Reviewing the first half of spring training

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have inched past the halfway point of spring training. More players will be removed from the camp roster, the competition for various jobs will be narrowed.

Manager Buck Showalter said it's too early for a noticeable increase in "tempo." But it's coming.

"After the off-day, I don't think we're quite that far into it yet," he said. "We've got 20-something days after the break."

With Erick Salcedo reassigned to minor league camp, the in-house choices for utility infielder are down to Luis Sardiñas, Ruben Tejada, Engelb Vielma and maybe Danny Valencia if the Orioles are willing to ignore his inability to play shortstop and limited exposure to second base, where he's made three starts.

Tim Beckham would have to be the backup middle infielder and it's not an ideal arrangement.

Garabez Rosa wasn't in the running before the Orioles reassigned him, which raises the ire of fans who wonder why he hasn't been rewarded for years of loyal service and his Eastern League Most Valuable Player award. I'll point out again that he isn't viewed as being a strong defender despite his ability to move around. He was restricted to playing first base this spring and is projected to stay at the position once the minor league season gets underway.

Rosa did a nice job in exhibition games, saving numerous errors with his ability to dig balls out of the dirt. And he's never seen a fastball that he couldn't crush. As Showalter points out, Rosa could ambush major league pitching for stretches. He was a consideration for a promotion last summer and might finally get a shot in 2018 - just not in a full-time capacity as a part-time player.

Vielma probably has the edge defensively over the rest of the field in camp, but he isn't going to offer much at the plate. Not that there's anything wrong with that. We're talking about a utility player. The glove matters more than the bat.

Tejada has been inconsistent in the field. He ranged up the middle Thursday and tried to make a sliding stop of a grounder by the Rays' Jake Bauers and the ball deflected off his glove for a hit, but he started a 5-4-3 double play to end the seventh. He moved to third base the following day and committed a throwing error on the first ball hit to him.

Tejada and Sardiñas alternated again between shortstop and second base in Saturday's game in Clearwater, before Tejada moved to third base in the sixth inning and Vielma played second. Vielma slid over to shortstop in the seventh, Salcedo played second and Sardiñas went to third.

Showalter and his coaching staff will have large sample sizes when making their decision.

It's still possible that the Orioles sign a veteran infielder toward the end of camp, with Ryan Flaherty a strong possibility if he opts out of his minor league deal with the Phillies.

The competition for fifth starter really hasn't changed. Mike Wright Jr., Miguel Castro and Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. were the primary in-house candidates. Gabriel Ynoa was a longshot to stick in the rotation or bullpen and allowing six runs Sunday against the Red Sox won't elevate his status.

Scouts wondered last spring why the Mets handed over Ynoa to the Orioles. He's out of options and could hit the waiver wire if not traded.

Pedro Araujo is making the climb among the Rule 5 pitchers. The Orioles won't keep three of them, but two is a possibility.

Cortes has allowed two runs in four innings in his two starts, walking none and striking out three. He's capable of occupying a spot in the rotation or bullpen and his value to the team increases because he's left-handed. Name another southpaw vying for a starting role.

Araujo has been one of the most impressive pitchers in camp with three scoreless relief outings and only one baserunner allowed. There's a buzz surrounding him and it's building.

Showalter used Araujo for the third inning of Sunday's game against the Red Sox, who brought most of their starters to Sarasota. Not your typical travel squad. Sam Travis doubled, but three outs came on three harmless fly balls to right field that got Araujo back into the dugout.

José Mesa Jr. hasn't run out of time, but he's fallen behind. A possibility for the rotation, Mesa has pitched twice in relief this spring and allowed four runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked three Red Sox batters in two-thirds of an inning in his debut.

Maybe it's just nerves. Mesa's velocity is down and he doesn't have the same command. But he's going to get the ball again.

The bullpen has room for another left-hander besides Richard Bleier and Joely Rodriguez continues to make a solid argument for his inclusion. Three scoreless outings and a mid-90s fastball that complements the softer throwers. He's in the discussion.

A few other observations:

Tim Melville and left-hander Josh Edgin also have made good impressions. Edgin, with three scoreless innings and only a walk smudging his line, brings a track record with his 3.49 ERA in 177 appearances with the Mets over five seasons. He posted a 1.32 ERA and 0.915 WHIP in 47 games over only 27 1/3 innings in 2014. He averaged 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings and left-handers batted .185.

Right-hander James Teague won't break camp with the team after pitching at short-season Single-A Aberdeen and low Single-A Delmarva, but the former 37th round pick out of the University of Arkansas has allowed one baserunner and struck out three batters in 2 1/3 scoreless innings as an "extra" from minor league camp.

Teague blanked the Red Sox in the fifth inning Sunday and struck out Iván De Jesús Jr.

"That's the third or fourth time he's come over and done a nice job," Showalter said.

Left-hander Tanner Scott hasn't walked a batter in three innings. I don't care that it's spring training. This is notable.

Left-hander Andrew Faulkner needed a good outing on Sunday after allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings in his previous two appearances. He walked leadoff hitter Mookie Betts but retired Andrew Benintendi (strikeout), Rafael Devers (fly ball) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (popup) in succession. Three straight left-handed batters.

In parts of two seasons with the Rangers, left-handers hit .167/.242/.200 against Faulkner and right-handers hit .314/.385/.743. Lefties posted a .208 average against him last summer at Triple-A Norfolk.

Cedric Mullins has to be the most impressive 1-for-17 player in any camp. He looks terrific in the outfield and on the basepaths, though it's been hard for him to get there. You can see that he's got good instincts. He just needs more time in the upper minors.