Buck Showalter and Ubaldo Jimenez following 9-2 win

Buck Showalter and Ubaldo Jimenez following 9-2 win
BRADENTON, Fla. - Logan Verrett had another impressive outing today, retiring the Pirates in order in the ninth inning with a strikeout to seal the Orioles' 9-2 victory at McKechnie Field. Verrett, a Rule 5 pick from the Mets, has allowed two runs in 11 innings, with one walk and nine strikeouts. "Yeah, he's thrown the ball good," manager Buck Showalter said. "Dave (Wallace) was talking about him pitching, waiting one more day and him pitching two innings. I'm not sure how he's going to...

Buck Showalter continues to evaluate his Rule 5 pitchers (game update)

Buck Showalter continues to evaluate his Rule 5 pitchers (game update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's starter for the Pirates, Radhames Liz, hasn't pitched in the majors since making two appearances with the Orioles in April 2009, allowing 10 runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. Liz, 31, is 6-8 with a 7.50 ERA in 28 appearances (21 starts) over parts of three major league seasons, all of them with the Orioles. Manager Buck Showalter isn't in a rush to make a decision on Rule 5 pitchers Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett, who can't be optioned without passing through...

Ubaldo Jimenez allows two runs in four-plus innings

Ubaldo Jimenez allows two runs in four-plus innings
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez needed one more out today to become the first Orioles pitcher to go more than four innings. He faced three batters in the fifth, but he couldn't get it. Jimenez left the game after three consecutive soft hits - a bloop single to center field by Eduardo Escobar, a bloop double to left by Josmil Pinto and an RBI infield single up the middle by Eduardo Nunez. Jimenez threw 73 pitches, 47 for strikes and departed with the Orioles leading 3-2. Rule 5 pick Logan...

Verrett: "I knew coming into spring training I couldn't just be throwing well"

Verrett: "I knew coming into spring training I couldn't just be throwing well"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have two more games scheduled for today, with only the one in Bradenton counting in the Grapefruit League standings and stats. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is making his third start. He's tossed five scoreless innings with only two hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts. Chen will attempt to join Ubaldo Jimenez as the only Orioles' starters to complete four innings. Logan Verrett threw two scoreless innings yesterday and said he'll probably pitch again on...

Hearing from Showalter and Russell

Hearing from Showalter and Russell
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't expected to make any cuts until Sunday. Manager Buck Showalter hustled into the prep room to meet with reporters following today's 3-2 loss to the Rays. He wanted to get over to Field 4 to catch the remainder of the game against the Puerto Rico Development Program. Speaking of catching, Matt Wieters was behind the plate for six innings against Puerto Rico. More on that later. Left-hander Brian Matusz shut out the Rays for three innings, allowing two hits,...

Will inevitable pitching injuries have a trickle-down effect on Orioles?

Will inevitable pitching injuries have a trickle-down effect on Orioles?
Former Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail said often that pitching is expensive and fragile. Thus, it was better to "grow the arms," producing as many young, homegrown pitchers as the organization could. No doubt that every year, the health of pitchers seems to factor into the pennant race. The loss of a key starter hurts one team, while another staff that is fortunate to stay healthy can thrive. The latest example came Sunday when we learned that Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Smyly has left...

O's gear up for draft, Rule 5 duo off to a good start and looking for a spring surprise

O's gear up for draft, Rule 5 duo off to a good start and looking for a spring surprise
This is going to be a very different First-Year Player Draft for scouting director Gary Rajsich and his staff. The Orioles have more picks early in the draft and are allotted more money to spend in their bonus pool from MLB. After not having a selection last year until the 90th overall pick, which came in the third round, now the Orioles have five of the first 102 picks. They will select No. 25 overall in the first round, No. 36 overall (compensation for losing Nelson Cruz), No. 68 in the...

Steve Johnson X-rays negative, and other notes

Steve Johnson X-rays negative, and other notes
SARASOTA, Fla. - The X-rays on pitcher Steve Johnson's right middle finger today came back clean. It's just a bruise and he's day-to-day like the rest of us. Johnson can resume throwing once the discomfort subsides. Today's workout was cut short, ending at 11 a.m., so the Orioles could play in the annual charity golf tournament. Bullpen sessions were thrown by Dane De La Rosa, Brian Matusz and Wesley Wright in Group 1, Oliver Drake and Chaz Roe in Group 2, Tim Berry, Eddie Gamboa and...

Which Orioles bring the most spring curiosity?

Which Orioles bring the most spring curiosity?
To borrow another one of manager Buck Showalter's favorite expressions, our curiosity will be satisfied in spring training. I'm curious about a handful of the 56 players reporting to Orioles camp. For instance: * Dylan Bundy: He's going to be treated like any other pitcher in camp, according to Showalter. No reason to hold him back any longer. He's healthy and on a regular schedule. No half-mounds for Bundy. Will his stuff be electric? It would be a shock - yes, you see what I did there -...

Logan Verrett is out to buck the Rule 5 odds, plus over/under stats

Logan Verrett is out to buck the Rule 5 odds, plus over/under stats
If you are a young player and you get selected in the Rule 5 draft, there are worse teams to be selected by than the Orioles. It didn't take long for 24-year-old right-hander Logan Verrett to realize that after the Orioles selected him with the 13th of 14 picks made in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. "I was ecstatic to find out their history of keeping Rule 5 picks," Verrett said Saturday at FanFest. "After I found that out, I realized I couldn't have been with a better...

A case of he said, he said

A case of he said, he said
Over the past few days, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has singled out Logan Verrett when discussing the Rule 5 pitchers who will report to spring training later this month. Nothing against Jason Garcia. Duquette has tossed praise his way, as well. But he's been bringing up Verrett's name first, including last night on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan after I asked about the probability that at least one of the right-handers will make the club. Verrett, 24, is the more...

Now and then

Now and then
The Orioles are holding their annual FanFest today at the Baltimore Convention Center, which figures to keep me busy for approximately 12 hours. I tend to arrive early and stay late. Players, former players, executives and coaches will meet with reporters throughout the day behind the main stage, giving us 10-15 minutes to interview each one. We may need more time with Chris Davis, who joins Manny Machado, Tommy Hunter and Chris Tillman in the first wave around 11 a.m. I talked to Machado,...

Daily dose of Duquette and wondering who will be most overhyped

Daily dose of Duquette and wondering who will be most overhyped
I woke up this morning, checked my e-mails, text messages and Twitter, and knew that Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette hadn't changed jobs. Why I also checked my Facebook page is beyond me. I must have still been groggy. There may not be any significant updates today on Duquette's situation, but trust me, there will be updates. A day can't pass without them, which is just one of the myriad issues here. Anyone remember that this team still wants to find a left-handed-hitting...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
We've reached the point today where arbitration-eligible players and their teams exchange salary figures for 2015 and hope to avoid a hearing next month. You know the dance. They usually split the difference. It's only interesting to me if there's a huge discrepancy. Wake me if the Orioles offer Ryan Flaherty $1 million and he counters at $200 million. Reliever Tommy Hunter settled for $4.65 million earlier this week, leaving 10 Orioles who are eligible for arbitration. Here's another look...

The final day of minicamp and quotes from Verrett

The final day of minicamp and quotes from Verrett
SARASOTA, Fla. - We've reached the final day of the Orioles' minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Players will bolt around noon. I'll try to find my way to the Tampa airport for a 7 p.m. flight home after filing more notes and meeting one last time with manager Buck Showalter. My daughter got engaged last night. My head's still spinning. Manny Machado's arrival figures to be the highlight of the morning. The Orioles want to check his right knee. The media wants to hound him about...

Hearing from Showalter after Day Two of minicamp

Hearing from Showalter after Day Two of minicamp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The most interesting nugget of news today involved South Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon, who won't be invited to major league camp next month, according to manager Buck Showalter. Yoon was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30 after going 4-8 with a 5.74 ERA in 23 games, including 18 starts, with the Tides. He's set to make $1.75 million this season as part of his three-year deal that's worth a guaranteed $5.575 million. "Maybe he'll...

Minicamp leftovers for breakfast (updated)

Minicamp leftovers for breakfast (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ryan Webb's had a busy offseason, undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder and getting married. For many people, marriage is far more painful than anything that happens on an operating table, but Webb is an exception. Good for him. Webb, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Orioles in December 2013, had a procedure done to tighten the shoulder capsule. "I feel great," he said yesterday after the first day of minicamp. "Should be 100 percent ready to go...

This, that and the other (Melky Cabrera off the board)

This, that and the other (Melky Cabrera off the board)
An Orioles official told me yesterday that they're still working on a minor league deal with pitcher Chaz Roe. It's going to get done. I'd expect the deal to include an invitation to spring training. Roe appeared in 21 games with the Diamondbacks in 2013, posting a 4.03 ERA. He got into three games with the Yankees this season, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits, walking three and striking out four in two innings. Roe worked the eighth inning in Game 2 of a Sept. 12...

Duquette on the two pitchers added via the Rule 5 draft

Duquette on the two pitchers added via the Rule 5 draft
SAN DIEGO - The Orioles added two pitchers today in the Rule 5 draft as they acquired right-hander Jason Garcia through a trade and selected right-hander Logan Verrett. The Orioles acquired Garcia from Houston for cash considerations. The 22-year-old pitcher was selected fourth in the draft out of the Boston Red Sox organization. Garcia went 3-2 with three saves and a 3.67 ERA in 14 combined games (seven starts) with Single-A Lowell and Greenville. He struck out 9.4 batters per nine innings...

Wrapping up the Winter Meetings

Wrapping up the Winter Meetings
SAN DIEGO - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is hopeful that his meetings at the Manchester Grand Hyatt will lead to player acquisitions as early as next week. "We made some good progress with some free agent outfielders and also some pitchers and hopefully that will lead to some players signing with the O's," said Duquette, who obtained right-handers Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett today in the Rule 5 draft. "Happy to add the two right-handed pitchers today to give us some...