Pearce welcomes the competition (with Spain's lineup and note)

Pearce welcomes the competition (with Spain's lineup and note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Pearce is back in the lineup today, starting at first base against Team Spain. Conor Jackson most likely will come off the bench. Yes, they're being paired up again in this blog entry. Pearce homered twice yesterday, giving him three this spring to go with nine RBIs. He's collected six hits in 11 at-bats. "I feel great at the plate, having good at-bats," he said this morning. "I'm swinging at good pitches and squaring balls up. I feel good right now and just...

Injury updates

Injury updates
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis isn't in the lineup again today, which comes as no surprise, and he told a couple of reporters this morning that he will "probably rule out tomorrow." Markakis was scratched from Sunday's lineup because of stiffness in his neck. The Orioles are home again on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. They have back-to-back road night games Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and Saturday against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Most of the...

Orioles lineup versus Team Spain

Orioles lineup versus Team Spain
SARASOTA, Fla. - As expected, manager Buck Showalter is sitting most of his regulars for today's game against Team Spain. Nolan Reimold is leading off and serving as the Orioles' designated hitter. Steve Pearce is in the lineup, but Conor Jackson is not. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold DH Yamaico Navarro SS Steve Pearce 1B Russ Canzler RF Danny Valencia 3B Trayvon Robinson LF LJ Hoes CF Niuman Romero 2B Jose Gil C Jake Arrieta RHP

Can Jackson and Pearce co-exist on 25-man roster?

Can Jackson and Pearce co-exist on 25-man roster?
SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles file into the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning and head to the dining area for breakfast, I fully expect Conor Jackson and Steve Pearce to arm wrestle for the last Pop-Tart. Two out of three falls to determine who gets turkey bacon and who gets the regular stuff. Jackson and Pearce aren't the only players in camp competing for a bench spot, but they've started to separate themselves from the reserve pack. Jackson is 8-for-19 with three homers, six RBIs...

Orioles postgame chatter following 6-6 tie

Orioles postgame chatter following 6-6 tie
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Conor Jackson singled, doubled and homered today. Steve Pearce homered twice and drove in three runs. Those two performances stood out the most in the Orioles' 6-6, 10-inning tie with the Toronto Blue Jays. "I feel good," Jackson said. "I'm swinging at strikes and getting ahead in counts and not getting behind and getting good pitches to hit and taking advantage of it. That's really the name of the game and that's what's happening right now. "There's a lot of spring...

Hearing from Johnson and Jurrjens (game ends in 6-6 tie)

Hearing from Johnson and Jurrjens (game ends in 6-6 tie)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The wind is blowing out to left field, and the Orioles are taking full advantage of it. Conor Jackson's home run didn't need much help. He crushed the ball. The Orioles have 14 hits in seven innings, three more than the Toronto Blue Jays, and they continue to lead, 6-5. Kevin Gausman's fastball was hitting 97 mph in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed two straight singles to begin the inning, but he got a fly ball and a called third strike on a 97 mph heater. The next...

Jackson and Pearce continue to rake (updated twice)

Jackson and Pearce continue to rake (updated twice)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Conor Jackson and Steve Pearce basically are competing for the same job this spring, along with a handful of other players who fit a similar profile - right-handed bat off the bench who can play first base, left field and serve as the designated hitter. Jackson reached on an infield hit in the top of the second inning today and scored on Pearce's two-run homer to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead over the Toronto Blue Jays. Neither player is backing down. Jackson is 6-for-17 with...

Orioles to honor Earl Weaver on April 20 (updated)

Orioles to honor Earl Weaver on April 20 (updated)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Orioles announced this morning that they will host a public celebration of life for Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver on Saturday, April 20 at 2 p.m. at Camden Yards. The program, "A Celebration of Earl," will include a video tribute and a collection of notable guest speakers, including manager Buck Showalter, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Rick Dempsey, Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson and Earl's son, Mike Weaver. Gates A and H will open at 1 p.m. Complimentary...

Reimold serving as designated hitter today (and Bundy update)

Reimold serving as designated hitter today (and Bundy update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold is back in the Orioles' lineup today, batting third and serving as the designated hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. Reimold has been receiving treatment for a sore right shoulder. He homered in his last at-bat before being shut down. Conor Jackson, who homered twice Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, is batting fourth and playing first base. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla SS Manny Machado 3B Nolan Reimold DH Conor Jackson 1B Steve Pearce...

Not done with Dunedin (and Schoop video)

Not done with Dunedin (and Schoop video)
SARASOTA, Fla. - On the road again. The Orioles are making their second trip to Dunedin to play the Toronto Blue Jays, who apparently can't find their way to Sarasota. Actually, they'll be here Thursday, but I'm on a roll, so don't stop me. Steve Johnson gets today's start, with manager Buck Showalter deciding to slot him ahead of Jair Jurrjens. Johnson originally was supposed to pitch in relief on Sunday before Showalter made the change. Jurrjens, Zach Clark, Mike Belfiore and Kevin...

Orioles replacing warning track at Camden Yards

Orioles replacing warning track at Camden Yards
SARASOTA, Fla. - You may notice something different about Camden Yards when the Orioles play their home opener against the Minnesota Twins on April 5. Check out the warning track, which no longer will be made of a synthetic material. The track is being replaced with a natural surface made out of a crushed stone. The color has been designed to match the brick throughout the ballpark and the warehouse. Actual samples of the same brick have been ground up and are being used in the final...

Hobgood throws off mound and other scenes from minor league camp (and note)

Hobgood throws off mound and other scenes from minor league camp (and note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Ed Smith Stadium complex is closed today, but there's plenty of action at Twin Lakes Park, where minor league pitchers and catchers are working out. Position players who reported to the early camp also took the field today - guys that manager Buck Showalter wanted to be ready in case they were needed in Grapefruit League games. Matt Hobgood, the fifth overall selection in the 2009 First-Year Player draft, threw off a mound today for the first time since instructional...

Conor Jackson's trying to add another chapter to his comeback story

Conor Jackson's trying to add another chapter to his comeback story
SARASOTA, Fla. - It seems like only yesterday that Conor Jackson was stressing over the amount of days he remained idle in camp because of a sore lower back. He's signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Guys like him can't afford to spend the bulk of their time on the injury report instead of in the lineup. "You can't impress anybody when you're in the training room," he said. "You've got to be on the field, you've got to play and you've got to show...

Postgame notes and quotes following 12-3 victory

Postgame notes and quotes following 12-3 victory
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy was scheduled to pitch today, but he was held out of the game because of "groin spasms," according to manager Buck Showalter. It's nothing serious. Showalter said it wasn't anything that Bundy couldn't have pitched with if the club needed him on the mound, but again, it's spring training and there's no reason to push anyone. Bundy probably won't pitch again before Wednesday, and he could be held back until Thursday. The Orioles are off Monday and Bundy...

Gonzalez on his outing, game update and leftover notes (O's win 12-3)

Gonzalez on his outing, game update and leftover notes (O's win 12-3)
SARASOTA, Fla. - No wonder today had a special feel for Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez. He reminded reporters that he hadn't thrown in a major league exhibition game since 2007, when the Angels summoned him from minor league camp. Gonzalez didn't make it to the Ed Smith Stadium complex last spring, and he didn't join an affiliate when the minor league season began in April. He was in limbo long before he joined the Orioles' rotation. Gonzalez struck out two batters in two scoreless...

Gonzalez with successful debut, Tillman talks about outing (updated)

Gonzalez with successful debut, Tillman talks about outing (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Making his first appearance of the spring today, Miguel Gonzalez tossed two scoreless innings while facing only six batters. Gonzalez struck out the first two batters on a total of six pitches. Cesar Hernandez walked with two outs, but he was thrown out trying to steal. Gonzalez made short work of the Phillies in the fifth inning, getting a bouncer in front of the mound, a ground ball to first and a fly ball to right. Pretty routine. Chris Tillman told reporters that he felt...

Roberts stays hot, Orioles hit back-to-back home runs (Tillman update)

Roberts stays hot, Orioles hit back-to-back home runs (Tillman update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts followed his 3-for-3 game on Friday with a single today in the bottom of the first inning. That's four straight hits for Roberts, the latest being a line drive into right field off Philadelphia's Kyle Kendrick. Chris Davis also singled, and Matt Wieters launched an opposite-field three-run homer to left, the wind definitely providing an assist as the ball continued to carry. The Orioles weren't done. Conor Jackson followed with a long...

Markakis out of lineup because of neck spasms

Markakis out of lineup because of neck spasms
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis woke up this morning with spasms in his neck, causing manager Buck Showalter to adjust his lineup for today's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Markakis apparently "slept wrong," according to Showalter, and had difficulty turning his head. The Orioles examined Markakis this morning to make sure there was nothing structurally wrong. "We checked him out and it's just a spasm type of thing," Showalter said, adding that Markakis...

Reimold expected back in lineup Tuesday (with quotes)

Reimold expected back in lineup Tuesday (with quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Nolan Reimiold, who left Friday's game in the second inning with a sore right shoulder after hitting a home run, is scheduled to serve as the Orioles' designated hitter Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. Reimold said the soreness only surfaces when he attempts to throw - mostly on his follow-through - and he hasn't been doing any upper-body exercises. He's taking a cautious approach, which is encouraged by the club. Catcher Taylor Teagarden has...

Orioles and Phillies lineups (and note on today's meeting)

Orioles and Phillies lineups (and note on today's meeting)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate McLouth is leading off and playing center field in Adam Jones' absence, and Brian Roberts is batting second for today's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Conor Jackson is serving as the designated hitter. He's getting extended playing time and manager Buck Showalter has been impressed by him. Nolan Reimold remains out of the lineup while dealing with a sore right shoulder. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth CF Brian Roberts 2B Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C Conor...