The Orioles didn't hit a home run in Game 2 last night, the first time they failed to clear the fences since April 30 at New York. They hit 20 homers in their previous eight games and were 6-2 in that span.
No need to worry that the Orioles will deprive you of a roster move today.
Dana Eveland is here to make tonight's start against the Rays, as the Orioles return to the safe confines of the American League East. Someone has to vacate the 25-man roster, and someone has to vacate the 40-man roster.
As I wrote yesterday, Tommy Hunter could be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and Brian Roberts could be transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Those are two fairly easy solutions.
Need to take another look at the current 40-man roster for vulnerable players if Roberts isn't moved to the 60-day?
Pitchers:
Jake Arrieta
Luis Ayala
Brad Bergesen
Jason Berken
Zach Britton
Dylan Bundy
Wei-Yin Chen
Oliver Drake
Kevin Gregg
Jason Hammel
Tommy Hunter
Jim Johnson
Matt Lindstrom
Brian Matusz
Darren O'Day
Troy Patton
Zach Phillips
Stuart Pomeranz
Pedro Strop
Chris Tillman
Catchers:
Luis Exposito
Ronny Paulino
Matt Wieters
Infielders:
Ryan Adams
Robert Andino
Matt Antonelli
Wilson Betemit
Chris Davis
Ryan Flaherty
J.J. Hardy
Nick Johnson
Joe Mahoney
Mark Reynolds
Brian Roberts
Steve Tolleson
Zelous Wheeler
Outfielders:
Endy Chavez
Adam Jones
Nick Markakis
Nolan Reimold
Bergesen tossed five scoreless innings last night for Norfolk, allowing four hits, walking none and striking out three. He threw 54 pitches, 38 for strikes.
Jim Callis of Baseball America offered his first guess at how the first round of the First-Year Player Draft will play out. Be one of the first to read it here.
I've cut-and-pasted the first four picks, ending with the Orioles' projected selection.
1. ASTROS: Houston is focusing on Buxton, Zunino and the three best college pitchers (Stanford's Mark Appel, Louisiana State's Kevin Gausman and San Francisco's Kyle Zimmer). Scouting director Bobby Heck has taken an up-the-middle position player with his top pick in each of his four drafts, and he and his staff are believed to favor Buxton, a five-tool center fielder. Rumors persist that the Astros' higher-ups--new owner Jim Crane and new general manager Jeff Luhnow--prefer an arm who could help soon and fit at the front of their rotation.
Projected Pick: MARK APPEL.
2. TWINS: Minnesota needs plenty of pitching help too, but it will set its draft board and take the best player available. That should be Buxton, though Zunino would enable the Twins to shift Joe Mauer to a less taxing position.
Projected Pick: BYRON BUXTON.
3. MARINERS: Seattle is loaded with pitching prospects and needs offense, so a bat would seem to be the obvious choice. That was the case in 2011 as well, when the Mariners crossed up the industry by selecting Hultzen at No. 2. They seem to be locked in on Buxton, Zunino and Puerto Rican high school shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa draws comparisons to Troy Tulowitzki, whom Seattle was set to take in this slot seven years ago before making a late switch to ... Jeff Clement.
Projected Pick: MIKE ZUNINO.
4. ORIOLES: Baltimore is looking at the same hitters as the teams at the top of the draft, but unless Buxton or Zunino falls, it likely will opt for one of the three college arms. The Orioles are the first club mentioned with Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero, but that seems like a reach given Marrero's offensive struggles this spring.
Projected Pick: KYLE ZIMMER.
Here's some information on Zimmer that's provided by Bleacher Report.
I don't claim to be a draft expert or have stacks of scouting reports on my desk. I don't even claim to have a desk. But I'm fine with the Orioles taking a highly rated college pitcher. Get someone who won't need much time to reach the majors.
Otherwise, who's the best college center fielder, just in case Adam Jones needs to be replaced?
And finally, here's a press release that I received yesterday regarding some items that you will be able to find at the Sports Legends Museum:
Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards today announced it will display artifacts from the Baltimore Orioles’ historical week of baseball, including items from Buck Showalter’s 1,000th win as a Major League Baseball manager and infielder Chris Davis’ historical win during the 17-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox on May 6. The artifacts will be on display as part of the “Nine Innings of Orioles’ Baseball†exhibit, beginning Saturday, May 12.
Following a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on May 1, OriolesÂ’ skipper Buck Showalter earned his 1,000th career win as an MLB manager. Showalter became the 58th manager in history to record 1,000 or more wins. His record as of that date was 1,000-958.
Five days later, designated hitter Chris Davis earned a rare win, as the OriolesÂ’ defeated the Red Sox, 6-3, in a 17-inning battle in Boston. Davis pitched the final two innings (2.0IP, 2H, 0R/ER, 1BB, 2K), becoming the first position player to record a pitching win in OriolesÂ’ history and the first in MLB since Philadelphia Phillies infielder Wilson Valdez on May 25, 2011. Boston outfielder Darnell McDonald (former Orioles No. 1 draft pick) was the losing pitcher, marking the first time both teams used position players to pitch in the same game since the TigersÂ’ Ty Cobb and the BrownsÂ’ George Sisler did it on Oct. 4, 1925.
The historically significant artifacts from ShowalterÂ’s 1,000th win on May 1 will include:
* Official batting order cards for both teams - the OriolesÂ’ card signed by manager Buck Showalter and the YankeesÂ’ card signed by manager Joe Girardi (both authenticated by MLB).
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* Copy of the dugout lineup card, one signed of the Orioles and Yankees, authenticated by MLB. The Orioles presented the original lineup card to Showalter in ceremonies prior to next home game on May 7, 2012 vs. Texas.
Featured items on display from DavisÂ’ win over the Red Sox on May 6, include:
•* Pair of cleats worn by Chris Davis during the game.
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* Game-used ball from the game, with the “100th Anniversary of Fenway Park†logo.
* Original Orioles and Red Sox lineup cards exchanged pre-game; Orioles card signed by manager Buck Showalter, Red Sox card (signed) by manager Bobby Valentine.
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