Second baseman Brian Roberts received an epidural injection in his lower back in St. Petersburg, his third since reporting to spring training, and will be shut down until undergoing a follow-up examination on Tuesday.
Michael Gonzalez threw one inning today in an extended spring training game, which amounted to only seven pitches, and his velocity increased slightly.
We're told that his fastball was clocked at 87 mph after topping out at 85 mph during his previous trip to the...
For the Orioles:
Corey Patterson LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Scott Moore 2B
Cesar Izturis SS
Jeremy Guthrie RHP
For the Mets:
Reyes SS
Pagan CF
Wright 3B
Davis 1B
Bay LF
Carter DH
Barajas C
Francoeur RF
Tejada 2B
Dickey RHP
The Orioles intended to use Nolan Reimold's demotion to Triple-A Norfolk as an opportunity for him to grow comfortable at first base. They wanted him to get hot at the plate and acclimated to a new position - baseball's version of multi-tasking - so they could occasionally quiet his barking Achilles by removing him from the outfield.
Reimold has made three starts at first base, none since May 30 against Pawtucket. He's been playing left field (including the last five games) or serving as...
It wasn't too long ago that we were fretting over David Hernandez's tendency to walk batters and give up home runs. Now he's looking like a potential closer.
I see no reason to hang that label on him, or anyone else, as I've pointed out. Hernandez doesn't have to be the automatic choice in the ninth inning. Alfredo Simon doesn't have to be the automatic choice in the ninth inning. Go with the hot hand - or the more rested arm.
Interim manager Juan Samuel has indicated that Simon will...
Interim manager Juan Samuel let Jake Arrieta pitch out of a sixth-inning jam, in part because he was responsible for putting the rookie in it by ordering two intentional walks.
"It never crossed my mind, getting him out of there," Samuel said. "I'm like, he's going to work his way out of this, so it never crossed my mind taking him out.
"I think you saw him pump his fist after getting that third out. He was pretty excited. I know it was a tough situation. We walked some hitters for him,...
David Hernandez got his first shot at closing tonight, and his first pitch was a 96 mph fastball.
Jake Arrieta threw serious heat at the Yankees in the first inning, and Hernandez did the same in the ninth.
Marcus Thames took a big cut and flied to the warning track in right.
One pitch, one out, one scare.
Hernandez walked No. 9 hitter Kevin Russo to put the tying run on base, but he got ahead of Derek Jeter with a 97 mph fastball and induced a harmless fly ball to right with a 96 mph...
Your latest press box debate:
Should Jake Arrieta have come out for the seventh inning?
I agreed with another reporter that three runs over six innings, and 106 pitches, was more than sufficient for Arrieta's major league debut against the Yankees. Don't push him any further.
A team employee sitting next to me wanted Arrieta to continue, at least until the rookie allowed a baserunner, and argued that two intentional walks in the sixth shouldn't be included in the pitch count. They're...
Scott Moore just hit his first home run, driving a 1-0 pitch over the right-center field fence to tie the game, 3-3, in the fifth inning. The ball traveled 394 feet.
Moore hadn't homered in the majors since April 8, 2008 against Texas' Jason Jennings.
Jake Arrieta has retired nine of the last 10 batters he's faced. He walked Derek Jeter with two outs in the fifth, but struck out Nick Swisher on a slider. His fastball is still hitting 96 mph on the stadium gun.
Arrieta has allowed three...
Near the end of Brian Roberts' call-in segment on The Scott Garceau Show, he casually mentioned that he'll receive another "injection" in his lower back tomorrow in St. Petersburg, which I assume is an epidural, to calm the inflammation.
That will be No. 3 by my count, though I might have lost track.
Roberts concluded the interview by saying that he hoped to get in some games "toward the end of the year."
Nothing about the first half of the season.
Alex Rodriguez left tonight's...
Jake Arrieta doesn't seem to mind the deep end of the pool.
Arrieta retired the Yankees in order in the first inning, getting two ground balls and a pop up.
Mark Teixeira swung at a 97 mph fastball and pulled it to first baseman Ty Wigginton, who flipped to Arrieta for the final out. Nick Swisher popped up a 95 mph fastball before Teixeira stepped to the plate.
Arrieta threw 16 pitches, including a few curveballs that must have barely missed. They looked pretty good from up here.
Update:...
I listened to a recording of Brian Roberts' interview on Scott Garceau's show, and he confirmed that he visited a back specialist in St. Petersburg on Tuesday and "no major structural damage" was found in his lower back.
The plan for now is to keep Roberts shut down and calm the inflammation.
"It'll probably take me a few weeks of down time and rehab and physical therapy and really taking it slow, and he thinks once I go through that progression, I shouldn't have any problems,"...
Interim manager Juan Samuel confirmed that Brian Roberts underwent more tests on his back, but there are "no major developments" to report. We're still waiting.
I'm told that Roberts called into The Scott Garceau Show today on MASN and talked about how he's dealing with some inflammation in his back that's causing the discomfort.
Samuel said he doesn't anticipate any more roster moves "as we go forward" besides Alfredo Simon possibly being activated from the disabled list next...
For the Orioles:
Corey Patterson LF
Miguel Tejada 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 1B
Luke Scott DH
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Scott Moore 2B
Cesar Izturis SS
Jake Arrieta RHP
For the Yankees:
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada DH
Granderson CF
Thames LF
Moeller C
Burnett RHP
Reminder: The Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game, sponsored by Geier Financial Group, will be played Sunday following the Orioles' 1:35 p.m. game against the Mets at Camden Yards. It...
As I was driving to Camden Yards, the Orioles announced that they designated left-hander Alberto Castillo for assignment to clear room on the 25- and 40-man rosters for Jake Arrieta, who will make his major league debut tonight against the Yankees.
Castillo was 1-0 with a 10.13 ERA in 10 2/3 innings over 14 games.
This move can't be viewed as a shocker.
Castillo could be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk if he clears waivers. I can't imagine that the Orioles will be able to work out a trade...
When first place and the wild card are so far away you'd need to take three buses to get close, you're grateful for the nights that a pitching prospect is handed the ball.
Big opportunity for Jake Arrieta, welcomed diversion for the rest of us.
Arrieta is supremely confident, and he's given off that vibe from the first time he reported to spring training last year and former manager Dave Trembley kept referring to him as "a man." He won't come unglued on the mound because he's facing...
The key inning was the sixth. The key moment was a ground ball to first base and a decision that didn't prevent the Yankees from scoring the go-ahead run.
Let's review:
The Yankees knotted the game at 2-2 on Robinson Cano's bouncing single to right field, the ball clearing Ty Wigginton's head at first base. Alex Rodriguez hustled to third, putting runners on the corners with no outs and causing Orioles starter Chris Tillman to lean more heavily on the ropes.
Jorge Posada followed with a...
Tonight's attendance: 16,451.
If you consider that Chris Tillman allowed one earned run in six innings, it sounds like he cruised through tonight's start against the Yankees.
No so fast.
Tillman littered the bases with runners and the Orioles committed three errors - including one by Tillman on an errant pickoff throw. The Yankees lead, 3-2, and Jason Berken is entering the game in relief.
Tillman allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out one. He threw 106 pitches, 58 for...
Chris Tillman got in a little trouble in the second inning, surrendering a leadoff single to Robinson Cano and walking Jorge Posada, but he retired the next three batters to keep the game scoreless.
Tillman has thrown 34 pitches.
The Orioles wasted a scoring opportunity in the first inning - stop me if you've heard this one - after Julio Lugo walked with the count full.
After Miguel Tejada struck out, Lugo broke too soon on a stolen base attempt and was an easy out. Naturally, Nick...
In case you didn't check the Nationals side of the MASNsports.com site, manager Jim Riggleman has laid out Stephen Strasburg's pitching schedule.
As Ben Goessling explained, Strasburg will throw every five days. He'll start Sunday in Cleveland and pitch again on June 18 and 23 at Nationals Park. He'll miss the Orioles, who host the Nats on June 25-27.
Orioles director of scouting Joe Jordan just met with reporters in the back of the press box. Steve Melewski will run quotes later in his...
Brad Bergesen doesn't know what tomorrow will bring.
Approached by reporters this afternoon, Bergesen could only confirm that he's in the bullpen tonight. The rest - Jake Arrieta coming up tomorrow and Jeremy Guthrie's start being pushed back to Friday - was "all news to me."
"I'm not really worried that it's my first time being in the bullpen," he said. "I'm going to go out there and try to do my thing and hope for the best right now."
He also should hope that the worst is...