What to make of the spring training stats

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play their first 2020 spring training game tomorrow when they meet the Atlanta Braves in North Port, Fla., at the Braves' new spring home.

Starting then we begin keeping score and keeping stats. Some players will have strong springs on the stat sheet and some will not.

A few things to keep in mind about the spring games:

The win-loss record means nothing: This one should be obvious. A great or poor spring record does not foretell what the club will do once the games count for real. It's nice to win a few but it just doesn't matter much. But, yep, they'll still keep score every day.

The prospects may again have to wait their turn: This one we really learned late last spring. Players such as Chance Sisco, Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle and Yusniel Diaz did well in spring games, but it didn't get them on the opening day roster. A rebuilding Orioles team will err on the side of individual player development in roster decisions right now, and no one will be rushed. There is no reason to do it.

So, while some of the previously mentioned four players could find their way to the opening day roster this time, others will have to wait. This is their chance to make a nice impression and get their season off to a solid start. Time to plant some seeds.

The stats are almost completely meaningless for many players: Will anyone really worry if Trey Mancini has a statistically poor spring? You shouldn't. Same goes for others, such as John Means and Hanser Alberto, for instance. While that duo has just one year's worth of a track record in the majors, they've likely done enough to avoid any stress over a poor spring on the stat sheet. Others competing for a rotation spot or roster spot will want to put up some numbers.

The team looks at spring stats with a grain of salt. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said as much to reporters on the first day of this camp.

"Whether somebody goes 3-for-10 or 4-for-10 in camp doesn't register for us too much," Elias said. "It's more about the way a kid goes about his work, how he conducts himself, his approach with his teammates and his coaches that seems to make lasting impressions, in my experience. But it's always good to see guys do nicely. But I wouldn't put much into the performance of somebody who's coming up from the lower, mid-minors.

"We have players here that have never played in the big leagues that will have a chance to break camp, for sure, and especially the guys that are on the 40-man roster. You know, they have an inside edge with that. We're going to be keeping an eye on those guys and the competition absolutely extends to the rookies."

As always, the opening day roster will change a lot: Yep, we write stories and discuss often (and sometimes obsess over) which players will head north with the team. Then 10 or 15 games in - if not even sooner - there are usually several changes. As always, injuries will factor in. As always, players without options might make the opening day roster because they can't be sent out and the club is not ready to cut them loose. They win tiebreakers for now. The two Rule 5 pitchers will get every chance. But even if that pair makes it to opening day, they can still be sent back to their previous team at any point. It's baseball, so we should always expect change.

Enjoy this!: Hey, there is sun, fun and baseball. Revel in the fact that games are back, even if you have no idea at all who that pitcher you see in the sixth inning may be. Spring seems to be a great time for the fans in the stands. The Florida ballparks are often festive and that left field bar is not far away. Those listening and watching at home might be jealous but hey, grab a flight and get on down here!

The Sarasota dateline tells all that I have arrived in Florida. I'll be filing stories here for the next month or so and will broadcast 12 games on Orioles.com, starting with the opener tomorrow.