Is it too soon for concern over Miguel Gonzalez? (plus other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - A few quotes and notes about the Orioles, who are 1-11-2 with 19 spring games remaining before opening day. They lost 14-5 to Minnesota yesterday, allowing 10 or more runs for the fifth time.

* At this point, you have to wonder if the Orioles are concerned about right-hander Miguel Gonzalez. After pitching to an ERA of 6.14 in 10 starts after the 2015 All-Star break, his spring ERA is 22.24 through three starts.

O's starting pitchers have allowed six runs or more three times this spring and Gonzalez has twice been on the mound in such situations. He gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings on March 3 against Tampa Bay and allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings yesterday. Through 5 2/3 innings, he has allowed 14 runs on 18 hits with a batting average against of .529.

It would be hard to simply say it is spring training, that there is nothing to worry about. But O's fans remember the March struggles of Bud Norris that carried over into the season last spring.

Gonzalez said he was flying open in his windup Sunday in Fort Myers and the errant mechanics caused him issues with command and quality of his pitches. He was asked if he is pressing after his late-season struggles last year and poor start to this one.

"Sometimes you push yourself to be better, to impress people," he said. "We all know what we are capable of doing and we all know that our teammates are going to be right there with you. It's just a matter of staying positive and getting after it."

* While the O's concern level over catcher Matt Wieters' sore elbow seems low at the moment, manager Buck Showalter admits emotions can run high when it comes to his starting catcher. He is a big Wieters fan and has seen him come all the way back from his Tommy John surgery.

"Of course there is (emotion for me)," he said Sunday afternoon. "Of course. You kidding me? That is why they make sunglasses and why you strike certain poses. I feel the same thing that Matt feels and fans. I'm a fan of Matt and the Orioles. They are one in the same. It's a great reminder to us all. Things come and go. You better be able to adapt on the move."

* Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-3 in his O's debut on Sunday. He crushed an RBI double off the right-field fence in his first at-bat in the first inning against the Twins. Showalter is trying not to pre-judge anything about Alvarez from his previous seasons in the majors.

"You hear he did this, he did that, he needs to do this or that," Showalter said. "Stop. I heard that same stuff about a lot of guys. I've got a lot of confidence in our players and our culture, his coaches and teammates. Some guys have changed clubs four or five times. This is his first one.

"This guy doesn't have to apologize for anything he's done. He's been pretty good, OK? Not a lot of guys floating around that have hit 20 or 30 home runs and played on good, competitive teams that were in the playoffs. He's got a lot to be proud of. He's got a chance to be a real find of the offseason, the way I look at it."

* Jomar Reyes, the Orioles' 19-year-old third base prospect from the Dominican Republic, was one of the minor league players that joined the Orioles yesterday. He played a few innings late in the game at third base. In the ninth, he drew a four-pitch walk and scored on an error.

Before the game, Showalter praised Reyes for his conditioning work and reducing his weight from around 260 lbs. to 235 lbs.

I asked Showalter what he liked about the youngster who played at Single-A Delmarva last year.

"Size," he said. "I don't know him well enough. That's what they (prospects) look like. I like what our guys that are really good evaluators say about him. I haven't seen him enough to think I have a baseball opinion on him. I'll tell you what: He smiles easily and he loves being here today. He comes over like this was his first game in Little League. I like that."

Never too early to earn a few props from the big league skipper.