More Rule 5 talk, Jones and Snider homer (O's down 4-3)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' cuts later today won't include Rule 5 pitchers Logan Verrett and Jason Garcia. The evaluations continue, along with the brainstorming on how to keep both of them.

Asked if there's a scenario where the Orioles could carry both right-handers in their bullpen, manager Buck Showalter replied, "Sure. I had one brought up to me a couple days ago. And if you know us ... Trying to find a way legally to keep all the pieces."

I'll say that it's an incredible long shot that a contender in the American League East can keep two Rule 5 pitchers. One is a reach. Two seems impossible, especially with the overflow that already exists in the bullpen.so

The Orioles would have to make at least one trade.

Verrett, drafted from the Mets organization, is more polished than Garcia because of his Triple-A experience. He's also had the better camp, allowing two runs, walking one and striking out 11 in 12 innings over eight appearances.

"What's been unusual is everything we thought about him, he's showed it here," Showalter said. "He's kind of been as advertised completely. Nowadays, between the scouting and the video and the network of arms and tentacles of baseball people you know through the years ... I'm a little surprised it's been just as advertised. Strike-thrower."

Verrett's fastball touched 93 mph yesterday while he retired the Yankees in order in the ninth with two strikeouts.

"It started about halfway through camp. I went back and looked at the Rule 5 reports," Showalter said.

"Our whole camp, I've been really surprised at the velocities. From Tyler Wilson to Verrett to Branden Kline. Everybody, their velocities. It's unusual. You notice we haven't talked about a dead arm period all spring? What's going on?"

So how is a pitcher like Verrett, 24, available in the Rule 5 draft after going 28-13 with a 3.89 ERA in 69 minor league starts?

"Some of those guys in the Rule 5 either have been hurt and somebody takes a chance on them or they're a tweener. Everybody views them as a tweener. Or you may have too many people," Showalter said.

"You can't protect them all. I think that's what happened with Boston (on Garcia). In their mind, they had too many people. But it's going to be hard to carry them because it affects the rest of our bullpen and staff if we carry them, because we have to have something else there if we take them."

Garcia brought the most intrigue to minicamp in January because his fastball climbed into the upper 90s and his smooth delivery was a thing of beauty, every bit as impressive in person as on video. A sore hamstring sidelined him after two exhibition appearances, but he still shows tremendous promise.

Garcia allowed his first spring run yesterday on Stephen Drew's homer. He's walked six and struck out nine in seven innings.

There's more unknown with Garcia because he's never pitched above low Single-A.

It's also not known when Pat Connaughton will report to Twin Lakes Park. He's been busy playing basketball at Notre Dame, but the Irish were eliminated last night by No. 1 Kentucky in the Midwest Regional final.

The Orioles are waiting to find out when he's headed to Florida.

Miguel Gonzalez is in Sarasota today and he stranded Danny Santana at third base after a leadoff triple. Gonzalez threw 10 pitches, eight for strikes, in the first inning.

Alejandro De Aza and Steve Pearce opened the bottom of the first with singles off Twins starter Ricky Nolasco. Pearce is 14-for-38 (.368) this spring. Chris Davis lined into a 4-3 double play, but Adam Jones homered to center field to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

Jones has four home runs this spring. A fifth was washed away by rain.

Travis Snider followed with his first home run and RBI, a shot to right field that increased the lead to 3-0.

Jimmy Paredes doubled in his first at-bat today in Dunedin, making him 17-for-44 (.386) this spring. Ubaldo Jimenez put runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the first, but he struck out Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson.

Update: Shane Robinson hit a two-run homer off Gonzalez with two outs in the second inning to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-2.

I've got Gonzalez with 27 pitches in the second and 37 in two innings, including 24 strikes.

Update II: The Twins took a 4-3 lead in the third on Eduardo Nunez's RBI double and Kennys Vargas' RBI single. Alejandro De Aza threw out Vargas trying for a double.

Gonzalez has thrown 50 pitches in three innings, 33 for strikes.

In Dunedin, Paredes collected a second double and continues to rake this spring. Jimenez has escaped a couple jams in three scoreless innings.