Revisiting the health issues

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter brought a cheat sheet with him for today's pregame media session in the visiting dugout at Hammond Stadium. There wasn't enough room on his arm. Showalter was nice enough to give reporters the pitching and playing schedules of the guys we'd find most interesting. For instance: Jake Arrieta threw a bullpen session today and will go four innings in Monday's minor league game at Twin Lakes Park. (That's the "off-day" on our spring training schedule, which I used to spend at South Beach. But enough about me.) Zach Britton (shoulder) has a light side session tomorrow will go three innings in that same game. Luis Ayala (allergies) will throw on the side today and pitch Sunday night against the Yankees in Sarasota. Jason Berken (hamstring) is off today. He threw 25 pitches off a half mound yesterday and will either throw off the half mound again or a full mound tomorrow morning. Willie Eyre (back) will pitch tomorrow against the Red Sox in a split-squad game in Fort Myers. Kevin Gregg will throw an inning tomorrow against the Red Sox in a split-squad game in Sarasota. Tommy Hunter (back) was scheduled to throw four innings and 60 pitches today in a minor league game. Pitching coach Rick Adair stayed back so he could watch. Bullpen coach Bill Castro is serving as pitching coach today in Fort Myers. Jim Johnson (back) will throw an inning in tomorrow's game against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Darren O'Day (groin) threw off a half mound today. Alfredo Simon (groin) also threw off a half mound today. ("Two more reasons why I wanted Rick to stay back there and see where they are," Showalter said.) Simon is tentatively scheduled to pitch Sunday night. Miguel Socolovich (groin) "improved from yesterday," Showalter said. "Hopefully, we caught that early." Tsuyoshi Wada (elbow) had a light side session today and will throw one or two innings Sunday against the Braves in Orlando. He'll follow Jason Hammel to the mound. Taylor Teagarden (back) "is getting a little better," Showalter said. "Hopefully, we'll get a good response from that." Nick Markakis (abdomen) will serve as the designated hitter tomorrow against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Nick Johnson was supposed to play today against the Twins, but he's been pushed back to tomorrow because he's "a little sore," Showalter said. "General soreness. He's been taking a lot of reps." Showalter hasn't dismissed the possibility of Wada making the rotation out of camp, but he's fallen so far behind that I wonder if there's enough time. Asked whether he'll carry two left-handers in his bullpen, Showalter replied that it depends on how many lefties are in the rotation. One reason so many scouts are following the Orioles is reliever Pedro Strop, who's out of minor league options. And yes, he's out of options. I know there's been some confusion over it.