Despite all the health question marks and the relative uncertainty the injuries have created with the staff, only prospect Chorye Spoone (Northeast, CCBC-Catonsville) is not a full participant in camp. Still, many pitchers are exercising caution, including Albers, who threw a bullpen session yesterday.
"I have to be real careful," said Albers, whose injury last season coincided with the Orioles' plummet in the standings. "My shoulder obviously still has a tear. It's one of those things that is still in there, so I have to make sure I take every precaution I can to stay healthy. I felt really good today. Before I came here, I had some days where I didn't feel as good, but I think a lot of guys go through that."
Albers acknowledged that it will always be in the back of his mind that he still might need surgery this year. The Orioles, believing a set pitching schedule would be beneficial to Albers' shoulder, would prefer to use the right-hander in the rotation, but he needs to prove his shoulder will hold up.
Baez, who hasn't been a starter since 2002, also wants to be in the rotation, believing the four days between starts will allow his arm to recover quicker and give him more time to make adjustments.
"It's super good to be here and be back with the team," Baez said. "Not that I wasn't part of the team last year, but I knew I had a lot of things to do in front of me. Now, I can do what everybody is doing, and, for me, that means everything."
Ray, the Orioles' closer for two seasons, said he had been looking forward to yesterday for the past "year and a half." He has thrown 12 to 14 bullpen sessions and is pain-free.
"Right now, I feel like I can throw game speed," Ray said. "I'm not going to go out there and hold myself back, but, at the same token, I'm not going to throw as hard as I can in every bullpen [session]. There's not too much of a point doing that."
Dismissing the question of whether he or Sherrill will be given the closer's job, Ray said he just wants to stay healthy and contribute to a winning team. That will be the goal of so many Orioles pitchers, who want to be on the Opening Day roster, not the disabled list.
"If you do well and stay healthy, you are going to get a chance to pitch," Patton said.
THE BIG HURTS
Several key Orioles pitchers, who are either locks for roster spots or are under consideration if they stay healthy, are coming off significant injuries last season.
Player ... Injury ... Time on DL last year*
Matt Albers Right labrum tear 3 months
Danys Baez Tommy John surgery (right) All season
Jeremy Guthrie Right shoulder impingement 2 weeks
Jim Hoey Right shoulder surgery All season
Jim Johnson Right shoulder impingement 1 month
Troy Patton Left labrum tear All season
Hayden Penn Right shoulder stiffness 2 months
Chris Ray Tommy John surgery (right) All season
Dennis Sarfate Right clavicle fracture All season
George Sherrill Left shoulder inflammation 1 month
Jamie Walker Left elbow inflammation 1 month
*approximate
