SARASOTA, Fla. - Tommy Hunter has been scratched from making Tuesday's exhibition start against the Red Sox in Fort Myers because of lower-back stiffness. Hunter will stay back in camp and throw a two-inning simulated game.
This move is done mostly as a precaution. It's not like the Orioles are shutting him down. They just want to control his environment - prevent him from having to field balls or get too deep into counts if he's tiring.
I'll post manager Buck Showalter's comments...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today is Photo Day at the complex, when players in their home whites are paraded in front of photographers from various media outlets. It's a spring training tradition. It's also the last thing they want to do, but it's one of their responsibilities.
Players will then head to the back fields as usual for another round of catch, infield drills and batting practice. The intrasquad games begin on Friday.
Dylan Bundy will throw an inning in Saturday's game. And no matter how...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta will oppose Jason Hammel in Friday's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. Other pitchers will include Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom, Brian Matusz, Alfredo Simon, Dana Eveland, Darren O'Day, Pedro Strop, Zach Phillips, Brad Bergesen, Troy Patton and Miguel Socolovich.
Luis Ayala and Armando Galarraga will start Saturday's intrasquad game, unless manager Buck Showalter decides to replace one of them with Wei-Yin Chen. Either way, they're scheduled to throw. Chris...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The highlight of a slow day this afternoon came when first-round pick Dylan Bundy threw his first live batting practice session behind a protective screen and with hitters given the green light to swing away. They weren't just tracking pitches here.
Chris Davis joked about getting into a low crouch - he almost was scraping the ground - before taking the first cuts against Bundy. Davis swung and missed, barely got a piece of another ball on a foul tip, let two go past him -...
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been a pretty slow morning, but I wanted to pass along that top position prospects Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop are in camp.
They weren't extended invitations this spring, but the Orioles planned all along to bring them over and let them work out with the guys in major league camp. They also could play in a few games, especially the split-squad variety.
Meanwhile, Robert Andino and Matt Antonelli took ground balls at second base. J.J. Hardy and Steve Tolleson took...
SARASOTA, Fla. - I had laptop issues my first week here. Now I need a new phone.
I can't wait to see what March brings.
My Blackberry is on its way out. I couldn't text with half of the keys last night, it kept locking up on me and now the screen is so bright I can barely read it - probably from me smacking it as hard as I could out of frustration. Just a hunch.
The clubhouse is closed to the media this morning because the Orioles have some sort of meeting. They'll take the field around...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Simon and Brian Matusz will start the split-squad exhibition openers on March 5. Simon will face the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte and Matusz will face the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium.
"Somebody's got to be first," manager Buck Showalter said. "That's probably 80 percent of it."
Also, pitching coach Rick Adair clarified left-hander Zach Britton's throwing schedule. Britton will throw bullpen sessions on Friday and Monday.
Britton threw off flat...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have signed former Severna Park High pitcher Josh Banks to a minor league contract.
Banks will be assigned to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park, but he could come to the Ed Smith Stadium complex at a later date.
Banks said the Yankees and Dodgers also were interested.
More to come.
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Jason Berken said he left hamstring feels "a lot better" after receiving more treatment today and running on the water treadmill.
Berken said he might play catch Wednesday, depending how his leg feels when he wakes up.
"Every day it's getting better. Hopefully, it will be more of the same tomorrow," he said.
"This is the fifth day rehabbing it and every day it's significantly better."
Meanwhile, Zach Britton threw off flat ground again today. He'll take...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette just confirmed that former Severna Park High pitcher Josh Banks, currently a free agent, is working out at the Twin Lakes Park complex.
Banks, who is here for a tryout, is represented by former major league outfielder Gary Sheffield. Yes, Sheffield is an agent, and he just rolled out of camp in a cream-colored Bentley.
Banks, 29, was a second-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003. He last pitched in the majors with the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jim Johnson threw his second bullpen session this morning, the latest progression from lower-back discomfort that no longer seems to be an issue with the Orioles' reliever.
Johnson is scheduled to throw off a mound again on Friday, Sunday and March 7. He'll throw live batting practice for the first time on March 10.
Yes, the Orioles are being extremely cautious with Johnson.
Zach Britton (shoulder) will repeat Sunday's routine of long-tossing from 60, 90 and 120 feet,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's workout begins at 10 a.m., which means clubhouse access for the media from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Players will stretch and play catch before separating for infield drills, with the regulars occupying the Camden Yards field.
Up to this point, Robert Andino has been taking ground balls at second with the projected starters while Brian Roberts heads back indoors to swing off a tee and lift weights.
J.J. Hardy will need to get comfortable with all of the second base...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The weather here is insane today. The sun was shining when I walked off the back fields, but it started pouring while the media met with manager Buck Showalter. We could hear the rain pounding the roof. I returned to my laptop, and the rain had just about stopped. Maybe a few drops were falling. A minute later, the sky opened up again and players were getting drenched as they ran to their cars.
There are patches of blue sky, but one huge black cloud must be hovering over the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - I didn't bother approaching Tsuyoshi Wada's locker this morning, since that cortisone injection in his left elbow needs another day or two to take effect. His status hasn't changed. He'll receive treatment and avoid picking up a ball.
Zach Britton will have a light catch day from 60-70 feet. Tomorrow, he'll repeat Sunday's routine of long-tossing from 60, 90 and 120 feet and simulating his delivery on flat ground.
Britton still doesn't know when he'll be cleared to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada mostly downplayed the condition of his left elbow, saying, "This is something that's not even on a level I would consider reporting in Japan."
"It's a discomfort that I feel about every year and I just thought I would say something about it right off the top," Wada said through interpreter Danny MacLeith. "It comes about this time every year. Usually, I have no problem if I take two or three days off and then play catch."
Wada felt the...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Here are a few more items from today's workout. Later, I'll post comments from pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada, who's meeting with reporters at 2:30 p.m.
Double-A Bowie catcher
SARASOTA, Fla. - Japanese pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada had fluid removed from his left elbow today and he received a cortisone injection. The Orioles will know more about his condition on Tuesday.
Wada apparently develops inflammation in the elbow every year around this time, so there doesn't seem to be much concern.
X-rays taken today didn't reveal anything new beyond the swelling. No structural damage.
"We'll let it quiet down and get him back on the mound," manager Buck Showalter said....
SARASOTA. Fla. - Following up on my earlier tweet, pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada isn't participating in today's workout.
Wada reported to the facility, but apparently is dealing with some sort of an injury.
Manager Buck Showalter will provide more information after the workout.
Jim Johnson threw his first bullpen session at 9 a.m., and Showalter said it "went great."
Zach Britton threw off flat ground again, long-tossing and simulating his delivery.
Brian Roberts stretched and played catch,...
