SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Jason Berken said his sore left hamstring is "definitely feeling better," but he'll go at least one more day without throwing.
Berken continues to receive treatment on the hamstring, which he strained while running sprints toward the end of Thursday's workout.
"There's definite improvement," he said. "The stability is better. Walking feels more normal."
Berken is competing for a bullpen spot. He has an option remaining.
Pedro Strop is out of options, so...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play intrasquad games on March 2 and 3, and they'll probably add at least one more before breaking camp.
My guess is the off-day on March 19 will end up being a pretty busy day for the hard-working media. Same as last spring.
The Orioles will take live batting practice Sunday, though it's mostly "tracking," with hitters instructed not to swing. You'll still get some guys hacking here and there, but it's more like pitching practice.
The Orioles will use...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Jason Berken received treatment on his sore left hamstring again today and didn't take the field with the rest of his teammates.
Berken iced the back of his leg and also did some stretching exercises.
"It's feeling better," he said. "It's improved from yesterday. That's a good thing. As far as a timetable goes, I can't tell you, but it feels like it's improved."
Pitchers have returned to the clubhouse, but position players continue to take batting...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will take the field at 10 a.m. for today's workout.
No bullpen sessions are scheduled, just more pitchers fielding practice, pick-off drills and batting practice. Continue to breathe normally.
Jim Johnson got his days mixed up. He's scheduled to throw off a full mound on Sunday, not today. I'm not sure what I'll do with my free time.
Johnson (lower back) has progressed from flat ground to a half mound to a full mound. He still hasn't been told whether he's...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Welcome to the spring training edition of "This, that and the other." It's pretty much the same as the Maryland edition, only with tan lines.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette wouldn't comment yesterday on the club's level of interest in Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler.
Fred Ferreira, the organization's executive director of international recruiting, flew to the Dominican Republic over the weekend to scout Soler and five other Cuban players. I guess that counts as...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Right fielder Nick Markakis took batting practice earlier today, though he's not using maximum effort and continues to be brought along slowly as he recovers from abdominal surgery last month. He remains optimistic that he'll play on opening day.
"I feel great," he said. "I know I'm not there, but I'm on schedule or maybe a little ahead of schedule, depending on how you look at it. Everything feels good. It's just a matter of getting my strength back down there now. At...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts seemed cautiously optimistic today about the way he's progressing, but it remains a mystery whether he'll be ready for the April 6 opener against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. Roberts can't say for sure when or if he'll play in an exhibition game. He's truly day-to-day as he works toward a return.
Here are some quotes from Roberts.
"I'm feeling pretty good in general. I took part in some beginning baseball activities -...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts met with reporters after today's workout. I'll post quotes later.
Roberts said he's "feeling pretty good in general," but he can't offer a timetable for when he'll be ready to play in an exhibition game. He's limited to "beginning" baseball activities. It's a "systematic progression" for Roberts.
"Every day that goes by, you're more encouraged," he said.
Jason Berken has a mild strain of his left hamstring, which he sustained...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles took the field an hour early for their first full-squad workout, beginning their stretching exercises at 11 a.m. The clubhouse never opened to the media.
The schedule changed because so few position players needed to take their physicals this morning. Most of them already had reported.
Second baseman Brian Roberts is on the field. He chatted briefly with pitcher
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are preparing for their first full-squad workout today, which means players won't take the field until noon. Which means the clubhouse won't open to the media until 11 a.m. - 2 1/2 hours later than usual. Which means I could have slept longer.
Manager Buck Showalter arranged another trip to the local movie theatre here on Main St., just as he did last year. Players were treated to another inspirational video, this one including Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (Hardly...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Jim Johnson threw off a half mound today and will progress to a regular mound on Saturday.
Johnson has been receiving treatment for tightness in his lower back, but he appears to be fine.
"Everything's good," he said. "I'll be on a full mound Saturday. Riveting stuff."
I can appreciate good sarcasm.
Zach Britton threw on flat ground again today.
"Neither one of them is behind. That's for sure," manager Buck Showalter said of Johnson and Britton. "If...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Jason Berken tweaked his left hamstring today during conditioning drills.
Berken had left the facility before reporters returned to the clubhouse and wasn't immediately available for comment.
Manager Buck Showalter used the word "tweaked," but added that he wasn't certain of the severity. He was collecting more information from the training staff.
"We'll see where that is tomorrow," Showalter said. "I'm not sure if 'tweaked' is the right description yet....
SARASOTA, Fla. - Position players must report to camp today. Third baseman Josh Bell and outfielder Jai Miller arrived this morning.
Outfielder Endy Chavez might be the last player to check into the Ed Smith Stadium complex. I haven't seen Steve Tolleson, but one of the reporters here says that he's pretty sure that he spotted the infielder earlier this week. I'm taking his word for it.
Brian Matusz threw his second bullpen session yesterday, and his first outdoors in a more structured...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Once the Orioles cut ties with former first-round pick Brandon Snyder over the winter, a path was cleared for Joe Mahoney at Triple-A Norfolk. Nobody is standing in his way. All he has to do is stay on the field.
That's no small feat for the 6-foot-6 Mahoney, considering that he dealt with a variety of injuries in 2011 and seemed to be his own worst enemy.
Mahoney fouled a ball off his knee during an intrasquad game. He pulled a hamstring. He strained an oblique while taking...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter didn't have to wait long today before a reporter asked about Dylan Bundy's bullpen session.
Five seconds, tops.
"Good. As advertised," Showalter said. "I've seen him before. But he's in a good place. He's a very serious young man and he's got a great background and he's blessed with a lot of skills you have to have to have success in the major leagues. He had good composure. That's another thing you want to see."
Showalter, pitching coach...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy wasn't the only pitcher who threw in the bullpen today, just the most heavily anticipated.
Wei-Yin Chen, Armando Galarraga were in Group 1, Oscar Villarreal were in Group 3, Miguel Socolovich were in Group 4, and
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton is scheduled to throw off flat ground Thursday and Friday. According to the left-hander, he'll rest on Saturday and long-toss again Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, though that schedule is subject to change.
Britton is hoping to throw off a mound no later than next weekend.
The Orioles will increase the number of Britton's throws to 100 and more to raise his "pitch count." He'll mix in other pitches on Monday, including his changeup and sinker.
Dylan Bundy had a...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters caught Tsuyoshi Wada's bullpen session yesterday, so I decided to get a quick scouting report on the Japanese left-hander before today's early workout.
"I think he's going to be a good pitcher," Wieters said. "He's going to be a mix-it-up guy. It was just a bullpen session, but he was throwing all four pitches on both sides of the plate, and that sort of lets you know that he has confidence in all his pitches and we're not just going to have to throw...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dana Eveland isn't known for bringing the heat, so he might want to join a different group when throwing a bullpen session in spring training.
Eveland stood next to reliever Matt Lindstrom earlier today. Lindstrom almost knocked the mitt off catcher
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tsuyoshi Wada, Jake Arrieta, Tommy Hunter, Dana Eveland, Matt Lindstrom and Jason Hammel were among the pitchers who threw bullpen sessions today.
Wada has a pause in his delivery that batters will need to time. He's got some deception to it.
Matt Wieters insisted on catching Wada and Hammel. He needs to learn more about them.
Lindstrom was bringing the heat. He kept popping catcher John Hester's mitt, to the point where my ears started ringing.
"He comes as...
