Notes on Tillman, Reimold and Valencia

Notes on Tillman, Reimold and Valencia
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman threw 36 pitches in two innings yesterday at Twin Lakes Park and said he "felt great." No more discomfort in his abdomen. "Physically, I felt great. No problems pitching at all. Good to go," he said. The rest of his schedule remains unclear. "I don't know where we're going from here," he said. "I haven't talked to anybody yet." Nolan Reimold is still expected to play left field Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. He continues with a...

Bundy views time in camp as "another step for me"

Bundy views time in camp as "another step for me"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy is sitting at his locker this morning. He's still in camp, but not for long. The Orioles optioned Bundy to Double-A Bowie yesterday, which requires him to report to Twin Lakes Park and prepare to pitch for the Baysox. "Obviously, I didn't break camp, so I need to go down there and get more innings in and hopefully build up a workload to start the season," he said. "I've got a bullpen today, so I'd imagine that I'd start in one or two days. I don't know....

Orioles lineups for split-squad games

Orioles lineups for split-squad games
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are posting two lineups today because they're playing two games. They're home against the Minnesota Twins - a game that will air on MASN - and in Clearwater to take on the Philadelphia Phillies. For the Orioles at home: Brian Roberts 2B Manny Machado 3B Nate McLouth CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Conor Jackson DH Chris Dickerson RF Lew Ford LF Steve Johnson RHP Jair Jurrjens, Jim Johnson, Darren O'Day, Tim Bascom and Pat Egan are also listed as...

Now it's Steve Johnson's turn

Now it's Steve Johnson's turn
SARASOTA, Fla. - Now that Jake Arrieta has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings in his last two starts, Steve Johnson gets his chance today to complicate manager Buck Showalter's decision regarding the back end of the rotation. Arrieta most likely has become the favorite for the job, though he's still prone to falling behind in the count. The Orioles need him to throw more strikes. Johnson wasn't happy with his last Grapefruit League outing on March 5, when he allowed two runs and two hits in...

Bundy move expected and unexpected

Bundy move expected and unexpected
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's announcement that that Orioles optioned Dylan Bundy to Double-A Bowie was inevitable. It just didn't appear to be imminent. The Orioles weren't going to plug Bundy into their rotation or bullpen coming out of spring training. He's been projected to begin the 2013 season with the Baysox. It's been written here all winter and before the open of camp. The rotation at Triple-A Norfolk will be crowded, but the Orioles can make room later this summer or leapfrog Bundy...

More on Gonzalez's outing, McFarland's improvement and Wada's recovery

More on Gonzalez's outing, McFarland's improvement and Wada's recovery
SARASOTA, Fla. - No sign of Adam Jones in the clubhouse this morning following Team USA's elimination last night in the World Baseball Classic. Manager Buck Showalter had indicated that he would give Jones a few days off. Chris Tillman will throw two innings today at Twin Lakes Park, his first game action since being scratched from his last start because of abdominal soreness. He hasn't pitched since he allowed two runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings on March 3 against the Philadelphia...

Reimold at DH, Martinez making trip

Reimold at DH, Martinez making trip
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold will serve as the designated hitter again today, as the Orioles travel to Dunedin for a third time this spring to play the Toronto Blue Jays. Catcher Luis Martinez, who had been sidelined by a strained left oblique, is making the trip. Manager Buck Showalter wants to give him some innings and evaluate him. Taylor Teagarden is starting behind the plate. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla SS Lew Ford CF Nolan Reimold DH Conor Jackson 1B Steve Pearce RF Taylor...

Now it's Arrieta's turn

Now it's Arrieta's turn
SARASOTA, Fla. - The competition for the last spot in the Orioles rotation heats up again today with Jake Arrieta taking the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. Everyone here would appreciate a little heat. We're enduring another chilly morning, which brings little sympathy from my friends up north. Arrieta was fantastic in his last start, blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates on two hits, walking none and striking out five in four innings. The only criticism was his ball/strike...

Orioles trade Michael Flacco, more from today's game

Orioles trade Michael Flacco, more from today's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - You can't keep the Flaccos out of the news these days. The Orioles announced this afternoon that they traded minor league infielder Michael Flacco to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations or a player to be named later. His brother, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco recently signed a six-year contract worth $120.6 million that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history. At least the Orioles aren't having salary cap issues. And now, New England can boast that it has a...

More on Roberts and Britton (Flaherty homers for 3-3 tie)

More on Roberts and Britton (Flaherty homers for 3-3 tie)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts was thrown out trying to steal second base after his RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning. He went into the bag feet-first. Let that be a lesson. Roberts' single tied the game, 1-1, and followed Bryce Brentz's home run off Luis Ayala that briefly gave Boston the lead. Ayala struck out one batter. Roberts is 2-for-3 today and 10-for-27 this spring. Nate McLouth, leading off today, has doubled, walked and stolen a base. T.J. McFarland got three...

Roberts takes a dive (Britton update)

Roberts takes a dive (Britton update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts doesn't think about how he's going to approach second base on a steal attempt. It just happens. Roberts dived into the bag in the bottom of the first inning, as he normally does, for his first stolen base of the spring. He had singled with one out, his ninth hit in 25 at-bats. The Orioles need to find out whether Roberts can withstand the pounding of playing second base and running the bases. The concussion symptoms returned in May 2011 after he dived into...

Showalter still undecided on leadoff hitter

Showalter still undecided on leadoff hitter
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate McLouth is leading off and playing center field today, with Brian Roberts batting second. In other games, Roberts has hit first and McLouth has batted second or lower. Roberts has been the Orioles' leadoff hitter when healthy, but manager Buck Showalter claims that he hasn't made a decision for this season. It could be Roberts, McLouth or Nick Markakis. Nolan Reimold moved to the top of the order in April. There's no shortage of candidates. "I'm still looking at...

Looking ahead at the pitching schedule

Looking ahead at the pitching schedule
SARASOTA, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez is scheduled to throw four innings today at the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park. Manager Buck Showalter prefers to keep his projected starters away from the Orioles' division rivals, though there's plenty of video floating around these days. Zach Britton, T.J. McFarland, Luis Ayala and Mark Hendrickson will pitch today against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. The Red Sox brought Clayton Mortenson, Alex Wilson, Chris Hernandez and former Orioles...

Orioles lineup against the Red Sox and Tillman update (and more)

Orioles lineup against the Red Sox and Tillman update (and more)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate McLouth will lead off and play center field today against the Boston Red Sox. Brian Roberts is batting second. Wilson Betemit, who started at third base yesterday, is the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth CF Brian Roberts 2B Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Wilson Betemit DH Manny Machado 3B Chris Dickerson RF Lew Ford LF Zach Britton LHP Chris Tillman's bullpen session went well yesterday and he's scheduled to throw two innings Saturday at...

Spring training leftovers for breakfast

Spring training leftovers for breakfast
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro is one of the many connections made by executive vice president Dan Duquette that may pay off for the Orioles. Niekro is working for the Orioles as a consultant of sorts, as he mentors knuckleballer Zach Staniewicz at the Twin Lakes Park complex. Long story short: The Orioles signed Staniewicz, 26, after Niekro recommended him to Duquette. Staniewicz went to Atlanta on his own to work out with Niekro, who later contacted Duquette and said that...

More on Clayton Tanner signing

More on Clayton Tanner signing
SARASOTA, Fla. - Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed that the Orioles signed Clayton Tanner to a minor league deal and will assign him to Twin Lakes Park, where he will attempt to land a job at Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk. "He should be in town soon," Duquette said. Tanner, 25, signed the deal on Sunday, after the Orioles received permission from the Australian Baseball Federation. They scouted Tanner while he pitched for Australia in the World Baseball Classic. "He...

Showalter speaks after 4-3 loss

Showalter speaks after 4-3 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter didn't dispute the call from home plate umpire John Hirschbeck that allowed Tampa Bay's Wil Myers to score in the ninth inning and break a 3-3 tie. Catcher Luis Exposito was charged with interference, and an error, for using his mask to corral the ball. The issue for Showalter is the lack of intent. Exposito wasn't gaining an advantage only a few feet from the plate. It's a silly rule. As for the pitching, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy combined for 5...

Orioles sign Clayton Tanner to minor league deal, O's lose 4-3

Orioles sign Clayton Tanner to minor league deal, O's lose 4-3
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed left-hander Clayton Tanner to a minor league deal after scouting him with Australia in the World Baseball Classic. Tanner, 25, is a former third-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He was 0-2 with an 8.40 ERA and 50 hits allowed in 30 innings over 12 games, including four starts, with Triple-A Fresno last year, and 1-3 with a 4.08 ERA in 30 relief appearances with Double-A Pensacola. In seven minor league...

Game update and Gausman on his outing (updated)

Game update and Gausman on his outing (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters hit a three-run homer off Tampa Bay's Juan Sandoval in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game 3-3. Nolan Reimold singled and Nate McLouth drew his second walk before Wieters launched a ball over the center field fence. Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day each tossed a scoreless inning. Johnson allowed a leadoff single and O'Day gave up a one-out double. No harm done. Dylan Bundy finally entered the game in the top of the seventh and retired the side in order...

Gausman charged with two runs (updated)

Gausman charged with two runs (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman couldn't build on his impressive outing in Fort Myers. Gausman was charged with two runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in his first start of the spring. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out two. Manager Buck Showalter took the ball from Gausman after Evan Longoria's RBI double with two outs in the third inning broke a scoreless tie. Former Oriole Luke Scott greeted Mike Belfiore with a long two-run homer to right-center field, tagging...