Second workout is over
Pitching prospect Luis Lebron, who had Tommy John surgery last May, threw from the mound for the first time today. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that he threw 30 pitches and felt good afterward.
There continues to be discussion among people outside the organization about potentially using Jim Johnson in the rotation. Showalter acknowledged that he thought about that in the offseason, but that's absolutely not in the cards right now. Johnson is expected to occupy a key role in the bullpen. The same goes for Jason Berken.
Michael Gonzalez threw a bullpen session today, and while it was clear that he wasn't going all out, he looked much more crisp than at any point last spring. His velocity also looked much better than it was last year. "I'm not going to dwell on whose fault it was," Showalter said when asked about Gonzalez's situation last spring. "Let's just get him ready. So far, so good. ... He's got a good look in his eye."
Showalter also was pleased that Justin Duchscherer got through his first bullpen unscathed. Duchscherer used all his pitches and threw about 40 total. "It's a health issue," Showalter said. "If he's between the lines and on the field, he'll fit high up in the rotation."
Catcher Matt Wieters, who looks to be in great shape (and it has been noticed by team officials), became the first Oriole to clear the right-field wall on Field 4, which has the exact dimensions of Camden Yards.
There was one light moment during pitching fielding drills. Koji Uehara calmly gloved the ball and, in one motion, flipped it to bench coach Willie Randolph who was covering first base. Randolph wasn't able to come up with the ball, but bullpen coach Rick Adair, who was running the drill, was pleased with Uehara's form. "Hey Derrek Lee makes that play," Adair said. To which Randolph replied, "Yeah, you're probably right."
Brandon Snyder became the latest position player to arrive. The Orioles position players on hand, including Brian Roberts, took batting practice today.
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Comments
Question about field 4- do the fence heights mimic Camden Yards also? Does it have a high fence in RF, in other words?
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Jeff Z's reply: Yes it does.
Posted by: Greg | February 15, 2011 2:11 PM
Will there be a Spring training photo gallery going up soon, like the ones that have been postind the last few years?
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Response from Steve Gould:
There is a gallery with photos from the first two days of spring training here.
Posted by: stan | February 15, 2011 2:47 PM
Silly question: What numbers are Justin Duchscherer and Mark Hendrickson wearing?
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Jeff Z's reply: Duchscherer is 56 and Hendrickson is 31
Posted by: Andrew | February 15, 2011 3:07 PM
DId you get a chance to see Ryan Drese pitch?
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Jeff Z's reply: I saw a little of his bulllpen session yesterday. Not much I could make a conclusion off of.
Posted by: Bob | February 15, 2011 3:19 PM
I may be a little slow today but being mostly unfamiliar with what kind of drills they do in spring training, I misinterpreted what "cleared" the wall meant at first. Haha...I'm picturing them having a climbing over the wall contest.
I'm so excited for this season to start already and with all the changes I somehow forget that Randolph was a coach. That is awesome I think to have a former manager who seemed to be pretty good as a bench coach.
Go O's from here in Indiana!
Posted by: Justin | February 15, 2011 3:46 PM
Guys, I read one of the reports yesterday, and I believe it said the position players are not yet allowed to take part in organized drills, I think it was about Brian Roberts, so Brian just worked with Jim Presley. Did I read that right? Also, what would be the reason? A union thing, or was it just Roberts?
Thanks.
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Jeff Z's reply: Full-team workouts don't start until Monday. BUt there are enough coaches there right now for the position players who have already reported to take batting practice, take groundballs/flyballs. And of course, they work out as well.
Posted by: ken | February 15, 2011 3:57 PM
Any updates on Vlad G?
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Jeff Z's reply: As I've written numerous times, physicial Wednesday; press conference Friday assuming that he passes.
Posted by: The Squirrel | February 15, 2011 4:24 PM
I expect they did not have many extra coaches set up to drill the few regulars yesterday. Almost all of them arriving this early have been working out and can continue but I saw they took battting practice today. It is nice to see the enthusasium these guys are showing already. Buck and the new facilities probably both help plus the moves made this winter.
Posted by: grant | February 15, 2011 4:39 PM
Jason Birken is a fine individual. Last year I predicted he would be a better pitcher than Tillman. I was right (as usual).
Tillman will be remembered as yet another worthless piece in a wasted trade!
Posted by: Brummie_Oriole | February 15, 2011 4:52 PM
If Gonzalez and Koji get through spring training healthy, the back end of this Bullpen could look strong. Along with Gregg, anyone of the 3 could close and anyone could do a two inning stint.
Berken and Johnson are two more guys that have pitched well when healthy. The pen's got some question marks due to injury, but if they are healthy, and running on all cylinders, this BP could be a real team strength.
Last spot in the pen could be a real battle between Rapada and Henderickson. Rapada could step in and be that situational lefty like Ohman was last year. Henderickson is more versitile but he's not the kind of lefty killer you need on every staff. My quess is that in the AL East, Buck wants the second lefty killer on the staff...
Posted by: MountainFan | February 15, 2011 5:23 PM
I would like to know the situcion alfredo simon, I think the team has not given all the help they need because according to the days have passed, it seems that Simon is innocent, since neither of ballistic Prüedo submitted, and if Simon had been that was the culprit, and that ballistic evidence had been presented the
Posted by: elfi toribio | February 15, 2011 5:39 PM
Upstate New York says: Go Birds! We have been tolerating talk and humiliation for far too long! The Oriole franchise and its history are unknown to today's youth. Brooks and Frank need the O's to get their pride back!
Posted by: Brian Rogers | February 15, 2011 6:10 PM
Did Wieters hit the homer from the left side? He's hadn't been able to pull the ball with power much his first couple of years.
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Jeff Z's reply: Yes.
Posted by: Matt Weber | February 15, 2011 7:30 PM