Roch Kubatko

Urrutia playing right field for Orioles

March 29, 2013, 6:24am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Cuban defector Henry Urrutia is batting sixth and starting in right field for the Orioles today in their game against State College of Florida. The batch of minor leaguers summoned from Twin Lakes Park includes Lew Ford, Jason Pridie, Russ Canzler and Travis Ishikawa. For the Orioles: Lew Ford DH Jason Pridie CF Russ Canzler LF Travis Ishikawa 1B Chris Robinson C Henry Urrutia RF Niuman Romero SS Buck Britton 3B Tucker Nathans 2B Chris Tillman RHP

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A scout's take on Orioles' depth

March 29, 2013, 4:10am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're down to the last two games on the exhibition schedule, and there used to be an open date on it today before manager Buck Showalter found a way to keep us busy. The Orioles are playing what's become their annual game against State College of Florida. If memory serves, they lost last spring and were subjected to ridicule from national media and a portion of their fan base. Didn't matter that they actually supplied some of the opposition's pitching and their lineup was...

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Is Roberts lined up to bat ninth?

March 28, 2013, 7:12pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's not completely safe to make assumptions about the opening day lineup when rosters don't have to be set until 3 p.m. on Sunday. There are... wait for it... a lot of moving parts as we near the end of spring training. Tonight's lineup created a bit of a buzz. First of all, we didn't receive it until less than an hour before first pitch, which never happens. Manager Buck Showalter named the starters at each position during batting practice, but we didn't have the...

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Showalter talks about Tillman and more

March 28, 2013, 6:35pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles may decide on Friday whether to place pitcher Steve Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia will be in the Orioles' lineup for Friday's game against the State College of Florida. Urrutia will join a bunch of other players being brought over from minor league camp. Nick Markakis was given four choices for Friday - go to Fort Myers to play in a Double-A...

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Beal update and roster speculation (game ends 4-4)

March 28, 2013, 3:40pm

Orioles

Beal update and roster speculation (game ends 4-4)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Minor league pitcher Jesse Beal lasted one inning tonight in his starting assignment against the Tampa Bay Rays - a team that's being picked by many "experts" to win the American League East. Beal allowed three runs and three hits, and walked a batter, in the top of the first inning. His fastball touched 93 mph. Beal threw 27 pitches, 15 for strikes, as the surprise replacement for Steve Johnson, who was scratched because of a strained lat. Desmond Jennings led off with a...

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Orioles lineup against Rays

March 28, 2013, 2:52pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Pearce is serving as the designated hitter tonight against Tampa Bay Rays left-hander David Price, who also will face the Orioles on opening day. Should we read anything into it? Go right ahead. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Steve Pearce DH Brian Roberts 2B Jesse Beal RHP

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Tillman placed on DL, Robinson reassigned (updated twice)

March 28, 2013, 2:20pm

Orioles

Tillman placed on DL, Robinson reassigned (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Chris Tillman situation just took an interesting turn. The Orioles placed Tillman on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22 with a left abdominal strain. Tillman remains eligible to return on April 6 and pitch the fifth game of the season against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. It's possible that he still could pitch Friday against the State College of Florida in a rehab start. Update: Tillman is still scheduled to pitch on Friday. The DL move doesn't...

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Tillman slated to be fifth starter (updated)

March 28, 2013, 12:55pm

Orioles

Tillman slated to be fifth starter (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has decided that Chris Tillman will pitch the fifth game of the season on April 6 against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. Doesn't matter whether Tillman goes on the disabled list or makes the 25-man roster out of spring training. Tillman is starting Friday afternoon against the State College of Florida. He had been shut down with abdominal soreness, but appears to be healthy. It's just a matter of building up his innings. The fourth spot...

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Jurrjens, Dickerson and Robinson talk about their injuries

March 28, 2013, 11:54am

Orioles

Jurrjens, Dickerson and Robinson talk about their injuries

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jair Jurrjens sat at his locker as reporters approached him this afternoon, which was no small feat. Jurrjens is still sore after being nailed in the right ribcage last night by a line drive from the Yankees' Thomas Neal. X-rays were negative, but Jurrjens is positive that he's in pain. "I feel really sore and a little bit stiff," he said. "I'm going to see how it feels after some treatment and see what game plan they have for me. "It's the same as last night. It's...

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Chen pitches in minor league game

March 28, 2013, 11:22am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen made his final start today before taking the ball for the second game of the regular season at Tropicana Field. He faced the Tampa Bay Rays, but the Triple-A version. Chen threw 82 pitches in five innings and allowed a run on Brandon Guyer's homer to center field. He issued one walk. "This was a really good accomplishment," Chen said through his interpreter, Tim Lin. "I feel like I accomplished something today. The first two innings, I couldn't feel...

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Quick Jurrjens and Dickerson updates, and Rays lineup (Beal starting)

March 28, 2013, 10:34am

Orioles

Quick Jurrjens and Dickerson updates, and Rays lineup (Beal starting)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Jair Jurrjens had X-rays taken on his right ribcage this morning and he's waiting for a team physician to review them and pass along the results. Jurrjens said he's still bothered by soreness and stiffness on his right side. He had difficulty sitting down at his locker. Update: Jurrjens' X-rays were negative. He will take today off and could pitch later in the week if the soreness subsides. Also, outfielder Trayvon Robinson is still day-to-day with soreness in his...

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Orioles need more hits and fewer hurts

March 27, 2013, 7:41pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's see whether the Orioles can make it through tonight's game without an injury. Manager Buck Showalter may want to summon a bunch of poor unsuspecting souls from the minor league camp. Get the regulars out of there after the anthem. The pitchers may actually be wearing numbers in the 80s and 90s. The Orioles haven't listed a starter to replace injured Steve Johnson, and Showalter indicated yesterday that he could dig deep into the supply at Twin Lakes Park....

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Dickerson update and postgame Showalter

March 27, 2013, 7:03pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Dickerson has "a slight strain around his right Achilles" and is considered day-to-day, according to manager Buck Showalter. Dickerson tried to plant his foot in the soft grass to avoid running into Conor Jackson in the eighth inning and had to leave the game. Showalter said outfielder Trayvon Robinson is close to returning. Robinson felt more discomfort in his lower back today while taking batting practice. The line drive that hit Jair Jurrjens in the right ribcage...

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Jurrjens and game updates (O's lose 11-8)

March 27, 2013, 4:51pm

Orioles

Jurrjens and game updates (O's lose 11-8)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jair Jurrjens was making his final spring training start tonight. He didn't expect it to span only seven batters. "Yeah, that sucks," he said. To say the least. Jurrjens was nailed on the right ribcage by a line drive from New York Yankees designated hitter Thomas Neal in the top of the second inning. He will undergo precautionary X-rays on Thursday at 8 a.m. "Phew, scary. Really scary," he said. "I think I tried to come back a little bit and that's why it got me...

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Jurrjens leaves game with injury (updated)

March 27, 2013, 3:48pm

Orioles

Jurrjens leaves game with injury (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter often says that the final week of spring training can be the most worrisome because of the risk of injuries. The idea is to get out of camp in good health. Two days ago, infielder Wilson Betemit suffered a Grade 2/3 tear of his right PCL. And tonight, starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens faced only seven batters before being hit by a line drive off the bat of New York Yannkees designated hitter Thomas Neal with no outs in the second inning. The ball...

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Orioles reassign Chris Robinson

March 27, 2013, 2:44pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The third shoe dropped today in Orioles camp. Besides pitcher Kevin Gausman and first baseman Travis Ishikawa, the Orioles also reassigned catcher Chris Robinson to minor league camp. Manager Buck Showalter met with him following batting practice. The moves leave the Orioles with 34 players in spring training, including six non-roster invitees. They must get down to 25 by 3 p.m. Sunday. Robinson went 4-for-11 in 10 games. He left the team to play for Canada in the World...

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Showalter on Hammel and Steve Johnson (Yankees lineup)

March 27, 2013, 1:46pm

Orioles

Showalter on Hammel and Steve Johnson (Yankees lineup)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The decision came easily for manager Buck Showalter. He just needed confirmation that Jason Hammel was healthy. If Hammel's knee cooperated, he would take the ball on opening day at Tropicana Field for the Orioles. "Just a health thing," Showalter said today after confirming Hammel's assignment. "We look at it as one of the five starters. He will be the first guy of the season. We don't look at it like socially or whatever. It's just our team. It's, 'You're gong...

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Hammel talks about the opening day assignment

March 27, 2013, 1:28pm

Orioles

Hammel talks about the opening day assignment

SARASOTA, Fla. - So how's that for a flurry of activity today? Just wait until the Orioles actually play a game tonight. Jason Hammel finally had the freedom to talk about his opening day assignment on April 2. Manager Buck Showalter was impressed that the right-hander waited until reporters already had been notified before discussing it. It's also the little things that get noticed around here. "It's an honor," Hammel said. "I'm very excited. Basically, what it means is I get to be...

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Hammel named opening day starter, Gausman reassigned (updated)

March 27, 2013, 12:56pm

Orioles

Hammel named opening day starter, Gausman reassigned (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel was officially named the Orioles' opening day starter today by manager Buck Showalter. He will take the ball April 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Wei-Yi Chen will pitch the second game against the Rays and Miguel Gonzalez will be the third starter in the series at Tropicana Field. Chris Tillman will pitch the home opener April 5 if he is not placed on the disabled list. Otherwise, he will pitch the fifth day because the assignment would be backdated. Showalter...

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Steve Johnson shut down with sore lat muscle

March 27, 2013, 11:39am

Orioles

Steve Johnson shut down with sore lat muscle

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel has been told about his next start and where he fits in the Orioles rotation, but he asked reporters to get the information from manager Buck Showalter. Hammel clearly has been chosen as the opening day starter on April 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Official word is pending. Wei-Yin Chen is lined up to pitch the second game, followed by Miguel Gonzalez. The starter for the home opener on April 5 against the Minnesota Twins could depend on Chris...