mashed the last three balls thrown to him. Players around the cage were...