Tigers lineup and pre-game chatter
Tigers lineup and pre-game chatter
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
For the Tigers: Clete Thomas CF Johnny Damon LF Magglio Ordonez RF Miguel Cabrera 1B Carlos Guillen DH Don Kelly 3B Alex Avila C Scott Sizemore 2B Ramon Santiago SS Justin Verlander RHP Manager Dave Trembley confirmed that the club has held discussions about adding a middle infielder to the camp roster. Brian Roberts still isn't ready to play, Justin Turner probably won't be available tomorrow after taking a line drive off his left foot, and Cesar Izturis has a sore throat. "Maybe an...
Millwood's "Welcome to the Orioles" moment (updated)
Millwood's "Welcome to the Orioles" moment (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Kevin Millwood has faced one batter today and he's trailing, 1-0. Clete Thomas just took him deep on a 2-2 pitch, the ball clearing the fence in right field. Thomas likes hitting against the Orioles, if you'll recall. Felix Pie led off the top of the first inning with a scorching liner that Thomas ran down in right-center field. I thought the ball was going to clear his head for another triple. Justin Verlander retired Robert Andino on a pop up and Nolan Reimold on a fly ball. Nobody is...
Getting Wiggy with it
Getting Wiggy with it
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Ty Wigginton has hit the Orioles' 10th home run this spring. Wigginton led off the second inning with a blast onto the grassy hill beyond the fence in left-center field. He almost wiped out a sunbather. The Tigers lead, 6-1. Matt Albers got the final out in the bottom of the first by inducing a fly ball from Johnny Damon. The Tigers might have been exhausted from running the bases.
Albers calms the storm
Albers calms the storm
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Matt Albers retired the first four batters he faced, getting three ground balls in the second inning, before Don Kelly led off the third with a single up the middle. Yes, we've only completed three innings. We're going to be here for a while. Albers got a fly ball, fielder's choice grounder and another fly ball, giving him 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Kevin Millwood. On the day Miguel Tejada wasn't scheduled to make the trip to Port Charlotte, he arrived at the Sarasota complex...
The second inning (and the third)
The second inning (and the third)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Brian Matusz gave up a two-out double to Yadier Molina and a single to David Freese in the second inning, but the Cardinals didn't score. Left fielder Nolan Reimold almost threw out Molina at second. Molina reached third on Freese's hit, but he left the game with an apparent hamstring injury. I think he has a bad case of slow. Matusz fanned Ryan Ludwick for the second out. He threw 20 pitches, 14 for strikes. Rich Hill threw 12 pitches in a scoreless second inning. Felix Pie reached on an...
Hill Street Blues (updated)
Hill Street Blues (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Before the first pitch was thrown, we stood for the longest rendition of the national anthem in spring training history. Me: "Is this a night game?" Schmuck: "Rich Hill just walked the bases loaded." Press box announcer: "The temperature just went up two degrees." Too bad we didn't have a stopwatch on her. Hill walked leadoff hitter Felix Pie on six pitches. He also walked Lou Montanez on four pitches after Robert Andino flied out. Does any of this sound familiar? Nolan Reimold...
A few nuggets
A few nuggets
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Go with the honey mustard dipping sauce today. David Hernandez will start Saturday against the Red Sox in Sarasota, the last of three straight home games for the Orioles. Kevin Millwood will pitch in a minor league game on Saturday, as he suggested after his last start. No sense letting the Red Sox get a read on him, though I assume the book is out on this guy. No updates on Brian Roberts so far. He's expected to take batting practice again today and make his first start later this week....
Orioles lineup (updated)
Orioles lineup (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Felix Pie CF Robert Andino SS Lou Montanez RF Nolan Reimold LF Brandon Snyder 1B Josh Bell 3B Scott Moore DH Chad Moeller C Justin Turner 2B Brian Matusz LHP Here's the Cardinals lineup: Lugo 2B Ryan SS Pujols 1B Holliday LF Ludwick RF Molina C Freese 3B Mather CF Hill LHP Matusz was originally listed as the ninth hitter for the Orioles, but manager Dave Trembley inserted Moore as his designated hitter. I'm sure he'd like to avoid having Matusz bat and risk an injury.
Been here, done that
Been here, done that
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
(I had to rewrite this entry because it somehow got deleted from the system. I'm off to a good start). I made the trip back up I-95 this morning, resisting the urge to use the carpool lane, and arrived at Roger Dean Stadium in approximately 45 minutes. Not bad for rush hour, especially going through West Palm, where traffic usually comes to a screeching halt. The Orioles are back in Jupiter, this time to face the ballpark's other tenant, the St. Louis Cardinals. Brian Matusz will make his...
Millwood on Millwood
Millwood on Millwood
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Knowing that you don't have to compete for a spot on the team gives you the luxury of working on other pitches in the early weeks of spring training. The results don't really matter. Keep that in mind when examining Kevin Millwood's line today. Millwood went to his changeup more than usual, and it's his fourth-best pitch. "If I can get it to be just a little bit better, it's only going to help," he said. "When I'm going fastball-changeup, it's going to be a hard day. But I got a...