Sarasota

Just before their unofficial end to spring training here in Sarasota, the Orioles made two roster moves to trim their active roster to 27 players. The club reassigned nonroster right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek to minor league camp and outrighted outfielder Jai Miller to Triple-A Norfolk after he officially cleared waivers. Earlier in the day, right-handed pitcher Alfredo Simon was claimed off waivers by the Reds. That puts the Orioles' official roster at 28, but catcher Taylor Teagarden (back)

After his final outing of the spring Tuesday, Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada said he felt physically ready to join the big league club for Opening Day in Baltimore on Friday. But the Orioles brass believes Wada, who signed a two-year, $8.14 million contract in December, will benefit from remaining in Sarasota to build his arm strength and pitch count. Manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that Wada will begin the season on the disabled list. He will make a minimum of two starts - his first in an extended spring training game scheduled for Monday - in hopes of reaching a pitch count of 90. His second start could be a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

- Given what's happened in the past two years, catcher Ronny Paulino isn't fazed by his current situation. That's what happens when you've been traded three times, suspended for failing a drug test and faced with a career-threatening health condition. "To go through tough times, you know you can handle adversity," said the 30-year-old Paulino. "So I can now take advantage of opportunities. " Paulino signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles in late January and was considered a long shot to make the 25-man roster.

The Orioles and Red Sox are playing a pair of simutaneous split-squad contests today -- one here at Ed Smith Stadium and another down south at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. We'll have double-barrel coverage. Follow me on Twitter at @EddieInTheYard for updates from Sarasota, and Dan Connolly (@DanConnollySun) will be reporting from JetBlue Park.  A couple of notes from today's clubhouse time in Sarasota: -- RHP Tommy Hunter, who hasn't thrown in a Grapefruit League game yet, threw four innings in a Single-A minor league game on Friday.

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen became the first Orioles starter to throw five innings this spring and was one wind-aided home run ball away from a scoreless effort against the Red Sox's split-squad team Saturday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Otherwise, the Orioles tied the Red Sox 3-3 after 10 innings, Baltimore's third tie in eight days. Chen yielded six hits and struck out three in his five innings (75 pitches) but allowed a three-run homer to Nate Spears, a fifth-round pick of the Orioles' in 2003.

Here are a bunch of Orioles updates courtesy of Buck Showalter's pre-game media session: *Jake Arrieta threw a side session Friday and will pitch in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park on Monday (the big league off day). He'll go four innings. *Zach Britton (shoulder) has a light side session Saturday and will pitch in a minor league game on Monday as well. He'll go three innings. *Luis Ayala (allergies) has a side session today and will pitch in the big league game Saturday night versus the New York Yankees.

Date; Time; Opponent; Location (all times p.m.; home games in bold; ss- split squad) Monday, March 5; 1:05; ss@Rays (ss); Port Charlotte Monday, March 5; 7:05; ss vs. Pirates (ss); Sarasota Tuesday, March 6; 1:35; @Red Sox; Fort Myers Wednesday, March 7; 1:05; Twins; Sarasota Thursday, March 8; 1:05; Braves; Sarasota Friday, March 9; 1:05; @Rays; Port Charlotte Saturday, March 10; 1:05; @Phillies; Clearwater Sunday, March 11; 1:05; Red Sox; Sarasota Monday, March 12; 1:05; @Blue Jays; Dunedin Tuesday, March 13; 1:05; Rays; Sarasota Wednesday, March 14; 1:05; Pirates; Sarasota Thursday, March 15; 1:05; @Tigers; Lakeland Friday, March 16; 1:05; @Twins (ss)

Brian Matusz arrived at Orioles spring training this week looking for a fresh start, hoping that an offseason dedicated to putting the memories of a nightmarish 2011 season behind him would begin to pay off. For Matusz, who at this time last season was projected to be the front-line left-hander in the Orioles' starting rotation, Sarasota offers the perfect spring search for redemption. Matusz began last season on the disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle. When he returned, he couldn't regain the form of his promising 2010 season, going 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA, the highest single-season ERA for any pitcher with more than 10 starts in major league history.

Less than two weeks ago, Jason Hammel was ready for spring training in Arizona and preparing for another season in Colorado. On Saturday, Hammel arrived at the Orioles spring training complex in Sarasota - a new player in a new place after Baltimore's Feb. 6 trade of pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. Right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom also came to the Orioles in the deal. “It was a pretty wild week when it happened, obviously because [it was] a week before spring training,” Hammel 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.