Phillies lineup and Hammel update

Phillies lineup and Hammel update
SARASOTA, Fla. - Antonio Bastardo is arriving in Sarasota later today with the Philadelphia Phillies, so you know it's going to be a good day. Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen gets to pitch in a Grapefruit League game, which hasn't happened since March 8. He's only done it twice this spring. Jim Johnson and Darren O'Day also are scheduled to pitch today. For the Phillies: Ben Revere CF Jimmy Rollins SS Chase Utley 2B Ryan Howard 1B Michael Young 3B Domonic Brown RF John Mayberry LF Steve...

Hammel not pleased with his outing today in Clearwater (O's lose 5-3)

Hammel not pleased with his outing today in Clearwater (O's lose 5-3)
CLEARWATER, Fla. - After throwing 60 pitches in his last outing, which was a simulated game at camp, Jason Hammel gave up four runs today as he bumped his pitch count up to 77 against the Phillies. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and four runs, with one walk and three strikeouts. He gave up a two-run homer on a change-up to Freddy Galvis in the last of the fifth and left the game after recording one more out. Hammel was happy with his two-seam fastball today, but definitely not happy...

Pearce hits team-leading fourth homer as O's take lead in Clearwater (Hammel now out)

Pearce hits team-leading fourth homer as O's take lead in Clearwater (Hammel now out)
CLEARWATER, Fla. - An Orioles split squad has taken the early 1-0 lead on Philadephia at Bright House Field in their second meeting this spring with the Phillies. Jason Hammel is making just his third start in an official spring game, but he also pitched in a simulated game earlier to get his innings in. He has retired six of seven batters faced through two frames on just 23 pitches, 17 for strikes. He could pitch five innings or so here today, maybe more depending on the pitch count. With...

Notes off today's intrasquad game

Notes off today's intrasquad game
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles continue to dodge the raindrops in today's intrasquad game on the Camden Yards field. Jason Hammel went four innings, allowing two runs and five hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. Jair Jurrjens went three innings, allowing one run and two hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts. He stayed on the mound in the second inning to record a fourth out and elevate his pitch count. Taylor Teagarden, Nolan Reimold and Wilson Betemit batted every half-inning....

Hammel and more from Ripken (Flaherty with walk-off homer)

Hammel and more from Ripken (Flaherty with walk-off homer)
SARASOTA, Fla. - There's a strong wind blowing out to left field, which makes it a typical day here at Ed Smith Stadium. And pretty much every ballpark in the state of Florida. I'm not sure exactly how that works, but I've witnessed the same thing in Dunedin, Bradenton, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers ... you name it. Mike Wright surrendered a run in the fifth inning and Toronto catcher Henry Blanco homered on the first pitch thrown by Daniel McCutchen in the sixth - a routine fly ball carrying...

Game update and (more) Ripken quotes

Game update and (more) Ripken quotes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel didn't complete the third inning today, leaving after 2 1/3 with the score tied 1-1. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four. Mark Hendrickson replaced Hammel with two runners on base, issued a two-out walk and escaped the jam. The Orioles scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead. Toronto committed two errors that accounted for four of those runs. Steve Pearce contributed a run-scoring double that raised his spring RBI total to...

Game, cuts and Cal

Game, cuts and Cal
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' regulars go back to work today. They've basically been given a three-day reprieve. No game on Monday, a road game on Tuesday, a minor league workout yesterday disguised as a game against Team Spain. The Orioles remain in Sarasota today, and they're playing the Toronto Blue Jays for the third time this spring - and the first away from Dunedin. Most of the regulars will be in the lineup, with the exception of right fielder Nick Markakis, who will take off a few...

Hammel: "Nice to be out there with two good knees" (O's win 6-5)

Hammel: "Nice to be out there with two good knees" (O's win 6-5)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Pirates scored a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings off right-hander Mike Wright, reducing the Orioles' lead to 4-3. Matt Wieters delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, but Gaby Sanchez hit his second home run of the day leading off the top of the sixth, this one off left-hander Mark Hendrickson. Wright is the first pitcher to work three innings for the Orioles this spring. Brian Roberts' home run was his first since April 13, 2011. Tip of the cap...

Hammel goes two, Orioles going deep (updated)

Hammel goes two, Orioles going deep (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel's first spring start of 2013 resulted in two scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hammel gave up one hit, a double to Chase d'Arnaud in the first inning. The ball cleared Adam Jones' head in center field and hopped the fence. He struck out two batters, and his fastball was mostly 91-92 mph. Hammel threw 39 pitches, 27 for strikes. He got ahead 0-2 on five of the seven batters he faced. Brian Roberts led off the bottom of the first inning with a...

Hammel on the hump

Hammel on the hump
SARASOTA, Fla. - Finally. Jason Hammel will make his first Grapefruit League start of 2013 today when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit Ed Smith Stadium. Call off the search. The last time we checked, he was throwing in the indoor batting cage Tuesday while high winds swirled around the complex, with "hitters" tracking pitches. It was like batting practice, except without any real batting. Today, opposing hitters will be swinging for the fences. Hammel's right knee is fine. It's not like he...

Orioles avoid arbitration with Jim Johnson (and Hammel)

Orioles avoid arbitration with Jim Johnson (and Hammel)
Orioles closer Jim Johnson will have a new contract when he reports to spring training next week. Johnson has agreed to a $6.5 million deal, according to an industry source, that leaves the Orioles with two unsigned arbitration-eligible players - pitchers Jason Hammel and Darren O'Day. Johnson made $2.625 million last season while leading the majors with 51 saves in 54 opportunities. He filed for $7.1 million and the Orioles countered at $5.7 million. A hearing date would have been set...

Revisiting the rotation

Revisiting the rotation
On slow news days, which pretty much covers most of the winter, we've kicked around different combinations that could make up the Orioles rotation in 2013. Up to this point, I've gone with Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman and TBA. The candidates are plentiful, and we can add one more arm to the mix. Jair Jurrjens will officially become an Oriole next week after he passes his physical. He will be given every chance to earn a spot in the rotation, but having minor...

Checking on Britton and Hammel before today's FanFest

Checking on Britton and Hammel before today's FanFest
Has it really been a year since I sat behind the main stage for FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center and cranked out a blog entry about the Orioles' reported interest in reliever Luis Ayala? There wasn't much enthusiasm for that rumor, but Ayala became an integral part of the Orioles' sensational bullpen last season, posting a 2.64 ERA in 66 games. News broke during FanFest 2010 that the Orioles were bringing back Miguel Tejada, after I kept insisting that ship had sailed. The...

As the rotation turns

As the rotation turns
Is it too soon to decide on the Orioles' opening day starter? I'm assuming that he's already on the roster. The Orioles aren't interested in re-signing Joe Saunders so he can take the ball on April 2 at Tropicana Field. The left-hander would slot lower in the rotation. Of course, Kyle Lohse would profile as a No. 1 starter on this club, but why go there? Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen are the two leading candidates to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener. They figure to be slotted Nos. 1...

Hammel: "The knee feels great"

Hammel: "The knee feels great"
The pain is still fresh for Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel. It hasn't gone away. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with his right knee. Hammel said it still "hurts" that the Orioles lost to the Yankees in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, but the best piece of news to come from his interview yesterday on WBAL Radio is that he's on a normal workout schedule and having no setbacks with his knee. Hammel underwent surgery in July to remove loose cartilage, and he limped off the...

Taking stock of the current state of the rotation

Taking stock of the current state of the rotation
As I see it, the current state of the Orioles' rotation is good. On the plus side, the Orioles have some depth, some youth, some very good arms and some youngsters on the rise. On the downside, they have a few pitchers that dealt with injuries last year and some young pitchers that have been consistent with their inconsistency. If spring training began tomorrow, some of the following pitchers would be candidates for rotation spots. The 2012 Orioles staff seemed to benefit from the...

Which Oriole will be next to get a long-term contract?

Which Oriole will be next to get a long-term contract?
Well, that new contract that Evan Longoria signed with the Tampa Bay Rays was a surprise to me. I guess if there was one player to lock up long-term for that franchise, it's Longoria. But the Rays had Longoria under team control through the 2016 season. Why add six years to that? Maybe the Rays will be proven to have made a smart move here, but having a player under team control for the next four seasons seems like a very long time to me. Wasn't there plenty of time over the next few years...

Orioles get a baserunner, might need starter for Game 1 of ALCS (O's down 1-0)

Orioles get a baserunner, might need starter for Game 1 of ALCS (O's down 1-0)
NEW YORK - Nine up, nine down for Jason Hammel. Nine up, nine down for CC Sabathia before Nate McLouth singled leading off the top of the fourth inning. McLouth's eight postseason hits tie Derek Jeter for the most among American League players. He's been quite a McPest to the Yankees. McLouth stole second with two outs, but Chris Davis flied to center. These teams are a combined 2-for-29 with runners in scoring position in the last three games including today. Should the Orioles win...

It's Hammel vs. Sabathia in Game 5

It's Hammel vs. Sabathia in Game 5
NEW YORK - So it comes down to this. Jason Hammel gets the ball this afternoon knowing the Orioles' bullpen is running on fumes, knowing the entire team is attempting to move forward while having its backs against the proverbial wall. Do or die, just like the wild card and Game 4 of the American League Division Series. Win and advance. Lose and go home. "You know, it's obviously an honor to be the one toeing the slab, but it's been a team effort to get here," Hammel said. "It's been a...

Hammel would start Game 5

Hammel would start Game 5
NEW YORK - Right-hander Jason Hammel will start Game 5 of the American League Division Series if needed. Hammel would be working on normal rest after starting Game 1 at Camden Yards and allowing two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Game 4 starter remains a mystery. Chris Tillman and Joe Saunders followed manager Buck Showalter into the interview room today and claimed that they hadn't been told who would get Thursday's assignment. Showalter has made a decision, but he's waiting...