Baltimore Orioles @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Roberts stepping up for a good cause

2006-07-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
BALTIMORE -- Fans will have a chance to hang out and play games with second baseman Brian Roberts and other Orioles at Brian's Baseball Bash, a fundraising event for the University of Maryland Hospital for Children.
The event, which is being held for the first time, will be at the ESPNZone in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, close to Camden Yards on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 7-10 p.m. ET.
Details of the Bash were announced during a press conference before Wednesday's game. Several officials from the hospital spoke and thanked Roberts for his support.
Roberts, 28, had open-heart surgery when he was five, and visits the University of Maryland Hospital for Children often.
"I started visiting the hospital I guess three years ago," he said. "The hospital is a place that I am familiar with, especially as a child. For me, it was something that I could really sink in to, something that I was familiar with and something I wanted to give back to."
When Roberts visits the hospital, he talks with the patients and signs autographs. But he decided that a public event would be an even greater way to contribute.
"I started to realize in order to make a bigger impact, sometimes you need other people's help," Roberts said.
Scheduled to appear at the event along with Roberts are some of his teammates, including Miguel Tejada, Erik Bedard, Jay Gibbons, Jeff Conine, Kris Benson, Kevin Millar and manager Sam Perlozzo. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton will also be there, and maybe more Ravens, Roberts said.
An adult ticket costs $200, and it will cost $150 for children 12 and under. The price of admission includes an ESPNZone game card, dinner and dessert, the chance to meet the players, get autographs and receive some Orioles giveaways. Silent and live auctions will also be held.
"Some of the auction items will hopefully be pretty special things that people don't get to do too often," Roberts said. "Possibly a batting practice session."
Tickets can be purchased by calling the University of Maryland Medical System Foundation at 410-328-6064, or by going to the Web site for the event: briansbaseballbash.com.
The event will be emceed by Jim Hunter, who's in his 10th season as an Orioles broadcaster.
"[Roberts is] a very important player," Hunter said. "He's also a fine young man and understands that he can help and give back."
Roberts, an All-Star last season, is in his fourth full year with the Orioles.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: Club could use four-man rotation

2006-07-21T08:24:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
BALTIMORE -- Over the next 15 days, the Orioles have three off-days -- meaning the team could use a four-man rotation during that span.
If they opted to go that route, it would keep most of their pitchers on normal rest, while veteran Russ Ortiz would likely be the odd man out. Manager Sam Perlozzo said no decision has been made yet.
"We'll see how we go in the next day or so; we'll see where we are," he said.
Ortiz made his third start with the Orioles on Tuesday night, with his outing cut short due to an hour-and-a-half rain delay. Ortiz has given up 12 runs in 12 innings with Baltimore, and has yet to pitch past the fifth inning in any of his three starts.
Perlozzo said after Tuesday's game that the decision on whether Ortiz will start again is not only his.
"That's pretty much an organizational decision," he said. "My job is to pitch him, if he's here. Until we all sit down and say he's not going to be pitching, he's in our rotation."
The Orioles signed Ortiz in late June after he was released by the Diamondbacks. Baltimore is paying Ortiz the prorated league minimum of $327,000.
One option to eventually replace Ortiz would be Daniel Cabrera, who was sent down to Triple-A Ottawa on Friday and made his first start there Tuesday night.
Cabrera pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and seven hits. His control had been a problem all season long, and Cabrera walked three and struck out four with Ottawa. He leads the Majors in walks and wild pitches.
"His velocity was good. He still didn't have command of his breaking ball," Perlozzo said on the reports he received. "It's a start, it's a step. We'll get that game behind him and see how he does next game."
There is no timetable for Cabrera's return to the Orioles, but Perlozzo would like to get him back as quickly as possible. Before Cabrera returns, Perlozzo wants him to gain more control with his breaking ball.
"He really should dominate down there," Perlozzo said. "I think we'll give him the benefit of the doubt the first time out. He might not have been totally into it.
"I'm in a hurry to get him back. I just want him to show some improvement."
Another young pitcher the Orioles are watching in Ottawa is Hayden Penn, who is scheduled to start Wednesday. Penn was called up May 21 to start for the Orioles, but then had appendicitis, and was placed on the disabled list the next day. Wednesday would be Penn's first start since his bout with appendicitis.
"The biggest thing for Hayden is conditioning -- from being in a medical situation where he wasn't able to do as much running and getting in the sort of physical condition he needs to be in to be effective," Perlozzo said. "The more time he gets, I'm sure the better he's going to be physically."
Perlozzo didn't give a definite answer when asked if Penn would be with the team before the season ended.
Lineup shuffle: Brian Roberts was given the day off Wednesday, with Chris Gomez making his first start since being activated from the disabled list last week.
"He's probably been the only guy who hasn't had one for a while," Perlozzo said about Roberts. "It looks like he needs it."
Gomez batted eighth, and outfielder Luis Terrero took over Roberts' usual duties as the leadoff hitter. Terrero entered the game 1-for-20 this season with one walk.
It was Terrero's sixth start, and the third time he was in the leadoff spot.
Javy Lopez sat out for the third straight day, bothered by lower back problems. Perlozzo was not necessarily going to start Ramon Hernandez again, especially with a day game following a night contest, but the manager wanted to see what the weather was like and how Hernandez was feeling.
Byrdak throwing again: Reliever Tim Byrdak, who has been on the disabled list since mid-April with bone chips in his left elbow, made his first rehab appearance Monday with Class A Aberdeen.
In one inning, Byrdak gave up two hits and one run, and he struck out the side.
"I felt pretty good," he said. "I thought I threw the ball pretty well, and kept the ball down. My fastball velocity was a little down, but they told me that's going to be the last thing to come."
Byrdak threw a bullpen session in Baltimore during the Oakland series, and will pitch for Double-A Bowie on Thursday.
Byrdak said he hopes to be ready in a couple of weeks, but right now, he's working on building up his arm strength. There is no set number of rehab appearances that Byrdak will have.
"I'd love to come back here to Baltimore, and that's my goal," he said.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Orioles stumble against A's in finale

2006-07-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

07/19/2006
BALTIMORE -- The temperature was in the mid-90s for the third consecutive day at Camden Yards, but Barry Zito was able to cool things off -- the Orioles bats, at least.
The Orioles dropped their second straight game, ending their seven-game homestand the way it started. Baltimore scored one run in each of the first two games following the All-Star break, and managed only a run in Wednesday's series finale, as the A's won, 5-1.
Oakland has dominated the Orioles over the past two seasons, winning eight of the last nine games in Baltimore, and 11 of the last 13 overall.
Starter Kris Benson lost his fourth straight game, giving up three home runs in six innings. Benson also gave up three homers June 28 against the Phillies.
"He had good life on his fastball, but his command wasn't quite there and his offspeed pitches weren't great today either," manager Sam Perlozzo said.
Benson gave up nine hits and five runs while striking out three and falling to 1-3 lifetime against the A's. After going 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA in June, Benson has struggled in three of his four starts this month.
Oakland scored twice in the first on a two-out single by Frank Thomas, the third A's hit of the inning. Benson said he struggled with the command of his slider in the first few innings, and that's the pitch Thomas was able to hit through the left side of the infield.
Up 3-0 in the sixth, Eric Chavez hit a home run to right field and two pitches later, Thomas hit a ball more than 400 feet into the left-field stands for back-to-back homers. Benson threw changeups on both home-run balls.
"They went there and got them," Benson said. "Of course, they could've been better pitches. I threw a handful of them in the same spot and they missed them. It was just the luck of the draw there and like I said, they got them up in the air and hit them out."
Meanwhile, Zito allowed one run in seven innings, marking the seventh straight outing in which he's given up three runs or less. Zito limited the Orioles to five hits, and his ERA fell to 3.20, which is sixth-best in the American League.
"He's a good pitcher. He throws the ball where he wants," said Miguel Tejada, who played with Zito from 2000-03 in Oakland. "We swung at a lot of bad pitches, too."
Zito picked up his 10th victory, giving him double-digit wins in six of the last seven seasons. He improved to 3-2 with a 1.51 ERA in six career starts at Camden Yards.
"He mixed his pitches," said Kevin Millar, who was 1-for-3 off Zito with a double. "He just kept us off-balance enough and we could really never get anything going off him. When he's throwing all of his pitches in any kind of sequence, he makes it tough. He's one of the better ones out there."
With the loss, Baltimore fell to 9-23 against left-handed pitchers this year. The Orioles are batting an American League-worst .234 against southpaws this season.
The only serious threat for the Orioles was in the seventh inning. Kevin Millar doubled and scored on a Ramon Hernandez single. With Hernandez on first, Corey Patterson reached base on an error by first baseman Mark Kotsay, who made another error trying to flip the ball to Zito, allowing Hernandez to go to third.
Chris Gomez worked a 3-1 count and thought he had walked on a close pitch toward the inside of the strike zone, but it was called strike two. On Zito's next throw, Gomez grounded into his second double play of the afternoon.
Baltimore went 3-4 on its homestand, losing the first two, then scoring 17 runs in three straight wins before dropping two against Oakland. The Orioles begin a six-game road trip Friday in Tampa Bay.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Bedard maturing as pitcher

2006-07-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

07/20/2006
BALTIMORE -- Some young pitchers have the tendency to just go out and throw. If they're on, they'll do well. Others -- the better ones -- go out and pitch. They can win games without having their best stuff.
Baltimore lefty Erik Bedard seems to be in the transition phase, and his current six-game winning streak serves as evidence to that. Five of the six victories have come after an Orioles loss, a sign that Bedard is becoming a more mature pitcher.
"He's a pitcher now," manager Sam Perlozzo said. "I think, before, he was a bit of a thrower and didn't have all of his pitches working for him. And now, he's confident, obviously. When he's got three pitches going for him and locates them, he throws hard, but he uses it effectively now. He keeps hitters off balance, and that's why you're seeing good results."
Then, over his last six starts, Bedard (11-6, 4.02 ERA) has a 1.07 ERA, striking out 44 batters in 42 innings. This month, he's 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA. The 11 wins are already a career high for the Orioles' sixth-round pick in 1999, far better than his previous best of six wins from each of the past two seasons.
"Right now, I'm on a roll, and I'm trying to roll with it," Bedard said.
And the 11 victories, which are tied for the most by a lefty this season, are second-best in baseball, ranking him with names like Roy Halladay, Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling and Kenny Rogers.
When pitching coach Leo Mazzone was asked where Bedard ranks among pitchers in the American League, his reply was: "Right with the names just mentioned. "He's got that kind of know-how. He's a very intelligent guy. A lot of people haven't realized how smart this guy is. It's not because I'm here, it's because he's been smart from the get-go as to what he wants to do."
Teammate Melvin Mora noticed how good Bedard could be before the season began.
"I was just talking to this guy in Spring Training, and he has no idea how nasty he is," Mora said. "I think he's one of the toughest left-handed pitchers in the American League right now."
Bedard, like several other Baltimore pitchers, missed time in Spring Training because of the World Baseball Classic. He pitched for his native Canada, tossing four scoreless innings in his one start.
"I didn't have him in the spring for a long time," Mazzone said.
But Mazzone and Bedard have made up for lost time. A big part of Bedard's recent success is owed to Mazzone, who taught Bedard how to throw a circle changeup. It wasn't until recently that Bedard learned the pitch and began to throw it effectively.
"It's huge," said Mazzone about the changeup. "It's got him to get some low-count outs, and it makes his fastball and his breaking stuff better. It was a no-brainer, really. He decided to trust it, and he's the one who had to go out there and trust it in the middle of a Major League season. A lot of people wouldn't do that."
Both Bedard and his catcher, Ramon Hernandez, understand the importance of the changeup.
"The changeup's a big factor," Bedard said. "Throwing strikes with that helps me a lot."
Said Hernandez: "If you want to win a lot of games in the big leagues ... you cannot come here and pitch with two pitches. You gotta have all of your pitches working, and you gotta be able to throw them anytime in the count in any situation."
The questions now for Bedard are whether he can maintain his consistency, and his health.
Even before Bedard's current stretch, he was streaky this season. Bedard started the year with four straight wins, posting a 2.77 ERA after those outings. Then over his next 10 starts before the six-game win streak, Bedard went 1-6 with a 7.26 ERA.
Last year was a tale of two seasons for Bedard, who went 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his first nine starts, but then sprained the MCL in his left knee, which led to an eight-week stay on the disabled list. When he returned, Bedard struggled, going 1-6 with a 5.01 ERA in 15 outings.
Bedard also missed most of the 2003 season after having ligament replacement surgery in his throwing elbow.
Health-wise, Bedard's been fine this season, and he's on pace to throw the most innings in his career. And although he's been streaky, it seems like Bedard is turning the corner toward becoming more of a pitcher, especially with the addition of the changeup.
"I think we want Bedard to continue to improve, to get over the hump so to speak. We always felt his stuff was good enough and Leo was able to give him a changeup and help that," Perlozzo said. "He's constantly improving. We'd like to see Erik continue to do that, continue to stretch out. He showed us in the game in Cleveland that he didn't have his best stuff and pitched well, and that's what we're looking for."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Pressure not a problem for Benson

2006-03-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

03/05/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Pressure is what you make of it, and Kris Benson has seen it all before.
He's not intimidated by the challenge of a new city and a new league any more than he was by the experience of being the first overall pick in the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. He is used to having expectations attached to every start, and he doesn't expect anything different in Baltimore.
"I think there's pressure every year. There's been pressure put on me since college," said Benson, who attended Clemson University. "This is nothing new to me. It's not like this is uncharted territory when it comes to people's expectations or expectations of myself. I don't really get too caught up in that.
"I have a routine that I do, and that prepares me for every start. People's opinions and expectations don't really outweigh mine, so it's not really a driving force in my career."
It may not be a driving force, but it has been a recurring theme. Benson has been billed as the "next big thing" for so long that people have overlooked his modest contributions on the mound. This isn't a draft-day bust -- it's just a guy who hasn't been able to reach his full potential for a variety of reasons.
First, there was his placement on the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that hasn't had a winning season since 1992. Benson made it to the big leagues quickly and was slotted in at the top of his team's rotation, but he never put up the gaudy statistics associated with an ace.
Then there was the injury, an elbow ailment that necessitated Tommy John surgery after the 2000 season. Benson missed all of 2001 and pitched a partial season in 2002, regaining his stuff along the way.
His command came back in 2003 -- another season cut short by injury -- and one year later, he was just getting comfortable when he was traded to the New York Mets, a team that had even larger expectations for his talent.
Again, he didn't disappoint, but he didn't live up to ace billing. Finally, he arrived in Baltimore this winter as the centerpiece of a three-player trade.
Benson went 10-8 with a 4.13 ERA last season and thinks he can build on that success this year.
"The combination of being on a new team, being in a new league, having a new catcher and having a new pitching coach is going to be good for me," said Benson, who welcomes his transition. "It's what you make of it. I don't really pay much attention to outside things. I just pay attention to what I need to do in the clubhouse and on the field.
"I know what I have, and if it was a new catcher that wasn't that good, that would be one thing. I have one of the best in the league, and that definitely makes you more relaxed. Having the best pitching coach in the league makes you more relaxed, too. I know what I have, and it's all good stuff."
With those last comments, Benson was referring to Ramon Hernandez and Leo Mazzone, Baltimore's two other big-ticket offseason additions. Benson, Hernandez and Mazzone are expected to revitalize the pitching staff and help make up for uncertainty from the other rotation slots, manned by young and inconsistent starters Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera and Bruce Chen.
Manager Sam Perlozzo said that it's fair to consider Benson an X-factor in his team's success this year.
"Starting pitching is the name of the game, and we're looking for someone to come in and stabilize that for us," said Perlozzo. "We have two young kids that are still trying to grow, that we think very highly of. The fact that you can send a veteran out there and know you can get a quality game every time he's out there, it's comforting."
And that puts Benson, at the ripe old age of 31, in the odd position of veteran stalwart. The right-hander has only made 30 starts once in the last five years, but he's only had a losing record once in that span.
Benson, along with Rodrigo Lopez, is a leading candidate for the Opening Day start -- and all the expectations that come with the top spot in the rotation.
"I don't care about calling somebody an ace. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me," said Perlozzo. "We're obviously going to have a Game 1 starter, and we're going to call him our ace. Or you all are going to call him our ace. That will happen.
"We got Kris Benson for a reason -- to solidify the starting rotation. He doesn't have to be the best in the world, but he certainly has to hold up his end of the bargain. And we think he will."
Benson, for his part, welcomes the spotlight. He doesn't mind being looked at as an important component of the team's success, and he doesn't mind being reminded of his lofty draft status.
He just wants a chance to pitch, and he'll accept the results every time he gets that chance.
"People are going to be tough because of the pressure of being a No. 1 pick, but I think I've handled it just fine throughout my career," said Benson. "I don't avoid the situation. I don't avoid the topic. I just consider my job as something I still love to do, and it's still something I get paid to do. It doesn't matter where I am.
"There's still a chance for me to play baseball, and it's not really a long-term thing in my lifetime. It's something I make sure I enjoy while I'm here, and I try to make sure I do the best that I can every single day that I show up."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Markakis closing in on Majors

2006-03-12T09:43:00.001-08:00

03/05/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Nick Markakis will tell you he's ready for the big leagues, in behavior if not in words.
Baltimore's top prospect picks his quotes very carefully, but his body language displays the confidence of a player well beyond his age and experience level. Still, his candidacy for the Opening Day roster is open to debate from both sides of the aisle.
"It's always difficult," said Markakis, speaking about the uncertainty around his next assignment. "But you've got to go out there and still perform, play to the best of your ability. Hopefully, things will work out. At this point, I'm just trying to go out there and help the team."
Despite scant experience against upper-level pitching, Markakis has handled himself well through the early stages of Spring Training. Consequently, important people are watching his every move and marking his progress every day. So far, to his credit, he hasn't seemed out of place.
"You're impressed with the way he acts. He looks like he's a kid that belongs here and knows he can play here," said Jim Duquette, the Orioles' vice president of baseball operations. "He's not brash about it. He's got the quiet confidence that you see in good, young players."
Markakis has had success everywhere he's been, so he has no reason not to be confident. The outfielder has shown power and patience at each stop in the Minor Leagues, and he hit .339 in a 33-game trial at Double-A Bowie last season. The Orioles would like to see more of the same, but they're open to promoting him quickly if his skills warrant it.
In fact, none of the team's decision-makers will rule him out of the Opening Day picture. And it's not for lack of competition. Baltimore brought in several players to compete for playing time in the outfield, ranging from Corey Patterson and Richard Hidalgo to part-time options like Kevin Millar and Jeff Conine.
"He's got a great demeanor," said Millar, endorsing his potential teammate and rival for playing time. "He carries himself like a professional, and obviously, he's got tremendous upside. I think this kid's got legitimate talent and probably has a legitimate shot at making this club."
If that opinion holds true across the board, Millar and Conine could settle in at first base and designated hitter. It's a dilemma, though, for one reason. Markakis can be promoted at any moment, so the Orioles have little or nothing to lose by letting him take his time. Then again, if he's ready, there's no reason to hold him back.
"The hardest thing is to make a judgment too early," said Mike Flanagan, executive vice president of baseball operations. "It will be day-to-day. He'll get a lot of playing time and a lot of opportunities and we'll just have to wait and see."
"I'm still getting to learn him, watching him handle himself. He looks like he's not intimidated," said Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo. "I think that's the biggest thing you're going to have to see. He's pretty much done what we'd like to see him do, but it's early. He's got a ways to go.
"[Once] we get a little deeper into the spring, we'll get some of the better pitching on a consistent basis. It's going to be interesting, but I have total confidence he's going to hold his own."
That's a popular opinion, and so far, it's been well-founded by the statistical record. Markakis has never batted below .280 or posted an on-base percentage lower than .370 in his four Minor League stops, and his slugging percentage has clicked higher at each progressive level.
In short, he hasn't seen any adversity yet, and the Orioles aren't sure when he will. Whenever it crops up, Markakis has to prove he can handle it.
"The first factor is you have to see if the ability's there. The second factor is his mental capacity," said Duquette. "How do you think he'll handle things as teams start to make adjustments to him? How will he handle failure at the Major League level? Everyone goes through that. Those are two of the factors, anyway."
In this case, composure doesn't seem to be a concern. Markakis handles everything with a cool detachment, including persistent questions from a curious media corps.
"This is my second Spring Training with the guys. I feel comfortable around them. I know what to expect up here and I feel a little more confident," he said recently. "As a hitter up there, I just block everything out. I just focus on me and the pitcher, and that's it. I focus on taking good swings and putting the good part of the bat on the ball.
"If you do that, hopefully, you'll be successful."
So what will go into the final decision? How will the Orioles ascertain if their prized prospect is good enough to start the season in the big leagues? How will they decide if he'd be better off with more experience? Like most things, the men in charge will take everything in and ultimately trust their instincts.
Simply put, if he's better than any of his peers, he'll start over them. The O's won't worry about stifling his progress by feeding him too much, too soon.
"All the good ones are [confident]," said Flanagan. "They pretty much tell you when they're ready. You can't make them be ready. You can want them to be ready, but ultimately, they'll tell you."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Three homers not enough for Orioles

2006-03-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

03/05/2006
Orioles at the plate: David Newhan and Nick Markakis hit solo home runs, while Andy Tracy launched a two-run shot. Markakis had two hits in the game.
Nationals at the plate: Matt LeCroy, Marlon Anderson and Ryan Zimmerman hit home runs. Zimmerman had two RBIs in the game. Royce Clayton, Marlon Byrd and Michael Tucker had RBI singles. Tyrell Godwin had a two-run triple.
Orioles on the mound: Kris Benson made his Orioles debut, giving up two runs on four hits in two innings of work. He struck out two and walked one. He threw 29 pitches, 17 of them for strikes. Cory Morris also pitched two innings, giving up two runs on two hits.
Nationals on the mound: Starter Jon Rauch pitched three innings, giving up two runs on two hits, solo home runs by Newhan and Markakis. Steve Watkins threw three shutout innings.
Grapefruit League records: Orioles 1-3; Nationals 1-3.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Classic gives longshots a chance

2006-03-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

03/05/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Now that the Orioles have lost a heavy segment of their roster to the World Baseball Classic, manager Sam Perlozzo is all but obligated to take a look at some longshots. That means playing time for Napoleon Calzado and Ed Rogers, and opportunities for Esix Snead and Keith Reed.
"I'm surprised you can still keep track of the names now," joked Perlozzo on Friday.
The depleted roster situation is most evident behind the plate, as the Orioles have lost three experienced catchers. They're left with a group of backstops that have combined for a total of nine games of big-league action -- all by Eli Whiteside, all last season. Whiteside is joined by non-roster invitees Brian Bock, Ryan Hubele and Brandon Marsters, all of whom will likely leave camp when the veterans come back.
Perlozzo gets to look at a whole new crop of pitchers, too, compensating for the six starters who have left camp. Prospect Adam Loewen was part of that exodus, but there are several arms to gauge for the team's short bullpen. Perlozzo doesn't necessarily like the arrangement, but he knows he doesn't really have a choice.
"Do I like being short? No. There has to be some momentum in the spring," he said. "But we are going to give some chances. I mean, there are some spots to be earned on the team, and this is definitely going to give them that chance. No one's going to remember our spring record after Day 1 anyway. We still have some good people in camp."
On the pine: Hayden Penn still hasn't pitched in a game, but his sore shoulder has improved enough to allow him to throw from the mound. Prospect Ryan Keefer has missed some time recently but isn't expected to be a long-term concern. Aaron Rakers, who pitched for the Orioles in 2005, is out for the year after undergoing surgery on his right labrum.
They're No. 1: With Loewen gone, Nick Markakis and Keith Reed are the only former top picks in camp. Reed still doesn't figure to get much playing time -- he's hitting .333 (1-for-3) through three games -- but Markakis should play on a steady basis. The outfielder has played in each of the team's three games and has been hard to keep off base, notching a .667 average (2-for-3) with three walks. He is a legitimate threat to make the Opening Day roster.
Class of '05: Baltimore doesn't have any draftees from the 2005 class in camp. Those prospects are all 200 miles away, at the team's Minor League camp in Sarasota. Earlier in the spring, pitching coach Leo Mazzone pointed out how that may affect the team.
"The advantage of having the farm system next to you is you could set it up and have three guys backing up from the Minor Leagues that allowed you protection," said Mazzone. "You didn't have to overuse somebody you didn't want to use in an extra-inning ballgame."
Infield issues: With Brian Roberts still working his way back from elbow surgery and Miguel Tejada playing for the Dominican Republic, the Orioles were forced to start Chris Gomez and Desi Relaford up the middle on Saturday. That meant backup duties for Calzado, Brandon Fahey, Eddy Garabito and Fernando Tatis. Melvin Mora was hit by a pitch in that game and left early, further underlining the team's thin infield.
Pink slips: The Orioles released right-handed pitcher Ryan Jensen on Sunday, freeing the former Major Leaguer to seek employment elsewhere. Jensen had a 7.11 ERA in the big leagues last year and a 7.20 mark at Triple-A Omaha.
What they're saying: "We've got to get through it somehow, and we will." --Perlozzo, about his team's mission during the World Baseball Classic

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Who does Mazzone help most?

2006-03-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

03/06/2006
Which pitcher in the Orioles' starting rotation do you think will benefit the most from Leo Mazzone's style of coaching? I've heard people say that Kris Benson is a perfect pupil for Mazzone. Is it him or someone else?-- Derek H., Bel Air, Md.
Benson is certainly a good fit with his new pitching coach, but my guess would be Daniel Cabrera. The right-hander is one of the hardest throwers in the game, and thus far, he's been unable to turn that stuff into consistent success. With two years of experience under his belt and Mazzone pointing the way, all the ingredients are in place for a breakout season.
Mazzone has Cabrera working on a changeup to compliment his power fastball and late-breaking curve, a combination that could be absolutely unhittable if used correctly. Kevin Millar has joked that he came to the Orioles just so he wouldn't have to face Cabrera, a line that grows less funny and more earnest every time the 24-year-old takes the hill.
If it's hyperbole, it's commonly held hyperbole. Players and scouts gush about Cabrera's potential, holding him out as an ace in the making. And he looks the part. At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds -- both conservative estimates -- he's thick enough to start at power forward for half the teams in the NBA. Now, he just needs to find a way to rebound from an up and down season.
He'll have plenty of help in that regard, with Mazzone guiding him between starts and Ramon Hernandez calling the pitches from behind the plate. Cabrera's had some problems with his back, and that may be an ongoing concern. But if he can stay healthy and accept Mazzone's tutelage, the O's just might have a staff ace.
Hayden Penn came up last year and pitched pretty well for his age. How much, if any, will we see of him this season?-- Ryan B., Eldersburg, Md.
The Orioles would like to take things slowly with Penn, spotting him at Triple-A Ottawa for most of the season. However, they may not have that luxury. If one of Baltimore's starters gets injured or cuffed around during April and May, Penn would be the likely contingency plan. He's had success at every level of the Minor Leagues and could skip Triple-A if needed.
That trajectory isn't unprecedented, and these days, it's not even all that uncommon. Several young pitchers have made the big-league leap with only a smattering of starts at Triple-A, but the most prudent promotion schedule entails stops at every level along the way. Especially with a pitcher Penn's age -- at 21 years old, there's little or no reason to rush him.
Do you see Val Majewski turning into a regular player down the road and also becoming an offensive threat for the top of the lineup?-- Mike K., Oneida, N.Y.
Majewski has been impressive in Spring Training, showing no signs of the shoulder surgery that made him miss all of last season. He's shown the ability to hit for power and average in the Minor Leagues, which likely tabs him as a threat in the middle of the order as opposed to the top. Of course, that's down the road, much like the question specified.
The Orioles have a logjam in the outfield, and this spring they have allowed Majewski to play some first base -- where there's another crowd fighting for position on the big-league roster. Baltimore likely will allow the left-handed hitter to start the season at Triple-A, where he'll play both the outfield and first base and try to make up for lost time in the batter's box.
Majewski, much like fellow prospect Nick Markakis, has showed growth at each incremental stop along the way. He would've had a legitimate shot at breaking in with the big-league club last year and remains hopeful for that chance this season. At this point, Markakis has the inside track at starting the season with the club, but the O's can't make room for both prospects.
For now, the presence of Jeff Conine, Kevin Millar and Javy Lopez may complicate that process. All three are signed to one-year deals, though, meaning the future may begin soon in Baltimore. Conine has an option for next year that vests at 450 plate appearances, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see both Markakis and Majewski playing heavily in the second half of 2006.
I noticed that University of Texas' Brandon Fahey is on the 40-man roster. Where do you see him for the 2006 season? What do you think the Orioles plans are for him this year?-- Brandon S., Keller, Texas
Fahey is a glove man with a line-drive batting stroke, a player that closely resembles Arizona's Craig Counsell in ability and youthful appearance. He spent the entire season at Double-A Bowie last season, batting .291 with a .349 on-base percentage. This year, he'll likely move to Triple-A Ottawa and see if his offensive improvements stick at a higher level.
The left-handed hitter projects as a utilityman in the big leagues, and he's still young enough to develop into something more. Fahey, 25, has taken a normal progression through the Minors and may be ready to earn a late-season call-up to the big leagues when rosters expand in September.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Orioles outslug Cardinals

2006-03-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

03/06/2006
Cardinals at the plate: First baseman Brian Daubach started the scoring with a two-run homer into the right-field bleachers, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Skip Schumaker, who started in center field, contributed two RBI singles. Chris Duncan drove a tape-measure solo homer in the fifth.
Orioles at the plate: Jay Gibbons delivered an RBI single in the third inning and an RBI double in the fourth. Kevin Millar knocked in two runs with a double in the third, and Jeff Conine capped the four-run rally with a run-scoring double of his own. Conine finished with three hits. Corey Patterson and Chris Gomez both scored twice.
Cardinals on the mound: In his spring debut, Jason Marquis cruised through two innings and stumbled in the third. The Orioles reached him for three hits and a walk in that rally. Marquis was charged with four runs, and Braden Looper gave up five hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings. It also was Looper's first game this spring.
Orioles on the mound: Jim Johnson got knocked around in his first start of the spring. The right-hander got two quick outs before allowing a single and a two-run homer. He got in trouble again in the second, when he gave up a one-out double followed by a run-scoring single and a walk. Winston Abreu pitched two scoreless innings and allowed one hit.
Grapefruit League records: Cardinals 2-3; Orioles 2-3.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

O's release non-roster invitee Hidalgo

2006-03-12T09:37:00.001-08:00

03/07/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Richard Hidalgo's tenure in Baltimore appears to be over.
The outfielder left the Orioles on Saturday to attend to some personal business and still hasn't returned, leading one source to say Hidalgo may be contemplating retirement. The team is expected to have some official resolution on Tuesday, lending finality to a bizarre week-long saga.
Hidalgo signed a Minor League contract on Feb. 26 and seemed to be in the mix for the starting job in left field. He only spent four days in uniform though -- none in game action -- before leaving the team. The Orioles had expected to start him Saturday, but they didn't have any updates on his status over the last few days.
"If he's going to come back, we need to find out what his program is pretty soon," Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said on Monday. "He came in a little late anyway. We need to get a read on him pretty quickly."
Hidalgo appeared to have an excellent chance to break camp with the O's, and if he did, he had a contract that would pay him a $1 million base salary with an additional $2.5 million in attainable incentives.
He also had clauses that would allow him to request his release if he wasn't on the roster by March 26, as well as a provision that allowed him to sign with a Japanese club for $100,000.
Earlier in the day, Melvin Mora, one of Hidalgo's close friends, said he's not sure what to make of the situation.
"Believe me, I was surprised. I think he has family problems -- that's what somebody told me," Mora said. "I don't know what happened. We can say anything we want, but I don't know what happened with his family. He had major reasons to go, and family comes first."
Role model: Perlozzo took some time out to speak to one of his peers on Monday, when he shared a pregame chat with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. The relationship between the two men goes back more than 15 years, but it's one of the first times they've talked since Perlozzo got elevated to his own dream job.
"We've kind of always talked," said Perlozzo. "Back in 1990, when I was with the Reds, we played the A's in the World Series. I'd never met him. After we won our last game to clinch it, he came over and wanted to meet me. Little did he know, I wanted to meet him.
"After thinking about it, it all started in his mind right after his wife went in the hospital. He started thinking about whether he really had the desire to keep going, so we let him take a couple of extra days just to make sure that was his final decision. And he's not going to change his mind at this point."
Duquette said Baltimore did not attempt to change Hidalgo's mind and had been attempting to arrange a deal with a Japanese team.
"We were trying to [complete a deal] because he said he would be willing [to have] an everyday job in Japan," said Duquette, who noted the club was unable to swing a deal with a Japanese team. "We were trying to gauge interest, but at this point, most of the rosters are already set."
If Hidalgo were to sign with a Japanese team at this point, the Orioles would not receive compensation.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Gibbons homers in O's loss

2006-03-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

03/07/2006
Red Sox at the plate: Manny Ramirez showed no rust in his first game of the spring, raking a single to right in his first at-bat and a two-run single to center his next time up. Ramirez added a sacrifice fly, finishing with a 2-for-2 afternoon that included a run and three RBIs. Leadoff man Coco Crisp was 3-for-3 with a stolen base.
Orioles at the plate: Kevin Millar had an RBI double and a walk in his first contest against his old team. Jay Gibbons added a solo shot off Rudy Seanez, while Brandon Fahey went 3-for-3.
Red Sox on the mound: Jonathan Papelbon made his second start of the spring, giving up three hits and a run over two innings. Side-winder Cla Meredith went two scoreless innings for the win.
Orioles on the mound: Eddy Rodriguez went 1 2/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen.
Grapefruit League record: Red Sox 2-3; Orioles 2-4

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Relaford confident he can contribute

2006-03-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

03/07/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- After eight seasons as a big-league utility man, Desi Relaford knows the drill.
The switch-hitter knows he has a tiny margin of error and that he can't afford to assume anything in terms of long-term employment. Relaford is in camp with the Orioles on a non-guaranteed Minor League contract, and he's hoping to stick with his sixth different big-league team in the past seven years.
"I've been in the league the last eight or nine years straight," Relaford said recently. "And I've been decent. I've definitely shown I can play at this level and contribute. Having to come in and basically prove myself again -- that's kind of been the course of my career anyway. There have only been a couple years that I've come in and everything has been hunky-dory, where I knew for a fact that I had a guaranteed spot.
"Adversity, I guess, is my middle name when it comes to baseball. I'm no stranger to that."
Relaford, who turned 32 in September, is a typical utility man in that he's valued more for his glove than his bat. He's logged a lot of playing time in the past few years -- 300 or more at-bats in three of the past four seasons -- but finds himself fighting the stigma of his most recent performance.
Last year, Relaford struggled in the hitter's atmosphere of Coors Field and was released by the Colorado Rockies, a team that finished in a three-way tie for the second-worst record in baseball. He batted .257 during the first three months of the season and swooned soon after, batting .057 (2-for-35) in July.
Colorado sent him to the Minor Leagues and released him shortly thereafter, immediately putting his career in a new light.
"Looking at it, stats-wise, it may have looked a little crazy," Relaford said. "I swung the bat real well through the spring and the first two months, but after that, I struggled for about three weeks and didn't get to play very much. You know, then the break came, and shortly after that, I was released. I'm sure there are guys who slumped for even longer than that last year and didn't have such large ramifications on their career.
"Being released by the worst team in the league -- it doesn't look good on your resume. It was harder for me to get a job this year, and then I come into camp wearing No. 52."
And that's where his luck turned. Relaford may be fighting an uphill battle, but he's in a Spring Training camp where he'll have plenty of chances to prove himself. The Orioles are without their starting infield combo for the next few weeks, with Brian Roberts recovering from elbow surgery and Miguel Tejada playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
"The fact that [Roberts is] not out there, it means more at-bats for me and more playing time at second base," said Relaford. "But I also play third base and shortstop. I play all the outfield positions. I can get it done all over the field, but the fact that he's down and that I'm primarily a middle infielder has given me a longer look."
In fact, it's given Relaford a chance to start alongside Chris Gomez in recent days, providing Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo with an opportunity to judge two backup infielders simultaneously. Gomez is nearly assured of breaking camp with the team, but Relaford is fighting for the right to supplement him as the team's emergency jack-of-all-trades.
Perlozzo noted that David Newhan is Relaford's main competition for the utility spot, but that could be altered by the team's apparent willingness to carry three catchers and 12 pitchers. Whatever the case, the Orioles won't judge Relaford solely on last year or on his performance in exhibition games.
"I've seen Desi play in the big leagues for years," said Perlozzo. "He's as calm as a cucumber out there in the field. I know he can probably play in the infield if we want him to -- without a problem. I put him in right field [Sunday] for a couple innings. I think we're going to try to get him back in the outfield. ... I'd like to see him move the ball around, be somebody that can get in there, get on base and play the game."
That's all Relaford wants, and he's fairly certain he can live up to the expectations. The veteran said he understands the game better than he ever has and still thinks his best baseball lies in front of him. Most important, if things don't work out with the Orioles, he's confident that he'll be back in the big leagues at some point.
So what happens if he doesn't make the team? Will he play for Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate or request his release and continue his odyssey elsewhere? At this point, Relaford's keeping all his options open.
"That's a decision I'll have to make when that time comes," he said. "Right now, I'm more worried about little things like getting my swing down and feeling comfortable at the plate. To be worried about the business aspect, at this point, is a little premature."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

DuBose solid, but O's fall to Dodgers

2006-03-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

03/08/2006
Orioles at the plate: Corey Patterson started a three-run third inning with a home run. Napoleon Calzado added a two-run triple.
Dodgers at the plate: Cody Ross slugged a three-run home run, Bill Mueller hit a two-run homer and Sandy Alomar Jr. and Joel Guzman hit solo shots. Matt Kemp tripled in a two-run fourth inning. Nomar Garciaparra added a two-out RBI single. Jeff Kent, in his first game since wrist surgery, had two singles.
Orioles on the mound: Eric DuBose started and pitched two scoreless innings. LaTroy Hawkins allowed two runs in one inning of relief.
Dodgers on the mound: Facing an opponent for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last June, Eric Gagne retired three batters on five pitches and said his arm felt fine. Top prospect Chad Billingsley was touched up for three runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings in his first start of the spring. D.J. Houlton pitched two scoreless innings after allowing three runs in one inning in his previous start.
Grapefruit League records: Orioles 2-5; Dodgers 4-2-1.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Whiteside getting his shot

2006-03-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

03/08/2006
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Don't be surprised if you don't know his name. The Orioles got hit hard in the catching department this week, when three of their backstops left for the World Baseball Classic. And that left Eli Whiteside, a veteran of nine games in the big leagues, as the main man behind the plate for the opening barrage of exhibition games.
The 26-year-old is the dean of a catching group that includes two Class A players and one Triple-A veteran, a far cry from the team's normal trio of Ramon Hernandez, Javy Lopez and Geronimo Gil.
"It's a great opportunity for me to come out and show these guys what I can do," said Whiteside. "Coming into camp, I didn't know they would all be out, but I found out pretty early. I was just looking forward to it, and I tried to get ready for it. I'm just trying to go out and impress these guys."
You won't find Whiteside on any prospect lists, but he's well thought of within the organization. The Orioles value his defensive skills, but he hasn't been able to make much of an impact with his bat. Whiteside has hit just .231 against pitchers at the Double-A level and above, which means he's not much of a risk to break out at the big-league level.
Still, the Orioles needed someone to step up and carry the catching load, and Whiteside has proven to be up to the task. Rick Dempsey, Baltimore's bullpen coach, said he likes what he's seen out of the Minor League veteran.
"He's got a little ways to go yet, but he's in Triple-A ball and he does well handling the pitching staff," said Dempsey, who played more than 20 years as a big-league catcher. "He's got a good, strong arm. He's just got to get used to playing every day now and being consistent. No matter what happens, we're not afraid to bring him up, because we know he can catch."
Baltimore helped prepare Whiteside for this opportunity last season, when he spent two short stints with the parent club. The first was as an injury fill-in, and the second was as a September callup. Whiteside said he learned a lot from his short time in the big leagues, gauging the level of competition and what he needs to do to get there on a full-time basis.
"Obviously, I need to improve on my offensive part of the game, but I think it's coming around. I'm just trying to get more comfortable and more consistent at the plate," he said. "It was a great experience, just to get there and see what went on, see how everything went. ... It just makes you want to get there that much more. That's what you want to get back to."
Whiteside, a sixth-round pick in 2001, showed some serious progress with the bat in 2004. He hit 18 homers in 90 games at Double-A Bowie that season, which doubled his career output to that date.
He's never shown another hint of that power, but that's not really his role. If and when Whiteside makes it back to the big leagues, it will likely be as a backup catcher and occasional defensive replacement.
"He needs to learn the pitching staffs and learn how to call ballgames for certain types of pitchers. And that just comes with time," said Dempsey. "Also, he needs to work on consistency of throwing from behind the plate, but the rest is all there. ... He's always in the best shape of anyone coming into camp. We've got no problems with [work ethic] whatsoever."
Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo has been pleased with Whiteside's work behind the plate, and he said he's been able to absorb some of the team's new philosophies. When Leo Mazzone became the Orioles' new pitching coach, he brought certain philosophies that had to be implemented from both the dugout and the catcher's slot.
"It's good experience to get him in there a lot -- and some of the younger kids too," said Perlozzo. "We're trying to get across to the catchers, especially the younger kids, some of the things that Leo's trying to get across to the pitchers. It's something good for them, and they wouldn't have that opportunity, other than right now.
"At least they'll have the experience of listening to Leo and they can take it with them."
Whiteside doesn't look at this as a last chance before the veterans get back. Over time, he's confident that he'll have plenty of other opportunities with the organization. And failing that, he thinks he'll get a shot somewhere else, somewhere down the line.
"I don't think of it that way," he said when asked if he needs to make a quick impression. "There are 29 other teams out there. I can come into camp, get an opportunity to show other teams what I can do. I'm just trying to take advantage of it."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: Mora enjoys watching Classic

2006-03-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

03/08/2006
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- There were no doubts and no regrets. Melvin Mora watched every pitch of Venezuela's opening game in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, and he said he didn't second-guess his decision to withdraw from the tournament.
Baltimore's third baseman said it was hard to watch his homeland lose to the Dominican Republic, 11-5, especially when he saw the festive atmosphere surrounding the game.
"I watched the game. I rooted for Venezuela," said Mora, a two-time All-Star. "All those guys are friends of mine, and when I say friends, I mean close friends. And even if they weren't friends of mine, I'm Venezuelan. I can't say I hope they don't win because I didn't get to travel."
Mora had originally planned to play in the tournament, but he backed out when he learned that the team's coaching staff wanted him to play the outfield. The former utilityman hasn't played there since 2003 and said he didn't have enough time to prepare himself for that assignment.
With that in mind, Mora said he didn't want to embarrass himself or his country on a global stage. He was reminded of that sentiment on Tuesday, when the announcers pointed out that Carlos Guillen -- a shortstop in the Major Leagues and a first baseman for Venezuela -- was struggling to handle his position.
"They said something like, 'Well, you know, he's not a first baseman. He tried to do his job in there,'" said Mora. "It's a big responsibility when you don't play that position and they put you there. There are 20 million people watching you, and it's tough. These games are like the World Series. You have no tomorrow."
As far as the game on the field, Mora said he was proud of his country's effort. He credited the Dominican Republic's batters with taking a smart gameplan against Johan Santana. By being patient and seeing a lot of pitches, the Dominican hitters ensured that Santana would be gone when the game really mattered.
"Santana was the guy to hold those guys back," he said. "If he stayed in there for six or seven innings, it would be a different story. He could get warmer and warmer, and the changeup would get better and better. The Dominican [team] would be in trouble."
Batter up: Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said that Brian Roberts was set to take his first round of batting practice on Wednesday, back at the team's complex in Fort Lauderdale. Roberts, recovering from surgery on his left elbow, had been limited to short-toss hitting drills in the first few weeks of Spring Training.
"In a way, we've been overly cautions. And in a way, we haven't," said Perlozzo. "If he goes a couple days of BP in a row and he's fine, it's time to think about an appearance here and there."
Roberts, an All-Star last season, has been limited since injuring his elbow last September. Perlozzo said that the second baseman has been working himself raw in short-toss, taking as many as 150 swings a day. Now, the Orioles want him to concentrate on quality swings instead of quantity, slowly building back his confidence against overhand pitching.
Once Roberts hits well in normal batting practice, he'll progress to live pitching and finally to exhibition games.
"When you're working 120-150 swings a day, you get fatigued," he said. "Now that we've gotten all that out of the way, let's start making the kid strong and building him up for the regular season. We're going to give him some time in the batter's box. Let him get settled, let him get ready for an [at-bat], then crank it up a little bit."
Power outage: The Orioles were a little light in the power department Wednesday, with many of their regulars away for the World Baseball Classic and others not making the trip to Dodgertown. Mora batted cleanup, flanked by Desi Relaford and Nick Markakis in a makeshift lineup.
"There are some people we want to see. Rather than put them at the bottom of the lineup, we'll put them up," he said. "[Relaford's] a Major League veteran. It gives him a chance to get some more at-bats."
Perlozzo has commented many times on the toll the World Baseball Classic has taken on his team's depth, but on Wednesday, he delivered a particularly telling quote.
"It gives you a good read on some of your Minor League talent," he said. "It doesn't help in the win column."
Heating up: Corey Patterson had another positive game on Wednesday, when he drew a walk and drilled a home run later in the game. Patterson has two homers and two walks this spring, positive signs from a player who hit .215 last season.
The 26-year-old is trying to secure an everyday job with a new team in a new league, and Perlozzo said he likes what he's seen.
"He shows me something each time, and that's a good sign," he said. "As long as he keeps swinging it, we'll keep shooting him out there. We'll see if we can't build on that, stretch it out and get his confidence back to where it belongs."
Quotable: "Too many bats. Too much Papi, too. Those guys weren't joking around." -- Mora, talking about his impressions of David Ortiz and the Dominican team

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: Brower looks to earn keep

2006-03-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

03/09/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The game is hard enough without making it harder for yourself. Jim Brower has come to that realization in recent weeks, as he tries to state his case for a spot on a new team in a new league.
"There's no doubt that I'm a little more mechanical right now. I'm really trying to impress," said the reliever, who's in camp with Baltimore on a non-guaranteed contract. "I know there are openings available and I know what I can offer. I just have to settle into my zone."
The well-traveled veteran hasn't pitched in the American League since the 2000 season, when he was breaking in with the Cleveland Indians. He said that his Major League debut came against the Orioles, but outside of that, he really has no reference point. And neither do the team's decision-makers, a fact that has caused him to press harder than he'd like.
"This one is different than any other team I've been on, because they truly have no history with me. When I went to Atlanta, I had pitched well against Atlanta for years," he said. "There was a familiarity there. Same thing when I went from Cincinnati to the Expos. It was a trade, so they knew exactly what they were getting.
"When I went to San Francisco, I had pitched well against them for two years -- that's what I mean. You have a track record, and my track record against Baltimore is before anyone was here."
Well, almost anyone. Current teammate Jeff Conine was the first batter Brower faced, and the veteran reached him for a double. Brower's first out was Orioles icon Cal Ripken, but that's where the history lesson ends. Baltimore represents a new challenge for the right-hander, and he said he signed on in part because of Leo Mazzone, the team's new pitching coach.
Mazzone worked with Brower for a few months with the Braves last season, but the Orioles made no promises and no guarantees when he came to camp. So far, Brower has had one good outing and one rough one, but he thinks he'll put things together over time.
"I know if I pitch the way I can and the way I have in my career, there's going to be a job for me," said Brower. "I've thrown the eighth inning for the last two years and had quite a bit of success. It took years to get to that point, but I've pitched late in ballgames."
In the cage: Brian Roberts took his second straight day of batting practice on Thursday, and he performed well enough that the Orioles allowed him to take a second helping. The second baseman got his own personal session early in the day, and afterwards, the O's let him join some of his teammates for another round before the game.
"He did well, he did very well," said Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo. "He upped his intensity, I thought. We're going to try to get him on a schedule where he fits in with the rest of us."
Roberts is still recovering from a severe left elbow injury that he suffered last season. He had a surgery to correct the joint, but he's been unable to hit for much of the spring. Perlozzo and the Orioles want to take it slow with the All-Star and make sure he's ready to play on Opening Day and beyond.
Line drives: Kevin Millar drilled a single in Thursday's game and came back with a home run in a later at-bat, a shot that temporarily tied the game for Baltimore. The part-time first baseman and outfielder is hitting .438 through six games, and he said he feels like his game is coming together.
"I feel great," he said. "I don't care if it's Spring Training, during the season or whatever. Anytime you hit a home run, it's a big-league homer. Don't let anyone fool you."
Millar said he's changed his approach this spring, aiming for center field instead of the right-field corner.
"You're going to pull balls, but I think I got in pull-mode a lot more than I wanted to the last couple years," said Millar. "The big thing is I squared it back up. I'm allowing my hands to work. Good things will happen with the right mind-set."
"He's been doing a great job for us this spring," said Perlozzo. "I'm happy to see that. We hope he saves a lot of that for the season."
Quotable: "We're going to play a sleeper role. We're not expected to do a whole lot, but we believe in each other and we're going to pick each other up. We're going to play to win. That's the bottom line. If you're not playing to win, keep it on moving." -- Millar, talking about Baltimore's team attitude

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Orioles fall to Twins

2006-03-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

03/09/2006
Twins at the plate: Ruben Sierra roped Minnesota's first two hits, a line drive down the right-field line in the second inning and a laser up the middle in the fourth. Luis Rodriguez singled off the wall in the sixth inning and scored on a single from Terry Tiffee. Josh Rabe drove in another two runs with a home run in the eighth inning.
Orioles at the plate: Corey Patterson used his body to score Baltimore's first run. The center fielder got hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, stole second base and scored standing up on a single by Melvin Mora. Kevin Millar smashed a game-tying home run in the eighth inning -- his first home run as an Oriole.
Twins on the mound: Kyle Lohse worked three shutout innings for the Twins, his second straight scoreless outing. The right-hander allowed just one baserunner -- a leadoff single by Jay Gibbons in the second inning. Darrell May had a tougher time in the fourth, allowing two hits and a hit batsman.
Orioles on the mound: Baltimore starter Cory Morris worked two innings and allowed one run. Chris Ray got three outs, but one of them came on a caught stealing. Tim Byrdak ran into trouble in the fourth inning, loading the bases on two hits and a walk. He got away unscathed on a perfect double-play ground ball to shortstop Chris Gomez.
Grapefruit League records: Twins 4-5; Orioles 2-6.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

O's can't keep pace with Marlins

2006-03-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

03/10/2006
Marlins at the plate: Jason Stokes homered for the second straight game, connecting on a solo shot off Kris Benson to open a four-run second inning. On Thursday against the Cardinals, Stokes went deep while facing Sidney Ponson. Reggie Abercrombie added an RBI single in the second and a double in the sixth. A pair of errors by shortstop Chris Gomez led to two more runs in the second inning. Stokes added an RBI double in the third inning. Mike Kinkade had a pinch-hit home run off John Halama in the sixth inning.
Orioles at the plate: Val Majewski was a late addition to the starting lineup in right field because Jay Gibbons is resting a tender right hamstring. David Newhan doubled and scored on Mejewski's sacrifice fly in the third inning. Nick Markakis drove in the second run, on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Marlins on the mound: In two scoreless innings, starter Yusmeiro Petit allowed two hits while striking out two. Sergio Mitre tossed three innings of relief, giving up one run on four hits with a walk.
Orioles on the mound: Benson gave up five runs, three earned, in three innings. The right-hander allowed six hits, including a home run. Halama gave up one run on three hits and a strikeout in relief.
Grapefruit League records: Marlins 8-1-1; Orioles 2-7.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: O's look for No. 2 solution

2006-03-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

03/10/2006
JUPITER, Fla. -- It's the most unstable spot in the lineup, a bridge between on-base threat Brian Roberts and power hitters Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada. The Orioles are still trying to figure out who will hit in the two-hole, an issue that plagued the team for most of last season.
"I think the two-hole is a big thing for us, to try and get that solidified before the end of the spring. And it may not be a conventional No. 2 guy," said Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo. "I would like to tell you that we have a balance to hit Melvin second and to be balanced with a lefty down a little bit lower.
"As we stand right now, I'd hate to see Melvin in the two-hole have to sacrifice himself when he's a .300 hitter."
Baltimore used 10 different batters in the No. 2 slot last season, and they combined for a .244 batting average and a .306 on-base percentage. Mora wound up making 81 starts from that spot in the lineup, but Perlozzo wants to bat him third, where his power and patience can work in a run-producing role.
If that's the case, Perlozzo can choose between veterans Jeff Conine and Kevin Millar or youngsters Corey Patterson and Luis Matos. And there may be at least one other option, but it takes managerial vision to see it. Perlozzo said that catcher Ramon Hernandez could fit in between Roberts and Mora.
"I have a feeling that Ramon is a pretty good player who can do some things with his bat," he said. "It just won't be conventional. It's an interesting thought. ... Who knows? We might make a trade and get that spot taken care of."
Hernandez has racked up 795 at-bats in the ninth slot of the batting order, and no other spot is close. If he doesn't hit near the top of the order, Perlozzo said he'd like to bat his catcher fifth, sixth or seventh.
Another option -- and a more conventional one -- could be top prospect Nick Markakis. The O's are still undecided on whether he'll break camp with the parent club, but his blend of speed, power and patience could play well at the top of the lineup. Still, if he makes the club, Perlozzo said he'd prefer to break Markakis in at the bottom of the order.
"If he made the team by midseason and pretty much established himself, you can decide where you want to move him after that," he said. "I could see him being a [No.] 3 hitter eventually, when he's at the top of his game as an established Major League player. He can hit lefties and righties.
"Your three-hole hitter should be able to handle the bat no matter who's on the mound."
Late scratch: Jay Gibbons was supposed to start in right field and bat third for the Orioles on Friday, but he was pulled from the lineup with a sore right hamstring. Baltimore was being cautious more than anything else, managing the ailment before it becomes something to worry about.
"We're just day-to-day with him. I guess he was assuming that he was good enough to play, but I guess when we got up here, he thought it was a little stiff," said Perlozzo. "So he'll get treatment up here most of the day. He wouldn't have had to make the trip if I had known."
Gibbons said the hamstring has been bothering him for a few days, but he also said he thought it was something he could play through. The five-year veteran wasn't scheduled to play on Saturday anyway, so his absence from the Friday lineup gives him an extra day to recover.
"It's just a little nagging thing. I didn't think anything of it and I still didn't this morning," he said. "It's not a big deal. I would have rather played, but I understand totally. I don't want this to be an issue two weeks down the road."
The defense rests: Baltimore and Florida combined for five errors in Friday's game, with O's shortstop Chris Gomez committing two in a single inning. A bloop single and a check-swing hit led to the two miscues and three second-inning runs for the Marlins, and that was more than enough for the home team in the 7-2 win.
"It was uncharacteristic, that one inning with Gomez. He doesn't usually do that," said Perlozzo. "It was a little sloppy with our defense today. Otherwise, we would've had a bit of a ballgame. It wasn't something I like to see."
Side arms: The Orioles reassigned three injured relievers on Friday, sending Orber Moreno, Ryan Keefer and John Parrish to the team's Minor League camp in Sarasota, Fla. Parrish is recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Keefer is nursing a sore elbow and Moreno is trying to overcome a balky back.
"They'll finish the rehab over there," said Perlozzo. "If they are able to throw once, we'll bring them back over to take a peek. The main thing is we just want them to get healthy and get pitching."
Notable: Conine had a humorous souvenir decorating his locker on Thursday and Friday. The veteran had an autographed picture of new teammate Kevin Millar wedged above his equipment, with an inscription that read, "To Jeff: Thanks for being my #1 fan! I loved you with the Marlins!"
When asked if he was responsible, Millar responded with a brief chuckle. "He's a big fan of mine," he said.
Quotable: "We knew it was going to happen. I am sure they are disappointed that their countries didn't do a little better, but at the same time, they get to get back with us." -- Perlozzo, talking about Bruce Chen, Adam Loewen and Erik Bedard -- his returning pitchers from the World Baseball Classic

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Penn sharp, but Orioles' bats quiet

2006-03-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

03/11/2006
Cardinals at the plate: Jim Edmonds opened the second inning with a sharp single to left field, and in the fourth, he smoked an RBI double to left-center that scored Scott Rolen, who had doubled and stolen third on the previous pitch. Rolen finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and catcher Gary Bennett had two hits. David Eckstein was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Orioles at the plate: Corey Patterson had two hits, including a double, and Kevin Millar, Jeff Fiorentino and Brandon Fahey and Ryan Hubele each singled. Ed Rogers added a double.
Cardinals on the mound: Jason Marquis allowed four hits and walked one in three innings. Jason Isringhausen (1-0) pitched one hitless inning for the win. Carmen Cali allowed one hit in one inning. Tyler Johnson and John Webb each struck out two in one-inning stints.
Orioles on the mound: Hayden Penn threw three shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. Vic Darensbourg (0-2) allowed two runs on three hits and walked two in one inning.
Grapefruit League records: Cardinals 5-5; Orioles 2-8.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: O's rotation taking shape

2006-03-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

03/11/2006
JUPITER, Fla. -- Slowly but surely, the pitching picture is taking shape. The World Baseball Classic ate six of Baltimore's starting pitchers and spit back three on Saturday, allowing the Orioles to plot out the rest of the spring rotation.
Manager Sam Perlozzo said he discussed the situation with pitching coach Leo Mazzone, mapping out the easiest way to ease Erik Bedard and Bruce Chen back into the rotation. That pair joins lone holdover Kris Benson, and the Orioles are still waiting for Rodrigo Lopez and Daniel Cabrera to return from Classic action.
"Leo and I actually talked about it on the way up," said Perlozzo. "We're going to have to do some maneuvering no matter what we do, to get them all on a schedule to pitch. And then if we want to line them up, we might have to have somebody pitch a day before or a day after they're supposed to.
"We're going to have to take a closer look at it and see the best way we can do that."
Top pitching prospect Adam Loewen returned with Bedard and Chen, and he'll help fill the gaps until Lopez and Cabrera get back for good. Perlozzo said he'd like to get his pitchers on pace for their regular season starts, though, a process disrupted by the team's heavy involvement in the tournament.
"I've got a pretty good idea how I'd like it to go, but I don't know if it's going to happen that way," he said. "That's one of the things Leo and I were discussing today. It depends on how it shakes out at the end. If we get two guys back at once, we're going to have to do a little shuffling or let it fall and do the best we can with it."
Lopez is expected to be the team's top choice for an Opening Day start, and Chen will likely work in at the back of the staff. Benson, Cabrera and Bedard are interchangeable, and Perlozzo said he doesn't have a philosophical bias against starting two southpaws on consecutive days, which could slot Bedard and Chen together at the back of the rotation.
At any rate, the early working order may well depend on when Lopez and Cabrera return, a development Perlozzo is eagerly awaiting.
"If one of our guys pitches on the last day -- or two of your guys pitch on the same day late -- you have to give them X amount of days off," he said. "You're either going to have to bring them back early or give them more time. I'm sure we can try to figure it out, but it's going to be later in the spring before we can set it up the way we'd like to set it up."
Bumps and bruises: Todd Williams threw off the mound for the first time since the second day of Spring Training. The right-hander had been limited by a balky right shoulder, and the Orioles waited until he raised his strength level back.
"Todd threw today and threw well," said Perlozzo. "Leo was with him and said he had good action, good life on the ball. He felt fine, so that's a real good sign."
Perlozzo said Williams would get a day off before throwing another side session on Monday. After that, if he still felt fine, Williams would get another day off and slot in for his first game-action on Wednesday.
Jay Gibbons, who got scratched on Friday with a sore hamstring, may need some more time to recover. The Orioles will err on the side of caution, which could keep Gibbons out well into next week.
"Just day-to-day. I don't think it's anything serious," said Perlozzo. "We're in a situation where we don't need to rush it. We don't want to take any chances, so we're going to keep him out as long as it takes to make sure we don't get into an extended problem."
Impressions: Utility infielder Brandon Fahey has earned some kudos for his consistent play this spring. The shortstop and second baseman is batting .417 (5-for-12) and has played cleanly in the field.
"He's a ballplayer. He's one of the kids that's certainly taking advantage of the opportunity presented to him," said Perlozzo. "He's going to play in the big leagues one day. Maybe sooner than you'd think."
Another youngster, Hayden Penn, earned some high praise on Saturday. The 21-year-old started and threw three scoreless innings and made a highlight-reel defensive play, reaching his glove behind his back to snare a bouncer through the box.
"Hayden pitched well. He pitched really well, actually," said Perlozzo. "After the third inning, I talked to Leo and [he] said, 'That was a Major League pitcher who pitched the last inning.' I'm really happy with his effort. He did a great job."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Loewen, Bedard return to O's camp

2006-03-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

03/11/2006
JUPITER, Fla. -- Baltimore's Canadian contingent came striding back through the door on Saturday, richer for their international experience if also somewhat disheartened by the end result.
One day after Team Canada was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, Erik Bedard and Adam Loewen returned to the Orioles' clubhouse and got back to the Spring Training grind. Neither pitcher made the trip to Jupiter for Baltimore's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, but they both spoke to the media briefly before the buses left.
"For the time it lasted, it was really fun," said Bedard, who pitched four scoreless innings in his country's 11-8 win over South Africa. "It was as exciting as we can put it out to be, but after that, it was reality. We lost and here I am."
They lost all right, but not before a potential defining moment for their country and their careers. Loewen shut out the powerhouse Team USA lineup during his lone start, and the Canadians earned an 8-6 win over their southern neighbors. Twenty-four hours later, though, they came out on the short end of a 9-1 score against Mexico.
That loss knocked them from the tournament, despite a 2-0 record before that game and a memory they'll never forget.
"After that win, we were on such a high," said Loewen, speaking of the victory over the U.S. "I thought we were through to the second round, but it came down to run differential and we had to win that last game. I think we were just so caught up in the game before that we didn't really show up for the last game.
"We played our butts off and gave it everything we had -- even though we didn't play well in two out of the three games. We played the best against the U.S., and I think a lot of people are going to remember that."
If that is indeed the dominant memory, a lot of people will remember Loewen's part in it. Despite never having pitched above Class A, the 21-year-old got the start against an awfully imposing lineup.
The former first-round pick thrived against Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and the rest of the American batting order, a team with two defending batting champions and three former MVPs in the starting lineup. In fact, Loewen worked out of trouble in the first inning, coaxing a double-play grounder from Chipper Jones that erased a bases-loaded threat.
"It was All-Star after All-Star. There was a bunch of future Hall of Famers in there, so I couldn't really pitch around anybody," Loewen said. "It's always good for your confidence to do well against good players. But it's good to be back in Spring Training. I think I've got a lot more work to do before I can actually play consistently on that level."
Now, it's back to business for both Loewen and Bedard. The two starters worked on pitching coach Leo Mazzone's throwing regimen while they were away, but now they have to slot back into Baltimore's rotation. Sam Perlozzo, the team's manager, said he's pleased to have them back and that a week away really won't hurt their progress.
"We knew it was going to happen," Perlozzo said on Friday. "I am sure they are disappointed that their countries didn't do a little better, but at the same time, they get to get back with us."
They're back, but perhaps with a bit of a letdown. Both Loewen and Bedard talked about the adrenaline rush of pitching for their country, an experience that rose above the monotony of any exhibition start. The Orioles know Bedard will slot right back into the rotation, but Loewen will likely make a few starts before heading to the team's Minor League camp in Sarasota.
"I was part of the junior national team in high school. I played on it for three years," said Loewen. "It was never anything like this level we just played on, but it kind of got me ready for it. It was international competition and playing for your country. It was totally different than a regular-season game."
"It was more intensified, just because it was less games and you have to win, right now. That's the biggest thing," said Bedard, who had never pitched for his nation before. "If I had the opportunity, I'd gladly play [again]."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Orioles, Matos agree to terms

2006-02-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

02/03/2006
The Orioles today announced that OF Luis Matos has agreed to terms on a contract for the 2006 season, avoiding arbitration.
Matos batted .280 with 4 homers and 32 RBI in 121 games last season. He has hit .260 in 439 games while playing all or part of the last six seasons in the majors with the Orioles. His signing leaves RHP Rodrigo Lopez and 2B Brian Roberts as the Orioles' only remaining arbitration-eligible players.
The Orioles also announced that four other players on the 40-man roster have signed contracts for the 2006 season, including LHP Tim Byrdak, who spent part of last season with the major league team. Also agreeing to terms were OF Val Majewski, RHP Sendy Rleal and RHP Marino Salas.
Byrdak went 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in 41 games with the Orioles after his contract was purchased from AAA Ottawa last July. Majewski spent the 2005 season on the disabled list rehabbing a torn glenoid labrum in his left shoulder. Rleal went 4-4 with 16 saves and a 2.04 ERA at AA Bowie, while Salas went 4-2 with 16 saves and a 3.63 ERA at Class A Frederick.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

O's give veterans another shot at bigs

2006-02-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

02/03/2006
BALTIMORE -- They don't get the headlines, and by definition, they're minor rather than major. The Orioles will use Spring Training to look at 21 non-roster invitees, with the heaviest concentrations belonging to relief pitchers and backup infielder types. There are some interesting names on the list, including a few with recent big-league experience.
Former closer Ricky Bottalico is the most familiar name on the list, and he's coming off a moderately successful season with the Brewers. The 36-year-old has pitched in 562 Major League games with a 3.99 ERA, but the vast majority of his experience has come against National League opponents. Bottalico pitched for Kansas City in 2000, his only American League experience.
The Orioles may have room in the back of the bullpen, and Bottalico has familiarity with the team's decision-makers. Jim Duquette, Baltimore's vice president of baseball operations, signed Bottalico for the Mets in 2004. The right-hander has 116 career saves, but just five have come in the last five years. Still, he may be able to contribute as a middle-inning arm.
Another interesting name is Brooks Kieschnick, a former first-round draft pick who stalled out as a position player and revived his career by going back to pitching. Kieschnick spent two productive seasons with the Brewers, serving as a pinch-hitter and middle reliever.
Kieschnick is a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed hitter, which could afford the team a lot of options. The 33-year-old has 16 home runs on his big-league record, but he also has a 4.59 ERA in limited experience as a reliever. He played for Houston's Triple-A affiliate last year and signed a Minor League deal with the O's on Jan. 11.
That was the same day Baltimore signed Bottalico and former big-leaguer Fernando Tatis. The third baseman made baseball history by swatting two grand slams in the same inning back in 1999, but he hasn't played professionally since the 2003 season. Tatis went to Spring Training with Tampa Bay last year, but he was cut and didn't play in the Minor Leagues.
Of course, the Orioles made several moves on the big-league front. The non-roster invites are just an attempt to supplement the bigger moves meant to return Baltimore to contention.
"We've been awfully busy throughout the winter," said Mike Flanagan, Baltimore's executive vice president of baseball operations, a few weeks ago. "I guess our conclusion is that there is no offseason and there [are] no free agents. We're pretty happy at the point we're at right now."
There aren't many others with significant big-league experience, but there are a few players with ties to Baltimore. Utilityman Howie Clark, for instance, made his big-league debut with the Orioles in 2002. He went on to contribute in two seasons with Toronto -- notching 50 hits in 78 games -- but spent last year in the Minor Leagues.
John Stephens is another player that fits in that class, but with Baltimore's revamped rotation, it will be difficult for him to make any headway. The right-handed finesse specialist hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2002, when he went 2-5 with a 6.09 ERA for the Orioles. Stephens is expected to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, which could cut into his audition time.
Eddy Rodriguez, Tyler Yates and Orber Moreno -- none of whom pitched in the big leagues last season -- will all get a chance to compete for one of the last bullpen slots. The Orioles will also look at Winston Abreu, Scott Rice and Cory Morris, none of whom have pitched in the big leagues.
The middle infielders may have the most opportunity of any of the non-roster invites, because Chris Gomez is Baltimore's only reserve on the big-league roster. That bodes well for Clark, and Minor League veterans Napoleon Calzado and Ed Rogers will also get an opportunity to fill out the team's exhibition roster. Both players made brief appearances with Baltimore last season.
Outfielders Keith Reed and Esix Snead will also get a long look. Reed, the Orioles' first-round pick in 1999, spent three seasons with Double-A Bowie before moving to the next level for good. He's a .268 career hitter in the Minor Leagues, but Baltimore would be interested in his versatility more than anything else.
Snead doesn't have the same draft pedigree, but he does have three seasons of Triple-A experience. The switch-hitter hit .295 for Atlanta in Spring Training last year and narrowly missed earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. Snead is a defensive specialist and a base-stealing threat -- 492 career thefts in the Minors -- which could work in his favor.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/