Matusz with back-to-back gems (updated)

Matusz with back-to-back gems (updated)
LAKELAND, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz tamed an impressive Tigers lineup this afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. Matusz blanked the Tigers on two hits, walked none, struck out six and hit a batter in four innings. He threw 60 pitches, 41 for strikes. Matusz's fastball was 92-93 mph on the stadium radar gun. He hit 93 mph four times in the third inning, when he retired the side in order and struck out Andy Dirks and Austin Jackson. He fanned Prince Fielder and Alex Avila in the...

Drake optioned, Joseph to be reassigned (Chavez homers)

Drake optioned, Joseph to be reassigned (Chavez homers)
LAKELAND, Fla. - The Orioles have reduced their camp roster to 47 players by optioning pitcher Oliver Drake (Navy) to Double-A Bowie. Catcher Caleb Joseph has been informed that he'll be reassigned to minor league camp, but he's likely to stay with the team through the weekend. Drake and Joseph are here for today's game against the Detroit Tigers. The Orioles are keeping tabs on the catching situations in other camps, gauging who might become available, but manager Buck Showalter seems...

Teagarden unsure about opening day (Tigers lineup)

Teagarden unsure about opening day (Tigers lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Taylor Teagarden received an epidural yesterday to alleviate the pain in his lower back after a CT scan revealed a slightly torn ligament that supports a disk. Now he must wait a few weeks and wonder whether he can be ready for the April 6 opener. "I'm not really sure what the timeframe is," he said. "It's not as serious, ... it could have been worse, but it's going to take a little more time to heal. I've just got to play each day by day and see how it...

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers

Orioles lineup vs. Tigers
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are headed to Lakeland today to play the Detroit Tigers, with left-hander Brian Matusz looking to build on his impressive outing against the Philadelphia Phillies. Ronny Paulino, suddently the favorite to be the backup catcher on opening day, gets his first start behind the plate. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez CF Nolan Reimold LF Nick Johnson DH Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Ronny Paulino C Ryan Flaherty SS Jai Miller RF Matt Antonelli 2B Brian Matusz...

More cuts coming, Johnson on Johnson (updated)

More cuts coming, Johnson on Johnson (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles lost to the Pirates today, 11-5, but nobody sang "We Are Family." The day wasn't a total bust. The Orioles will make two or three more cuts later this afternoon. "Nothing earth-shattering," manager Buck Showalter said. "Just another note. Nobody that would surprise you." Alfredo Simon's schedule is being altered a bit because of some groin tightness. Kevin Gregg hasn't pitched since Sunday's B game, but manager Buck Showalter said it isn't a health...

Game update and some quotes

Game update and some quotes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Lindstrom, pitching for the first time in a week after suffering from lower-back stiffness, struck out two of the three batters he faced in the sixth inning. Willie Eyre, making his spring debut after being sidelined with a groin injury, was charged with four runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning. Casey Fossum replaced him and recorded the final out on a fly ball. Robert Andino committed an error behind Eyre when he fell backward after fielding a sharp bouncer....

Arrieta leaves game after recording eight outs (Johnson debuts)

Arrieta leaves game after recording eight outs (Johnson debuts)
SARASOTA, Fla. - I have to assume that the initial plan called for Orioles starter Jake Arrieta to go three innings today, but he exited with two outs and nobody on base in the top of the third. Arrieta threw 44 pitches, 29 for strikes, and manager Buck Showalter didn't want to push him any further. Arrieta is charged with four runs and five hits, all of them coming in the second inning. He didn't walk a batter and struck out four. The Pirates strung together three singles and a double to...

Wada looks good in simulated game

Wada looks good in simulated game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tsuyoshi Wada threw 33 pitches in a two-inning simulated game on the Camden Yards field. Jai Miller, Scott Beerer and Brady Anderson took some swings against him. The next step for Wada is pitching in a real game Sunday or Monday. Most likely, he will be used in Monday's minor league game at Twin Lakes Park, which also will include Zach Britton and Jake Arrieta. "He was real good," said pitching coach Rick Adair, who monitored Wada's outing along with manager Buck...

Back injury puts Teagarden "in jeopardy" for opening day

Back injury puts Teagarden "in jeopardy" for opening day
SARASOTA, Fla. - A CT scan on catcher Taylor Teagarden's lower back revealed a slight tear in a ligament that supports a disk. Teagarden received an epidural this morning to reduce the inflammation. He'll mostly be shut down for a week, though he could begin hydrotherapy in three days. The recovery time for Teagarden's injury is roughly three weeks. Asked if Teagarden will be ready for opening day, manager Buck Showalter replied, "It could happen but I'd say it's in jeopardy." Ronny...

It's been Miller's time this spring (game tied)

It's been Miller's time this spring (game tied)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Managers always issue the same warning about not falling in love with spring training numbers, but it's pretty easy to crush on Jai Miller. Miller leads the Orioles with seven RBIs, two more than Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty. He's batting .333 and is one of only three players on the team with a home run (Chris Davis and Flaherty are the others.) "I definitely feel good," Miller said. "I've been having good ABs, been making good contact. It's just one of those things where...

Eyre talks about his daughter

Eyre talks about his daughter
SARASOTA, Fla. - If you want to see a reliever with a look of relief on his face, check out Willie Eyre today. Eyre was given quite a scare yesterday when informed that his 3-year-old daughter, Lily, had fallen into a hotel pool and was being rushed to a local hospital. Eyre was told during warmups to call his wife, and she gave him the news. "Everything kind of stopped for me. It was surreal," he said this morning. "I got to the hospital and, I won't say she was hysterical, but she was...

Markakis in Orioles' lineup

Markakis in Orioles' lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis will make his spring debut today against the Pittsburgh Pirates, serving as the designated hitter and batting third. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Nick Johnson 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP Jim Johnson, Willie Eyre, Luis Ayala and Kevin Gregg also are scheduled to pitch for the Orioles. Tsuyoshi Wada will throw a simulated game at 11:15 a.m.

Major scare for Eyre family turns into huge relief

Major scare for Eyre family turns into huge relief
SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm relieved to pass along news regarding the 3-year-old daughter of Orioles reliever Willie Eyre. Reporters were told following today's game that Eyre was pulled off the field during warmups and informed that Lily had fallen into a pool and was found by her mother. She apparently did not lose consciousness and was rushed to a local hospital, and X-rays taken on her lungs were negative. Everything is fine, and she's already back with her family. Manager Buck Showalter...

Updates on Teagarden and Markakis after 7-7 tie (with quotes)

Updates on Teagarden and Markakis after 7-7 tie (with quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays scored five runs in the top of the ninth against relievers Oscar Villarreal and Stu Pomeranz to take a 7-5 lead, but Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty responded with a two-out, two-run homer to send the game to the 10th. Steve Johnson retired the side in order, striking out the last batter, and the Orioles failed to score after loading the bases with no outs. We had to settle for a 7-7 tie. Caleb Joseph tapped into a force at the plate, Jai Miller struck out and...

Hammel on Hammel (and game update)

Hammel on Hammel (and game update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen tossed three scoreless innings today, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out one. Miguel Socolovich replaced him in the top of the seventh with the Orioles leading, 4-1. Socolovich gave up a run in the seventh. Orioles 4, Rays 2. Jason Hammel started for the Orioles and allowed one run and one hit, walked one and struck out two. His only real mistake was a 2-0 fastball to Matt Joyce that cleared the right field fence. "Before in the past, I'd give up...

Miller homers off Price (Hammel and Reimold updates)

Miller homers off Price (Hammel and Reimold updates)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' bats must be thawing out today. They scored four runs in the second inning off Rays left-hander David Price, their biggest uprising in an inning this spring. They've scored more than four runs in a game only once this spring. Jai Miller crushed a three-run homer to straightaway center field with one out in the second to give the Orioles a 4-1 lead. The ball easily cleared the 400-foot sign. Miller and Chris Davis have hit the only home runs for the Orioles...

Showalter on Teagarden and more

Showalter on Teagarden and more
SAROSOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter had his usual pregame session with the media today while his team took batting practice. Here are a few highlights: On Taylor Teagarden seeing a back specialist: "An MRI would show something with everybody unless you take it before 15 years old or something. But there are some things we want him to take a look at there and see what the next step is. So far, I'm not going to elaborate, but I think identifying what he's having some discomfort about. The...

Roberts takes another step in his progression

Roberts takes another step in his progression
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rather than take batting practice on one of the back fields after teammates retreated to the clubhouse, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts hit from both sides of the plate today against minor league pitching coach Alan Mills on the Ed Smith Stadium field. Once his round was completed, he moved to second base and scooped up ground balls from minor league instructor Bobby Dickerson - first at the edge of the infield grass and later from the edge of the outfield grass. He made...

Teagarden seeing back specialist

Teagarden seeing back specialist
SARASOTA, Fla. - I wanted to pass along a few items before heading back to the Orioles' clubhouse. I'll pass along quotes later. Catcher Taylor Teagarden is seeing a back specialist in St. Petersburg today to determine whether his MRI reveals any structural damage. So far, surgery is not being discussed. The Orioles are simply trying to determine the source of his discomfort. Brian Roberts took batting practice on the Ed Smith Stadium field in a group that included Matt Wieters and Endy...

Patton pitching today, Berken still rehabbing

Patton pitching today, Berken still rehabbing
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Troy Patton is scheduled to pitch today for the first time since Thursday, when he recorded the last three outs to pick up the save against the Braves. I suggested that the Orioles were holding him back for the next time they needed another lead protected in the ninth, but he wasn't buying it. Actually, Patton was supposed to take one day off and throw again, but he requested an extra day because he was "a little bit sore still." "Ideally, I would have...