SARASOTA, Fla. - Shortstop J.J. Hardy is leading off and left fielder David Lough is batting ninth today for the Orioles' game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium.
Don't read anything into it.
Nelson Cruz is playing right field, with Nick Markakis serving as the designated hitter. This is Cruz's first start in the outfield.
For the Orioles
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis DH
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Nelson Cruz RF
Matt Wieters C
Ryan Flaherty 2B
Alex Gonzalez 3B
David Lough LF
Bud...
SARASOTA, Fla. - We're only three games into the exhibition schedule. Much too early to draw any conclusions. Much too early to ...
Oh, who am I kidding? Let's take a look at a few Orioles who have grabbed my attention.
Jonathan Schoop came off the bench yesterday and delivered a two-run double in the ninth inning of the Orioles' 8-6 loss to the Red Sox. The ball slammed off the replica Green Monster at JetBlue Park. The kid is swinging the bat like a man.
The Orioles want Schoop, their...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - These Orioles are a scrappy bunch.
Jonathan Schoop had a two-run double in the top of the ninth, Buck Britton had an RBI single and Christian Walker added a two-run single, as the Orioles tried to pull off another come-from-behind victory. But Xavier Paul struck out to complete the Red Sox's 8-6 victory at JetBlue Park.
The Orioles batted around in the inning. Mike Yastrzemski, who grounded out in his first at-bat, drew a walk and hustled to third on Walker's...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6
Recap: The Red Sox scored four runs in two innings off 20-year-old left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to take a 4-0 lead. Brian Matusz tossed two scoreless innings and was most pleased with his changeup.
Need to know: Steve Clevenger has made a strong early push for the backup catching job, driving in a run with a two-out, base-loaded single to make him 3-for-6 with two RBIs this spring.
On deck: Monday, home vs. Twins, 1:05 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla....
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz tossed two scoreless innings today against the Red Sox, allowing singles to Dustin Pedroia in the first and Xander Bogaerts in the second.
Matusz didn't walk or strike out anyone. He threw 35 pitches, 18 for strikes.
Former Red Sox farmhand Brock Huntzinger replaced Matusz to start the third inning and retired the side in order on a fly ball, pop up and bouncer to the mound.
Other pitchers on the trip include Troy Patton, T.J. McFarland,...
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles minor league outfielder Mike Yastrzemski found out yesterday during lunch that he would make the trip to JetBlue Park for today's exhibition game against the Red Sox, the news coming from director of player development Brian Graham.
Yastrzemski already knew that he'd have a chance to visit with his grandfather, Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, a minor league instructor with the Red Sox. And sure enough, they stood behind the coach during batting practice while...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder Henry Urrutia remains shut down through Monday because of soreness in his right shoulder.
Urrutia is taking anti-inflammatory drugs and resting. He was scratched from today's trip to Fort Myers.
Urrutia said the shoulder began to bother him during Friday's exhibition opener in Port Charlotte after he made a throw to third base.
"I feel better," he said through his interpreter, first baseman Chris Marrero, who is sidelined with a strained oblique.
"I...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will try to stay unbeaten in the Grapefruit League with today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
Brian Matusz will start today and fly to Philadelphia Monday morning to have a wart removed from the middle finger on his left hand. He will return to camp later that night.
Update: Matusz said he's delaying his trip because of the pending storm up north. Now he must wait on the weather and the doctor's availability.
He's already stated that it...
SARASOTA, Fla. - This spring's camp has provided a few more reminders that the baseball world is a small one, but I wouldn't want to paint it.
(Hat tip to Steven Wright).
We learned that Ubaldo Jimenez and Alexi Casilla played in the same Little League as kids in the Dominican Republic. Probably half of the players in the clubhouse have been teammates of Nelson Cruz.
Here's another one: Brian Matusz and Tim Alderson threw dueling one-hitters in a high school game in Arizona.
Matusz,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are shutting down outfielder Henry Urrutia for the next two days due to inflammation in his right shoulder.
Urrutia has been scratched from Sunday's trip to Fort Myers for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox. Manager Buck Showalter said he will bring minor league outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski.
That's an instant note.
Delmon Young will serve as the designated hitter on Sunday. Outfielder Quintin Berry, no longer...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 9, Blue Jays 7
Recap: Reliever Edgmer Escalona gave up five runs in the sixth inning to wipe out the Orioles' 2-1 lead, but Francisco Peguero's two-out, bases-loaded triple in the eighth capped a seven-run rally. Steve Johnson retired all six batters he faced, striking out two, in relief of Miguel Gonzalez, who was charged with one run in the second.
Need to know: A day after Jemile Weeks doubled, walked and scored twice, Jonathan Schoop came off the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Many of the Orioles are wearing gray wristbands with Monica Barlow's initials written in black marker.
A member of the club's PR staff said manager Buck Showalter, hitting coach Jim Presley, first base coach Wayne Kirby, bench coach John Russell, first baseman Chris Davis, center fielder Adam Jones, right fielder Nick Markakis, shortstop J.J. Hardy, catcher Matt Wieters, second baseman Ryan Flaherty and third baseman Manny Machado are wearing the bands.
Davis gave the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Henry Urrutia received treatment today for a sore right shoulder. He's still able to swing a bat, but the Orioles will limit his throwing until he's better.
Outfielder Quintin Berry worked out on the back fields today and could play on Sunday. An MRI on his back earlier this week came back clean.
"He's trying to do everything today," said manager Buck Showalter.
Infielder Alexi Casilla remains shut down with a sore right hamstring.
"Little by little,"...
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's too early to read anything into pitching orders and lineups, but somebody had to bat leadoff today and Orioles manager Buck Showalter chose left fielder David Lough.
Nick Markakis is considered the frontrunner to bat first this season, but he easily could drop down if he's back to driving the ball and considered more valuable in a run production spot.
Lough, a career .278/.308/.396 hitter in parts of two major league seasons, led off in 36 games with the Royals. He...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has slotted left fielder David Lough atop the order for today's home exhibition opener against the Blue Jays.
Nelson Cruz is batting second and serving as the designated hitter. Alex Gonzalez is playing third base and batting ninth.
Today's game will air on MASN HD and WBAL Radio.
For the Orioles
David Lough LF
Nelson Cruz DH
Chris Davis 1B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
J.J. Hardy SS
Matt Wieters C
Ryan Flaherty 2B
Alex Gonzalez 3B
Miguel...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will try to make it two in a row today and we'll all try to make it through the day without shedding anymore tears.
Yesterday took a lot out of us.
Miguel Gonzalez gets the start for the Orioles after bullpen sessions and live batting practice didn't bring a recurrence of his back spasms.
The Blue Jays will start right-hander Drew Hutchinson, in case you were considering a wager.
Manager Buck Showalter kept most of his regulars back in Sarasota yesterday, but...
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Left-hander Nick Additon retired the side in order in the eighth inning, Tim Alderson survived a one-out walk in the ninth and the Orioles opened their Grapefruit League schedule with a 4-2 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park.
Francisco Peguero, Steve Clevenger and Alex Gonzalez each had two hits. Jemile Weeks reached base twice and scored two runs, and Gonzalez had two RBIs.
Manager Buck Showalter described Chris Tillman as being "sharp" today.
"There were...
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP
Score: Orioles 4, Rays 2
Recap: Chris Tillman retired six of the seven batters he faced and struck out three while focusing mostly on his fastball command. Leadoff hitter Jemile Weeks reached base twice and scored two runs in the first two innings, as the Orioles led from start to finish.
Need to know: Eddie Gamboa struck out two while retiring the side in order in the sixth, and he managed to mix in a low-90s fastball with his low-60s knuckleball.
On deck: Saturday,...
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Jemile Weeks made a leaping catch at second base in the Orioles' first intrasquad game. He singled, walked, and moved up a base on a fly ball into right-center field in the second game.
In two innings of today's exhibition opener against the Rays, Weeks has doubled, walked, stolen a base and scored two runs.
Is this guy trying to tell us something?
"It is a confidence-builder," Weeks said earlier today. "It's good to get out there and let them see some of your...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play their first exhibition game today with heavy hearts, the loss of a beloved member of the organization bringing great pain to all of us.
Monica Pence Barlow, the club's director of public relations, passed away early this morning after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 36.
She also was a fighter - tougher than anyone I've known. Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in September 2009, she leaned heavily on her faith while enduring rounds...