Pre-game Buck: Lee out until at least Wednesday; Duchscherer will start Tuesday; Wieters fine
We're about a half hour away from the first here here at Hammond Stadium. Here are a couple of quick notes to tide you over before first pitch.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that while first baseman Derrek Lee (wrist discomfort) has improved, he won't get into a Grapefruit League game until Wednesday at the earliest.
Both Justin Duchscherer and Brian Matusz are feeling good and will pitch Tuesday in Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies. Duchscherer will start the game because Showalter doesn't want him to be sitting around too much before getting a chance to pitch.
Catcher Matt Wieters, who was hit in the right arm by Carl Crawford's backswing in Saturday's game, has gotten most of the feeling back and will start Monday night. Showalter said he wants Wieters to catch Zach Britton.
Minor leaguers Buck Britton (yes, Zach's brother), Kyle Hudson, Steven Bumbry, Jacob Julius and Bobby Stevens will join the club for both Monday and Wednesday's split-squad games.
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Comments
Go Zach and Buck Britton. Your parents are there, and so proud of you guys.
Posted by: Kathy Hardon | March 6, 2011 11:21 PM
Will Luke Scott play first base in the regular season while Lee is on the DL? If so, will this force the O's to keep Pie and Reimold, provided he has a good spring, on the roster?
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Jeff Z's reply: Yes, at this point, I see Scott as their primary back-up 1B. So if Lee was to start season on DL, that would probably lead to both Pie and Reimold making the O.D. roster.
Posted by: leon | March 7, 2011 12:11 PM
D. Lee up to speed in, say, June/July?
Keep Pie around no matter what. I'll bet dinner, after 100 AB's, he's got a higher slugging % than D. Lee at the same number.
Justin Duchscherer's on the hot seat. Tuesday will tell us all we need to know. Have no clue if the Phillies will field a real lineup but if so, we can see what the Duke is all about. Providing he isn't scratched after warmup.
Posted by: CLS88 | March 7, 2011 2:31 PM
Did the orioles bring up Bobby Stevens, Kyle Hudson, Steven Bumbry, Jacob Julius, and Buck Britton only for the Spilt - Squad games? Or are they assessing whether they are needed in the organization? Or both?
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Jeff Z's reply: Just the split-squad games.
Posted by: Baseball101 | March 8, 2011 5:49 PM
I was wondering why Bobby Stevens has been assigned to Aberdeen Ironbirds?
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Jeff Z's reply: Usually when they do that, it's an administrative move. But I'll be honest, I don't know specifics in this case.
Posted by: Baseball101 | April 14, 2011 5:04 PM