SARASOTA, Fla. - I woke up to a bunch of spam comments on the blog, most of them from senders claiming to have squirrels in their pants.
Is that really how my day is starting?
Anyway, pitchers and catchers are taking their physicals this morning and the clubhouse is closed to the media. They'll immediately head to the back fields for workouts, so access will be delayed. I won't be arriving at Ed Smith Stadium before 11 a.m., unless I want to sit in a room and stare at the walls.
A team...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Michael Gonzalez was a health riddle last spring, insisting that his left shoulder felt fine while everyone noticed his diminished velocity and spotty location. He blew two of his first three save chances and went on the disabled list April 14 with a strained shoulder. He wasn't reinstated until July 21.
Gonzalez posted a 1.76 ERA in his first 18 appearances after being activated. He looked like a different pitcher, and not simply because he no longer was closing.
Orioles...
SARASOTA, Fla. - I took an extensive walk through Ed Smith Stadium, where the construction will continue right up to the home opener on March 1.
Most of the work should be completed by Feb. 21. Construction beyond the left field fence, including an elevated picnic perch that fans are going to love, will take a little longer.
The lawsuit delayed construction, but it also allowed for some late changes to the original plans, including raising the picnic area from ground level.
I walked through...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman just arrived together at 12:16 p.m.
Troy Patton isn't allowed to speak with the media regarding his DWI arrest in Houston last month. He politely declined to comment before leaving the clubhouse, but he's clearly embarrassed by the incident.
Patton may not have to leave the team for a court hearing later this month. There's a chance that he'll be able to work around it.
Brad Bergesen was playing catch on one of the back fields with Jeremy...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Koji Uehara just played catch outdoors. So far, so good.
Third baseman Mark Reynolds has reported with the pitchers and catchers. Looks like he's eager to get started.
Reynolds is working out today and will take his 2-year-old daughter to Disney the next two days. I told him to enjoy these precious moments while he can, since my little angel turns 18 tomorrow.
I swear she was 2 when I left the house yesterday.
I took another spin through the clubhouse. It's a little...
SARASOTA, Fla. - I can say that spring training has officially started because my rental car is parked at Ed Smith Stadium and I've already walked through the clubhouse once this morning.
I saw a bunch of empty lockers.
I also saw a huge crane outside the stadium as the renovations continue at the complex. The finishing touches are being applied to the back fields, which should be ready for tomorrow's first workout for pitchers and catchers. Some of the stadium work could continue until the...
It's become more apparent that Vladimir Guerrero isn't in a hurry to do anything this winter.
Sign with a new team. Take his physical. The man works at his own deliberate pace.
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was on my AirTran flight to Sarasota today, and he informed me that Guerrero's physical is now scheduled for Wednesday.
Guerrero's been dealing with some scheduling conflicts. He's not trying to back out of the deal.
Though Guerrero hasn't signed a...
My bags are packed and I'm ready for the airport. But is the airport ready for me?
I'm trying to tear myself away from my 800th viewing of "Cobra" on Spike TV, easily one of the worst movies ever made.
Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen.
I know, I know ... how could they possibly mess up that one?
Stallone utters one of my all-time favorite cringe-worthy lines while confronting a shooter in a grocery store about two minutes into the flick: "You're a disease, and I'm the...
The Orioles just released details of the funeral arrangements for longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler, who passed away last night.
A viewing will be held Sunday and Monday from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at Evan's Funeral Chapel, 3 Newport Dr., Forest Hill, Md. 21050.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Saints Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, 533 East Jarrettsville Rd., Jarrettsville, Md. 21050.
Interment will follow at Bel Air Memorial Gardens, 809 Rock...
Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. was deeply saddened by the news that longtime umpires attendant Ernie Tyler passed away last night at age 86.
Ripken released a statement today that read:
"Today, Baltimore lost a very special man in Ernie Tyler. The Tyler family is synonymous with Orioles baseball, and O's games won't be the same without Ernie. His commitment and dedication to the Orioles and to the game was something my family and I have always admired. He was Baltimore's true Iron Man and...
The Orioles have reached agreement with Jeremy Guthrie on a contract for the 2011 season, assuring that they won't go to arbitration with any of their eligible players.
Guthrie will receive $5.75 million this season. He was seeking $6.5 million, while the Orioles countered at $5 million. His hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in Phoenix, but it's no longer necessary.
Guthrie, who made $3 million last year, will likely be the Opening Day starter. He went 11-14 with a 3.83 ERA in 32 starts...
Sadly, the rumor is true.
Ernie Tyler, the longtime and beloved umpires attendant at Camden Yards, passed away last night at age 86. An Orioles official confirmed the news.
Tyler had undergone surgery Oct. 6 at University of Maryland Medical Center to remove a benign brain tumor after experiencing dizziness four days earlier at Camden Yards. He was transferred to a rehabilitation facility in early December.
Tyler, a member of the Orioles Hall of Fame, worked 3,819 consecutive home games at...
One more day in Maryland and I'm heading south for part of the winter.
If another person asks when I leave for "spring break," I'm going to launch myself and deliver a helmet-to-helmet hit.
I won't be shotgunning beers poolside on MTV and judging wet T-shirt contests (at least not during the week.) It actually qualifies as work. I looked it up.
On the positive side, I won't be packing my ice scraper. And if I suddenly change my mind, I could always race back home after missing my...
I just spoke to Luke Scott over the phone from the parking lot of an Eldersburg grocery store. As always, timing is everything.
It's really not safe for me to leave the house.
I do appreciate that Scott took the time to call me back. He was at a gym in California when I texted him earlier today about agreeing to terms on a contract for the 2011 season and avoiding arbitration.
"I'm very happy with the deal. Its a fair deal, it's a good deal for both sides and I'm glad we got it done,"...
Once again, the Orioles have managed to reach agreement on a contract with an arbitration-eligible player and avoid the potentially messy process.
Luke Scott, expected to be the regular left fielder, has agreed to terms on a 2011 deal, according to a team official. The Sun is reporting that Scott will be paid $6.4 million. He asked for $6.85 million and the Orioles countered at $5.7 million.
A hearing was scheduled for Monday in Phoenix, which is no way to spend Valentine's Day.
It's been...
I could attempt to cheat and wait until I get to spring training, watch a few workouts and talk to the manager before choosing my dark horse for 2011. Or I could do the honorable thing and make my decision today, without benefit of bullpen sessions and batting practice, without the opinions of the people who will construct the 25-man roster, without first having my palm read.
As if it matters.
I selected pitcher Brad Hennessey before arriving in Fort Lauderdale, blinked and missed his entire...
The Orioles reached agreement with Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year contract Friday night, but he won't undergo his physical until early next week.
No sense rushing these things.
I know Guerrero moves slowly these days, but this is ridiculous.
OK, I'm spent.
The Orioles' physicians will gather in Sarasota for spring training - the equipment has been shipped down there - so it makes sense for Guerrero to meet with them at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
The physical could take place as...
It's another busy day for me as I try to get my life in order before spring training.
As if I can do that in one week.
I haven't succeeded over the last 25 years. Why start now?
Anyway, I'm getting my taxes done this morning and racing to the warehouse for - wait for it - a Twitter meeting. Yes, I'm going over to the dark side. And I brought extra batteries for the flashlight.
Right now, you can only find my blog entries linked on Twitter, but I'll do a lot more with it once I get to...
The Orioles issued a press release announcing that they're returning to 1090 AM WBAL Radio after a four-year absence from the station's airwaves.
It's a multi-year deal, but I'm not sure if it includes incentives.
I'm also not sure how many fans really care, but I know there was some curiosity. You'll tune in wherever you can find the games.
Just make sure to switch to AM. And I don't mean Andy MacPhail.
Orioles representative Alan Rifkin made the official announcement tonight at 6...
No matter which lineup you've chosen for the Orioles, and we kicked around a few more ideas yesterday, it's important to heed the words of second baseman Brian Roberts that he delivered to reporters at FanFest.
They reached our ears long before the Orioles reached agreement with Vladimir Guerrero, but Roberts' message still rings true.
"For us, the biggest key is still going to be our young pitchers, our young starters," Roberts said. "They're going to have to pitch well for...
