Bits on Brach, Britton and the bullpen

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will meet with his relievers shortly and map out what constitutes roles for them. He's big on just making sure guys are ready when the phone rings, but he also wants them to know what he's planning while closer Zach Britton is on the 60-day disabled list.

Showalter said Brad Brach is a "potential closer," but only because he hasn't made his intentions public. I wouldn't read too much into it.

"I don't think anybody has made that announcement," Showalter said before yesterday's game.

Showalter simply was correcting someone in the media Monday who referred to Brach as the "closer."

"There's a lot of guys I could say that about," he said. "It's something we're going to address internally, openly. I want those guys to all know what the idea is going in and that's coming before too long. But I think when you have the background of closing out big innings like the eighth inning and the seventh, there might be big outs there, I think he's matured. He's come a long way. He's got a real grip on sometimes the anxiety that some pitchers feel. He's not a guy who lets things snowball very long."

Brach's fastball was 89-92 mph Monday in Bradenton, which didn't concern anyone on the visiting side. I doubt that the home team cared, either.

"He's like that every spring," Showalter said. "It's like Millsy (bullpen coach Alan Mills) was talking about how last year he was kind of going 'Oh, jeez.' People were telling him that he does that every spring and when the bell rings, sure enough, his first outing he was 94, 95, 96. So there's a real trust with him is what I'm getting at. And there is with Darren (O'Day), and Mychal (Givens) has a chance to emerge as that. He's on the cusp of being that. And Richard (Bleier) gained some cache last year."

Brach allowed two runs and three hits in an 8-5 win over the Pirates, and Showalter referenced "a little spring training sore arm."

"Nothing really," Brach said yesterday. "I think maybe he was talking about just first time going day off and pitching again. I felt good. Just didn't really execute and I was kind of working on a few things and I found out maybe what I shouldn't be doing. What won't work in the regular season, which is also good. You obviously don't want to give up runs anytime you pitch, but it's one of those things. I threw a couple pitches I probably wouldn't pitch in the regular season and kind of got burned on them. Just need to work on executing them a little bit better.

"What I've kind of worked on the last few years is the first couple outings, get out there and get a good feeling, get some good innings, and from there work on a few things and throw some pitches that you normally wouldn't throw just to see how it works out."

I needed an example, of course.

"When (Gregory) Polanco hit the double, I threw a slider and just because I faced him before, I know that's kind of like his bat path and I wouldn't throw that pitch, so it's just one of those things," Brach said. "Just certain off-speed pitches. I try to see how the sliders look to left-handed hitters and the changeups look to righties. Some were good, some don't look good, so just getting some feedback. That's all."

Showalter appreciates Brach's steady approach to life, not just baseball, and that's earned him the trust of teammates and the decision-makers.

"Brad's not, 'Hey, is Brad in a good mood today?' Brad is Brad. You know what you're getting every day and there's something to be said for that," Showalter said.

"He's a real consistent personality, you know?"

But also an intense competitor on the mound. Don't be fooled by his gentle nature, by a well-earned reputation as one of the nicest guys in the game.

"He likes to win," Showalter said. "He's never going to feel like, 'I need to get people out so I can get a four-year contract.' This is what people are counting on me to do. I think he also realizes where he's come from and what's going on. He's starting to make some money, just had a new baby. He's good people. You don't have to worry about him ever being ready."

Showalter always is careful with his relievers and he's not going to suddenly run Brach out to the mound for a string of save opportunities without taking his health, specifically his right shoulder, into account. Others in the 'pen are going to get the ninth inning, too.

Britton will reach the 12-week mark Thursday since he underwent Achilles surgery. He's going to continue wearing the protective boot until Saturday while throwing and easing into other baseball activities, since the team will be in Jupiter and Port St. Lucie.

As Britton as stated in numerous interviews, the real test for him will be getting off the mound and covering the bag. Movements that he used to take for granted.

His arm is fine. Pitchers fielding practice, however, won't be the usual bore.

More cuts may be coming today. Showalter hinted at it following yesterday's game.

There could be a quiet period while the team is on its East Coast trip. The roster currently holds 45, including Britton and Gabriel Ynoa, who's likely to go on the disabled list with shin splints.

Showalter mentioned yesterday how "there's still a lot of competitions going on." He talked about six or seven starts "that guys are grinding on." Catching, the infield, the outfield, the bullpen, the rotation.

"We're going to try to solve it from within," he said.

I'm still thinking that the utility infielder comes from the outside unless Danny Valencia is given the title.