Notes and quotes off today's workout

Notes and quotes off today's workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he used "every piece of the facility" for today's workout. All of the mounds and cages. All of the equipment. Every field was occupied. "We needed every piece to get done what we needed to do," he said. Showalter watched Jair Jurrjens warm up before the right-hander's first bullpen session with the Orioles. "I just wanted to see him throw," Showalter said. "I saw him from the other dugout, so I've got a little something to...

Jurrjens throws first bullpen session (with quotes)

Jurrjens throws first bullpen session (with quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jair Jurrjens did more today than put on a uniform and participate in fielding drills. He also completed a bullpen session in the indoor batting cage. Jurrjens threw off a mound outside the media workroom around 11:55 a.m. before heading to the cage, where hitters were tracking pitches for the first time. You can't determine a lot from a side session, but he seemed to have a fluid motion during his 10-minute warmup. Minor league catcher Allan de San Miguel set the target for...

Breakfast is on Gausman

Breakfast is on Gausman
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been a quiet morning here at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. A few players competed in bumper billiards and cornhole. Others talked, listened to music and munched on breakfast, courtesy of Kevin Gausman. Well, courtesy of his locker. Gausman arrived at 8 a.m. and found 35 packets of mini-powdered donuts taped around the edges of his locker. Bags were stuffed inside of it - enough that every player was given one later. A "Hostess" sign hung above his nameplate. Pitching...

Another example of leadership (and note)

Another example of leadership (and note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - You probably figured out a long time ago that manager Buck Showalter is on top of everything. Nothing gets past him, including the little things that mean more in the big picture. A few days ago, Showalter noticed how the first row of seats for a team meeting was occupied by guys like Matt Wieters, Jason Hammel, Darren O'Day, Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop. That's leadership. Here's another example: Kevin Gausman, taking part in his first major league camp after being the...

A few nuggets from Showalter

A few nuggets from Showalter
SARASOTA, Fla. - Another camp day is behind us and there are no injuries to report. Luis Ayala, Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day threw their first bullpen sessions in Group 2. Wei-Yin Chen, Jason Hammel and Chris Tillman threw in Group 1; Miguel Gonzalez, Mark Hendrickson and Pedro Strop in Group 3; Daniel McCutchen, Troy Patton and Daniel Schlereth in Group 4; and Mike Belfiore, Kevin Gausman and Eduardo Rodriguez in Group 5. Manager Buck Showalter said he will probably give Ayala, Johnson and...

Duquette on Jurrjens contract

Duquette on Jurrjens contract
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today that pitcher Jair Jurrjens' contract includes an opt-out clause if the right-hander begins the season in the minors and isn't promoted to the majors at a certain date. Duquette joked that he couldn't remember the exact date. Jurrjens originally agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal that included another $2.5 million in possible incentives, but he settled for a minor league contract after taking his...

Robinson ready to play after "a week of misery"

Robinson ready to play after "a week of misery"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Now that he's cleared waivers and been outrighted, Trayvon Robinson is part of the Orioles' camp roster and an extremely crowded outfield. Robinson, obtained from the Seattle Mariners in November for infielder Robert Andino, described his time on waivers as "just a week of misery, just thinking about it. "At the end of the day, I just want to get on the field and play." And try to make the opening day roster, which will prove to be a supreme challenge. Besides Nate...

Jurrjens on his contract, knee and latest opportunity

Jurrjens on his contract, knee and latest opportunity
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have 61 players in camp today. It's a full roster, one that includes infielder Yamaico Navarro and pitcher Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens is wearing No. 48. The Orioles had a uniform waiting for him. They just needed to adjust the deal he agreed upon. Jurrjens received a minor league deal after the Orioles, concerned about his right knee, withdrew a $1.5 million contract that included $2.5 million in possible incentives. "A little bit tweaked, a small tweak,"...

Orioles sign Jurrjens to minor league deal (with Duquette quote)

Orioles sign Jurrjens to minor league deal (with Duquette quote)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Jair Jurrjens saga has reached its conclusion. The Orioles announced tonight that they signed Jurrjens to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He's expected to report to camp Saturday. Jurrjens had agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million, with another $2.5 million possible in incentives, but the announcement was put on hold for three weeks. Now comes word that he's receiving a minor league deal. The club apparently had issues with the...

Ishikawa wants to add to his Camden Yards memories

Ishikawa wants to add to his Camden Yards memories
SARASOTA, Fla. - Travis Ishikawa hopes that his next visit to Camden Yards includes a uniform and a locker. Ishikawa, the first baseman signed as a minor league free agent on Dec. 19, has never played a game in Baltimore. However, he's not a total stranger to the ballpark, having made one trip with his parents back in 1997. Here's where it gets a little weird. In that game, a 10-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox on July 20, plate umpire Al Clark ejected Cal Ripken in the bottom of the second...

Showalter on Reimold: "I expect that if he's healthy, he's on our club"

Showalter on Reimold: "I expect that if he's healthy, he's on our club"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter pulled Nolan Reimold aside yesterday and made sure the outfielder didn't feel as though he had to push himself too hard in an attempt to make the club. Reimold has been participating in all the drills and taking batting practice this spring, eight months after undergoing surgery to remove a herniated disc in his neck and fuse two vertebrae. "I had a little conversation with Nolan yesterday," Showalter said. "I think he needs to know that if...

Roberts feels ready to reclaim second base job

Roberts feels ready to reclaim second base job
SARASOTA, Fla. - At various points during today's workout, Brian Roberts joked with teammates, joked with reporters, looked like a guy who was having more fun than anyone else. He's the longest-tenured Oriole, but he's feeling like a kid again. Roberts, 35, is full-go at spring training, which included today's batting practice session. No concussion symptoms, no pain in his hip, no restrictions following sports hernia surgery in December. "Feels nice to be one of the guys and start off...

A few quick hits (and one more)

A few quick hits (and one more)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The pitchers have finished their bullpen sessions and batting practice is winding down. Another workout is almost in the books. Brian Roberts took BP today in the same group as Nolan Reimold, Chris Davis and Nick Markakis. No need to wonder if Markakis is OK following thumb surgery in September. Same swing. And the ball is jumping off his bat. Zach Britton was impressive during his side session. He's a completely different pitcher from the one who reported to camp last...

Still waiting for Ayala's decision on WBC

Still waiting for Ayala's decision on WBC
SARASOTA, Fla. - Stop me if you've heard this one: Reliever Luis Ayala says he will decide tomorrow whether to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Ayala was expected to announce his intentions this morning, but he's going to wait one more day. Ayala still hasn't thrown a bullpen session in spring training because of his workload in the Caribbean Series. The Orioles would prefer to bring him along slowly in camp - and have him stay in camp. Ayala said he isn't sure when he...

Spring training leftovers for breakfast

Spring training leftovers for breakfast
SARASOTA, Fla. - We have another 10 a.m. team stretch today. Same schedule as yesterday. The temperature is falling here and the forecast still includes rain. It's actually dipping into the 50s tonight and we'll have a low of 40 on Sunday. I don't expect a pity party, considering the snow that fell in the Baltimore area Wednesday, but it's still a shock to the system. We're in Florida, for crying out loud. I'd like to have the ability to measure how many miles manager Buck Showalter...

A good day for Gausman (and Jurrjens note)

A good day for Gausman (and Jurrjens note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The media's interest in today's bullpen sessions peaked with Kevin Gausman's spring debut. Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, joined Mike Belfiore and Eduardo Rodriguez in Group 4. Minor league catcher Allan de San Miguel set the target. "It's all good," Gausman said. "First time in front of the coaches in front of the mound. They've seen me in Tampa when I was kind of in-season and after it. Nobody's expecting me to throw 95 today....

Hendrickson experiment continues, Robinson clears waivers

Hendrickson experiment continues, Robinson clears waivers
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Mark Hendrickson is adjusting to more than just a new arm slot in his delivery. He's also throwing a new pitch. Hendrickson is throwing a slider for the first time in his career. "To be honest, I'm a completely different pitcher than anybody's ever seen because I never threw the slider," Hendrickson said after today's bullpen session and workout. "I always threw the curveball. But down there, you can kind of mess with some grips and see how it comes out....

Ayala undecided about WBC (with quotes)

Ayala undecided about WBC (with quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Luis Ayala hasn't made a final decision on whether he will pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Ayala said he expects to inform the team Friday morning. The Orioles made the assumption that Ayala would leave camp to participate in the WBC, along with center fielder Adam Jones, reliever Pedro Strop, infielder Jonathan Schoop, and catchers Chris Robinson and Allan de San Miguel. The team would prefer that Ayala rest after pitching for Mexico in the...

Today's bullpen schedule

Today's bullpen schedule
SARASOTA, Fla. - The threat of rain hangs in the air, along with the dark clouds that remind us of it. Wei-Yin Chen, Jason Hammel and Chris Tillman will throw in Group 1 today; Miguel Gonzalez, Pedro Strop and Mark Hendrickson in Group 2; Daniel McCutchen, Troy Patton and Daniel Schlereth in Group 3; Mike Belfiore, Kevin Gausman and Eduardo Rodriguez in Group 4. Rodriguez, 19, is regarded as the third-best pitching prospect in the organization behind Dylan Bundy and Gausman. The left-hander...

Thursday morning musings

Thursday morning musings
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitchers and catchers take the field at 10 a.m. today for the pre-workout stretch. We're moving toward a more normal spring training schedule. The clubhouse will be open to the media from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., and again following the workout. Perhaps infielder Yamaico Navarro will make an appearance and complete the roster. Then again, it could expand if outfielder Trayvon Robinson cleared waivers. We're supposed to find out today. And hey, there's that whole Jair Jurrjens...