Richard Bleier on his outing at minors camp (plus other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - When the Orioles' minor league spring training games got underway this afternoon at Twin Lakes Park, the Orioles' two Single-A teams had major league pitchers on the mound.

Right-hander Mychal Givens was pitching for the team representing Single-A Delmarva and left-hander Richard Bleier for Single-A Frederick. Both got in two innings, but yielded runs to aggressive young hitters from the Minnesota Twins.

Givens allowed three hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts. Bleier gave up two homers that carried out with a brisk wind. He yielded four hits and three runs with no walks and two strikeouts.

I asked Bleier if he felt both homers were helped by the wind.

"Well, one has not come down yet," he said. "The other one might have been a little wind-aided. You know, I think, it is not really about results here. It is more about getting the up and down and working on a few things to get ready for the season.

"I was working on a few different pitches. I probably sequenced differently that I would have (in the regular season). But it's good to throw. I hadn't thrown many pitches in my outings. Probably threw over 30 today."

Bleier allowed a solo homer in his first inning and a two-run shot in his second frame. Previously, Bleier had thrown four innings in Orioles Grapefruit League games, allowing four hits and two runs.

"I was working on my cutter in today," he said. "Getting good consistent spin. Throwing it for a strike, as opposed to throwing it in and off the plate. And just fastballs down in the zone. I made some pitches I wanted to. I probably didn't pick the right pitches in some situations to some hitters. But again, I was working on some things. I wanted to work on those things, but also do well. I got half that part at least. I know I need to have better results."

Bleier knows the assumption by reporters is his spot in the bullpen is very secure after he went 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA last year. He just doesn't want to think that way.

"You know, I just don't think I'll ever feel that way. I think every time I pitch in a big league game I'll be pitching for my job. At least with that mentality. That has worked so far," he said.

The minor league rosters are not set yet: Earlier today, I published the starting lineups from this afternoon in the minor league games. These are not final or official. There will be changes. As more players are cut from major league camp and join the minors camp, some shuffling is inevitable.

O's director of player development Brian Graham said he probably has a handle on where many players will play when the seasons start for the four full-season affiliates. But some spots are still being finalized under the Florida sun.

"The games definitely impact the rosters," he said at Twin Lakes Park. "We've met with about 180 players individually. Last year for many players does mean a lot. It is probably about 80 percent of our evaluation process. But for a lot of players spring training does mean something, too. It can be a large part of determining where they start the season."

The early minor league games are about pitchers getting their work in and starting pitchers beginning to get on a set schedule.

"With your starters, they'll get on a five-day rotation and that includes a bullpen session in between starts," Graham said. "We are trying to build those guys (innings) up. We brought them in early, so we'll be able to break camp with our starters throwing five or six innings, which is really good (for that time frame) in the minor leagues."

The Orioles upcoming minor league schedule:
* Thursday: Double-A & Triple-A home versus Boston at 1 p.m., A ball teams at Boston
* Friday: A ball teams home versus Minnesota at noon, Double-A/Triple-A teams at Minnesota
* Saturday: Double-A/Triple-A home against Boston at 1 p.m., A ball teams at Boston
* Sunday: No games

O's Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. was a visitor to Twin Lakes Park today. He was there as a baseball dad, watching his son Ryan play for Frederick.

Some of the scheduled pitchers for Thursday:
Norfolk - Tim Melville and Yefry Ramirez.
Bowie - Chris Binford and Konner Wade
Frederick - Ofelky Peralta and Lucas Humpal
Delmarva - Cameron Bishop and Gray Fenter

Mychal Givens pitches in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park.

Cal Ripken Jr. and Brady Anderson watch Ripken's son, Ryan, play for Single-A Frederick at Twin Lakes Park.