Catching up with Lavarnway

Catching up with Lavarnway
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles brought four catchers to McKechnie Field today, including Ryan Lavarnway, who's starting behind the plate. Lavarnway's chances of making the club improved with news that Matt Wieters would begin the season on the disabled list. He could back up Caleb Joseph, who figures to make most of the starts due to his plus defensive skills. "I've been happy with my camp so far," Lavarnway said. "I think as far as where I stand, that's a better question for Buck...

Lough scratched from lineup

Lough scratched from lineup
BRADENTON, Fla. - David Lough has been scratched from today's lineup. The Orioles haven't provided an explanation, but one is coming. Everth Cabrera moves from second base to center field. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second. Lough was sidelined for a few days with a sore hamstring. Perhaps it flared up again. We'll find out. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Steve Pearce RF Jimmy Paredes 3B Delmon Young DH Chris Davis 1B Ryan Lavarnway C Everth Cabrera CF Ryan Flaherty 2B Paul Janish...

Wieters: "I want to be ready as quick as possible"

Wieters: "I want to be ready as quick as possible"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters, headed to the disabled list while continuing his recovery from elbow surgery, is unsure whether he'll be in Baltimore for opening day or stay back in Sarasota. Wieters caught only one Grapefruit League game, on March 17, before developing tendinitis in his elbow. "The latest is we're still letting it rest," he said this morning. "We're seeing improvement and it's getting better and feeling better, but at the same time, getting into the mindset where...

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate today for the Orioles and Paul Janish is getting another start at shortstop in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Pirates in Bradenton. First baseman Chris Davis also is making the trip. Zach Britton, Wesley Wright, Brad Brach and Logan Verrett are in the bullpen behind starter Ubaldo Jimenez. The bench includes Steve Clevenger, Chris Parmelee, Ryan Flaherty, Dariel Alvarez, Caleb Joseph, Jayson Nix, Nolan Reimold, Julio Borbon, Ozzie Martinez and...

Hardy on Janish: "He struck me out in '09, so use that"

Hardy on Janish: "He struck me out in '09, so use that"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles return to the field today after taking a break yesterday, the weather cooperating long enough for many players to get in a round of golf. Heavy rain early in the morning gave way to mostly sunny skies. The schedule consists of a second and final trip to Bradenton, where the Orioles will play the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. They get a second look at Radhames Liz, who allowed one run and two hits in two innings in a March 19 start in Sarasota. Ubaldo Jimenez will make his...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles don't have a game scheduled today. The complex is closed. The media also is discouraged from wandering over to Twin Lakes Park. This, my friends, is the one off-day of spring training. Too bad the forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms. We haven't had rain all spring and it arrives today. Back in my Fort Lauderdale days, I'd pick up friend and colleague David Ginsburg at his hotel by 9 a.m. and head down to South Beach under what always managed...

Showalter speaks after 8-6 loss to Cardinals

Showalter speaks after 8-6 loss to Cardinals
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't upset by the news that No. 2 pitching prospect Hunter Harvey may be sidelined four to six weeks with a slight fracture of his right fibula. Harvey was hit by a comebacker yesterday in a minor league game against the Twins in Fort Myers. An X-ray came back clean, but a CT scan today revealed the injury. "If there's actually such a thing as a good (injury)," Showalter said following an 8-6 loss to the Cardinals that snapped their winning...

Norris on Norris and game update (O's lose 8-6)

Norris on Norris and game update (O's lose 8-6)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 8, Orioles 6 Recap: Adam Jones hit two home runs and drove in four runs. Bud Norris retired the last six batters he faced, but he threw 71 pitches (by my count) in four innings, only 41 for strikes, and left with the Orioles down 3-2. He allowed two earned runs and three hits, walked four and struck out five. Norris loaded the bases with one out in the first, but struck out the next two batters. Matt Adams hit a two-run homer in the third. Manny Machado hit...

Harvey's CT scan reveals fracture (game update)

Harvey's CT scan reveals fracture (game update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed this afternoon that a CT scan on Hunter Harvey's right fibula revealed a slight fracture. Harvey will be on crutches for a month. The recovery time is expected to be four to six weeks, "and then it's back to work," Duquette said. Harvey was struck by a comebacker yesterday during a minor league start against a Twins' Single-A team in Fort Myers. Initial reports stated that the ball hit his right ankle, but the Orioles...

Game update and more Showalter on Wieters (updated)

Game update and more Showalter on Wieters (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado hit his first spring home run today, a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning. The Cardinals tied the score 1-1 in the second inning on a Machado error, a walk, a double steal and Jon Jay's RBI bouncer. The run was unearned. Bud Norris has thrown 45 pitches in two innings, including 26 for strikes. The first four Cardinals reached against Norris in the first, but Steve Clevenger threw out Jay trying to steal second base after a leadoff single. Norris has...

Morning notes before today's game against the Cardinals

Morning notes before today's game against the Cardinals
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on his right ankle after an X-ray yesterday came back clean. Harvey was hit by a comebacker during a minor league game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Manager Buck Showalter said he was told Harvey is walking around today as if nothing happened. The Orioles don't seem concerned about it. "That's where you're just checking for hairlines, making sure nothing's there," Showalter said. Jason Garcia,...

Orioles and Cardinals lineups

Orioles and Cardinals lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alejandro De Aza returns to the Orioles' lineup as the leadoff hitter and right fielder for today's game against the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. Steve Clevenger gets the start behind the plate. The lineup card lists Zach Britton, T.J. McFarland, Ryan Webb and Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett in the bullpen, though they pitched yesterday in Fort Myers. Verrett recorded the save in a 5-3 win over the Twins. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza RF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam...

The catching situation

The catching situation
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will attempt to win their fifth game in a row today when they play the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles totaled 11 runs during a five-game losing streak. They've scored 50 while winning five of their last six. Their only loss in that stretch was 10-9 to the Twins. It looks like the offense is catching up to the pitching. Bud Norris makes his fourth start of the spring. He's surrendered 10 runs and 13 hits over 7 2/3 innings, with five walks and four...

Hunter Harvey's X-ray negative

Hunter Harvey's X-ray negative
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles received good news today on pitching prospect Hunter Harvey. An X-ray taken on Harvey's right ankle came back clean. He didn't sustain a fracture after being hit by a comebacker during a minor league game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Harvey would have gone two innings for Single-A Frederick, but he was forced to leave the game. A team official said Harvey will see a doctor Sunday morning as part of a follow-up examination. Earlier today, director of player...

Buck Showalter speaks after 5-3 win over Twins

Buck Showalter speaks after 5-3 win over Twins
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey is having precautionary X-rays taken on his shin after being hit by a comebacker today in a minor league game in Fort Myers. The Orioles ran their winning streak to four games today with a 5-3 win over a Twins split-squad. Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett earned the save by stranding a runner at second base in the ninth. Verrett has allowed two runs in 10 innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. Here's a sampling of manager Buck...

Steve Pearce on home runs, Miguel Gonzalez on outing (O's win 5-3)

Steve Pearce on home runs, Miguel Gonzalez on outing (O's win 5-3)
ORIOLES QUICK RECAP Score: Orioles 5, Twins 3 Recap: Steve Pearce launched a three-run homer in the top of second inning to break a 1-1 tie. Caleb Joseph doubled to score Jonathan Schoop and Paul Janish singled before Pearce's at-bat. Delmon Young hit his first spring home run with two outs in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. He absolutely crushed it. Miguel Gonzalez threw 80 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and six hits. T.J. McFarland allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings. Zach Britton...

Game update and more from Showalter

Game update and more from Showalter
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez failed to complete four innings today, but he definitely increased his pitch count. Gonzalez threw 80 pitches, 57 for strikes, and left with the Orioles ahead 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. T.J. McFarland stranded Kurt Suzuki, who doubled with two outs. Gonzalez was charged with two runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Gonzalez was hoping to today become the first Orioles starter to exceed four innings in a...

Matt Wieters appears headed to disabled list (with quotes and game update)

Matt Wieters appears headed to disabled list (with quotes and game update)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said today it's "unlikely" that catcher Matt Wieters will start the season on the 25-man roster. Wieters is expected to be placed on the disabled list. He would be eligible to return on April 11. Showalter said Wieters hasn't experienced a setback and is on or ahead of schedule. However, the recovery from ligament-reconstructive surgery on an elbow normally is a 10-month process, and Wieters had the procedure on June 17. Team orthopedist Dr....

Notes on Alejandro De Aza, Tim Berry, Mike Wright and Steve Johnson

Notes on Alejandro De Aza, Tim Berry, Mike Wright and Steve Johnson
FORT MYERS, Fla. - In my last blog entry, I wrote that outfielder Alejandro De Aza returned to Sarasota yesterday after flying to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday for his grandfather's 99th birthday party. "It was awesome," De Aza said this morning. "It's always good to see family, especially a granddad who's 99. He was happy for me to be there." The last time De Aza attended his grandfather's birthday? "Before I got signed," said De Aza, who joined the Dodgers as an amateur free...

Orioles option Henry Urrutia

Orioles option Henry Urrutia
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles optioned outfielder Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk this morning, leaving 42 players in camp, including nine non-roster invitees. Urrutia went 8-for-25 with two doubles, a home run, seven RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and two strikeouts in 15 games. He also showed improvement in the outfield. There's no doubt that Urrutia, 28, made a favorable impression in camp. Bud Norris is the confirmed starter for Sunday's game against the Cardinals in Sarasota....