Bergesen won't throw today (with Rays lineup)

Bergesen won't throw today (with Rays lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen said his right forearm feels "a little stiff this morning" after being hit by a Denard Span line drive yesterday afternoon. "I'll keep icing it today to keep the swelling down," he said. Treatment will be the only activity for Bergesen today. "I will not throw today," he said, "but I'll hopefully play catch tomorrow and we'll just go from there." Bergesen, competing for a spot in the rotation, threw only four pitches before leaving...

Postgame Showalter

Postgame Showalter
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter touched on a variety of topics, including Brad Bergesen, Chris George and Jake Fox, following today's 6-5 loss to the Twins. Take note of how Showalter refers to George, who threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings today and still hasn't allowed a run, as being a starter or reliever "down there," which should answer any questions about the left-hander's chances of making the club out of spring training. And how Showalter subtly references Fox's defense...

Bergesen: "It was a no-hitter"

Bergesen: "It was a no-hitter"
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Brad Bergesen pretty much lost a start today. At least he's retained a sense of humor. Bergesen was able to joke with reporters a few minutes ago after returning from a local hospital, where X-rays taken on his right arm were negative. Denard Span's line drive nailed Bergesen on top of his right forearm, exactly halfway between his wrist and elbow. "It's obviously sore right now, but the good news is it's not broken," he said while standing inside the visiting...

Bergesen has bruised arm (with game and X-ray update)

Bergesen has bruised arm (with game and X-ray update)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Brad Bergesen suffered a right forearm contusion after being struck by Denard Span's line drive in the bottom of the first inning. Bergesen was taken to a local hospital for X-rays, but the initial report is encouraging. The ball appeared to hit Bergesen on the top of his forearm near the elbow. The bad news for Bergesen, of course, is he can't turn in the quality start that he needed this afternoon. And it's not known when he'll be ready to throw again, even if the...

Bergesen hit on arm, leaves game (with game update)

Bergesen hit on arm, leaves game (with game update)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Brad Bergesen had to leave today's game after four pitches when Denard Span's line drive crashed into his right arm. Bergesen jumped off the mound in obvious pain. The ball popped straight up in the air, and second baseman Robert Andino made the catch for the first out. Double-A trainer Pat Wesley raced out of the dugout, and Bergesen kept bending at the waist before walking off the mound. He appeared to have a welt on his forearm, just below his elbow. It was bad enough...

Quick hits

Quick hits
FORT MYERS, Fla. - We're almost ready for the anthem and the first pitch here at Hammond Stadium in sunny Fort Myers. Actually, it's starting so I have to stop typing. OK, I'm back. Justin Duchscherer had another successful bullpen session today and is slated to throw two innings Monday in a minor league game. "That's the best I've seen him throw," manager Buck Showalter said. "He had a good face when he was throwing. You could tell he felt good physically, so that's encouraging....

Bergesen needs to be brilliant

Bergesen needs to be brilliant
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Is this a big start for Brad Bergesen? Is Florida full of palm trees, geckos and strip malls? Bergesen hasn't been named to the starting rotation. We're only sure that Jeremy Guthrie is pitching in the April 1 opener and Brian Matusz will take the ball on the following night. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't officially named Jake Arrieta as the No. 4 starter, but he's come close enough that we know it's going to happen. We can read him like a book, which isn't nearly...

Today's lineup (and Twins)

Today's lineup (and Twins)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - I'm back at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers for today's game against the Twins. This is my last trip here in 2011. I'm wiping away the tears and passing along today's lineup. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Jake Fox C Nolan Reimold RF Brendan Harris 1B Nick Green 3B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP Jim Johnson and Clay Rapada also are scheduled to pitch. You've probably noticed that most of the regulars are back at...

Final thoughts on O's 11-7 victory

Final thoughts on O's 11-7 victory
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Pirates scored the last two runs on Josh Rodriguez's homer off left-hander Mark Hendrickson in the ninth inning. Too little, too late. Orioles 11, Pirates 7. The Orioles didn't announce any more cuts tonight, but you can probably figure out which veterans have been informed that they're not going to make the team. Here are some postgame comments from manager Buck Showalter: On Jake Arrieta: "I was real happy with his tempo and his times to the plate from the...

Arrieta on his outing (updated)

Arrieta on his outing (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta said he got "in a zone" after the first inning today after starting out "real sloppy." "I threw a lot of good pitches to (Andrew) McCutchen," he said. "I missed the PFP there. That's the thing I'm most upset about because I proud myself on that kind of stuff. Then, I just left a couple of pitches up. (Lyle) Overbay drove the ball to left, the same thing to (Neil) Walker. I just couldn't execute pitches there. I've got to get the ball inside more to a...

Arrieta done after 5 1/3 (updated twice)

Arrieta done after 5 1/3 (updated twice)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta has turned in the longest outing by an Orioles starter this spring against major league competition. And yes, the Pirates count. Arrieta appeared to run out of gas after retiring 14 of 15 batters. Neil Walker hit his second home run off Arrieta, and the next two batters walked. Arrieta threw 91 pitches, including 54 for strikes. Chris Jakabauskas replaced Arrieta and stranded two runners. Arrieta is charged with four runs and five hits, with three walks and...

A few updates (and more)

A few updates (and more)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta has retired 13 of the last 14 batters, and the Orioles have given him a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning. Instant update: J.J. Hardy singled off reliever Evan Meek to increase the lead to 6-3. We're still in the fifth. Arrieta has blanked the Pirates on one hit since the first inning. He's thrown 70 pitches, 45 for strikes. See what happens when I challenge the young arms to produce better results? Felix Pie broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning with his first home...

Young starters need to crank it up (updated)

Young starters need to crank it up (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - We learned today that Jeremy Guthrie will start the April 1 opener and Brian Matusz will take the ball the following night. We also received a strong hint that Jake Arrieta will get the call for the first home game, making him the No. 4 starter. The rotation is coming into focus, but the young starters need to give a clearer indication that they're ready for the season and the responsibilities that go with it. Arrieta gave up back-to-back homers to Lyle Overbay and Neil...

Guthrie talks about OD start, Pirates lineup

Guthrie talks about OD start, Pirates lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie will start the Orioles' regular-season opener for the third time in four years, an assignment that he calls "a big honor." "I think it's a manifestation of the confidence that Buck (Showalter) and the coaching staff have in me," he said. "I'm pleased to be out there. It's a great feeling to be out there with your team on the first game of the season, being out there battling and trying to start the season off on a good note. I'll be very excited to...

Showalter on a variety of topics

Showalter on a variety of topics
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pat Egan, claimed by the Brewers in the Rule 5 draft and returned to the Orioles today, will work out here and possibly pitch in a game. However, he's not part of the official camp roster and eventually will be sent to Triple-A Norfolk. Egan doesn't have to be included on the 40-man roster. "He'll be here in a day or two," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's going to be available to pitch. He's going to have a locker and a uniform and he'll be a just-in-case type...

Rosario, Egan trade places, Duchscherer pushed to April 21

Rosario, Egan trade places, Duchscherer pushed to April 21
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter just buried reporters with news during batting practice. It won't all fit into the headline on this blog entry. Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario cleared waivers and returned to the Brewers. Pat Egan cleared waivers and returned to the Orioles. Egan worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings and recorded two saves this spring. Justin Duchscherer is projected to make his debut on April 21, which requires a stop on the disabled list. The Orioles will begin the season...

Rosario expected to be cut, Bell speaks

Rosario expected to be cut, Bell speaks
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario is expected to be included in today's cuts. He'll be placed on waivers, and another team can put in a claim and attempt to keep him on the major league roster. If Rosario clears as expected, the Orioles must offer him back to the Brewers for $25,000 or work out a trade. Rosario has a live arm, but he's raw. He allowed two runs and three hits, walked three batters and struck out one in two innings. Rosario's lone decision came in a loss to the...

Bell cut; O's lineup vs. Pirates for Thursday (updated)

Bell cut; O's lineup vs. Pirates for Thursday (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Josh Bell is included in today's cuts. He's been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and told he'll play third base every day. Left-hander Zach Britton hasn't been called into the manager's office and is expected to make another start here. Here's the Orioles' lineup for tonight's 7:05 p.m. game against Pittsburgh: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Felix Pie CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J.Hardy SS Jake Arrieta...

Roster cuts coming today

Roster cuts coming today
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play their second consecutive night game, but they won't do any traveling. The Pirates are coming to Sarasota. I made it back to my hotel from Fort Myers around midnight, so I had no problem staying in bed a little longer this morning. Jake Arrieta will start for the Orioles. He's allowed six runs and 12 hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts, in his last two outings covering 8 1/3 innings. He's posted a 5.40 ERA in 13 1/3 innings this spring, allowing...

Machado debuts in 5-2 loss

Machado debuts in 5-2 loss
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The ninth inning took on special meaning tonight because shortstop Manny Machado stepped to the plate against Twins reliever Chuck James. Of course, it happened while reporters were racing down from the press box to the seats beside the Orioles' dugout. Machado grounded to short in the Orioles' 5-2 loss at Hammond Stadium. Nervous? "No, not really," he said. "I was just a little too patient." Machado, the third overall pick in last June's draft, didn't know he...