Orioles make three more roster cuts

Orioles make three more roster cuts
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned pitchers Daniel Schlereth and Adam Russell to minor league camp. Exposito is on the 40-man roster, which is why he's been optioned rather than reassigned. Exposito was 8-for-21 in 14 games, with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. His work behind the plate was shaky, however, and included a catcher's interference call for using his mask to retrieve the ball. The Orioles have plenty of...

A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter may allow infielder Jonathan Schoop to play today instead of waiting until later this week. Showalter talked about giving Schoop the day off, but he could be persuaded to change his mind. Schoop told reporters this morning that he was ready to play after flying back to Florida early this morning from the World Baseball Classic. "If he wants to play today, I'm going to play him," Showalter said. "I'm going to talk to him. We'll see. In that...

McLouth and Robinson switch places in interview

McLouth and Robinson switch places in interview
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate McLouth told me this morning that today's plan calls for him to move back and forth from right field to a fifth-infielder position. Me: "Really??" McLouth: "No." Yeah, he got me. McLouth and Trayvon Robinson switched places in left and center field yesterday through the first six innings of the Orioles' 8-7 win over the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Manager Buck Showalter came up with the idea as a way for both players to get more comfortable with the replica...

Schoop back in camp and ready to play

Schoop back in camp and ready to play
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter expected Jonathan Schoop to arrive in camp at 8 a.m. this morning following the infielder's stint in the World Baseball Classic. Instead, Schoop arrived in a cab shortly before 7:30 a.m. Slightly rested, and definitely ready. Schoop said he slept on the plane - his flight arrived in Orlando early this morning - and could play today if the Orioles want to use him, but Showalter intends to give him the day off. "I'm ready to go," he...

Reimold in left field today

Reimold in left field today
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold has returned to left field and Adam Jones is in center for the Orioles' game against the Toronto Blue Jays today at Ed Smith Stadium. Brian Roberts is playing in back-to-back games, and he's also scheduled to start on Thursday. J.J. Hardy is serving as the designated hitter. The weather could be a factor. There's rain in the forecast. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth RF Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy DH Nolan Reimold...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
SARASOTA, Fla. The Orioles are home today to play the Toronto Blue Jays, and it's Zach Britton's latest chance to make a push for the last spot in the rotation. Britton allowed only one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his last outing against the Boston Red Sox. Brian Matusz went five innings yesterday in Fort Myers. Jake Arrieta went 4 2/3 innings in Dunedin. Wei-Yin Chen went five innings at Twin Lakes Park. This seems like a good time for Britton to pitch into the fifth. Miguel...

Showalter speaks after 8-7 win

Showalter speaks after 8-7 win
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles could make their next round of cuts on Thursday after conducting a noon meeting at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Kevin Gausman will be discussed, along with many others in camp. Gausman struck out three batters, including Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltlamacchia to begin the sixth, in two scoreless innings. "He was good again," said manager Buck Showalter. "You can see why everybody's so high on him. He's thrown well here. I'm impressed with the little things,...

Game update and latest from Roberts and Matusz (O's win 8-7)

Game update and latest from Roberts and Matusz (O's win 8-7)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox scored twice off Daniel Schlereth and had the bases loaded with one out when Adam Russell replaced him. Russell let all three inherited runners score, and Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to tie the game 7-7. Schlereth was charged with five runs. He's been scored upon in his last five appearances, allowing nine runs in five innings. Danny Valencia homered off Terry Doyle with two outs in the top of the ninth, his first of the spring, to give the Orioles an 8-7 lead....

Robinson switches positions and homers (Matusz and game updates)

Robinson switches positions and homers (Matusz and game updates)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Trayvon Robinson started today's game in left field, with Nate McLouth playing in center, but they switched positions in the bottom of the second inning. Robinson led off the top of the third inning with a home run. Coincidence? You be the judge. Robinson went back to left field and McLouth returned to center in the third inning. Now I'm convinced they're just messing with us. No idea why Robinson and McLouth keep changing places, but that will be one of the questions...

Notes on Reimold, Jones, Roberts, Schoop and Wada (with quotes)

Notes on Reimold, Jones, Roberts, Schoop and Wada (with quotes)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter has made out his lineup for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and it includes Nolan Reimold in left field. Reimold is throwing to the bases today in a drill back in Sarasota. If his right shoulder is fine, he will finally get a start in left. Adam Jones, back from the World Baseball Classic, is listed as the center fielder. Showalter indicated that Jones instead could be used as the designated hitter, but it's more likely that he's on...

Markakis quotes and upcoming pitching schedule

Markakis quotes and upcoming pitching schedule
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nick Markakis finished his medicine pack a few days ago, spoke with a team physician yesterday and plans on resuming baseball activities later this week. All positive developments after Markakis was diagnosed with a small herniation in his neck. "He said to check back with him Thursday or Friday and hopefully they'll release me to do some baseball stuff," Markakis said this morning. "There's just a little bit of soreness in there. Hopefully, these next couple of days...

Roberts on the road (Tillman update and Red Sox lineup)

Roberts on the road (Tillman update and Red Sox lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts will make his first road trip of the spring today when the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Boston Red Sox. Nate McLouth and Chris Davis also are traveling. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Ryan Flaherty SS Nate McLouth CF Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit DH Manny Machado 3B Trayvon Robinson LF Taylor Teagarden C Jason Pridie RF Brian Matusz LHP Chris Dickerson, Travis Ishikawa, Russ Canzler, Luis Exposito, Lew Ford, Yamaico Navarro, Steve...

The last cuts are the deepest

The last cuts are the deepest
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles dive back into their Grapefruit League schedule today, and they're heading down I-75 south toward Fort Myers for the third time in nine games. Brian Matusz gets the start against the Boston Red Sox, who are sending Ryan Dempster to the mound. Matusz's last start also came in Fort Myers, though he faced the Minnesota Twins. He tossed four scoreless and hitless innings, walking one and striking out seven. Manager Buck Showalter may try to get five innings out of...

Chen throws five innings at the minor league complex

Chen throws five innings at the minor league complex
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles provided Wei-Yin Chen with five innings today and a lesson in facing low-level minor league hitters. Chen took on a lineup filled with Tampa Bay Rays Single-A players in a light, steady rain at Twin Lakes Park. He allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits, with one walk, two strikeouts and one hit batter. The Orioles kept him on the mound for an extra out in the third inning, resulting in his second strikeout, to increase his pitch count. The defense behind...

The McFarland debate

The McFarland debate
SARASOTA, Fla. - Before the Orioles decide whether to keep Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland, they must figure out where to pitch him during these final weeks in camp. "There's two thoughts," explained manager Buck Showalter. "Do you pitch him against teams up here and let scouts see him so they claim him? Do you hide him out, but not get a proper evaluation and pitch him somewhere else? The whole idea is to get the best evaluation of him here against the best competition, so he'll continue to...

A take on Givens

A take on Givens
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are off today, which means something is going on someplace else. The Ed Smith Stadium complex is closed, but the real action will take place over at Twin Lake Park, where Wei-Yin Chen is scheduled to pitch five innings in a Single-A game. I'll try to control my breathing. Chen is tucked away at the minor league complex again so he can build up his innings and pitch count in a controlled environment, one that doesn't include a division rival that's taking...

Orioles option Hoes after game in Clearwater (updated)

Orioles option Hoes after game in Clearwater (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles optioned outfielder LJ Hoes to Triple-A Norfolk today after he collected a hit and an RBI against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Hoes, 23, was 8-for-25 this spring. The cut leaves the Orioles with 48 players in their major league camp. "I'll tell you the thing I was most impressed with was how far he's come defensively," said manager Buck Showalter. "He played a good outfield here. That's encouraging to see. If our guys hadn't figured it out...

Game update and quotes from Steve Johnson (O's win 7-1)

Game update and quotes from Steve Johnson (O's win 7-1)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving him two more hits on the spring, and Lew Ford drove in two runs with a single in the sixth. Orioles 7, Twins 0. Two of the club's hottest hitters have stepped up again today. Wieters is 12-for-24 with three homers and 12 RBIs. Ford is 14-for-29. Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day have each thrown a scoreless inning today. Johnson walked a batter. O'Day gave up an infield hit. Jair Jurrjens...

Wieters keeps swinging a hot bat (updated)

Wieters keeps swinging a hot bat (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters seems to get most of the attention for his work behind the plate, but has anyone noticed what he's doing beside it? Wieters singled leading off the bottom of the second inning today and later scored the game's first run on Chris Dickerson's infield hit. Wieters is 11-for-22 with two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored in 10 games. The Orioles collected four hits and scored twice in the second inning against Minnesota Twins starter Vance Worley....

Reimold's return to left field delayed few more days (updated)

Reimold's return to left field delayed few more days (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold won't return to left field until Wednesday or Thursday, according to manager Buck Showalter. Reimold will continue to work out in the field. "He's really going to let it go and see how he responds," Showalter said. Adam Jones will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Sarasota. Brian Roberts, Chris Davis and Nate McLouth are tentatively scheduled to make the trip to Fort Myers on Tuesday for the game against the Boston Red...