Orioles make two more cuts

Orioles make two more cuts
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles made two camp cuts before today's game against the Pirates, optioning infielder Rey Navarro to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo to minor league camp. The Orioles now have 49 players in spring training, including 11 non-roster invitees. Navarro, who is projected to start at second base at Triple-A Norfolk, was 4-for-12 with a home run and two RBIs. The Orioles signed him to a major league deal in late November. Tuiasosopo, who also could...

Notes on Machado and Janish before today's game

Notes on Machado and Janish before today's game
BRADENTON, Fla. - Manny Machado swiped second in Wednesday's exhibition game at Ed Smith Stadium, which was noteworthy for a couple of reasons. Machado has two surgically repaired knees and he's never been a prolific basestealer, going 10-for-17 in three major league seasons. Will he be running more often in 2015? "I hope so, I hope so," he said this morning. "My legs feel great. Every day they feel better. "I just wanted to test it out and see if I was able to do that. I felt a little...

Orioles and Pirates B game lineups

Orioles and Pirates B game lineups
BRADENTON, Fla. - I've taken my obstructed-view seat in the second row of the McKechnie Field press box. My colleague, Steve Melewski, is in Sarasota for the B game against the Pirates, who are starting left-hander Francisco Liriano. Steve Clevenger is playing third base in the B game and J.P. Arencibia is at first base. Matt Wieters is making another start behind the plate. Manager Buck Showalter is trying to get his catchers some extra at-bats The Orioles are using two designated hitters,...

Orioles and Pirates lineups

Orioles and Pirates lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is making the trip to Bradenton for today's game against the Pirates. This is the Orioles' shortest trip of the spring. Chris Davis is starting in right field. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Steve Pearce 1B Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Travis Snider DH Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty SS Caleb Joseph C Jonathan Schoop 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP Relievers include Mark Hendrickson, Brad Brach, Steve Johnson, Mike...

Verrett: "I knew coming into spring training I couldn't just be throwing well"

Verrett: "I knew coming into spring training I couldn't just be throwing well"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have two more games scheduled for today, with only the one in Bradenton counting in the Grapefruit League standings and stats. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is making his third start. He's tossed five scoreless innings with only two hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts. Chen will attempt to join Ubaldo Jimenez as the only Orioles' starters to complete four innings. Logan Verrett threw two scoreless innings yesterday and said he'll probably pitch again on...

Hearing from Showalter and Russell

Hearing from Showalter and Russell
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't expected to make any cuts until Sunday. Manager Buck Showalter hustled into the prep room to meet with reporters following today's 3-2 loss to the Rays. He wanted to get over to Field 4 to catch the remainder of the game against the Puerto Rico Development Program. Speaking of catching, Matt Wieters was behind the plate for six innings against Puerto Rico. More on that later. Left-hander Brian Matusz shut out the Rays for three innings, allowing two hits,...

Matusz on today's start (Rays beat Orioles 3-2)

Matusz on today's start (Rays beat Orioles 3-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Rays 3, Orioles 2Recap: The Orioles offense was stagnant again, with the first 14 batters being retired before Manny Machado reached on an error and Delmon Young walked in the fifth inning. Rey Navarro bounced a single up the middle off Steve Geltz leading off the sixth, and he scored on J.J.Hardy's one-out double. Steve Pearce hit his first home run leading off the seventh. Brian Matusz allowed two hits in three scoreless innings, with no walks and three strikeouts....

Another Orioles lineup and updating today's game vs. Rays

Another Orioles lineup and updating today's game vs. Rays
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are allowed to play fast and loose with the rules for today's game against the Puerto Rico Development Program on Field 4. Manager Buck Showalter's lineup card includes 10 players overall and three designated hitters - Paul Janish, Caleb Joseph and Ryan Lavarnway. Janish also is listed as the shortstop for later in the game. Matt Wieters will catch, in case you somehow missed it. For the Orioles Paul Janish DH/SS Caleb Joseph DH Ryan Lavarnway DH Matt Wieters C...

Showalter on a variety of topics (with photos)

Showalter on a variety of topics (with photos)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make cuts today and Sunday. There will be a significant number of pitchers sent to minor league camp as innings become more precious. Manager Buck Showalter said he's leaning toward carrying a position player rather than an extra pitcher to fill Chris Davis' roster spot on opening day. Davis has one more game to serve on his suspension. "If we're not ready to go physically with the 12 pitchers we've got, something is wrong," Showalter said. "We should be...

Wieters on starting behind the plate today

Wieters on starting behind the plate today
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters knows that he's behind the plate today for the Orioles' game against the Puerto Rico Development Program and he still isn't cleared to make throws to second base, but he has no idea whether the opponent will be running. This isn't an intrasquad game, where the Orioles can dictate the rules. They may, however, make a few polite suggestions. "We'll find out," Wieters said, grinning. "I think it might have been mentioned, but even if they run, I can still use...

Orioles lineup vs. Rays

Orioles lineup vs. Rays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Clevenger gets the start behind the plate today for the Orioles in their 1:05 p.m. game against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. The game will be broadcast on MASN HD. Alejandro De Aza is leading off. Rey Navarro is starting at second base and batting ninth. The bullpen behind starter Brian Matusz includes Darren O'Day, Steve Johnson, Wesley Wright, Tim Berry and Chaz Roe. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Steve Pearce RF Manny...

Today's games, Urrutia and the catching situation

Today's games, Urrutia and the catching situation
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are back home today to play the Rays at 1:05 p.m on MASN HD. They also have a game scheduled against the Puerto Rico Development Program at 2 p.m. on Field 4. Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Wesley Wright, Logan Verrett and Tim Berry are scheduled to pitch in the Grapefruit League game. Chris Tillman and Tommy Hunter will pitch against Puerto Rico, and Matt Wieters will move behind the plate. Wieters still isn't cleared to make throws to second base in game...

Matusz has blood pressure under control as he readies for start

Matusz has blood pressure under control as he readies for start
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz is making his first spring start on Saturday against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. He may have flashbacks to his rotation days. Matusz has allowed one run and three hits in 3 1/3 innings, with no walks and five strikeouts, over two relief appearances. Why is he starting? Manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to stretch out Matusz this spring so the lefty could work on his changeup. Fans keep asking me whether he's being showcased for a possible trade,...

Janish doing full baseball activities (updated)

Janish doing full baseball activities (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Paul Janish remains back in camp today while the Orioles make their latest spring road trip to Dunedin. However, he's inching closer to his exhibition debut. Janish had bone chips removed from his right elbow four weeks ago. He's been throwing the past three days and took batting practice on the field for the first time yesterday morning. "That was good," said Janish, who already had been taking ground balls. "At this point, the throwing has gone really well. I...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez will make his third start of the spring this afternoon, as the Orioles travel to Dunedin to play the Blue Jays. Jimenez allowed six runs (five earned) in 1 1/3 innings against the Tigers in Lakeland, and one run in two innings against the Twins in Fort Myers. Caleb Joseph will catch Jimenez. For the Orioles: Evereth Cabrera SS David Lough CF Travis Snider LF Delmon Young RF Chris Parmelee 1B Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Flaherty 3B Caleb Joseph C Henry Urrutia...

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez makes his third spring start today for the Orioles. He really could use a favorable line. Results matter for Jimenez. He's competing for a spot in the rotation and can't continue to run up high pitch counts and raise more doubts about his ability to contribute in 2015. Simply getting ready for the season isn't enough. Jimenez allowed six runs (five earned) in 1 1/3 innings against the Tigers in Lakeland, and one run in two innings against the Twins in Fort...

Showalter on Norris, Bundys and more

Showalter on Norris, Bundys and more
JUPITER, Fla. - Hunter Harvey struck out a batter in a scoreless eighth inning in the Orioles' 8-2 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Henry Urrutia grounded into a double play to end the game, as the Orioles fell to 3-8 this spring. Here's a sampling from manager Buck Showalter, starting with his critique of starter Bud Norris: "Not where he's going to be, he needs to be. Got his pitch count in. He's fine, he's healthy, so we'll go from that. "It's a process. The biggest...

Game update and Norris on outing (O's lose 8-2)

Game update and Norris on outing (O's lose 8-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 8, Orioles 2 Recap: Former Oriole Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer off Bud Norris in the bottom of the third inning to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. Norris was charged with three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings, with three walks, a strikeout and a hit batter. He threw 54 pitches, 28 for strikes. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the first on a walk, infield hit and hit batter, but Norris escaped the jam. A leadoff single, passed ball and...

Norris lasts 2 2/3 innings vs. Cardinals

Norris lasts 2 2/3 innings vs. Cardinals
JUPITER, Fla. - Bud Norris fell an out short of making it three consecutive Orioles starters to work three innings with today's outing against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Norris took a 1-0 lead into the third before serving up a three-run homer to former Orioles infielder Mark Reynolds following a one-out single and walk. Norris allowed three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings, with three walks, one strikeout and a hit batter. He threw 54 pitches, 28 for strikes. In his first two...

Buck Showalter on decision to option Eddie Gamboa

Buck Showalter on decision to option Eddie Gamboa
JUPITER, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent last night in a hotel near Roger Dean Stadium, avoiding the three-hour drive this morning. That's a veteran move. Showalter is hoping that Kevin Gausman can go three or four innings in Sunday's B game at Ed Smith Stadium. It's scheduled for seven innings. The next round of cuts aren't expected before Saturday. The Orioles optioned knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa to Triple-A Norfolk following yesterday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays. "He needs...