Prospect Ray "opening up eyes" with solid start
Prospect Ray "opening up eyes" with solid start
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals pitching prospect Robbie Ray had a solid first outing last week, tossing two innings, allowing no hits and no runs. The left-hander threw a light bullpen Saturday and expects to pitch again Tuesday, possibly extending to three innings. Ray was pleased with his first chance in a game. He worked in his three main pitches: fastball, changeup and slider. "I was feeling pretty good," the 19-year old Ray said. "My fastball was locating well, from 90 to 93 miles per hour. The fastball...
Talking about Britton and other stuff
Talking about Britton and other stuff
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - No NIT invite for the Terps? There goes my bracket. I already had them winning the whole thing. Obviously, I should have waited. Loved the Fab Five documentary last night, though I watched it in two parts. Missed the first half of it on ESPN, but caught the replay in ESPN2 immediately afterward and pieced it together in my head. No wonder I'm tired. The clubhouse is closed to the media again this morning and won't open until batting practice ends. I'll pass along the...
Zach Britton: Can he make this team now?
Zach Britton: Can he make this team now?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Heading into spring training, I had assumed that Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta were pretty much locks to make the starting rotation and that, if healthy, Justin Duchscherer would join them. That would allow for Rick VandenHurk to compete for a bullpen role and Chris Tillman and Zach Britton to begin the year at Triple-A. Well, those plans could be changing. The Orioles knew Duchscherer making the opening day rotation was a gamble, thus the...
Final thoughts on 9-1 loss (updated)
Final thoughts on 9-1 loss (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Not much to report on today's 9-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers beyond what I've already written in previous entries. Mark Reynolds went 2-for-3 to leave his average at .207. The Orioles were charged with one error. Manager Buck Showalter thought it easily could have been more. Did anyone pick Josh Rupe as their spring training dark horse? Rupe tossed 2 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings today. He hasn't allowed an earned run in 8 2/3 this spring. He gave up two unearned...
Duchscherer to undergo MRI
Duchscherer to undergo MRI
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Justin Duchscherer will undergo an MRI on his left hip this week after being scratched from today's simulated game. Duchscherer likely will have to wait until Tuesday for the MRI. He'd be a day behind second baseman Brian Roberts, who will have an MRI on his back tomorrow. Duchscherer threw off flat ground this morning and complained of soreness in the hip. He was examined by the training staff. The Orioles are paying Duchscherer $700,000 this year, but...
Matusz focused on rhythm, not results
Matusz focused on rhythm, not results
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz made some adjustments in his delivery today after working with pitching coach Mark Connor. "The results, not happy about the results, but I'm really happy about the process," he said after being charged with three runs (two earned) in 3 1/3 innings. "I feel like I'm making some adjustments that I need to, and I'm excited to sit down with Goose (Connor), look at the video for this game, kind of see where I need to be mechanically. I...
Hardy not resting on his laurels (updated)
Hardy not resting on his laurels (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Yes, I went there again. J.J. Hardy hit his first home run as an Oriole leading off the bottom of the fourth inning. He drove a pitch from Charlie Furbush over the left field fence to reduce Detroit's lead to 4-1. The Orioles had one hit off Tigers starter Adam Wilk through three innings, a single by Vladimir Guerrero. And if you've never heard of Wilk, you're not alone. He's a former 11th-round pick who's trying to make the staff as a reliever. He's regarded as a...
Ugly first inning (updated twice)
Ugly first inning (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz would like a do-over against the Detroit Tigers. Matusz threw 33 pitches, 20 for strikes, in the first inning. He's charged with one earned run (two total) and three hits, and he walked a batter. The Orioles would like to get four innings out of him. That's going to be tricky. Austin Jackson opened the game with a single and stole second with one out. Ryan Raburn struck out, but Miguel Cabrera doubled to center field for a 1-0 lead. Brandon Ingle...
Showalter talks about Duchscherer
Showalter talks about Duchscherer
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is waiting to hear back from his athletic training staff after Justin Duchscherer declined to pitch in the simulated game on the Camden Yards field. Duchscherer alerted the club that he felt some discomfort while throwing off flat ground. "He just came out here and wasn't able to pitch," Showalter said. "I don't really know where we're at. Richie (Bancells) just said he felt some discomfort and wants to get it looked at. Doesn't feel good...
Duchscherer scratched from simulated game (with lineup)
Duchscherer scratched from simulated game (with lineup)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer wasn't able to pitch in today's simulated game because of discomfort in his left hip. Duchscherer threw on flat ground and said he didn't feel comfortable. The medical staff is checking on him. The Orioles could go with a four-man rotation early in the season because of the April 5 off-day, giving them more time with Duchscherer. The simulated game involved a pitcher, batter, catcher and umpire. Nobody else. It gave guys like Jim Johnson and Mark...