Machado: "It's been a while since I felt this healthy and good"

Machado: "It's been a while since I felt this healthy and good"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said he's been doing full baseball activities for a couple of weeks, with the exception of moving laterally to field ground balls, and today's minicamp provided a demonstration. Machado hit in the indoor cage and took batting practice outside, shagged fly balls and did agility drills with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, sprinting up the first base line and simulating going from home plate to second on a double. The surgically...
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Notes on Machado, Tillman, Scott and Murphy

Notes on Machado, Tillman, Scott and Murphy
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado arrived in the clubhouse at 9:15 a.m. this morning and currently is having his right knee checked. He's expected to meet with the media - it's a small contingent - before leaving the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Reliever Tommy Hunter called out Machado's name, walked across the room and gave him a big hug. Machado later made his way down the rows of lockers to embrace teammates, including Dylan Bundy, Parker Bridwell and Ryan Webb. Webb and...
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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...
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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...
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Coolbaugh on Davis: "I look for great things from Chris this year"

Coolbaugh on Davis: "I look for great things from Chris this year"
SARASOTA, Fla. - New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh was scheduled to fly back home this afternoon, but he's staying an extra day at the minicamp to meet third baseman Manny Machado. Coolbaugh didn't have much work to do today beyond getting acclimated to his new surroundings and checking out a few position players who took their cuts in the batting cage. "Get around some of the kids that are here for the minicamp, introduce myself and start building that rapport, relationships with...
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Hunter calls signing extension with Orioles "something you'd like to see happen" (plus pics)

Hunter calls signing extension with Orioles "something you'd like to see happen" (plus pics)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles held their second minicamp workout today under a bright blue sky. Yesterday's rain gave way to gorgeous sunshine, allowing eight pitchers to throw off mounds. Hunter Harvey and Parker Bridwell were in the first group, followed by Mychal Givens and Brian Gonzalez, Jon Keller and Pat McCoy, and Eddie Gamboa and Mike Wright. Calvert Hall graduate Alex Murphy drew the short straw and had to catch Gamboa's knuckleball. He survived the experience. A small group of...
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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...
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Hendrickson: "This is me taking my career by the horns" (Hunter note)

Hendrickson: "This is me taking my career by the horns" (Hunter note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Hendrickson isn't ready to retire. He isn't ready to move into the next phase of his professional life. He's throwing better than he has in years, a lower arm slot raising his confidence that he can make it back to the majors for the first time in four years. This isn't a repeat, though the story is familiar. Hendrickson is receiving his second tryout in three years with the Orioles, who also invited him to the 2013 minicamp at Camden Yards. He received a minor...
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Updating Wieters and more notes from minicamp

Updating Wieters and more notes from minicamp
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters increased his throwing to 120 feet today, the fourth distance he's covered since starting his program in late November. "In the whole progression of step things, it's not a big day, but this is a step day," said manager Buck Showalter. Wieters started a light throwing program immediately after Thanksgiving, heading outdoors every other day to play catch with physical therapist Lloyd Van Pamelen in Atlanta. The distance started at 45 feet and...
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Notes from first day of Orioles minicamp (with photos)

Notes from first day of Orioles minicamp (with photos)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rain began to fall about an hour into today's Orioles workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Pitchers have moved inside the batting cage to continue throwing. Here are some early notes from Day One: * Reliever Ryan Webb reported to minicamp as an unexpected visitor. * Tommy Hunter said he won't throw while he's here. He's at the facility because he bought a condo in Sarasota. There's no need to rush back to a mound after pitching in Japan in November. * Chris Tillman,...
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Notes on catchers, Santana, Zobrist, Rasmus and more

Notes on catchers, Santana, Zobrist, Rasmus and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles' minicamp begins today, it seems like an appropriate time to also talk about spring training. It's only a month away and the fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are in superb condition. The Orioles will bring at least six catchers to spring training. They would like to keep Ryan Lavarnway as a non-roster invitee if he clears waivers. Inviting Brian Ward also is a possibility. Ward is a defensive specialist who intrigues the Orioles despite his offensive...
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Gamboa included on minicamp roster

Gamboa included on minicamp roster
SARASOTA, Fla. - Knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa has been added to the list of Orioles attending this week's minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles extended the invitation and were waiting to hear back from him. Gamboa signed a major league deal on Dec. 3, putting him back on the 40-man roster. The Orioles removed him last year at the non-tender deadline and re-signed him to a minor league deal, and he drew interest from other teams this winter due to his success pitching in...
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This and that

This and that
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Ravens are done playing and more attention now falls upon the Orioles. No more distractions unless you're really into college hoops. The Orioles won't announce their minor league staffs until they hire a field coach at Single-A Frederick. If it's keeping you awake nights, we need to talk. Nothing new to report on Colby Rasmus. If he wants to sign with the Orioles so badly and use a one-year deal as a platform, what exactly is preventing the sides from reaching an...
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More on Orioles' minicamp (note on Stu Miller)

More on Orioles' minicamp (note on Stu Miller)
Third baseman Manny Machado, recovering from surgery on his right knee, will be in Sarasota on the final day of the Orioles' minicamp on Jan. 14 to allow manager Buck Showalter and various staff and medical personnel to check his health and watch him work out. Machado had surgery on Aug. 27 to repair a partially torn ligament. He underwent a similar procedure on his left knee in 2013. The Orioles expect Machado to be ready for opening day. He's been working out in Sarasota, but he took time...
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More on Colvin and something on Stinson

More on Colvin and something on Stinson
Before diving into this morning's blog entry, I'll quickly chime in on the Tyler Colvin news from last night. It was obvious that something happened with the physical, since it took place on Jan. 15 and we still hadn't received an announcement on his signing. The Orioles have refused to acknowledge publicly that they reached agreement with him. They weren't thrilled that word leaked to the local media. The Orioles usually wait until the results of a physical come back before confirming...
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Getting to know Liam Hendriks

Getting to know Liam Hendriks
Liam Hendriks was destined to join the Orioles. He's been connected to them so many times, it just seemed inevitable. Hendriks can rattle off the incidents in order, and with a smile on his bearded face. Maybe they're mere coincidences, but he comes across as Baltimore baseball's version of Forrest Gump. Hendriks was scratched from an April 2012 start at Camden Yards after coming down with a severe case of food poisoning. He was supposed to work the finale of a three-game season-opening...
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Weekly Wrap: O's offseason heats up in Sarasota

Weekly Wrap: O's offseason heats up in Sarasota
While the start of spring training is still a few weeks away, some Orioles headed to Sarasota this week for mini-camp. Ed Smith Stadium housed pitchers, up-and-comers, players recovering from injuries and some newcomers this week. Pitchers included Tommy Hunter (the strongest candidate for the O's closer role), Hunter Harvey (the O's first-round pick in 2013), Kevin Gausman, and Dylan Bundy. For the first time in a year, Bundy said that he was throwing without pain, and the right-hander has...
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Notes from the final day of mini-camp

Notes from the final day of mini-camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made it through four days of their mini-camp. Manager Buck Showalter is hopping on a flight back to Dallas. Players are packing up their gear and heading home, though Dylan Bundy is renting a house in Sarasota and will stay here until FanFest on Feb. 1. "At things like this, you read the players. That's what I've always thought," Showalter said. "I think it's better here than in Baltimore. It just kind of gets everybody away. The weather is better. It also...
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What's cooking with Gausman?

What's cooking with Gausman?
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman has spent most of the offseason away from baseball, attending LSU football games, traveling with his girlfriend and learning how to cook. His girlfriend's mother - the "best cook in the world," as Gausman described her - taught him how to prepare a few Cajun dishes, and he appears to be carrying some gumbo weight. Gausman said he's put on about 12 pounds after dropping down to 183 last season, and he'd like to stay between 195-200 this...
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Steve Johnson talks about learning the splitter

Steve Johnson talks about learning the splitter
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' four-day mini-camp is reaching its conclusion. A few pitchers, including Hunter Harvey and Tommy Hunter, left after yesterday's workout. Delmon Young took batting practice, met with manager Buck Showalter and appeared to make a favorable impression. Jack Cust arrived Tuesday and still can be found in the clubhouse. The Orioles signed pitcher Luis Vizcaino and infielder Brock Bond to minor league contracts without invitations to spring training. They signed...
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