When calling up players, O's see Norfolk and Bowie as one talent pool

SARASOTA, Fla. - During his pregame interview with reporters today, Buck Showalter was asked how much input he will have on where some of the minor league players will play this year. Is he involved on some of those decisions? He indicated he'll leave most of that to vice president Dan Duquette and director of player development Brian Graham. Showalter did emphasize that whether a player starts out in Triple-A Norfolk or Double-A Bowie, they can be called up from either club and the Orioles almost seem to consider the two affiliates interchangeable in terms of adding players to the big league club. "The Double-A and Triple-A thing, we'll take guys from Bowie as quick as we'll take them from Norfolk," Showalter said. "I'll leave that in Brian and Dan's hands, they know what they're doing. There might be some guys that played in Triple-A last year that start the year in Double-A, especially if all these extra outfielders and infielders we have, all of them are guys that we can keep, they are not out of options or anything. Hopefully our guys understand, whether they start in Double-A or Triple-A, the picking pool is the same." The Orioles shot video today of their big league players taking part in defensive drills and defensive plays to show the minor leaguers how it's done and how certain plays are executed. All the minor league managers will be showing the video to the players. Showalter praised his players for putting on a good show for the camera that could help the minor league players. The Orioles tonight announced they have optioned infielder Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk. With the assignment, the Orioles now have 44 players at major league spring training, including 12 non-roster invitees. In this game, Jake Arrieta has put up three shutout innings against the Pirates after pitching 8 2/3 scoreless frames over his previous two outings. He has fanned five so far, allowing three hits. He pitched around a leadoff double in the top of the first.