Baltimore Orioles News

Buck stops here
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March 17
Baltimore Sun
 
"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 ..."
Millwood's intrasquad performance lets Orioles breathe easier
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March 17
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Peter Schmuck
"It's going to take a while longer to unravel the mystery of Kevin Millwood, but his workmanlike performance in Tuesday's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium probably generated a huge organizational sigh of relief. Why probably? Because no one in the organization was willing to acknowledge that there had been any angst associated with Millwood's first two exhibition appearances, which resulted in a 29.70 ERA and plenty of eyebrow-raising outside the Orioles' spring complex. Millwood insisted that he was just working on stuff. Team officials insisted that he knew what he was doing and that there was no real concern about his fitness to start the regular season three weeks from now. Everybody ..."
O's beat Twins, 3-1, behind 6 pitchers and Salazar
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March 17
Baltimore Sun
 
"Six Orioles pitchers threw eight shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, but it was center fielder Jeff Salazar who should be credited with the save. Salazar, a veteran signed to play center in Triple-A Norfolk, made several strong running catches in the Orioles' 3-1 win before an announced 8,232 at Hammond Stadium, including an over-the-back snag of a soaring fly ball by Michael Cuddyer to end the first inning. Salazar's grab was the key play that settled starter David Hernandez, who threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and walking one. "I told Salazar, 'As long as you catch the ones going over your head, we'll be OK,' " Hernandez joked. "You can let the ones ..."
Pitcher Steve Johnson, lost in Rule 5 draft, is back
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March 17
Baltimore Sun
 
"Steve Johnson, the 22-year-old right-hander from Baltimore whom the Orioles lost last December in the Rule 5 draft, is on his way back to the organization. The San Francisco Giants offered Johnson to the Orioles on Tuesday for $25,000 after Johnson allowed five hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings this spring. The Giants paid $50,000 in December to acquire him in the draft. Johnson walked six and hit a batter in the three games with the Giants. He has been assigned to Double-A Bowie and will be sent to the Orioles' minor league camp. "We're glad to have him back," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "Whenever you deal with the Rule 5 draft, odds are, or have been, ..."
Orioles' Reimold limping through camp
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March 17
Baltimore Sun
 
"The ball was hit into the hole between shortstop and third base, and Nolan Reimold, as usual, broke quickly from the batter's box. Reimold beat out a handful of balls like this last season, turning apparent outs into infield hits. On Tuesday, he arrived at first base a half-step after Minnesota Twins shortstop Brendan Harris' throw, and then jogged back to the Orioles dugout with a limp. This spring has been a struggle for Reimold, 26, who is trying to balance getting ready for the season with protecting his surgically repaired left Achilles tendon. "It's definitely been tough," he said. "I'd like to be out on the field as much as I can, but I'm trying to be smart about it. Once the season ..."
Millwood's intrasquad appearance
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March 16
Baltimore Sun
 
"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,'' said Kranitz, who stayed behind to watch Millwood and Jim Johnson before rushing to Fort Myers for the Grapefruit League game against the Twins. "Every time he goes out there, he ..."
O's top Red Sox as Bergesen feels 'a lot better'
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March 16
Baltimore Sun
 
"Brad Bergesen felt more comfortable the second time around, pitching 2 2/3 innings and giving up just a home run to David Ortiz in the Orioles' 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday at City of Palms Park. Bergesen threw 41 pitches - 27 of them for strikes - and benefited from a big afternoon by designated hitter Luke Scott to get the victory in his second exhibition start after entering the rotation late because of a shoulder injury. "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." Bergesen ..."
Orioles cut pitchers Lebron, Erbe
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March 16
Baltimore Sun
 
"Young pitchers Luis Lebron and Brandon Erbe were among seven players sent out of Orioles camp Monday, but they left manager Dave Trembley with a lasting impression as they headed to the minor league facility. "Both of them have special, special arms and great bodies. They are pitchers, long, lean, good workers, good makeup," Trembley said. "People won't miss on them. There are other guys that have come through … and people have missed on them and maybe over-projected. Erbe and Lebron will pitch in the major leagues." Erbe, 22, a McDonogh graduate, allowed three runs in his single inning in a Grapefruit League game, but he retired all six batters Sunday in a "B" game. He was optioned to ..."
Orioles' Roberts back in camp after back treatment
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March 16
Baltimore Sun
 
"Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts returned to Sarasota on Monday night after receiving an epidural injection to alleviate the discomfort from the herniated disk in his lower back. Roberts was examined Monday by Dr. Lee Riley, a back specialist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Orioles will now have to wait to determine whether the treatment achieved the desired result. "We'll just have to wait a couple of days and see how he responds," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. MacPhail acknowledged Sunday that his concern is growing that Roberts, who has still not played in an exhibition game this spring, will not be ready for Opening Day. He said Orioles scouts are ..."
Orioles cut 7 from spring roster
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March 15
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Orioles today announced seven cuts to their spring training roster, which now stands at 54 players. The club optioned pitchers Brandon Erbe (McDonogh) and Troy Patton to Triple-A Norfolk and pitchers Luis Lebron and Chorye Spoone to Double-A Bowie. All four were sent to minor league spring training camp."
Orioles top Phillies, 4-3
Comment
March 15
Baltimore Sun
 
"With bad news and another injury seemingly cropping up on a daily basis, starter Brian Matusz finally gave the Orioles something to feel good about. Facing very close to what will be the defending National League champions' Opening Day lineup, Matusz held the Philadelphia Phillies to one run in five strong innings of the Orioles' 4-3 victory Sunday in front of a sun-splashed announced crowd of 8,092. The biggest crowd for a baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium watched the Orioles win for just the third time in 11 chances this spring. In the longest outing for an Orioles starter this spring, Matusz allowed one run on three hits and no walks while striking out two. "I was really pleased," said ..."
Gonzalez says his arm is fine and ignore that radar gun
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March 15
Baltimore Sun
 
"New Orioles closer Mike Gonzalez wants to make one thing clear: No matter what the radar readings say, no matter how he has looked during his first two outings, his arm feels fine. Gonzalez was able to face only two hitters in a "B" game on Saturday against the Florida Marlins at Ed Smith Stadium. However, his abridged outing was a result of some soreness in his lower back and not anything related to his arm. "My arm feels great and everything else," Gonzalez said. "I just had a little tightness in my lower back. It's just one of those couple-of-day things. I just have to stay on top of it. It's not a big deal at all. I've felt it before. It's just one of those things where you take a ..."
O's sending Roberts to Baltimore to see back specialist
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March 15
Baltimore Sun
 
"Brian Roberts was back at second base taking infield practice early Sunday, which appeared to be a sign that he was making progress in his recovery from a nagging lower back injury. That appearance turned out to be deceiving. Soon after Roberts returned to the Orioles' clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium, the team announced that he was being sent to Baltimore to see Johns Hopkins back specialist Dr. Lee Riley and, perhaps, pursue an altered course of treatment on the herniated disk that has limited his activity throughout spring training. Team officials said Roberts will receive an "epidural" - a local pain-reducing injection - to deal with the remaining soreness, but Roberts said later that ..."
Roberts slated to see back specialist
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March 14
MLB.com
 
"Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was scheduled to fly to Baltimore on Sunday night to be evaluated by back specialist Dr. Lee Riley of The John Hopkins Hospital on Monday. Roberts, who partook in infield practice prior to Sunday afternoon's game, insisted his visit to Riley is not a setback, but a more aggressive approach in treating a slightly herniated disc, an injury suffered during offseason workouts at the Athletes Performance Institute in Arizona. "I feel fine doing [infield] sort of stuff," Roberts 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 ..."
Roberts going back to Baltimore (updated)
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March 14
Baltimore Sun
 
"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 tothe media in the next 20 minutes, so stay tuned."
Guthrie gets knocked around; O's fall to Yankees, 5-3
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March 14
Baltimore Sun
 
"Ty Wigginton and Garrett Atkins homered Saturday, but the New York Yankees roughed up Jeremy Guthrie in the early innings and scored a 5-3 victory at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Wigginton hit a two-run shot off Yankees starter Javier Vazquez for his second homer of the spring and Atkins hit his first off Alfredo Aceves, but that was not enough to keep the Orioles from losing for the eighth time in 10 games. The Yankees batted around in the first inning to score three runs on five hits off Guthrie, who settled down enough to work through 3 1/3 innings. He threw 63 pitches, 41 of them for strikes, and gave up a total of four runs on eight hits. "It wasn't great," Guthrie said. "I gave up a ..."
Rain washes out exhibition game vs. Marlins
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March 13
Baltimore Sun
 
"The weather has turned sour again in South Florida, and a heavy rainstorm wiped out Friday's exhibition game between the Orioles and Florida Marlins at Ed Smith Stadium. Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who was scheduled to face left-hander Andrew Miller in the afternoon game, will move back to start today's game against the New York Yankees at Tampa's Legends Field. To make up some of the lost innings, the Orioles and Marlins will play a "B" game this morning, with Mark Hendrickson starting against Sean West at the Ed Smith complex. "It does cause you to get the eraser out on the pencil," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. The move from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota has made it easier to ..."
Orioles relievers sizing up the competition in camp
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March 12
Baltimore Sun
 
"Orioles manager Dave Trembley insists that it's purely coincidental. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz, however, smiles knowingly. Whether the Orioles' bullpen alignment this spring has been purposefully scripted or not depends on whom you believe. However, it sure seems like every time Dennis Sarfate pitches, it's right before Matt Albers or right after Cla Meredith. Every time Will Ohman pitches, Kam Mickolio enters the game next. The candidates for the Orioles' two or three bullpen vacancies have certainly gotten a close look at their competition, and Kranitz hopes that they're all paying attention. "Guys need to pitch with some urgency. They really do," Kranitz said. "That's what it's all ..."
Millwood lighted up again in second spring start
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March 12
Baltimore Sun
 
"New Orioles ace Kevin Millwood spent his second Grapefruit League start much as he spent his first - up to his eyes in line drives. Millwood got rocked again in a 2 2/3 -inning appearance against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium on Thursday night, giving up five runs on nine hits and leaving the mound with an exhibition ERA of 29.70. Not very impressive, especially coming after he allowed six runs in just two-thirds of an inning in his spring debut. "I stink in spring training," Millwood said afterward. "I'm really not a very good spring training pitcher. I don't try to win any awards in spring training." Millwood just wanted to improve on his first time out, and he did that, ..."
Twins look sharp; O's, not so much
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March 12
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Minnesota Twins brought out their best Thursday night, fielding an exhibition lineup that very likely will be the same on Opening Day. They certainly played their best, hammering starter Kevin Millwood on the way to a rain-shortened 8-3 victory over the Orioles at Hammond Stadium. Michael Cuddyer led off the second inning with a home run, and the Twins batted around to score four times in the second inning and spoil Millwood's second Grapefruit League start in an Orioles uniform. Nevertheless, Millwood said he felt pretty good and considered his performance a step in the right direction after he gave up six runs on seven hits and got just two outs in his Orioles exhibition debut. "My ..."
Brian Roberts hopeful of recovery by opener
Comment
March 12
MLB.com
 
"Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts worked out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Thursday afternoon and was hopeful he would be able to resume hitting activities as soon as Friday. Roberts, who did some running and other conditioning work, was scheduled to be re-evaluated later in the day to make sure his stomach was OK before beginning any baseball-related activities. Roberts, Baltimore's leadoff hitter, hit a speed bump Monday night in the rehabilitation process for a slight herniated disc in his back, after medication he was prescribed Sunday upset his stomach. Manager Dave Trembley said Roberts was prescribed a megadose pack, which is similar to a cortisone shot, to help reduce the ..."
Orioles end losing streak, 3-2 over Pirates
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March 11
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Orioles scored three times in the first inning Wednesday night and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2, at McKechnie Field to end their six-game Grapefruit League losing streak. Adam Jones touched off the rally with a two-out triple against Pirates starter Zach Duke, and six straight Orioles reached base. Luke Scott delivered the most productive swing of the night with a two-run single, and Ty Wigginton brought home the other run with a hit to give Brad Bergesen a nice cushion before he took the mound for his first exhibition appearance. Bergesen, whose entry into the spring rotation was delayed by a December shoulder injury, gave up two runs and three hits over 1 1/3 innings. He ..."
Flanagan to return to Orioles as color analyst for MASN
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March 11
Baltimore Sun
 
"More than a year after his stint as an Orioles executive ended, Mike Flanagan will return to the organization as a color analyst for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Flanagan, who spent more than 30 years with the Orioles as a player, coach, front office executive and broadcaster, will work about half the 2010 schedule, sharing color duties with Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer. Gary Thorne and Jim Hunter will handle the play-by-play responsibilities. "I'm excited to be back, certainly, with MASN, and to be able to give perspective and a richer experience to the broadcast," said Flanagan, who replaces Buck Martinez, now a play-by-play man for the Toronto Blue Jays' broadcast team. "I'm ..."
Bergesen 'disappointed' with exhibition debut
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March 11
Baltimore Sun
 
"The rust was evident and also understandable from a pitcher who hadn't thrown in a game of any significance in 7 1/2 months. The most important thing for the Orioles was that Brad Bergesen looked comfortable and felt healthy after his exhibition debut Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. That, however, wasn't enough to satisfy the second-year pitcher. Bergesen allowed two earned runs, three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings in the Orioles' eventual 3-2 win, reaching his maximum pitch count of 35 on Steve Pearce's run-scoring line single to left field. "I'm disappointed," Bergesen said. "I think it was definitely a positive getting out there and getting going ..."
Orioles' Tyler plans comeback despite family wishes
Comment
March 10
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Peter Schmuck
"For the past 50 years, Ernie Tyler has been the keeper of the sacred pearls. The beloved Orioles "ballboy" and umpire attendant has, with Ripkenesque persistence, shown up for work at Memorial Stadium and Oriole Park on such a regular basis for so long that it's almost impossible to imagine a ballgame in Baltimore without him. That's why, when he underwent a hernia operation last year and had to stay off the field for part of the season, you couldn't walk through the ballpark without somebody asking about him. There is no mystery to why Baltimore loves Ernie. He is the last link to all that was once so great about the Orioles organization, so it is almost sacrilegious to suggest that it ..."
Orioles worry that Roberts might not be ready for Opening Day
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March 10
Baltimore Sun
 
"For the first time this spring, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail acknowledged that the club is concerned that second baseman Brian Roberts might not be ready for the start of the season. Roberts, who has a herniated disk in his back and then got sick as a result of the medication he was taking to ease the inflammation, hasn't played in a game all spring, and now he has been shut down until at least Thursday. "I talked to Richie Bancells, our head athletic trainer, about it again today, and at this time he still thinks Brian is going to be ready for Opening Day, but you have to be concerned now," MacPhail said. "To me, you get 10 days into spring training before you ..."
Orioles renew contracts of Jones, Wieters, Reimold, Berken
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March 10
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Orioles announced Tuesday that the remaining unsigned players in camp have come to terms, but not everyone came along voluntarily. The club exercised its right under Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement and renewed the contracts of Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Nolan Reimold and Jason Berken after negotiations failed to produce agreement on their 2010 salaries. The union contract allows a team to pay its "zero-to-three" players (players with less than three years of major league service) any amount, as long as it does not tender a contract for less than the major league minimum salary or cut a player's previous salary more than 20 percent. But that doesn't mean team ..."
Orioles sign 22, renew contracts with four
Comment
March 9
MLB.com
 
"The Orioles announced Tuesday that they have agreed to terms with 22 players on one-year contracts and renewed the contracts of four players for 2010. The list of players recently signed includes: Robert Andino, Michael Aubrey, Josh Bell, Brad Bergesen, Alberto Castillo, Brandon Erbe, Pedro Florimon, David Hernandez, Rhyne Hughes, Jim Johnson, Luis Lebron, Kam Mickolio, Lou Montanez, Troy Patton, Wilfrido Perez, Felix Pie, Dennis Sarfate, Brandon Snyder, Chorye Spoone, Craig Tatum, Chris Tillman and Justin Turner. Additionally, the Orioles renewed the contracts of right-hander Jason Berken, center fielder Adam Jones, left fielder Nolan Reimold and catcher Matt Wieters."
Orioles renew Jones, Reimold and Wieters
Comment
March 9
Baltimore Sun
 
"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."
Orioles' bats quiet in 5-0 loss to Twins
Comment
March 9
Baltimore Sun
 
"The Orioles ran into a string of fine pitching performances by the Minnesota Twins on Monday and managed just three hits in a 5-0 loss at Ed Smith Stadium. Starter Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn each pitched three innings, gave up a hit and a walk and struck out two. The Twins scored two runs off Orioles starting pitcher Brian Matusz in the top of the first inning, all they would need to send the Orioles to their fifth loss in six Grapefruit League exhibition games. Matusz worked 2 2/3 innings and allowed three hits, but he continued to overpower hitters with his fastball and changeup. He struck out six batters and has 10 strikeouts in just four innings. "I felt good today," Matusz said. ..."
MacPhail: Roberts won't play for at least a week
Comment
March 9
Baltimore Sun
 
"Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said 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," MacPhail said. "It is what it is. You have to recognize that you have a month to go 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 slightly herniated disk in his back, has had no setbacks, but the club is taking a "very low-key approach" with the treatment. MacPhail also said ..."
Will defense of Tejada, Atkins hold up for O's?
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March 9
Baltimore Sun
 
"When Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail signed free-agent corner infielders Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada this offseason, he strayed slightly from the philosophy that he had preached since his arrival. Wanting to upgrade his team's lineup against left-handed pitching, MacPhail chose offense over defense and left the team's infield play as a major question mark heading into the 2010 season. Tejada, a former shortstop, has never played at third base in his big league career. Atkins has primarily been a third baseman, his time at first limited to 105 games over his seven-year big league tenure. "We think that Garrett and Miguel represented as good as we were going to do ..."
Guthrie pleased with pitching in O's loss to Boston
Comment
March 8
Baltimore Sun
 
"Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie exhausted his pitch limit after only two innings during the Orioles' 5-4 exhibition loss to the Boston Red Sox, but he still went out to start the third and seemed quite satisfied with his second start of the spring. "I couldn't be more pleased,'' said Guthrie, who gave up a run on three hits and two walks over 2 1/3 innings. "I felt like I kept the ball down. I felt like it had good movement. Two of the biggest things I need to be more consistent with. I did walk guys and fell behind guys, but overall I'm very, very pleased with the way the fastball was coming out of my hand." The Orioles had to be pleased, too, since Guthrie was pitching before a crowd of ..."
Markakis adds to home-run spree
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March 8
Baltimore Sun
 
"Nick Markakis launched his second home run of the spring in the first inning of Sunday's loss to the Boston Red Sox, giving the Orioles a total of 12 in their first five exhibition games and eight in three games at Ed Smith Stadium. Manager Dave Trembley has been enjoying the ongoing meteor shower, but he does have one small concern. "I hope they don't use them all up here," he said. But seriously, Trembley isn't getting too excited about the early power surge because the conditions have been perfect for it. Six of those homers, after all, came with a stiff breeze blowing out to center field in the spring opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. "The wind has been blowing," he said. "Most guys ..."
High pitch counts nothing to worry about
Comment
March 8
Baltimore Sun
 
"It's early in the exhibition season, so no one should be terribly surprised that the temperature is low and the pitch counts are high. Jeremy Guthrie needed 46 pitches to get through his first two innings Sunday. Kevin Millwood threw 30 in his spring debut the day before and didn't get out of the first. New closer Mike Gonzalez threw more than his share in his first inning Friday night. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz listens to a question about some of the early command issues, immediately interprets it as a sign of irrational concern, and smiles knowingly. "When the day is over and you pull out their baseball cards and look at the hits and innings," he said, "I've yet to see a spring ..."
Baseball's unbalanced schedules don't lead to fair play
Comment
March 7
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Peter Schmuck
"It's not a new issue, but it will become more of an issue in Baltimore if Andy MacPhail succeeds in building the Orioles into a more formidable competitor in the American League East. Both the current alignment of the American League and the unbalanced schedule that amplifies the economic imbalance in major league baseball have created an unforgiving landscape where - for the also-rans of the division - the horizon never seems to get any closer. The Orioles aren't complaining, mind you, because they know how that would look, and it wouldn't do any good anyway, but they aren't the only ones who have noticed the inequities of a system that requires them to play almost a quarter of their ..."
Markakis 'a whole lot more serious'
Comment
March 7
Baltimore Sun
 
"Nick Markakis' expression and demeanor never changed amid some of the most challenging moments of his young career. But he acknowledged that the weight of being a first-time husband and father, starting a charitable foundation, making Maryland his family's year-round home and trying to justify the six-year, $66.1 million contract he signed with the Orioles last January took its toll. So did the Orioles' continued losing and his own on-field struggles that left the normally unflappable outfielder questioning himself at times last season. "I was trying to be a player that I wasn't," Markakis said. "I was swinging at pitches that I usually don't swing at. I was getting frustrated at times. ..."
Millwood not concerned by poor debut
Comment
March 7
Baltimore Sun
 
"Kevin Millwood was hoping to go at least three innings, possibly four in his Grapefruit League debut with the Orioles Saturday. He couldn't even get three outs. The Detroit Tigers hammered the Orioles' projected ace for six earned runs, seven hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning in their 9-5 victory at Joker Marchant Stadium. Millwood also mixed in a balk in a forgettable afternoon that saw the right-hander allow a leadoff homer to Clete Thomas and permit eight of the 10 hitters he faced to reach base. "I feel like I was able to throw strikes. They weren't all quality strikes," said Millwood, who threw 17 of his 30 pitches for strikes. "I don't feel as bad as what it looked like ..."
Millwood rocked
Comment
March 7
Baltimore Sun
 
"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."
Millwood gets rocked in Grapefruit League debut
Comment
March 7
Baltimore Sun
 
"Orioles projected ace Kevin Millwood had a forgettable debut with his new club, allowing six runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a 9-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday before an announced 6,457 at sun-drenched Joker Marchant Stadium. Millwood, who was hoping to get through at least three innings, retired just two of the 10 hitters he faced. Tigers outfielder Clete Thomas started the first-inning outburst with a long homer to right field and then ended Millwood's afternoon with an RBI single. In between, Carlos Guillen, Alex Avila and Scott Sizemore had RBIs for the Tigers off Millwood, who threw 17 of his 30 pitches for strikes. "I went out just wanting to work on my fastball ..."
Barring unforeseen, Tejada will be O's third baseman
Comment
March 6
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Peter Schmuck
"It didn't take long for the juxtaposition of converted third baseman Miguel Tejada and emerging third base prospect Josh Bell to create a little intrigue in Orioles training camp. In the first exhibition game Wednesday, Tejada wrestled with a couple of balls and Bell launched a couple of others into deep space, so you knew it wouldn't be long before the message boards and blogs were buzzing about the various scenarios that might allow both to be in the major league lineup at the same time. That's why - before this goes any further - I want to assure you of one thing. Miguel Tejada is the Orioles' third baseman and will remain so for the greater part of the 2010 season unless something ..."
O's Tillman pitches 2 perfect innings
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March 6
Baltimore Sun
 
"If there was any lingering concern about Chris Tillman's back, he erased it Friday night by pitching two perfect innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his Grapefruit League 2010 debut. Tillman, relying mostly on his fastball but mixing in a few off-speed pitches and one cutter, struck out three and threw 22 of his 33 pitches for strikes. "I think it went well," Tillman 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. I was satisfied with my fastball location. That's what I was working on tonight." He also got some help as new third baseman Miguel Tejada made a bare-handed ..."
Sanchez sparks Pirates to 5-3 victory
Comment
March 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Nice spring-training debut tonight for Tony Sanchez, the Pirates' fourth-overall selection in a draft where detractors considered him a pick who should have gone later: He threw out a runner attempting to steal second in his first inning, and he smacked a 415-foot homer to center field in his first at-bat. It came in the middle innings of a 5-3 Pirates victory over Baltimore before 4,187 at Ed Smith Stadium. Sanchez replaced starting catcher Ryan Doumit with the Pirates trailing by 3-2. He was catching left-hander Javier Lopez, making his first Grapefruit League appearance for the Pirates. Lopez got designated hitter Luke Scott on a flyout, reserve Brandon Snyder on a groundout and an ..."
Matusz's lucky 13
Comment
March 5
Baltimore Sun
 
"It's not often you get a classic at-bat in the second game of the exhibition season, but Brian Matusz and Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria put on quite a show in the first inning Thursday at Charlotte Sports Park. Two of baseball's brightest young players dueled for 13 pitches and Matusz came out the clear winner, striking out Longoria after forcing him to go back to the dugout twice to get a new bat. Matusz would go on to strike out four of the six batters he faced and throw 36 pitches in his 2010 exhibition debut - 28 of them for strikes. The only blemish on his performance was a windblown home run by Sean Rodriguez in the second inning, but Matusz was still thrilled with his performance. "It ..."
Matusz, Pie impress in O's loss to Rays
Comment
March 5
Baltimore Sun
 
"Brian Matusz struck out four of the first five batters he faced before giving up a wind-aided two-run homer, Felix Pie had a homer and a triple before leaving with a left quadriceps injury in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays today at the Charlotte Sports Park. Second baseman Justin Turner tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth before Rays center fielder Matt Joyce hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to win it for Tampa Bay. Matusz, the 23-year-old left-hander who is considered one of the favorites for the American League Rookie of the Year award, struck out the side in the first inning, ending the frame by fanning Evan Longoria in a 13-pitch at-bat. Carlos ..."
O's Mickolio looks to keep growing — off field
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March 5
Baltimore Sun
 
"Kam Mickolio was cut from the freshman basketball team at Belgrade High in Montana because the coach said he was too small. He grew 9 inches over the next three years, but his body continued to stand in the way of his athletic pursuits. "Scouts would come to me and say, 'I'd just like to see him repeat his delivery,' " said Eric Madsen, Mickolio's coach first at the College of Eastern Utah and then at Utah Valley State. "And I would say, 'I would like to see you repeat your delivery if you were that big.' His body had changed so much. He's grown into his body finally. His best innings are still ahead of him." The Orioles are banking on that and consider Mickolio, a hard-throwing 6-foot-9 ..."
Bell homers twice as O's beat Rays in exhibition opener
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March 4
Baltimore Sun
 
"Before the Orioles' Grapefruit League opener Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium, manager Dave Trembley acknowledged that he was eager to get a glimpse of Josh Bell, the organization's top position prospect. Trembley saw exactly what he was hoping to see. The young third baseman launched a home run from each side of the plate and drove in three runs as the Orioles got their exhibition season and their long-term stay in Sarasota off to a good start with a 12-2 victory. Jeremy Guthrie, the Orioles' projected No. 2 starter, turned in two solid innings. Nick Markakis looked in midseason form with a homer and a double, and first baseman Rhyne Hughes, whom the Orioles got ..."
Mixed results for Tejada in exhibition opener
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March 4
Baltimore Sun
 
"Miguel Tejada's first exhibition game as the Orioles' regular third baseman featured a little bit of everything. He made the first play of the game on a bouncer by Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett, then made an error the next time Bartlett came to the plate. He also delivered a hit and scored a run in three at-bats in the Orioles' 12-2 victory Wednesday before an announced 5,328 at Ed Smith Stadium. "I'm excited," Tejada said. "I was excited for the game to start. It's a great game. I feel comfortable. I feel like everything that I've been working on came through today. I'm going to keep working and continue to get better." He didn't look entirely comfortable on the first ball but ..."
Orioles to play Tampa Bay in first spring game
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March 3
Baltimore Sun
 
"It's time for the games to begin. The Orioles open the exhibition season this afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays in what will be Baltimore's Grapefruit League debut as the spring resident at Ed Smith Stadium. "Everybody is anxious to get the spring training games under way," manager Dave Trembley said. Jeremy Guthrie will take the mound for the Orioles against Tampa Bay's James Shields. Newly signed left-hander Will Ohman and right-hander Matt Albers also are scheduled to pitch for the Orioles, along with other unannounced relievers. As with any early preseason game, there will be a lot of names in the box score, since the pitchers throw only an inning or two and the regulars play ..."