When it comes to drafting high school or college, do O's have a preference?
When it comes to drafting high school or college, do O's have a preference?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When it comes to the June draft, do the Orioles have a preference when it comes to drafting a high school or a college player? Some teams have been said to have preferences, but O's scouting director Joe Jordan said the Orioles do not. "For me, I don't care. It's the best player, what fits the best for that round. That's really how we look at it. If there's a 21-year-old player that we have a lot of looks at and they're available and that's a good solid pick, that's a good decision...
Cuts made, lineup change, Uehara speaks
Cuts made, lineup change, Uehara speaks
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - We got a late start this morning, but it's been a busy one. The Orioles made their first round of cuts, which included catcher Caleb Joseph, infielder Pedro Florimon and outfielder Tyler Henson. Catcher Adam Donachie sat at his locker in shorts and a t-shirt, so we're assuming that he's also heading to the minor league side. The official list will be released later today. Randy Winn and J.J. Hardy are changing places in the lineup. Hardy will lead off. For the...
Izturis returns, Roberts does not
Izturis returns, Roberts does not
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Players were given a later report time this morning following last night's 11-8 win over the Pirates in Bradenton. The clubhouse opens to the media at 9:30 a.m. Brian Roberts isn't in today's lineup vs. Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee, though he took batting practice yesterday in Sarasota, and he's not supposed to travel to Kissimmee tomorrow. Guess the earliest we'll see him is Sunday. Cesar Izturis is back after turning his ankle during Monday's game against the Red...
Fireworks after the fireworks
Fireworks after the fireworks
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - The fine folks at McKechnie Field set off fireworks after tonight's game, which seemed a bit redundant. The two teams supplied plenty of them - and a lot of errors. The Orioles outlasted the Pirates, 11-8, with left-hander Troy Patton leaving the Witness Protection Program to strike out two in the ninth and record the save. I packed up my laptop and drove back to Sarasota - note the dateline of this entry - before passing along manager Buck Showalter's comments. "Bergy...
Adams homers again, Bergesen speaks (updated)
Adams homers again, Bergesen speaks (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Adams hit his second spring training home run, and it went a mile. He cleared the palm trees in right field - yes, the opposite field - against Pirates reliever Joel Hanrahan in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Adams' two-run shot followed a walk to Nolan Reimold, Brandon Snyder's RBI double and Craig Tatum's RBI single. Snyder is 2-for-2 with a walk. Tatum is 2-for-2. Adam Jones doubled later in the inning, making him 2-for-3. Nolan Reimold has...
Bergesen banged around (updated)
Bergesen banged around (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BRADENTON, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get four innings out of starter Brad Bergesen, but the right-hander's pitch count stands at 48 after the second. Even worse, the Orioles trail the Pirates, 4-1. The run in the first inning was unearned after Craig Tatum's error, but Bergesen surrendered four hits and walked a batter in the second. The defense let him down again, with right fielder Nolan Reimold sailing a throw over his cutoff man and allowing Gorkys Hernandez to take second...
Trying to catch on (updated twice)
Trying to catch on (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BRADENTON, Fla. - Jake Fox is starting in left field tonight, but he's primarily competing for the backup catching job. Though Fox could make the club in a utility role, it seems apparent that he's mostly going head-to-head with Craig Tatum, who's starting behind the plate against the Pirates. Asked what he's looking for in a backup catcher and whether versatility is a factor, manager Buck Showalter replied, "It's a moving target. It depends on what we go with in that other spot in the...
Updates on Roberts and Uehara
Updates on Roberts and Uehara
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter arrived during batting practice because he stayed back in Sarasota to watch Brian Roberts hit on the field. Roberts could return to the lineup tomorrow after being sidelined with back spasms. He won't make the trip to Kissimmee on Saturday. Pitching coach Mark Connor also stayed back to watch Koji Uehara throw on flat ground. How flat? We're talking the outfield. Uehara's arm seems fine, but he'll be re-evaluated tomorrow. Derrek Lee...
Getting to know new MASN broadcaster F.P. Santangelo
Getting to know new MASN broadcaster F.P. Santangelo
Josh Land
Nationals
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals fans, please give a warm welcome to MASN's newest color analyst, F.P. Santangelo. The energetic young broadcaster shared his thoughts in this Q&A with Nats Buzz at Space Coast Stadium on Thursday afternoon. What are your thoughts about the Nationals heading into this season? "Well, I just think they are playing really good baseball. I don't really want to get caught up in wins and losses in spring training, but I think when you are coming off of a tough year, it's...
Baseball Prospectus sees "good things on the horizon" for Nats
Baseball Prospectus sees "good things on the horizon" for Nats
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals hope this is the season they make their way out of the cellar of the National League East and get some momentum going for what promises to be an enticing future as top prospects and No. 1 picks make their way to Nats Park. What do some of the experts think? Can the Nats make a pre-emptive strike in the NL East before Stephen Strasburg returns from injury and Bryce Harper arrives? The 2011 Baseball Prospectus is available now (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., $24.95), and I got the...