Orioles trying to rebound today in home opener

Orioles trying to rebound today in home opener
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter admitted yesterday that he was scrambling for ways to sound positive about his team's performance in its exhibition opener. Shovel in hand, he kept digging through the rubble of a 15-2 loss to the Tigers. "I'm sure Jonesy and those guys will have some choice words in the morning," Showalter said, anticipating the barbs coming from Adam Jones and other veterans who stayed back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Henry Urrutia, who's been working...

Showalter speaks after 15-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 15-2 loss
LAKELAND, Fla. - The Orioles scored twice in the ninth inning today, but the Tigers proved that some leads are safe for their bullpen. Julio Borbon's RBI double scored Drew Dosch, who reached on an infield hit, and Henry Urrutia had a run-scoring single in the Orioles' 15-2 loss at Joker Marchant Stadium. Michael Almanzar was picked off first base by catcher James McCann before Dosch reached. Not the impression you want to leave with your manager. Showalter didn't sound concerned about...

Jimenez: "I don't have to change anything" (Orioles fall 15-2)

Jimenez: "I don't have to change anything" (Orioles fall 15-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAPScore: Tigers 15, Orioles 2Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez struck out two in a scoreless first inning, but the wheels came off in the second. He recorded only one out and was charged with six runs (five earned). Jimenez walked two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. Chris Jones replaced Jimenez with one out in the second and served up a three-run homer to Ian Kinsler. Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam off Oliver Drake (Navy) in the fourth. Eddie Gamboa gave up an RBI triple to...

Jimenez records only four outs in spring debut

Jimenez records only four outs in spring debut
LAKELAND, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only 1 1/3 innings today for the Orioles and was charged with six runs (five earned), the last three scoring on Ian Kinsler's home run off left-hander Chris Jones. The Tigers lead 7-0 in the bottom of the third. Jimenez allowed three hits, walked two, struck out two, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. The strikeouts came against the first two batters he faced. I've got Jimenez with 42 pitches, 21 in each inning, and 27 for strikes. The Tigers'...

More on upcoming pitching

More on upcoming pitching
LAKELAND, Fla. - It's been a few years since I covered a game at Joker Marchant Stadium. I forgot that press box seating is limited, to put it mildly. One seat for five Orioles beat writers is bad math. When the music stops ... Manager Buck Showalter didn't plan on leaving the Sarasota complex until around 10:30 a.m. The team bus was behind me as I pulled into the stadium lot here and the Orioles just started to take batting practice. The Orioles were 13-9-4 last spring, including 6-5-1 at...

Orioles' first exhibition lineup (with Tigers lineup)

Orioles' first exhibition lineup (with Tigers lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is leading off and playing shortstop today in the Orioles' first exhibition game against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Matt Tuiasosopo is serving as the designated hitter and batting fourth. J.P. Arencibia is behind the plate. Henry Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez are on the trip as reserves. For the Orioles Everth Cabrera SSJonathan Schoop 2BNolan Reimold RFMatt Tuiasosopo DHTravis Snider LFJimmy Paredes 3BJ.P. Arencibia CDavid Lough CFChristian Walker 1B Ubaldo...

Kicking off the exhibition schedule

Kicking off the exhibition schedule
SARASOTA, Fla. - The first exhibition game is upon us. All it requires is about a 90-minute drive to Lakeland, Fla. Don't bother looking for the regulars. Orioles manager Buck Showalter already confirmed that Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and Steve Pearce aren't making the trip. And neither is Caleb Joseph, who's staying in Sarasota until his son is born. Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start and is scheduled to throw two innings. The bullpen includes Eddie Gamboa,...

Norris: "There's a bigger buzz in the clubhouse, for sure"

Norris: "There's a bigger buzz in the clubhouse, for sure"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Bud Norris is celebrating his 30th birthday today. He's used to being in spring training for the occasion and much prefers spending it in Sarasota after training with the Astros in Kissimmee. "My girlfriend's here and her birthday was yesterday," Norris said. Norris isn't certain when he's scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut, but he's ready. "You work a lot of the offseason to get your body in shape, but really for the pitchers and catchers our...

Notes from today's final full workout

Notes from today's final full workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to work two innings in Tuesday's exhibition opener against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. The travel squad will include infielder Drew Dosch, outfielder Julio Borbon and pitcher Mychal Givens from minor league camp. Manager Buck Showalter said Pat Connaughton, the Orioles' fourth-round pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft who plays for the Notre Dame men's basketball team, has been throwing to stay sharp and get his arm ready for minor league...

Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the pitching schedule

Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the pitching schedule
SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Paul Janish, who underwent surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago to remove bone chips from his right elbow, will take ground balls for the first time Tuesday and make throws this weekend. Janish's goal is to play in his first game March 20 or 21. "Relatively speaking, it feels about as well as it can up to this point. Probably a little bit ahead of schedule, which is a difficult thing to kind of expedite on the training room side of it," said Janish, who signed a minor league...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are down to their final day of strictly workouts before their first exhibition game on Tuesday against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. Players have reached the point in camp where they're ready for the competition, ready to do something different besides going field to field for various drills, throwing off practice mounds and hitting in the cage. They want to face an opponent and reduce the distance between themselves and opening day. Yesterday's intrasquad game...

Wrapping up today's intrasquad game

Wrapping up today's intrasquad game
SARASOTA, Fla. - A scoreless tie in an intrasquad game still held a certain measure of significance for a few players beyond facing live pitching and hitting on the first day of March. Matt Wieters caught for the first time since May, though he didn't make any throws to second base. Manny Machado batted for the first time since Aug. 11 and lined out to center field in his first trip to the plate. Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia was so impressive in his one inning of work, a few players moved from the...

Intrasquad game scoreless in third inning (game ends scoreless)

Intrasquad game scoreless in third inning (game ends scoreless)
SARASOTA, Fla. - You know it's an intrasquad game when Orioles pitchers are told to record more than three outs in an inning. The home team was five up, five down against left-hander T.J. McFarland in the bottom of the first, and the visiting team was four up, four down versus left-hander Wesley Wright in the top of the second. Left-hander Zach Britton induced ground balls from Everth Cabrera, Alejandro De Aza and Nolan Reimold. Wright struck out Matt Tuiasosopo, retired Steve Clevenger on a...

Orioles intrasquad lineups

Orioles intrasquad lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters is leading off today for the home team in the Orioles' intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. In a related story, this is not a preview of the opening day lineup. Everth Cabrera is leading off for the visiting team and Steve Clevenger is behind the plate. Zach Britton is starting for the home team and T.J. McFarland is starting for the visitors in a one-inning battle of left-handers. For the home team Matt Wieters C Manny Machado 3B J.J. Hardy SS Adam...

Getting into the intrasquad game

Getting into the intrasquad game
SARASOTA, Fla. - If you woke up this morning and wondered why it felt like Christmas without all the decorations and wrapping paper, that's because I'm going to be posting my first lineups of 2015. Just don't put your eye out. The intrasquad game doesn't count today, but it beats bullpen sessions and bunt drills. Important stuff, of course, but not the same as pitchers facing hitters on the Ed Smith Stadium field. And as an added bonus, the Orioles are assured of winning. The only...

Hearing from Showalter, Alvarez and Britton after today's workout

Hearing from Showalter, Alvarez and Britton after today's workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles sent Brian Matusz, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman, Steve Johnson, Eddie Gamboa, Oliver Drake and Dane De La Rosa to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park today to throw live batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter said the six catchers in camp each will be behind the plate for two innings in Sunday's 1 p.m. instrasquad game on the Ed Smith Stadium field. I wrote earlier today that Chris Davis worked out in right field. In addition, Jonathan...

More morning notes on ninth day of camp, plus videos and photos

More morning notes on ninth day of camp, plus videos and photos
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis worked out in right field today, taking ground balls on Field 3 while his teammates stretched, then moving to the Camden Yards replica field with the other outfielders. Davis shagged fly balls, took more ground balls and made throws during various drills. He's also expected to get some work at third base later in camp. Though he's expected to start at first base, Davis gives the Orioles another option in right. A group of pitchers headed over to the minor league...

Morning notes on tribute to Barlow, Wieters catching and Gausman starting

Morning notes on tribute to Barlow, Wieters catching and Gausman starting
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are wearing orange LUNGevity t-shirts at today's workout to honor former public relations director Monica Pence Barlow, who passed away exactly one year ago after battling Stage 4 lung cancer for 4 1/2 years. The shirts have "In Memory Of Monica" written in white letters. "You don't realize how much you really miss her until you get an interview request, you get things that Monica would have come to you for in spring training, and that can be a little hard...

Remembering Monica Pence Barlow one year after her passing

Remembering Monica Pence Barlow one year after her passing
SARASOTA, Fla. - The date has been marked on manager Buck Showalter's calendar for a long time, an anniversary that he wishes did not exist, a day that he knows will bring back memories both warm and heartbreaking. Tears can moisten the eyes and cheeks no matter which thoughts rise to the surface. On the morning of Feb. 28, 2014, Orioles public relations director Monica Pence Barlow passed away after a courageous and inspiring 4-1/2 year battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. I received the...

Wrapping up the eighth day of camp

Wrapping up the eighth day of camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have announced their starters for Sunday's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. The game begins at 1 p.m. and is closed to the public. Zach Britton, Ryan Webb, Mark Hendrickson, Tim Berry, Tyler Wilson and Chaz Roe are pitching for the home team. T.J. McFarland, Wesley Wright, Mike Wright, Jason Garcia, Logan Verrett and Hunter Harvey are pitching for the away team. The Athletics claimed outfielder Alex Hassan off waivers from the Orioles. He was taken off the...