Catcher

- In need of organizational catching depth, the Orioles claimed catcher Luis Exposito off waivers from the Red Sox, the club announced Tuesday. To make room for Exposito on the club's 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated third baseman Josh Bell for assignment. The Orioles signed Taylor Teagarden in the offseason to be Matt Wieters' backup but he is on the disabled list with back problems. That allowed non-roster invitee Ronny Paulino , who was likely to begin the season at Triple-A, to make the Orioles' 25-man roster out of camp.

Every now and then - even in a lopsided loss - there's a feel good moment. On Monday, there were two. The first one had to make Orioles fans cringe a little. The second is easy to applaud, no matter which team you follow. First, let's start with Brandon Snyder. The Orioles drafted him in 2005 out of Westfield High School in Virginia and proclaimed him as the catcher of the future. By 2007, that title had been claimed by some guy named Matt Wieters. Meanwhile, Snyder bounced from position to position - corner infield, catcher, a game in left field.

The Orioles' 16-9 start has obviously been caused by tremendous pitching - and specifically starting pitching. Orioles starters have thrown nine quality starts in their past 10 outings - and have a 1.65 ERA in that time. In the three-game series against the Yankees in New York - in which the Orioles won two of three for the first time since 2010 - the bullpen threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. But what might be getting a little bit lost so far this year is just how good catcher Matt Wieters has been.

The Orioles' 16-9 start has obviously been caused by tremendous pitching - and specifically starting pitching. Orioles starters have thrown nine quality starts in their past 10 outings - and have a 1.65 ERA in that time. In the three-game series against the Yankees in New York - in which the Orioles won two of three for the first time since 2010 - the bullpen threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. But what might be getting a little bit lost so far this year is just how good catcher Matt Wieters has been.

Dan Duquette made his first trade as executive vice president of the Orioles on Thursday, filling the club's vacant reserve catcher spot by adding defensive-minded backstop Taylor Teagarden from a familiar partner, the Texas Rangers' organization. The Orioles acquired Teagarden, who spent most of last year at Triple-A Round Rock, for 21-year-old minor league right-hander Randy Henry and another minor leaguer. That player likely won't be announced until after next week's Rule 5 draft.

A second Orioles minor-league catcher has been suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Progam. Michael Ohlman received a 50-game suspension for his second violation of the drug policy, the office of the commissioner of baseball announced Tuesday. The suspension was for a drug of abuse, which means it was not for use of a performance-enhancing drug. This spring, catcher Brian Ward also received a 50-game suspension. Ohlman's suspension will begin immediately, but he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during an automobile accident during spring training.

In his perfect world, Jake Fox would bat 500 times in a big league season. He would be an everyday force in the middle of a lineup. And, since this is his carefully painted picture, he would be with the Orioles, the club that rescued him from oblivion last June in a minor trade with the Oakland Athletics. Fox, though, is too busy for daydreaming right now. He's locked in a battle with Craig Tatum for the Orioles' backup catcher spot. He's taking grounders at first and third base and shagging fly balls in the outfield.

Paul Bako, Orioles catcher What is the strangest thing you've seen on the baseball field? It was actually here in Cleveland with the Royals. Last year, I was sitting on the bench and Runelvys Hernandez and John Buck had just come off the field. Runelvys had just thrown a good inning and came in and Buck was taking his catcher gear off right next to me. Well, Runelvys took a swing at Buck, his catcher. They started swinging at each other during the game.

CHICAGO -- Chris Hoiles wouldn't be insulted if the Orioles acquired another catcher this off-season.He'd be relieved.Put him at first base, use him as a DH; Hoiles wouldn't care. He's physically worn down from catching, frustrated by his inability to throw out opposing base stealers. For his sake and for the team's, it's time for the Orioles to find a catcher with a better arm."It gets old after a while," Hoiles said of his throwing difficulties. "It's part of the job I've got to do. The last couple of years I haven't done it. Being a DH, just putting a bat in my hand, I feel I could probably do this team more good."

During the same year Rich Spiegel swung his first Little League baseball bat, he took a big step toward adulthood.It began with the death of his mother, Honora Catherine, when he was 6. She had attendedevery one of her son's games, beginning with tee-ball when he was 4.But after her death from cancer, Spiegel was transplanted to Frederick with his father, Al, and older brother, Mike."

The Orioles have claimed catcher Luis Exposito off waivers from the Red Sox, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. To make room for Exposito on the club's 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated third baseman Josh Bell for assignment. The 25-year-old Exposito, who was in major league spring training camp with the Red Sox this season, put up a career .268/.324/.420 line in seven minor league seasons with Boston. He was hitting .200/.273/.400 in 10 at bats this season with Triple-A Pawtucket.

- In need of organizational catching depth, the Orioles claimed catcher Luis Exposito off waivers from the Red Sox, the club announced Tuesday. To make room for Exposito on the club's 40-man roster, the Orioles have designated third baseman Josh Bell for assignment. The Orioles signed Taylor Teagarden in the offseason to be Matt Wieters' backup but he is on the disabled list with back problems. That allowed non-roster invitee Ronny Paulino , who was likely to begin the season at Triple-A, to make the Orioles' 25-man roster out of camp.

A second Orioles minor-league catcher has been suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Progam. Michael Ohlman received a 50-game suspension for his second violation of the drug policy, the office of the commissioner of baseball announced Tuesday. The suspension was for a drug of abuse, which means it was not for use of a performance-enhancing drug. This spring, catcher Brian Ward also received a 50-game suspension. Ohlman's suspension will begin immediately, but he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during an automobile accident during spring training.

Ryan Wagner is living proof that your dream job is out there, and it can be yours with hard work and perseverance. The 26-year-old Baltimore native and lifelong Orioles fan was recently hired as Camden Yard's new public address announcer, and cannot be more thrilled about kicking off the new season this Friday. "Baseball has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember. " He said. "My family are all Orioles fans, and my fandom was instilled in me at a very young age. I grew up a short distance from Memorial Stadium and spent every summer of my life either playing, watching, or following the game.

Ryan Wagner is living proof that your dream job is out there. The 26-year-old Baltimore native and lifelong Orioles fan was recently hired as Camden Yard's public address announcer, and cannot be more thrilled about kicking off the new season Friday. "Baseball has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember," he said. "My family are all Orioles fans, and my fandom was instilled in me at a very young age. " This isn't the first dream job he's landed, either, having been one of two lucky guys to actually get paid by MLB to watch every game of the 2011 season, interact with the players, and blog, tweet and post videos about them, in the Fan Cave in New York City.

The two brightly colored rubber bands that Orioles catcher Michael Ohlman wears around his right wrist — one orange and the other green — serve as a constant reminder. They remind him of two high school friends, Brett Wagner and Josh Rogers, who died in an automobile accident 10 weeks ago. They also remind Ohlman to always wear his seat belt when he gets into a car. The bands read "Josh and Brett: Forever our Light. " "[They] died on Christmas," Ohlman said. "They weren't wearing their seat belts, so these [bracelets]

BOSTON -- As in horse racing, the victory does not always go to the swift. When he signed, Damon Berryhill trailed the field in the catching derby. Now he's the leader of the Boston Red Sox clubhouse.There's a simple reason -- manager Butch Hobson has determined that Berryhill, who a year ago was catching for the Atlanta Braves, is the best man for the job. Dave Valle, a high-priced free agent, is the odd man out.Berryhill has made the most of his opportunity while answering the two major questions the Red Sox faced all winter: (1)

You already know that Orioles pitcher Mike Mussina declined to allow Fox to use its "Catcher Cam" during Saturday's Orioles-Yankees telecast, but he wasn't the only one to firmly -- but wrongly -- thumb his nose at technology.Reliever Alan Mills let catcher Lenny Webster know before Sunday night's ESPN game that if Mills got in, he wanted Webster to remove the mask that held the camera.When Mills was inserted in the sixth, Webster continued to wear the camera-attached mask, and viewers got to see Chad Curtis' two-run homer through the camera.

Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden, acquired in the offseason to be a veteran reserve to Matt Wieters, said Tuesday that he's about 85 percent healthy after having two procedures on his right knee. Teagarden had a Baker's cyst - a buildup of joint fluid - behind his right knee removed in November. Doctors had to perform another procedure in the knee to remove blood that was forming in the back of the knee and affecting his range of motion. “That's all behind me now, and now it's just a strengthening phase and getting into baseball shape,” Teagarden said.

We're here in Sararsota for the first day of spring training. The Orioles pitchers and catchers report today. The Orioles' remodeled Ed Smith Stadium facility still has that fresh-coat-of-paint smell, and the new digs are pretty impressive. You definitely get the classic feel of Camden Yards walking around. There's nice leather seats in the lobby. Banners of the Orioles' who have had their numbers retired are hanging on the exterior of the facility here. I remember coming here in spring training during the Reds' final season here.