The Orioles were no match for the Red Sox in their final Grapefruit League meeting. The Sox rolled up 17 hits and scored 14 runs, eight of them on a pair of grand slams by Victor Martinez and Kevin Frandsen.

The Orioles got a solid relief effort from closer Mike Gonzalez, but there weren't a lot of other highlights other than a ninth-inning three-run homer by Ty Wigginton. The bullpen took a beating for much of the afternoon and you've got to wonder what the club is thinking after the middle relief guys pitched so well early in the exhibition season.

“It’s been up and down,” said manager Dave Trembley. “You know, you saw two different guys today in Berken. The other day he got real good extension on his pitches and pitched down. Today he didn’t. You take the good with the bad. We need what we need to get done in order to get off to a good start in the season. Can’t play like this.”

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (69)
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Infielder Kevin Frandsen just jacked the second grand slam of the game for the Red Sox, hitting a towering fly ball that sailed out over the Hampton Inn sign in left field off reliever Dennis Sarfate. Earlier in the game, Victor Martinez hit a salami off reliever Jim Johnson. The Red Sox are currently leading 14-1.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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Surprise. Surprise. Jon Lester is having his way with the Orioles. He just completed his seventh inning of work and he has held them to just a run on three hits. The Orioles currently trail the Red Sox, 10-1, at Ed Smith Stadium.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez has already driven in six runs in today's game and it's just the fourth inning. Martinez hit a two-run homer against Jason Berken in the third and just blasted a grand slam to straight-away center field off Jim Johnson in the fourth.

There's a four-letter word for that if you're the Orioles:

Ouch!

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Jason Berken looked very good getting four straight outs in the first inning -- including Dustin Pedroia reaching first on a strikeout -- but four of the first five batters reached base for the Red Sox in the second. David Ortiz and Mike Lowell both double in the inning, which might have been worse of Cesar Izturis had not made a Gold Glove stab on a sharp one-hopper by Marco Scutaro and teamed up with Brian Roberts on a Web Gem double play.

Instant update: Berken got bounced around in the third ining, too, giving up three runs -- two of them on a home run by Victor Martinez. Berken lasted 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Reliever Jim Johnson is now in the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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Not a big news day, at least in comparison to Tuesday, when the rotation was announced and much of the roster information became obvious. The biggest news today is that outfielder Lou Montanez has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. No surprise there, but I'd like to see him get a chance to play at the major league level for somebody. No room at the inn here unless somebody gets hurt.

Dave Trembley said that Koji Uehara will undergo an MRI to figure out what's going on with his sore hamstring. If he pitches before May, it'll be a minor miracle.

Jason Berken and Jon Lester face each other in today's game at Ed Smith Stadium. Here's the Red Sox lineup and an updated Orioles lineup:

Red Sox

Marco Scutaro SS
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Victor Martinez C
Kevin Youkilis 1B
David Ortiz DH
J.D. Drew RF
Mike Lowell 3B
Josh Reddick LF
Che-Hsuan Lin CF

Jon Lester LHP

Orioles

Brian Roberts 2B
Felix Pie CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nolan Reimold LF
Luke Scott DH
Matt Wieters C
Garrett Atkins 1B
Cesar Izturis SS

Jason Berken RHP

Lineup note: Center fielder Adam Jones had to be scratched from the original lineup with an upset stomach.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (47)
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The Orioles take on the Boston Red Sox today at Ed Smith Stadium in their second-to-last home exhibition game of the spring. I'm guessing today won't be as eventful as yesterday, when the roster and starting rotation got straightened out, but it's always interesting when the Red Sox come to town.

Hey, if you haven't already, check out my colum on the club's decision to go with Craig Tatum instead of Chad Moeller as the backup to catcher Matt Wieters. There usually isn't a lot of intrigue when you're talking about the second catcher, but the was an interesting -- and surprisingly controversial -- decision. Check it out right here.

Here's today's Orioles lineup:

Brian Roberts 2B
Nolan Reimold LF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Adam Jones CF
Luke Scott DH
Matt Wieters C
Garrett Atkins 1B
Cesar Izturis SS

Jason Berken RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)
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Miguel Tejada definitely has gotten his stroke back. He went 4 for 4 with three doubles in today's 10-9 loss to the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium. Felix Pie, who found out before the game that he would be the starting left fielder on Opening Night against the Tampa Bay Rays, had three hits to raise his spring batting average to .393.

Manager Dave Trembley was very happy to see Tejada on a roll.

"He has been swinging the bat so much better,'' Trembley said. "When we got back from Jupiter, he told me he wanted to play as many games back-to-back-to-back as possible, He felt like things were really starting to click. He turned on some balls. His batting practice was better. Same with Reimold. We have some guys getting into a groove. That's certainly true of Tejada, and it's good to see because he has put in a lot of work."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (40)
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Dave Trembley confirmed that Craig Tatum won the backup catcher role and that Felix Pie will start in left field on Opening Night at Tropicana Field, not that any of that was in doubt after today's 10-9 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Trembley explained that the Tatum decision was based entirely on competitive considerations and dismissed the notion that the club needs a veteran like Chad Moeller to help mentor Matt Wieters and the young pitching staff. I respectfully disagree and will have a column up tonight telling you why.

"This is Wieter's team,'' Trembley said. "This is Wieter's pitching staff. We're expecting a lot from Matt Wieters. Chad Moeller is not there for Wieters any more. We feel confident that Wieters now, boom, it's yours. I think it's a complient to the guys in the clubhouse rather than a negative that we feel guys like Bergesen, it's time to fly. Matusz? It's time to fly."

It was a difficult day for Trembley who had to tell eight other players that they were not going to be with the major league club on Opening Day. The team announced during the game that Chris Tillman, Alberto Castillo, Justin Turner, Adam Donachie, Jeff Salazar, Scott Moore, Alfredo Simon and Ross Wolf were being reassigned to minor league camp. Moore, Simon and Wolf will remain with the major league club to finish out the exhibition season.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
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Brad Bergesen is struggling badly at the outset of today's start against the Detroit Tigers. He allowed the first five batters to reach base -- three of them on walks -- and four of them have scored.

Never a good policy to walk the first two batters with Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera coming up. Ordonez lined a double over the head of Adam Jones for two runs and Cabrera launched a shot into the parking lot behind left field to make it 4-0, almost before the National Anthem was over.

Instant update: Bergesen pulled it together after the four-run fourth, but Cabrera just hit his second home run of the game to straightaway center, and we're still waiting for it to come down. It cleared the fence and the batter's eye and was so impressive that Adam Jones was still watching it when Cabrera rounded third. Jones watched it so long, in fact, that he may have showed up his starting pitcher.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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David Hernandez is headed out of town tomorrow to attend the funeral of his grandmother, but he got some cheering news today when Andy MacPhail and Rick Kranitz called him in and told him he had won the fifth starter job.

"I knew it was going to be a tight race coming into spring training,'' Hernandez said. "All I was looking forward to, I wanted to have fun and to be more relaxed than I was last year. It paid off. I was able to do well enough in the eyes of the coaches....As long as I got my work, I knew somebody would watch, somebody would notice. I just got a couple of starts and I’m thankful I was able to do well in those starts."

Though there was strong speculation over the weekend that Hernandez had won the job, he said that the news -- which he got just about an hour ago -- was not expected.

"There was definitely shock value,'' he said. "I was surprised to be honest. It’s everybody’s dream to be on a major league roster, let alone on the Opening Day roster. It’s something special. I felt like I was not the lead candidate going in, but you can’t look at it like that. That just makes you want to work harder. Hopefully, I pushed Tillman to get better and I pushed Berken to get better. He’s going to start plenty of times. There’s no doubt about it. He’s that good of a pitcher."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Chris Tillman handled the news that he's going back to Triple-A with the good grace you would expect of a solid young guy who knows he'll be back soon. It wasn't easy for him, but he's a stand-up guy and let everybody in on his feelings:

On whether he was surprised: "I could kind of see it coming the last few weeks. I think it’s the issue that I’ve been saying the whole spring about being inconsistent and working on all my pitches. I dind’t throw them all for strikes. Obviously it’s disappointing but we’re going to talk tomorrow and we will have a better plan tomorrow."

Did he feel like he was blindsided: "I don’t think I was blindsided, but I did think mentally like it was a battle. I think that was the only fair way to go about it. I went into the offseason with that mentality. I wouldn’t say I'm blindsided but I did expect more of myself obviously. I didn’t pitch as well as I probably should have. It is what it is."

What does he need to work on?: "Throwing my pitches for strikes, came a long way with the changeup last year and I want to focus on my cutter now, my new pitch. See how that comes along. We’re happy with the changeup progression this last year and they want to see that with the cutter I think. I think that’s what we will talk about tomorrow."

On adding the cut fastball to his repertoire: "I think it’s all a confidence thing. It started the same way with my changeup, I didm't have any confidence in it, was scared to throw it. That’s what they want to see with my cutter, have confidence in it and try to throw it whenever I wanted."

Did working on the cutter hurt his chances: "No, it's getting me ready for the season and working on things, you know? I think if I were to stick with my fastball, changeup and curveball, it would have been a totally different outcome. I was working on my cutter, I'm not saying where I would have been but I think the results would have been a different outcome. I'm excited, I think the cutters going to help me. I'm excited to see where that takes me."

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The Orioles are in the process of telling the players who is in and who is out for the regular season, so the clubhouse is a bit tense right now. I'll give you an update after my chat, which is supposed to have started already, but I'm pretty confident the roster I put up earlier today is on the money.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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It appears that the Orioles have made their decision on the reserve catcher. Though nothing has been announced, everything is pointing toward Craig Tatum sticking with the club and veteran Chad Moeller being asked to accept a minor league assignment -- which isn't likely to happen.

Here's the rationale: Tatum is a catch-and-throw guy. Moeller has reached the point where he isn't very effective throwing out baserunners, but he has been a mentor for starter Matt Wieters and some of the young pitchers. The Orioles had to decide which is more important at this point and they apparently have decided to put the premium on the on-field defensive value over the off-the-field intangibles.

My take: I think we'll end up looking back on the decision as a mistake, but Dave Trembley and Andy MacPhail obviously think that Wieters is mature enough to take care of himself and Kevin Millwood can provide leadership for the young pitchers. I think what Moeller brings to the table is worth more over the long run than the runner or two that Tatum will throw out this year playing once a week. And, considering how Trembley plans his lineups so far in advance, he should be able to steer Moeller around the top running teams in the league.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (55)
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The Orioles will not announce their final cuts for several more days, but there no longer is any real suspense about who is going to be on the 25-man major league roster come Opening Day at Tropicana Field. It has become apparent that Craig Tatum is going to win the reserve catching job, David Hernandez and Jason Berken are going to be on the pitching staff -- barring a late injury -- and Koji Uehara is going on the disabled list to start the season. From there, it doesn't take a genius to figure out the rest:

Stating pitchers

Kevin Millwood
Jeremy Guthrie
Brian Matusz
Brad Bergesen
David Hernandez

Relievers

Mike Gonzalez
Jim Johnson
Mark Hendrickson
Matt Albers
Cla Meredith
Will Ohman
Jason Berken
Koji Uehara (DL)

Catchers

Matt Wieters
Craig Tatum

Infielders

Brian Roberts
Miguel Tejada
Garrett Atkins
Cesar Izturis
Ty Wigginton
Robert Andino

Outfielders

Nick Markakis
Adam Jones
Nolan Reimold
Felix Pie
Luke Scott

Though veteran catcher Chad Moeller signed a minor league deal, it seems highly unlikely he will accept a minor league assignment. If that's the case, I think the O's will end up missing him, though they have logical reasons for going with Tatum.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (50)
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The Orioles have signed outfielder Joey Gathright to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Gathright was acquired by the Orioles last year in the Ryan Freel deal, but was dealt to the Red Sox for a small consideration at the end of August. He's expected to arrive today.

Gathright will provide some organizational depth in the outfield, as he did last year. Andy MacPhail took him last year for that reason and the possibility that some other team might be willing to give something up for him later in the season. That's what happened then and that's probably what will happen this year.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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The Orioles have pretty much finalized their pitching plans for the remainder of camp. Jason Berken will be the starter for tomorrow's exhibition game, Alfredo Simon will start on Friday and Brian Matusz will take the final turn against the Mets on Saturday.

In addition, Kevin Millwood will pitch another Triple-A game on Thursday and Jeremy Guthrie will make a minor league start on Friday.

Here's the lineup for today's game against Dontrelle Willis and the Detroit Tigers:

Brian Roberts 2B
Felix Pie LF
Adam Jones CF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Garrett Atkins 1B
Luke Scott DH
Lou Montanez RF
Craig Tatum C
Cesar Izturis SS

Brad Bergesen RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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Jeremy Guthrie struggled with his control tonight in a five-inning performance that featured more walks (4) than hits (3) and a couple of hit batsmen. He allowed five runs (four earned), but he got a little better as he went along and finished with seven strikeouts.

The Orioles may get him off the hook before this game is over, but his performance tonight probably didn't do much to ease apprehension about his inconsistent spring.

Guthrie chose to look on the bright side, pointing to improved movement on his pitches as reason to believe he'll be fine when the bell rings next week.

"I feel good where I’m at,'' he said. "Aside from the walks, I’d like to take one pitch back and I feel like this outing would have been a lot different. Two broken-bat singles and a home run. The walks hurt. That was a fastball to Robinson Cano and it didn’t have the bite that the other ones had and he put a good swing on it, hit it hard. I’m going to look at it pitch-by-pitch, but I feel like I executed some good pitches."

Instant update: Well, the Orioles probably won't get Guthrie off the hook because reliever Mark Hendrickson just gave up a towering three-run home run to minor league outfielder David Winfree in the sixth to give the Yankees an 8-4 lead.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
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Adam Jones just launched a mammoth three-run home run off Javier Vazquez in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull the Orioles within a run. Jones, you might recall, hit the Yankees bus with a shot to left field the last time the Yankees were in town. This time, his blast threatened a moving van parked well behind the left center field fence.

Can you imagine the release of karmic energy if it had been a Mayflower van?

The home run was Jones' fifth of the exhibition season and the three RBI raised his spring total to 10.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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Brian Roberts struck out the first four times he batted in an exhibition game, but he hammered a long double to right field off Yankees pitcher Javier Vazquez in his second at-bat tonight and looked very comfortable speeding around first base.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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We're two innings into Jeremy Guthrie's last stretched-out start and he has given up a three-run home run, four walks and an RBI hit by pitch. He just plunked Mark Teixeira on the right elbow to drive in the fourth Yankees run of the game and knock Teixeira out of the game.

Teixeira appeared to be in significant pain right after he was, which is probably what you'd expect after being hit on the point of the elbow on an unseasonably brisk night. I'm guessing he suffered only a bruise, but you can bet that pitch sent a shiver through the entire Yankees organization. Teixeira is in only the second year of his eight-year, $180 million contract.

Tex update: The Yankees have confirmed that Teixeira suffered a bruised elbow and that he is day to day. He apparently did not undergo any x-rays and will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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That was fast. Koji Uehara just told the reporters in the clubhouse that he expects to start the season on the disabled list. Or, at least, he let it be known that he would not be ready to meet Trembley's timeline, which is the same thing.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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Dave Trembley said he's getting close to the point where he has to know something definitive about Koji Uehara, which tells me that the chances of Koji starting the season on the disabled list are pretty high.

Factor in the way the schedule plays out the first 16 days of the season and it seems almost inevitable, since the Orioles are going to need some pitchers who can throw multiple innings without a lot of rest in between appearances. That certainly bodes well for Jason Berken.

The condition of Kam Mickolio also plays into the equation. He's been hobbled by a groin strain that will need to be tested in a game sometime in the next several days.

Brian Roberts is pushing himself right now to get as much work at the plate as he can get. He went right from batting practice on the main field tonight to the back fields for more work before starting tonight's game. If he feels okay in the morning, he'll probably play tomorrow, too.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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This one is going to rank on the surprise scale with sugar being sweet and the Yankees having the highest payroll in baseball, but Dave Trembley finally officially announced that Kevin Millwood will be the Opening Night starter against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Millwood has been targetted for the opener since the day the Orioles traded for him at the Winter Meetings. He was brought in to be the No.1 starter and he has been referred to throughout training camp as the No. 1 starter, but -- for some reason -- the club did not consider that to be the same as being the Opening Night starter.

Trembley also had said he would announce the rest of the rotation today, but decided to hold that announcement until tomorrow. The next three slots are not in doubt, but there remains some intrigue concerning the fifth slot.

Until recently, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that it would go to Chris Tillman. Now, it seems almost certain it will go to David Hernandez. Guess we can wait another 24 hours for that.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
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Yankees

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames LF
Randy Winn RF
Francisco Cervelli C
Greg Golson CF

Javier Vazquez RHP

Orioles

Brian Roberts 2B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Matt Wieters C
Garrett Atkins DH
Nolan Reimold LF
Cesar Izturis SS

Jeremy Guthrie RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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MASN will trot out Eddie Murray, Ben McDonald, Mike Boddicker and Brady Anderson on tonight's broadcast to preview their new roles with the network during the regular season. Murray, McDonald and Boddicker toured the clubhouse shaking hands with the current players this afternoon (Anderson is resting up after a red-eye flight) and are on the field watching pregame workouts right now.

That led to the most ironic moment of the spring. I was watching from the press box a few minutes ago when MASN producer Lya Vallat handed out media credentials and Murray hung the lanyard around his neck. I wonder if he ever imagined doing that during an Orioles playing career that was marked by chronic tension with the sportswriters who covered him.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Brian Matusz said that everything went according to plan in today's intrasquad game, though he admitted that he would have rather been the starter for tonight's televised game against the Yankees.

"It was great,'' he said. "I accomplished everything I wanted to work on today. We were throwing runners out there so I could work on my slidestep, because I didn't do that well with runners on base in my last time out."

Though it seemed like the major league relievers who pitched an inning early in the intrasquad game had trouble getting any rhythm established, Matusz settled down after a walk in the first and was basically unhittable, except for that one pitch that Billy Rowell launched out to center field. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz had to add outs in the sixth and seventh innings to get his pitch count up.

"It was a little bit strange,'' Matusz said, "especially having to get a few extra outs, but you're going to have some long innings, so it was nice to stay out there and throw 20 or 25 pitches and get that work in."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Brian Matusz just finished seven innings. He threw 92 pitches and allowed just one hit -- a long home run off the center field hitting background to minor league prospect Billy Rowell.

"He threw seven innings,'' pitching coach Rick Kranitz said, "but he got nine innings worth of outs."

Kranitz was referring to the fact that he left Matusz on the mound for extra outs in the seventh inning to run up his pitch count, which he said was "perfect."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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Brian Matusz is through three hitless innings in the intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. He has thrown 29 pitches, 20 of them for strikes. He did give up a walk in the first, but needed just nine pitches -- all strikes -- to get through the second and eight pitches -- six strikes -- to get through the third. He would have given up one hit, but Josh Bell made a terrific diving stab to keep the ball from going down the line.

Matusz is throwing to reserve catcher candidate Craig Tatum, which might have meaning or might not. It appears that the decision between Tatum and veteran Chad Moeller is going to be a difficult one, which I would not have suspected when camp opened.

Jim Johnson and Will Ohman pitched the first two innings for the other squad, and it's starting to look like there may be more major league pitchers going in the intrasquad game than will represent the Orioles in the MASN-televised Grapefruit League game against the Yankees tonight.

Neither Johnson nor Ohman looked particularly sharp, but it's got to be tough to get real pumped up for an intrasquad game.

Instant update: Matusz has now pitched five hitless innings and faced the minimum number of batters (though he did walk a guy in the first inning). He has thrown 57 pitches -- 39 for strikes -- which means he is averaging just 11 an inning. He has been so dominant that pitching coach Rick Kranitz sent a runner to second base in the fifth just so Matusz could get some work out of the stretch. His father is in the stands, but I've got to believe he would rather be watching Brian tonight against the Yankees.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Normally, I wouldn't devote an item to a couple of minor league spring training games being rained out, but Brian Matusz was scheduled to start one of them against the Red Sox Triple-A team and throw 100 pitches. Don't despair, Matusz will get his work in on the main field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, but it will be against the Orioles minor leaguers in an intrasquad game.

The weather has largely cleared up after heavy rains drenched the complex overnight, so tonight's MASN-televised game against the Yankees does not appear to be in danger.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Orioles have a night game tonight against the Yankees, which will give you almost another whole day to ponder all the intrigue that developed over the weekend. It started on Saturday, when it became apparent that David Hernandez had passed Chris Tillman on the depth chart and will probably start the season as the fifth starter. Dan Connolly ramped it up on Sunday -- read his story here or in today's print edition -- with a lot of clarification about the final makeup of the starting lineup and 25-man roster.

If you haven't already, you might also want to check out Jeff Zrebiec's story on Adam Jones and the team's desire for him to play deeper this season to protect some of the flyball pitchers in the rotation.

Wish I could refer you to some of my work yesterday, but you'd have to go to one of the local golf courses and ask if they charge extra when you get past 110 strokes.

I suspect there will be more roster news in the next day or so, but today will feature Brian Matusz in a minor league game and Jeremy Guthrie replacing Alfredo Simon for tonight's start against the Yankees because of yesterday's rainout. It's possible that Simon will pitch after Guthrie, but it's more likely he'll soon be reassigned to minor league camp.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (43)
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The Orioles travel today to Dunedin, where Jeremy Guthrie will face the Toronto Blue Jays in an afternoon exhibition game, but I won't be going with them. I'm doing to take the day off to do a little fairway research, if you get my drift.

If you just can't stand to spend the whole day without me, you can take a look at today's column over on the Orioles section of the Web site. I give my take on the competition between Chris Tillman and David Hernandez for the last opening in the regular season starting rotation.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
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Dave Trembley came as close as he has yet to naming Kevin Millwood the Opening Day starter,today, as if anybody has any doubt about that. The real intrigue revolves around the fifth starter battle and who might be the long guy in the bullpen.

That may have become clearer today with the strong performance of David Hernandez and strong indications that the team will go with a 12-man pitching staff. Both Andy MacPhail and Dave Trembley said that no final decision have been made on the final makeup of the regular season rotation or the bullpen, but much of what they said pointed to the possibility that Hernandez has moved ahead of Tillman.

MacPhail is actually happy that this is a big issue.

"Absolutely,'' he said. "This is the type of thing you're hoping for...We have guys competing for spots and we don't have spots competing for guys."

The decision between Tillman and Hernandez is a multi-layered choice. Tillman is probably the guy with the higher ceiling, but Hernandez might be better suited to jump right into the rotation, and that's particularly important for the Orioles this year because they open with 16 straight games without a day off, so the No. 5 guy can't be skipped the first three times through the rotation.

The schedule puts a premium on long relief, since the club may need a lot of innings with a young rotation. That might even point to both Hernandez and Jason Berken making the team over Tillman and a situational guy.

"The thing we try to impress on the kids is the obvious fact that nobody uses the same 12 pitchers all year,'' MacPhail said. "The beginning of the season is just a snapshot in time."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (113)
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David Hernandez doesn't know if he's pitching for the fifth slot in the starting rotation, but he made a case for himself with his five shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox today at Ed Smith Stadium. He gave up four hits, struck out four and walked two in a strong performance that featured a great escape in the fourth.

He loaded the bases with no one out and then struck out the side.

"It wasn't fun when I loaded the bases in the fourth,'' he said. "I just wanted to get out of the inning with one or two runs. but I struck out the first guy, and as luck would have it, struck out the next guy and then I just didn't want to give up a two-out hit."

As far as his status with respect to the Opening Day roster, he is leaving that to the manager and the front office.

"I'm just trying to go out and do the best I can every performance,'' he said. "Whether it is good enough or not, I want to give my best effort no matter what the situation is. They haven't said anything to me as far as the starting rotation or where I'll start or what role I'll have. I just want to go out there and make it a tough decision."

Column note: This entry is just a preview of my Sunday column, in which I will try to provide some insight on the fifth starter situation.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Kevin Millwood threw eight innings against the Tampa Bay Rays Triple-A players on one of the back fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and declared himself ready for the season, at least in terms of endurance. He threw 102 pitches, but said he will scale that down to 50 or 60 in his final tuneup before the season opener. He has not been announced as the Opening Day starter, but that is a formality.

"Everything felt good,'' he said. "It was like a normal day on the mound. I felt like I located my fastball well, threw some good changeups and I thought my slider was good."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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David Hernandez has zipped through three innings, striking out three, walking none and giving up just one hit. If this keeps up, there is going to be a lot of speculation about the upcoming announcement of the regular season rotation. Manager Dave Trembley indicated recently that there would be no surprises, which seemed to indicate that Chris Tillman was likely to be the fifth starter, but I'm sure Dave will be able to perform the necessary semantic gymnastics to explain things if he changes his mind and goes with Hernandez.

Instant update: Jeff Zrebiec reports that Hernandez has completed five scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fourth by striking out three straight batters.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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Closer Mike Gonzalez started the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A team on the back field today and already has completed his two innings of work. He gave up just one hit, but did fall behind some hitters, but got through two with about 25 pitches.He was just replaced by Steve Johnson.

Kevin Millwood just completed his third inning or work in the Triple-A game and looks comfortable. He has not given up a run, but just worked out of a jam after giving up atriple in the third.

In-game update: Millwood has completed six innings and thrown about 75 pitches. He could throw as many as 100 today, which means that it is within the realm of possibility that he'll finish the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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David Hernandez has just completed his first inning against the Boston Red Sox on a day that could have real bearing on his chances of going north with the major league team. He gave up a long fly ball to Jacoby Ellsbury, but retired the Red Sox in order in the first. He threw 14 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.

Meanwhile, Kevin Millwood and Mike Gonzalez are scheduled to pitch in minor league games across the complex. I'm going to head over there for a few innings and check them out.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Koji Uehara worked out today and Dave Trembley said there has been some improvement in his sore hamstring, but his status for the start of the season obviously is in doubt. There's a chance he could start on the disabled list.

"He told Kranny (pitching coach Rick Kranitz) that he needs one or two more times (in a game) to be ready,'' Trembley said. "I would think that means the middle of next week, and he probably would need a side session."

Nobody wants to make Uehara feel rushed or uncomfortable, but he has injected a dose of uncertainty into the bullpen.

"I had really kind of penciled him in asd the seventh-inning guy,'' Trembley said, "We'll have to see if he's available."

The Orioles have now confirmed that Brian Matusz will not pitch against the Yankees on Monday. He'll pitch in a camp game to keep the Yankees from getting a long look at him right before the start of the season. Alfredo Simon will take over the Monday start and Matusz will pitch in a minor league game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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Dave Trembley said this morning that David Hernandez's start today against the Red Sox is not "any more important than any other, but right now every start for these guys whould be one that gets them ready for the season and them a little more focused."

That might be true, but I can't help thinking that Hernandez is pitching for a chance to move up the depth chart. We've all assumed that the rotation would be Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, Bergesen and Tillman, but Trembley has always claimed that the fifth slot is open to competition.

"I think I addressed that...the fifth spot has always been open,'' he said. "I think I always said that. Not being disrespectful to Tillman, but it is said with respect to what Hernandez and Berken did last year. We owed it to them to say, 'Come in and compete.'"

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Today's going to be a big day to watch pitchers, which means my feet are going to hurt and the blog is going to be all over the place. While David Hernandez is trying to win the fifth slot in the major league rotation with a big performance against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium, Kevin Millwood will be on the back field pitching in a Triple-A game and Mike Gonzalez will be back there throwing two innings in a Double-A game.

The Orioles will probably keep many of the major league pitchers out of view when they play their final exhibition games against the AL East this week, so Brian Matusz is expected to pitch in a minor league game Monday. They've got two more games each against the Yankees and Red Sox and also play the Rays and Blue Jays.

Today's lineup:

Felix Pie LF
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters C
Miguel Tejada 3B
Garrett Atkins 1B
Ty Wigginton DH
Justin Turner 2B
Cesar Izturis SS

David Hernandez RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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The Orioles fell behind by four runs and then battled back to make a game of it, and manager Dave Trembley was upbeat afterward.

"It was a really successful night for us,'' he said.

He was talking about Brian Roberts' 2010 debut at second base, a pretty good relief effort by Jason Berken and Nolan Reimold's first home run of the spring which were "all big pluses for us."

Trembley was more pointed when he talked about Chris Tillman's outing, even though Tillman gave up just two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings.

"The pace of the game was poor,'' Trembley said, reacting to Tillman's comment earlier that his performance in the third inning was unacceptable. "If he was hard on himself, he had every right to be. His pace was not too good but I'll give him credit. He picked it up and did better."

I'm trying to read between the lines here, and what I'm getting from that last comment is that David Hernandez could help his chances of going north with the club by pitching well tomorrow against John Lackey and the Boston Red Sox.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Chris Tillman was fairly happy with his performance tonight, though he walked four batters and ran his pitch count up so much he could not get into the late innings.

"I think it went well overall except for that third inning,'' he said. "Those kinds of innings are unacceptable. I felt like I was out there forever. If not for that inning, I could have gone into the seventh or eighth. My fastball was great. My curveball was the best it's been in two years, but that one inning hurt me."

Manager Dave Trembley is getting close to naming his regular season rotation, and Tillman has gotten some competition for the fifth slot. It looks like he'll be the guy, but he said he does not have a clue what is going to happen.

"I really don't know,'' he said. "They told me to work my butt off in the offseason and that it's up in the air. That's fair. The other guys are working their butts off, too."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Brian Roberts said he felt great getting back into the starting lineup today, even though he struck out in all three of his at-bats.

"It was good,'' he said. "It was great just to put a uniform on and go out and play."

He said he had no discomfort, either at the plate or during his five innings in the field, where he was involved in four plays.

"No, my body felt pretty good,'' he said. "It's just a matter of getting into the box and facing some live pitching."

And how did that go?

"Obviously, not stellar,'' he laughed. "The last at-bat I started feeling better, but the first two I was pretty lost, but it shouldn't take long."

So, does he have any doubt he'll be ready to play every day when the season opens in 11 days?

"Obviously, if you wake up tomorrow and you can't get out of bed,'' he said, "but not now."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Nolan Reimold just homered in the bottom of the seventh inning -- his first home run of the exhibition season and his second hit of the game. He finally seems to be finding his stroke after starting out 0 for 21. He also looked good scoring from first base on a double in the fifth inning, which is probably more encouraging than the home run.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Brian Roberts has played four innings in the field so far and handled the ball four times without a problem. He hasn't been so fortunate at the plate, striking out looking in the first inning and striking out swinging in the fourth.

Tillman update: Chris Tillman was just removed from the game with a runner on second and one out in the fifth and Cla Meredith has allowed that inherited runner to score. Tillman was charged with two runs on four hits and four walks.

Offense quiet: The Orioles must have used up all their hits in yesterday's game against the Yankees. They are hitless through four innings against Twins starter Scott Baker.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Chris Tillman has held the Minnesota Twins to just one run through the first three innings, but it hasn't been easy. He has allowed four hits, including a home run to Jacque Jones, and has walked three. He's already over 70 pitches, so we'll have to wait and see how much farther manager Dave Trembley will allow him to go.

Instant update: Tillman came back for the fourth and looked very good, retiring the side in order and striking out the final batter of the inning.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Manager Dave Trembley just held court with reporters prior to tonight's exhibition game between the Orioles and Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. He confirmed that Brian Roberts will not play in tomorrow's game against the Red Sox after starting tonight's game and likely playing five innings or so.

"If he feels like it, he can go to the back fields tomorrow and get some extra at-bats,'' Trembley said, "but that's not necessary."

Trembley had nice things to say about some of the young players who were optioned back to the minor leagues this afternoon, most notably Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell.

"I think Snyder is close to being a major league player,'' he said, "and Bell has a tool you can't teach -- power from both sides of the plate. He needs some experience at Triple-A. I'm impressed with both guys."

Trembley also lauded the versatility of outfield prospect Jonathan Tucker, who showed he could play all three outfield positions and run the bases with speed and intellligence.

Dave on the progress Garrett Atkins is making at the plate: "I sure liked his batting practice session today. He's starting to go after it. You'll see him and a lot of guys turning it up over the rest of camp."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Guess I picked the wrong day to write a column in the morning and take a long lunch. The Orioles did, indeed, announce their next round of cuts, optioning Josh Bell, Rhyne Hughes, Brandon Snyder and Michael Aubrey to the Triple-A Norfolk roster, reassigning Dennis Sarfate, Frank Mata, Josh Perrault and Jonathan Tucker to the minor league camp and optioning Pedro Florimon to the Double-A Bowie rosters.

The O's also announced earlier today that Dave Stockstill has been named Director of International Operations and his brother, John, has been named Director of Player Development. They've basically switched positions, and the move -- which will become effective April 5 -- has been widely expected for the past several days.

Of course, the biggest news of the day has not happened yet. Brian Roberts will make his first exhibition appearance tonight against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium, leading off and playing second base.

Here's the Orioles lineup:

Brian Roberts 2B
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters DH
Adam Jones CF
Luke Scott 1B
Nolan Reimold LF
Craig Tatum C
Cesar Izturis SS

Chris Tillman RHP

Injury update: Koji Uehara, who is struggling with another hamstring issue, threw off flat ground again today and apparently threw harder than his last workout, but manager Dave Trembley said a few minutes ago that Koji was unable to complete his running progressions, so his status remains very uncertain.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
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The Orioles probably will make another large round of roster cuts this weekend, though there is no official timetable. Look for a lot of the young players still in major league camp -- guys like Josh Bell, Brandon Snyder, Pedro Florimon and Rhyne Hughes -- will be reassigned to the minor league camp.

The Orioles likely will keep many of the older minor league prospects -- Scott Moore, Jeff Salazar, Lou Montanez, Craig Tatum -- around to take some innings and at-bats during the remaining week or so of exhibition games.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (48)
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The Orioles hammered New York Yankees starter Alfredo Aceves for six runs and six hits over two-plus innings or work in today's lopsided victory. Adam Jones homered in his second straight start and Nick Markakis had two hits in an 11-hit Orioles offensive performance, b ut the big story was the terrific performance by Brad Bergesen.

"Bergesen continues to get better,'' Trembley said. "Today was his best outing. He had movement. His slider was sharp. He got grounds balls. He had good plays made behind him. His tempo was good and his delivering was improved, so he's on the right track and it's good to see."

On the offense: "We ran the bases well. It was good to see us go first to third. Showed patience at the plate and played a good game."

On how Miguel Tejada is looking at third: "Comfortable. I think he's a lot more comfortable than he was. You're going to see him these last 10 days...if you're here early...you're going to see him out on that back field a lot. I think the nice thing is, we get Roberts back we can put Roberts, Izturiz and Miiggi out there and we can do some things in the morning together as a group, but I'm satisfied with where he is. He can get better, but we all can."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)
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Brad Bergesen was happy with his performance against the Yankees -- Who wouldn't be? -- but he still wasn't entirely satisfied. He appears to be something of a perfectionist, but there's nothing wrong with that.

"I wouldn't say I'm completely satisfied,'' he said. "There's a few things I still need to focus on and accomplish this spring training but I felt that much more like myself today and I just need to continue to build on that."

So what more can a guy do than hold the Yankees to no runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings?

"There were a couple of mental mistakes I made in the fifth inning, when I made a couple of bad 0-2 pitches and I just need to identify that and really focus and know what I want to do in those situations and not make those types of mistakes,'' he said.

Bergesen is 3-0 with a 3.77 ERA in four spring starts. His earlier outings weren't as pretty as today's, but the team has been more interested in how he feels than how he actually pitches.

"Today was the best I've felt,'' he said. "Going up against the Yankees and be able to to 5 2/3 helped out and builds ghe confidence. Just try to finish up the next two weeks and get ready."

So, after that nasty line drive that ended his promising 2009 season and the shoulder injury he suffered during a commercial shoot in December, has he gotten back to where he wanted to be at this point in spring training.

"Under the circumstances, yes," he said. "I know I keep saying this, but I think there are still a couple of things I need to do to feel like I did before the leg injury, before the arm injury, but given the circumstances, yes, I'm exactly where I'd like to be at this point."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Brad Bergesen worked 5 2/3 innings and gave up just three hits today, which makes this a pretty good day for the Orioles pitching staff. Bergesen was facing some pretty good Yankees hitters and looked very sharp.

Be back with his reaction in a few minutes.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
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...that the last time the Orioles hosted the Yankees in an exhibition game was Mar. 23, 1992, a split-squad game at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. The last full-squad game was Mar. 31, 1991 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

Thanks to O's PR guys Jay Moskowitz and Mick McDonald back in Baltimore for those fun facts.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network announced today that it has finalized its broadcast lineup for the 2010 season. Four former Orioles players will alternate as color analysts alongside Gary Thorne and either Jim Palmer or Mike Flanagan. The first three names -- Eddie Murray, Brady Anderson and Mike Boddicker -- already were known. The fourth member of the group is former pitcher Ben McDonald.

Sounds l like an interesting and diverse group of personalities. I'll be very interested to watch the interaction in the booth when each makes his first appearance. I'm sure a lot of attention will be paid to Murray's debut, since he had such a tense relationship with the Baltimore media.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (30)
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Just thought I'd let everyone know that you can now go to my Facebook page by clicking here and reading my updates or requesting me as a friend. More than 1,000 have already done so and I'm hoping to collect so many friends online that I can just dump all my real ones.

I've had a Facebook page for a couple of years now, but we're just linking it to the blog. This social media thing apparently is here to stay, so I thought I would drag myself into the 21st Century and join in the fun.

Of course, when I told my 91-year-old mother that I had a social media site, she told me that they can make something out of bread mold that will cure that. That's one funny old lady.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Adam Jones just hit a two-run home run to left field that landed on top of one of the Yankees' two team buses.

No comment is necessary. Just enjoy thinking about that.

Instant update: Miguel Tejada just singled to left to start an Orioles rally in the third inning, which was nice since he had been in a 1-for-26 slump. Nick Markakis followed with a hit and Matt Wieters just lined a long two-run double to left center. Orioles 4, Yankees 0.

Instant update update: Now it's 7-0 in the third. Just kind of makes you all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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Brad Bergesen has just finished his second hitless inning against the Yankees, and he looks very sharp. He threw just 6 pitches in the first inning and 11 in the second. That's 17 pitches and 11 strikes, if you're a pitch count addict.

He's had a little help from second baseman Ty Wigginton, who made a great play up the middle to rob Derek Jeter of a leadoff single in the first inning.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

Dave Trembley lauded the effort of pitcher Jake Arrieta this spring and said that the decision to reassign him was made largely for Arrieta's own benefit.

"We were doing him a disservice keeping him and not finding innings for him to pitch,'' Trembley said. "He's a special talent. Great arm. We just ran out of innings. I told him he just need some experience."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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It's finally official. Brian Roberts will start tomorrow's exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins and Ed Smith Stadium. That should not come as a huge surprise, since word had leaked out early in the week that Friday probably would be the day, but Dave Trembley said the decision was finalized this morning.

Trembley isn't speculating on what will happen after that. Roberts has said he intends to start playing every day upon his return, but the Orioles are taking it a day at a time.

"The only thing I'm saying today is he's going to play tomorrow,'' Trembley said. "It's been a little hectic today...I'd like to look at it -- the schedule -- so I'd like to take it one day at a time."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Orioles clubhouse remained closed this morning for the annual meeting of the Major League Baseball Players Association. New Executive Director Michael Weiner is making the tour of spring training sites for the first time since replacing Donald Fehr.

The meeting generally touches on every issue facing the players, from the next set of labor negotiations to Bud Selig's new committee re-examining the game and considering issues like realignment.

The New York Yankees have just arrived and gotten off their bus behind the left field fence. Alex Rodriguez just walked down into the third base dugout.

Here are the lineups:

Yankees

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Marcus Thames LF
Randy Winn CF
Francisco Cervelli C

Alfredo Aceves RHP

Orioles

Felix Pie LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters C
Adam Jones CF
Luke Scott DH
Garrett Atkins 1B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Cesar Izturis SS

Brad Bergesen RHP

Today's roster move: The Orioles reassigned pitcher Jake Arrieta to the minor league camp today, reducing the major league spring roster to 47. This was no surprise. Arrieta was never projected as a real candidate for the fifth starter role, and the club would not consider him as a long reliever. His continued development as one of the team's top pitching prospects requires him to start and get more innings than he has been getting in major league camp.

Today's plug: If you haven't already, check out my take on Brian Matusz's performance against the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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The Orioles lost today at Roger Dean Stadium, but manager Dave Trembley was all smiles afterward.

"We pitched good enough to win,'' he said.

That's probably the best way to describe it. Brian Matusz wasn't at his best, but he turned in a quality start -- 6 innings, 3 runs -- and the bullpen held things together. Closer Mike Gonzalez gave up a run, but he might have gotten out of that minor jam if the infield had been a little tighter on a potential double-play ball.

"It was good to get Matusz stretched out,'' Trembley said. He wasn't crisp. He wasn't as sharp as he usually is, but he knows how to pitch. He knows how to pitch without his best stuff."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
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Brian Matusz had to work pretty hard, but he got through six innings and gave up three runs on nine hits. He threw 83 pitches (53 strikes) and struggled through a rocky fourth, but even his most difficult outing of the spring ended up being a quality start.

Statistical highlight: He faced Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday six times and held them to a combined 0 for 5 with a walk.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Brian Matusz retired the heart of the Cardinals lineup -- Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Ryan Ludwick -- in order while holding St. Louis scoreless through the first two innings. He also retired Pujols on a ground ball with a runner at third and two outs in the third.

The highlight of the third inning, however, might have been a flashy pick by first base prospect Brandon Snyder, who scooped a wicked one-hopper off the bat of Felipe Lopez and made the unassisted out at first.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Rich Hill settled down after a rocky start and retired five of six batters after bringing home the Orioles second run with a wild pitch in the first inning. He allowed a walk and a hit in the third, but he has pitched back-to-back scoreless innings.

Instant update: That's it for Hill. He has been removed from the game after pitching three innings and throwing 62 pitches, 37 of them for strikes.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Rich Hill took the mound for today's game at Roger Dean Stadium and the first batter he faced was Felix Pie, which provided an interesting juxtaposition since Andy MacPhail was criticized for bringing both of them into the Orioles organization last year.

Of course, Hill's control and injury problems undermined the attempt to reclaim his career in Baltimore, but Pie eventually proved to be a fairly valuable addition. Just interesting that they would face enough other to start the game.

If you were wondering, Pie walked.

Instant update: Hill also walked Lou Montanez and gave up a groundball RBI single to Nolan Reimold. He went on to give up two runs on two hits and two walks in the first inning.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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I almost forgot to plug my column on Jeremy Guthrie in today's print edition, which -- of course -- you can read right here.

Don't get my wrong. I'm a big fan of Jeremy and I think he's got a chance to be a very successful major league pitcher, but sometimes it looks like he just can't seem to get out of his own way.

Here's hoping he puts together a couple of great outings to close out spring training on a high note. I'd still wager he has a much better year than he did in 2009.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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Brian Matusz was originally scheduled to hit in today's game, but Dave Trembley asked Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to allow the Orioles to use a designated hitter, even though Cards starter Rich Hill will be in the batting order.

Trembley continues to be impressed with Matusz's maturity.

"There's not much of a difference (last year to this year),'' he said. "He's still the same guy, just more experienced. He carried over what he did last year right into spring training. Maybe he's locating his fastball a better. He pitches with a plan and he has confidence...It's remarkable. He's really had so little time here and he acts like he's been here forever."

Nolan Reimold will be in left field for most of today's game, but Trembley said he's no longer worried about how far his starting left fielder as gotten back after ankle surgery. He also said that Reimold's hitting slump is not keeping him awake at night.

"I'm not concerned about his hitting...you are what you are,'' Trembley said. "What I am concerned about is, are you going to be able to bounce back and play back-to-back days. We need to find out how much he can play."

Here's today's lineup:

Felix Pie CF
Robert Andino SS
Lou Montanez RF
Nolan Reimold LF
Brandon Snyder 1B
Josh Bell 3B
Scott Moore DH
Chad Moeller C
Justin Turner 2B

Brian Matusz P

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Woke up to another beautiful day in the Palm Beach area, and am sitting in the press box at Roger Dean Stadium pondering the upcoming exhibition appearance by St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Rich Hill.

Maybe I can't wait for the game to begin because I no longer have to watch Hill for a living. He's a nice guy and I wish him all the best in his new endeavor, but he was a human soap opera during his 2009 season with the Orioles, and there were times when he couldn't have gotten Susan Lucci out.

He's not knocking anybody's socks off in Cardinals camp either, apparently. He is 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA in Grapefruit League action, but he's left-handed and he has one of the nastiest curveballs on the planet when he can throw it for strikes.

I'm sure the Orioles aren't looking forward to facing him, because he's either very tough or very erratic, which can make it a lose-lose situation for the hitters, though an erratic Rich Hill is good for your on-base percentage.

The Orioles will send Brian Matusz to the mound for his fifth exhibition appearance. He's throwing the ball better than anybody in camp, and has 18 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings to prove it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
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The Orioles are going to announce some administrative changes over the next few days, though they have been brewing for some time. Dave and John Stockstill essentially will change places in the front office, with John taking over the minor league operation and Dave assuming some of John's international scouting duties.

We probably should have realized this a couple of weeks ago, since it was obvious that Dave was traveling internationally more and John was spending more and more time around the minor league operation, but it is kind of an inside baseball situation.

The word got out this week that the Orioles were going to make a front office announcement, and speculation about it first surfaced on Orioles Hangout, but Andy MacPhail told reporters he would not announce anything for several days. He can do that if he wants, but my buddy Ken Rosenthal put it up on FoxSports.com this morning.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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The Orioles came close to making a huge comeback in the ninth inning of today's 5-2 loss to the Florida Marlins. They had gone scoreless for seven innings after Adam Jones homered in the first, but scored a run in the ninth and loaded the bases before Robert Andino -- representing the potential go-ahead run -- launched a shot to straightaway center field that was caught right up against the wall.

Another three or four feet and it would have been a last-gasp grand slam, but Andino did give it a big ride in a tough situation.

Cla Meredith wasn't the only middle relief candidate to struggle today. Matt Albers gave up a run on a pair of doubles in his inning of work and Kam Mickolio walked two batters in a scoreless eighth.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
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Reliever Cla Meredith had not allowed a run all spring, but he gave up a leadoff double to Gaby Sanchez in the sixth inning, hit a batter and gave up a run-scoring single to left fielder Chris Coghlan. He also allowed a run to scoreon a ground out by Cameron Maybin.

His line: 1 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 1K, 1 HBP.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Jeremy Guthrie pitched five innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He threw 91 pitches (56 strikes) and allowed a total of nine baserunners, but held things together much better than he did in his previous two exhibition appearances.

Guthrie had given up 10 earned runs in his previous 6 1/3 innings and came in with a 9.28 ERA, but lowered it to 7.47 today.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (32)
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Brian Matusz is scheduled to take his turn in the rotation on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals against -- drum roll please -- former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill. It'll be interesting to see what Dave Duncan has done with Hill, who was erratic and injury prone in his only season with the Orioles.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Jeremy Guthrie started the second inning much like he did the first, retiring the first two batters. He also finished it in similar fashion, allowing a double to catcher Brett Hayes and an RBI single to pitcher Ricky Nolasco.

The Orioles are playing with a DH and the Marlins are letting their pitchers hit, and the No. 8 and 9 hitters combine on a two-out run. It's just spring training, but that's a tough sell when you're trying to bounce back from a couple of rocky starts.

Instant update: Guthrie still is struggling a big with his command, but he has gotten through the third and fourth innings without giving up a run. He did allow two baserunners in each of those innings and walked Nolasco on four pitches with two outs in the fourth.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Jeremy Guthrie retired the first two batters he faced after Adam Jones gave him the lead in the first inning, but he walked Hanley Ramirez, who stole second, and gave up a solid RBI single to Jorge Cantu to tie the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Adam Jones launched a solo home run off Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco with one out in the top of the first inning of today's game at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. It was Jones' third homer of the spring and fifth RBI.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Dave Trembley still is not saying anything definite about Brian Roberts, but he continues to hint that Roberts will join the exhibition lineup this weekend. I'm hearing Friday, but nothing is definite because he continues to work out and test his sore lower back.

"He was going to hit today,'' Trembley said. "I'll check with Richie (Bancells) after the game...He was very good the other day. He swung from both sides of the plate and swung hard. I hope to get him in by the end of the week."

No real update on Koji Uehara, though he told Rick Kranitz that he could pitch right now if he had to.

"He said yes,'' Trembley said, "but obviously you don't want to do that."

Nolan Reimold is back in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter, but Dave said he'll probably play close to nine innings in left field tomorrow against the Cardinals.

"We're going to find out a little more tomorrow when he plays the outfield,'' he said, "but he's been better since he got the orthotics (special shoe inserts). The first day of camp, he didn't look very pretty. We need to get him in a situation where he plays back-to-back games. "We'll use him at DH today and left field tomorrow."

Reimold still is working through some soreness in his surgically repaired heel, but he has shown gradual improvement over the course of spring training.

"He was never a pretty runner,'' Trembley said.

The outfield tomorrow will be Reimold, Felix Pie and Lou Montanez. Some of today's starters will return to Sarasota today after the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Here's the lineup that will face Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. It is about as close to the full major league batting order (personnel-wise, not in terms of position or batting order) as it's going to get until Brian Roberts returns -- I'm hearing as soon as Friday.

Orioles

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

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
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The Orioles are in familiar territory today, back on the East Coast. They'll play the Florida Marlins today and the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. It's easily the spring road stadium the Orioles have spent the most time in over the past couple of decades.

Jeremy Guthrie is scheduled to start for the Orioles, trying to bounce back from a pair of spring outings in which he gave up 10 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, including three homers against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

The Orioles are bussing over from Sarasota this morning. They'll come over in two busses, but one of the busses will take back some of the players who appear in today's game. The rest of the team will stay overnight and return tomorrow after playing the Cardinals.

I drove over late last night, and it got a lot later when I was betrayed by my GPS. It told me to get off about 20 miles short of the exit for my hotel, so I spent close to an hour touring beachfront of Fort Pierce before arriving at my hotel and realizing it was right on 95. My bad. I should know my way around here after spending spring training on this side of the state for the last 15 years or so.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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If you're wondering what I did on my day off, I took my son to a place called Munchies 420 Cafe, which was featured on the Travel Channel show Man vs.Food last September. The place has several specialties, but the one that was featured on the show was the "Super Fat Daddy," a huge sandwich that includes -- among other things -- six cheeseburgers, french fries, mozzerella sticks, chicken fingers and, I think, a live possum -- and is topped with macaroni and cheese.

I'll just throw it right out there. Even I couldn't finish something like that, and my throat expands the same way as a boa constrictor's to fit the size of my meals. I had one of the cafe's famous Philly Steaks, which was terrific, and my son Dan had a "Fat Sandy," which is a smaller version of the signature sandwich.

If you're curious, you can find the show on You Tube,, but I've included a cell phone photo of the "Fat Sandy,'' which Dan proclaimed was one of the best sandwiches he has ever consumed. And, trust me, if you're trying to gauge whether he has eaten enough sandwiches to be qualified to make that kind of judgment, you'll just have to take my word for it that the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Now that I think about it, I should have put a ruler next to the sandwich so you could get a feel for how large it really is, but you'll just have to take my word for it. The castaways on Gilligan's Island could have survived on one for a month.

Gastronomical update: My kid was re-evaluating the Fat Sandy last night. He still thinks it is one of the tastiest sandwiches he ever had, but it was weighing a little heavy by nightfall and the diet guilt was setting in. "I don't know if I feel sick,'' he said, "or just dirty."

Photo by noted sandwich photographer Dan Schmuck

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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Former Orioles managers Ray Miller and the late Johnny Oates will be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame this summer. Longtime Orioles employee Lenny Johnston will receive the Herb Armstrong Award at the Hall of Fame Luncheon (sponsored by the Orioles Advocates) at the Warehouse on Aug. 6.

The induction ceremony will take place on Aug. 7 before the game between the Orioles and Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park.

Miller, who managed the team in 1998 and 1999 and served as pitching coach for 11 seasons, was elected in ballotting conducted by the Orioles Advocates. Oates, who replaced Frank Robinson as O's manager in 1991 and managed the Orioles through the 1994 season, was selected by the Veterans Committee.

"It's quite an honor, because the Orioles have such great tradition...I still pull for them every day," Miller told Dan Connolly on the phone a couple of minutes ago. "I owe so much to everybody there. Cal Sr. and Earl (Weaver) and Billy Hunter and all of them made me believe in the right way to do things and treat everybody the same."

Johnson has worked for the Orioles for 34 years, the past 19 as the club's minor league camp coordinator. He has also served the club as a minor league manager, coach, scout, scouting supervisor and cross-checker.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (31)
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The Orioles are taking the day off today before traveling to Jupiter, Fla., to face the Florida Marlins tomorrow and the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday and Roger Dean Stadium. I'll be taking most of the day off, but might chime in later in the day if anything happens.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)
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Yes, I was in Clearwater earlier today to do some pregame stuff on the Orioles, but when that driving rain started to fall and the outlook seemed bleak for getting the game against the Phillies started, I bolted and returned to Sarasota to watch the Terps play Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Of course, the rain ended and my colleague Dan Connolly was left holding the bag at Bright House Field. I'm so ashamed.

Not sure I made the right decision. It was a terrific game and it was a heartstopping finish, but it's going to take Gary Williams and the Terps awhile to get over that 3-point buzzer beater. They had staged one of the great NCAA tournament comebacks to take the lead twice in the final minute, and I've got to think a victory would have taken them at least into the Elite Eight.

No disrespect to Northern Iowa, but they probably had their moment in the Madness. I doubt Michigan State will have much trouble with them.

The Spartans fired the three with abandon all day and made so many of them that the game really shouldn't have been close at the end. The ball bounced their way at several critical moments, but that's part of the game. My favorite frustrating moment was late in the second half when the Terps forced a five-second inbound turnover and then disrupted the inbound on Michigan State's next inbound under the basket, only to see their deficit rise five points in the process.

Their comeback, however, was heartstopping and Grevies Vasquez went out with a terrific closing flourish, not that he feels too great about it right now.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (57)
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Dave Trembley said today that he still trusts Kevin Millwood to get ready in time for Opening Day, but conceded that everybody would like to see him pitch better than he did in his first two exhibition starts.

"But I won't be that concerned if he doesn't,'' Trembley said."He's going to pitch at the top of our rotation, no matter what."

Does that mean Millwood is officially the Opening Day starter.

"I'm not ready to say that,'' Trembley said.

Of course, if Millwood is healthy, he'll be out there on April 6 at Tropicana Field.

Trembley was careful the way he worded it when he told Miguel Abrea, Caleb Joseph, Michel Hernandez, Blake Davis, Matt Angle and Luis Bernardo.

"I told them, 'You're not going down, you're going across to the other clubhouse,'' he said.

Quite a switch from when the Orioles were in Fort Lauderdale, and he would have to say, 'You're not going down, you're going across to the other side of the state."

Though it was raining some in Sarasota, Dave said the minor league game was underway. That's important because David Hernandez was scheduled to throw 75 pitches and Mark Henrickson and Jason Berken were set to throw 50. Dennis Sarfate also is scheduled to pitch.

The Orioles are scheduled for a day off tomorrow, but Trembley said they could probably "kiss off" the break if the game today is rained out in Clearwater, which is very possible.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
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Dave Trembley said that Brian Roberts took live batting practice from the right and left sides today and felt fine. There still is no specific timetable for his exhibition debut -- and he won't make the cross-state trip to Jupiter -- but the Orioles hope he can play next weekend.

"Let's get him going next week,'' Trembley said.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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The Orioles will thin the roster after today's game. Six more players are being transfered to the minor league camp, which just means they have to pack up their lockers in the major league clubhouse and move about 40 feet over into the minor league clubhouse at the Ed Smith Stadium clubhouse. Here are the six:

Caleb Joseph
Blake Davis
Miguel Abreu
Luis Bernardo
Matt Angle
Michel Hernandez

Weather update: The new weather report has a substantial rainstorm moving through soon and delaying the start of the game to about 1:45 p.m.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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The Orioles are in Clearwater, Fla., today to take on the Phillies at Bright House Field, which is a fantastic spring venue. The weather isn't great -- it rained for a lot of the morning and the tarp is on the infield -- but they'll probably get it in. More rain is expected about 3 p.m.

Kevin Millwood returns to exhibition action today after throwing 88 pitches against minor league competition his last time out. Should be interesting.

Here's the 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

Kevin Millwood RHP

My take: If you want to read my column on the intricacies of the Koji Uehara injury situation, you can pick up today's print edition or click right here. I'm guessing you click, but it's fun to spread the paper out on Sunday morning with a cup of coffee or -- in my case -- a case of Diet Dr. Pepper.

Coming up: Just got here, but Roch says there are going to be more cuts later today, and I don't think he would lie about a thing like that.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

Dave Trembley was very pleased with the way Brad Bergesen performed, even applauding his effort in the rocky first inning that featured two hits, a walk and an error by Ty Wigginton that cost the Orioles a run.

"I'm real encouraged,'' Trembley said. "That was a good lineup for him -- a lot of left-handed hitters. He got out there in the fifth inning. We had some good situational pitching and some good situational hitting.

"I told him when he came out, things are really coming together for him. He's knocking on the door."

Trembley tried to clear up the confusion about Mike Gonzalez's next appearance. He has been scheduled to pitch against the Phillies in Clearwater on Sunday, but indicated on Friday he would rather get treatment at the Ed Smith Complex and pitch in a camp game. Trembley said Gonzalez will make the trip.

DT also said that the report on Brian Roberts' hitting session from hitting coach Terry Crowley were "very good."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)
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The Orioles played .500 ball today, defeating the Pirates in Sarasota, 5-2, and losing to the Boston Red Sox, 6-0, in Fort Myers in a split-squad twinbill. Luke Scott homered to start the Orioles scoring in the fourth inning of the game at Ed Smith Stadium as the O's came back from a two-run deficit. The go-ahead run scored on an error and minor leaguer Paco Figueroa doubled home two runs in the bottom of the eighth -- one of those runs scored by his twin brother Daniel Figueroa.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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While Brad Bergesen was recovering nicely from a tough first inning at Ed Smith Stadium, Chris Tillman was throwing very well in his split-squad start against the Boston Red Sox at City of Palms Park.

Tillman gave up just two hits and a walk over five innings, pitching three no-hit innings before Dustin Pedroia doubled and Kevin Youklis homered in the fourth.

Bergesen went 4 2/3 innings in Sarasota and gave up three hits. He was particularly happy with the way he adjusted after getting out of rhythm in the Pirates' two-run first inning.

"I felt myself rushing in my delivery,'' he said. "So I went in a talked to Kranny (Rick Kranitz) and he told me to go out and try go stay back on the rubber...Being able to go out there, feeling that and making that adjustment was huge. The key to me getting back to my old self is getting back in that tempo."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (34)
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Manager Dave Trembley has released the list of pitchers for the next four games:

Sunday, March 21 - Hernandez, Hendrickson, Berken

Tuesday – Guthrie, Meredith, Albers, Mickolio

Wednesday - Matusz, Johnson, Gonzalez, Ohman

Thursday - Bergesen, Hendrickson, Mickolio, Albers

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Brad Bergesen gave up two runs in the top of the first inning, but there was probably only one batter that might have caused him to second-guess himself. He walked Delwyn Young after leadoff man Andrew McCutcheon's chopper to third survived a diving stab by Miguel Tejada for an infield single.

Tejada almost made a web gem, but he probably would not have had a play if he had snagged the ball in full flight toward the third base line. It was actually a pretty nice attempt that showed he still has great reflexes and a lot of athleticism. Ryan Church loaded the bases with a sharp single through the right side and the Pirates scored their two runs on a sacrifice fly and an error by second baseman Ty Wigginton on a double play ground ball that should have gotten Bergesen out of the inning.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
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Dave Trembley stayed in Sarasota with what amounts to his "A" team, which basically includes everyone in the projected Opening Day starting lineup except for Garrett Atkins and Brian Roberts. Atkins apparently got the short straw today and had to be the one starting position player to make the bus trip to Fort Myers for the split-squad game against the Red Sox at City of Palms Park.

Trembley reported that Brian Roberts was able to swing the bat from both sides of the plate today, hitting off a tee and taking some soft toss. Roberts was back on the field today with his teammates and looks pretty comfortable.

There is no update yet on Koji Uehara, who was scheduled to throw off flat ground today to test his tweaked left hamstring. Despite the latest in a series of injuries that have made Uehara undependable, Trembley said he's not concerned.

"I don't feel uncertain that he'll be ready for the season,'' Trembley said. "I've been led to believe it is a day-to-day thing. If we get to a point two or three days before camp ends, then I'd have some reason to be alarmed."

Mike Gonzalez still is scheduled to pitch in tomorrow's game against the Phillies at Clearwater, but we'll have to wait and see if he makes that trip. He has indicated that he'd rather throw in camp so he can get treatment right beforehand, but Trembley said he's still on the travel roster.

"If that changes,'' he said, "I'll tell you after the game."

Nolan Reimold is feeling the weight of his 0-for-19 start, but Trembley said he's getting close to breaking out.

"He's working at it," Trembley said. "Crow (Terry Crowley) says he's getting close. I think he is handling it really well."

My take: For those who wonder if there is a possibility of Reimold starting in the minor leagues, my guess is that the only way he isn't on the Opening Day active roster is if he's still too sore to play everyday. In that case, however, I would guess he would start at extended spring training.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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If you haven't already, take a look at my column in this morning's print edition -- or right here -- about the Orioles offense and the importance of getting Brian Roberts back at the top of the lineup in time to develop some chemistry before the start of the regular season.

Though he's not quoted in the column, you can count Adam Jones as another Orioles who things that the offense isn't going to click until Roberts returns.

"We don't have our catalyst,'' Jones said. "You can't start a car without a key, so you've got to use a screwdriver."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
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Just getting started after another Terpwatch at one of the local sports bars. Maryland won the game without undue last-minute suspense, but the Terps are going to have to tighten up if they expect to beat Michigan State on Sunday. Once again, they opened the game with a string of early turnovers, but Houston was not good enough to take advantage. The Spartains would have been up by 14 under the same circumstance.

The Orioles play a split-squad doubleheader today. The "A" lineup will be at Ed Smith Stadium to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The other squad -- which features only Garrett Atkins from the projected Opening Day lineup -- is already on a bus to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox at City of Palms Park.

Here are the two lineups

vs. Pirates

Felix Pie LF
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Matt Wieters C
Nolan Remold DH
Ty Wigginton 2B
Cesar Izturis SS

Brad Bergesen RHP

vs. Red Sox

Robert Andino 3B
Justin Turner 2B
Lou Montanez LF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Jeff Salazar CF
Josh Bell DH
Craig Tatum C
Miguel Abreu RF
Blake Davis SS

Chris Tillman RHP

Lineup notes: Felix Pie is back for his first exhibition start since suffering a shoulder strain while weightlifting.

Injury update: Closer Mike Gonzalez said his arm and back felt fine this morning and he's ready to pitch tomorrow. He'll either pitch against the Phillies in Clearwater or in a camp game, depending on whether the club wants him sitting on a bus for a total of three hours.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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The Orioles just announced that left-handed reliever Wilfrido Perez has been optioned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox roster and moved to the minor league camp. Perez made four exhibition appearances. He struck out four batters and did not give up a hit or a run in 3 1/3 innings.

It's not clear why the Orioles chose to make an individual cut today. Maybe Dave Trembley will explain when he briefs reporters before tonight's game against the Phillies in Clearwater.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (29)
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Second baseman Brian Roberts is heading out to the field to resume baseball activities today, which is a good sign. He said he'll know in three or four days whether he has made enough progress to get into the exhibition lineup.

"I'm going to get out there and do some stuff,'' he said.

Earlier in the day, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said that there had been "some improvement" after Roberts underwent an epidural injection in Baltimore on Monday. Roberts said he conferred with back specialist Dr. Lee Riley over the phone on Thursday and they agreed that he is ready to resume some baseball activities. He was not ready to say that his back is feeling better, though it must be if he's getting back on the field.

"My real test is baseball activity,'' Roberts said.

Nobody is setting any timetable for Roberts, but if he feels better in a few days, it's possible he'll be able to start playing after the team gets back from the two-day cross-state trip to Jupiter to play the Marlins and Cardinals. The schedule has been road-heavy lately, but the O's play most of their games at home over the final 10 days of camp.

Koji update: Koji Uehara said that he's still feeling his sore hamstring, but will try to play catch tomorrow. Andy MacPhail said that he's not concerned that this will be a replay of last year.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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Mike Gonzalez was very pleased with his inning of work in a Triple-A game today at the Ed Smith Complex. He only needed eight pitches (five strikes) to get through a scoreless inning, but did give up a triple to Red Sox outfield prospect Ryan Kalish.

"I'm feeling better...much better today,'' Gonzalez said. "It was great to throw in a minor league game. Every day, it feels a little bit better."

His fastball topped out at 89 miles per hour, a fact that made Gonzalez smile. He said the number of pitches was irrelevant.

"It was more a test of my back than anything else,'' he said. "That waqs the big thing for me. It was a good test and I passed it. I can feel where my body is at."

On the velocity: "That's not bad. That's pretty much it, not that I look at that too much."

He is tentatively scheduled to pitch on Sunday in Clearwater, but he hinted that he might stay back and throw in camp.

"That's the only thing that might change,'' he said. "I can't get treatment there. I was able to get treatment here right before I went out there."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
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The Orioles play a night game against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in Clearwater, so we're getting off to a slow start today. Two minor league games are going on at the Ed Smith Complex, where closer Mike Gonzalez is about to pitch an inning to see if he'll be sound enough to pitch in an exhibition game on Sunday.

We'll know more about Koji Uehara when the clubhouses open at 2 p.m., but I'm guessing the news won't be great. He arrived a little while ago and the Japanese reporters said he was limping slightly.

Some good news, x-rays on the bruilsed left index finger of catching prospect Craig Tatum revealed no fracture.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (57)
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Like everyone else, I love the NCAA tournament and I love filling out bracket after bracket in hopes of winning some bragging rights or even a bag of Tootsie Rolls or something, but I probably am the worst ever at this particular spring pastime. I've got seven sheets in front of me and I'm not looking respectable in any of them.

Should have known this was not going to be my week on Wednesday, which happened to be "Seniors Run The Bases Day" at Ed Smith Stadium. Nice little promotion. Senior citizens get to run -- or walk -- around the bases after an Orioles exhibition game. I'm all for it. It's the kind of thing Bowie Baysox PR guy Tom Sedlacek likes to do, though he'd probably throw in a free season ticket for anyone who actually knew Jim Bowie.

So, after the game, I'm rushing down to the field to get some Postgame Dave and I come out of the concourse tunnel and -- as God is my witness -- I'm stopped by an usher who says, and I quote, "Sir, if you want to run the bases, you're going to have to go to the end of the line."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Dave Trembley had relatively little to say after the Blue Jays hit six home runs in a 13-3 victory over the Orioles at Dunedin Stadium and the Orioles lost pitcher Koji Uehara and catcher Craig Tatum to injuries of undetermined severity. Tatum will undergo an x-ray on his bruised index finger and Uehara will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

"It's unfortunate that you get injuries,'' Trembley said. "You certainly don't want that to happen."

He said that the reason Jeremy Guthrie struggled so badly was that "everything was up." When asked if he was concerned about Guthrie's performance at this point in spring training, he left the question open.

"I'll be interested to see how he pitches the next time,'' Trembley said.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (49)
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Jeremy Guthrie didn't try to sugarcoat his second rocky outing in a row. He gave up seven runs (six) earned over three innings today after allowing the Yankees to bat around in the first inning of his start in Tampa on Saturday.

"I think the results speak for themselves,'' he said. "I pitched what the numbers showed."

So, what is he concerned about the downturn in his performance, especially after his struggles last year?

"Certainly," he said. "I like to get people out and I'm not doing that. I'm not pitching very well."

Was it any particular pitch that wasn't working?

"No,'' he said. "I've shown the ability to struggle with all four pitches."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
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Matt Wieters came into the game with just one hit in his first 15 Grapefruit League at-bats, and he was hitless in his first two at-bats against the Blue Jays, but he just launched his first home run of the spring off the dark hitting background that looms over the center field fence. The home run came off Blue Jays pitcher Dana Eveland.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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Koji Uehara just walked off the mound two pitches into Jose Bautista's at-bat in the fifth inning. He seemed to be favoring his left leg, but we'll have to wait for a report. Can't remember the last time the entire battery went out with injuries in the space of two batters. We're waiting for reports on both Uehara and Craig Tatum.

Probably won't know more for awhile, but the Uehara situation does not look good. He seemed to be favoring his left side, and the Japanese reporters were speculating that he injured his hip or his lower back.

If so, that would be the third trouble spot for Uehara, who struggled with chronic hamstring issues last year and eventually was shut down with a sore elbow.

Instant update: The Orioles just announced that Koji suffered a strained left hamstring and Tatum suffered a bruised left hand. That is the same hamstring that has been an issue at several junctures in his career.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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Orioles catcher Craig Tatum had to be removed from the game after being injured by an apparent foul tip off the bat of Jays shortstop John McDonald in the bottom of the fifth inning at Dunedin Stadium. He was replaced behind the plate by minor league catcher Luis Bernardo.

Tatum basically was the last guy competing with Chad Moeller for the reserve catcher role. He headed back to Sarasota to undergo an x-ray on his injured left index finger. Not exactly the way he had hoped to spend his 27th birthday.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Jeremy Guthrie completed three innings and gave up seven runs on seven hits, including three home runs. Left fielder Travis Snider hit two of the home runs in back-to-back innings. Guthrie threw 75 pitches, 43 of them for strikes. He raised his Grapefruit League ERA to 9.28.

In other words, ouch.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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Jeremy Guthrie had not given up a home run all spring, but he made up for lost time in the second inning of today's exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium. He allowed a run on a couple of base hits in the first inning, then opened the second by giving up a home run to catcher John Buck. Jeremy Reed followed with a bunt single and Travis Snider crushed a ball onto one of the practice fields behind the right center field fence.

Those three hits, by the way, came on three consecutive pitches.

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Dave Trembley met with reporters this morning at Dunedin Stadium and was asked by an out-of-town reporter how he feels about his team. It was a generic question and Dave gave a fairly generic answer.

"They feel like they can win,'' he said. "They're very businesslike about it. They know what they are up against."

He went on to give some credit for that to some of the veterans, particularly third baseman Miguel Tejada, who has been very enthusiastic about the team and about his new position.

Trembley was also asked if the Orioles were having trouble developing an offensive chemistry so far this spring with the injuries and individual struggles of some players.

"I don't think anything's wrong with the team chemistry,'' he said. "We're going to be a very good offensive team. As we get closer to the end, I think it will become more apparent. I'm stretching guys out. Playing them back to back more. We'll have a good offfensive team, but there are still going to be days when the other team pitches well."

Injury update: Trembley said that Mike Gonzalez (sore back) will pitch in a minor league game on Friday and return to the mound in an exhibition game against the Phillies on Sunday in Clearwater.

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Spent the night licking my wounds after our trivia team at a local sports restaurant was outpointed by a pair of young Orioles. I'm going to try to be big about it, Brian Matusz and Caleb Joseph didn't win the competition, but they beat a much larger group of sports writers and front office types. I promise it won't happen again.

The Orioles travel to Dunedin to take on the Toronto Blue Jays again. Jeremy Guthrie will take the mound against left-hander Ricky Romero. Here's the starting rotation:

Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Matt Wieters DH
Lou Montanez LF
Craig Tatum C
Justin Turner 2B

Jeremy Gurthrie RHP

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The Orioles only managed two hits in today's 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, but they spaced them out well. Cesar Izturis led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and they didn't get another hit until there were two outs in the ninth -- and that was on a ball that should have been caught.

Nevertheless, Dave Trembley tried to look on the bright side.

"We didn't get any hits, but it was great to stretch some guys out,'' Trembley said.

Trembley said he thought Miguel Tejada looked as comfortable at third base as he has all spring.

"That's a big plus for us,'' he said.

The competition for the middle relief roles continues to be heated, with several guys pitching well and Cla Meredith still having allowed neither a hit nor a walk.

"There are slots for many more opportunities to go out and pitch,'' Trembley said. "I hope they continue to make it very difficult for me. There's a dogfight going on down there int he bullpen. They know it and they are pitching like it."

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Orioles starter Jason Berken isn't exactly known for his good luck on the mound, and today's third inning was a good example. He held the Blue Jays scoreless for the first two innings, then fell victim to an error in right field and a broken-bat single that contributed to a three-run Toronto rally.

Berken gave up six hits, but several of them were softly hit or found a hole. He probably didn't enhance his chance of winning the fifth slot in the rotation, but he didn't do anything to really hurt it either.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (39)
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Dave Trembley re-emphasized today that the fifth slot in the starting rotation does not automatically belong to Chris Tillman. Jason Berken takes the mound today against the Toronto Blue Jays with a chance to win the role. David Hernandez pitched yesterday in Fort Myers with an opportunity to build his case.

"I think Berken, Hernandez and Tillman are all vying for the fifth slot,'' Trembley said. "I think that's why we have tried to stretch those guys out. Berken's getting a opportunity to start today. Hernandez yesterday. We're going to keep playing it out that way, giving people opportunities."

When pressed on whether Tillman was the frontrunner, Trembley did not hesitate.

"I would say no one is,'' he said. "I think I said in the offseason before I came to camp that I think the right thing to do is the fair thing to do. Berken and Hernandez started for us all last year when they were there last year. I thought it was unfair to just say 'It's Tillman's.' That's no disrespect to Tillman. That's not slighting him and that's not saying anything good or bad about Berken or Hernandez. There are still games to play here and we have it slotted so that guys are going to get opportunities to start here and then we're going to see what's best for them, but more importantly, what's best for the team."

Trembley also said that Mike Gonzalez (sore back) would likely pitch an inning on Friday and Felix Pie (shoulder) is scheduled to return to the exhibition lineup on Saturday. No schedule is yet in place for Brian Roberts, who will sit out another day to see how he responds to the epidural injection he got Monday in his sore lower back.

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Just ran into Buck Martinez, who is in with the Toronto Blue Jays today. Buck jumped back to the team he had been associated with as a player, manager and broadcaster for a couple of decades, which created the opening in the MASN broadcast booth for Mike Flanagan.

"I was in Toronto 21 years, so it feels like a homecoming," Buck said, "but I really enjoyed my time in Baltimore with MASN and working with Gary Thorne and Jim Hunter, it was terrific and, you know what, I just went over and saw a bunch of the (Orioles) kids on the back field. Great bunch of kids on that Orioles team and I know they are going to be a very good ballclub in a very short time."

Martinez returns to a team that is actually in a much earlier stage of rebuilding than the Orioles, but he thinks that both teams will rise again in the American League East. The Blue Jays, without pitching ace Roy Halladay seem to have a long road ahead, but Buck is upbeat about their future.

"I don't know if it's going to be as bleak as everyone says,'' he said. "It's much like the Orioles situation where there are a lot of good arms that people aren't familiar with.yet. You look at Ricky Romero and Shaun Marcum is back and he's been terrific all spring and they're going to get Dustin McGowan back and Jesse Litsch is going to come back and that doesn't even mention the Brett Cecils and Mark Rzepczynskis and Chad Jenkins and there are just pitchers coming out of the woodwork right now.

"That's the name of the game. If you're going to beat the Red Sox or the Yankees, you're going to have to outpitch the Red Sox and you're going to have to outpitch the Yankees, because you aren't going to outslug them and you're never going to outspend them,"

Though Martinez has gone home, in a sense, he said he's going to miss Baltimore.

"I'm going to miss Baltimore fans," he said. "The Orioles were great and it was a terrific run. They certainly gave me an opporutnity to get back in the booth after I had my time on the field. It was great there and I think the organization is looking at some real bright days ahead."

Associated Press photo

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Before you do anything else today. Before you drop those eggs in that boiling water and leave them there too long like Dan Connolly did this morning. Before you read about Roch's latest attempt to navigate the state of Florida at the School of Roch. Before you decide to roll back over and blow off work today -- and tomorrow -- please read my column on Kevin Millwood in today's print edition.

Of course, it might be easier to read it right here.

When you're done with that, it's also okay to read Jeff Zrebiec's story on Nolan Reimold, which you can get to right here.

Tired of all this self-indulgent pluggery? Here's today's Orioles starting lineup:

Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Matt Wieters C
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nolan Reimold DH
Garrett Atkins 1B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Jonathan Tucker LF

Jason Berken RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)
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The Orioles announced today that pitcher Steve Johnson, who was claimed from the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft, has been returned to the O's by the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants had to pay the O's $50,000 when they drafted Johnson, who is the son of former Orioles pitcher and current MASN baseball analyst Dave Johnson, a draft fee of $50,000. Since the Giants were not willing to keep him on the major league roster all season, they were required to waive him and then offer him back to the O's for half the draft price. The Orioles, of course, were more than happy to take him back.

Johnson will be assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox roster and will report to minor league camp in Sarasota.

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Baltimore Sun columnist Peter Schmuck answered questions about the Orioles' young arms, Brian Roberts' recovery, clubhouse chemistry and more in today's chat. Read a full transcript below.

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Matt Wieters stayed behind to catch Kevin Millwood in the intrasquad game, which was the first time he has caught him in game action. He said he was impressed with the way Millwood used all his pitches.

"I thought a lot of good things came out of today,'' Wieters said. "He was able to work with all his pitches. He might have gotten a little tired after 70 pitches or so, but that's to be expected. He was able to mix all his stuff."

Wieters and pitching coach Rick Kranitz said that the velocity of Millwood's fastball was good for this point in the spring. Millwood normally throws in the 89-93 mph range during the regular season, so he also was happy to be clocked at about 88 today.

"I thought it (the velocity) was good,'' Wieters said, "but more than the velocity, the ball came out of his hand good and all four of his pitches were, at times, outstanding."

Wieters was happy to dodge the long bus ride to Fort Myers, but the important thing was the opportunity to get better acquainted with the Orioles' new No. 1 starter.

"It was the first time I've caught him in a game,'' Wieters said. "I want to get him a few more times before we get going. This allowed me start finding out how he wants to pitch."

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Kevin Millwood threw 88 pitches (56 strikes) in his five innings of work against minor league hitters in today's intrasquad game. He struck out seven, walked two and gave up three runs in his final inning of work, but looked much sharper than in his two exhibition outings.

"It felt good,'' Millwood said. "It's nice to be able to go out and work on things and not worry about keeping guys (teammates) out there forever. Everything got better again today."

Pitching coach Rick Kranitz agreed.

“I liked what I saw,’’ he said. “Every time he goes out there he closes the gap, the circle gets a little big smaller as far as where he needs to be. He got a lot out of today. We're starting to see some consistency in his release point and good life on his pitches. It's coming around.”

Millwood's fastball was clocked at about 88 miles per hour and was up in the zone some with it. He concentrated heavily on his curveball, in one at-bat throwing it four times in a row to strike out minor league infielder Tyler Henson.

"It was good,'' he said. "There were a couple of times when I tried to throw it for a first-pitch strike and missed, but I thought it worked for me today. The last inning, I was trying to work on my changeup some more."

Johnson needed just 10 pitches to get through his first of two innings, but gave up a two-run home run to Brandon Waring the second time he took the mound.

Highly regarded left-handed prospect Zach Britton pitched two scoreless innings, but struggled with his command and threw a lot of pitches..

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Closer Mike Gonzalez told Jeff Zrebiec this morning that he's feeling better and might pitch in tomorrow's exhibition game. He had to leave his last game early because of some back soreness.

Brian Roberts was back in camp this morning after returning last night from Baltimore, where he visited Hopkins back specialist Dr. Lee Riley. He will be sidelined at least a couple more days while he waits to see if the treatment he received relieves his lower back soreness. Roberts declined an interview request, probably because there isn't much more to say. He explained the situation to reporters before he left town on Sunday.

Felix Pie is going to start playing catch today and hit off a tee. He's been shut down with some soreness in his throwing shoulder.

Kevin Millwood and Jim Johnson are getting ready to pitch today's intrasquad game at 10:15 a.m. on the main field at the Ed Smith Complex. Millwood will start against highly regarded minor league prospect Zach Britton. I'll be staying back to watch it the seven-inning game, while Jeff Z and Dan Connolly travel to Fort Myers to cover the Grapefruit League game between the Orioles and Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Here's the lineup for that game:

Robert Andino SS
Justin Turner 2B
Nolan Reimold DH
Luke Scott LF
Lou Montanez RF
Scott Moore 1B
Josh Bell 3B
Chad Moeller C
Jeff Salazar CF

David Hernandez RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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Brian Roberts was examined by back specialist Dr. Lee Riley and received an epidural injection today in Baltimore. Now, he's headed back to Sarasota and will need a few more days to see if it has the desired effect.

Club president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said that -- as far as he's concerned -- the situation hasn't changed. He'll continue to explore his options and wait to see if Roberts bounces back in time to start the season.

"We'll just have to wait a couple of days and see how he responds,'' MacPhail said.

None of this should come as a big surprise. The team announced yesterday that he was going to Baltimore to receive an epidural and he would likely be back on Monday night. Roberts was less specific when he talked about the situation on Sunday, but it appears everything went according to the original plan.

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Chris Tillman worked 2 2/3 innings and just gave up a two-run homer to Josh Reddick in his final inning of work. He struggled with the strike zone, throwing 59 pitches and only 29 strikes, but gave up just those two runs.

"I felt good,'' Tillman said. "I felt I got better with the negatives from last time...I threw too many pitches today, but I felt I was right around the strike zone...I thought it was okay, not great, but I thought I did some positive things out there."

The Reddick homer tightened the game up at 6-4, but Brandon Snyder has just hit his first home run of the exhibition season with a man on base to reclaim a four-run lead.

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Brad Bergesen was more upbeat about his performance in his second start of the spring than he was after his first.

"Actually, (I felt) a lot better than the first outing, as far as mechanics go,'' he said. "I felt much more smooth and that much more like myself. That was the positive. The negative was really the one pitch to Ortiz. That was really it."

That one glitch was a slider to David Ortiz, who knocked it over the right field fence for a two-run homer.

"I fell behind him 3-1 and ended up hanging a slider,'' Bergesen said. "Right on his sweet spot."

Bergesen said he's feeling progressively more comfortable, but still has some work to do to get back where he was when that wicked comebacker by Billy Butler knocked him out the 2009 season.

"I still don’t feel quite where I need to be but it’s good that it is spring training right now and I am able to get about three more outings before the season starts,'' Bergesen said. "This one was that much better than last one as far as getting back to where I need to be and hopefully I can just keep doing that the next three or four outings and be ready for the season."

And the two injuries he is coming back from?

"That's not on my mind right now,'' he said. "I'm just trying to locate in the strike zone. I'm working behind too many hitters."

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Brad Bergesen gave up a two-run home run to David Ortiz in the third inning, but I'm pretty sure he and the Orioles are pleased with his 2 2/3-inning performance against the Red Sox today at City of Palms Park. He gave up just two runs on five hits and a walk, but looked comfortable throwing 41 pitches in his second exhibition appearance -- 27 for strikes.

We'll head down a little later and make sure he came out of it okay, so check back.

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Luke Scott just launched a three-run homer off Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has been a little erratic through three innings. Wakefield already had give up a run in the first on back-to-back singles by Jonathan Tucker and Justin Turner and a sacrifice fly by Scott. He also has hit two Orioles batters.

Meanwhile, Brad Bergesen has pitched two scoreless innings and has just taken the mound for the third inning.

The Orioles lead, 5-0, but they would be even farther ahead if Jonathan Tucker's textbook hit-and-run shot past second base had not hit baserunner Pedro Florimon on the heel. It would have drive in a run if it had gotten through the infield untouched, but that goes into the books as a base hit for Tucker and an unassisted putout by second baseman Tug Hulett, who was nowhere near the ball..

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The O's have lost catcher Michel Hernandez for four to six weeks with a broken right index finger, which means that Craig Tatum is now the only other catcher with a chance to unseat Chad Moeller as the major league backup to Matt Wieters.

Not sure that really changes anything. Moeller figures to stick unless he gets hurt between now and Opening Day.

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Troy Patton was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk today, but not because he did anything wrong. In fact, Dave Trembley was very impressed with his performance in yesterday's "B" game against the Pirates in Bradenton.

"Patton was very good,'' Trembley said. "We had him at 91 (mph). That's the best I've seen him since the surgery. He said it was the best he's felt since then."

Trembley said that he originally intended to rotate Ty Wigginton around the infield over the next couple of weeks, but the Brian Roberts situation has forced him to make second base a greater priority than the other positions.

Dave on Brandon Erbe: "Erbe said he had a blast. He enjoyed it (in major league camp). I was very impressed with him, not so much his stuff as his demeanor. He has good mound presence and very good life on his pitches. He was assigned to Norfolk. I don't know if he's going to pitch there, but he's going to pitch in the big leagues."

Dave on Luis Lebron: "He has a major league fastball and a sharp slider. He's going to pitch in the big leagues, too."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (22)
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Here are the lineups for today's game between the Orioles and Red Sox at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers:

Orioles

Jonathan Tucker CF
Justin Turner 3B
Lou Montanez LF
Luke Scott DH
Ty Wigginton 2B
Jeff Salazar RF
Brandon Snyder 1B
Craig Tatum C
Pedro Florimon SS

Brad Bergesen RHP

Red Sox

Mike Cameron CF
Mike Lowell 1B
Victor Martinez C
David Ortiz DH
J.D. Drew RF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Bill Hall SS
Jeremy Hermida LF
Tug Hulett 2B

Tim Wakefield RHP

Lineup note: Starter Chris Tillman also is scheduled to pitch today.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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The Orioles optioned Troy Patton and Brandon Erbe to Triple-A Norfolk today. Luis Lebron and Chorye Spoone were optioned to Double-A Bowie. Armando Gabino, Chris George and Mike Hinckley reassigned to minor league camp.

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The Orioles got multi-hit performance from Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Robert Andino on their way to a 4-3 victory over the Phillies that was only their third exhibition victory in 11 Grapefruit League games.

Of course, the biggest highlight of the game was the five-inning performance of Brian Matusz, but we've already fawned over him enough today.

Manager Dave Trembley is happy to see Andino swinging the bat better after starting the spring in a 1-for-15 slump. He has four hits -- including three extra-base hits -- in his last seven at-bats.

"He has shortened his swing,'' Trembley said. "He used the whole field and showed patience, and that's what he has to do to be successful."

Trembley said that Nolan Reimold was coming out after two at-bats and five innings in the field. He was not taken out because his ankle was sore, though he was limping slightly when he left the field.

"I talked to Dr. Wilckens and it's probably not going to look real good,'' Trembley said. "It's not something that's painful for him. When he has to run, he can run."

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The Orioles officially have stopped denying their concern about the Brian Roberts situation. Andy MacPhail said today that he already had instructed his major league scouts to begin scouring for alternatives in case Roberts is not ready to play on Opening Day.

"We're already started the process of lining up whatever options we need, depending on how long we think he's going to be out,'' MacPhail said. "Every day that goes by you have to be less confident because that's one less day to get at-bats and repetitions."

Dave Trembley has been saying all along that he feels Roberts will be ready on Opening Day, but even he seemed less convinced today.

"It's on my mind,'' he said.

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Reliever Jim Johnson left without completing inte seventh inning after the Phillies scored twice on a walk, a single, a hit-by-pitch and a couple of infield dribblers. Left-hander Will Ohman came on to get out of a bases-loaded situation and keep the score tied.

Crowd counter: The Orioles set another single-game attendance record for a baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium, drawing 8,092 for Sunday's game against the Phillies. The previous mark of 8,088 was set against the Boston Red Sox on Mar. 7.

Andino update: Robert Andino managed just one hit in his first 15 exhibition at-bats, but he has hit the ball very hard in his last two starts. He has four hits in his last seven at-bats and has hit for the cycle in reverse order over that period. He homered and tripled against the Twins on Thursday night and doubled and singled today.

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Nolan Reimold grounded out in each of his two at-bats, but looked gimpy after trying to leg out an infield hit in the fifth inning and was removed from the game. Don't know yet if that was a coincidence or if he aggravated the remaining soreness in his surgically repaired ankle.

Mike Gonzalez reports a sore back before the game. Brian Roberts is headed back to Baltimore to have his back re-examined by a back specialist. Reimold limps off the field.

The Orioles don't need any more sore subjects.

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Left-hander Brian Matusz just completed four innings against the Philadephia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium, giving up a run on three hits and striking out two. He needed just 43 pitches -- 32 of them strikes -- to become the first O's pitcher to get through four, so he may come out for the fifth.

Instant update: Indeed, Matusz came out for the fifth and dispatched the Phillies in order. We're assuming that is it for the afternoon. He threw 57 pitches, 41 of them strikes.

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Brian Roberts will leave for Baltimore later today, be checked out by back specialist Dr. Lee Riley tomorrow and return to training camp late Monday or early Tuesday. Though he is seeking further treatment to speed up his comeback from a lower back injury, he said he still is on course to play Opening Day.

"I’m not alarmed because I know what my body feels like,'' he said. "I’m ready to go out there and play. But obviously, we have 162 games in front of us and you have to start as softly as you can."

Roberts said he could play right now if the season were about to begin.

"Certainly, my goals haven’t changed for April 6,'' he said. "I don’t think that anybody, from the trainers room to anybody else, I don’t think their goals have changed at this point."

So why the trip to Baltimore? Doesn't that mean the situation has worsened?

"No,'' he said. "It’s gone a while and I’m at the same stage and we’d like to get over the hump a little bit more if we can. We’ll see what the best method for that is."

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New closer Mike Gonzalez told Jeff Zrebiec today that he had to be removed from his appearance yesterday because of some back soreness. He insisted, however, that his arm is fine, even though he has not looked particularly sharp in his early outings and his velocity has been questionable..

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It seemed like things were looking up for Brian Roberts when he took infield today, but a team official just informed us he's being sent to Baltimore to undergo an "epidural" on his sore lower back.

Really don't know what to make of that right now, other than an epidural is a local anesthetic procedure to reduce inflammation. Roberts is going to update the media in the next 20 minutes, so stay tuned.

Update: Roberts just talked to the media and said that he's going back to Baltimore to see a Johns Hopkins back specialist (Dr. Lee Riley), but Roberts claims he doesn't know if he will receive an epidural injection and he has not suffered a setback in his recovery from a herniated disk.

"I’m just going there to see a back doctor and just make sure we’re progressing in a way we need to be and if we need to ramp it up and do anything else, then we will,'' Roberts said.

He said that the decision was not connected to his infield session earlier in the day, which he said went fine.

"I feel fine doing that sort of stuff,'' he said. "I still have a little bit of discomfort in certain areas and in certain ways, so those are the kinds of things that we’re just going to check and make sure that we don’t need to try to do anything different treatment wise."

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Orioles beat writer Jeff Zrebiec reports that Brian Roberts was on the field at Ed Smith Stadium taking infield practice. Roberts was expected to lay low for at least another day or two while he waits for new anti-inflammatory medication to take effect. He took ground balls and looked comfortable. We'll try to talk to him before the game to get a progress report.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Orioles host the Philadelphia Phillies in today's exhibition game at Ed Smith Stadium. Left-hander Brian Matusz will start for the Orioles against right-hander Kyle Kendrick.

First baseman Michael Aubrey said this morning that his strained right groin is still "a little sore and tight" and that he'll need a few days to get back on the field.

"It's extremely frustrating,'' he said. "I'm trying to put myself in a good position and you can't do that if you're not playing."

The O's have firmed up Tuesday's seven-inning intrasquad game, which will start at 10:15 a.m. and will be started by Kevin Millwood and Jim Johnson.

The club hosted about 40 developmently disabled kids from The Challenger League after Saturday's "B" game. Five players from the Orioles "B" lineup stayed around after the game to lead the kids through a one-inning game in which everyone got one at-bat and a chance to play in the field.

Here is the lineup for today's "B" game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and for the Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. Interestingly, both lineups feature third base prospect Josh Bell. :

Orioles "B" lineup

Jonathan Tucker CF
Pedro Florimon SS
Brandon Synder 1B
Scott Moore DH
Josh Bell 3B
Jeff Salazar RF
Miguel Abreu 2B
Caleb Joseph C

Jake Arrieta RHP

Orioles "A" lineup

Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Garrett Atkins 1B
Nolan Reimold LF
Josh Bell DH
Chad Moeller C
Robert Andino 2B

Brian Matusz LHP

Today's column: If you haven't already, take a look at my take on the Orioles at the midway point in spring training. It's in today's print edition, or you can read it right here.

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Manager Dave Trembley didn't have a lot to say after the game, but he did reveal that designated hitter Michael Aubrey was removed from the game after his first at-bat with soreness in groin.

"Something with his groin,'' Trembley said. "He said he felt something coming out of the box, so I got him out of there,"

Trembley said that Jeremy Guthrie just couldn't locate his pitches in that rocky first inning, but he finished much better.

"The last 15 pitches Guthrie threw were the best he threw in the game,'' Trembley said.

The manager also applauded another solid effort by Cla Meredith and the ability of Matt Albers to keep the ball down, and acknowledged the home runs by Garrett Atkins and Ty Wigginton.

"It was good to see Atkins get one,'' he said, "and Wigginton played an OK game."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)
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Jeremy Guthrie didn't sugarcoat his 3 1/3-inning performance. He obviously was hoping to be a little more effective against a Yankees lineup that didn't include big guns Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

"It wasn’t great," he said. "I gave up a lot of hits, got behind some hitters and walked that leadoff guy. Not a great performance. It was nice to go out there and put up a zero in the third and get that leadoff guy in the fourth, but there’s still a lot of work to be done."

The game is now in the late innings, with the Yankees holding a two-run lead. The O's have scored all three of their runs, so far, on a two-run homer by Ty Wigginton and a solo shot by Garrett Atkins.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Jeremy Guthrie has gotten a look at every member of the Yankees lineup in the first inning, which is going to make it tough for him to stretch out to three or four innings. He allowed the first five batters to reach base, allowed five hits and was probably fortunate to get back to the dugout down only three runs.

Nick Johnson doubled home the first Yankees run. Robinson Cano singled in the second run and Juan Miranda brought home the third with a sacrifice fly.

Guthrie threw 36 pitches in the first inning, 22 for strikes.

Instant update: Jeremy proved me wrong. He was able to get through 3 1/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen. He threw 63 pitches, 41 for strikes, and allowed four runs on eight hits.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Dave Trembley said that he left Nolan Reimold behind today because he wanted him to get in a cage session with hitting coach Terry Crowley and get some at-bats in the "B" game against the Florida Marlins.

"I've got him scheduled to DH again,'' Trembley said. "He hasn't had as many at-bats as everybody else. We've been guarded with him, but we have a lot of time to catch up."

Trembley still wants to catch up on some mound time for his pitching staff, so he is considering an intrasquad game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Tuesday.

Infielder Robert Andino was scheduled to make an appearance at third base in Friday's game before it was rained out. He may get out there late in today's game. He got off to a very slow start at the plate, but busted out with a home run and a triple against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

He was 1 for 15 before the home run, and the club is trying to get him to be more patient at the plate and to recognize -- as Trembley put it -- that "there's also a right and a center field."

"We're not concerned,'' Trembley said, "He knows that in order for him to be successful, he has to be more patient at the plate and less of a free swinger."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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If you were hoping to see the Orioles everyday lineup match up against the Yankees everyday lineup, you're gonig to be disappointed. The Orioles brought their "A" team -- otherwise, the "B" game back at Ed Smith Stadium would have confused everybody -- but the Yankees have a split-squad situation today, so their lineup for today's game at George M. Steinbrenner Field isn't exactly riddled with star power. Here it is:

Brett Gardner CF
Nick Johnson DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Curtis Granderson LF
Randy Winn RF
Juan Miranda 1B
Brandon Laird 3B
Ramira Pena SS

Javier Vazquez RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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Orioles beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec checked with Felix Pie today to find out why he hasn't been in the lineup the past few games, and -- sure enough -- he's hurting. He said he's been struggling with some tendinitis in his left shoulder.

"It's not something I'm too worried about,'' Pie said. "I'm just going to get treatment and hopefully I'll be back in a couple of days."

Manager Dave Trembley said today that Pie might return to the lineup as soon as Monday or Tuesday.

"His shoulder is sore more from lifting weights than it is from throwing,'' Trembley said.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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Here's today's Orioles lineup for the game against the New York Yankees at Legends Field in Tampa:

Adam Jones CF
Cesar Izturis SS
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Matt Wieters C
Garrett Atkins 1B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Lou Montanez LF
Michael Aubrey DH

Jeremy Guthrie RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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The Orioles announced the revised pitching schedule following today's rainout at Ed Smith Stadium:

Saturday @ Yankees

Guthrie
Simon
Berken
Meredith
Albers
Castillo

Saturday "B" Game vs. Marlins (7 innings, 10:00 a.m.)

Hendrickson
Gonzalez
Sarfate
Hinckley
George

Sunday vs. Phillies

Matusz
Johnson
Uehara
Mickolio
Ohman

Sunday B Game @ Pirates (9 innings, 10:00 a.m.)

Arrieta
Erbe
Patton
Spoone
Lebron

Monday @ Red Sox

Bergesen
Tillman

The Orioles also announced that these seven minor leaguers will fill out the roster for tomorrow's "B" game against the Marlins:

Tyler Henson - LF
Ronnie Welty - RF
Danny Figueroa - extra OF
Joel Guzman - DH
Andy Gonzalez - Middle INF
Phil Britton - C
Brian Ward - C

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Brian Roberts was examined today by team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens and placed on new anti-inflammatory medication, but he'll need at least a couple more days for the medication to take effect before resuming his rehab program.

"We'll wait a few more days until he's on the medication,'' said manager Dave Trembley, "and we'll see where he's at."

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said today that the club still projects Roberts as the starter at second base on Opening Day, but he isn't taking that for granted.

"You still have to start looking at options if he's not,'' MacPhail said.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (50)
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Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie will move back and start Saturday's game against the New York Yankees at Legends Field, but the Orioles will play a seven-inning "B" game against the Marlins tomorrow at 10 a.m. to make up some of the innings lost to today's rainout.

"It does cause you to get the eraser out on your pencil,'' manager Dave Trembley said.

Mark Hendrickson will start the "B" game against Marlins left-hander Sean West. The Orioles also will play a nine-inning "B" game against Pittsburgh on Sunday at Pirate City in Bradenton.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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The Orioles have cancelled today's game against the Florida Marlins because of the heavy rains that continue to drench Ed Smith Stadium. Presumably, scheduled starter Jeremy Guthrie will be pushed back to tomorrow, but we'll check with Dave Trembley and post an update soon.

Here's the ticket refund policy from the Orioles release:

Fans holding paid tickets for today’s game may exchange their tickets for any of the remaining Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium, subject to availability, or obtain a refund.

The refund check for the face value of the tickets will be mailed from Baltimore within six to eight weeks. Tickets must be postmarked no later than thirty (30) days after today’s date.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Infield coach Juan Samuel is very impressed with the progress Miguel Tejada has made over the past two weeks at third base.

"He's really adjusting well to the position,'' Samuel said.

Tejada has looked increasingly comfortable fielding ground balls and tracking pop flies, but there still is a lot of work to do before playing the hot corner becomes second nature.

"He's still trying to get to the point where he knows where he needs to be (in specific situations),'' Samuel said. "I'm moving him around now, but I'd like to see him do it."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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Here are the starting lineups for today's rain-threatened game against the Florida Marlins at Ed Smith Stadium. The game is still on, as of right now, but the sky is dark and there's some feeling that the game will be cancelled.

Marlins

Chris Coghlan LF
Emilio Bonifacio CF
Hanley Ramirez SS
Jorge Cantu 3B
Dan Uggla 2B
Cody Ross DH
Gaby Sanchez 1B
Brett Carroll RF
Brett Hayes C

Andrew Miller LHP

Orioles

Adam Jones CF
Cesar Izturis SS
Matt Wieters C
Miguel Tejada 3B
Ty Wigginton 2B
Michael Aubrey 1B
Lou Montanez LF
Scott Moore DH
Jeff Salazar RF

Jeremy Guthrie RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
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Manager Dave Trembley saw the same thing everybody else did when Kevin Millwood was on the mound.

"Obviously, we got Millwood's pitch count up, but he's not where he's going to be when the season starts,'' Trembley said. "We've got to get him there."

Dave didn't need to be reminded that Millwood considers himself a terrible spring training pitcher.

"He's been pretty open about that,'' Trembley said. "He wants work. He needs work. We got him up to 60 pitches, and that's what we wanted to do."

Trembley continues to be impressed with Koji, who has been very effective in each of his three appearances.

"Koji was a bright spot,'' he said. "Every time out he has thrown the ball well. I thought we made some progress with Hernandez, but when you give up 17 hits (as a team), you're not locating your pitches and you're pitching to the areas where they want to hit."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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The Minnesota Twins added a couple of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning before a heavy rainstorm descended on Hammond Stadium and washed out the rest of the game. The Orioles have now lost seven of their first nine exhibition games.

There weren't a lot of highlights in the game of the Orioles, but Robert Andino broke out of his early spring slump with a home run and a triple and Koji Uehara looked very good again in his third one-inning relief appearance.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
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Millwood did come out for the third inning and threw 12 more pitches. He got two outs and gave up one more hit, so this was his line: 2 2/3 innings, five runs, nine hits, one walk, three strikeouts. He threw a total of 60 pitches, 35 for strikes. His spring ERA is 29.70.

Left-handed relief prospect Wilfrido Perez came on to finish the inning.

“I stink in spring training,’’ he said afterward. “I’m really not a very good spring training pitcher. I don’t try to win any awards in spring training.”

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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Orioles starter Kevin Millwood allowed hits to the first three batters he faced in the second inning, including a leadoff homer to Michael Cuddyer. He would go on to allow four runs on six hits and a walk and leave the bases loaded. He has thrown 48 pitches, 27 for strikes. In other words....ouch.

If you add together his first two starts, he has pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed 11 runs on 15 hits.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
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Kevin Millwood gave up a run on two hits in the first inning of his second exhibition start, but you'd have to consider that progress. He got hammered for six runs on seven hits and got just two outs in his competitive debut as an Oriole.

This time, he gave up a sharp leadoff single to Denard Span, struck out Orlando Hudson and allowed a run-scoring hit to 2009 American League MVP Joe Mauer, but got out of the inning quickly when Justin Morneau swung at the first pitch he saw and grounded into a double play.

Millwood threw 14 pitches in the inning, nine of them strikes.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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The Orioles will see a big chunk of the Minnesota Twins regular lineup tonight, which should provide an interesting test for O's starter Kevin Millwood. Here it is:

Denard Span CF
Orlando Hudson 2B
Joe Mauer C
Justin Morneau 1B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Jason Kubel DH
Delmon Young LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Punto 3B

Scott Baker RHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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The Orioles buses left Ed Smith Stadium before Brian Roberts was examined today, so manager Dave Trembley said he did not yet have an update on the situation. He's hoping that Roberts can resume workouts and be ready to play in time to get 30 at-bats before the start of the regular season. If Roberts doesn't have enough games left to do that, he'll play in camp games on the back fields to get more at-bats.

The club will hold a "B" game on Sunday at Pirate City in Bradenton. That'll provide an extra nine innings for the pitchers in camp. Jake Arrieta will start that game.

Trembley said he was pleased with the performance of Brad Bergesen at Bradenton last night.

"He was disappointed,'' Trembley said. "I wasn't."

Dave also explained why he has been holding the pitch counts down for some of the pitchers, even though we're almost a month into training camp.

"People have asked me how come pitch counts are down,'' he said. "We've brought a lot of guys back on three days rest instead of four to build them up...It (that approach) came from a lot of people. Talking to (Kevin) Millwood on the bus, he came up in Atlanta and his approach with Leo (former Braves and O's pitching coach Leo Mazzone) was to throw two times in between starts. He liked it. I'm not sure who's responsible for it, but I think it's a real good thing."

Trembley said, however, that he'll continue to limit the work of some pitchers, particularly Koji Uehara.

"We'll eventually get him two innings and pitch him back-to-back,'' he said. "We're not going to do it now, and the same goes for (Jim) Johnson and (Mike) Gonzalez. We're in no hurry to do that."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Here's the Orioles lineup for tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. Note that Nolan Reimold will DH and bat leadoff tonight.

Orioles

Nolan Reimold DH
Robert Andino 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott LF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Josh Bell 3B
Jeff Salazar CF
Chad Moeller C
Pedro Florimon SS

Kevin Millwood RHP

Here are some upcoming pitching probables:

Saturday: Brian Matusz, Kam Mickolio, Mark Hendrickson, Wilfrido Perez.

Sunday: Jason Berken, Chris Tillman, Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara.

Sunday "B" game: Jake Arrieta, Troy Patton, Brandon Erbe, Chorye Spoone, Luis Labron.

Monday: Brad Bergesen, David Hernandez, Mark Hendrickson.

Tuesday: Kevin Milwood, Koji Uehara, Jim Johnson.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (49)
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The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec answered questions about prospects who might contribute this season, which Orioles player will produce the best offensive numbers and more.

Read the full transcript below.

Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

When Brian Roberts was recovering from that awful elbow injury in the spring of 2006, he did not make his first exhibition appearance until March 21. He would play in a total of 10 spring games and bat .353 (12-for-34) with four doubles.

Maybe that's why Roberts seems unconcerned that he might miss Opening Day. He still thinks he has plenty of time to get in shape and get enough at-bats.

"That was the year of my elbow,'' he said. "I had no concerns about that either and I was more concerned then because I was coming off something that certainly was a lot more major than this -- at this point. I'm not coming off anything like that, it's just trying to get your body to the point where it's 100 percent."

Roberts underwent surgery on Sept 30, 2005 to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament and repair a torn tendon. Then-manager Sam Perlozzo put him back in the lineup for the last two weeks of the preseason and played him on a two-days-on, one-day-off schedule.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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The O's got the monkey off their backs by ending their six-game spring losing streak last night at McKechnie Field, but it was a weird game. They batted around in the top of the first inning to score all of their runs, but no further fireworks would be forthcoming. They managed just one more hit the rest of the way.

OK, the fireworks thing was not entirely true. The Pirates entertained the crowd with a postgame fireworks show, and yours truly was right there with his cell phone camera to capture the excitement.

Well, I'm pretty sure that's a photo from last night's fireworks show, but I may have gotten it mixed up with an action shot from Daniel Cabrera's first exhibition appearance for the White Sox.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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The Orioles defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2, tonight at McKechnie Field in Bradenton to end their six-game exhibition losing streak, but only because the bullpen did a spectacular job of holding a one-run lead for 7 2/3 innings.

Luis Lebron, Jason Berken, Mark Hendrickson, Will Ohman, Kam Mickolio and Matt Albers each held the Pirates scoreless after starter Brad Bergesen gave up a pair of runs over 1 1/3 innings in his 2010 exhibition debut.

The game ended in a light drizzle, but the Pirates went ahead with their scheduled fireworks show, which was good because the crowd had not seen anything resembling a rocket since the second inning.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
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We've spent much time the past three weeks complaining about the weather, but it is an absolutely terrific evening at McKechnie Field in beautiful downtown Bradenton, Fla. It's a balmy 75 degrees with a light breeze blowing out to center field. Here's the view from the press box.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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The O's batted around and scored three runs in the top of the first inning against Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Zach Duke. Six straight Orioles hitters reached base with two outs on four hits and two walks. Adam Jones got the two-out rally started with a triple and Luke Scott had drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. Ty Wigginton also drove in a run with a hit.

Brad Bergesen has taken the mound for the Orioles for the first time in a game this spring. He retired the first two batters he faced, despite having some trouble finding the strike zone, then gave up a double to Garrett Jones before getting out of the inning. He threw 17 pitches, nine of them strikes.

The second inning didn't go quite as well. Bergesen got Ryan Church to fly out for the first out of the inning, then gave up a walk, a double and a single before reaching his pitch limit and giving way to reliever Luis Lebron.

I'm guessing, however, that he and manager Dave Trembley will say that they weren't really worried about the pitching line tonight. It was just about him getting comfortable on the mound and throwing without discomfort in his shoulder or his shin.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
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Brad Bergesen makes his spring debut against Zach Duck and the Pittsburgh Pirates at historic McKechnie Field. You'll notice that the DH rule is in effect, by agreement of the two managers.

Orioles

Felix Pie LF
Cesar Izturis SS
Adam Jones CF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Matt Wieters C
Luke Scott 1B
Ty Wigginton DH
Lou Montanez RF
Justin Turner 2B

Brad Bergesen RHP

Pirates

Andrew McCutchen CF
Bobby Crosby SS
Garrett Jones DH
Ryan Doumit C
Ryan Church RF
Brandon Moss LF
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Steve Pearce 1B
Ramon Vasquez 2B

Zach Duke LHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
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Longtime Orioles employee Ernie Tyler, who was featured in my column on the cover of today's print edition of the Sun has decided to retire after 50 seasons as the team's "ballboy," but will remain in his capacity as the Orioles umpire attendant. He also will continue to prepare the baseballs for each game.

Tyler indicated that the attention paid to his status this week prompted a family summit down here in Sarasota, during which he decided that his family's concern for his safety outweighed his desire to return to his position near the camera well alongside the Orioles dugout, where there is always risk of being drilled with a foul ball.

Ernie is in town visiting Jim and Fred Tyler, the Orioles home and visiting clubhouse managers, who convinced him to sit down last year after he underwent hernia surgery. He had hoped to return to his former role this season, but the father of 11 basically got outvoted by the rest of the family.

"Everything is OK now,'' Tyler said. "There was never really any anger there, just disappointment, but I'm OK ... The girls are a little happier too, and I'm sure that my wife is going to be happier that I'm at least going to come home once in awhile. This is a good thing.

"I see their point really well now. I would occasionally after the game be a little worn out -- especially after the doubleheaders. The way it is now, I'm happy, because I sit and do the balls and then I have a chance to go walking around and taking a look at everything else. There are plenty of things going on in the ballpark that I didn't know about before."

I'll have more on Ernie's decision later today on the Web site and in tomorrow's print edition.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Matt Wieters said he was pleased with the way the his cover shoot went for this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. He said he liked the shot and wants to get it enlarged and framed.

"It's a pretty good one,'' Wieters said. "It's tough making me look good, so that's photographer is pretty good."

Indeed, the guy who took the shot -- Walter Iooss Jr.-- is one of the best magazine photographers on the planet.

Wieters said he isn't worried about the supposed Sports Illustrated cover jinx.

"It's how hard you're working and what you put into it,'' he said. "It's a tough enough game already to worry about jinxes."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Brian Roberts will be re-evaluated tomorrow before resuming the rehabilitation program for his sore lower back. He said that he's still not concerned about the possibility of missing Opening Day, but is not going to rush back into action this spring and possibly put the season opener at risk.

"It's not ideal at this point,'' he said, "but I'm not concerned about missing Opening Day yet. What is today? The 10th? We've still got 3 1/2 weeks, so I'm not in panic mode or anything...I don't have timetable. My biggest thing is, I don't really care, I'd rather be fully healthy and get 15 at-bats than try to push it and get 30 at-bats and start off with anything where you're less than 100 percent."

Roberts has been sidelined after coming down with severe stomach discomfort, perhaps related to the anti-inflammatory medication that he has been taking for the back injury.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
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Not that it should come as a surprise to anyone at this point, but the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network has finalized a deal to put Mike Flanagan back in the broadcast booth alongside Gary Thorne for about half the 2010 television schedule.

Flanagan, who served the Orioles as a player, coach and television broadcaster before his stint as executive vice president of baseball operations, has been projected as the replacement for the departed Buck Martinez for several months. MASN also is expected to have a rotation of guest baseball analysts, believed to include Brady Anderson, Eddie Murray and Mike Boddicker.

"The talks were ongoing for quite some time and a number of various roles were discussed,'' Flanagan said in a telephone interview. "It’s a great year to be back. I’m really looking forward to working with MASN. I’m excited about it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)
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While we're plugging Sports Illustrated, I should point out that Tom Verducci also has a story today on SI.com which you can read here about Bud Selig's new competition committee considering the possibility of a floating realignment. That is, a radical plan that would allow teams to move from division to division to achieve greater parity.

If you read my column about the committee and the possibility of a scheduling overhaul on Sunday, I also brought up the possibility of -- well, as I called it -- "rolling realignment." It's an interesting concept that does have some support, but I seriously doubt it'll get past the discussion phase. Selig can say all he wants that everything is on the table, but baseball is making too much money to do something that new and different.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (46)
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The Orioles play a night game against the Pirates at Bradenton, and it could be a pretty significant evening. Brad Bergesen is scheduled to take the mound for his first exhibition appearance. He has gotten through his side sessions and batting practice workouts without incident, but this will be the first opportunity to see whether he's completely unimpaired after the shin injury he suffered last July and the shoulder soreness that cropped up in December.

It's a big day for catcher Matt Wieters. He's on the cover of the Sports Illustrated issue that hits the stands today -- the first Oriole since Roberto Alomar was on the cover almost 14 years ago. I'll let you worry about the supposed SI jinx. The cover story is by Tom Verducci, who spent several days in camp in late February.

And while I'm plugging stuff, you might want to take a look at my column today about beloved Orioles "ballboy" and umpire attendant Ernie Tyler, who wants to get back on the field this season, but has encountered some well-intentioned resistance from his family.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (42)
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If you think that Andy MacPhail has been licking his lips over the prospect of renewing Adam Jones for $465,000 this year, think again. MacPhail renewed the contracts of Jones, Nolan Reimold, Matt Wieters and Jason Berken because teams are entitled to do that under the collective bargaining agreement and teams clearly are under some peer pressure to hold down the salaries of "zero-to-three" player, but he said today he doesn't like the process.

“I don’t particularly care for that part of it,’’ he said. “It’s been part of our system for a long time. We counted over 200 guys who have been renewed in this CBA. A lot of them get multi-year deals, but if I could create my ideal system, this wouldn’t be it.”

MacPhail added that he doesn't expect the renewals to have any long-term negative impact on the relationship of the affected players and the club.

"It is what it is. The last guy we did this with was Markakis and we negotiated a multi-year deal. Players and the agents are awfully sophisticated. They understand what the system is and where the leverage is at different points in their careers. It's just one of those things. I would expect that the players would exercise the leverage when they have it. I think that's what they should do and clubs have got to do the same thing."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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Josh Bell made quite an impression when he hit two home runs in the Orioles exhibition opener against the Rays, but his performance in today's 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays was an entirely different story. He committed a pair of errors at third base and could have been charged with a couple more with a less-forgiving official scorer.

That's why they call it spring training. Bell was expected to be a work in progress with the glove.

The O's' other top minor league prospect, Jake Arrieta, had another so-so outing. He pitched one inning and gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk. Obviously, he didn't get a lot of help from his defense, but he was not sharp.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
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Chris Tillman was removed from the game with one out in the third inning. He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in his second start of the spring. It wasn't a particularly effective outing, but he threw 49 pitches and got a lot of practice working out of the stretch.

The second Rays run was facilitated by a throwing error by reserve catcher Chad Moeller, but Moeller got the run back in the bottom of the inning when he led off with a home run off Tampa Bay starter Jeff Niemann.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
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Nolan Reimold made his first exhibition appearance of the spring today and was immediately tested by Evan Longoria, who hit a fly ball deep into the gap in left center field. Reimold could not get there in time, but got close enough that it's fair to speculate that he might have if he was completely healthy.

No big deal. That's what spring training is for. He's still got a month to work the remaining soreness out of his heel.

Chris Tillman gave up hits to two of the first three Rays batters he faced in the first inning. Leadoff man Sean Rodriguez singled and scored on Longoria's one-out RBI double.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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Check out this piece from the Bloomberg News Service, in which Cal Ripken says that he's starting to consider the possibility of returning to the major leagues as a manager.

Here's an excerpt:

Ripken, a two-time Most Valuable Player who played in a record 2,632 straight Major League Baseball games, said in 2007 that he would consider returning to the sport as a manager or coach after his teenage children were grown. His daughter, Rachel, is now in college and his son, Ryan, is a sophomore in high school.

“I valued that time frame and I wanted to be there, and I’m starting to think about it a little more now,” Ripken said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio’s “Bloomberg Surveillance.” “When my boy goes off to college, if there’s a time to come back to the game, maybe that’s the time.”

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (58)
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Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold had similar reactions to the news that the Orioles had renewed their contracts. They both understand the process and know that they'll have more leverage in the future, though nobody wants to get renewed.

"It's just part of the process...just sign it and play out this year,'' said Jones. "You keep it in-house. There's no bad blood between both sides...There's no need for both sides to get into any war, just play out this year."

Jones may have been keeping his true feelings to himself. He came within one day of service time of being one of the "Super-2" arbitration players. That one day may have cost him a couple million dollars.

Reimold is in a different situation. He's coming off a good rookie season, but he still has less than a year of service time.

"It's a business, whatever,'' Reimold said. "No hard feelings whatsoever. I understand both ways."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Just baseball
        

The Baltimore Sun's Peter Schmuck participated in a live chat about the Orioles at noon Tuesday.

You can read the full transcript below.

Posted by Baltimore Sun sports at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

Brian Roberts was not in the clubhouse this morning, but it apparently had nothing to do with the back injury he has been rehabbing. Club officials say he came down with an upset stomach -- probably from some anti-inflammatory medication -- and is not participating in drills today.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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The Orioles just released their contract roundup for the "zero-to-three" players in camp, and it includes the usual list of major and minor league players who have agreed to one-year contracts because they do not have the leverage that comes with salary arbitration eligibility.

It also includes the terse announcement that the club has renewed the contracts of Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Nolan Reimold and Jason Berken, which is an indication that those players would not voluntarily come to terms, so the team is entitled to pay them whatever it wants, provided it doesn't sign them for less than the minimum major league salary or cut their pay more than 20 percent.

That usually leads to some discontent in the clubhouse, and we'll see if that is the case when we go back in there later this morning.

Here's the list of players who have signed:

Robert Andino, Michael Aubrey, Josh Bell, Brad Bergesen, Alberto Castillo, Brandon Erbe, Pedro Florimon, David Hernandez, Rhyne Hughes, Jim Johnson, Luis Labron, Kam Mickolio, Lou Montanez, Troy Patton, Wilfride Perez, Felix Pie, Dennis Sarfate, Brandon Snyder, Chorye Spoone, Craig Tatum, Chris Tillman and Justin Turner.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
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Here's the Orioles lineup for today's exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays:

Robert Andino 2B
Nolan Reimold LF
Nick Markakis RF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Ty Wigginton 3B
Rhyne Hughes DH
Chad Moeller C
Matt Angle CF
Pedro Florimon SS

Chris Tillman RHP

As expected, but Adam Jones and Miguel Tejada are out of the lineup because they were the first two regulars to play back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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The Orioles appear to be getting healthier. Justin Turner, who took that nasty shot off his foot the other day, said he's back to a full go and Nolan Reimold will make his first exhibition appearance in left field against the Rays at 1:05 p.m.

"I think I'm doing full everything today,'' said Turner, who still has a lot of bruising on his sore heel. "It's all right. It feels good."

Reimold still is working through some soreness in his surgically repaired heel, but says he's making steady progress.

"It's still early,'' he said. "There's still plenty of time."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Chris Tillman takes the mound for the Orioles today against the Tampa Bay Rays, but all eyes will not be on Ed Smith Stadium. The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is televising the Washington Nationals game against the Detroit Tigers, because today is the exhibition debut of Nats phenom Stephen Strasburg.

If I were running MASN, I'd do the same thing. The Nats certainly paid the kid enough. But the team is cast in a strange position -- trying to get the most out of that giant contract while attempting to keep the hype under control.

Good luck with that.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)
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Mike Gonzalez took his second turn on the mound in today's exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins and seemed more comfortable than he looked in his competitive debut as an Oriole on Friday night.

“I felt good…I felt good overall,'' he said. "I definitely worked on some things this time as opposed to last time, (when) I was very high, I missed down in the zone, so that’s a lot better for me. I got another base on balls, but I missed down and I worked on some pitches. I worked on my changeup a few more times this inning, so overall it was a positive day for me.”

He pitched one inning and allowed a walk and a long extra-base hit. He did not give up a run, but that was thanks to a double relay from center field to make Brendan Harris pay for not sliding home.

Gonzalez was asked whether he felt like the velocity of his fastball was where it should be at this point in the spring.

“You know what, I don’t even worry about the velocity until about a week before gametime,'' he said. "That’s when I really start rearing back and letting it eat. Right now, it’s just trying to get my location and really working on my pitches, really trying to work on the changeup that I really didn’t have last year. So, that’s something that this spring training you’re going to see me doing a lot of. I’m just letting it go, throwing that changeup and trying to get a better feel for it.”
.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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Brian Matusz may have given up a handful of hits in the first inning of the Orioles 5-0 loss to the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium, but he said he felt fine and continues to work predominantly with his fastball and his changeup.

“I felt good today,'' he said "I felt real good. I thought I pounded the zone just like I wanted to today. It was a little bit different, I threw, I think, three curveballs today. One of them I got screwed up on the signs with (Craig) Tatum, but Punto ended up fouled off so it was okay. That felt good. The fastball in and out was excellent today. I threw some effective changeups. I felt comfortable out there. Everything felt good.”

“Right now I’m really focusing on the fastball in and out. I don’t know about the percentages, but I feel I’ve thrown the fastball for the majority of my pitches. I’m still trying to throw my three offspeed pitches, just trying to use them at the right times and not trying to overdo it. That’s pretty much my main focus, just get comfortable, get my work in, attack the zone with all the pitches. I felt like I threw a lot of strikes today. One thing I’m really happy about, is when I get to a 3-2 count, I’ve been able to really pound the zone and throw strikes and not give anyone any free passes.”

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
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I'm getting a lot of questions about what I would look like with an alligator on my head, so I thought I better get this other picture up before the suspense is just too much for you.

Just for fun, I'm going to turn this into a pop quiz. Who can identify the location where this photograph was taken by nationally-known cell phone photographer Linda Schmuck (no relation)?

Here's a hint: There was also a giant tortoise there, but I wasn't about to go near it after my unpleasant experience with that incontinent box turtle last year in Fort Lauderdale.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Brian Matusz took some licks in the first inning of his second exhibition start, giving up hits to three of the first four batters in the game. Ben Revere led off with a double. Michael Cuddyer scored him with a one-out single and Jason Kubel made it 2-0 with an RBI double.

Matusz settled down in the second, however, and retired the side in order in the second. He has struck out four. He will start the third with about 15 pitches left to throw.

Instant update: Matusz got the first two outs of the third inning before being replaced by Ross Wolf. He threw 46 pitches.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said that he doesn’t expect Brian Roberts to play in an exhibition game for at least another week, but he is still confident that the injured second baseman will be ready for Opening Day.

“The medical stuff that I have so far indicates that he should be ready to go when the season starts,” said MacPhail. “It is what it is. You have to recognize that you have a month ago before you open. You have time and you have to take advantage of it to make it right.”

MacPhail said that Roberts, who has a small herniated disk in his back, has had no setbacks, but the club is taking a ‘very low key approach” with the treatment.

-- Jeff Zrebiec

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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Frankly, I had a choice between giving you an instant update on Brian Matusz's second exhibition start or putting up a picture of me holding a small alligator for no apparent reason. I'm pretty sure I made the wrong choice, but I'll be right back with some info on Matusz's first inning and a Brian Roberts update from Jeff Zrebiec.

Just to clarify. I'm at the game at Ed Smith Stadium. The photo is from a roadside attraction I stopped at last weekend. I'll probably post at least one more photo from that excursion during the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Dave Trembley just held court in the dugout and updated the media on some of the issues of the day:

He said that Brian Matusz will be on a 50-pitch limit today against the Twins, but his pitch repertoire will be up to him. The last time out, he worked mostly on his fastball and changeup, but Trembley said the coaching staff is not dictating what pitches he works on early in the spring.

"We don't call pitches anyway,'' Trembley said. "I think the guys out on the field should have a much better feel for what's going on than guys 60 yards away."

Dave conceded, however, that Matusz requires less micromanaging than the average pitcher of his age and experience.

"Matusz is a four-pitch pitcher,'' he said. "That's how he pitches. I told somebody the other day, he's special. That's a great compliment."

Injury update: Trembley said Justin Turner probably will be ready to play tomorrow...He also said that Brad Bergesen will be held to a 35-pitch limit in his exhibition debut on Wednesday.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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Most of the attention has been on Orioles starter Brad Bergesen’s physical recovery from the left shin contusion he suffered last July, and the shoulder strain he incurred in early December. However, Bergesen also used last week to get in some psychological recovery as well.

Twice during live batting practice last week, Bergesen had to defend himself against hard comebackers that were reminiscent of the one that Kansas City Royals slugger Billy Butler hit off his shin on July 30, ending a strong rookie season. One of the balls, hit by Michael Aubrey, struck Bergesen in the right leg and the other, off the bat of Lou Montanez, was caught by the second-year pitcher.

“I’ve got that out of the way so I’m getting a little more comfortable with it,” said Bergesen. “Hopefully, that did the trick and I’ll be ready to go.”

Bergesen will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. He’s expected to throw a maximum of two innings or 35 pitches, the same guidelines for the other Oriole starters during their exhibition debuts.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Obviously, it’s been a long time coming.”

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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Brian Matusz makes his second start of the preseason today against Kevin Slowey and the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Matusz is coming off that impressive performance against the Rays that included that terrific 13-pitch duel with Evan Longoria.

Nick Blackburn was originally scheduled to start for the Twins. He is still expected to pitch.

Here's the Orioles lineup:

Felix Pie LF
Adam Jones CF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Luke Scott 1B
Matt Wieters DH
Lou Montanez RF
Cesar Izturis SS
Craig Tatum C
Robert Andino 2B

Brian Matusz LHP

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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This one looked like an Orioles win until the Red Sox scored three runs in the eighth and won the game on a Mark Wagner home run off David Hernandez in the ninth. Hernandez actually threw the ball well, but Wagner lunged at a changeup and got it up in the steady breeze that was blowing out to left field.

"He had a good fastball,'' Trembley said, "but he got beat on his changeup."

Hernandez pitched the final 1 2/3 innings of the game and struck out four of the six batters he faced.

Trembley said he was fine with the performance of Guthrie, who has given up one run in his first 4 1/3 innings of work. The Orioles got scoreless relief appearances from five pitchers before Armando Gabino gave up the three runs in the eighth.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
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Jeremy Guthrie said he "couldn't have been more pleased" with his 2 1/3-inning performance today against the Boston Red Sox, even though he exhausted his pitch count in the first two innings.

"I did walk two guys and fell behind some guys, but I'm very pleased,'' he said. "I felt strong. I felt I was consistently able to work the fastball."

Guthrie said he was not concerned about the high pitch count, because that is a normal part of getting ready for the season.

"It's just a function of not having pitched any games in awhile,'' he said. "I had only been in one game before today. But I look at the box scores and there are a lot of guys going 1 1/3 innings or two innings."

It was at about this time that Guthrie was out of camp last year for the World Baseball Classic, which may or may not have contributed to a difficult 2009 season. Does being here all spring make a difference?

"Absolutely,'' he said. "This will provide the ability to build on my pitches and have more of a plan, knowing I'll pitch again in five days. I can plan things like in two starts I'll start mixing in my fourth pitch."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
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Jeremy Guthrie gave up a run on three hits over 2 1/3 innings today, but it wasn't an easy seven outs. He also walked two batters and threw 51 pitches, so he only pitched to the first batter in the third before giving way to reliever Chris George.

Tejada update: Miguel Tejada has had two plays at third so far and handled both flawlessly. He ranged far to his left and made a leaping stab of a nigh chopper by Yamaico Navarro, then spun and gunned him out at first base. He also looked comfortable settling under a popup behind third base.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Obviously, you can watch the game on MASN, so I'm not going to be putting up a lot of play-by-play, but I'll throw out a few items of interest -- like the fact that the Red Sox traveling squad today includes outfielder Darnell McDonald, who was once an Orioles first-round draft choice.

Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier that the O's called up minor league infielder Ryan Adams to provide some middle infield depth because of the injury to Justin Turner. Turner has a bruised foot, but should be available tomorrow.

Instant update: Nick Markakis continues to scald the ball. He just jacked his second home run of the spring and the 12th of the young preseason for the Orioles. I guess that means there is no Jeff Zrebiec jinx, since he featured Nick in today's print edition, which -- of course -- you can read right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Trembley was asked if he is happy with the early progress of Miguel Tejada at third base and Garrett Atkins at first.

"Yes,'' he said. "This is the first day since the first day of camp Tejada didn't have early work. We gave him Sunday off. I'm happy with that. I'm confident they both will grow and improve. They won't go back and forth. They are at third and first."

That led to a question about Luke Scott, and whether he has been lobbying to get some playing time this spring at first.

"Luke is going to play some first,'' Trembley said. "He hasn't been lobbying. He doesn't have to lobby. But I don't see it as a split between Atkins and Scott, if that's what you're asking."

Trembley also fielded some state-of-the-team questions from the Boston media contingent, who wanted to know if he was surprised that the front office has been as patient as it has with him during the rebuilding process.

"No, but I've never worried about that kind of thing,'' he said. "I think you have trust the people you're working with...I got the opportunity to manage in the major leagues here because of my background (developing players). Now, it's time to take it from individual progress to the team's progress."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
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Dave Trembley just held court and laid out his plans for the next week or so. He's been slow-playing the regulars during the first week, starting them every other day. Now, he's going to start playing some of them back to back.

"Tejada will kick it off,'' he said. "He'll start back-to-back today and tomorrow. Jones will, too."

Brad Bergesen threw what should be his last batting practice session this morning. If all goes well and he wakes up tomorrow without any soreness in his shoulder, he'll make his 2010 exhibition debut against the Pirates on Wednesday at Bradenton.

Trembley is enjoying the early spring meteor shower, but he isn't drawing a lot of conclusions from the 11 homers in the first four games.

"I hope they don't use them all up,'' he said.

There are some factors that have contributed to the quick burst of power during the first week of the preseason.

"The wind has been blowing,'' he said. "Most guys are throwing fastball/changeup this time of year. They aren't going to their secondary pitches yet."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Jacoby Ellsbury CF
J.D. Drew RF
Victor Martinez C
David Ortiz DH
Jeremy Hermida LF
Jed Lowrie 3B
Tug Hulett 2B
Yamaico Navarro SS
Aaron Bates 1B

RHP Clay Buchholz

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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The Red Sox invade Ed Smith Stadium today. Right-hander Clay Buchholz will take the mound against Jeremy Guthrie, then everybody is going over to Jeremy's house to watch the Oscars.

Just kidding. I couldn't find anyone in the Orioles clubhouse this morning who had any interest in watching the Academy Awards, even though it promises to be pretty funny with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin hosting.

Anyway, here's today's Orioles lineup:

Adam Jones CF
Ty Wigginton DH
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Matt Wieters C
Luke Scott LF
Garrett Atkins 1B
Miguel Abreu 2B
Cesar Izturis SS

Jeremy Guthrie RHP

Shameless plug: If you haven't already, check out my column in today's print edition about the need for Major League Baseball to go to a balanced schedule. If it sounds like I'm whining because I'm tired of 12 years with no chance to see the O's in the playoffs, well, that's because I am. You can also read the column on the Web site right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
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I'll be the first to admit I was in Sarasota watching the Terps men's team lock up at least half of the ACC title with a too-close-for-comfort victory over Virginia, so I missed Rhyne Hughes' third home run of the spring in the late innings of the Orioles' 9-5 loss to the Tigers in Lakeland.

Jeff Zrebiec will have a full report shortly, but if you're looking for an upside, five of the six O's relievers who followed Kevin Millwood to the mound held the Tigers scoreless and none of the six relievers walked a batter.

Next up: The Boston Red Sox, who toyed with moving to Sarasota before the Orioles locked in here long-term, will travel to Ed Smith Stadium for an afternoon game tomorrow.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
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Guess I picked the right day to miss an Orioles roadtrip. Kevin Millwood just got hammered by the Detroit Tigers for six runs on seven hits in just 2/3 of an inning in his Orioles competitive debut. Millwood had hoped to pitch through three innings and maybe continue throwing in the bullpen. He threw 30 pitches before being removed.

The good news. The Orioles meteor shower continues. Ty Wigginton just homered off Justin Verlander in the top of the second. That's No. 10 of the spring for the O's, with almost all of their fourth exhibition game to go.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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Here are a few tidbits from manager Dave Trembley’s pregame meeting with reporters in sunny Lakeland before the Orioles game against the Detroit Tigers today:

Trembley said that the club is considering bringing over a middle infielder from minor league camp just to provide protection with Justin Turner, Brian Roberts and Cesar Izturis all ailing. One of the names that has been discussed is veteran Andy Gonzalez, who the Orioles signed to a minor league contract this offseason.

“I have to find out who is close to being able to play in the game,” Trembley. “There are a few names we floated. [Gonzalez] is one of them, but I don’t know what kind of shape he’s in. But that’s an area where we might need a guy just to cover.”

Turner, who suffered a bruise left foot when he was hit by a Garrett Atkins line drive in batting practice on Friday, is expected to be out at least until Monday. Roberts (herniated disk) hasn’t played at all this spring and Trembley said there is still no timetable for when the leadoff man we’ll get into his first exhibition game. Izturis (sore throat) should play tomorrow.

Trembley has been very impressed with 24-year-old reliever Luis Lebron, who turned in scoreless outings in both the intrasquad game and last night’s Grapefruit League loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I went up to him last night and I said, ‘Where the hell have you been?’ He’s got a heck of a fastball,” said Trembley. “That’s explosive. That’s a major league fastball right there. We have to see him again. He looked pretty good.”

Asked if Lebron, who went 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 24 appearances for Double-A Bowie last year, has pitched himself into Opening Day roster contention, Trembley said, “I don’t know about that. I’d like to see him again though. You don’t see that kind of arm very often.”

Nolan Reimold is making his Grapefruit League debut today and Michael Aubrey is also expected to get a couple of at-bats.

-- Jeff Zrebiec

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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The Orioles play the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland today. I will not be doing in-game updates, but I'll check in with Jeff Zrebiec occasionally to see if anything newsworthy is happening while I remain in Sarasota working on my Sunday column about the need for Major League Baseball to fix its unfair imbalanced schedule.

If you have an opinion on that subject, I'm all ears. And if you're one of those mathematically inclined fans who has come up with a better scheduling formula than the one where the AL East teams have to play each other almost 90 times (spring and regular season) every year, I'd love to see it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
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Since we had a night game last night at Ed Smith Stadium, we really only had time to read the headlines about the deal that brought Anquan Boldin to the Ravens. Clearly, these are exciting times at The Castle.

It looks like Ozzie Newsome just got tired of everyone telling him he had to fix the receiver corps. The acquistion of Boldin and Donte Stallworth give the Ravens a much more dangerous passing game and should help Joe Flacco take another big developmental step. The Ravens seem determined to be a perenniel playoff team and Super Bowl contender. What more could their fans ask?

Well, I suppose they could ask for Brandon Marshall, but I agree with Mike Preston that it makes far more sense to give up later-round picks for Boldin than to take yourself out of the front end of a draft for Marshall -- who has some issues that could come back to haunt the franchise.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Just football
        

In case you haven't already, check out my column for today's print edition about the intriging juxtaposition of converted third baseman Miguel Tejada and emerging third base prospect Josh Bell. You can read it right here.

Tell me what you think.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Chris Tillman had every reason to be happy with his first exhibition appearance. He threw two perfect innings and his previously sore back did not betray him.

"I think it went well,'' he said. "I just wanted to locate my fastball tonight and they made me do that a little bit. For the first one in four months, it felt good. I threw all my pitches, mainly fastball. But I threw about four or five offspeed pitches. I was satisfied with my fastball location. That’s what I was working on tonight."

He said that he was careful to warm up thoroughly because of the back spasm that slowed him briefly at the start of training camp.

"I took more precaution getting warm,'' he said. "I got out here early, did some sprints, a little more stretching with the trainers there. Not that I felt it, but I just wanted to get a little more stretching in before I got out there and started playing catch."

It's obvious to everyone that Tillman is more comfortable on the major league roster this year, and it's obvious to him, too.

"A whole lot more,'' Tillman said. "I was like a deer in the headlights last year. But after building a relationship with the staff and the players, it makes it a whole lot easier for me."

Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
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The Orioles continue to hammer the long ball during the early games of the Grapefruit League schedule. Adam Jones just jumped on a pitch from Daniel McCutcheon and drove it into the palm trees behind the 375 sign in right center field. It was the Orioles ninth home run in their first three exhibition games.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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Free agent acquisition Mike Gonzalez is on the mound in game action for the first time as a member of the Orioles and he's struggling with his control a bit. He gave up a bloop single to Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno to open the inning and walked Neil Walker before striking out John Raynor on a full-count pitch. He also gave up a run-scoring single to second baseman Aki Iwamura before working out of the jam.

"My arm felt great and I got out of it healthy, that's all you can ask for,'' Gonzalez said afterward.

He's was wild high throughout the inning and threw a lot of pitches, but said that is normal for him early in the spring.

"First outing,'' he said. "You're going to see wild high a few times. I'm just taking it a pitch at a time. It takes a little adjusting. That's why you throw 10 or 11 innings."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Chris Tillman came out winging tonight at Ed Smith Stadium, throwing two perfect innings and striking out three batters in a row in one stretch. He threw 33 pitches -- 22 for strikes.

Miggi update: Miguel Tejada made a slick play at third in the second inning, barehanding a bouncer by Pirates first baseman Steve Pearce and making a sharp throw to get him at first.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Infielder Justin Turner, who was scheduled to start tonight's game at second base, was hit on the left foot by a line drive off the bat of Garrett Atkins during pregame batting practice at Ed Smith Stadium. He was helped off the field and taken back to the clubhouse for an examination. The severity of the injury is not known, but manager Dave Trembley already has scratched him from the lineup and replaced him with Blake Davis.

"I'm just going to let Davis start,'' he said, "and if he (Turner) is okay, he can pick him up."

Turner later underwent x-rays, which revealed no fraction, but he will not play tonight and is listed as day-to-day.

Now, the whole middle infield is different than the one on the original lineup sheet. Cesar Izturis already has been scratched from the lineup and sent home because he became ill.

Injury updates: Brad Bergesen threw a batting practice session today and will throw another on Sunday before a determination is made whether he can start Wednesday's exhibition game. Chris George also threw today. He's been nursing a sore hamstring.

Looking ahead: Trembley confirmed that Nolan Reimold will start at designated hitter in Lakeland tomorrow and get two at-bats before giving way to Michael Aubrey. Both have yet to make their exhibition debuts.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
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Felix Pie looked a little sore in the clubhouse today after slightly straining his left quadriceps in yesterday's loss to the Rays, but he's been in the outfield shagging fly balls during pregame warmups at Ed Smith Stadium. He was originally scheduled to be out of tonight's starting lineup before the injury, so we won't know until tomorrow whether he'll miss any more playing time.

He was originally scheduled to start against the Tigers in Lakeland, so it'll be obvious soon enough.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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Shortstop Cesar Izturis has been scratched from tonight's lineup because he became ill this afternoon. Robert Andino will take his place in the starting lineup.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
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New Orioles ace Kevin Millwood will make his first start of the spring tomorrow afternoon against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., and he's probably going to stay out there a little longer than the younger guys who have been throwing two innings or 35 pitches (whichever comes first).

Millwood says he expects to throw three innings, and maybe more if he gets through them easily.

"I would hope to,'' he said, "but I understand that the other guys have to throw. If that is the case, I can out out and finish in the bullpen."

Millwood, by virtue of his long-time veteran status, pretty much has his own program, but like everyone else, he can't wait to get out there and compete against players wearing a different uniform.

"Yeah, throwing to our hitters kind of (stinks),'' he said. "You don't want to come inside to much, because you can hurt one of your teammates. If you hurt somebody on another team, it's just part of the game."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Pirates

Aki Iwamura 2B
Jose Tabata LF
Garrett Jones RF
Ryan Doumit C
Steve Pearce 1B
Brandon Moss DH
Ronny Cedeno SS
Neil Walker 3B
John Raynor CF

Zach Duke LHP

Orioles

Adam Jones CF
Robert Andino SS
Nick Markakis RF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Matt Wieters C
Luke Scott DH
Garrett Atkins 1B
Jonathan Tucker LF
Justin Turner 2B

Chris Tillman RHP

Pie update: Felix Pie said he plans to make his scheduled start in the outfield tomorrow, but he still looked a little gimpy today. The consensus in the press trailer (down by the river) is that he probably won't play in Lakeland tomorrow.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
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SI.com's Tim Marchman has put out his ranking of baseball's 30 general managers, and Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is ranked 12th, though Marchman is very complimentary of the job he has done in Baltimore:

12. Andy MacPhail, Baltimore Orioles

"He's baseball royalty and a possible future commissioner who has built first-rate clubs in Minnesota and Chicago, so the surprise of MacPhail's work in Baltimore is that he's there at all, given the Orioles' notoriously headache-inducing ownership. It's not a surprise that he's doing the job the right way. This is a lousy team, but that's because under MacPhail's stewardship they're actually rebuilding properly rather than burning money in a futile bid for 80 wins. In any other division they'd be a comer."

If you're interested in seeing how all the GM's rank, you can check the list out here, but I'll be happy to relay a couple of highlights.

Tampa Bay Rays GM Andrew Friedman gets the top spot on the list for his ability to compete in a tough market with a low payroll. Then Marchman tips his cap to Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman for winning six of the last 12 World Series. Oakland's Billy Beane -- who is one of the most celebrated GMs in the game -- was ranked 10th. Kansas City's Dayton Moore gets the dubious No. 30.

Sun file photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (35)
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The Orioles play their first night game at Ed Smith Stadium tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who train next door in Bradenton. It's a good matchup, because it's only a short drive back and the young Pirates won't get home after curfew and get put on restriction by their parents.

It's also a cool thing to watch exhibition baseball at night. It'll be a particularly cool thing tonight because I hear it's going to be freezing, by Sarasota standards. It's 39 degrees right now at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (which is why I won't be sunbathing at the airport today) and it's probably going to drop into the 40s tonight during the game. I'm sure somebody will tell Chris Tillman to put on his jacket between innings.

The Orioles haven't had a home night game in quite awhile, because the lights at Fort Lauderdale Stadium didn't work the past few springs. Reason No. 235 that Sarasota is a better place to hold spring training than Fort Lauderdale. There's probably a joke in there about how many South Floridians it takes to screw in a lightbulb, but the people in Fort Lauderdale were very nice and they tried very hard to make that situation work for the Orioles.

Let's just leave it at The Schmuck is glad he stopped here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
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The Orioles came from behind in the top of the ninth inning when Justin Turner -- or, as I like to call him, Cal State Fullerton's Justin Turner -- hit a solo home run to tie the game. The Rays came back in the bottom of the ninth to load the bases and win the game on a long RBI single by Matt Joyce off reliever Mike Hinckley.

Dave Trembley said afterward that he isn't concerned about Felix Pie's quadriceps issue. He said Pie would have been off tomorrow anyway, and will start against the Tigers in Lakeland on Saturday.

"He told me he could have kept playing,'' Trembley said. "I told him, you've already got a home run and a triple. That's enough for today."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
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Brian Matusz did his running and met with the media a few minutes ago. He said he was very pleased with his performance, particularly the percentage of strikes that he threw (28 of 36).

"It was great,'' Matusz said. "I came out of the gates. My game plan today was...I was excited, I really wanted to pound the zone and throw strikes. I was able to do that today. I came out today and threw a lot of fastballs. I didn't go off my gameplan at all, even with that at-bat with Longoria, where it was long. He kept fouling pitches off. I still continued to go in hard with fastballs and did what I wanted to do."

Matusz said that in a regular season game, he might have mixed up his pitches more to get the at-bat over with one way or the other and keep his pitch count down, but he was working on his hard stuff and stayed with it.

"I was trying to pound him in a little bit,'' he said. "I didn't want to put the ball out over the plate where he could reach out and put it up into that wind in right field. I think in a different situation I might have mixed in a breaking ball or something like that. It probably would have been different in the regular season but I continued to pound it in with the fastball in."

Though he only completed 1 1/3 innings and needed 36 pitches to get that far, Matusz had no complaints.

"It was fun,'' he said. "It was a good battle. I know my pitch count got up today, but I threw a lot of strikes...and I was able to do what I wanted to do."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Koji Uehara needed just eight pitches to get through his one inning of relief and retired all three batters he faced in the third. He said afterward that he felt good and wasn't expecting such a short outing.

"It's been a while, so I was thinking about how I would throw, and I felt good,'' he said.

It was his first competitive appearance since June 23, when he suffered a partial tear of the flexor tendon in his right elbow. He also had hamstring problems throughout spring training and during the early part of the season, but the Orioles hope he'll be able to stay healthier in the bullpen this year.

"Obviously the role is different,'' he said, "but I have done this before. No challenges. I'm not worried about it."