Britton on predictions, more on fifth starter and a player impressing on farm

For the Orioles, the players can change from year to year, but the predictions that the team won't do well seem to be the same. Different year, same predictions.

That topic didn't come up with too many players when I was at spring training in Florida the last nine days, but it did with pitcher Zach Britton. It seems this topic is very individual to the player. Some take motivation from it, some brush it off and don't give it a single consideration.

"I think I kind of use it both ways I think," Britton said. "Individually, I don't really care. Because it is kind of the same old story the last few years - you would think they'd kind of change it a little bit with their predictions. We've won the most games in the American League over the last five years. That is really all you need to know. All these projections really don't mean anything when the games start and there are actual humans on the field.

"I think there are guys in here where that definitely drives them. But for me, at this point, it is the same old thing every year and I don't think much about it anymore."

* When I was in Sarasota and made a visit to minor league camp, I asked Brian Graham, the Orioles director of player development, which player over there had caught his eye. Graham told me it was 21-year-old right-hander Matthias Dietz. I was reminded of that last night when Dietz was listed as one of the pitchers the Orioles brought over from minor league camp for their game with the Twins.

"Matthias Dietz has thrown the ball extremely well and is a really a fun guy to watch," Graham told me at Twin Lakes Park. "Big guy (at 6-foot-5, 220 lbs.), good downhill plane, good velocity, good hard slider. Great enthusiasm and a real good arm. Love those kind of guys and he's been very impressive. He's just young and raw but is getting better. If he throws the ball in the strike zone, he's going to get a lot of people out."

The Orioles drafted three college pitchers from the Midwest with their top three picks last June. Dietz was taken 69th overall in the second round and his selection followed the drafting of right-hander Cody Sedlock and lefty Keegan Akin.

While Dietz was selected third, his $1.3 million signing bonus was the Orioles' second largest from that draft, behind Sedlock. Dietz's fastball touched 95-97 mph last summer, although he pitched often at 92 and 93. From John A. Logan (Ill.) junior college, he was one of the top pitchers in the Juco ranks last year. Dietz should begin this season in the starting rotation with Single-A Delmarva.

* Orioles manager Buck Showalter has reminded reporters that the club's first time to need a fifth starter is for their 10th game on April 15. I'll take it a step further to point out that the Orioles only need a fifth starter twice in 23 games in April with April 22 being the second time.

Showalter pointed out that even though left-hander Chris Lee was sent to minor league camp, he is still among the pitchers being considered for that spot in the rotation. This makes perfect sense. If you look at Lee's schedule, he could pitch four or five more times between now and then, depending on how much rest he is provided between outings.

He could get in minor league games at Twin Lakes Park and his next day to pitch could come up tomorrow. This applies to others as well in this competition and that fifth starter for April 15 could will probably make at least one or maybe two starts in the minors once the regular seasons begins on April 6.

We seem to look at this fifth starter's decision as one coming very soon. Really, it may be one not coming for another 15 to 20 days or so.