This, that and the other

SARASOTA, Fla. - Welcome to the spring training edition of "This, that and the other." It's pretty much the same as the Maryland edition, only with tan lines. Executive vice president Dan Duquette wouldn't comment yesterday on the club's level of interest in Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler. Fred Ferreira, the organization's executive director of international recruiting, flew to the Dominican Republic over the weekend to scout Soler and five other Cuban players. I guess that counts as interest. Duquette said it doesn't benefit the Orioles to talk about Soler. He doesn't see the point in tipping his hand to the rest of the baseball industry. The chance to assist me with a blog entry didn't sway his opinion. Duquette basically said that if the Orioles sign Soler, they sign him, and if they don't, they don't. I'll take a big leap here and say there must be a least some level of interest, since he included the first part of that sentence. Do I think it will happen? No. As I've written, I'll always be skeptical until the Orioles make a big splash in the international market. So far, no cannonballs. I don't have to watch Chris Davis take batting practice. I can hear him. The ball explodes off Davis' bat. It makes a distinct sound. I know it's him without turning around. Matt Wieters caught Dylan Bundy's bullpen session yesterday. Here's what he had to say about the first-round pick: "I thought it was good. It's another bullpen session in camp. He's come in and he's not overwhelmed. You'll really be able to tell once you get in there with the hitters, but he's got good stuff and we're going to keep working with him to get better." Reliever Willie Eyre, who didn't throw off a mound yesterday because of tightness in his right groin area, said his hips also felt tight. Smart move to stop warming up and head to the training room. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more athletic player in the clubhouse than outfielder Scott Beerer. The guy looks like he could bend the foul pole into a pretzel, he's supposedly faster than Nolan Reimold, and he confirmed something manager Buck Showalter said about him being able to do a back flip from a standing position. One minute, Beerer could be waiting for a bus, and then ... bam ... a back flip. Beerer worked out with Brady Anderson over the winter and enjoyed the gymnastics routines, including the handstands. Speaking of which, Brian Matusz said his handstands, designed to improve shoulder stability, lasted about 10 seconds - or 10 more than mine. What about Anderson? "He can do a handstand for a couple minutes, walk down the mat for like 20 yards and come back and do a couple push-ups in the handstand position. He's ridiculous," Matusz said. "It's fun, a bunch of the guys getting in the weight room and competing and pushing each other to get stronger. It's fun. Brady is always really creative with his workouts." The Orioles released their minor league spring training schedule, so feel free to visit Twin Lakes Park. Here it is: March 14 AAA/AA @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte A Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 15 AAA/AA Boston 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Boston 12:30 p.m. Ft. Myers March 16 AAA/AA @ Boston 12:30 p.m. Ft. Myers A Boston 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 17 AAA/AA Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte March 19 AAA/AA @ Minnesota 12:00 p.m. Ft. Myers A Minnesota 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 20 AAA/AA Minnesota 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Minnesota 12:00 p.m. Ft. Myers March 21 AAA/AA @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte A Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 22 AAA/AA Boston 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Boston 12:30 p.m. Ft. Myers March 23 AAA/AA @ Boston 12:30 p.m. Ft. Myers A Boston 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 24 AAA/AA Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte March 26 AAA/AA @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte A Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 27 AAA/AA Minnesota 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Minnesota 12:00 p.m. Ft. Myers March 28 AAA/AA @ Minnesota 12:00 p.m. Ft. Myers A Minnesota 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 29 AAA/AA @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte A Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex March 30 AAA/AA Boston 12:30 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Boston 12:30 p.m. Ft. Myers March 31 AAA/AA Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Buck O'Neil Complex A @ Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m. Pt. Charlotte And finally, if you're craving more baseball talk and it's become awkward talking to the mirror, I've got a suggestion. Zion Lutheran Church will hold its second annual baseball talk at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27 in the church's sanctuary, 2215 Brandywine Lane, York, Pa. This year's event features: Mel Antonen, baseball writer for SI.com and MASN and a Sirius/XM talk show host; Dan Connolly, Orioles/national baseball writer for The Baltimore Sun; and Jim Seip, York Revolution beat writer for the York Daily Record/York Sunday News. The writers will present their thoughts on the upcoming baseball season - Orioles, Phillies, Nationals, all MLB, plus the Revolution and the Atlantic League -- and will answer questions from the audience. There is no admission fee, but a freewill offering will be taken to benefit the church's youth ministry program. For more information, contact the church at 717-767-4673.