Showalter on a variety of topics (with photos)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make cuts today and Sunday. There will be a significant number of pitchers sent to minor league camp as innings become more precious.

Manager Buck Showalter said he's leaning toward carrying a position player rather than an extra pitcher to fill Chris Davis' roster spot on opening day. Davis has one more game to serve on his suspension.

"If we're not ready to go physically with the 12 pitchers we've got, something is wrong," Showalter said. "We should be fine with the off-day sitting there. We've been looking at that, about how we're going to start the season. "

For anyone attempting to predict the order of the five starting pitchers at the beginning of the season, Showalter issued a warning this morning.

"I know you will and should handicap our five pitchers like one to five," Showalter said, "but we'll probably actually have somebody in a slot that you may question just because the matchup is better."

Showalter said again that Matt Wieters will determine how many innings he catches today against the Puerto Rico Development Program and Sunday against a Pirates B team.

Wieters will take Monday off and start behind the plate Tuesday against the Twins in Sarasota.

"He threw today and he throws better each time," Showalter said. "Today was the first day we had a clock on him throwing. Pretty good. He's ready. I think unless something happens the next couple days, he'll be ready on Tuesday."

Showalter doesn't know whether Puerto Rico's runners have the green light to steal with Wieters catching.

"I don't think they're running," Showalter said. "If they do, that's fine if they want to work on it. We're not going to get in that way.

"This is like a junior national team. I think it's a bunch of 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds that aren't signed professionally, so we'll be taping the game."

Showalter said he doesn't have more or less confidence that Wieters will be ready on opening day.

"I have the same amount," he said. "I have confidence that it's just a matter of when. I feel better about where when's going to be. I know he's excited about it. You see each process is another step. I think today he's kind of anxious to see how his legs feel. He's done more with his legs this spring than he normally does because he knows he's going to start later. I'm kind of curious to see how many innings he wants to catch today.

"John (Russell) thinks his arm is going to be stronger probably than it ever has been. He had a year off, basically. He was talking about how well the ball is coming out of his hand. You can tell by Matt's face. We put the clock on him today for the first time and that was real encouraging because we know where he is when he's normal. With nobody running, he's there. If you came out here and watched him throw, you wouldn't think he'd ever been hurt."

Showalter figures that Wieters' bat will heat up once he's wearing the catching gear. Wieters is 0-for-20 this spring.

"I've got a bet today that I think he'll win," Showalter said. "I don't know if it will be today or Tuesday. But that's the least thing that I'm worried about. He's leading our club in plate appearances right now. That's why I want to catch up (Ryan) Lavarnway and Caleb (Joseph) a little bit. They're the only ones who are really behind in plate appearances."

The list of Orioles position players taking part in the game vs. Puerto Rico include Christian Walker, Dariel Alvarez, Paul Janish, Nolan Reimold, Joseph and Lavarnway.

Joseph and Lavarnway will serve as designated hitters because they're "behind in at-bats," according to Showalter.

I asked Showalter about the difficulty in finding room at Triple-A Norfolk for all the catchers who don't make the opening day roster.

"That's a good problem to have, like with pitching," Showalter said. "Dan (Duquette) and I have talked about it. We're aware of it. It's a good thing and we're doing some things.

"You know we're barely a third of the way through, so you start making plans and all of a sudden you've got two injuries and are scrambling again. So, we're in a good position. We like where we are. And I think it usually sorts itself out. But we're talking about some things."

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen opposes the Pirates' Vance Worley on Sunday in Bradenton. The Pirates are starting left-hander Francico Liriano in the B game in Sarasota, while the Orioles send Kevin Gausman to the mound.

Matt Wieters throws to third during a drill.

Manager Buck Showalter gathers his players during Saturday morning drills.

Major League Baseball executive Joe Torre visited Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday.