Notes on Alejandro De Aza, Tim Berry, Mike Wright and Steve Johnson

FORT MYERS, Fla. - In my last blog entry, I wrote that outfielder Alejandro De Aza returned to Sarasota yesterday after flying to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday for his grandfather's 99th birthday party.

"It was awesome," De Aza said this morning. "It's always good to see family, especially a granddad who's 99. He was happy for me to be there."

The last time De Aza attended his grandfather's birthday?

"Before I got signed," said De Aza, who joined the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 2001.

The party was a surprise. So was De Aza's arrival.

"They all asked me what happened because they've never seen me at this time at home," De Aza said. "I told them I just came to celebrate his birthday."

De Aza had to work up the nerve to ask manager Buck Showalter for permission to leave the club.

"Honestly, I went in there and I didn't know whether he was going to let me go or not," said De Aza, who's 3-for-24 with a home run this spring. "I went in and told him it's my grandpa's 99th birthday and if he can give me one or two days to go there. And he's like, 'You should go.' He didn't even let me say the word. He just said, 'Go.'

"Honestly, it was hard for me because it was my first time asking something like that. I don't know what to say. I don't know. I'm new here. But I can tell you he's a good man."

De Aza said his grandfather follows the games "when he can."

The party actually was a dual celebration. De Aza's daughter turned 11 on the same day.

"I've got my niece three days after," he said.

Pitchers Mike Wright and Tim Berry were in the clubhouse this morning after being optioned yesterday to Triple-A Norfolk.

"I thought it was a good camp," said Berry, who allowed five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five innings over four appearances. "Made it a little farther than last year, got some experience under my belt. Just more time around this kind of environment, these kinds of players, learned a lot.

"I picked up a lot from different guys. Everybody's willing to help you get better around here. It was a great time and a great experience.

"Definitely being around the guys is the most important thing. Just being on the field at this level, being on the back fields at this level, being around Dom (Chiti) and Dave (Wallace) really helped me this spring - a little bit mechanically and mentally, pitch selection, all-around. Just being in this environment helps you improve your game."

Showalter wanted to meet with Berry before sending him out, as he does with every player in camp.

"He basically said, 'Do your thing down in Triple-A,' and if there's a spot, they're going to call down," Berry said. "And if I'm doing what I need to do, I'll get the opportunity."

How close is Berry to the bigs? A lot more than you'd normally expect from a former 50th-round draft pick.

"I think I'm ready," he said. "When the opportunity comes, I'll be ready."

Wright allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, with only one walk and eight strikeouts. Both runs scored in his first appearance on March 6, a start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

"It was a great camp," Wright said. "I felt really good. I know the guys really liked me. Yesterday, I had a talk with Dave and Dom, and there were a couple pitchers out there, and they were saying how good I looked. I'm looking forward to the season and ready to get back."

Wright leaves a different pitcher than the one who arrived in Sarasota last spring.

"Oh, absolutely," he said. "I'm way more comfortable and way more confident with the way I finished this spring. I feel really good, I feel really healthy, really strong. I feel really good about my presence on the mound and just all-around I feel good."

Wright will be slotted again in Norfolk's rotation, but he's got a chance to pitch in relief with the Orioles, who think he could be effective as a late-inning power arm.

"Whatever's needed," he said. "I'll be in the rotation in Norfolk, but whatever's needed. I was in the 'pen here. I'm excited for the season and hopefully I go up as a starter, but if not, I'll do the bullpen thing and I'll be in the big leagues, so that'll be all right.

"I don't know how close I am, but I feel pretty good. Hopefully, I can put myself in a position where if they need somebody, I'll be that guy."

Update: The Orioles made their second cut of the day, reassigning right-hander Steve Johnson to minor league camp. Johnson allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks in four innings this spring.

The Orioles now have 41 players in major league camp.