SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Zach Britton noted the progress he made during today's long-toss session at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, and he's hoping to throw off a mound for the first time by the middle of next week.
Britton repeated Monday's session by making 60-70 throws from about 100 feet, and another 10-15 while simulating his delivery,
"It went really well," he said. "Same thing as yesterday. I actually felt better. I think the ball was coming out of my hand better. A...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts is hitting off a tee in the covered batting cage at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
Roberts is hitting from both sides.
At this point in camp, his every move is newsworthy.
A few reporters are staking out the cage, hoping to get a quick interview.
Also, Ryan Adams is here.
Update: Roberts said he'll speak to the media on Friday. He's been hitting off a tee, playing catch and lifting weights. No running or taking ground balls.
"That's kind...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wilson Betemit is the latest position player to report early to camp. I still haven't seen Josh Bell, Ryan Adams, Endy Chavez, Jai Miller, Steve Tolleson and Ronny Paulino.
Paulino and pitcher Dennys Reyes are having visa issues.
Betemit said he's "really excited" to be here, "especially on a new team and seeing some new guys. I know some guys, a couple other guys, from other teams. I want to build a family."
Betemit doesn't have a defined role, but he figures to get...
SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Chris Davis is out of options, but not out of chances to establish himself in the majors. He's getting another one in 2012.
It's time to make the most of it.
"For me, it feels like the first time in a couple years that I'm going to actually be given a shot to play every day in the big leagues," he said. "The last couple of springs (with the Rangers), I knew I was going to have to come in and compete just for a chance to break with the team. It feels good...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Six more pitchers need to be tested Tuesday on director of pitching development Rick Peterson's biomechanical analysis.
I think you should pass the test if you can repeat that sentence without stumbling.
Asked about Zach Britton's progression, manager Buck Showalter said, "So far, so good. It's kind of like trying to keep in mind where the finish line is. The only thing we try to do is slow him down a little bit."
More from Showalter:
On Andino: "I'm real proud of...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts showed up at major league camp today. We're not ready to put a tracking device on him, but it's good to know he's at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
Roberts took some swings in the cage. He's been hitting soft toss and off a tee, and he's playing catch.
Manager Buck Showalter has been darting from one back field to the next, so he's in the process of obtaining an update on Roberts that he can pass along to the media.
Robert Andino will get...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton said his flat-ground session went "really well" today, and he remains encouraged by the progress he's making after being bothered again by inflammation in his left shoulder.
Britton moved back to 100 feet today while making 60-70 throws. He also simulated his delivery on another 10-15 throws, also on flat ground.
Britton said he'll do the same thing Tuesday in his first back-to-back days of throwing.
"They want me to keep my throws up to 120 throws for...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Don't try to pin a job description on Robert Andino.
Second baseman? Super-utility player? Leadoff hitter? It doesn't matter to him.
You can ask all you want, but his answer isn't going to change.
"My focus is just to be ready," Andino said. "Whatever the boss says to do, I'm going to do. I'm just here trying to help the team win, so whatever I've got to do, that's what I'm going to do. I'm just here to get ready."
Manager Buck Showalter says that in a perfect...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy is in camp with the Orioles with one goal in mind, and it's not to be introduced on opening day.
Give the kid credit for being a realist.
"It's to learn from all these older guys and pick their brains and see what they're thinking and what their thought process is on the field and learn as much baseball as I can while I'm here," he said.
The clubhouse isn't filled with veteran pitchers who fit the mentor profile, but Bundy is 19 years old. They're all...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy, the Orioles' first-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, won't throw until Monday, but he's already made a favorable impression on manager Buck Showalter.
"He's a pretty serious kid, and rightfully so. And it's not because he's nervous, either," Showalter said.
"I'm sure he's trying to figure out a way to make the club. He's a very attentive listener. He'll get out of this what he needs to get out of it and get on with his season. He's a...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada threw in the indoor batting cage today as the Orioles' first workout for pitchers and catchers concluded at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The area is off-limits to media, so I can't tell you how the ball came out of his hand.
Wada is drawing a lot of attention from the Japanese media. They filmed him tying his shoes this morning at his locker. I guess that's breaking news back home.
Wada, speaking through interpreter Danny MacLeith, said...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's first workout consisted mostly of pitchers fielding practice, which rivals watching paint dry in terms of excitement.
A group of pitchers threw inside the covered batting cage, which is off-limits to reporters. They also underwent the biomechanical pitching analysis designed by new director of pitching development Rick Peterson.
"We're breaking them up. It'll go on for at least two more days. We just don't want to disrupt too much. We should get most of the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Jim Johnson said he'll probably be a week behind the other pitchers in camp because of lower-back discomfort that has subsided.
Johnson described his condition as "a little strain" and playfully chided reporters for rushing to his locker for an update.
"I had a little problem in the offseason and went and saw a doctor and we've been working on it," he said. "Everything's fine. I'll just be a week behind schedule. It's taken care of.
"It's just...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitchers and catchers are taking their physicals this morning, which pushes back the time of today's first workout to noon on the back fields of the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
One field is under construction, with concrete being spread over it yesterday. I'll assume it's an artificial surface. Otherwise, the grass is going to look the same as the stuff growing in my front yard.
The forecast for today is ominous - thunderstorms are supposed to crash the workout party - but...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he's going to be cautious early in camp with pitchers Zach Britton and Jim Johnson.
Britton is receiving treatment for inflammation in his left shoulder. He played long toss again today, and pitching coach Rick Adair told Showalter that the session went very well. No soreness, no symptoms.
Meanwhile, Showalter revealed that Johnson has "some patella stuff and lower-back things," but neither condition is viewed as serious.
Johnson is...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts showed up today, according to manager Buck Showalter, who told reporters that the second baseman had a good look on his face and seemed upbeat.
Outfielders Nolan Reimold and Scott Beerer also are in camp, and they have a very similar look.
Beerer is the early favorite to beat Reimold in a sprint, which is interesting. You've seen how fast Reimold gets down the line. I'm sure a match-race is in the works.
Left-hander Ryan Edell, signed to a minor league deal,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - By the time I left the clubhouse this morning, I had spotted pitchers Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Alfredo Simon, Pedro Strop, Tommy Hunter, Jason Berken, Brad Bergesen, Jason Hammel, Oliver Drake, Pat Neshek, Matt Lindstrom, Jon Link, Dana Eveland, Zach Phillips, Dylan Bundy, Darren O'Day and Wei-Yin Chen, and catchers Matt Wieters, Taylor Teagarden and Brian Ward.
Pitcher Steve Johnson and first baseman Joe Mahoney have corner lockers next to the big fridges...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitchers and catchers will report to camp today, and the media has been granted clubhouse access from 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
In the past, we've been allowed to stake out the clubhouse all morning and afternoon, so I'm not sure why a change has been implemented. New regime, new rules?
I've already experienced my weird moment of the day. I got into my car, turned on the stereo and heard "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors.
Now I just need to find a song about the Mandarin...
SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm staying in a different hotel this spring, so I must rely on my horrible sense of direction and my GPS to find my way to Ed Smith Stadium and downtown Sarasota.
The good news: I'm very close to the Sarasota airport.
The bad news: I flew into Tampa.
Though it's overcast and a light rain has been falling, the temperature was 71 degrees when my plane landed. No shovel required.
I made a quick trip to the ballpark to check out the clubhouse renovations, and they're...
Did I actually make it out of Maryland this winter without shoveling snow?
Will I actually go another year without missing my flight?
I don't even know who I am anymore.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training Saturday, which means I need to be in Sarasota today. Players start to trickle in early, and I always love playing "Who's that guy?" There's no way I'd arrive late and miss out on all the fun.
A new player walks into the clubhouse carrying his equipment bag. Reporters...
