Chris Tillman

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Before Tuesday's game, the Orioles reassigned outfielder Lew Ford to minor league camp, cutting the spring roster to 37 players, which included nine non-roster invitees. After Monday's injury to designated hitter Wilson Betemit, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that “some of the dynamics changed” in forming the 25-man Opening Day roster. That means that when whittling down the mix of reserve players, players who can play first base as well as outfield have a better chance of making the team, because Betemit could have served as a backup first baseman.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Standing on the mound at Ed Smith Stadium on Monday afternoon, with 30 mph winds swirling around him and ESPN cameras capturing his every move, Orioles left-hander T.J. McFarland was the perfect picture of calm. Sitting in an office chair in Bedford Park, Ill., huddled over an MLB.com video feed that wouldn't work, Tim McFarland wasn't exactly as collected as his 23-year-old son. "I'm the only one that didn't watch it live on ESPN. I had the MLB feed at the office and the damn thing went out two pitches into the first batter.

Before former club president Andy MacPhail discusses how he personally feels about the Orioles' playoff run this season, a year after he stepped down from his post, he rattles off a checklist. "First and foremost," he said, "there are just a lot of people I am happy for. " There are the Orioles players, many of whom he brought into the organization. There's manager Buck Showalter, whom MacPhail hired in July 2010. There's owner Peter Angelos, who tried to convince MacPhail to stay last fall.

The Orioles made it official earlier today, recalling right-hander Chris Tillman from Triple-A Norfolk to start in today's series finale against the Seattle Mariners. In 16 games (15 starts) for the Tides in 2012, Tillman is 8-8 with a 3.63 ERA. He has 92 strikeouts and 30 walks in 89 1/3 innings. Tillman takes the roster spot that was made available when the Orioles optioned Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk after Tuesday night's 5-4 victory over the Mariners. Johnson, a St. Paul's graduate, was recalled from the Tides on Monday, but he didn't appear in a game in the major leagues.

Steve Johnson pitched two innings in his major league debut Sunday against the Detroit Tigers and then was sent back to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Monday's starter, Chris Tillman, on the 25-man roster. Johnson, a St. Paul's graduate and the Orioles' first Maryland-born pitcher since John Bale in 2001, was activated Sunday when starting pitcher Jason Hammel was put on the disabled list.  Johnson, the son of former Oriole pitcher and MASN broadcaster Dave Johnson, walked the first two batters he faced, but settled down after that.

The Orioles' Grapefruit League game Tuesday against the Pirates in Bradenton was rained out, as a strong band of storms pummeled Florida's Gulf Coast throughout the day. The tarp was out on McKechnie Field hours before the scheduled 1:05 p.m. start time, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter inspected the field before the game was called. The entire Tampa Bay region was under a tornado watch throughout the morning and early afternoon. Chris Tillman was scheduled to start that game for the Orioles.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was nowhere near the same atmosphere as a Grapefruit League game, but Orioles right-hander Jair Jurrjens said his three-inning outing in Tuesday's intrasquad game was another step forward in returning to his past form. Of the 10 batters Jurrjens retired - he pitched to an extra hitter to end his second inning of work - he struck out eight. He walked none and allowed two hits. “Much better,” Jurrjens said. “More powerful today. I'm seeing my location getting better, keeping the ball down.

Jim Johnson's impressive regular season saves streak came to an end at 35 on Tuesday night when he allowed four singles and two runs in the ninth in the Orioles' 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres . Johnson hadn't blown a regular season save since he gave up six runs in one third of an inning to the Oakland A's on July 27, 2012. He did blow one in the postseason - Game 3 of the ALDS in New York on Oct. 10 - but that didn't count toward the streak. Point is Johnson has been unbelievably good for the last year-plus, and so when he blows one it is newsworthy.

The Orioles open their seven-day, seven-game road trip tonight in Seattle against the Mariners. Lots of stuff going on: Right-hander Chris Tillman will join the Orioles tomorrow and likely start the series finale in Seattle. That allowed the club to push back Jake Arrieta an extra day. Tillman threw a light side session in Norfolk today. Second baseman Brian Roberts is sitting out today's game with a sore groin. Robert Andino is starting at second and leading off in his place.

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with some reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine. Running it back: The Orioles blew a five-run lead to the Yankees last night and lost, 6-5, in 10 innings. ... Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced that Brad Bergesen will start Sunday against the Indians . ... Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson has been discharged from GBMC . ... Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said he visits troubled Baltimore neighborhoods after every home game.