Spring Training

The Orioles' spring training begins with pitchers and catchers reporting to Sarasota, Fla. on Feb. 12, position players arriving by Feb. 15 and the first game at Ed Smith Stadium against the Minnesota Twins on Sat. Feb. 23. It's all a little earlier this year due to the World Baseball Classic. The club's spring training schedule, which was released this morning, features 34 games. The Orioles will play 18 home dates against eight teams -- three against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox, two against the Twins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays and one against the New York Mets on March 30, which will conclude the Orioles' official Grapefruit League schedule.

Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez, who struggled with injuries and at the plate in the first half of the season, was activated off the disabled list Friday. Chavez, who hit .162 in 105 at bats while missing 47 days during two separate DL stints, said he hasn't felt this healthy since spring training and just wants to put a forgettable first half behind him. “I know I had a very difficult first half. I'm trying to get myself clear and leave that in the past and just start over in the second half,” Chavez said.

It should be cause for much joy in Birdland that 19-year-old Dylan Bundy just showed up at the top of Baseball America's midseason list of baseball's 50 top prospects, but that happy news comes at a moment in Orioles history when it's probably foolhardy to get overly excited about another can't-miss kid pitcher. If you haven't actually said it out loud, this thought almost certainly has crossed your mind at one time or another as the glowing reports about Bundy's golden arm followed him from spring training through the first half of his first professional season: How will the Orioles screw this one up?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

-- 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.

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.