Now healthy, Steve Johnson is showing some of his old form at O's camp

Now healthy, Steve Johnson is showing some of his old form at O's camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles started this camp with six non-roster pitchers, and now only Steve Johnson and Chaz Roe remain. Johnson said his right shoulder feels good following surgery in September to shave down a bone spur. He has looked good in three spring appearances, at times looking like the pitcher the Orioles saw in 2012 when Johnson went 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA and helped the team make the playoffs. Manager Buck Showalter has taken note. "I kept telling Wally (Dave Wallace), 'I've seen...
Continue reading

Travis Snider on his new team, strong 2014 second half and more

Travis Snider on his new team, strong 2014 second half and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - He is a former top prospect that had a solid year in 2014 and now he may be playing a position where he is one of the players replacing a fan favorite in Baltimore. Nick Markakis is gone and Travis Snider, acquired in a January trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, may get some of the starts in right field this year. What can he bring to the Orioles? "Just an everyday intensity," Snider said. "I like to keep things loose and have fun in the clubhouse and play hard on the field,...
Continue reading

Miguel Gonzalez on today's outing against the Phillies

Miguel Gonzalez on today's outing against the Phillies
CLEARWATER, Fla. - After going two and three innings over his first two spring starts, Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez stretched out to four innings today against the Phillies at Bright House Field. He retired the first nine Phillies in order on 34 pitches, before allowing two runs in his fourth inning. "Good. Better than last time," Gonzalez said. "I was staying tall over the rubber. Really worked on it in my side last time. It paid off, felt really good." With a 14-pitch first...
Continue reading

Mike Wright among young O's pitchers making a positive spring impression

Mike Wright among young O's pitchers making a positive spring impression
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Some young pitchers from the minor leagues continue to show well in major league exhibition games with the Orioles. Mike Wright, Hunter Harvey and Tyler Wilson have combined to pitch 11 2/3 scoreless innings over their last seven appearances. Wright was the latest to take the mound and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless frames yesterday in Bradenton against the Pirates, allowing just one hit with no walks and three strikeouts. "I feel very good about the way camp is going and I feel...
Continue reading

Chris Davis on his future, the Orioles' future and more

Chris Davis on his future, the Orioles' future and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said he was not questioning the direction of the team in recent comments he made. But he does understand that 2015 will be a critical season for the organization, which has 11 pending free agents. This could be the last hurrah for this current group of Orioles, who lead the American League East with 274 wins and two playoff appearances the last three years. On March 9, Davis told The Baltimore Sun, "Some things are going to have to change as...
Continue reading

After catching back-to-back days, Matt Wieters ready for the next step on Tuesday

After catching back-to-back days, Matt Wieters ready for the next step on Tuesday
SARASOTA, Fla. - It was only a B game and it won't count in the stats, but Matt Wieters, who is 0-for-20 in exhibiton games, did get a hit today in the contest against Pittsburgh. Then he got ribbed for it. Wieters went 1-for-3 with a ground single off pitcher Francisco Liriano's glove in the last of the first. "It was nice to get on base. Looked at Buck (Showalter) and he asked if I wanted the ball," Wieters said with a laugh. Now comes more serious matters for the O's catcher. After...
Continue reading

Gausman on his slider and more, Britton on his outing from today's B game

Gausman on his slider and more, Britton on his outing from today's B game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Players use spring training to improve and Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman did some of that in a nearly-empty stadium this morning. Pitching in a B game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium, Gausman faced a decent Bucs lineup, one that included Pedro Alvarez, Greg Polanco, Francisco Cervelli and former Oriole Steve Lombardozzi. The Orioles and Pirates tied 2-2 in a seven inning game. He threw 50 pitches (32 strikes) over three innings allowing three hits and...
Continue reading

O's-Pirates B game update and Chris Davis on lack of offense this spring (updated)

O's-Pirates B game update and Chris Davis on lack of offense this spring (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman gave up one run over three innings this morning in his third spring outing as he faced the Pittsburgh Pirates in a B game at Ed Smith Stadium. Gausman got off to a strong start, pitching a scoreless first, working around a leadoff single by former Oriole Steve Lombardozzi. He then retired the Pirates in order with two strikeouts on just eight pitches in the second. Down 2-0, the Pirates got one off Gausman in the third. With two outs and none on, Lombardozzi...
Continue reading

Harvey handles himself like veteran, draws praise from his manager

Harvey handles himself like veteran, draws praise from his manager
SARASOTA, Fla. - His time in major league camp may soon be coming to an end, but Orioles 20-year-old pitching prospect Hunter Harvey has made a very nice impression over the last few weeks while hanging out with the major league players that he someday wants to join. When asked about how Harvey has done in this camp, manager Buck Showalter said just three words at one point yesterday as a big smile came across his face. "Good, pretty good," he said simply. But then he had a few more words to...
Continue reading

Wieters on catching, Tillman on outing today against Puerto Rico

Wieters on catching, Tillman on outing today against Puerto Rico
SARASOTA, Fla. - The opponent was not close to being on the level of a major league team and it was on a back field, but Matt Wieters got behind the plate and caught six innings today as the Orioles played the Puerto Rico Development Team. Puerto Rico agreed to not steal bases, even though they had very few baserunners to even try anyway. Wieters' time to try and throw out runners is coming. But today he had to settle for a toss to second base before the top of the first when Tillman was...
Continue reading

Dylan Bundy says his arm feels great, talks about pitching with his brother

Dylan Bundy says his arm feels great, talks about pitching with his brother
SARASOTA, Fla. - Until Thursday, the last time the two Bundy brothers saw their names in the same box score it was April 2008. Dylan Bundy was a freshman and Bobby Bundy a senior at Owassa (Okla.) High School. But on Thursday, two Bundys pitched in one game when the Orioles played in Jupiter, Fla., against St. Louis. Dylan went two innings, allowing two hits and one run. Bobby pitched 2/3, of an inning without allowing a hit or run. Both brothers have had Tommy John surgery and both are looking...
Continue reading

Zach Britton looks to multi-inning outings for more chances to work on his pitches

Zach Britton looks to multi-inning outings for more chances to work on his pitches
SARASOTA, Fla. - This is quite a different spring training for Orioles left-hander Zach Britton. This time last year, he was a young pitcher out of options and just trying to make the team in any role. Now he is in spring camp as the established closer, coming off a big year. The 27-year-old Britton took over as closer in mid-May in 2014 and went 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 37 saves in 41 chances. He was one of three American League closers that recorded 30 or more saves with a save percentage of...
Continue reading

Showalter on Jimenez: "We'll see what the end product is"

Showalter on Jimenez: "We'll see what the end product is"
DUNEDIN, Fla. - On a day that Ubaldo Jimenez pitched three scoreless innings and one frame where he gave up three runs, Orioles manager Buck Showalter saw signs of progress from the right-hander. "Yeah, a little bit," Showalter said after the Orioles' 5-3 loss here to Toronto at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. "There are some things that he is doing that I'm not going to say (are) drastic, but they are different for him. It will take a little while, but I think every outing has gotten a...
Continue reading

Ubaldo Jimenez talks about his outing today (Orioles lose 5-3)

Ubaldo Jimenez talks about his outing today (Orioles lose 5-3)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 3 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez pitched three scoreless innings and became the first Baltimore starter to pitch four innings this spring. But he allowed three runs on three hits in the second as the Orioles fell behind 3-2. He gave up an RBI single to Daric Barton and two-run double to former Oriole Chris Dickerson. Jimenez allowed five hits and three runs with no walks, one strikeout, a hit batter and two wild pitches. T.J. McFarland gave up two runs over...
Continue reading

Toronto takes lead in second (Jimenez first to go four)

Toronto takes lead in second (Jimenez first to go four)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez had a very strong first inning followed by a shaky second inning today against the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto scored three times on three hits in the second to take a 3-2 lead on the Orioles at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The O's had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Jimenez, who gave up seven runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings in his first two starts, made quick work of the Jays in the first. He retired Jose Reyes, Maicer Izturis and Russell...
Continue reading

A few pregame notes from Dunedin

A few pregame notes from Dunedin
DUNEDIN, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said right-hander Ryan Webb is getting closer to pitching in a game and it could happen next week. The Orioles reliever has been recieving treatment on his left knee. "Webb threw today and felt a lot better. He's close to throwing a bullpen," Showalter said. Meanwhile, Paul Janish has been fully cleared for baseball activities and will probably get some at-bats at designated hitter on Saturday against the Puerto Rico development team and also in...
Continue reading

For Orioles, AL East was not a beast in 2014

For Orioles, AL East was not a beast in 2014
SARASOTA, Fla. - As I arrive at spring training, the Orioles are 3-8, have lost six of their last seven games and have scored just eight runs in the last five games. Should we be concerned? Of course not. Moving on ... I will be in Dunedin later today to see Ubaldo Jimenez make his third start of the year after he gave up six runs in 1 1/3 innings on March 3 against Detroit and one run over two-plus innings in his last outing March 8 against Minnesota. The Orioles play the Blue Jays today and...
Continue reading

Final winter edition: 10 questions for O's fans

Final winter edition: 10 questions for O's fans
Here is one final preseason edition of 10 questions for O's fans. You may be worn out of answering my questions by now, but I always enjoy reading through the responses. As usual, answer one, a few or all 10. Provide a short answer or longer, the choice is yours. Please number the answers to make it easier to follow. On to the questions: 1. Between Jonathan Schoop, Ryan Flaherty and Everth Cabrera, which of the three is most likely to start the year in the minor leagues? 2. Who will win the...
Continue reading

Quick take on Manny Machado, prospect news and another AL East injury

Quick take on Manny Machado, prospect news and another AL East injury
A few thoughts and observations on the Orioles and another pitching injury as I count down the hours unitl my flight leaves tomorrow for spring training: * It was just one midweek exhibition, but Manny Machado looked in midseason form against the Yankees yesterday. He was spraying line drives all over the field and making plays all over in the field. The arm - well, let's just say there are no worries about that. A return to All-Star form by Machado would be so huge for the Orioles. While most...
Continue reading

Can Orioles rotation match 2014 starters?

Can Orioles rotation match 2014 starters?
New year, same rotation. For the Orioles, the same five starters that begin 2015 with the club will very likely be the same five that ended 2014 there - unless Ubaldo Jimenez works his way into the top five. Either way, the rotation returns basically intact. No new additions. No trades were needed to try to improve the starting five. That is a good thing. Of all aspects of play the Orioles would like to duplicate from last year, the rotation's performance would rank high on the list. The...
Continue reading