Today's crowd is definitely pro-Washington. It's also more inflated than the mascots, judging by the announced attendance of 14,940. They must be counting cars that drive past the stadium.

Freddie Bynum is 2-for-2 with an RBI since replacing Miguel Tejada at shortstop. His second hit drove in Jon Knott, who doubled.

I predict that we'll see Knott at Camden Yards sometime this summer. It's just a question of which first baseman/corner outfielder goes on the disabled list to create room.

Adam Loewen didn't have his good fastball today, but it's a clear sign of his maturation that he started throwing his curveball early in counts. He found a way to get through three innings with only one run allowed.

Paul Bako had three hits and two RBIs today. I know he's not a favorite among readers of this blog, but the Orioles have done a whole lot worse when it comes to backup catchers.

OK, not exactly a ringing endorsement, but he's definitely an upgrade.

We'll just ignore those two passed balls. They signed him for his bat anyway.

Kidding, of course.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

RFK Stadium has been overrun with inflatable animal and human mascots that are named after famous players and broadcasters, including Cow Ripken Jr., who wore an Orioles road jersey with "Baltimore" across the front.

If we had an inflatable Jon Miller to call one inning of the game, this team would win the World Series.

An Orioles win and Boston Red Sox loss would allow the Orioles to clinch the AL East. I don't believe they get a Grapefruit League ring for that, however.

The Orioles are clinging to a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning after Aubrey Huff and Corey Patterson homered in the fourth. Paul Bako has two hits, including a run-scoring double.

Adam Loewen allowed one run and two hits, walked three and struck out three, in three innings. He threw 59 pitches, 32 for strikes.

Steve Trachsel replaced him and allowed a run in the fourth. The first two batters he faced reached on a single and walk.

Washington starter Jason Bergmann threw 92 pitches in 3 1/3 innings, stretching out his arm just enough to cover the eyes of the center fielder, who couldn't bear to look.

This game is going at such a slow pace, I'll barely make it home in time for the Final Four - in 2008.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Only three of the first 10 pitches thrown by Washington Nationals starter Jason Bergman were strikes, but he fanned three straight batters after walking leadoff hitter Brian Roberts.

Orioles starter Adam Loewen threw 28 pitches, including 15 strikes, in the first. He walked two batters, allowed two singles, and fell behind, 1-0, on Paul Bako's passed ball.

Loewen left the bases loaded by getting a called third strike on Ryan Church.

Meanwhile, Jason Dubois expects to miss one to two weeks with a strained right hamstring. He's headed to Triple-A Norfolk, which begins its season on Thursday.

The last roster spot really is going to be an interesting call. Eduardo Perez, released earlier this week by the Chicago White Sox, makes sense because he's a right-handed hitter who rakes against lefties, he can win a game with one swing of the bat coming off the bench, and he's terrific in the clubhouse. But he's also pretty much a guy without a position. First base is the safest place to play him, and the Orioles don't exactly have a shortage in that area.

With Jay Payton expected to go on the disabled list, the Orioles could use a guy who can play all three outfield spots and catch anything hit near him. Freddie Bynum isn't a right-handed hitter, but he's been quite good defensively and can run. And as one of my colleague's pointed out, the Orioles aren't going to ask him to pinch-hit, so his sorry average this spring shouldn't factor into any decisions.

But as a member of the broadcast team argued earlier today, it's probably more beneficial to have a player who can hit a home run off the bench than someone who can be a defensive substitute.

If the Orioles could trade Todd Williams, giving them a 12-man staff, there would be room for both. But they're not looking to give him away.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Here's the Orioles' lineup:

Brian Roberts - 2B

Melvin Mora - 3B

Nick Markakis - RF

Miguel Tejada - SS

Aubrey Huff - 1B

Jay Gibbons - LF

Corey Patterson - CF

Paul Bako - C

Adam Loewen - P

Keep in mind that Steve Trachsel will follow Loewen, as the Orioles break out the two-headed starter for today's game.

Manager Sam Perlozzo confirmed that the Orioles most likely won't finalize their roster until tomorrow. And it still appears that Jay Payton is headed to the disabled list, considering that he hasn't attempted to run yet, and he's not playing if he's not running.

For now, it also appears that Aubrey Huff will start at first base Monday, with Kevin Millar serving as the designated hitter. I'd prefer the opposite arrangement, but that's just me.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

I'm sitting here in the lower-level press box at RFK Stadium, waiting for the Orioles' bus to arrive for today's exhibition finale against the Washington Nationals.

I resisted the urge to take a tour of the stadium. Just sitting here, I can honestly say that I've seen enough.

The vibe I'm getting from the club is that we won't know the final composition of the roster until tomorrow's workout. I'm not expecting any announcements to be made today concerning the pitching staff, the bench, etc., but I'll try to pry something out of manager Sam Perlozzo.

It still looks like 13 pitchers and three bench players. All they have to do is break the news to Brian Burres that he's being sent down.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
                    

Just after I pointed out that Jason Dubois could be useful to the Orioles coming off the bench, he pulled up while trying to beat a throw to first base and had to be helped off the field with strained right hamstring.

I didn't expect Dubois to make the club because he doesn't play center field, but he's swung the bat well this spring. You could make a strong argument for keeping him on the roster. But not when he's clutching the back of his leg and grimacing in pain.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
                    

Brian Burres is showing off a good-looking changeup today. He struck out three in the sixth inning, and the Orioles have tied the Washington Nationals, 4-4, in Norfolk, Va.

Burres struck out former Oriole Tony Batista, who hasn't changed a bit since leaving Baltimore. It's all or nothing with T-Bat. Swing from the heels. Home runs mean a bigger payday in his world. 

Corey Patterson hit his first exhibition homer. And it came against a left-hander.

Jason Dubois, from Virginia Beach, doubled in the sixth and scored on a Mike Cervenak single. Dubois is a right-handed bat, with some pop, that could be useful off the bench. But the Orioles seem to prefer the versatility and defensive skills that Freddie Bynum offers. That is, if they end up choosing between the two. 

Did I really hear that Orioles starter Jaret Wright threw 96 pitches in 4 1/3 innings? Or did I misunderstand what was said on the MASN telecast?

Most pitchers have a cool-down start before the regular season begins. Wright's outing didn't qualify, unless you're only counting the innings.

Wright walked 17 batters in 18 1/3 spring innings. His arm definitely is stretched out. Manager Sam Perlozzo's patience will be stretched thin if Wright doesn't start becoming more economical with his pitches.

I'm starting to wonder if eight relievers will be enough. The Orioles might want to go with a two-man bench.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
                    

I'm not there yet. I fly out later, and I won't rejoin the team until Saturday's game at RFK Stadium.

I'm so excited, I can hardly sleep.

I'll also attend Sunday's workout at Camden Yards and participate in the media forum as part of  Fanfest. I promise not to show off the tattoo. It's gotten enough exposure.

Someone asked about the Orioles' interest in Richard Hidalgo. They had plenty of interest in him...last spring. The guy was such a flake, I can't imagine them going back there again. That ship has sailed. Stand on the dock and wave.

Adam Stern ate chicken at a place that rhymes with Billies. Now he'll be dining in a city that sounds like Share-a-soda.

If the Orioles felt cheated because they didn't see enough of Stern, why not take him north and give him three or four at-bats in Columbus, Norfolk and D.C.? I don't understand the whole minor league camp thing, and I never got a real explanation.

If I had to place a bet right now, and I went through Pete Rose's people, I'd say the Orioles keep 13 pitchers because they don't want to give away Todd Williams, which is what would happen at this point, and Jeremy Guthrie and John Parrish are keepers. That's eight relievers.

If the Orioles got a better offer for Williams, they'd probably jump, but it's been slim pickings so far.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (45)
                    

The Orioles optioned Adam Stern to Triple-A Norfolk after today's 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Does this mean Freddie Bynum has made the team?

Not necessarily.

The team still is looking outside the organization for a reserve outfielder.

The Orioles like Stern. They'd like him a lot more if he had been healthy all spring. They just haven't seen enough of him, so he'll bat leadoff at Norfolk.

Stern struck out in his first at-bat today, and later reached on an infield hit.

In other moves, the Orioles reassigned reliever Paul Shuey and catcher Alberto Castillo to the minor league camp.

The Orioles' only run today came on Brandon Sing's homer in the eighth.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (47)
                    

Erik Bedard allowed two runs in his first five starts covering 19 innings. Today, he's surrendered a two-run homer to Tagg Bozied in the first inning and an RBI single to Aaron Miles in the second.

Let Bedard get it out of his system now.

Bozied's ball landed in the middle of the practice field beyond the left field fence.

Shifting gears for a minute, new catcher Alberto Castillo talked about trying to get acquainted with the Orioles' pitching staff:

"It makes it a little difficult, but I know some of the guys. You go in the bullpen and catch some sides, you see the arm actions of the pitchers, and from there you go into the games and you adjust a little bit until you get to know them well. It's tough."

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
                    

If you have tickets to tomorrow's exhibition game in Columbus, you'll see everyone, including players who were reassigned but allowed to travel through Saturday. It's not like there's anyplace else for these guys to go. They won't go ahead and they won't stay behind.

Players are packing up their belongings and breaking camp tomorrow morning. And they seem happy to leave Florida behind.

I guess all of this sunshine can get old after awhile. Or maybe it's the 72 games against the Marlins and Cardinals.

Paul Bako will catch tomorrow, Ramon Hernandez on Friday and both of them on Saturday.

Steve Trachsel and Adam Loewen will pitch Saturday at RFK Stadium. Two starters were going to have to share a game, and this is it.

Manager Sam Perlozzo expects bench coach Tom Trebelhorn to be in the Orioles' dugout for the opener. There were serious questions earlier in camp whether Trebelhorn would remain home with his wife.

Perlozzo would like to get four innings out of Erik Bedard today in a cool-down start, as they call it in the business.

The trade for Alberto Castillo signals to me that the Orioles haven't changed their opinion of Eli Whiteside, once regarded as a prospect. And that J.R. House will be used in a utility role at Triple-A Norfolk. He'll do some catching, according to team executive Jim Duquette, but he'll also play first. And we've seen him at third base here.

Whiteside, Paul Bako and Ryan Hubele made the trip to Viera today. So did Nick Markakis, Freddie Bynum, Chris Gomez and Jason Dubois.

The pitchers: Rob Bell, Tim Kester, Jon Leicester, Nick McCurdy, Jim Miller and Andy Mitchell.

Adam Stern says Mike Cervenak also contracted food poisoning, at the same place where Stern ate.

It's within walking distance of the team hotel. It's a chain. And it's a menace.

But I always loved the margaritas. Rocks with salt.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
                    

Brian Roberts - 2B

Corey Patterson - CF

Melvin Mora - 3B

Miguel Tejada - SS

Aubrey Huff - DH

Ramon Hernandez - C

Jay Gibbons - LF

Kevin Millar - 1B

Adam Stern - RF

Erik Bedard - P

If you think you're having a rough morning, at least you're not on a bus headed to Viera for a split-squad game.

Andy Etchebarren will manage the Orioles against the Washington Nationals. There won't be a single reporter there who normally covers the team. Fort Lauderdale just seemed like a better option.

As Etchebarren was leaving the clubhouse this morning, Kevin Millar yelled out: "Good luck, Etch. It's about three hours north!"

Don't even get Millar started on the West Palm traffic that awaits Etchebarren on the ride home.

Jay Payton didn't have any updates on his hamstring injury. It's not any better. Neither are his chances of avoiding the disabled list.

Alberto Castillo arrived in camp today. He looks like a 37-year-old catcher, in case you haven't seen him. Good catch-and-throw guy, I'm told. Not much with the lumber.

Sounds like a lot of backup catchers who have passed through Baltimore.

I wouldn't fret over the loss of Cory Keylor in this trade. Yes, he was the team's minor league Player of the Year for 2006, but that had more to do with the lack of quality position players in the system. Keylor had a decent year. Nothing to get overly excited about.

This deal most likely will be a wash.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
                    

Who said camp has been slow?

The Orioles acquired veteran catcher Alberto Castillo from the Boston Red Sox today for outfielder Corey Keylor, their minor league Player of the Year in 2006.

As if that wasn't enough, and it probably wasn't, they also optioned pitcher Sean Tracey to Triple-A Norfolk, and reassigned outfielder Jon Knott and catcher Eli Whiteside to minor league camp.

Seven other non-roster players were reassigned, but will stay with the team through the exhibition schedule so the Orioles aren't caught short-handed: infielders Mike Cervenak, Terry Tiffee and Cesar Crespo, catcher J.R. House, outfielder Ruddy Yan and pitchers Andy Mitchell and Steve Green.

Steve Trachsel blamed high winds for an ineffective curveball today. He allowed two runs and nine hits in six innings. He left with a 3-2 lead, but Brian Burres gave up two runs in the seventh. Chad Bradford allowed a run in the eighth, and the Florida Marlins won, 5-3.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 5:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)
                    

Consecutive walks by Jay Gibbons and Kevin Millar to begin the third inning opened the door for the Orioles to score three runs and move ahead of the Florida Marlins, 3-2.

Corey Patterson hit a ground-rule double with two outs, and Melvin Mora singled in two runs. Mora was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

Here's a quote from Jay Payton concerning his hamstring injury:

"I'm a guy, just because the way my legs are built, I have to take care of my hamstrings. We'll just treat it, be aggressive with it, but be smart. Hopefully it won't be a month. It's just a matter of whether it will be a week, two weeks. It's kind of hard to tell right now. I can feel it when I walk, but obviously I can't run. The main thing is to get the pain out. Then we can be aggressive from there."

The Orioles really wanted to keep Rule 5 catcher Adam Donachie, but the Kansas City Royals wanted too much in return. They're not taking his loss lightly.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
                    

The Florida Marlins scored twice off Steve Trachsel in the first inning and lead 2-0 in the third.

Four straight batters reached with one out, on a walk and three singles.

Three straight batters singled to open the second, but Aaron Boone and Alex Sanchez were caught stealing.

Ramon Hernandez almost got the hat trick, but Brian Roberts dropped the ball while trying to tag Hanley Ramirez. Hernandez spun around in mock frustration, then glanced at the Orioles' dugout with a huge grin on his face.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
                    

Brian Roberts - 2B

Corey Patterson - CF

Melvin Mora - 3B

Miguel Tejada - SS

Aubrey Huff - 1B

Ramon Hernandez - C

Jay Gibbons - LF

Kevin Millar - DH

Jason Dubois - RF

Steve Trachsel - P

Manager Sam Perlozzo doesn't sound very optimistic about Jay Payton avoiding the disabled list. It's also apparent that a good defensive outfielder is now a higher priority for the bench.

Asked which guys rate as the best defensive outfielders among the remaining candidates in camp, Perlozzo singled out Adam Stern and Freddie Bynum.

Donald Fehr, executive director of the player association, confirmed today that the next World Baseball Classic will take place in March 2009.

The Orioles worked out 6-foot-7 left-hander Luis Martinez, who was cut by the Washington Nationals this spring.

The pitching-desperate Washington Nationals.

Martinez has thrown twice on the side the last two days. He lives in Fort Lauderdale and is visiting camps in the area, looking for a job. He turned down an offer to pitch in Japan because he thought he could make the Nationals' roster.

The Orioles should make a decision on Martinez within the next few days.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
                    

The Orioles closed their clubhouse to the media 30 minutes earlier than usual for their annual meetings with the Baseball Assistance Team and the players union.

Adam Stern still looks like death warmed over. He contracted food poisoning and spent yesterday in bed - except for those mad dashes to the bathroom.

This guy had a legitimate shot at making the team, but a strained oblique muscle and bad chicken at a local chain restaurant worked against him.

Jay Payton could miss at least three weeks with his hamstring injury. For now, it appears Jay Gibbons will start in left field on Opening Day, giving the Orioles three left-handed hitting outfielders against Johan Santana.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
                    

The Orioles are heading to Fort Myers. I'm not. But I did arrive at Fort Lauderdale Stadium at 7 a.m., an hour before the bus was scheduled to depart.

Here's the lineup, which includes a few changes from the original:

Jay Payton - CF

Chris Gomez - SS

Nick Markakis - RF

Aubrey Huff - 3B

Jay Gibbons - DH

Ramon Hernandez - C

Kevin Millar - 1B

Jon Knott -  LF

Cesar Crespo - 2B

Adam Loewen - P

Other pitchers on the trip: Brian Burres, Danys Baez, Chris Ray, (corrected) Scott Williamson, Andy Mitchell and Steve Green.

I wrote a blog entry this morning on Adam Stern starting in center field and how the Orioles want to take a last, hard look at him, since he missed so much time recovering from a strained right oblique muscle, and since the competition for the last roster spot is wide open. It's so open, in fact, that they might give up on finding a fourth bench player and carry 13 pitchers instead.

I filed the entry, and found out seconds later that Stern was scratched because he's sick.

Payton moved from left to center in the new lineup, and Knott moved from the bench to left. Stern was supposed to be the leadoff hitter, too.

Nice timing.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (62)
                    

That's Cesar Crespo, summoned again from the minor league camp. He prevented extra innings today with a ninth-inning single off veteran Russ Springer that scored Terry Tiffee and gave the Orioles a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

John Parrish struck out the side in the ninth for the save. The other left-hander, Jamie Walker, also struck out three.

Freddie Bynum went 0-for-4 and is batting .135, with 18 strikeouts in 37 at-bats.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
                    

Todd Williams walked in the tying run. It's 5-5 in the seventh.

St. Louis starter Anthony Reyes drilled Miguel Tejada in the fourth inning. In the bottom half, Jaret Wright hit Adam Kennedy with two runners on base and none out.

Coincidence?

Sitting at his locker, Wright nodded yes, smiled slightly and lowered his head. That was good enough for me.

This is one of the things pitching coach Leo Mazzone loves about Wright. He's a fighter.

Wright had trouble with his sinker against left-handed batters today. It was too flat. He didn't have the same issues against right-handers.

If only he could keep that pitch count down and get deeper into games. Four innings, four hits, four runs, four walks.

That's un-four-tunate.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
                    

Getting back to that Norfolk rotation, Orioles vice president Jim Duquette said Jon Leicester also will be a starter with the Tides. The team might go with a six-man rotation early in the season, including Hayden Penn, Rob Bell, Kurt Birkins, Garrett Olson and James Johnson.

Sean Tracey will be used as a reliever, the same role he'll have with the Orioles if he's promoted.

The Orioles almost acquired Tracey at last year's non-waiver trade deadline, but the deal fell through.

Duquette also said he believes Josh Phelps will make the New York Yankees' roster, rather than being offered back to the Orioles.

Brian Roberts' sacrifice fly increased the Orioles' lead to 2-0 in the second nning. Corey Patterson singled and stole second and third.

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
                    

Freddie Bynum struck out in the first inning.

If he makes contact today, the first 5,000 customers get a free funnel cake.

Miguel Tejada's two-out single in the first inning has given the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

Tejada wasn't in a good mood yesterday. Besides making two errors in the first two innings, he also was subjected to some harsh words from a fan sitting near the dugout. Tejada reacted angrily.

At least he didn't climb into the stands.

An Orioles spokesman made a clarification on pitcher Sendy Rleal. He hasn't been optioned. Instead, he's been sent to the minor league camp to continue rehabbing his sore right elbow.

A player can't be optioned while he's injured.

New pitcher Sean Tracey threw on the side today while manager Sam Perlozzo and Leo Mazzone watched him closely. Perlozzo and Mazzone delayed their trip to Jupiter so they wouldn't miss it.

"Good power arm, nice slider, has a change, explosive fastball that we need to harness a little bit," Perlozzo said. "It was only one short side session. Leo was pleased with his fastball. We just made a few suggestions. Probably get him on the side one more time to see where we are."

Tracey won't make the club, and the Orioles must decide whether to start him at Triple-A Norfolk or use him out of the bullpen. They've already penciled Hayden Penn, Kurt Birkins and Rob Bell into the rotation. Brian Burres was a starter in the minors, too. And what about Garrett Olson and James Johnson?

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Hayden Penn no longer is in the running for a bullpen spot.

Penn, Brandon Fahey, Kurt Birkins and Sendy Rleal were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk this morning. Rob Bell and Jon Leicester were reassigned to minor league camp.

I figured Fahey and Birkins would stick around a little bit longer. Bell allowed only one run in 11 innings, and certainly pitched well enough to head north with the club. But the Orioles would rather keep Jeremy Guthrie as a long reliever. That became evident early in the exhibition schedule.

Here's the lineup:

Brian Roberts - 2B

Freddie Bynum - LF

Melvin Mora - 3B

Miguel Tejada - SS

Jay Payton - RF

Kevin Millar - 1B

Corey Patterson - CF

Adam Donachie - C

Jaret Wright - P

Posted by Roch Kubatko at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)