SARASOTA, Fla. - The level of concern emanating from manager Brandon Hyde today following reliever Mychal Givens' second spring appearance didn't register. Nothing above a zero. The needle didn't move. Givens again lasted only two-thirds of an inning and was charged with five runs and four hits. He surrendered a leadoff home run to J.B. Shuck in the fourth and a three-run shot to Josh Bell with two outs in the Orioles' 10-4 loss to the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. A spring ERA of 40.50 was...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb didn't make a quick and unexpected exit today. The veteran right-hander finished what he started, completing his scheduled three innings against the Pirates. He gave up one run and two hits, with a walk and strikeout. Cobb threw 43 pitches, 20 more than he totaled in only two-thirds of an inning in Friday's spring debut versus the Rays. He felt better about his outing "just from a comfort level," a calmness allowing him to proceed through the lineup. "First time...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As Mark Trumbo attempts to reach his target date of March 12 to play in his first exhibition game, manager Brandon Hyde continues to exhibit patience and understanding through the process with no intention of rushing it. The desire to have him in the opening day lineup won't override common sense. "Mark knows how I feel," Hyde said. "I want him to be healthy, so I'm not putting any date on it. I think a player wants to try to get back and I don't want to put a date on it...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was scratched from the lineup today with a left hip flexor strain. Davis sustained the injury while fielding a throw up the line in Sunday's game against the Tigers in Sarasota. He batted yesterday against Jimmy Yacabonis in a simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and persistent discomfort lingered into this morning. The decision was made to replace Davis with Jace Peterson. Davis is considered day-to-day. "His hip flexor is a little...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Right now, the strained lower back muscle that's sidelined right-hander Justin Miller has been treated like a minor injury. But it's one that could have major ramifications for the Nationals bullpen. Miller complained about the problem, which delayed his spring debut until Saturday. And after pitching an inning against the Twins, he still had a problem with lower back soreness. The Nationals shut him down, sent him for an MRI and discovered the muscle strain. Today,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A week remains before Mark Trumbo's target date to make his spring training debut. Whether he's ready for it remains an uncertainty, another reminder given this morning that it's tentative. "We're trying to work toward that," he said. "I'm not sure if we're going to make it or not, but working hard. "It's a progression. Some days are better than others. Trying to remain optimistic. Wish I could give you a little firmer idea, but mixing in the at-bats and stuff." The...

SARASOTA, Fla. - After a winter that started with him playing for Texas, infielder Hanser Alberto was claimed via waivers by the Yankees, and then by the Orioles, and then by the Giants, and then again by the Orioles. He'd like to stay in one place for a while. The Yankees claimed him Nov. 2 from the Rangers and the Orioles claimed him Jan. 11, but he was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Feb. 19 when the club added lefty reliever Josh Osich. Three days later the Giants claimed the...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - You'll notice something a little different today about the starting lineup for the Nationals in their game on MASN against the Red Sox. Max Scherzer is pitching. But for the first time this season, he'll also wield a bat in anger, becoming the first Nats pitcher to hit in a game. Up until this point, the Nats have employed a designated hitter while the pitchers concentrated on, well, pitching. Scherzer is no slouch with the bat, slashing .194/.227/.220 for his career....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb makes his second spring start today as the Orioles host the Pirates. Cobb was limited to 23 pitches in two-thirds of an inning Friday against the Rays, and manager Brandon Hyde will try to stretch him out to at least two innings. Jonathan Villar returns to the lineup after taking a spike in his pinky finger Sunday in Fort Myers. He's starting at shortstop. Trey Mancini remains absent with swelling in his left pinky finger. Drew Jackson is in center field while...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've been warned in song to never fall in love with a dreamer. Former Ravens coach Brian Billick told the media to never fall in love with a guy in shorts, the message delivered each year in training camp. And every baseball manager preaches the dangers of falling in love with stats derived from exhibition games. Love stinks. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is walking that fine line between judging competitors for various roster spots on their spring numbers and resisting the...