World Baseball Classic

Orioles top infield prospect Jonathan Schoop returned to Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday after playing on the world's stage as part of an upstart Netherlands team that made it to the World Baseball Classic semifinals before losing to the eventual champions, the Dominican Republic. “I was happy. We did a good job. We showed the world that we could play baseball, compete at a high level,” said Schoop, who is from the island of Curacao, a constituent country of the Netherlands.

Reliever Pedro Strop, who threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings for the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic championship team, was back with the Orioles on Thursday, doling out hugs to teammates while grinning non-stop. “It was unbelievable. I don't even know how to describe this experience, an unbelievable feeling,” said Strop, who was 3-0 with two holds in the tournament in which the Dominican didn't lose a game. “That's the only thing I can say.” Strop flew back from San Francisco on Wednesday night, slept until the late morning and was at the park Thursday afternoon.

When right-hander Jair Jurrjens is in Baltimore to take a physical next week -- seemingly the final step before the Orioles' one-year major league deal with the former Atlanta Braves pitcher comes to fruition -- he expects to speak with team officials about whether he will participate in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Jurrjens, who agreed to a $1.5 million deal that could be worth up to $4 million with incentives, is listed on the Netherlands' provisional roster for the WBC, but said Friday that he's "50/50" whether he will play.

Orioles top infield prospect Jonathan Schoop returned to Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday after playing on the world's stage as part of an upstart Netherlands team that made it to the World Baseball Classic semifinals before losing to the eventual champions, the Dominican Republic. “I was happy. We did a good job. We showed the world that we could play baseball, compete at a high level,” said Schoop, who is from the island of Curacao, a constituent country of the Netherlands.

Orioles infield prospect Jonathan Schoop said Saturday that he plans to play for the Netherlands in this spring's World Baseball Classic. Schoop is listed on the Netherlands' provisional roster that came out this week, but he said was considering not playing because of a nagging left knee injury. “Last year, I felt a little big of weakness in my leg, in my knee,” Schoop said. “I was feeling not 100 percent. Right now it feels good.” Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will represent the United States in the WBC, and reliever Luis Ayala will pitch for Mexico.

Orioles setup man Pedro Strop probably won't get any opportunities to close games for the Dominican team during the World Baseball Classic. “I don't think so," he said, “since we have Fernando Rodney and [Santiago] Casilla from the Giants," Strop said. “It's a pretty good bullpen.” Might be the best in the WBC. Rodney had 48 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays last year and an otherworldly 0.60 ERA, a record for relievers. Casilla saved 25 games for the World Series champions.

Adam Jones drove in three runs - including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning - as the U.S. beat Canada, 9-4, Sunday to advance to the World Baseball Classic's second round. The U.S. was trailing 3-2 and five outs from elimination when the Orioles' center fielder lined a double into the gap in left-center against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jimmy Henderson . Jones then scored on a single by Shane Victorino , and Eric Hosmer added a three-run double in the ninth.

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez said he decided he won't pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. “It was a tough decision because obviously I wanted to represent Mexico, but you always have to think about what's going to happen in the long run,” Gonzalez told reporters on Thursday during the Orioles' minicamp. “I think it's more important for me to be with the team.” Gonzalez, 28, rose from being a minor league free agent to becoming one of the Orioles' most dependable starters late in the season.

Orioles right-handed reliever Pedro Strop, who will pitch for the Dominican Republic in this spring's World Baseball Classic, said choosing to participate in the WBC was an easy decision. While Orioles teammates Jim Johnson (United States) and Miguel Gonzalez (Mexico) have deciding to decline invitations to pitch in the WBC in order to stay in camp with the Orioles, Strop said he prepared to pitch in the tournament from the time last season ended. “I had a plan right after the season was over,” Strop said.

This year's World Baseball Classic will throw a wrench into spring preparations at every camp in the majors. The Orioles will be without six players - center fielder Adam Jones (USA), right-hander Pedro Strop (Dominican Republic), right-hander Luis Ayala (Mexico), infielder Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands), catcher Allan de San Miguel (Australia) and catcher Chris Robinson (Canada) - who will be participating in the WBC. Orioles bullpen coach Bill Castro will be the pitching coach for the Dominican team.

On Wednesday, the sunny, breezy first day of spring, City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young walked up to a podium inside the Warehouse at Camden Yards and started to sniff the air. Young asked an audience that included area high school players and coaches, Orioles team officials and local politicians if they got a whiff of what he was smelling, too, before exclaiming: "That's the smell of baseball in the air. " At the Wednesday morning...

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones described himself as “marvelous” this morning, his first day back with his teammates since leaving for the World Baseball Classic on March 3. He'll be taking today and tomorrow off, and will play for the Orioles either Tuesday or Wednesday. Since Tuesday is a road game in Fort Myers, Fla., the best guess is that he'll be in the starting lineup Wednesday in Sarasota versus the Toronto Blue Jays. “I've played six straight nine-inning games, so my body feels good,” Jones said.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Catcher Chris Robinson returned to Orioles camp on Wednesday after playing a key role in a brawl in last week's World Baseball Classic pool play game between Canada and Mexico. Robinson, the starting catcher for Canada, reached on a bunt single in the ninth inning with Canada comfortably leading Mexico 9-3. The Mexican team didn't like that, and Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon threw two pitches near the next batter, Rene Tosoni, before plunking him with the third. That incited a benches clearing brawl.

Adam Jones delivered again at the World Baseball Classic, driving home a run in the seventh inning of the U.S. team's 7-1 win over Puerto Rico in Miami on Tuesday night. Jones' single up the middle against former Orioles lefty J.C. Romero stretched the U.S. lead to 4-0. The Orioles center fielder had the go-ahead hit in the U.S. team's win over Canada on Sunday, which sent them through to the double-elimination second round. The U.S. is off Wednesday and faces the Dominican Republic on Thursday at 7 p.m., also at Marlins Park.

Adam Jones drove in three runs - including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning - as the U.S. beat Canada, 9-4, Sunday to advance to the World Baseball Classic's second round. The U.S. was trailing 3-2 and five outs from elimination when the Orioles' center fielder lined a double into the gap in left-center against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jimmy Henderson . Jones then scored on a single by Shane Victorino , and Eric Hosmer added a three-run double in the ninth.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- This week, Chris Robinson will go from buried on the Orioles' organizational depth chart to starting catcher for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. When the Orioles' 40-man roster was finalized this offseason, the team had four catchers on the roster. The 29-year-old Robinson, who played 52 games last year at Triple-A Norfolk and has never played in the major leagues, wasn't one of them. “I've been here long enough to know that I'm not going to take Matt Wieters' job,” Robinson said.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson wrestled with his decision to decline an invitation to play for Team USA in this spring's World Baseball Classic. The right-hander was honored to be considered, but believed being in Orioles spring training would best benefit his 2013 season. It's a difficult choice for many who have been invited to participate in the WBC. Orioles center fielder Adam Jones had always wanted to represent Team USA, so when he was invited to play, his decision was a little easier.

Representing his country was a dream Orioles center fielder Adam Jones had since he was a teenager growing up in San Diego. Twice while he was in high school, he tried out for his Team USA age-group squad and didn't make it. But now, the 27-year-old Jones will have his chance, playing for the United States in the third World Baseball Classic, which begins Tuesday. "I got cut from Team USA tryouts when I was 15 and 16," Jones said. "I just wasn't good enough. They took other players, and that was fuel to me to get better.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters seemed like the perfect choice to catch for the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic, but the two-time All-Star made it clear early on that he wanted to spend as much time as possible in spring camp with the Orioles. “I'd love to be able to play for my country," Wieters said Tuesday, “but, at the same time, you have responsibilities to your team and responsibilities, for me, to the pitching staff - to be able to get to know them and go through spring training with them.” There are all sorts of reasons for him to stay in Sarasota.