LeBlanc finally gets chance to make second spring start

SARASOTA, Fla. - The device used by Orioles pitcher Wade LeBlanc to measure his spring training is built with the most basic parts.

"They haven't told me to go home yet," he said, "so it's going pretty good."

Sounds pretty accurate.

LeBlanc has made only one exhibition start, back in the Feb. 23 home opener. He's scheduled to take the ball again Wednesday afternoon against the Marlins in Jupiter.

Part of a "pretty standard" camp for the 35-year-old lefty, who's getting lots of work on the back fields in between outings. LeBlanc threw a simulated game Friday morning at Ed Smith Stadium rather than head over to Bradenton and face the Pirates.

"Last one, I guess they had a lot of innings filled, so they just had me stay back," he said.

"We're healthy, we're improving every day. Feel a little more game-ready, so that's all you can ask for."

The Orioles had four pitchers throw simulated games yesterday, including starter Alex Cobb. It's a popular method for building up innings without causing a pitcher pile-up.

However, there's no substitute for the real thing - or what qualifies in the Grapefruit League.

"You hear early in camp when guys are excited to face other teams, just because you can throw in without being scared to hit a teammate," LeBlanc said. "It's just a different feel, a different adrenaline, when you're facing somebody else in game settings where, I guess for a lack of a better term, numbers matter. You get real feedback from real swings, and that's good for any pitcher, really, but especially for a guy like me at this point."

LeBlanc doesn't have a set number of innings in mind that he'd like to accumulate prior to the team heading north.

It's basically just taking what he can get with no complaints.

"Just kind of whatever they have available," he said. "I feel like it doesn't take much for me to get ready, but at the same time you want to make sure you have more than enough. So whatever that is is kind of TBD, I guess."

The Orioles signed LeBlanc to a minor league contract on Jan. 28, providing a strong dose of experience with his 11 years of major league service and a viable option for the middle or back end of their rotation. He shut out the Red Sox with one hit allowed and two strikeouts over two innings in his only appearance, throwing eight of 10 pitches for strikes in the first frame and eight of 13 in the second.

"There's always things you're working toward, building up toward, so take it with a grain of salt," he said. "It was spring training week one, so now you start to hone in on what you need to improve on and get sharp and get ready for game action."

Do a few more outings like his debut seal his spot in the rotation?

LeBlanc stiff-armed the question like a running back. Except he did it with a smile.

"Wrong one to ask about that," he said. "I'm not the decision-maker. I'm the ball-thrower.

"Strike thrower!"