SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts didn't take the field for the pre-workout stretch and catch, and he was absent during infield drills.
Roberts continues to receive treatment on his neck. He told reporters yesterday that he hoped to get back on the field today or tomorrow.
Looks like today is out.
Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris took grounders at second. Izturis looks every bit as smooth there as he did at short.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said no further tests on...
SARASOTA, Fla. - One of Alfredo Simon's representatives sent out a text last night alerting reporters that there could be a positive development today in the reliever's case. Simon remains jailed in the Dominican Republic, and he was denied bail again yesterday.
It's the never-ending story.
Justin Duchscherer noted yesterday that his curveball was much better during his live BP session. One reason: Duchscherer is breaking in a new glove and he's had some trouble gripping the ball.
Things...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee will take batting practice off one of the coaches later this morning, after the Orioles hold another series of meetings that caused the clubhouse to close to the media 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Lee has been hitting soft tosses in the indoor cage. He's also stepped to the plate during live batting practice with instructions to not swing the bat.
You can tell it's been tough for him. He wants to take some hacks, but he's being cautious after having surgery in...
SARASOTA, Fla. - According to this report, Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon remains in police custody in the Dominican Republic after he was again denied bail today.
Frank Robinson stood underneath his No. 20 that's mounted on Hall of Fame row in the clubhouse and addressed the team before today's workout.
"He obviously can command a room," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's been in front of players for quite a while. You can tell he has a real affinity for the Orioles."
"The guy's...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Before I dash across the street to pick up lunch, I wanted to pass along a few short items.
Manager Buck Showalter described second baseman Brian Roberts as being 50 percent improved. Showalter seems fairly confident that Roberts will be back on the field tomorrow morning.
"You could tell he felt a lot better today," Showalter said.
Roberts wasn't going to play in Monday's exhibition opener in Bradenton. The original plan called for him to start Tuesday's game in...
SARASOTA, Fla. - With Brian Roberts unable to work out again today, Cesar Izturis and Brendan Harris took ground balls at second base.
J.J. Hardy and Nick Green took turns at shortstop. Derrek Lee and Jake Fox played first base. Mark Reynolds stood alone at third.
Robert Andino worked out at shortstop on another field.
Reynolds had one bad sequence where he mishandled a chopper and bounced a throw after fielding the next ball cleanly. Otherwise, he was fine.
Reynolds and Fox had a mild...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Scene from the clubhouse this morning: Terry Crowley talking hitting while standing with Vladimir Guerrero and Felix Pie.
Another scene: Mark Reynolds, Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold sitting at Brady Anderson's locker after the former Orioles outfielder finished working out.
A scene that took place behind closed doors, so I didn't actually witness it: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson talking to the team before the workout. His retired number hangs on a wall.
Brandon Snyder...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Roberts said his neck is feeling better, but he'll get more treatments today and bypass the workout.
Roberts is hoping to take the field again tomorrow or Saturday.
X-rays taken on Roberts' neck yesterday were negative.
"I'm just trying to get it calmed down," he said.
Former Orioles David Segui and Paul Bako are in camp today.
Vladimir Guerrero still has his goatee.
It's been a slow morning, but at least the clubhouse was open to the media for an hour. It...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rick VandenHurk will follow Jeremy Guthrie to the mound in the second exhibition game. Left-hander Zach Britton will replace Justin Duchscherer in the third game.
Manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem overly concerned about second baseman Brian Roberts' neck.
"Muscle spasm. Nothing other than that. Trapezius. Is that right? Day-to-day," Showalter said.
"They didn't see any disk issues or anything. It is what it is. We've all woke up with a stiff neck."
Showalter...
SARASOTA, Fla. - It appears that Brian Roberts is fine and only dealing with some stiffness in his neck after leaving camp this morning and undergoing X-rays.
Roberts will continue to receive treatment. He's unsure whether he'll return to the field tomorrow, which makes him day-to-day.
"Just a stiff neck," he said, downplaying the situation when approached by reporters. "We've probably all had a stiff neck at some point in our life, right? I'm not overly concerned."
True, but we...
SARASOTA, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee is hoping to take batting practice on the field Friday after being restricted to hitting soft tosses in the cage during the first days of the full-squad workouts.
Lee, three months removed from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb, won't take BP with the team. The veteran will take his swings against one of the minor league coaches.
Earlier today, Lee stood in the cage but kept the bat on his shoulder while Brad Bergesen threw live batting...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton and right-hander Rick VandenHurk also will make appearances during the first week of the exhibition schedule.
Jeremy Guthrie will start the March 1 home opener against the Rays, and Justin Duchscherer will start the following day against the Phillies in Clearwater. Britton will pitch in one of those games, with VandenHurk taking the mound in the other.
Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman will pitch in the first game Feb. 28 against the Pirates in...
SARASOTA, Fla. - I just arrived in the workroom to find out that Brian Roberts isn't working out today. He left camp with a sore neck.
Roberts might need X-rays. That's all we really know at the moment. But since he exited the facility, it makes sense that he'd be going for X-rays.
At least it's not his back, though I only play a doctor on this blog, so there could be a connection that I'm missing.
Cesar Izturis was re-signed to back up at second base. Robert Andino, Brendan Harris and...
SARASOTA, Fla. - So did I hear correctly that the Gino Giant is coming back to Baltimore?
Best burger around when I was a kid.
The clubhouse is closed to the media for the second time in three mornings. On Monday, it was due to physicals and dental and vision exams. Today, our access is limited because of team meetings, including one with umpires.
I've been asked many times about the differences between former pitching coach Rick Kranitz and the man who replaced him, Mark Connor. Are...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Want to get under Luke Scott's skin?
Are you nuts?
It's probably not a good idea, but here's one suggestion if you're in that sort of devious and daring mood: Suggest that he's only suited to be a designated hitter. Then run, do not walk, to the nearest exit.
That's been Scott's primary role with the Orioles, but he's projected to be the starting left fielder in 2011. A future Hall of Famer is taking over his former duties. You might have heard of the guy - Vladimir...
SARASOTA, Fla. - You already know that Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman are pitching in the first exhibition game on Feb. 28 versus the Pirates in Bradenton.
Here's what you didn't know until today:
Jeremy Guthrie is starting the March 1 home exhibition game against Tampa Bay. Justin Duchscherer will start March 2 against the Phillies in Clearwater. Brian Matusz and Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario will pitch in the March 3 game against the Twins in Sarasota, and Jake Arrieta and Ryan Drese will...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Minor league catching instructor Don Werner threw batting practice on the Camden Yards back field this morning. He actually turned and watched one of Vladimir Guerrero's fly balls clear the left field fence, and the young boy standing behind it.
It was that impressive.
Guerrero and Luke Scott drove the ball to the opposite field during their first rounds of BP. Then it was time to unload.
Guerrero mashed the last three balls thrown to him. Players around the cage were...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Sorry to hear about the snow last night. If it makes you feel any better, the automated phone call from Carroll County Public Schools woke me up at 6 a.m.
Snippets of the motivational video that manager Buck Showalter presented to his team Sunday night will be shown between innings at Camden Yards throughout the season. There are no plans to make the entire film available to the public.
Vladimir Guerrero is still sporting his goatee. He's also smiling more as each day...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon could be released from a Dominican jail this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday, according to his representatives.
Simon has been detained for 49 days following the shooting death of his cousin on New Year's Eve in the town of Luperon. Another man was injured during the celebration.
Phil Isaac of the Para Sports Group said a ballistics test proved that the bullet that killed Michael Esteban Castillo Almonte, 25, didn't come from the gun Simon...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee took ground balls at first base this morning, but most of his work was done before taking the field for the first full-squad workout. He continues to hit soft tosses in the cage.
"After talking to him, everything's progressing right on schedule. In fact, he's ahead of schedule," manager Buck Showalter said.
Lee underwent surgery in November to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. The Orioles won't rush him, and they don't seem concerned about getting...
