Hunter solid in Grapefruit League debut (Jones homers)

Hunter solid in Grapefruit League debut (Jones homers)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Making his first appearance in a major league exhibition game, right-hander Tommy Hunter allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. The Orioles and Blue Jays are tied, 2-2, going to the top of the sixth. Hunter threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes. His fastball was mainly 89-91 mph. It isn't always pretty with Hunter, but manager Buck Showalter likes how he grinds through a start and gives his team a chance to win. The Blue Jays put at...

Roberts more encouraged with each passing day

Roberts more encouraged with each passing day
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been a busy day here in camp, and it doesn't figure to quiet down. The Orioles might make cuts before or after today's game. Stay tuned. Also, we're assuming that Dontrelle Willis threw a bullpen session, but he was doing stretching exercises by the time reporters reached the back fields. Manager Buck Showalter hopped in a golf cart and attempted to get over there in time, but he might have been too late. Pitching coach Rick Adair was on the scene. "He's had some...

Duquette on Dontrelle Willis and the catching situation

Duquette on Dontrelle Willis and the catching situation
SARASOTA, Fla. - Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed today new pitcher Dontrelle Willis will make the transition to left-handed specialist, and will likely have to begin the season in the minors. Willis held left-handers to a .127 average with the Reds last season. "The idea is to see if he can be a lockdown left-handed reliever against left-handed hitters," Duquette said. "Our interest in that project is lefties hit .127 off him last year, and three of the last four years...

Teagarden knows he's "running out of days" to make opening day roster

Teagarden knows he's "running out of days" to make opening day roster
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Taylor Teagarden still hasn't been cleared to start baseball-related activities after receiving an epidural on March 14 to alleviate the pain in his lower back. Teagarden said he hasn't been given a timetable. "Everything depends on how I respond," he said. "The doctor told me it could be two weeks longer or it could be two weeks shorter. It all depends on how I'm responding. "There's no need to rush anything when you're dealing with a back injury. We're...

Dontrelle Willis is in the house

Dontrelle Willis is in the house
SARASOTA, Fla. - There's a new pitcher sitting in catchers row, and he's trying to adapt to a new team and a new role. Dontrelle Willis said he arrived here about three hours ago, already passed his physical and is ready to start working out. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract five days after the Phillies released him and will continue his conversion to relief pitcher. "The opportunity was definitely good and I've played with a bunch of these guys and against these guys, so...

Orioles lineup vs. Jays (Willis is here)

Orioles lineup vs. Jays (Willis is here)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tommy Hunter is making his first start today in a Grapefruit League game. Also, Adam Jones is batting fourth again today. Should we read anything into it? For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF J.J. Hardy SS Wilson Betemit 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP Dontrelle Willis arrived here three hours ago and already took his physical. He'll wear No. 25. Willis confirmed that he'll be used as a...

Orioles to sign Dontrelle Willis to minor league deal (updated twice)

Orioles to sign Dontrelle Willis to minor league deal (updated twice)
SARASOTA, Fla. - In their never-ending search for more starting pitching, the Orioles apparently are on the verge of signing left-hander Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract. The Phillies released Willis last week after he allowed five runs and five hits, and walked four batters, in 2 2/3 innings. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed that the Orioles are working on a minor league deal, but he didn't offer any specifics. Asked if the deal would include a late spring...

Showalter speaks after 4-1 loss

Showalter speaks after 4-1 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter addressed two of the most important postgame topics today: Pitcher Brian Matusz and right fielder Nick Markakis. Showalter noted that Matusz wasn't "as crisp as he was in the two previous outings." "Obviously, the wind helped him a little bit on the one ball, so there's two sides of that," Showalter said. Showalter was impressed with the way Matusz handled adversity today, including the seven hits he allowed in five innings and a ball that hit...

Teagarden hit by liner, Markakis talks about right field debut

Teagarden hit by liner, Markakis talks about right field debut
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Phillies scored one run each off relievers Jim Johnson, Willie Eyre and Zach Phillips over the last three innings to defeat the Orioles, 4-1, before a sellout crowd of 7,811 at Ed Smith Stadium. Adam Jones had two of the Orioles' four hits. Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden, still shut down by discomfort in his lower back, was hit on the back of the left hand by a Ty Wigginton line drive while standing at the dugout railing. X-rays were negative. Teagarden might want to...

Matusz on Matusz

Matusz on Matusz
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Phillies scored once off Willie Eyre in the eighth, and Erik Kratz homered off Zach Phillips in the ninth to increase their lead to 4-1. So how did Brian Matusz rate today's performance, when he allowed one run and seven hits, with one walk and three strikeouts, over five innings? "Good," he said. "Being able to go as deep as I could, getting a lot of ground balls, double plays. Defense played great today. J.J. (Hardy) and (Robert) Andino up the middle are phenomenal,...

Matusz allows one run in five innings (O's trail 2-1)

Matusz allows one run in five innings (O's trail 2-1)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz wasn't especially sharp today, allowing seven hits and walking his first spring batter over five innings, but the damage was minimal. The Phillies managed only one run, on former Oriole Ty Wigginton's single in the first inning that scored former Oriole Lou Montanez. Matusz was aided by three double plays over the first three innings. Matusz struck out three batters, raising his spring total to 16 over 15 innings. In his last three starts, Matusz...

Talking injuries with Britton and O'Day

Talking injuries with Britton and O'Day
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton is convinced that he knows what isn't wrong with his left shoulder. The trick is finding out what's causing the inflammation. Britton hopes to get a definitive answer on Wednesday when he's examined by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. "I just want to get someone else to look at it," he said. "We've done treatment since August on it and some of the same issues keep popping back up, so I want to see what he has to say. Obviously, he's seen thousands of...

Britton to see Dr. Andrews on Wednesday

Britton to see Dr. Andrews on Wednesday
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Zach Britton has scheduled an appointment with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday in Pensacola, Fla. Britton hasn't pitched since Thursday in a minor league game because of inflammation in his left shoulder. He was scratched from Monday's start at Twin Lakes Park. Orioles orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens has been in contact with Andrews, who will examine Britton's MRI taken on Feb. 8. Britton says there's no tear in his shoulder, and...

Orioles and Phillies lineups

Orioles and Phillies lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis is making his first start in right field this spring. That's a big step from serving as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF Nick Johnson DH Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP I'll pass along the other pitchers later. For the Phillies: Galvis 2B Montanez LF Pence RF Wigginton 1B Mayberry CF Ruiz C Frandsen 3B Martinez SS Halladay RHP No DH for the...

While waiting for the lineup ...

While waiting for the lineup ...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are having another meeting this morning, this one involving the Major League Baseball Players Association, so the clubhouse is closed to the media until batting practice ends around 11:30 a.m. Jeremy Guthrie used to be the Orioles' rep, but he's gone. We're not sure who has taken his place. Sidney Ponson was the rep for one year. Seriously. I haven't seen a lineup posted, but Brian Matusz will oppose the Phillies' Roy Halladay. And you can bet that most of...

Arrieta goes four innings in minor league game

Arrieta goes four innings in minor league game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta recorded 16 outs in four innings in today's game against the Minnesota Twins' Single-A team at Twin Lakes Park. He stayed on the mound for two extra outs in the first and third innings to increase his pitch count, which stood at 63 - including 45 strikes - once he was finished. Arrieta gave up two singles in the second inning. His defense committed two errors behind him in the fourth, which also kept him on the mound. His fastball was 94-95 mph. "Today was...

Pitching a fit over the rotation

Pitching a fit over the rotation
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are off today for the only time this spring, and unlike last year, manager Buck Showalter hasn't arranged an intrasquad game to keep us busy. However, Jake Arrieta is scheduled to throw four innings at the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park, so I'll be heading over there around noon to make sure his arm doesn't fall off. Would it surprise anyone? The pitching news here goes from good to bad within hours. One guy progresses and another guy regresses. The...

Britton scratched from Monday's start

Britton scratched from Monday's start
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Zach Britton has been scratched from Monday afternoon's start at the minor league complex because of a sore left shoulder. Britton was supposed to go three innings in a Single-A game at Twin Lakes Park, but he's bothered by inflammation in the shoulder. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens examined him today. The Orioles will know more about Britton's condition and future availability on Tuesday. Britton threw two innings and 31 pitches Thursday in a game...

Simon reinjures groin (O's lead 6-1)

Simon reinjures groin (O's lead 6-1)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Simon was supposed to throw 60-65 pitches tonight, but he tweaked his groin again in the second inning and didn't return for the third. Simon was pitching for the first time since March 10. He's totaled seven innings in three outings. "The thing is my groin was bothering me a little bit in the second inning," he said. "They asked me if I hurt myself a little bit and I said, 'Yes.' I feel strong, but in the second inning I tweaked my groin, so I stopped, and...

The Wright stuff

The Wright stuff
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter didn't bring Mike Wright here to serve only as an extra arm late in a split-squad game. Wright, the third-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina, replaced Luis Ayala to begin the fourth inning tonight and faced Mark Teixeira, Raul Ibanez and Bill Hall. So much for mop-up duty. Wright struck out Teixeira and Hall and retired Ibanez on a pop up. His fastball registered 92-93 mph. He wasn't done. Showalter kept him in the...