So Brian Matusz gave up three runs. That matched the total runs he had given up in his three previous outings. They said he didn't have his best stuff, yet Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday went a combined 0-for-6 against him. All pitchers should struggle so. With a 3.10 spring ERA and 19 strikeouts to three walks in 20 1/3 exhibition innings, the kid is playing to rave reviews throughout Florida. Will fans get carried away with their expectations for the lefty? Am I Polish? Yes and yes. ...

Whether he's getting hit with batted balls or getting sore after shooting a commercial, maybe nothing can stop Brad Bergesen from his mission to become a solid Major League pitcher. Throughout his career Bergesen has heard the critics - he doesn't throw hard enough, he doesn't strikeout enough hitters, he's just not a top prospect. Click here for a recent Fangraphs article where the author seems to want to convince himself that Bergesen is a decent pitcher, but just can't. In fairness...

I was told again this afternoon that the Orioles won't be issuing a statement regarding the Stockstill brothers before Friday. They're expected to announce that David and John have switched roles. David will become director of international scouting, and John will become director of player development. Sounds like a Lindsay Lohan movie. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail declined to comment when I approached him in the visiting clubhouse after the game, but a member of the...

Opening statement: "We pitched good enough to win. I'm glad we got Matusz stretched out. We got those other guys in." On Brian Matusz: "He wasn't as crisp, he wasn't as sharp, but he knows how to pitch. He knows how to pitch without his best stuff. That was obvious today. And he was good. He was good." On Will Ohman: "It seems like every situation I've brought him in has been to match up and he's gotten the job done. That's what you want. You want a guy who doesn't take long to...

Brian Matusz didn't have his best stuff today, but he turned in a quality start. Another encouraging sign from him. "Today was one of those days where I never really got in a good groove, and you're going to have those days," he said. "You have games where you feel great, and games where you have to grind and battle through it. I was having a tough time getting on top of my pitches. I feel like I didn't have a very good downward plane on my fastball. And all the other pitches work off...

Will Ohman faced one batter and struck him out. That's 6 1/3 scoreless innings for Ohman this spring, with two hits allowed, two walks and 10 strikeouts. Think he'll make the team? Jim Johnson retired both batters he faced after replacing Ohman. Mike Gonzalez allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth. He threw 23 pitches, 11 for strikes. Gonzalez walked the leadoff hitter, Colby Rasmus, and David Freese's two-out double increased St. Louis' lead to 4-2. Gonzalez should have gotten a...

Will Ohman is warming in the bullpen, so Brian Matusz appears to be done after six innings. Matusz allowed three runs and nine hits. That's two more hits than his spring total before today. He also walked a batter and struck out one. I'll update this entry with his official pitch count. My unofficial total is 83, but I don't trust me right now. Update: It's safe to trust me. Matusz threw 83 pitches, 53 for strikes. Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday were a combined 0-for-5 with a...

Did I mention that Brian Matusz's grandparents are here today? Matusz has raised the bar so high this spring, today's effort looks like a real struggle. The Cardinals strung together back-to-back singles with one out in the fourth, executed a double steal and tied the game on David Freese's double to right. Matusz has allowed two runs and six hits through the fourth. He's thrown around 60 pitches. I've lost track, but I'll get the official count later. Brandon Snyder is having a nice...

I asked Chris Tillman about his back again this morning. "Real good," he said. And that's your Chris Tillman back update for the day - until he starts for the Orange Team in today's intrasquad game that begins at 1:05 p.m. Tillman will oppose Jake Arrieta, but not for long. They're both scheduled to pitch one inning. We'll also get a look at Alfredo Simon, who hasn't pitched since undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on May 5. His velocity has been...

It was only a matter of time. ORANGE TEAM Felix Pie LF Cesar Izturis SS Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Lou Montanez RF Justin Turner 2B Jeff Salazar CF Luis Bernardo DH BLACK TEAM Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Luke Scott 1B Ty Wigginton 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chad Moeller C Blake Davis SS Caleb Joseph DH Rhyne Hughes will replace Pie and play left field in the fourth inning. Also in the fourth, Pedro Florimon will replace Izturis, Scott Moore will replace...