Buck Showalter updates Kevin Gausman's pitching schedule and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has Kevin Gausman scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Rays in Sarasota.

The pitching schedule will change if today's game is rained out, but the Orioles are taking batting practice and the storm isn't expected to arrive until later this afternoon. We're working off our 12th forecast of the morning.

Gausman worked the eighth inning yesterday in Lakeland and surrendered a tiebreaking two-run homer to Victor Martinez. Showalter indicated after the game that Gausman would be shortened up in case the right-hander is used out of the bullpen. However, he's slated to make his second start of the spring in a Grapefruit League game, and his fourth overall including B and minor league games.

Gausman will work five innings Tuesday if his pitch count allows it.

Trivia question: Which Orioles posted the fastest time in a 10-yard sprint? Answer to follow.

Outfielder David Lough, scratched from Tuesday's lineup with back spasms, could return on Sunday when the Orioles play split-squad games in Dunedin and Sarasota.

"We really need him there," Showalter said, adding that Triple-A Norfolk's Ron Johnson will manage the Orioles in their game against the Blue Jays.

Showalter didn't have an update on catcher J.P. Arencibia, who was scratched from the Triple-A lineup yesterday at Twin Lakes Park with a strained right flexor mass. Arencibia wasn't at this locker this morning when reporters were allowed inside the clubhouse.

"I've got to have him for Sunday, too," Showalter said.

Showalter has decided on his opening day starter, and he upheld the spring training tradition of asking the beat writers which day they needed a story.

Chris Tillman figures to get the ball on April 6 at Tropicana Field. It's just a matter of making it official.

The Orioles still plan on making their next round of cuts on Sunday.

Hardly a day passes without Showalter talking about the contributions of pitching coach Dave Wallace, who's become one of the most important additions to the organization in recent years. Showalter was asked about Wallace today and offered the following response:

"It's all about the pitchers. Everything is about how he can make them as good as possible. He has no ego. He doesn't care about getting any (credit). He takes a lot of satisfaction from making the pitchers better and he doesn't push himself on them. His timing is impeccable. He isn't going to walk in Day One and talk about eight things, even though he's got them in his head. He works his (butt) off, he's prepared and he's extremely focused. I don't know if I've ever had a pitching coach that I've stayed further (away from). I don't want to get in his way. And his words carry so much weight because he chooses his timing of when to use them. And believe me, he's got a tough side, too.

"He's very ethical and moral. He's only trying to do what's best for them. I think the players realize that when he talks to them about something they need to be better or he's not happy with, it's nothing vindictive. It's just matter of fact. He and Dom (Chiti) are a great combination because it's not strengths and weaknesses of them, it's more like one M.O. fits for the bullpen and one fits as pitching coach.

"You don't have a bullpen coach who coaches just the bullpen guys. You've got a pitching coach and an assistant pitching coach. Both have done everything in the game. Wally's been a general manager, farm director, he's done everything. Dom's done about everything except GM and they could do just about anybody's job here, and they have a lot of respect for it. Their evaluation skills in meetings and stuff is great, and not just pitching. I lean on them all the time. I wish you could hear some of the conversations we have driving back and forth to these games. I look forward to it, hearing them talk about infielders and outfielders. They're very well-rounded and they deal in reality and not fantasy.

"They don't have that negative and positive feeding frenzy after an outing. They'll talk you off the ledge and I think players feed off that, knowing there's not a yo-yo emotionally.

"How many people you know spend a lot of time with Sandy Koufax? Because he's a great listener. And not once has he dropped a name around me of some pitcher that's pitched for him before, and he's had some great ones. Pedro Martinez, (Curt) Schilling, I could go right down the list. And I've never heard him say, 'Well, back when I had ...' He doesn't do it. The players love that. These aren't always the good old days. It's about these guys here now. He lives in the present. He doesn't live in the past."

Trivia answer: Delmon Young.

From now on, just answer "Delmon Young" whenever I post a trivia question. It's bound to be right.

"He is running better than ever," Showalter said. "He works at it."