SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis just doubled off Tigers reliever Enrique Gonzalez in the third inning to drive in two more runs and complete the line for starter Max Scherzer. Scherzer is charged with 12 runs, 11 earned, in 2 1/3 innings. Vladimir Guerrero followed with his second single and RBI. Orioles 13, Tigers 0. Luke Scott struck out to end the inning. Bench him. Zach Britton has allowed two hits in three scoreless innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. He's thrown 41 pitches,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Luke Scott kept fouling off pitches from Tigers starter Max Scherzer in the first inning. Adding to the drama - the bases were loaded. Scott finally got hold of a ball that didn't slam against the screen behind him, and he drove it over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 4-0 lead. Scott has endured a terrible spring at the plate, but his RBI total climbed to 10 today. He began the day batting .185 with two homers. Brian Roberts led off the inning with a double....

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're ready for today's game, which seems like the least important thing happening in camp today. The Orioles added a bunch of minor leaguers, including Jeff Fiorentino, Rhyne Hughes and Blake Davis. Here are some leftover pregame quotes from manager Buck Showalter: On starting the year with one lefty reliever: "It's not the conventional, but .... with so many young pitchers in our rotation, we're going to err on the side of length there. Like I told you, Clay (Rapada),...

The Orioles today announced eight spring training roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 30 players. The Orioles optioned outfielder Nolan Reimold to Triple-A Norfolk and outfielder Randy Winn asked for, and was granted, his unconditional release. Non-roster invitees left-handers Clay Rapada and Mark Hendrickson, right-handers David Riske, Ryan Drese and Pat Egan, and infielder Nick Green have been assigned to minor league camp. With the moves, the Orioles have 30 players in camp...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen said he threw about 30 pitches off a bullpen mound today and is scheduled to pitch one or two innings on Wednesday. He's not sure whether that will take place at Twin Lakes Park or during the workout at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "I threw all my pitches, regular bullpen, and I felt good," he said. "The plan is Wednesday throw one inning, two innings. I don't know exactly. But everything felt good. I feel fine to throw in a game." Bergesen threw only...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Nolan Reimold was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk this morning, so you can add his name to the list of roster cuts. Reimold batted .315 with three doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage and a .537 slugging percentage. Felix Pie made the team over Reimold, as expected. He's out of options and he's the backup center fielder. Pie is batting .254 with three doubles, one triple, one homer, eight RBIs, a .254 on-base percentage and a .390 slugging...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The sun is shining here and it looks like we'll play. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Jake Fox C J.J. Hardy SS Zach Britton LHP I should have added in my last post that Mark Hendrickson has been given 48 hours to find another major league job. He isn't obligated to stay in the organization. Nick Green and Clay Rapada will remain in camp despite being cut. Also, Brad...

MASN, the television home of the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles, will premiere a new baseball-centric program, "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" on Thursday, March 31 at 5 p.m. The 90-minute show, which will air Monday through Friday, will feature a panel of four renowned baseball experts who will discuss news from the Nationals, Orioles and Major League Baseball. Panelists will include Tom Davis, Dave Johnson, Phil Wood and Mel Antonen. Davis enters his 40th year as a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles should have their camp roster down to 27 or 28 by the end of the day, and it won't include two left-handed relief candidates. Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada are counted among today's cuts. Hendrickson can seek a major league job and decline an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Those moves leave Michael Gonzalez as the only left-hander in the bullpen for the April 1 opener against the Rays. Other cuts include David Riske, Ryan Drese, Rick VandenHurk and Nick...

Opening day at Camden Yards is a week away, and preparations at the ballpark continue to get it ready for the Tigers-Orioles game that will be cause for civic celebration, innovative excuses for missing school and work, and early afternoon beers at Pickles Pub. Whatever your opening day traditions are - and feel free to share them in the comments section below, where you can be part of the trial of our new commenting system - I'm sure your time-tested plans are well under way. The MASN...