Two Weeks To Go...

We're just two weeks away (ok, 13 days, 14 hours and 43 minutes according to the countdown clock on Orioles.com) from Opening Day. With only 11 games left of Spring Training, the O's are pretty close to being the team you'll see take the field in Tampa Bay on April 1st. There are still a few questions concerning the 2011 Orioles' squad, mainly about the starting rotation and the health of a few key players, as well as who will win the final spots on the 25-man roster...more on that later. At this point, the Birds have pretty much lived up to expectations, sporting a 9-10-2 record through the first 21 contests. Here's a quick recap of their last four games:







Game Eighteen (Tuesday 3/15/11):

• The Birds were blown out 14-8 by the Houston Astros...Brad Bergesen (1-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over four innings



• Kevin Gregg was roughed up in a brief relief appearance...Gregg managed just one out and was charged with five runs (four earned) on three hits (one a grand slam) and a walk



• Bullpen hopeful Ryan Drese didn't fare much better, giving up five runs on seven hits through three innings



• Offensively, the O's scored four times in the ninth, but it wasn't quite enough...



• The Birds managed 8 runs on eight hits; six went for extra bases



• Jake Fox put the O's on the board in the second inning with his team-best fifth home run; Robert Andino blasted his second homer this year, a two-run blast in the ninth

Game Nineteen (Wednesday 3/16/11):

• The Orioles were absolutely embarrassed by the New York Yankees in a 10-0 defeat...the Birds were no-hit through the first six frames and managed just one hit through nine


• To put things in perspective, Baltimore sent all relief pitchers to the mound, and the final score wouldn't look nearly as bad without Rick VandenHurk's line: 0.0 innings pitched, three hits, three walks and five runs scored


• Vladimir Guerrero's double off Mariano Rivera was the lone hit for the O's

Game Twenty (Thursday 3/17/11):

• A day after being shut-out by New York, the O's offense exploded for 20 hits in a 13-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates


• Chris Tillman (2-0) took the win after allowing just an unearned run in four innings of work


• Matt Wieters went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs


• Jake Fox mashed his team-leading and MLB-best 6th and 7th home runs and finished with 4 RBIs

Game Twenty-One (Friday 3/18/11):

• The Birds dropped a close one to the Minnesota Twins 3-2
• Brian Matusz looked sharp in his fourth spring start, striking out eight and allowing just one run (a solo homer) on six hits in 4 2/3 innings
• Jason Berken (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in three innings
• The offense managed just four hits...Vladimir Guerrero had two of them and knocked in the Birds' lone run

Bird Bites...

• The MRA on Justin Duchscherer's hip revealed no new injuries, and "The Duke" still hopes to be ready for Opening Day. Given that he's pitched just two innings thus far, the likelihood of him cracking the starting rotation is doubtful
• Brian Roberts has taken live batting practice and there's a slim chance he could see some playing time later today...
• Barring an unfortunate setback, Derrek Lee will take the field for the first time this spring later this afternoon

On Deck...

Jake Arrieta (2-0) gets the starting nod as the Birds take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 Saturday afternoon. Listen to the game live on AM 1090 WBAL...