NEWS
By From Sun staff reports and news services | October 29, 2009
Orioles O's to break in Sarasota new spring home with 'Fanfest' The Orioles will celebrate their new spring training home by holding a free "Family Fanfest" from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. The event will include player autograph sessions, giveaways, fan forums, activities for children, and a free hot dog and soda for all who attend. One fan will win a trip to Baltimore, with airfare, hotel accommodations and Orioles game tickets included. Orioles manager Dave Trembley, center fielder Adam Jones, left fielder Nolan Reimold, pitchers Brad Bergesen and Jim Johnson, and MASN broadcaster Jim Palmer are expected to attend the event, which will be co-hosted by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.
NEWS
By Jeff Zrebiec | June 16, 2009
With his right elbow throbbing and his mind filled with doubt, Danys Baez left Fort Lauderdale Stadium on a late February afternoon and returned to his Miami-area home seeking both counsel and reassurance from his wife, Mireya. "I said to her, 'I don't know if I'm going to make it,' " Baez recalled. " 'This is not what I expected. I'm in really bad pain right now and if I have to deal with this kind of pain, I cannot pitch anymore.' " Hours earlier, Baez had started for the Orioles in a Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
NEWS
By PETER SCHMUCK | April 5, 2009
The Orioles' front office has never misrepresented the 2009 season. It was intended to be a rebuilding year, and there is little chance of it being anything else. The pitching staff was not even identifiable until the final week of spring training, and when it finally came together, the result didn't improve the team's chances of being competitive in the American League East. Not that there was ever any likelihood of bringing together a starting rotation on par with the top teams in the division.
NEWS
By PETER SCHMUCK | April 3, 2009
My favorite recollection of spring training: saving the giant tortoise on the way to camp back in late February. It was frightened when I picked it up, and it peed all over me. Had to trash one of my shirts, but I'd do it again. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)
NEWS
By From Sun news services | February 27, 2009
Alex Rodriguez has been told by the New York Yankees to keep his cousin away from ballparks. The message was given to the star third baseman yesterday, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. The message applied to spring training and the regular season, the person said. Speaking at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., general manager Brian Cashman said only that the matter of Rodriguez being picked up from his spring training opener Wednesday by his cousin "has been handled."
NEWS
By Jeff Zrebiec | February 15, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -After another long workout, Koji Uehara walked into the Orioles' clubhouse yesterday morning with his translator, trainer and masseuse following closely behind. Uehara smiled at a reporter who was near his locker and then joked with a couple of his new teammates as about a dozen Japanese reporters watched his every move. Several minutes later, Matt Wieters arrived at Fort Lauderdale Stadium flanked by fellow Orioles prospects Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez. Wieters unpacked his equipment bag before several team officials, players and reporters made their way to his locker.
NEWS
By JEFF ZREBIEC | February 15, 2009
How will the Orioles' rotation shake out? Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara are the only two pitchers considered a lock for the group, leaving three vacancies and as many as 13 candidates. Rich Hill, whom the Orioles acquired from the Chicago Cubs, will get a rotation spot if he shows progress throwing strikes more consistently. Matt Albers is also a front-runner for a spot if he stays healthy, though he'll be pitching with a tear in his right shoulder. Other candidates include Danys Baez, Brian Bass, Mark Hendrickson, Brad Hennessey, Radhames Liz, Troy Patton, John Parrish, Hayden Penn, David Pauley, Alfredo Simon and Chris Waters.
NEWS
By Dan Connolly | February 14, 2009
The Orioles made plenty of moves this offseason. There were also national steroid controversies and star free agents holding "Will work for fewer millions" signs. It was a pretty entertaining winter, baseball-wise. But, like the good old days, the New York Yankees dominated the hot-stove season. They did it with big-money signings, a dash of backbiting and the pedestal crash of the game's biggest star. The Yankees are obviously the biggest story this spring, but there are other things to keep an eye on in Florida and Arizona after pitchers and catchers report.
NEWS
By FROM SUN STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES | February 10, 2009
O's deal with Wigginton likely to be final this week baseball The official announcement of infielder Ty Wigginton's two-year, $6 million deal with the Orioles is likely to come this week, perhaps as early as today. Wigginton, who had a physical Thursday in Baltimore, had a second round of tests yesterday, and the Orioles are not concerned that there will be any limitations on his playing status. Team officials declined to comment on the reason for the holdup of the announcement; however, they are confident that the deal will be finalized.
NEWS
By Jeff Zrebiec | February 8, 2009
There will be 37 pitchers in the cramped clubhouse of Fort Lauderdale Stadium on Saturday, and only 15 of them made an appearance for the Orioles in a Grapefruit League game last spring. Ten of the 24 pitchers on the team's 40-man roster heading into last year's spring training aren't in the organization anymore. Four of the five members of last year's Opening Day rotation are now former Orioles, as are three of the seven members of the bullpen. Nowhere is team president Andy MacPhail's rebuilding project more obvious than in the reconstruction of the Orioles' pitching staff, one of the major leagues' worst during the past several seasons.