Yesterday's loss, today's game and making concessions

Yesterday's loss, today's game and making concessions
The disappointment of yesterday's 5-3 loss in Toronto should be softened by the realization that few people outside the most optimistic and unrealistic predicted four wins on a six-game road trip introducing a 2019 season that's extremely low on expectations. A season all about the rebuild and what's best for the long-term plan. Instant gratification isn't the primary goal, but can happen in spite of it. The big fear was an 0-6 start and a team staggering into today's home opener against...

Orioles trade Susac to Royals

Orioles trade Susac to Royals
The Orioles loosened the catching logjam at Triple-A Norfolk. Andrew Susac has been traded to the Royals for cash considerations, with the announcement coming from both clubs. Chance Sisco and Carlos Pérez remain with the Tides and Austin Wynns is at extended spring training while recovering from a strained oblique. Norfolk didn't need a third catcher on the active roster. Martin Cervenka and Cael Brockmeyer were assigned to Double-A Bowie. The Orioles have been seeking a trade partner for...

Notes on the rotation, catching situation and lineup possibilities

Notes on the rotation, catching situation and lineup possibilities
NEW YORK - A rotation that already is going to be slower to evolve than the standard models became more unpredictable with Alex Cobb's groin injury and subsequent trip to the 10-day injured list. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has given Andrew Cashner the opening day assignment this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Cashner and Dylan Bundy were supposed to vie for Saturday's start, but it goes to Nate Karns as the season's first "opener." Bundy takes the mound for Sunday's series finale and...

Checking on Orioles camp competitions

Checking on Orioles camp competitions
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde remains uncertain about numerous aspects of his opening day roster. The final rotation spots, the complete bullpen and outfield compositions, the two catchers heading north. The top three starters always have been Alex Cobb, Dylan Bundy and Andrew Cashner. The only drama involved which one would be on the mound March 28 at Yankee Stadium, with Cobb given the honor. Mychal Givens and Richard Bleier were locks for the bullpen, the latter just needing...

Elias explains roster decisions on Hays, Santander and Carroll

Elias explains roster decisions on Hays, Santander and Carroll
SARASOTA, Fla. - The message delivered by the Orioles this spring regarding the importance of camp competitions and fighting for available jobs clashed this morning with a round of roster cuts that included outfielders Austin Hays and Anthony Santander and reliever Cody Carroll. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias explained the decisions and more while meeting with the media for about 10 minutes inside the home dugout at Ed Smith Stadium. "I don't think competition in the...

Critiquing camp again as O's creep closer to opening day (updated)

Critiquing camp again as O's creep closer to opening day (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles get their first and only off-day of spring training, closing the Ed Smith Stadium complex and encouraging a mental and physical break from the grind. Cuts may not happen today, but more are coming now that the Orioles moved past Saturday's split-squad games. They can afford to continue thinning out the camp roster. Five catchers remain and fewer are needed as pitchers are optioned and reassigned. However, Austin Wynns is shut down, leaving only four who are...

Diaz and Stewart among latest Orioles camp cuts (updated)

Diaz and Stewart among latest Orioles camp cuts (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles pared seven players from their spring training roster this afternoon, including outfielders Yusniel Diaz and DJ Stewart. Pitcher Dillon Tate was optioned to Double-A Bowie while Stewart and pitcher Luis Ortiz were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Diaz, catcher Martin Cervenka and pitchers Sean Gilmartin and Bo Schultz have been reassigned to minor league camp because they aren't on the 40-man roster. Diaz was one of the camp standouts, going 11-for-33 with three...

Orioles slug four homers in wild split-squad win over Rays

Orioles slug four homers in wild split-squad win over Rays
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - In a game where Dylan Bundy gave up six runs and the Orioles made six errors and lost an eight-run lead, they still won today. A Baltimore split squad beat the Tampa Bay Rays 17-15 at Charlotte Sports Park in the wildest game of spring training to date. It was every bit as crazy as the score might suggest. The game did feature two long home runs by O's prospects Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays, and four homers in all for the Orioles. Rio Ruiz had a three-run shot and...

Wrapping up a 9-6 win

Wrapping up a 9-6 win
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - What else must Richie Martin do in order to make the Orioles roster on opening day besides stay healthy? Plenty of games remain on the docket before they break camp, but Martin seems to be doing everything right. The slick fielding. The speed and hustle on the basepaths. The hits that keep coming following his breakout offensive year at the Double-A level that didn't motivate the Athletics to protect him in the Rule 5 draft. Given another start at shortstop today, Martin...

Notes on Mountcastle, Young, Yacabonis, catching and coaches

Notes on Mountcastle, Young, Yacabonis, catching and coaches
SARASOTA, Fla. - With so much attention given to Ryan Mountcastle's repetitions and game experience at first base, his slow start at the plate barely drew notice. One hit in 13 at-bats from an upper-tier prospect who usually can roll out of bed and square up a fastball. But what about the glove? How does he look at first? Is he really changing positions again? Talent wins out again. Mountcastle entered yesterday's game with four hits in his last six at-bats. Driving the ball into the gap and...

Wrapping up a 9-4 win

Wrapping up a 9-4 win
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Renato Núñez is a third baseman by trade who had no issues with moving across the diamond this afternoon. He's just trying to make the club. The glove won't be a primary reason if it happens. It's the bat that keeps teams intrigued and Núñez's might be heating up. Núñez crushed a fastball from Twins reliever Addison Reed in the third inning, his grand slam to left-center field giving the Orioles a lead they didn't surrender in a 9-4 win. Jordany...

Sucre is safe away from home and trying to win a job with Orioles

Sucre is safe away from home and trying to win a job with Orioles
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nate Karns will pitch in his second spring training game Tuesday while coming out of the bullpen against the Pirates in Sarasota. Karns didn't experience any discomfort in his right arm following Saturday's bullpen session and will get back on the mound after Alex Cobb makes the start. The Orioles backed off Karns, skipping him Friday night in Tampa in favor of left-hander John Means, after he felt that he didn't bounce back in normal fashion following last Monday's debut...

Notes on Sucre and Bleier before today's game

Notes on Sucre and Bleier before today's game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Jesús Sucre hasn't reported to Orioles camp, but his locker is back. Set up in the same spot before his nameplate disappeared and Cael Brockmeyer arrived from Twin Lakes Park. Sucre has been detained in Venezuela while trying to obtain his work visa. Manager Brandon Hyde's latest update this week included how the paperwork almost was finalized. The Orioles inked Sucre, 30, to a minor league deal on Feb. 1 and invited him to spring training, the idea to toss him...

A look at Martin Cervenka's journey to pro ball and the Orioles

 A look at Martin Cervenka's journey to pro ball and the Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - He's a professional baseball player, but where he is from, he's not well known by sports fans. In his second year in the Orioles organization, 26-year-old catcher Martin Cervenka is from Prague, Czech Republic. He's an interesting guy that speaks four languages, is sound defensively, and is trying to emerge from a crowded catching competition in camp and pull off a big upset by making the opening day roster. He's probably a long shot, but Cervenka just being in this camp is...

More from Hyde following today's rain-soaked workout

More from Hyde following today's rain-soaked workout
SARASOTA, Fla. - The rain and chill in the air didn't prevent the Orioles from having a productive first workout for their pitchers and catchers. It just had the beat crew scrambling to find warmth. I'll say it again: Florida cold is different than anywhere else. Same temperature in Baltimore and I'd be sleeveless. Richard Bleier broke out his cutter for his latest bullpen session. No one was electrocuted while working the video equipment. The Orioles have added catcher Cael Brockmeyer to...

Catching up on an odd position battle

Catching up on an odd position battle
SARASOTA, Fla. - The report date for pitchers and catchers at Orioles camp yesterday didn't preclude a handful of position players from showing up. Mark Trumbo hit, threw and shagged fly balls on the Camden Yards replica field. Outfielder Ryan McKenna, utility candidate Chris Bostick, infielder Zach Vincej and Rule 5 infielder Richie Martin were in the clubhouse for media availability, and I heard that outfielders Trey Mancini and Mike Yastrzemski also were at the facility. What really stood...

Eyeing a few of the spring competitions at Orioles camp

Eyeing a few of the spring competitions at Orioles camp
The inviting storylines awaiting the media at spring training, less than a week before it begins, include the competitions at third base and right field and behind the plate. Other candidates can be tossed into the mix as executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias attempts to swing a few trades and/or snatches up a couple of free agents lingering on another sluggish market. One-year deals become more attractive to players as we move through February. Manager Brandon Hyde can figure...

Orioles sign Sucre to minor league deal

Orioles sign Sucre to minor league deal
The Orioles' search for a veteran catcher to toss into the spring training competition led them to Jesús Sucre, who has agreed to terms on a minor league deal. The announcement came this afternoon. Sucre's contract includes an invitation to major league camp and guarantees $850,000 if he makes the club. USA Today reported that the deal also includes a March 22 opt-out date. The 40-man roster still holds only two catchers - Austin Wynns and Chance Sisco, who were rookies in 2018. Non-roster...

Pondering a few questions as spring training gets close

Pondering a few questions as spring training gets close
The start of spring training is getting close for the Orioles. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, the first full-squad workout is Feb. 18 and the first game is set for Feb. 23. Opening day is March 28 at Yankee Stadium and a new season will be officially underway. With all this fast approaching there are still plenty of unanswered questions for the 2019 season. Here are a few of them. Who will fill out the starting rotation? In some order we know that Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan...

Eighteen non-roster players invited to Orioles spring training

Eighteen non-roster players invited to Orioles spring training
The Orioles are inviting 18 non-roster players to spring training, with the possibility of further additions depending on other moves that could be made before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12. The group of invites includes eight pitchers - right-handers Dean Kremer, Gregory Infante, Gabriel Ynoa, Zach Pop, Josh Lucas and Bo Schultz, and left-handers Chris Lee and Sean Gilmartin. Also receiving lockers at the Ed Smith Stadium complex are catchers Martin Cervenka, Carlos Pérez and...