More memories from days covering Orioles spring training

More memories from days covering Orioles spring training
Because major league spring training remains delayed and I'm stuck at home for an indefinite period - I'd definitely like to know for how long - I must live vicariously through myself. Oh, the memories. I loved the city of Fort Lauderdale and the proximity to South Beach. I had my favorite spots to eat and drink and made lots of friends. I didn't care for the small complex, the flooded dugouts and clubhouse after heavy rains, the limited space, the ballpark lights that didn't work, the...

Bullpen remains intact tonight (O's lead 3-2)

Bullpen remains intact tonight (O's lead 3-2)
The Orioles didn't need to make a roster move tonight to bring up another reliever. Though Mike Wright worked on back-to-back nights and won't pitch tonight, Ubaldo Jiménez informed manager Buck Showalter that he's available. Jiménez hasn't pitched since Sunday afternoon in Houston, when he covered the last six innings. Wright threw 17 pitches on Wednesday and 26 last night. "Physically, he was fine. He felt better yesterday," Showalter said. "If he hadn't been able to do that...

Orioles release Bourn again (O's down 4-1)

Orioles release Bourn again (O's down 4-1)
The Orioles released outfielder Michael Bourn from his minor league contract today, making him a free agent who can sign with any team. Bourn reached the opt-out date on his deal and the Orioles didn't have a spot for him on their four-man bench. He was batting .220/.373/.317 in 11 games. Bourn re-signed with the Orioles on Feb. 22, was released on March 27 after breaking his right ring finger in spring training and signed again on April 11. The broken finger occurred while Bourn was catching...

Jiménez's spot in rotation, alternatives (O's down 2-0)

Jiménez's spot in rotation, alternatives (O's down 2-0)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter knew it wouldn't take long today for reporters to deliver the first question about Ubaldo Jiménez's status in the rotation and on the roster. Asked whether he might tweak his rotation by skipping a starter due to Thursday's off-day, Showalter replied, "Are you talking about Jiménez?" Well, as long as you mention him ... "You brought it up, really, because that's where we're going," Showalter said. "I'm going to give these guys the extra day with...

Notes on Jiménez, Asher, Verrett and more

Notes on Jiménez, Asher, Verrett and more
Ubaldo Jiménez is tentatively scheduled to make his start Sunday afternoon against the Astros in Houston. Whether he actually takes the mound remains in question. Manager Buck Showalter said he wants to use Thursday's off-day to provide extra rest for his starters, including Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy, which means he won't do much tweaking with the rotation. "Ubaldo's next start is Sunday," Showalter said, "and we'll see where we are when we get there." Jiménez is under heavy...

Flaherty receives PRP injection in shoulder (plus other notes)

Flaherty receives PRP injection in shoulder (plus other notes)
Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty will have a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder today and head down to Sarasota to rehab. Flaherty figures to be out at least two weeks. He won't make the 10-day disabled list period. Flaherty said earlier today that doctors were determining whether the strain was in his rotator cuff or lat. "There's something going on," he said. "Hopefully, it won't take too long. They don't think it's that bad, but obviously it hasn't gotten better...

Pitching in with ideas for the bullpen (updated with Crichton)

Pitching in with ideas for the bullpen (updated with Crichton)
DETROIT - Without a pair of cheaters in my laptop bag, it was a little more difficult yesterday to read between the lines as the Orioles made another roster move. The Orioles are holding onto three catchers, but not for long. They're expected to part with Francisco Peña today - later than anticipated - and add a seventh reliever after carrying an expanded bench through the first 37 games of the season. A second fresh arm could be added after manager Buck Showalter used up everyone last...

Can Orioles sustain a six-man bullpen?

Can Orioles sustain a six-man bullpen?
The Orioles head into tonight's game in Kansas City maintaining their six-man bullpen, which isn't always going to be fully stocked. There have been empty spaces of late, which is impacting games and bringing into question how much longer the Orioles can go with their expanded five-man bench. Manager Buck Showalter indicated to reporters last night that he didn't want to use two relievers and was holding back a third for a save situation. Showalter mentioned in D.C. that he wanted to rest...

Last night's gamble and thoughts on Bourn, Kim and more

Last night's gamble and thoughts on Bourn, Kim and more
Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't certain last night whether the Orioles would regret leaving their bullpen intact with the Nationals in town. Alec Asher wasn't available after working 3 1/3 innings the previous day and another early exit from Kevin Gausman could bring serious complications. It's not like the Nationals have many soft spots in their lineup. They led the majors in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and runs scored and were second in home runs....

Wondering what Gausman can bring into this start (O's up 6-2)

Wondering what Gausman can bring into this start (O's up 6-2)
There are no splits online to determine how Kevin Gausman has fared after throwing 20 pitches and being ejected for hitting a batter with a curveball. And I searched everywhere for it. Gausman is working on "normal" rest tonight, if that's the appropriate word for it. He hasn't started since Wednesday night in Boston, when a 77 mph bender smacked Xander Bogaerts on the backside and plate umpire Sam Holbrook reacted as through Gausman planted a 98 mph fastball between the numbers and...

Notes on Schoop, Tillman, Britton, Peña, Asher and more

Notes on Schoop, Tillman, Britton, Peña, Asher and more
Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't post his lineup today until second baseman Jonathan Schoop takes batting practice. Schoop has missed the last two games with swelling and discomfort in his right hand after being hit by a pitch Friday night against the White Sox. He played catch with Manny Machado this afternoon and will hit and perform infield drills. Showalter said Chris Tillman feels good after working five scoreless innings yesterday in his season debut. Closer Zach Britton's...

Crichton optioned to Norfolk, updating Schoop's hand

Crichton optioned to Norfolk, updating Schoop's hand
The Orioles optioned Stefan Crichton to Triple-A Norfolk this morning to make room for Chris Tillman on the 25-man roster. Tillman came off the disabled list to make today's start against the White Sox. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop remains out of the lineup with some swelling his right hand. "A little better," said manager Buck Showalter. "We have to do some things with the lineup so we're covered in case there's a problem. I'm sure you all thought about last night if Schoop couldn't...

Injury updates, roster moves and Hardy's slump (O's lead 8-3)

Injury updates, roster moves and Hardy's slump (O's lead 8-3)
BOSTON - Orioles top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Friday as he recovers from ligament-reconstructive surgery in his right elbow. "It will be good to get him back out there," said manager Buck Showalter. "We had hoped he'd make it back by June, so he's right on schedule." Outfielder Michael Bourn played nine innings today at extended spring training and should be reporting soon to Triple-A Norfolk. I wrote earlier that Double-A Bowie catcher...

Because You Asked - The New Batch

Because You Asked - The New Batch
The mailbag is full again, though I'm estimating that three-fourths of it is occupied by weather-based questions. If this is any help, the latest forecast in New York calls for a high temperature of 78 degrees for Friday's series opener against the Yankees, with a 20 percent chance of rain. There's a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms on Saturday with a high temperature of 82, but it's not supposed to get above 63 degrees on Sunday, with no rain anticipated. Weather.com threw me a few days...

Early notes from Camden Yards

Early notes from Camden Yards
The tarp is on the field at Camden Yards and batting practice again has been canceled. There's a reason why ballparks have indoor cages. It's not raining at the moment. Manager Buck Showalter said the forecast is similar to last night and the Orioles will try to play. It won't be comfortable - Showalter said rain was blowing into the dugout last night and there was no escaping it - but every attempt will be made to avoid a postponement. Closer Zach Britton will throw a bullpen session on...

Game status, Bourn, Tillman, Joseph on Aquino (O's up 4-2)

Game status, Bourn, Tillman, Joseph on Aquino (O's up 4-2)
Tonight's game is expected to start at approximately 7:30 p.m. following a brief delay caused by a light rain at Camden Yards. Outfielder Michael Bourn, who broke the ring finger on his right hand two months ago, will play in his first extended spring training game on Tuesday in Sarasota. Bourn has been working out after signing a restructured minor league deal with the Orioles. Chris Tillman has thrown three innings for Double-A Bowie in Harrisburg and allowed three runs and four hits,...

Britton ready to resume throwing on Monday (and other notes)

Britton ready to resume throwing on Monday (and other notes)
Orioles closer Zach Britton could start throwing again on Monday after seeing a hand specialist in the morning. Britton said his arm feels great and he was happy with the results of the MRI. He no longer has any discomfort in his forearm and wants to throw today, but the Orioles will make him wait a few more days. Chris Tillman's next rehab start after tonight will be Thursday with Single-A Frederick at Potomac. The Orioles won't need a fifth starter again until May 2, and Tillman could fill...

Notes on Asher, D. Álvarez, Bourn, 40-man and more

Notes on Asher, D. Álvarez, Bourn, 40-man and more
With their competition for the fifth starter's spot reduced to two pitchers occupying the first two spots on an alphabetical list, the Orioles chose the one who would stay in turn and produced the best results at Triple-A Norfolk in an extremely short sample size. Their selection also rewarded the newcomer, a right-hander who joined the organization less than a week before the Orioles broke camp. Alec Asher was acquired from the Phillies on March 28 for the always popular "player to be...

Showalter on addition of Crichton, decision to start Asher Saturday

Showalter on addition of Crichton, decision to start Asher Saturday
TORONTO - The thought process was that the Orioles might remove a pitcher from their roster to get right-hander Alec Asher active to make a start here on Saturday against Toronto. Well, there were two pitching moves today, even before the Orioles have to make a roster move to add Asher. The Orioles today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Stefan Crichton from Triple-A Norfolk, adding him to the 25- and 40-man rosters. To make roster room, right-hander Oliver Drake was designated for...

Notes on minor league signings, fifth starter and more

Notes on minor league signings, fifth starter and more
BOSTON - In searching for accomplishments from the Orioles last night, consider that Chris Tillman's right shoulder felt good during his two-inning start at extended spring training and Joey Rickard's left middle finger is healing faster than anticipated, and how outfielder Michael Bourn and former outfielder Dariel Álvarez were re-signed to minor league contracts. One loss to the Red Sox, but not a total loss if you go searching for gains. Bourn's right ring finger is healing nicely and...