Showalter and Alvarez comments, plus other notes after O's loss to Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla. - During a game that took 3 hours, 19 minutes, where his team allowed runs in five different innings, Orioles manager Buck Showalter saw some good and not so good today.

On a plus note, Pedro Alvarez played for the first time as an Oriole. He crushed a 1-1 pitch in the top of the first for an RBI double during a 1-for-3 day. But O's pitchers allowed 15 hits and 10 walks in a 14-5 loss to Minnesota. The Orioles are 1-11-2.

"Yeah, he (Alvarez) was solid," Showalter said. "I know he was happy to get out there. Looked good. I thought he got the first ball, but he said he got it a little on the end. He had a lot of bounce in his step today.

"You know we play in so many conditions in the spring that you don't play in during the season, it's really a challenge to evaluate. But I do know, nine walks (was not good) or whatever it was. I thought (Vance) Worley threw the ball well and (Parker) Bridwell continues to have a good spring. You can probably hold your voice down after that."

You have to wonder what the O's concern level is with right-hander Miguel Gonzalez. He has allowed six or more runs twice now in three starts. He gave up six runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings today and sports a spring ERA of 22.24. Is it too deep into spring to say it's still early for him?

"That depends on how they pitch," Showalter said. "No, you like to see everybody be good every time out to feel good. But the reality is you ask them to do something and work on something and through that sometimes you don't look as crisp as you're going to be. Usually, depending on how much service time they have, whether they say, 'Heck with this. I'm going to get back in compete mode.' That takes over, too. Just frustrating to see our guys throw the ball so poorly command-wise. That is something we can't do.

"Miguel is not as crisp as he needs to be and he knows that. I have a lot of confidence he'll pick it up as we go forward. Just little things. Not quite the finish on a breaking ball that he is going to have. Not quite ... little life, more on the fastball. I think more than anything location. Guys with good track records sometimes struggle this time of the year."

While Worley threw two perfect innings and Bridwell pitched a scoreless eighth, young right-hander Hunter Harvey gave up five runs on two walks and three hits in one-third of an inning in the sixth.

"Hunter, his last couple of outings, he's just been out of synch. He doesn't feel right mechanically, you can tell. Early on, he was real good. Coming off some of the things he's had, I think it is time for him to take a deep breath and get a couple good sides under his belt and feel good mechanically. Can you imagine having that type of arm and good stuff and an assortment of pitches and not be able to get to it?

"He's going to be fine. Hunter is going to be fine. He's a good one and we're lucky to have him."

Christian Walker went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and is batting .273.

"Walker continues to have a good spring. He has swung the bat good since the day he got here," Showalter said.

Here are some comments from Alvarez on his first Orioles game:

On the double in the first: "First and foremost, I'm just very excited and happy to be out there today, getting the opportunity to play. When you can do something like that, it kind of puts icing on the cake a little bit, on top of things. I'm glad to get a couple of ABs and a couple of reps out there today."

How did it feel to finally play?: "It felt pretty good. It felt pretty good. I stood in on some live arm (batting practice) yesterday for a little bit. I felt pretty good, surprisingly good for having a couple of weeks off."

On Showalter saying he will possibly play in the field and not be just a DH: "That's what I intend on doing as well. I came here with the intention of helping out in every facet and I know that means playing the field, too, and that's what I want to do, too. Again, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities I'm going to be given, and I'm thinking right along with Skip."

On playing again with former Vanderbilt teammate Ryan Flaherty: "It's been fun. It's been fun, just picking on him whenever I can. It's good to be back."

Has Flaherty provided him info on the Orioles?: "Yeah, he's been great. Everything I've been hearing for the last few years, just how good of an organization it is and how great the guys are. Now I get to experience it first-hand. Honestly, he's showed me the ropes and it helps making the transition. It's a lot easier when you can have someone like that."

Showalter indicated the Orioles will not announce any roster cuts later today or tonight. They may have a host of them on Monday.