Play ball

Play ball
We're a few minutes away from the first pitch. Nothing wrong with starting two hours late. I'm told that Cole Hamels was supposed to pitch in a B game today, but the rain forced its cancellation. He'll follow Jamie Moyer to the mound in the regular game. Trembley met with closer Mike Gonzalez last week to make sure he could count on the left-hander for Opening Day. "I said, 'Hey, I need to know that when I go to bed at night, I'm going to sleep a little bit better knowing that...

Millwood on the mound (part 2)

Millwood on the mound (part 2)
Kevin Millwood fell behind 2-0 to leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins and gave up a double to right-center field. He got a strike on Placido Polanco and gave up a single into center field. Polanco took third when Adam Jones' throw deflected off Garrett Atkins' glove. Was it too late for a rainout? Chase Utley struck out on three pitches. Ryan Howard struck out looking with the count full. Jayson Werth flied to center with the count full. It wasn't too late for a rapid recovery. Millwood threw...
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More Millwood (part 2)

More Millwood (part 2)

Nolan Reimold's sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field in the third inning brought home Ty Wigginton with the tying run. Wigginton doubled and took third on Jimmy Rollin's error. Nick Markakis has the Orioles' other hit, a double in the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Millwood wiggled off the hook. Millwood gave up a leadoff single to Rollins on a fly ball that dropped near the line. Luke Scott ran a long way and still didn't get close to it. Placido Polanco fouled out to catcher Matt Wieters, who made a nice catch in front of the folding chairs that line part of the padded fence beside the dugout. Chase Utley struck out for the second time, the bat flying out of his hands and sailing over Garrett Atkins' head. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth walked to load the bases, but Raul Ibanez bounced to second. Millwood threw 28 pitches, 16 strikes. He's up to 57 pitches. This is Millwood's longest official outing - we're not counting his five innings in an intrasquad game - and it's the first time an opponent hasn't batted around against him. Hope I didn't jinx him. Part 2: Kevin Millwood struck out two batters and walked pitcher Jamie Moyer in a scoreless fourth. Dewayne Wise and Paul Hoover went down swinging. Millwood threw 20 pitches, 13 for strikes. He's thrown 77 pitches, 47 strikes, through four innings. Cody "Give me back my son!" Ransom has replaced Rollins at shortstop.

Nolan's rollin! (with Millwood update)

Nolan's rollin! (with Millwood update)
Nolan Reimold just collected his first hit of the spring, a single off the left field fence with two outs in the fifth inning. The ball was hit so hard that Reimold had no shot at a double. Raul Ibanez played the carom perfectly and got the ball back to the infield as Reimold took a wide turn around first. Reimold was 0-for-22 before ending his skid. Players applauded him from the dugout. Luke Scott gave him the "spotlight" gesture. I can't wait to ask Reimold about his 1-for-22 on...
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Millwood's done - and so are the Terps

Millwood's done - and so are the Terps
The entire press box was fixated on the end of the Maryland-Michigan State game. Way too many MSU grads sitting near me. Kevin Millwood was charged with one run and five hits in five innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches, 59 for strikes. I don't even care. I'm still mourning the Terps loss. Will Ohman replaced Millwood and walked the leadoff batter. He struck out the next three. Again, I don't care.
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Gonzo and game updates

Gonzo and game updates
Run-scoring singles by Lou Montanez, Matt Wieters and Brandon Snyder have given the Orioles a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. Mike Gonzalez tossed a scoreless seventh, allowing a two-out double and striking out one batter. "I feel much better," he said. "Every time I'm going out there, I'm feeling a little better. Getting more into my rhythm and timing. I definitely feel like the ball's coming out of my hand a lot beter. It's definitely a good time to start getting in a...

Millwood on Millwood

Millwood on Millwood
So much for working on things. Kevin Millwood treated today's start like a regular-season game as he held the Phillies to one run over five innings. That included throwing his changeup in more normal counts and circumstances "I didn't use it a lot," he said. "Today, I used it more in situations when I'd probably use it in a game and I tried to pitch this game like it was a regular-season ballgame. Just try to get people out. Today was the first time I just kind of said, 'screw it' and...

Orioles HOF

Orioles HOF
Former Orioles pitching coach and manager Ray Miller has been elected to the Orioles' Hall of Fame. Former catcher and manager Johnny Oates will be inducted posthumously as a selection of the Veteran's Committee. Longtime baseball operations employee Lenny Johnston will be enshrined as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. Five Orioles pitchers were 20-game-winners under Miller's tutelage - Mike Boddicker in 1984, Scott McGregor and Steve Stone in 1980, Mike Flanagan in 1979 and Jim...

Greetings from Jupiter

Greetings from Jupiter
I almost took a wrong turn at Uranus. I'm sitting in the press box at Roger Dean Stadium as the Marlins take infield practice. Still no sign of the Orioles, who are bringing two buses from Sarasota. One bus will head back to Sarasota later today with the players who aren't staying for tomorrow's game against the Cardinals. I'll post the lineup and pass along pre-game comments from manager Dave Trembley. I'll also provide updates on Jeremy Guthrie, who's making his fifth start this...

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Nolan Reimold DH Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott LF Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jeremy Guthrie RHP Ricky Nolasco is starting for the Marlins.

Pre-game notes (w/Marlins lineup)

Pre-game notes (w/Marlins lineup)
Brian Roberts is expected to take live batting practice today and tomorrow in Sarasota. "It would be nice to get him in a game at the end of the week, but I'll have to check with the medical people and see what he says," manager Dave Trembley said. Koji Uehara told pitching coach Rick Kranitz on Sunday morning that he doesn't need much more time to get ready for the opener. "He feels like his command is there, his arm speed is there," Trembley said. Uehara remains day-to-day with a...

Before the first pitch...

Before the first pitch...
Manager Dave Trembley believes that Nolan Reimold "looks better" running the bases. "He was never a real pretty runner. He was a max-effort type guy, but moved good, quick," Trembley said. "The other day when he got on, I would have pinch-run for him, but I needed to see him run the bases because I need to find out. You've got to let him run the bases. You can't pinch-run for him during the season. You don't have the luxury of doing that when you don't have a five-man bench, so...

Jones homers (w/Guthrie update)

Jones homers (w/Guthrie update)
Adam Jones just homered to right-center field on a 2-1 pitch to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead. Nolan Reimold flied to right before Jones stepped to the plate against Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco. Jones has three homers and five RBIs this spring. Nick Markakis followed with a single into center field. Update: Jeremy Guthrie retired the first two batters, getting a called third strike on Cameron Maybin, but he walked Hanley Ramirez and gave up a run-scoring single to Jorge Cantu....

Who needs a DH?

Who needs a DH?

Florida pitcher Ricky Nolasco singled with two outs to score Brett Hayes and give the Marlins a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Once again, Guthrie got into trouble after retiring the first two batters, including a strikeout of Gaby Sanchez. Hayes doubled off the left field fence and Nolasco bounced a single into left field. Luke Scott made a strong throw to the plate, but Hayes avoided catcher Matt Wieters' sweeping tag. Guthrie threw 18 pitches, 12 for strikes. That's 41 pitches, two runs, three hits, one walk and two strikeouts in two innings.
 

Guthrie pitches first scoreless (updated)

Guthrie pitches first scoreless (updated)

Hanley Ramirez singled with one out in the third and Jorge Cantu was hit by a pitch, but Jeremy Guthrie turned in his first scoreless inning today. Dan Uggla popped up and pinch-hitter Mike Stanton lined to left. Guthrie threw 12 pitches, eight for strikes, by my unofficial count. Nolan Reimold singled in the top of the third inning. He's heating up. Brian Matusz starts against the Cardinals tomorrow. He'll be opposed by former Oriole Rich Hill. And speaking of former Orioles...I'm told Scott Erickson contacted a front office executive yesterday and expressed interest in making a comeback. It wasn't the Orioles. And it wasn't the Long Island Ducks. Update: Guthrie allowed two more batters to reach in the fourth on a two-out walk to Ricky Nolasco - maybe he should start pitching around this guy - and a single by Chris Coghlan. Cameron Maybin flied to deep center to end the inning. Guthrie has thrown around 73 pitches. I'll get the official total later.

Guthrie's line (updated again)

Guthrie's line (updated again)
Jeremy Guthrie came out of the game after five innings, with Cla Meredith replacing him. Guthrie threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes. He allowed two runs and six hits, walked two, struck out four and hit a batter. The Marlins put runners on base every inning (nine total), but Guthrie blanked them over the last three. Guthrie's ERA has been lowered from 9.28 to 7.47. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco allowed one run and six hits in six innings. He threw 70 pitches, 53 for strikes. Nolasco has...

Marlins 5, Orioles 2

Marlins 5, Orioles 2
Robert Andino came within a few feet of hitting a grand slam in the top of the ninth, but he made the final out in the Marlins' 5-2 victory. The ball died on the center field warning track. He gave it quite a ride. Luke Scott's RBI double drew the Orioles within three runs. Craig Tatum singled and Brandon Snyder walked to load the bases. Afterward, manager Dave Trembley confirmed that Brian Roberts took live batting practice from both sides of the plate and fielded ground balls. Head...

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