SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen faced his third division opponent of the spring today, and he learned that the Rays' lineup can be dangerous from top to bottom.
Tampa Bay outfielder Desmond Jennings had no homers and one RBI before today, when he launched a solo shot in the third inning and a grand slam in the fourth. Evan Longoria also homered leading off the fifth, Chen's final inning of the day.
Update: Jennings hit his third home run, a solo shot off Kevin Gregg in the top of the seventh....
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zelous Wheeler is still adjusting his body clock after going from Arizona to Florida for spring training.
Nothing to be alarmed about.
The Orioles claimed Wheeler off waivers from the Brewers on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk, but he'll stay with the team through Wednesday's exhibition game against the Tides.
"It's been kind of crazy," he said. "I got in last night. Everything's fine. Just trying to get used to the time. It's three hours behind here....
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Lindstrom just returned to the Ed Smith Stadium complex after starting a 10 a.m. game against the Orioles' Triple-A team at Twin Lakes Park.
Lindstrom faced four batters and struck out two of them, including third baseman Josh Bell on a backdoor slider after getting ahead in the count with his splitter. He also induced a ground ball and a fly ball.
"The first three got themselves out pretty quick," Lindstrom said.
Lindstrom said he used all of his pitches and didn't...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' batting practice session is closed to the media this morning. They're hitting on the back fields and reviewing their signs. Maybe they're implementing a secret play.
Tommy Hunter, Chris Tillman and Alfredo Simon also are pitching in minor league games today at Twin Lakes Park, for those of you scoring at home. Hunter is throwing six innings, Tillman five and Simon three.
Simon is still in camp despite being placed on waivers.
Infielder Zelous Wheeler, signed...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen makes his final exhibition start today. He hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since holding the Twins to one run over five innings March 22. Most recently, he allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits while facing 26 batters in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park.
James Shields is scheduled to start for the Rays.
For the Orioles:
Endy Chavez LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Reynolds 3B
Chris...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are in the process of setting their minor league rosters. More tweaking is likely as players in major league camp are reassigned and others in the system are released.
At this moment, the Orioles have assigned top position prospects Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop to Double-A Bowie, and No. 1 overall prospect Dylan Bundy to low Single-A Delmarva.
Bundy's current assignment isn't a surprise. It's been speculated for months that he'd debut with the Shorebirds....
BRADENTON, Fla. - Jim Johnson made back-to-back appearances for the first time this spring, and the results today were much better.
Johnson struck out a batter for the second out of the eighth inning, issued a walk and induced his second ground ball of the day. He threw 19 pitches, 10 for strikes.
Walks continue to be an issue for Johnson, though he might have gotten squeezed on a slider. He's walked six batters in eight innings.
Johnson's fastball topped out at 95 mph.
Update: The...
BRADENTON, Fla. - The downpour has ended, the sun is shining and the tarp is off the field.
Yes, we're in Florida.
This game will resume in the top of the seventh inning with the Pirates leading the Orioles, 6-5.
Jake Arrieta said he felt good out of the stretch and in his windup today. It's the final line that looks pretty bad.
Arrieta allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings. He threw 82 pitches, 55 for strikes.
"Stuff was pretty good," he said. "Two real bad changeups were...
BRADENTON, Fla. - Jake Arrieta was pretty much cruising along until Alex Presley stepped to the plate with one out in the third inning. Presley homered to right-center field, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead at McKechnie Field.
Arrieta walked the next batter, Nate McLouth, before getting a force at second base and a fly ball to left.
Arrieta has allowed one run and three hits, walked one and struck out three in three innings. He's thrown 43 pitches, 30 for strikes. He threw 12 of his 14...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have optioned pitcher Chris Tillman to Triple-A Norfolk, removing him from the remaining camp competitions.
Tillman, who will pitch Sunday in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park, allowed five runs (four earned) and 12 hits in 12 1/3 innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. In his last appearance, he allowed one run and three hits in three innings Tuesday against the Twins.
This is Tillman's final option. He'd have to pass through waivers before being...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Alfredo Simon has left the Ed Smith Stadium complex after working out this morning. His future is still in limbo.
Simon confirmed this morning that he's been placed on waivers. His agent passed along the news last night.
"I mean, I know the situation here is a little tough," Simon said. "They feel like they don't have any spots for me. I understand that. Just see what's going to happen if another place is going to pick me or not."
Simon said his agent believes...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed outfielder Jamie Hoffmann to a minor league deal, and he'll stay with the team through the end of spring training before heading back to Twin Lakes Park.
The Rockies designated Hoffmann for assignment this spring. He became a free agent and signed with the Orioles yesterday.
"I was looking for teams for about a week and then decided to sign here," he said. "It's a great spot and a good opportunity and I'm excited to be in camp.
"I've been...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta makes his final spring start today against a Pirates split squad in the Orioles' final road game.
Seems like a good time for manager Buck Showalter to confirm that Arrieta will be the opening day starter.
For the Orioles:
Endy Chavez CF
Nolan Reimold LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Johnson DH
Wilson Betemit 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Ronny Paulino C
Jai Miller RF
Robert Andino 2B
Jake Arrieta RHP
Jim Johnson will pitch again today. He threw 24 pitches yesterday but still will...
SARASOTA, Fla. - An industry source has confirmed that the Orioles have placed pitcher Alfredo Simon on waivers.
Simon entered spring training as a candidate for both the rotation and bullpen, but he was slowed by a groin injury and allowed six runs and six hits over two innings upon his return on Wednesday in Dunedin.
Simon is likely to be claimed by another team because of his upper-90s fastball and versatility.
The Orioles need to clear room on their 40-man roster with the expected...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Every kid in Detroit will wake up tomorrow wanting to be Tony Plagman.
Plagman didn't start today, but he was a strong finisher. He tied the game in the seventh inning with a home run off Luis Ayala and won it for the Tigers in the ninth with a two-out, two-run triple off Jim Johnson.
Baseball America rates Plagman as the fourth-ranked first baseman in the Tigers' organization.
Johnson walked two more batters today, giving him five in seven innings. He's 0-3 with a 7.71...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tony Plagman hit a game-tying home run off reliever Luis Ayala in the top of the seventh inning while I was walking to the clubhouse to interview Brian Matusz.
Orioles 4, Tigers 4.
The Orioles still have a shot at their record-setting sixth exhibition tie of 2012.
Matusz settled down after a three-run first inning to blank the Tigers through the fifth and retire the last nine batters he faced.
"Just came out of the gates amped up with a lot of energy," Matusz said. "The...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The first four Tigers reached base against Brian Matusz in the top of the first inning today, and the Orioles' left-hander didn't get back into the dugout until he had surrendered three runs and thrown 32 pitches.
Matusz's pitch count rose to 52 after the second inning and 71 after the third, but the Tigers didn't score again. He threw only five pitches, all strikes in the fourth.
Another positive note: Matusz's fastball reached 93 mph in the third inning. He hit 92 mph...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter knew it was a slow news day for the reporters in camp, but he wouldn't throw us a bone and confirm his opening day starter.
Is it still being decided?
"In my mind, no, but there are some variables that may play into it and are still developing," he replied.
"There are some things that Dan (Duquette) and I talk about every day that could change the way we look at it."
Could one variable be a starter acquired from outside the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Taylor Teagarden's epidural on his lower back has been moved up from Wednesday to Monday. It's not open to the public, in case anyone wanted to attend.
Tsuyoshi Wada's next start has been moved to Tuesday against the State College of Florida.
Also, reliever Matt Lindstrom will pitch in a minor league game in his next outing. He recently tweaked his hamstring.
J.J. Hardy is starting at shortstop today.
For the Orioles:
Nolan Reimold DH
J.J. Hardy SS
Adam Jones CF
Matt...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Taylor Teagarden will be eligible to come off the disabled list on April 10, but he conceded today that it's a "best-case scenario" and he might need an extra week.
Teagarden said he no longer is experiencing the same level of discomfort in his lower back, but there's a lingering sensation that a second epidural on Wednesday should alleviate.
"I want to come back feeling good," he said. "I'm planning on my back feeling well in the next couple of weeks and the...