The minor league seasons are starting late, which is a heck of a lot better than nothing at all.
That's the attitude carried by the Orioles, who are busy finalizing plans for their alternate camp site in Bowie and the minor league spring training in Sarasota that commences after they break.
Exhibition games are played and rightfully get most of the attention, including today's 4-3-win over the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium, but there's much more activity churning behind the scenes.
"We've...
The Orioles intend to set up their alternate camp site at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, as expected, with a heavy slant toward Triple-A players rather than funneling lower-level prospects.
The vision that began to come into focus last week hasn't undergone any changes.
Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias named one exception today, with 2020 second overall draft pick Heston Kjerstad skipping major league spring training and reporting to the secondary site for workouts when...
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday that he wanted to give Ryan McKenna more at-bats against major league pitching and the team a longer look at him. McKenna is starting in left field this afternoon against the Blue Jays in Sarasota.
McKenna is batting ninth. Austin Hays is leading off and playing center field.
The lineup also includes Trey Mancini as the designated hitter and Freddy Galvis batting cleanup.
Ramón UrÃas is starting at third base, with Rio Ruiz remaining out of the...
The Orioles made their first round of cuts and none of them were surprising. They must get down to 26 players by opening day and the roster holds 68, including outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who hasn't been cleared for workouts. The time was ripe for some trimming.
There's still lots of work to be done.
Starters are getting their second turns. More pitchers are going to be stretched out. Players are rotating to other positions. The usual camp activity.
Many of the curiosities that I shared prior...
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wanted his pitchers to start pounding the strike zone and reduce the walks. He wanted the defense to tighten, a horrid performance Sunday afternoon in Bradenton testing his patience.
Rested after an off-day, the Orioles traveled to Fort Myers this afternoon and blanked the Twins on one hit heading into the seventh and final inning. Miguel Sanó delivered an RBI double off Conner Greene and the Orioles lost 1-0 at Hammond Stadium.
Three scoreless innings from Dean...
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis remains unavailable due to soreness in his lower back and is being examined by other doctors, according to manager Brandon Hyde.
Davis had two at-bats in the first game and felt a twinge in his back.
"Davis' back is still sore," Hyde said during today's Zoom call. "He is seeing some doctors about it. I don't have a timeline on that."
Outfielder DJ Stewart is out of the lineup again with a sore hamstring, but his condition is improving.
"We hope to see...
Austin Hays is in right field this afternoon and Cedric Mullins is in center as the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Twins.
Trey Mancini is the first baseman and Tyler Nevin is the designated hitter.
DJ Stewart (hamstring) and Chris Davis (back) remain out of the lineup.
Rylan Bannon is starting at third base.
Rio Ruiz is on the bench and struggling at the plate, where he's gone 1-for-12 with three strikeouts.
Pat Valaika is 2-for-10 with a home run while in the thick of the utility...
Predictions on opening day rosters keep placing Anthony Santander in right field, which seems logical at the moment. The action on him over the winter didn't produce a trade and the Orioles aren't trying to dump him. That isn't the point.
They'll listen to any offers on any players, as they should. It would be foolish to screen calls or hang up.
You can't operate with closed minds while open for business.
If Santander can fetch a prospect or two while his salary rises beyond $2 million and...
The Orioles aren't playing this afternoon and get to enjoy a legitimate off-day, however it's done with pandemic restrictions.
That's a long time to sit in a hotel room.
No intrasquad nonsense that removes the "off" from their day. A few pitchers will be allowed inside the complex to throw. Otherwise, stay away and find something safe to do.
There isn't much risk digging into my mailbag, unless I suffer a virtual paper cut. I'll try again to respond to the questions that are asked on a...
Orioles left-hander John Means made it through the first inning today. Manager Brandon Hyde stayed in the dugout. There were no surprises or unexpected visits.
The rest of his day can be categorized as getting in his work in spring training.
Means was on the verge of watching the second inning roll over, with the Pirates scoring three runs and extending him to 27 pitches in the Orioles' 13-1 loss in Bradenton. He came out at 48 pitches after issuing a leadoff walk in the third.
Hyde removed...
Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays are sharing the outfield for this afternoon's game against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla.
Manager Brandon Hyde is giving Hays back-to-back starts, putting him in left field today. Mullins is in center.
Two catchers also are in the lineup, with Pedro Severino used as the designated hitter and Chance Sisco stationed behind the plate. Severino caught last night.
Yusniel Diaz is in right field after his two-run double last night.
Jahmai Jones is the second...
The center field competition between Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins won't necessarily push one of them to the bench.
Manager Brandon Hyde is willing to put them in the same lineup with their ability to handle all three outfield spots, which would strengthen the defense.
The designated hitter role comes with a revolving door now that Renato Núñez has left the organization. On any given day, Ryan Mountcastle or another outfielder could land in that spot.
"I think I'm going to move all...
The first round is complete in the veteran starter battle in Orioles camp.
Wade LeBlanc tossed two scoreless innings in his debut outing against the Braves, allowing only one hit. The Blue Jays worked Matt Harvey for three runs and four hits yesterday in two innings.
Félix Hernández took his first turn tonight against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium and retired the side in order in the first inning. He issued back-to-back walks in the second and surrendered two runs in a 6-5...
Exactly one year ago, top Orioles prospect Adley Rutschman sat down in manager Brandon Hyde's spring training office and heard that he was reassigned to minor league camp. News that he understood was coming to him.
Rutschman reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex today and found his name on the lineup card as the designated hitter against the Tigers. His stay has been extended.
The Orioles don't plan on taking Rutschman to Boston for the opening series. His reassignment is pending. And the...
Shortstop Freddy Galvis has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight after being a late scratch Thursday with a sore hip.
Trey Mancini is batting second again, making the start at first base. Chris Davis remains day-to-day with lower-back stiffness.
Ryan Mountcastle is the cleanup hitter and Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter.
Cedric Mullins takes his turn in center field.
Félix Hérnandez makes his Orioles debut and is expected to pitch two innings.
For the Orioles Cedric Mullins CF...
The business beyond evaluating players in exhibition games, organizing workouts and keeping everyone safe includes daily checks of the free agent market and discussing how to set up the alternate camp site and how to fill it.
The Orioles haven't dismissed the idea of adding to their spring training roster, with pitching always a priority, but they are shifting their focus to the waiver wire as cuts are made in the coming weeks and tracking which minor leaguers have opt-out clauses in their...
The contract was signed and workouts monitored. The ball was handed to him today in Dunedin, Fla. But Matt Harvey wouldn't really fit in with the Orioles until he faced Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk.
Now he's truly a member of the club.
Making his debut appearance, Harvey loaded the bases in the first inning and Grichuk drove in two runs with a double in Toronto's 13-4 win in Dunedin.
Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle homered for the Orioles, who are 2-3-1. Catcher Nick Ciuffo drove in...
Confidence isn't running in short supply for Zac Lowther.
He didn't pitch in 2019 because COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the minor league season. He hasn't faced hitters above the Double-A level. Every projection for this summer places him at Triple-A Norfolk, where he'll be playing the waiting game between starts.
But ask Lowther how close he is to being a major league pitcher and the answer comes firmly and without hesitation. But also not cocky in nature.
"I feel like I'm there....
Tyler Nevin gets the start at first base and Brett Cumberland is the designated hitter for today's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.
Ramón Urias is making back-to-back starts, being a late replacement for Freddy Galvis at shortstop yesterday and starting at second base today.
Galvis remains day-to-day with a sore hip. Pat Valaika is the shortstop today.
Ryan Mountcastle is in left field and Austin Hays is in center.
First baseman Chris Davis remains out of the lineup with a...
Brandon Hyde won't overreact to individual production in early exhibition games. Like any manager, he'll place his judgments on hold until later.
In the meantime, there are players assured of roster spots on opening day who just want to get ready. Players on the fringes who can get bumped in either direction. Important that they know the difference.
The latter group can't be sluggish coming out of the gate, no matter how patient the manager is and how measured his reactions.
Left-hander...