Webb injures knee (with Phillies lineup)

Webb injures knee (with Phillies lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Ryan Webb injured his left knee during yesterday's workout and is unavailable to pitch. Webb woke up with swelling in the knee and could undergo X-rays later in the day. "He's not real sure how or when he did it, but he's got swelling. He's going to be down for a while," said manager Buck Showalter. "He'll probably get some pictures on it and see what we've got. They're waiting for one of the doctors to look at it first, but he's got a little swelling...

Caleb Joseph on trying to make the team: "Baby's gotta eat"

Caleb Joseph on trying to make the team: "Baby's gotta eat"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Caleb Joseph walked through the Orioles clubhouse this morning around 8:30 a.m., a smile stretching across his face as teammates hugged and fist-bumped the newest father on the team. Joseph's wife, Brooke, gave birth to the couple's first child Saturday evening. He didn't make the trip to Fort Myers yesterday, but now it's time to get back to work. The incentive to make the team out of spring training has grown. "Baby's gotta eat," Joseph said. "That's just another...

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis is starting in right field today for the Orioles in their game against the Phillies. Steve Pearce is starting at first base. Catcher Caleb Joseph is listed among the reserves. Steve Clevenger gets the start behind the plate. Update: Joseph has just arrived in the clubhouse. Alejandro De Aza is batting first and Everth Cabrera is ninth. The bullpen includes Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Steve Johnson and Tyler Wilson. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza...

Today's game, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jimmy Paredes

Today's game, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jimmy Paredes
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the first of three straight home games today, baseball's way of easing them into that killer Jupiter-Dunedin trip later in the week. Who comes up with this schedule? Chris Tillman makes his first start, earning a little extra rest at the beginning due to the Orioles' deep run in the playoffs. The Phillies are starting Aaron Harang. I'm asked daily whether the game is airing on MASN. The next one is Tuesday against the Yankees. Here's the rest of the...

Showalter speaks after 2-1 loss to Twins

Showalter speaks after 2-1 loss to Twins
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles lost today for the fifth time in seven exhibition games, falling 2-1 to the Twins at Hammond Stadium. The pitching wasn't an issue, though Ubaldo Jimenez walked three batters and threw 57 pitches in two-plus innings. The Orioles were held to one run on Jimmy Paredes' RBI single in the fifth that scored Ryan Lavarnway. The Orioles outhit the Twins 7-4 - all singles - but they stranded seven runners. Paredes had two hits and Lavarnway, Ryan Flaherty, Travis...

Hearing from Ubaldo Jimenez and game update (O's lose 2-1)

Hearing from Ubaldo Jimenez and game update (O's lose 2-1)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Twins 2, Orioles 1 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez faced two batters in the third inning, didn't record and out and was removed for T.J. McFarland, who induced a double play grounder and popup. Jimenez allowed one run and two hits, walked three and struck out five. He threw 28 pitches in the first, only 12 for strikes, and had four three-ball counts. He struck out the side in the second and issued a walk and allowed a single in the third, leaving with his pitch count at 57...

Jimenez goes two-plus innings in second spring start

Jimenez goes two-plus innings in second spring start
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez got through the second inning today and came back out for the third. That's progress compared to his debut last Tuesday against the Tigers. Take the small victories where you can find them. Jimenez didn't retire either batter he faced in the third, but left-hander T.J. McFarland doused the Twins' rally with a double play grounder and a popup. Jimenez was charged with one run and two hits in two-plus innings, with three walks and five...

A few notes before today's game against the Twins (plus pictures)

A few notes before today's game against the Twins  (plus pictures)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Caleb and Brooke Joseph are the proud parents of a baby boy, born at 6:40 p.m. last night. Walker Everett Joseph weighs 7 pounds, 15 ounces and is 21 1/4 inches long. No word on whether he bats from the right or left side. Manager Buck Showalter said Joseph could rejoin the team on Monday. The Orioles' first round of cuts are coming on Monday, with more expected the next two days. Pitcher Dane De La Rosa is a candidate to be sent out while he recovers from knee surgery. He...

Orioles and Twins lineups

Orioles and Twins lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Delmon Young is starting in right field today and Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate for the Orioles' game against the Twins in Fort Myers. The bench includes Henry Urrutia, Rey Navarro, Michael Almanzar, Dariel Alvarez, J.P. Arencibia, Jayson Nix, Matt Tuiasosopo, Christian Walker and Brian Ward. The bullpen includes Tommy Hunter, Mark Hendrickson, T.J. McFarland, Brad Brach, Eddie Gamboa, Mychal Givens, Zach Davies and Daniel Rodriguez. For the Orioles David Lough...

A few camp observations

A few camp observations
SARASOTA, Fla. - In keeping with a spring training tradition, I woke up this morning and had to search for my rental car and the hour of sleep that I lost. My keys only enable me to find one of them. The Orioles are on the road again today, making the bus ride to Fort Myers for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Twins at newly renovated Hammond Stadium. I'm not sure what they did with the money, but I'll soon find out. Upgrading the media dining room would be one heck of a start. I'd be willing to...

Wrapping up today's 7-6 loss with quotes from Showalter

Wrapping up today's 7-6 loss with quotes from Showalter
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph was scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Twins in Fort Myers. However, he's been scratched from the lineup while waiting for his son to be born. It would have been Joseph's first road game this spring. "Everything's going well," said manager Buck Showalter, "but it could be a long process." Ryan Lavarnway is expected to catch starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who lasted only 1 1/3 innings against the Tigers on Tuesday and allowed six runs...

Norris: "Physically and mechanically, I think I was going too fast" (O's lose)

Norris: "Physically and mechanically, I think I was going too fast" (O's lose)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Red Sox 7, Orioles 6 Recap: Bud Norris lasted only one inning, allowing four runs and four hits, walking one, striking out two and throwing a wild pitch. He threw 30 pitches, 15 for strikes. Former Oriole Jemile Weeks had an RBI triple and Blake Swihart hit a three-run homer. The Orioles scored an unearned run in the first on Chris Davis' two-out single after Alejandro De Aza reached on an error. Adam Jones had an RBI grounder and Davis added a sacrifice fly in the...

Norris allows four runs in one inning (updated)

Norris allows four runs in one inning (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The plan called for Orioles starter Bud Norris to work two innings today, but the Red Sox wouldn't allow it. Norris threw 30 pitches, only 15 for strikes, in the first inning and departed with a 4-0 deficit. Chaz Roe replaced him in the top of the second and turned in two scoreless innings. Norris was down 1-0 just two batters into the game after Milton Bradley Jr. led off with a single and former Oriole Jemile Weeks tripled into right-center field. After a walk, wild pitch...

More morning notes from Sarasota

More morning notes from Sarasota
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Caleb Joseph took wife Brooke to the hospital late last night and manager Buck Showalter is waiting for a baby update. Joseph was in the original lineup today, but Steve Clevenger got the start behind the plate. Joseph called Showalter last night to update him. "He was all excited," Showalter said. "He said, 'At this time tomorrow, I'll be ... ' And I said, 'Don't jinx it. You might have one of those 30-hour labors.'" The Orioles will play a game on March 14...

Notes on Joseph, Janish and outfield versatility

Notes on Joseph, Janish and outfield versatility
SARASOTA, Fla. - There's no sign of catcher Caleb Joseph in camp this morning. Could this mean his son, Walker Everett, is finally reporting today? Walker was due March 1, but there's no fine for being late. Joseph hasn't been able to travel with the team. He's appeared in one game, striking out in both at-bats. The Orioles are home today, but Steve Clevenger is behind the plate. Infielder Paul Janish said he probably won't start throwing until the middle of next week instead of this...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - J.J. Hardy is batting second again today for the Orioles in their game against the Red Sox's split-squad team at Ed Smith Stadium. Hardy and Steve Pearce are 2-for-5 this spring. Small sample sizes, but nice starts. Alejandro De Aza, who's leading off again today, is 1-for-9 with a home run. Steve Clevenger is behind the plate. Everth Cabrera is batting ninth. The bullpen includes Wesley Wright, Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey, Eddie Gamboa, Pat McCoy, Oliver Drake and Chaz...

Today's game and Arencibia's offseason training

Today's game and Arencibia's offseason training
SARASOTA, Fla. - Bud Norris makes his spring debut today, as the Orioles return home for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox. The Orioles will face their second knuckleballer in two days, going from Toronto's R.A. Dickey to Boston's Steven Wright. No, not that Steven Wright. "I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place." "A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me. I'm afraid of widths." "What's another word for Thesaurus?" "It's a small...

Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss to Blue Jays

Showalter speaks after 5-4 loss to Blue Jays
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Orioles lost today for the third time in five exhibition games, falling to the Blue Jays 5-4 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. It was hardly worth waiting through a 1 hour, 40 minute rain delay, but at least there's the long drive home in heavy traffic. Manager Buck Showalter said no roster cuts are imminent. He also said Brian Graham, Rick Peterson and a few other instructors were heading over to minor league camp today. Alan Mills, Mike Griffin and Scott McGregor are...

Orioles take lead, Wright on Wright (O's fall 5-4)

Orioles take lead, Wright on Wright (O's fall 5-4)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4 Recap: Steve Johnson, making his spring debut, committed a throwing error on Devon Travis' comebacker in the eighth inning that let the go-ahead run score. A walk and single ignited the rally. Mike Wright waited through a 1 hour, 40 minute rain delay to make his spring debut and allowed a two-run homer to Chris Colabello in the second. He gave up four hits and struck out two. Tim Berry allowed a run in the third on a single, two walks and a hit...

Updating Wright's start, plus notes on Walker and minor league signing (updated)

Updating Wright's start, plus notes on Walker and minor league signing (updated)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Blue Jays scratched Jose Bautista from today's lineup due to hamstring tightness. In other words, the outfield is wet and they're not taking any chances with him. Orioles starter Mike Wright, making his first appearance this spring, served up a two-out, two-run homer to Chris Colabello in the bottom of the second inning to give Toronto a 2-0 lead. Dioner Navarro led off with a single into left-center field as left-hander Tim Berry warmed in the Orioles bullpen. Wright...