SARASOTA, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez's shin keeps changing color. The red mark has turned to purple and the soreness has increased.
Just as you'd expect after a baseball slams off a tibia.
Gonzalez will throw a light bullpen session today - 15 to 20 pitches - and remains hopeful that he can make his next start. The Orioles have him scheduled to take the mound on Tuesday.
A liner up the middle from Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp nailed Gonzalez on the lower leg Friday afternoon and caused him to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles conclude a stretch of four consecutive scheduled home games today with a visit from the Pirates, who will serve as hosts Monday afternoon in Bradenton.
Heavy rains forced the cancellation of Thursday's game, so it's three in a row at Ed Smith Stadium.
The Orioles are 7-2 after taking both split-squad games yesterday. The standings are meaningless during the Grapefruit League season, but winning is better than losing, and you can quote me on it.
Nelson Cruz is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis doubled twice and tripled Friday afternoon as part of a four-hit day. He doubled and scored yesterday.
All that training over the winter and the extra muscle added to his arms and legs haven't gone to waste.
Markakis is 8-for-13 with four doubles, a triple and four runs scored in four spring training games. He's running the bases aggressively and tracking down balls in the gap and near the line.
He did it twice in the top of the fourth...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Former reliever Todd Frohwirth is leaving camp Sunday morning and heading to Arizona, where he will resume his scouting duties for the Orioles.
His work here is done.
Frohwirth has been tutoring Darren O'Day on refining his changeup. O'Day threw four or five of them today while retiring the Red Sox in order in the fifth inning on a strikeout and two ground balls to first baseman Chris Davis.
"It went about as well as it could have," O'Day said after the Orioles' 7-3...
SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough is leading off and playing center field in the Orioles' second split-squad game tonight against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
Nolan Reimold gets the start in left field and Henry Urrutia is in right.
Mike Yastrzemski makes another trip to JetBlue Park as a reserve. Most of the bench is comprised of players summoned from the minor league camp.
For the Orioles
David Lough CF
Jemile Weeks 2B
Ryan Flaherty SS
Steve Pearce 1B
Steve Clevenger C
Nolan Reimold LF
Henry...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 7, Red Sox 3
Recap: Bud Norris allowed two hits over three scoreless innings, striking out four and not issuing a walk. Nick Markakis collected his third double in two games and scored on J.J. Hardy's two-bagger. Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run homer. Tommy Hunter and Eduardo Rodriguez each served up a home run.
Need to know: Darren O'Day was impressive while working the fifth inning. He struck out a batter and induced two grounders to first baseman Chris...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are wearing orange Lungevity T-shirts at batting practice today to honor late public relations director Monica Pence Barlow, who passed away Feb. 28 after a prolonged battle with Stage IV lung cancer.
The shirts read:
Lungevity
Find it. Treat it. Live.
In memory of Monica
A contingent of about 30 Orioles, including manager Buck Showalter, executive vice president Dan Duquette, players and staff flew into Virginia Friday evening to attend a gathering of family and...
SARASOTA, Fla. - X-rays taken on Miguel Gonzalez's left shin yesterday came back negative, and he's hoping to make his next start without interruption.
A line drive off the bat of Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp hit Gonzalez just below his kneecap during the fifth inning of yesterday's game at Ed Smith Stadium. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells rushed to the mound, and Gonzalez was forced to leave after facing only three batters.
"It's a little sore, but not bad," Gonzalez said. "It...
SARASOTA, Fla. - As expected, most of the Orioles regulars will stay at Ed Smith Stadium for today's split-squad game against the Red Sox.
David Lough, Ryan Flaherty and Nolan Reimold must be on the trip to Fort Myers for the 7:05 p.m. game, since they're not listed on the home lineup card.
For the Orioles
Nick Markakis RF
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis 1B
Adam Jones CF
Nelson Cruz LF
Delmon Young DH
Matt Wieters C
Alex Gonzalez 3B
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Bud Norris RHP
Other available pitchers...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the Red Sox today.
Twice.
Welcome to split-squad city. The Orioles host a 1:05 p.m. game that will air on MASN HD, and head to Fort Myers for a 7:05 p.m. game.
Bud Norris will handle home starting duties and Kevin Gausman will take the bus to JetBlue Park. I'd expect most of the regulars to stay at Ed Smith Stadium.
Ryan Flaherty doesn't know where he'll play, and that includes his position.
In the early days of spring training, Orioles manager...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 15, Phillies 4
Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez dazzled in his debut, retiring all six batters and striking out three. Nick Markakis singled, doubled twice and tripled to finish 4-for-4. The Orioles pounded A.J. Burnett for six runs and seven hits in three innings. Maybe a little payback to the Monkton resident.
Need to know: David Lough was hit on the foot during an outfield drill a few days ago and scratched from the trip to Fort Myers. X-rays were negative. He was...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Want to get under Orioles manager Buck Showalter's skin? Keep asking him for a timetable on Manny Machado debuting in exhibition games and the odds of the young third baseman being in the opening day lineup.
He'd rather not go there.
Showalter can't say with any certainty whether Machado will be playing in Grapefruit League games in a few weeks after having his knee reexamined in Los Angeles. He's not going to keep providing updates and gauge whether Machado is ahead of...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the first roster cuts of spring training could be made today during lunch.
Showalter indicated earlier in the week that he'd wait until after Saturday's split-squad games, but those plans have changed.
Players on the 40-man roster for the first time, such as pitcher Tim Berry and catcher Michael Ohlman, can't be sent out before Monday.
I prefer not to speculate on today's cuts, but first baseman Chris Marrero still can't work out...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Aceves is scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring today after the Orioles provide innings for Ubaldo Jimenez, Brian Matusz and Miguel Gonzalez.
Aceves' debut was delayed because he had to leave camp and obtain his work visa in Mexico. He retired all three batters he faced, with a strikeout.
"Basically, every day I'm coming here to work, just trying to get in a rhythm," said Aceves, who signed a minor league deal in January while the Orioles held...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez makes his Orioles debut today in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.
David Lough is leading off, with Nick Markakis batting second.
Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at third base.
For the Orioles
David Lough LF
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Nelson Cruz DH
Matt Wieters C
J.J. Hardy SS
Ryan Flaherty 3B
Jemile Weeks 2B
Ubaldo Jimenez RHP
Brian Matusz and Miguel Gonzalez will follow Jimenez to the mound. Also...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play an exhibition game today against the Phillies, but it won't have the normal spring feel to it.
Manager Buck Showalter, players and staff will hop on a charter at 4 p.m and fly into Virginia to attend a gathering of family and friends honoring Monica Pence Barlow. They expect to be back in Sarasota by 10:30 p.m.
The outcome of these games is largely meaningless, especially a week into the schedule. That description has never been more fitting than...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles confirmed that today's game with the Rays has been canceled due to rain and there is no makeup date.
That's the difference between "postponed" and "canceled." They don't reschedule Grapefruit League games.
Fans holding paid tickets may exchange them for any of the remaining spring games at Ed Smith Stadium, subject to availability, or obtain a refund.
Also, today's OriolesREACH Food Drive to benefit All Faiths Food Bank has been rescheduled for the March...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter still hasn't posted his lineup for today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium.
Tampa Bay left-hander David Price has been scratched from his start here and will throw a simulated game back in Port Charlotte. The threat of rain has caused manager Joe Maddon to adjust the pitching schedule.
Left-hander Braulio Lara will start for the Rays if the game isn't cancelled.
For the Rays
David DeJesus LF
Wil Myers RF
James Loney...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are beginning a stretch today of four straight home games, and they're getting a second look at the Rays.
Miguel Gonzalez is starting for the Orioles, while the Rays are countering with left-hander David Price.
Brock Huntzinger is 6-for-6 this spring, which is impressive for a hitter or a pitcher.
Huntzinger, a non-roster reliever, has retired all six batters that he's faced. He set down three Red Sox hitters Sunday in Fort Myers and struck out the side Tuesday...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said pitcher Zach Britton is fine after taking a comebacker off the bottom portion of his glove hand.
Britton may have a bruise, but he won't need X-rays.
"It got mostly glove," Showalter said following the Orioles' 11-5 win over the Twins. "It scared the (heck) out of him, but he seems to be all right. Richie (Bancells) said he thought he was fine.
"A little early anxiety. I think he was kind of sitting there going, 'Holy (crap), I'm...