Tatum sits and waits

Tatum sits and waits
TAMPA, Fla. - Craig Tatum doesn't like missing games unless it's part of his life as a backup catcher. Tatum remains shut down with tightness in his right oblique. He hopes to take batting practice tomorrow. Tatum sustained the injury while slipping on the plate during an infield drill, and he aggravated it while rounding third base in Saturday's game in Kissimmee. "Buck (Showalter) asked me if I could play and I was like, 'Yeah, I can play.' And they were like, 'We're going to shut...
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More injury updates (updated)

More injury updates (updated)
TAMPA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Brian Roberts, Derrek Lee and Koji Uehara could appear in games this weekend. Roberts hit off a tee from both sides of the "plate" and is encouraged by his progression. Lee didn't take live bating practice, instead hitting soft toss, but it could happen tomorrow. His debut is tentatively set for this weekend. Koji Uehara had another positive bullpen session and is close to appearing in his second spring game. "I've got all three...

Tonight's lineups

Tonight's lineups
SARASOTA, Fla. - For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Josh Bell 1B Cesar Izturis SS Jim Johnson RHP No, the Orioles aren't considering a role change for Johnson. It's just a bullpen game while Jeremy Guthrie threw five innings against a bunch of Red Sox Triple-A hitters at Twins Lake Park. Guthrie allowed two runs and six hits, with two walks and one strikeout. He induced three double play...

Reynolds trying to get untracked

Reynolds trying to get untracked
SARASOTA, Fla. - After a nice stretch of home cooking, the Orioles hit the road again for another game played under the lights. The clubhouse opens to the media at 2 p.m. and I'll be Tampa-bound about an hour later for tonight's matchup with the Yankees. Since Jeremy Guthrie is getting his innings at the minor league complex, the Orioles will dip into their bullpen for tonight's game. Jim Johnson, Rick VandenHurk, Mark Hendrickson, Michael Gonzalez, David Riske and Clay Rapada are making...

Final thoughts on 14-8 loss

Final thoughts on 14-8 loss
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles didn't go down quietly in the ninth, scoring four runs in a 14-8 loss to the Astros before 5,262. Robert Andino hit a two-run homer, Nolan Reimold and Michel Hernandez doubled, and Ryan Adams stroked an RBI single. Manager Buck Showalter noted that Brad Bergesen's command "wasn't real good." "He had one good inning. Got his work in, got his pitch count up a little bit. We'd like to see him be a little more sharp, but at this stage of spring training,...

Hearing from Bergesen and Gregg

Hearing from Bergesen and Gregg
SARASOTA, Fla. - That escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast. It jumped up a notch. The Astros lead the Orioles, 14-4, in the ninth. They're outhitting the Orioles, 15-4. Ryan Drese was charged with five runs and seven hits in three innings. That's no way to compete for a starting job. Kevin Gregg talked about the mechanical adjustment, which didn't prevent him from serving up Brett Wallace's grand slam. (Is it just me, or has Wallace already played for half the...

From bad to worse

From bad to worse
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg allowed five runs (four earned) and three hits, with one walk, in one-third of an inning. Brett Wallace hit a grand slam, and Wynn Pelzer replaced Gregg after a runner reached on an error. Pelzer had his own issues, surrendering a two-run double to Brian Bogusevic and hitting J.R. Towles. Gregg explained later that he made a mechanical adjustment that pitching coach Mark Connor recommended. Gregg was focused on leaning forward, rather than staying back, to get...
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The line on Bergesen

The line on Bergesen
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen was pulled from today's game after four innings and 52 pitches, 26 for strikes. Bergesen faced the minimum number of batters through 3 1/3 innings despite two four-pitch walks, but he allowed back-to-back singles, a sacrifice fly by Jason Michaels and Bill Hall's two-run homer. Astros 3, Orioles 1. Bergesen walked two and struck out one. In his last three starts, Bergesen has allowed nine earned runs and 16 hits, and walked five, in 9 2/3 innings. Kevin...

Fox still mashing (updated twice)

Fox still mashing (updated twice)
SARASOTA, Fla. - I vowed to withhold this blog entry until Jake Fox's ball landed, but I don't have all day. Fox crushed a 1-1 pitch from Astros starter Aneury Rodriguez and cleared everything in left field. Pretty much everything in Sarasota. Fox's fifth spring home run gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. He also has eight RBIs. Manager Buck Showalter gave Fox a start behind the plate and has been rewarded in multiple ways. Fox also threw out Bill Hall trying to steal to end the second...
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More pregame Showalter

More pregame Showalter
SARASOTA, Fla. - I passed along a few quotes from manager Buck Showalter this morning before heading to the clubhouse. Here are a few more: On the results of Justin Duchscherer's MRA and Brian Roberts' MRI: "With him and Robby, there wasn't anything new going on there, but that doesn't mean everything is fine. There's still things that have been a challenge for both of them." On whether Duchscherer has been eliminated from the opening day rotation: "Not yet. But it's certainly in...
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Lee: "It won't be much longer before I'm in a game"

Lee: "It won't be much longer before I'm in a game"
SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee said his wrist felt good after hitting soft tosses, and he'll take live batting practice tomorrow. "It'll be a good test," he said. "If it feels good off coaches' BP, then it won't be much longer before I'm in a game. I just want to make sure I get it right so I can be out here with these guys when it counts." And when will that happen? "No, I am not saying. I got in trouble (with that) last time," he said, grinning. "The doctor gave me...

Roberts starts progression toward opener

Roberts starts progression toward opener
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts returned to the clubhouse after visiting a back specialist today. He described his back as feeling "much better, definitely. Quite a bit better." And he remains hopeful of starting the April 1 opener after assuring reporters following yesterday's MRI that the discomfort wasn't related to his herniated disk. "Saw the doc today and got good, encouraging news, so I'll start to try to progress starting today," Roberts said. "He just said that...

Encouraging news on Roberts, Duchscherer, Lee, Uehara

Encouraging news on Roberts, Duchscherer, Lee, Uehara
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter provided a quick health update during batting practice. It never gets old. Showalter said the MRI on Brian Roberts' back didn't show anything new. He still believes that Roberts, who's visiting a back specialist this morning, could be ready for the April 1 opener. "I'm going to speak to Robby at lunch time," Showalter said. "I know talking to Richie (Bancells) that the MRI was nothing new there to speak of, so that's good news. Hopefully, we're...

Duchscherer update and lineup

Duchscherer update and lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Justin Duchscherer is waiting for the results of yesterday's MRA, but he struck an ominous tone this morning when he compared the stiffness in his left hip to the way it felt before his most recent surgery. "The best I can describe it is it felt like it did last year before I had to have it operated on, so I thought the smart thing to do was not go out there and try to throw three innings when it was already hurting in warmup," he said. "Get some images on it and...

Final thoughts on 8-2 victory

Final thoughts on 8-2 victory
SARASOTA, Fla. - Both teams pounded out 14 hits today, but the Orioles made more of them count. Manager Buck Showalter met with reporters on the field after an 8-2 victory over the Pirates that improved their spring record to 8-7-2. Showalter didn't have any updates on Justin Duchscherer or Brian Roberts. Koji Uehara threw a bullpen session today, will take tomorrow off and will throw on the side again Wednesday. He could pitch in a game by the end of the week. Asked about Jake Arrieta's...

Arrieta talks about outing (updated)

Arrieta talks about outing (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles increased their lead to 7-2 in the seventh inning on Jake Fox's leadoff home run, his fourth this spring, and Matt Angle's RBI single that followed a Nolan Reimold bloop double into left field. Ryan Adams reached on an infield hit in his first at-bat today. Former Oriole Garrett Atkins, batting for the pitcher, flied to center. Update: Nick Green, batting .087 with no homers or RBIs, cleared the left field fence in the eighth. Josh Bell tripled. The Orioles...

Back-to-back web gems

Back-to-back web gems
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Pirates put runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth inning against reliever Jeremy Accardo. They didn't score. They didn't erase a 3-2 deficit. Finally, a little excitement in this game. Pedro Alvarez sent a screaming liner to third baseman Mark Reynolds, who made the catch and lunged at the bag to double off John Bowker. Two outs. Matt Diaz followed with a single into right field. Nick Markakis charged the ball and made a perfect one-hop throw to...

He who hesitates ... (updated)

He who hesitates ... (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis lined a two-out double down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning. He didn't stop there. Well, he sort of did, and then he kept going. Markakis slowed up after rounding second base and was thrown out at third to end the inning. That split second of indecision cost him. Ryan Adams did the same thing in Kissimmee after rounding first base on a single, but he made it to second for the double. Jake Arrieta allowed a leadoff single to Pedro...

Showalter talks about Mahoney

Showalter talks about Mahoney
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter was clearly impressed with first baseman Joe Mahoney, the organization's minor league Player of the Year in 2010 who was cut earlier today. Mahoney was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after going 7-for-17. "One thing you have to realize is this guy went from 250, 260 to 20-something pounds less than he was," Showalter said. "He's done a lot to put himself on the map. Keep in mind he was our minor league Player of the Year. This guy really popped last...

Pregame Showalter, Mahoney cut

Pregame Showalter, Mahoney cut
SARASOTA, Fla. - I'll let manager Buck Showalter pass along the injury updates. Why should I have all the fun? "(Justin) Duchscherer's got a chiropractor today and he's got an MRA at 4 o'clock today," Showalter said. "(Brian) Roberts has an MRI at 3:30. The doctor he's been seeing, he'll see him tomorrow at 9 o'clock when they've got all the pictures and all the stuff to make sure what we're dealing with. We'll have a better idea tomorrow. Derrek Lee hit off the tee today. Went...