Reaching out to non-baseball teams during MLB's shutdown

Today was supposed to be opening night in minor league baseball. Triple-A Norfolk would be hosting Gwinnett and Double-A Bowie would host Richmond. Single-A Frederick was scheduled to play at Fayetteville and Single-A Delmarva would be hosting Asheville.

But when baseball was shut down March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Orioles' minor league teams had yet to even play exhibition games. There were around 150 players at The Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park. Some had reported to an early camp in mid-February and others came in during two report dates in early March.

So what happens now?

Players are trying to stay prepared as best they can on their own, but they are certainly hearing from coaches and staff in the player development department.

"We are trying to use this opportunity to get better," said Matt Blood, Orioles director of player development, in a phone interview yesterday. "We are preaching development. On a skill level but also on a personal level. It's a unique time and opportunity, and our staff and players are making the most of it.

"The Orioles, we can use this time. We still have a lot of tools and organizational-type stuff to create. Because this is a pretty new staff. We're using this time to do that. We are using this time to develop ourselves, the staff. It's actually really been busy every day."

The video conference calls between staff and players have been active and wide-reaching.

"As a group, we've had Zoom calls on just about everything there is to have a call on," Blood said. "Hitting, pitching, defense, strength and conditioning, nutrition, research. We have calls with the players on mental skills - they are doing that a few times a week. We've had hitting hot stove calls on different topics and aspects of hitting. We've had staff and players involved in a book club.

"Our strength and conditioning and performance side, they communicate with the players regularly. Our system that gives out routines tracks progress there. We've sent out solo-type drills they can do."

This may not leave much time for Netflix. But it's one way to stay active and try to get better when you can't be on a field with your teammates and coaches.

As for the player development staff and coaches, they've spent time trying to learn more and get better also. This has involved the Orioles reaching out to pro and amateur coaches in other, non-baseball leagues. Just this week, Blood said, this involved Orioles staff and coaches from a National Basketball Association team.

"There are a lot of smart people out there we can learn from," he said. "We've had calls set up to ask about the way they do things. Have Q and A's. Whether we are talking about a specific topic or a broader approach. It's another way to broaden our perspective and try and learn best practices and ideas."

The Orioles have found other teams - pro and college - willing to exchange thoughts and answer their questions. And while this has mostly involved the Orioles' minor league staff, as Blood likes to say, the Orioles are one team and one staff, and manager Brandon Hyde was recently on one of these video calls.

"We've talked to an NBA team," he said. "We'll be talking to Navy SEALs, a European soccer team, a major NCAA football team. We'll talk to an NFL team, we'll be talking to an NCAA soccer team. Just different things where we can learn. Trying to find ways to get better. It's been fun to see other organizations and how they do what they do.

"We had a call yesterday with an NBA team and Brandon was on the call. We all are one. So, if it's relevant, everyone is welcome to be a part of this. We're trying to be very productive with our time."

Coming soon: Cooking with the Orioles. I'll explain and have more on this in a future entry.

Linkage: On another matter, Major League Baseball has loosened some restrictions on scouts ahead of the draft, which is going to be held sometime in June or July. More here from Baseball America.

MLBTradeRumors.com seemed to get a more enthusiastic response to the so-called Arizona plan to play baseball this season that I wrote about here yesterday. Check out the their poll here.

The Double-A Bowie Baysox are using some of this down time to have their fans pick their best all-time player. It's being done in an NCAA bracket-type format. The No. 1 seeds are Brad Bergesen (among pitchers), Calvin Pickering (infielders), Lou Montanez (outfielders) and Garabez Rosa (utility/catchers). Go here to check it out and vote.