Orioles-Cardinals lineups in Jupiter

Orioles-Cardinals lineups in Jupiter
JUPITER, Fla. - The Orioles are sparing the majority of their regulars the long trip to Jupiter today. Jonathan Schoop is at second and Everth Cabrera is playing shortstop while leading off for this afternoon's game against the Cardinals. Bud Norris is making his second spring start after allowing four runs on four hits in one inning his first time out. J.P. Arencibia will start behind the plate. The reserves making the trip are Steve Clevenger, Ryan Flaherty, David Lough, Chris Parmelee,...

Darren O'Day: "I'd like to come back, for sure"

Darren O'Day: "I'd like to come back, for sure"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The last time that the Orioles were faced with a decision regarding Darren O'Day's contract, the reliever avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with an option for 2015. O'Day received $2.2 million in 2013 and $3.2 million in 2014, and the Orioles exercised his $4.25 million option for this season. Here we are again. O'Day is one of 11 pending free agents on the roster and unsure whether the Orioles will negotiate another multi-year deal. So far, there...

Wrapping up a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays (Gamboa optioned)

Wrapping up a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays (Gamboa optioned)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles optioned knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa to Triple-A Norfolk following today's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays. Gamboa allowed two runs in the ninth inning today and six runs in three spring innings. With this move, the Orioles now have 51 players in camp, including 12 non-roster invitees. Gamboa threw 18 pitches today, all of them knuckleballs. "He kind of rushed a little bit," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's such a feel thing. It will be better when he gets to where...

Game update and Gonzalez on Gonzalez (O's fall 5-2)

Game update and Gonzalez on Gonzalez (O's fall 5-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 2 Recap: Miguel Gonzalez joined Wei-Yin Chen as the only Orioles starters to go three innings this spring. Gonzalez allowed two runs in the first and retired the last seven batters he faced, striking out one. Wesley Wright retired the first four batters before back-to-back doubles by Josh Thole and Munenori Kawasaki in the fifth increased Toronto's lead to 3-0. Mike Wright retired the side in order in the sixth and Zach Britton did the same in the...

Gonzalez goes three innings (O's down 3-0)

Gonzalez goes three innings (O's down 3-0)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles now have two starters who have gone three innings this spring. Miguel Gonzalez retired the last seven batters he faced and left with the Blue Jays ahead 2-0. He gave up back-to-back singles to Jose Reyes and Ramon Santiago leading off the first, and the runs scored on a Justin Smoak grounder and Kevin Pillar double. Second baseman Everth Cabrera bobbled Smoak's grounder and flipped the ball to first. Former Oriole Chris Dickerson grounded out to end the inning, and...

More morning notes from Sarasota

More morning notes from Sarasota
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman is scheduled to start Saturday's 2 p.m. game against the Puerto Rico Development Program on Field 4 at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles also will be playing the Rays in a 1:05 p.m. Grapefruit League game on the stadium field. Kevin Gausman is expected to get the start. Manager Buck Showalter said he's not hiding Tillman from the Rays, who again serve as the Orioles' opening day opponent April 6 at Tropicana Field. He said it has more to do with...

Morning notes on Webb, Johnson and Cabrera

Morning notes on Webb, Johnson and Cabrera
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Ryan Webb continues to receive treatment on his left knee and said he's hopeful that the swelling will be gone within the next few days. It may not be realistic to expect Webb to pitch this weekend, considering that he hasn't thrown a ball since Sunday's workout. Steve Johnson retired the side in order yesterday after a rough debut against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, when he allowed a tie-breaking run to score in a 5-4 loss. Johnson surrendered a hit and an...

Orioles lineup vs. Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Jays
SARASOTA, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez makes his second start of the spring today, again facing the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium. Gonzalez tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his March 5 debut. Chris Davis is back in right field and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. The bullpen includes Zach Britton, Wesley Wright, Mike Wright, Darren O'Day and Eddie Gamboa. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Steve Pearce 1B Manny Machado...

No longer faced with free agency, Hardy wonders if O's can extend successful run

No longer faced with free agency, Hardy wonders if O's can extend successful run
SARASOTA, Fla. - Shortstop J.J. Hardy occupies the same locker in spring training this year, at the end of a long row of position players that includes most of the projected starters. He sat in a chair with his arms folded yesterday, scanning the room as he often does. The scene appears familiar, but it's a much different camp for Hardy after he signed a three-year extension in October. He's not approached each day by reporters seeking updates on negotiations. He's not simmering beneath the...

Hearing from Showalter after 3-1 win over Yankees

Hearing from Showalter after 3-1 win over Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have agreed to terms with 16 players on one-year contracts. All players currently on the 40-man roster are now signed for 2015. The list includes pitchers Brad Brach, Jason Garcia, Kevin Gausman, Logan Verrett, Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright, Tim Berry and T.J. McFarland, catchers Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph, infielders Manny Machado, Jimmy Paredes, Jonathan Schoop and Christian Walker, and outfielders David Lough and Henry Urrutia. Machado has his contract renewed...

Chen breaks out new changeup (O's win 3-1)

Chen breaks out new changeup (O's win 3-1)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 3, Yankees 1 Recap: The Orioles had scored one run in 22 innings before taking a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. Jonathan Schoop doubled to score Ryan Lavarnway and Manny Machado followed with his third hit of the day, an RBI single. Machado also stole a base today. Jonathan Schoop doubled twice and Rey Navarro hit a solo home run. Wei-Yin Chen became the first Oriole to work three innings this spring and blanked the Yankees on one hit. Chen threw 12 of his 16...

Chen with three more scoreless innings

Chen with three more scoreless innings
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen became the first Orioles pitcher today to work three innings this spring, shutting out the Yankees on one hit. Kevin Gausman replaced Chen in the fourth and escaped a jam after allowing back-to-back singles to Chase Headley and Mark Teixeira. J.R. Murphy grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and Jose Pirela bounced to short. Gausman will return for the fifth after working only one inning in his spring debut. Chen walked a batter and struck out two. He threw...

Pregame notes from Sarasota

Pregame notes from Sarasota
SARASOTA, Fla. - Not much news coming out of Orioles camp this morning. Manager Buck Showalter said reliever Ryan Webb remains day-to-day with a sore left knee. The swelling has gone down slightly and Webb could be available to pitch Friday in Dunedin or Saturday in Sarasota. Showalter could make a few cuts later today, depending on whether he meets with executive vice president Dan Duquette. "If I don't get a chance to talk to him, I'm not going to do it," Showalter said. The Orioles...

Wieters: "I have no idea what the future will hold"

Wieters: "I have no idea what the future will hold"
SARASOTA, Fla. - As Matt Wieters keeps progressing toward his first exhibition start behind the plate, he continues to push thoughts of free agency out of his mind. Wieters said there have been no extension talks between the Orioles and agent Scott Boras, which shouldn't be viewed as a revelation of any sort. It seems a foregone conclusion in the industry, and certainly within the organization, that Wieters will test the market following the season. "That's the thing is, you never know,"...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is leading off today and Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate for the Orioles in their game against the Yankees. Travis Snider is in left field and Delmon Young is in right. Matt Wieters remains the designated hitter. The bullpen behind starter Wei-Yin Chen includes Kevin Gausman, Jason Garcia, Tommy Hunter, Steve Johnson, Logan Verrett and Chaz Roe. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Delmon Young RF Travis...

Britton: "I guess if they're beating the ball in the ground, that's good"

Britton: "I guess if they're beating the ball in the ground, that's good"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will try to locate their offense this afternoon when the Yankees visit Ed Smith Stadium. One run in the last two games won't bring many wins. How's that for morning analysis? Don't slip into a panic. The pitchers usually are ahead of the hitters at this stage, and the Orioles aren't sending out their A lineup in every game. Matt Wieters went 0-for-3 with a walk yesterday and is hitless in 13 at-bats. The good news? He's already got 13 at-bats under his belt and...

Showalter speaks after 1-0 loss to Phillies

Showalter speaks after 1-0 loss to Phillies
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have scored one run in their last two games, losing 1-0 to the Phillies today at Ed Smith Stadium. Manager Buck Showalter was impressed again with his pitching. Brian Matusz allowed the only run on Andres Blanco's homer in the fifth. Matusz threw two scoreless innings before coming back out. Chris Tillman and Tyler Wilson each registered two scoreless innings. Darren O'Day retired the Phillies in order in the ninth. "Tyler was really good again," Showalter...

Ryan Webb MRI doesn't reveal structural damage to knee

Ryan Webb MRI doesn't reveal structural damage to knee
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Ryan Webb had an MRI on his left knee today that didn't reveal any structural damage. He's got some swelling and is day-to-day. Webb was told that he had an allergic reaction to the ice, which caused swelling in the knee. Lesson learned. The discomfort surfaced yesterday while Webb was throwing on flat ground. "I was just playing catch and it kind of came up feeling a little funny for a second," he said. "I was shaking it out and finished playing catch, finished...

Game update and quotes from Chris Tillman (O's lose 1-0)

Game update and quotes from Chris Tillman (O's lose 1-0)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Phillies 1, Orioles 0 Recap: Chris Tillman threw 32 pitches in two scoreless innings and headed to the bullpen to increase his count. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one. Brian Matusz followed with two scoreless innings before coming back out in the fifth and serving up a home run to Andres Blanco. Matusz struck out four batters in 2 1/3 innings. Zach Britton allowed his first two baserunners of the spring in the sixth on a hit batter and a single, but he...

Orioles make first camp cuts

Orioles make first camp cuts
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made their first round of spring training cuts today, optioning pitcher Oliver Drake to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning catcher Brian Ward, infielder Michael Almanzar and pitchers Chris Jones and Dane De La Rosa to minor league camp. Non-roster players are reassigned. Players on the 40-man roster are optioned. Drake allowed four earned runs over 1 1/3 innings in two appearances. Ward was 2-for-4, Almanzar was 2-for-5 and Jones allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings in...