Pitcher Alfredo Simon faced 19 batters and threw 64 pitches yesterday in an extended spring training game at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, Fla. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Chicago that Simon didn't allow a run, struck out six averaged 94 mph with his fastball. Simon will pitch again on Thursday, though the Orioles haven't determined whether it will happen in Sarasota or with one of their minor league affiliates, according to a team official. Also, Brian Matusz had a good...

I pointed out earlier today that Felix Pie is 5-for-9 lifetime against White Sox's starter Gavin Floyd. Orioles manager Buck Showalter saw the same stat. Look who's in today's lineup: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Felix Pie CF Robert Andino SS Zach Britton LHP Pie is making his first start since April 17. He has three at-bats since that game in Cleveland.

Maybe it's just my sense of humor, but I think the Orioles should make Vladimir Guerrero walk to U.S. Cellular field today. No team shuttle, no cabs. Guerrero went the entire month of April without a walk. And without a 3-0 count. At some point this season, a manager will order an intentional walk with first base open, and Guerrero will swing at two of the pitches. Maybe three. The Orioles finished the month of April with a 12-13 record, their most wins in the first month since 2007. That...

A couple of Orioles stats and facts to check out as Zach Britton takes the mound in Chicago today in Game 3 of a four-game series in search of his fifth win. * When starting pitcher Chris Tillman gave up just one earned run over five innings last night, it was the sixth time over the last 11 games an O's starter allowed two earned runs or fewer. They have had eight quality starts in that stretch and the starters' ERA is 3.29 over the 11 games. * In this series, the Orioles' bullpen has...

Now that Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is going to be out of the lineup for an extended period of time, what can the team do to add some punch to an offense that continues to struggle to put runs on the board? I started to think of possible solutions available right now on the current 25-man roster. One possible avenue is more playing time for Laynce Nix, who has had some big hits in limited duty this season. Nix has cranked game-winning home runs against the New York Mets and San...

The Orioles have started a seven-game road trip with back-to-back wins at Chicago after tonight's 6-2 victory. The Orioles end April with a record of 12-13 after going 5-18 through April last year. The Birds have won four of their last five games. Not a bad April record, considering they lost eight in a row at one point in the month. Buck Showalter talks with Gary Thorne about Michael Gonzalez's outing in the O's 6-2 win Chris Tillman allowed just one run over five-plus innings in his...

The last time Michael Gonzalez took the mound, he threw 25 pitches in one-third of an inning and was booed by the Camden Yards crowd as he walked to the dugout with his head down. Gonzalez was charged with two runs and two hits in a 6-2 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday. He was encouraged afterward, despite the numbers, and manager Buck Showalter stated that the left-hander would find much better results if he brought the same stuff into his future appearances. Well, Gonzalez pitched two...

Struggling reliever Mike Gonzalez just did a very nice job in the last of the sixth as the Orioles were able to hold onto a lead tonight in their game at Chicago. The O's are up 2-1 in the seventh. Gonzalez came on for starter Chris Tillman with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth. He got Adam Dunn looking and then Alex Rios hit a fly ball to medium center field. Adam Jones made the catch and a nice one-hop throw home, but Jake Fox could not hang on to the throw and a run...

Not to keep comparing Matt Wieters to Jake Fox behind the plate, but Adam Jones' throw to the plate in the sixth easily beat Alexei Ramirez. However, Fox couldn't hold onto the ball, and Alex Rios was credited with a sacrifice fly that cut the Orioles' lead to 2-1. Pretty gutsy of manager Buck Showalter to bring in left-hander Michael Gonzalez with the bases loaded and no outs. Gonzalez should have been back in the dugout without a run scoring. Gonzalez struck out two and induced a fly...

The Orioles today announced that they have received catcher John Hester from the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete their December 2010 trade for third baseman Mark Reynolds. Hester has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. A 13th-round selection out of Stanford University by the Diamondbacks in 2006, Hester has batted .263 (10-38) in 10 games with the Triple-A Reno Aces this season. In 300 career minor league games, he has thrown out 29% of baserunners. Hester played in 53 major league games for...