Night moves
In my continuing quest to bring you the latest sports news from around the globe - or at least parts of Florida - I spent about four hours last night with the Sarasota Roller Girls at a local establishment called "Beery's."
I know, I know...like we haven't all done that before.
They have a blog (who doesn't?) and also can be found on Facebook and MySpace. They also hip-check if you crowd them at the bar.
They actually have their home bouts at Stardust Event Center across the street...
Matt Albers struck out Marcus Thames with two outs and a runner on first base to complete the Orioles' 8-0 victory over the Yankees.
Albers allowed a leadoff single before getting the next three outs. Kam Mickolio also allowed a hit in a scoreless inning, and he struck out two batters.
The dogfight continues.
Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Garrett Atkins each had two RBIs today. Atkins had one coming into the game.
Please allow me to pass along manager Dave Trembley's post-game comments for...
Michael Aubrey singled while I was waiting to interview Brad Bergesen. Good for him. It's been a rough spring for the first baseman.
Brad Bergesen is happy with today's start, but he's not satisfied.
"There are a few things I still need to focus on and accomplish this spring training, but I felt that much more like myself today and I just need to continue to build on that," he said. "There were a couple mental mistakes I made today later in the inning, I think in the fifth, when I made...
Brad Bergesen left today's game to a loud ovation. Manager Dave Trembley shook his hand and patted his back at least four times. I lost track.
I only count pitches, not pats.
Bergesen blanked the Yankees on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Trembley brought in Alberto Castillo after Alex Rodriguez drew a two-out walk.
Bergesen threw 76 pitches, 51 for strikes. I don't think we need to worry about his shoulder anymore.
Heck, you can stop worrying about the...
Former Orioles Eddie Murray, Brady Anderson, Mike Boddicker and Ben McDonald will join the MASN broadcast booth for select games this season. They'll assist with the color commentary on a rotating basis.
Anderson will provide television and radio analysis, and appear on the O's Xtra pre- and post-game shows on April 23-25 in Boston. Other dates will be announced.
Each player will work nearly a dozen games.
Perhaps you find it interesting that Boddicker was once traded to the Red Sox for...
Matt Wieters, batting .179 coming into the game, just lined a two-run double in left-center field in the third inning.
Orioles 4, Yankees 0.
Miguel Tejada and Nick Markakis singled before Wieters came to the plate.
Adam Jones will take aim at the Yankees' bus again. Maybe he'll break some glass this time.
Nope. Jones walked. Still no outs and left-hander Boone Logan taking the mound for the Yankees.
Update: Luke Scott reached on Robinson Cano's throwing error, allowing a run to score....
Adam Jones just hit a two-run homer and a bus.
Jones launched a pitch from Alfredo Aceves over the left field fence in the second inning, and the ball slammed off one of the buses that transported the Yankees to Sarasota.
That's four homers and six RBIs for Jones, who jumped on an 0-1 pitch after Matt Wieters walked and gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead.
Update: Brad Bergesen retired the first seven batters of the game before Randy Winn blooped a double near the left field line. Felix Pie seemed...
Brad Bergesen needed only six pitches to get through the top of the first inning. Five of them were strikes.
Derek Jeter grounded to second, with Ty Wigginton ranging far to his right to make the backhanded pickup. Nick Johnson flied to center, and Mark Teixeira grounded to Cesar Izturis, who was playing on the right side as part of the infield shift.
Of course, you already know this if you're watching the game on MASN.
See you in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Update: Bergesen has...
Jake Arrieta told reporters earlier today that he met with manager Dave Trembley, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail about joining the minor league camp. The idea apparently came from the young right-hander, which is an unusual occurrence.
Arrieta only pitched five innings, not counting an intrasquad game. He knew where he'd start the season, and it wasn't in the Orioles' rotation or bullpen. No sense delaying the inevitable.
"During BP I...
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will make his first spring start tomorrow night against the Minnesota Twins.
Manager Dave Trembley isn't certain how long Roberts will play or how many at-bats he'll receive. Trembley also must decide whether to play Roberts in consecutive games or give him Saturday off.
"The only thing I'm saying today is he's going to play tomorrow," Trembley said. "It's been kind of a little bit of a hectic day for us with the meetings. I'd like to look at it...
The clubhouse remained closed to the media today, with players taking the field for batting practice after their union meeting adjourned.
Michael Weiner, general counsel to the players association, has two more camps to visit this spring. His car was pointed in the general direction of Fort Myers.
"It's mostly about getting ready for bargaining because there's such turnover in the player composition that you have a lot of players who haven't been through it before," he said. "The...