Buck Showalter on J.J. Hardy: "What they expected to find, they found"

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Baseball has a way of thinning out a jammed roster as camp winds down. Look at what's happening to the Orioles.

Within the past two days, we've learned that outfielder David Lough and shortstop J.J. Hardy are headed to the disabled list. Lough has hamstring and back injuries, and Hardy was diagnosed today with a subscapularis strain in his left shoulder.

That's a strained muscle. No need to get technical.

Manager Buck Showalter still was gathering information as he spoke to the media following a 6-6, 10-inning tie with the Rays. An update came before pitcher Zach Davies emerged from the clubhouse to take questions.

Hardy, a three-time Gold Glove winner, can't perform baseball activities for 10 days following today's MRI arthrogram in Sarasota.

"It's nothing serious, but it may put the opening of the season in jeopardy if it continues down the path that they told me about today," Showalter said.

Showalter added that a DL stint is "nothing that would reach into May." Hardy would be eligible to return on April 11, the second home game of the season, but that's not happening if he's shut down for the next 10 days.

"What they expected to find, they found," Showalter said. "Just a matter of how long by looking at the MRA, it would be prudent to wait to clear it all the way up. They found exactly what they thought they were going to find.

"It's pretty good news, all things considered."

It's also news that removes another starter from the lineup. Catcher Matt Wieters will join Hardy on the DL.

Told that Hardy seemed optimistic this morning before heading to his appointment, Showalter replied, "We're still optimistic. What's (not) optimistic is something that might require surgery or be longer than the timeframe that they're thinking."

Hardy was 7-for-30 (.233) with two doubles and three RBIs this spring. He batted .268/.309/.372 with 28 doubles, nine home runs and 52 RBIs in 141 games last season and received treatment at various times for hamstring, thumb and back injuries.

Hardy, 32, underwent labrum surgery in 2004 and missed most of the minor league season, and the Orioles knew today's MRI wouldn't come back clean.

The Orioles signed Hardy to a three-year, $40 million extension in October.

So what happens to the opening day roster? Ryan Flaherty, Everth Cabrera and Jimmy Paredes figure to make the club, along with an extra player who will be sent down after Chris Davis comes off the restricted list. Nolan Reimold, who walked and reached on an infield hit today, is trying to avoid a reassignment to minor league camp.

Cabrera started at shortstop today, his natural position, and reached base four times on three singles and an error.

Joey Butler hit a three-run homer off left-hander Wesley Wright with two outs in the ninth to tie the score, and Gene Escat escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the 10th. The Rays reassigned Butler after the game.

Davies allowed one run, on Evan Longoria's homer, over 3 1/3 innings in his second exhibition appearance. He also threw one inning in relief this spring.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "There was a little bit of nerves at first, kind of what to expect, but made sure that I didn't get too nervous out there and made sure it didn't affect me while I was on the mound."

Davies, who allowed five hits, walked two and struck out four, stayed in the dugout for the rest of the game after being removed for Mychal Givens in the fourth.

Asked whether Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace said anything to him, Davies replied, "They just said, 'Nice job,' and kind of went over a little bit of stuff with me. Just good job out there. Kind of simple."

Earlier in the day, he met with Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti to formulate a plan.

"I got to know a couple of their swings and had a few plans for them, but overall just enjoy it," he said.

"Not too many surprises, just happy that I got the opportunity to come out here and throw. It's nice knowing that I have a great defense behind me to play for me and just let them take care of it as well."