KiSSIMMEE, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters was excused from making the trip today because of a tender thumb. He could play if this game meant anything. The club is just giving him a break. Also, first baseman Joe Mahoney was scratched after tweaking his hamstring yesterday on the basepaths. Infielder Cesar Izturis didn't make the trip because he played yesterday after being sidelined with a sore ankle. Second baseman Brian Roberts is scheduled to have an MRI on his back later this...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter didn't post a lineup this morning and we're still waiting for his arrival at Osceola County Stadium. I'm looking at the travel roster and it doesn't include Cesar Izturis. He isn't making the trip, so forget what I wrote earlier about him starting. Change of plans. Matt Wieters didn't accompany the team here, either. He's not hurt, but he may be excused from playing today. More on that later. The Orioles added minor leaguers Xavier Avery, Greg ...

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm heading over to Kissimmee today for the game against the Astros. I'm told it's not the end of the earth, but you can see it from there. The Sun's Dan Connolly will handle the driving and the choice of music. It's a small price to pay for the thrill of another exhibition game at a faraway place with the Orioles' lineup expected to be filled by reserves and minor leaguers. We know that Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter today. He could use the at-bats....

A few impressions and opinions on the happenings at Orioles camp in Sarasota. *The injury news about Brian Roberts and Derrek Lee reminds us of the biggest issue facing this team this year. It's not how much Vladimir Guerrero has left, the progress of the young rotation or the development of Matt Wieters. It's the health of this team. They can't afford to lose many players and certain guys like Roberts and Lee are pretty critical to the hopes that this team is better and a good year is...

The Orioles today announced 11 spring training roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 46 players. The Orioles optioned right-handers Brandon Erbe and Chorye Spoone and left-handers Troy Patton and Pedro Viola to Triple-A Norfolk. Right-hander Luis LeBron and infielder Pedro Florimon were optioned to Double-A Bowie. Right-handers Mitch Atkins and Raul Rivero, outfielder Tyler Henson, and catchers Adam Donachie and Caleb Joseph were reassigned to minor league camp.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts saw a back specialist today and received a few "trigger point injections," according to manager Buck Showalter. An MRI has been scheduled for tomorrow. Roberts will be shut down until Tuesday at the earliest. The cortisone is suppose to relax the spasms. "We're at a stage still in spring training where time is on our side a little bit," Showalter said. "The big thing is identifying it and seeing if we can do something to eliminate it...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Berken needed a good outing today and he got it. He retired all six batters he faced. The Phillies continue to lead, 8-3, in the eighth inning. Here are some quotes from Jeremy Guthrie, who was charged with four runs and six hits on a blustery day. On getting through four innings: "I've been trying to work quickly, trying to keep the pitch count down and be aggressive. And that's something I've been able to do for the most part in all three of my outings." On the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-handed specialist Clay Rapada just breezed through the sixth inning, which seemed appropriate on an extremely windy day. Rapada actually faced two left-handed hitters, striking out Brian Schneider on three pitches and retiring Pete Orr on a one-hopper to the mound. Four pitches, two outs. Freddy Galvis flied to left field to end the inning. Rapada threw 11 pitches, nine for strikes. The one that struck out Schneider was clocked at 74 mph, leading a scribe on press row...

SARASOTA, Fla. - I didn't like Jeremy Guthrie's chances of going four innings today after he needed 20 pitches to get through a three-run first, but he made it. Guthrie threw seven pitches in the second inning and eight in the fourth. He left after throwing 53, including 33 for strikes. Guthrie is charged with four runs and six hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Kevin Gregg has replaced him. I swear, this guy pitches every single day. Raul Ibanez homered, doubled and drove in three...

The Washington Nationals today optioned right-handed pitchers Adam Carr and Garrett Mock to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and re-assigned right-handed pitchers Luis Atilano, J.D. Martin and Josh Wilkie, catchers Carlos Maldonado and Jhonatan Solano, infielders Michael Aubrey and Kevin Barker, and outfielders Jeff Frazier and Jonathan Van Every to minor-league camp. Additionally, the Nationals released right-handed pitcher Cla Meredith. Nationals Executive Vice President of...