Millwood's finally done

Millwood's finally done
Kevin Millwood left the game with two outs in the third after J.J. Hardy singled on the right-hander's 60th pitch, and his 35th strike. Wilfrido Perez stranded the runner after walking Nick Punto, so that ERA's coming down. It's settled at 29.70 through two starts. Millwood was charged with five runs and nine hits. He walked one and struck out two. We'll head downstairs to talk to Millwood after he's done running in the outfield.

Millwood: "I stink in spring training"

Millwood: "I stink in spring training"
Kevin Millwood broke the news to Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz after tonight's start. Just a little heads-up, in case Kranitz was wondering. The numbers aren't going to be pretty. Look past them. Kranitz didn't need the warning. This isn't his first rodeo. "I stink in spring training. I'm not a good spring training pitcher," Millwood said after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings. "I don't try to win any awards in spring training. I try to get myself ready, and so far it's...

Quick game update (corrected)

Quick game update (corrected)
Juan Portes hit a two-run homer off David Hernandez in the eighth inning to increase Minnesota's lead to 8-3, and the sky opened up as manager Dave Trembley left the dugout. It's an absolute downpour. Chris George is swimming to the mound. The Orioles scored twice in the top of the eighth on singles by Justin Turner, Miguel Abreu and Jonathan Tucker, and a double-play grounder from Rhyne Hughes. Give Tucker an RBI. Don't give one to Hughes. Abreu is playing right field. We've also seen...

Post-game Trembley

Post-game Trembley
The game ended with two outs in the eighth inning and the Twins ahead, 8-3. Next up: The sprint to the car. I'll leave you with some final words from manager Dave Trembley. "We got Millwood's pitch count up, but he's not where he's going to be when the season starts. He's making progress, but we've got to do better," Trembley said. "Koji was a bright spot. He threw the ball very well. Every time out he's thrown the ball well - down, life, finish on his pitches. Markakis swung the...

Rainy days and Fridays

Rainy days and Fridays
It's been pouring for most of the night and morning, and it's difficult to imagine this game being played later today. I'm not saying it won't happen. Nothing is official. But the forecast is bleak and the field already is drenched. I'll venture inside the clubhouse in about 15 minutes to grab the lineup and check on second baseman Brian Roberts. And I'll let you know if they bang this one - as they say in the sportswriting business. Jeremy Guthrie is scheduled to start today,...

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Adam Jones CF Cesar Izturis SS Matt Wieters C Miguel Tejada 3B Ty Wigginton 2B Michael Aubrey 1B Lou Montanez LF Scott Moore DH Jeff Salazar RF Jeremy Guthrie RHP
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Marlins lineup and update

Marlins lineup and update
It's still raining, and I hear thunder rumbling in the distance. The Marlins are heading here from Jupiter, but they might be turning around and going back. Meanwhile, third base at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers has been turned into a child's wading pool. Here's the Marlins lineup: Chris Coghlan LF Emilio Bonifacio CF Hanley Ramirez SS Jorge Cantu 3B Dan Uggla 2B Cody Ross DH Gaby Sanchez 1B Brett Carroll RF Brett Hayes C Andrew Miller LHP Brian Roberts emerged from the trainers room...

No game today

No game today
The Orioles-Marlins game at Ed Smith Stadium has been cancelled due to rain. They don't make up exhibition games, so we're not using the term "postponed." We'll pretend it never appeared on the schedule. Fans can exchange their tickets for any remaining game at the stadium, subject to availability, or obtain a refund. You can get a refund by sending the original tickets via certified mail to: Baltimore Orioles March 12 spring training rainout Ed Smith Stadium 2700 12th St. Sarasota,...

Fallout from the rainout

Fallout from the rainout
Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens examined Brian Roberts this morning and prescribed more anti-inflammatory medication. The club will wait a few days to see how his back and stomach respond to it. The Orioles will play a seven-inning B-squad game against the Marlins tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. Mark Hendrickson will start, followed by Mike Gonzalez, Dennis Sarfate, Kam Mickolio, Mike Hinckley and Chris George. Sean West will start for the Marlins. Nolan Reimold will serve as the...
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Pitching updates (updated)

Pitching updates (updated)
You already know that Jeremy Guthrie is starting tomorrow's game against the Yankees in Tampa, but we had some uncertainty over the bullpen because of the rainout. Alfredo Simon, Jason Berken, Cla Meredith, Matt Albers and Alberto Castillo also are making the trip. Brian Matusz starts Sunday against the Phillies, followed by Jim Johnson, Koji Uehara, Kam Mickolio and Will Ohman. Jake Arrieta starts the B-squad game in Pirate City, followed by Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton, Chorye Spoone and Luis...

Orioles lineup

Orioles lineup
Adam Jones CF Cesar Izturis SS Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Matt Wieters C Garrett Atkins 1B Ty Wigginton 2B Lou Montanez LF Michael Aubrey DH Jeremy Guthrie RHP The Triple-A and Double-A guys are arriving today. I just saw pitchers Jim Miller, Jim Hoey and Ryohei Tanaka in the parking lot. Miller said his shoulder feels great and he likes the way the ball is coming out of his hand. We haven't heard that term in a while, so I was relieved. Miller is hoping to get in a few games and...

Patton pending

Patton pending
Scott Moore is feeling under the weather this morning. And the weather is really nice today - sunny and warm. Moore is moving slowly through the clubhouse and looking like he needs a long nap. Troy Patton has appeared in one game this spring, allowing a solo home run to former Pirates first-rounder Tony Sanchez in the March 5 game in Sarasota. He also struck out one. Patton says his shoulder is healthy. He's scheduled to go two innings in tomorrow's B-squad game in Pirate City. So...

Yankees lineup

Yankees lineup
Brett Gardner CF Nick Johnson DH Jorge Posada C Robinson Cano 2B Curtis Granderson LF Randy Winn RF Juan Miranda 1B Brandon Laird 3B Ramiro Pena SS Javier Vazquez RHP The Phillies will use the following pitchers for tomorrow's game against the Orioles in Sarasota: Kyle Kendrick Andrew Carpenter Sergio Escalona

Pre-game notes

Pre-game notes
Jeremy Guthrie is scheduled to go four innings today. The Orioles might schedule an intrasquad game for Tuesday in Sarasota to provide more innings for their pitchers. Felix Pie could return to the lineup by Monday or Tuesday. He's dealing with a sore left shoulder. "It's more from lifting weights than it is anything else - throwing or swinging a bat," manager Dave Trembley said. Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter in today's B-squad game in Sarasota. He's also doing...

Berken up the right tree

Berken up the right tree
If you're prone to obsessing over spring training records, the rebuilding Indians are 5-0. They're the only unbeaten team in the Cactus League. The offensively challenged Giants are 8-2. The Royals are 4-3. The Dodgers are 2-4. The Angels are 2-5. The Rays are 9-1 in the Grapefruit League, their only loss coming against the Orioles in the opener. Final score: 12-2. The Blue Jays are 5-3 and the Yankees are 4-5. The Cardinals, the favorites to win the NL Central, are 3-5. What's it all...

Guthrie's first inning (updated)

Guthrie's first inning (updated)
Today's game will go a full nine innings, no matter the score. The Yankees will bat in the bottom half. The first five batters reached against Jeremy Guthrie in the first inning, and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead. Guthrie walked the leadoff hitter, Brett Gardner, with the count full, and Nick Johnson followed with a run-scoring double over left fielder Lou Montanez's head. Jorge Posada singled to right to put runners on the corners, and Robinson Cano lined the next pitch into left field to...

Guthrie's second inning

Guthrie's second inning
Jeremy Guthrie surrendered another run in the second inning. He threw 16 pitches, 10 for strikes. Guthrie gave up singles to the first three batters - one ball nicking Cesar Izturis' glove, another bouncing through the hole on the right side of the infied, and another almost taking Guthrie's head off. Jorge Posada's single gave New York a 4-2 lead, but Ty Wigginton backhanded Robinson Cano's grounder up the middle and flipped the ball to Izturis without removing it from his glove,...

Guthrie's third inning (updated twice)

Guthrie's third inning (updated twice)
This is more like it. Jeremy Guthrie needed only eight pitches to dispose of the Yankees in the third inning. Seven of them were strikes. Randy Winn grounded an 0-2 pitch to second base, Juan Miranda lined to right and Brandon Laird flied to shallow center. Guthrie has thrown 60 pitches, 39 for strikes. He's allowed four runs and eight hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Alfredo Aceves has replaced Javier Vazquez for the Yankees. Update: Garrett Atkins greeted Aceves with a home run to...

Guthrie's done (updated twice)

Guthrie's done (updated twice)
Jeremy Guthrie faced one batter in the fourth inning, retiring Ramiro Pena on a fly ball to center. He threw three pitches, leaving his total at 63 for the day. Forty-one were strikes. Jason Berken has replaced Guthrie, who's charged with four runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. That's the longest outing by an Orioles starter this spring. Guthrie has allowed five runs and 12 hits in 7 2/3 innings over three starts. Update: Jorge Posada lined a run-scoring single to right field off...

You know it's spring training when...

You know it's spring training when...
...Adam Jones is lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning with the potential go-ahead run coming to the plate. Jonathan Tucker batted for Jones with runners on first and second, one out and the Orioles' trailing, 5-3. He hit into a force, barely beating the throw to first base. Blake Davis, batting for Cesar Izturis, bounced to short. Jeff Salazar stood on deck as the pinch-hitter for Nick Markakis. It's spring training. Talking about his start today, Jeremy Guthrie noted how he...
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