Spring Training

Infielder Miguel Tejada is reporting to Triple-A Norfolk today. He will be eligible to play Sunday. Tejada had been in extended spring training with the Orioles. Here are tonight's lineups: Orioles Andino 4 Hardy 6 Markakis 9 Jones 8 Wieters 2 Betemit 3 Tolleson 5 Avery 7 Hammel 1 Nationals Lombardozzi 4 Harper 9 Zimmerman 5 LaRoche 3 Desmond 6 Ankiel 8 Maldonado 2 Bernadina 7 Detwiler 1

Last week, Orioles manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette were knee deep in personnel decisions, trying to figure out how to fortify a battered 25-man roster. Eventually, perhaps fairly soon, Showalter and Duquette will have to deal with the flip side - trying to jam everybody back on the big-league roster. "Through the years, these things kind of work themselves out. It's a good problem, but I don't consider it a problem," Showalter said.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles, and will return to the organization tomorrow, his agent confirmed. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles to a minor-league deal during spring training to be a situational left-handed reliever. Two weeks ago, he left Triple-A Norfolk saying he was told he was getting his release , but the Orioles contended that was never the case and he left without the club's permission.

Infielder Miguel Tejada is reporting to Triple-A Norfolk today. He will be eligible to play Sunday. Tejada had been in extended spring training with the Orioles. Here are tonight's lineups: Orioles Andino 4 Hardy 6 Markakis 9 Jones 8 Wieters 2 Betemit 3 Tolleson 5 Avery 7 Hammel 1 Nationals Lombardozzi 4 Harper 9 Zimmerman 5 LaRoche 3 Desmond 6 Ankiel 8 Maldonado 2 Bernadina 7 Detwiler 1

Day after day following the 2007 season, Brandon Erbe arrived at Twin Lakes Park, got dressed and headed out to the bullpen to meet Orioles minor league pitching instructor Dave Schmidt. For more than a month, they worked under the hot Florida sun, doing the same drills and retracing the same movements. Erbe never threw a single pinch. "We had three or four drills that we'd do over and over, just dry work. It's not exactly fun. It's rather mundane, just boring stuff over and over again," Schmidt said.

Spring training is in full swing, so we finally have something to discuss besides the Terps, Ravens and Caps. Sure, we'll still talk about them, too, but it's nice to have another option. [1] The gang's all there in Sarasota, Fla., after the Orioles position players reported to spring training Tuesday morning. Miggy Tejada rolled in at the last minute, of course, but hey, at least he made it. Making the switch from shortstop to third base, Tejada says he feels "like a little kid with a new toy."

Et cetera MASN to broadcast six O's spring games MASN announced that it will televise six Orioles spring training games, all in high definition, beginning with the Grapefruit League opener at 7p.m. March 5 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sarasota, Fla. MASN will broadcast five more games from Ed Smith Stadium, the team's spring training home: March 11 against the Boston Red Sox (1p.m.); March 18 against the New York Yankees (7p.m.); March 23 against the Red Sox (1p.m.)

Individual game tickets for the Orioles' 16 spring training games at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. The first game will be against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 3. To purchase tickets, call 888-329-3365 or go to orioles.com. For information about season, four-pack or group ticket plans, call 941-954-4101.

It's about money Phil Rogers , Chicago Tribune There's a familiar refrain that has been heard around the majors for at least the last couple of decades. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has been singing it this week, wondering why so many players get hurt when they're in better shape than ever. "Nobody did sit-ups 20 years ago, and nobody tore intercostals and obliques," Roenicke said. "There were a few but not many. You come (into camp) in shape. So you think it would happen less now, but it's happening more.

Orioles top prospect Dylan Bundy was among the eight players cut from the Orioles big league camp travel roster. Bundy, who threw a scoreless inning in relief against the Red Sox, was optioned to Class-A Delmarva. Because Bundy signed a major league contract last August after he was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft, the move counts as the first of his three minor league options. It also is an indicator that the flame-throwing right hander will begin his pro career in the South Atlantic League.

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis has dropped his grievance against the Orioles, and will return to the organization tomorrow, his agent confirmed. Willis, the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and 2005 NL Cy Young Award runner-up, was signed by the Orioles to a minor-league deal during spring training to be a situational left-handed reliever. Two weeks ago, he left Triple-A Norfolk saying he was told he was getting his release , but the Orioles contended that was never the case and he left without the club's permission.

Left-hander Zach Phillips, the last roster casualty in spring training, is in the Orioles clubhouse today. He said hello to manager Buck Showalter, then went to his locker. He doesn't know whether he'll be activated today. Part of that might have to do with the weather as well. It's still a consistent rain here at Camden Yards. “I got here, said, 'Hi,' to Buck, told him I was here and [he] said, 'We'll talk later.'” Phillips said. “And that was it.” If Phillips is activated, one possible move would be sending down righty Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk.

All signs point to the Orioles' recalling left-hander Dana Eveland to start Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays here at Camden Yards. Eveland was removed from Monday's start after throwing just 63 pitches in five shutout innings and allowing just four hits. Eveland, signed by Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette this offseason to compete for a starting rotation spot, has pitched well at Triple-A. The ground-ball pitcher is 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 36 2/3 innings over six starts.

The return of former Oriole Miguel Tejada still has several steps to overcome before coming to fruition, according to Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. Tejada will report to the team's spring training facility on Monday to meet with Chris Correnti, who oversees the organization's rehab and conditioning. The 37-year-old former AL MVP will have a physical there and if he passes will then be signed to a contract to play in extended spring training, Duquette said.

-- Lost in the Orioles' 8-2 win over the Red Soxon Saturday afternoon was another quality start from right-hander Jason Hammel. Hammel came into Saturday's game with a 0-2 career record with a 6.14 ERA against the Red Sox, but he managed to shut Boston down, rebounding from a 26-pitch first inning to open the game with six shutout innings, allowing just two hits . The Red Sox scored two off Hammel in the second. The outing followed one in which he allowed just five hits and two runs over six innings in a hard-luck loss to the Yankees on Monday.

Miguel Tejada, once the franchise player of the Orioles organization, could be near his third stint with the team. Tejada is slated to report to the Orioles spring training facility in Sarasota on Monday and work out with the organization's extended spring training team, a club source confirmed. If the club likes what they see in the 37-year-old former AL MVP, they could pursue a contract. He would add a solid defensive glove at third base and a right-handed bat, and it's likely any deal would be a minor-league deal.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles are on the field doing some pre-workout stretching as I type.  It looks like we're going to avoid the thunderstorms that were predicted to go through the Sarasota area. The weather's been incredible here so far -- knock on wood. I talked a little bit to Orioles non-roster invitee Nick Johnson this morning. Everyone says if Johnson can stay healthy, he has a really good shot of making this team. He would be a nice compliment to Chris Davis at first and Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette likes his track record of having a good on-base percentage.

Injured Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada is still holding out hope for better news, but one of the team's top offseason acquisitions might need Tommy John surgery to repair his left elbow, he told reporters through his interpreter before Thursday's game. Wada has already seen Orioles team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens but is planning to fly to Los Angeles this weekend to see Dr. Lewis Yocum for a second opinion on his elbow. Yocum knows Wada well. He performed his physical before the Orioles signed Wada to a two-year, $8.14 million contract and also removed chips from his elbow in 2007.

Injured Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada is still holding out hope for better news, but one of the team's biggest offseason investments might need Tommy John surgery to repair his left elbow, he said before Thursday's game. Wada has already seen Orioles team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens but is planning to fly to Los Angeles this weekend to see Dr. Lewis Yocum for a second opinion on his elbow. "[My] elbow is feeling better compared to last time I pitched, but the results of the MRI was not so good as I thought it would be," Wada said through interpreter Seob Yoon . "So I'm going to get a second opinion, see [what]