SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough is taking an impact test now as the final step in being cleared to play Thursday in a Triple-A game. Lough had been experiencing dizziness and eye floaters that may have been related to neck stiffness. He said the symptoms occurred after he was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run March 8 in Fort Myers. "They cleared me to go for activity and stuff, so I feel pretty good about it, getting back on the right...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has a 12:30 p.m. appointment on Thursday with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, and he will take a red-eye flight back to Sarasota that evening. Machado is scheduled to depart at 6 a.m. Manager Buck Showalter said Machado still hasn't run the bases due to scar tissue breaking up in his left knee, but he's doing infield drills. He could run during his examination by ElAttrache, which would seem to be a requirement before clearing him to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We are still very early into the minor league exhibition games - they just started one week ago - but a few of the Orioles' top pitching prospects are putting up good numbers so far. The club's 2013 first-round draft pick, 19-year-old right-hander Hunter Harvey made his second start for the Single-A Delmarva squad yesterday. Over three shutout innings, he gave up three hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts. In his first outing he went two innings, allowing one run with...

From watching hundreds of baseball games, I've seen some amazing first pitches. I also know that you've seen a fair share of bad ones... Have you ever been watching a first pitch and thought to yourself: "I could throw a better pitch than that." Well, now you have a chance to show off your first pitch skills! MASN is giving you a chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Nats Park on Saturday, April 5, during the Nats' first homestand of the season! How can you win this...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Francisco Peguero, who remains shut down with a strained right wrist, must wear a brace for two weeks due to inflammation and most likely will begin the season on the disabled list. Peguero is out of minor league options and the Orioles wanted to take a long look at him this spring. He's appeared in only six games, going 4-for-15 with a triple and three RBIs. "It's frustrating," he said. "I can't do anything right now. I'm here to make the team and I can't...

SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough is at the Ed Smith Stadium complex today, but he remains out of the lineup while dealing with neck stiffness. Alexi Casilla is starting at second base and batting ninth. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Alexi Casilla 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP Other Orioles pitchers on the lineup card include Tommy Hunter, Brad Brach, Evan Meek, Suk-min Yoon and Kelvin De La...

SARASOTA, Fla. - And down the stretch we come. The Orioles have 10 games remaining on their Grapefruit League schedule, including split-squad games March 26 against the Red Sox in Fort Myers and the Rays in Port Charlotte. They also play their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides, on March 29 at Harbor Park. They're home today against the Rays at 1:05 p.m., with Wei-Yin Chen making his fourth start. He's allowed three runs and struck out six over nine innings. Manager Buck Showalter...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy and outfielder Adam Jones are two of just four players last season to win both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award. The others are Yadier Molina and Paul Goldschmidt. That is a nice double of defense and power, two elements that can help any team win. Hardy leads all major league shortstops with 77 homers and 224 RBIs since joining the Orioles in 2011. So is he more proud of his bat or his glove? "That's a tough question. Both," he said....

SARASOTA, Fla. - When I interviewed pitcher T.J. McFarland on Saturday morning in the Orioles clubhouse, I asked the left-hander a question. And I pretty much knew what answer I would get. I asked McFarland if he would rather pitch out of the bullpen for the Orioles or get starter innings at Triple-A Norfolk? "That's an easy one," he said. "I don't know what is going to happen. I don't think anyone does right now. Just want to keep throwing well and have them make a tough decision. But...

We are so close to the regular season starting. Now, if only this pesky snow would leave us so the spring temperatures can come to Baltimore. While we wait for the season to begin, make sure you're up to date with all the latest on the Birds. Here are a few stories from around the nation that you may have missed about the Orioles. * Tommy Hunter, the favorite to be the O's new closer, has an interesting take on the game he plays for a living. "Baseball is failing man's sport and...