Hyun Soo Kim won't break camp with the Orioles

Hyun Soo Kim won't break camp with the Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed tonight that Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim won't be part of the 25-man roster on opening day. Kim is out of the lineup again tonight and hasn't played since Saturday. He's in the dugout as the Orioles lead the Braves 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning. "Yes, it looks like he's not going to be on the 25-man roster to start the season," Duquette said, as members of the beat crew gathered outside the MASN booth where...

Notes on Hyun Soo Kim and Miguel Gonzalez, plus a look around the AL East

Notes on Hyun Soo Kim and Miguel Gonzalez, plus a look around the AL East
Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez pitched well. Matt Wieters was back behind the plate. And we found out officially that outfielder Hyun Soo Kim will not be on the Orioles' opening day roster. Some clarity emerged last night as the Orioles spent one of their last days in Florida. Gonzalez is far from alone here, but he has given some fans reasons to be concerned about him when the season starts. But my guess is he will be in the season-opening rotation. Last night, he allowed one run in...

Chris Tillman on getting the opening day start

Chris Tillman on getting the opening day start
SARASOTA, Fla. - The rain has picked up in intensity again at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, and pretty much the entire state of Florida. The Braves are on a bus headed to Sarasota. I wonder how easily it can execute a U-turn. No word on a cancellation, but I'll remind fans that they don't postpone games here or play doubleheaders. It would be washed off the schedule. Miguel Gonzalez is supposed to start tonight. Manager Buck Showalter will let us know how the pitching plans are altered if we...

The roster, Miguel Gonzalez and Hyun Soo Kim

The roster, Miguel Gonzalez and Hyun Soo Kim
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are an unsettled team with three games remaining in Florida. We haven't figured out the rotation beyond Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez. We haven't figured out who's playing left field, since the club continues to check on available players. We don't know whether the Orioles are keeping Hyun Soo Kim, though I'll point out again that he wants to stay in the U.S. unless he had a sudden change of heart overnight. We don't know who's filling two...

Ryan Flaherty scratched from lineup (plus other notes)

Ryan Flaherty scratched from lineup (plus other notes)
BRADENTON, Fla. - The flu bug has bitten Ryan Flaherty. It's really making the rounds in Orioles camp. Players, coaches, manager Buck Showalter. No one is immune. Flaherty was a late scratch tonight with "flu-like symptoms," according to the Orioles. Minor leaguer Garabez Rosa will replace him at second base. Here's the new lineup: Xavier Avery CF Paul Janish SS Pedro Alvarez 1B Nolan Reimold DH L.J. Hoes RF Steve Tolleson 3B Julio Borbon LF Garabez Rosa 2B Audry Perez C Ubaldo Jimenez...

A look at the O's rotation and left field outlook

A look at the O's rotation and left field outlook
Here is a good question about the Orioles' starting rotation: How many jobs are available to be won right now? Are there two, one or none? For a while, and it still may hold true, Miguel Gonzalez's spot was shaky with his spring struggles. That meant pitchers like Tyler Wilson, Mike Wright, Odrisamer Despaigne and Vance Worley could be chasing one potential rotation opening. Then right-hander Kevin Gausman received a cortisone injection for shoulder tendinitis. So does that mean two spots are...

The importance of today's game

The importance of today's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's game against the Pirates is important because Tyler Wilson gets the start, and he's in the running for a rotation spot with Miguel Gonzalez still unable to instill the proper level of confidence in the Orioles after yesterday's outing in Bradenton. Gonzalez is struggling with his command, as manager Buck Showalter noted after yesterday's 6-5 loss. He has a minor league option. Though he remains the favorite to break camp with the team, it's far from a...

Wrapping up a 6-5 loss

Wrapping up a 6-5 loss
BRADENTON, Fla. - Matt Wieters will return to the Orioles lineup on Thursday as their designated hitter for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Pirates in Sarasota. He hasn't played since March 12 due to a sore right elbow. The Orioles climbed within a run of the Pirates today in the top of the ninth inning on an L.J. Hoes RBI grounder and a two-out run-scoring double by Cedric Mullins. It wasn't enough, however, as the hosts held on for a 6-5 victory at McKechnie Field. Miguel Gonzalez allowed four...

Gonzalez's final line and Showalter on Bundy (Orioles fall 6-5)

Gonzalez's final line and Showalter on Bundy (Orioles fall 6-5)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Pirates 6, Orioles 5 Recap: Miguel Gonzalez was charged with four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk, no strikeouts and a hit batter. Andrew McCutchen homered off him in the first and Gregory Polanco took him deep in the fourth. Darren O'Day replaced Gonzalez and gave up a two-run homer to Starling Marte. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard singled and had an RBI double in his first two at-bats. Paul Janish led off the fifth inning with his first home run. He also...

Game update and lots from Buck Showalter

Game update and lots from Buck Showalter
BRADENTON, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez got off to another rough start today against the Pirates, falling behind 3-0 after two innings. The Orioles right-hander served up a solo home run to Andrew McCutchen with the count full and one out in the first inning. He hit David Freese, who scored on Francisco Cervelli's two-out double down the left field line. Josh Harrison led off the second with a bloop double to right-center field, and he scored on Jordy Mercer's single into center. Two batters into...

Pitching updates and Yovani Gallardo on his Twin Lakes start

Pitching updates and Yovani Gallardo on his Twin Lakes start
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The pitchers listed behind Orioles starter Mike Wright today include Odrisamer Despaigne, Dylan Bundy, Pedro Beato, Todd Redmond, Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake, Richard Rodriguez and Stefan Crichton. Rodriguez and Crichton made the trip from minor league camp, along with infielder Garabez Rosa and outfielders Quincy Latimore, Josh Hart and Julio Borbon. Miguel Gonzalez starts for the Orioles on Wednesday against Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke in Bradenton. Tyler Wilson starts...

The pitching takes a turn for the better (plus other notes)

The pitching takes a turn for the better (plus other notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - If we could survey the collective pulse of Birdland this morning, it is probably beating at a normal pace right now. Nothing that a few wins and a few good pitching performances couldn't help. When the Orioles started their spring training schedule 0-10-2, they allowed 87 runs and some of the fans were getting nervous. Some were very nervous. Now, after a run of 5-2-1 where they allowed 43 runs, the concern is lessened. While 43 runs is not a small total, they had games in...

Wrapping up the Orioles' 11-2 win over the Yankees

Wrapping up the Orioles' 11-2 win over the Yankees
TAMPA - Well, this worked out pretty well for the Orioles. Miguel Gonzalez had a solid outing. The middle of their order combined for eight RBIs. The Orioles hammed the Yankees 11-2 in their home park. Gonzalez, who entered with an ERA of 22.24, gave up just four hits and two runs over four innings. It was his longest spring outing and probably his best as well. "Better, better," manager Buck Showalter said. "Command was a lot better. Thought he had a good idea where he was throwing the ball...

Looking back on last night and Adam Jones' tribute to a mentor

Looking back on last night and Adam Jones' tribute to a mentor
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard had another hit last night, a leadoff double in the first inning, and also walked and scored two runs in the Orioles' 11-2 victory over the Yankees in Tampa. Mark Trumbo and Manny Machado each drove in four runs and combined for five hits. Trumbo hit a three-run homer. Ryan Flaherty came off the bench and went 2-for-2 to raise his average to .400. Starter Miguel Gonzalez gave up two runs in four innings and lowered his ERA from 22.24 to 14.90....

Miguel Gonzalez talks about his outing against the Yankees (O's win 11-2)

Miguel Gonzalez talks about his outing against the Yankees (O's win 11-2)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAPScore: Orioles 11, Yankees 2 Recap: Earl Weaver would like the Orioles in recent spring training games. They are hitting their share of three-run homers. Mark Trumbo hit one in the first tonight, his second of the spring. He had a four-RBI game. Manny Machado added three hits and four RBIs as the duo, batting third and fourth, combined for eight RBIs. Miguel Gonzalez had a much-needed solid outing, allowing four hits and two runs over four innings. He threw 55 pitches and...

Trumbo homers, Miguel Gonzalez has solid outing against New York (O's lead 11-2)

Trumbo homers, Miguel Gonzalez has solid outing against New York (O's lead 11-2)
TAMPA - The Orioles struck quickly tonight against New York left-hander CC Sabathia. Mark Trumbo, batting fourth, hit a three-run homer to give the O's a 4-0 lead in the opening inning. The first four batters reached. Joey Rickard doubled to left off the glove of third baseman Rob Refsnyder, then Jonathan Schoop hit a grounder to short. Didi Gregorius tried to get Rickard running for third, but his throw was late leaving runners on the corners. Manny Machado followed with a double to left for...

Pregame notes on Matt Wieters, Jeff Beliveau, Miguel Gonzalez and more

Pregame notes on Matt Wieters, Jeff Beliveau, Miguel Gonzalez and more
TAMPA - It was a small step, but a step nonetheless for Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. "He swung the bat some today," manager Buck Showalter said this afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. "When I was walking through the hall (in Sarasota), he came back in and had a sweat going." Showalter didn't see Wieters take those swings and later checked to let reporters know that he hit against a pitching machine. Still no timetable for Wieters to play a game, but the O's remain confident he'll be ready...

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
SARASOTA, Fla. - Christian Walker is serving as the designated hitter tonight when the Orioles travel to Tampa for a 6:35 p.m. game against the Yankees. Mark Trumbo is starting at first base. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is atop the order and playing center field. Jonathan Schoop is batting second and Manny Machado is third. Miguel Gonzalez needs a strong outing tonight. He's allowed 14 runs and 18 hits in 5 2/3 innings over three starts, with four walks and three strikeouts. The Yankees are his...

Thoughts on the rotation and Rickard

Thoughts on the rotation and Rickard
SARASOTA, Fla. - The assumptions that the Orioles' five starters are set beyond determining the order have been shattered after yesterday's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Manager Buck Showalter delivered the quote heard 'round the rotation when he told the media, "There's some competition here that people haven't grasped." We get it now. Orioles starters have allowed first inning runs in 12 of 16 games. Miguel Gonzalez has a minor league option and two poor outings in three...

More starting rotation talk

More starting rotation talk
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez has a spring training ERA of 9.45. That ranks second best so far among the five projected starters for the Orioles' 2016 rotation: 0.00 - Kevin Gausman 9.45 - Jimenez 10.80 - Chris Tillman 16.62 - Yovani Gallardo 22.24 - Miguel Gonzalez As manager Buck Showalter noted yesterday, and plenty of others have noted often, the rotation is going to need to pitch like it did in 2014 and not 2015 come next month. Perhaps it was Showalter's...