Play ball
Play ball
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
We're a few minutes away from the first pitch. Nothing wrong with starting two hours late. I'm told that Cole Hamels was supposed to pitch in a B game today, but the rain forced its cancellation. He'll follow Jamie Moyer to the mound in the regular game. Trembley met with closer Mike Gonzalez last week to make sure he could count on the left-hander for Opening Day. "I said, 'Hey, I need to know that when I go to bed at night, I'm going to sleep a little bit better knowing that...
Millwood on the mound (part 2)
Millwood on the mound (part 2)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Kevin Millwood fell behind 2-0 to leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins and gave up a double to right-center field. He got a strike on Placido Polanco and gave up a single into center field. Polanco took third when Adam Jones' throw deflected off Garrett Atkins' glove. Was it too late for a rainout? Chase Utley struck out on three pitches. Ryan Howard struck out looking with the count full. Jayson Werth flied to center with the count full. It wasn't too late for a rapid recovery. Millwood threw...
More Millwood (part 2)
More Millwood (part 2)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Nolan Reimold's sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field in the third inning brought home Ty Wigginton with the tying run. Wigginton doubled and took third on Jimmy Rollin's error. Nick Markakis has the Orioles' other hit, a double in the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Millwood wiggled off the ho
Nolan's rollin! (with Millwood update)
Nolan's rollin! (with Millwood update)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Nolan Reimold just collected his first hit of the spring, a single off the left field fence with two outs in the fifth inning. The ball was hit so hard that Reimold had no shot at a double. Raul Ibanez played the carom perfectly and got the ball back to the infield as Reimold took a wide turn around first. Reimold was 0-for-22 before ending his skid. Players applauded him from the dugout. Luke Scott gave him the "spotlight" gesture. I can't wait to ask Reimold about his 1-for-22 on...
Millwood's done - and so are the Terps
Millwood's done - and so are the Terps
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The entire press box was fixated on the end of the Maryland-Michigan State game. Way too many MSU grads sitting near me. Kevin Millwood was charged with one run and five hits in five innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches, 59 for strikes. I don't even care. I'm still mourning the Terps loss. Will Ohman replaced Millwood and walked the leadoff batter. He struck out the next three. Again, I don't care.
Gonzo and game updates
Gonzo and game updates
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Run-scoring singles by Lou Montanez, Matt Wieters and Brandon Snyder have given the Orioles a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. Mike Gonzalez tossed a scoreless seventh, allowing a two-out double and striking out one batter. "I feel much better," he said. "Every time I'm going out there, I'm feeling a little better. Getting more into my rhythm and timing. I definitely feel like the ball's coming out of my hand a lot beter. It's definitely a good time to start getting in a...
Millwood on Millwood
Millwood on Millwood
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
So much for working on things. Kevin Millwood treated today's start like a regular-season game as he held the Phillies to one run over five innings. That included throwing his changeup in more normal counts and circumstances "I didn't use it a lot," he said. "Today, I used it more in situations when I'd probably use it in a game and I tried to pitch this game like it was a regular-season ballgame. Just try to get people out. Today was the first time I just kind of said, 'screw it' and...
Orioles 5, Phillies 4
Orioles 5, Phillies 4
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Josh Perrault gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth, including a two-run shot by Greg Dobbs, but the Orioles held on for a 5-4 win in Clearwater. Asked about Kevin Millwood, manager Dave Trembley replied, "All you had to see was the first inning to tell you about Millwood. Case closed." Well, not quite. What exactly does that mean? Can we open up the case for a few more minutes? "What he did in the first inning ought to tell you everything about Millwood," Trembley continued....
Orioles HOF
Orioles HOF
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Former Orioles pitching coach and manager Ray Miller has been elected to the Orioles' Hall of Fame. Former catcher and manager Johnny Oates will be inducted posthumously as a selection of the Veteran's Committee. Longtime baseball operations employee Lenny Johnston will be enshrined as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. Five Orioles pitchers were 20-game-winners under Miller's tutelage - Mike Boddicker in 1984, Scott McGregor and Steve Stone in 1980, Mike Flanagan in 1979 and Jim...
Greetings from Jupiter
Greetings from Jupiter
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I almost took a wrong turn at Uranus. I'm sitting in the press box at Roger Dean Stadium as the Marlins take infield practice. Still no sign of the Orioles, who are bringing two buses from Sarasota. One bus will head back to Sarasota later today with the players who aren't staying for tomorrow's game against the Cardinals. I'll post the lineup and pass along pre-game comments from manager Dave Trembley. I'll also provide updates on Jeremy Guthrie, who's making his fifth start this...