Straily: "We're just one day at a time"

Straily: "We're just one day at a time"
The latest road trip for the Orioles removes them from the cold and dampness in Boston and transports them to climate-controlled Tropicana Field, where it's always 72 degrees and usually an adventure. The Rays are the darlings of the American League East, a low-budget team holding the highest spot in the standings. They're the only division club above .500. But right behind them are the 7-10 Orioles, winners of two road series this year to leave them one short of the 2018 total. It's nice to...

Orioles split series with 8-1 win over Red Sox (updated)

Orioles split series with 8-1 win over Red Sox (updated)
BOSTON - The Red Sox put a catcher at second base today. Their starting pitcher worked an inning in relief two days ago. Their Gold Glove center fielder has the flu. Their left fielder fouled a ball off his foot yesterday and couldn't play. If the Orioles had a game screaming for them to win, this was it. They still had to go out and earn it. And without their manager for the last four innings. Dan Straily allowed only one run over five innings, Dwight Smith Jr. had a two-run homer and two-run...

Orioles waste Means start and rallies in 4-0 loss (updated)

Orioles waste Means start and rallies in 4-0 loss (updated)
BOSTON - John Means gave the Orioles five innings today. Gave them a gritty effort with easy stretches, one jam escaped and minimal damage in another. Gave them reasons to consider him for a longer stay in the rotation. Alex Cobb is expected back next weekend, leaving Means to wonder how he's going to be handled. He'll let the people above his pay grade make the decision. Means complicated it by holding the Red Sox to one run in his second major league start, the deficit too much for the...

Means, Fry and tonight's Orioles lineup

Means, Fry and tonight's Orioles lineup
The bullpen bond that John Means has formed with Paul Fry will be interrupted at least temporarily when he moves into the rotation Tuesday night against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Means doesn't know how long he'll be starting. He replaced TBD on Tuesday, a major league career consisting of four relief appearances about to take another turn. Maybe it's one and done, with Dan Straily replacing him, or manager Brandon Hyde could give him another shot. A team in need of dependable relief is...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Trey Mancini made only two starts in right field coming into the season, both as a rookie in 2017. He learned to play left after moving off first base. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wanted him to become more acclimated to right and expand his versatility on a club that prioritizes it. It's become more than just an experiment. Mancini has been the right fielder in four of the first seven games, with Dwight Smith Jr. hunkered down in left. "It feels good," Mancini said before yesterday's 8-4...

Wrapping up reception for Davis, O's pitching and 8-4 loss

Wrapping up reception for Davis, O's pitching and 8-4 loss
The cheering that accompanied Chris Davis down the orange carpet this afternoon in the Orioles' home opener had the same lasting power as a bubble blown through a wand. Fans lost patience again with the first strikeout and vented harder with the next two. They cheered his replacement, Hanser Alberto, who pinch-hit in the eighth inning in an 8-4 loss to the Yankees. The bubble burst. Alberto's single only sharpened the criticism toward Davis, who's 0-for-17 with four walks and 11...

Harvey getting good results in minor league camp

Harvey getting good results in minor league camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The clubhouse filled up this afternoon with numerous officials from the Major League Baseball Players Association, including former Orioles outfielders Jeffrey Hammonds and Bobby Bonilla, making the Ed Smith Stadium complex their latest stop for the annual round of meetings, which attracted players from minor league camp who are on the 40-man roster and therefore included in the discussions. The hugs were plentiful as Hunter Harvey, Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, DJ Stewart,...

Trumbo on knee and debut, Cashner on latest start (O's win 6-4)

Trumbo on knee and debut, Cashner on latest start (O's win 6-4)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The process of trying to get Mark Trumbo ready for opening day accelerated this afternoon with his two at-bats in his spring debut against the Blue Jays. No more cages and simulated games. Trumbo batted for the first time with one out and nobody on base in the bottom of the first inning. He got ahead 3-1 in the count, swung through a Marcus Stroman fastball, stayed alive on a couple of foul tips and bounced to shortstop Richard Ureña. Eight pitches total and a sprint up the...

Bleier: "I feel great right now" (O's lose 6-1, Hyde quotes added)

Bleier: "I feel great right now" (O's lose 6-1, Hyde quotes added)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The wait is over for Richard Bleier. So, too, are the requests for updates on his recovery from lat surgery and progress toward getting back on a mound. Bleier made his spring debut tonight by starting the top of the fifth inning against the Yankees. He allowed three runs - only one earned - and three hits with one strikeout. Manager Brandon Hyde removed him at 19 pitches, including 15 strikes, with a runner on first base and two outs. Two soft doubles poked to right field. A...

Wright stays on roll while unsure of role (O's lose 5-4)

Wright stays on roll while unsure of role (O's lose 5-4)
BRADENTON, Fla. - No matter what role fits Mike Wright in the eyes of manager Brandon Hyde, the most important point is how the right-hander has done everything needed to stay with the club. Leaving nothing to chance. Wright is out of options but he hasn't run out of time. Three more scoreless innings today against the Pirates raised his total to 10. If there's no room in the rotation, especially with early off-days eliminating the need for a fifth starter until April 10, the Orioles can...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
SARASOTA, Fla. - The lessons that are distributed in Orioles camp don't skip past the manager's office. Brandon Hyde is finding out a lot about his team, the layers of mystery peeled away as the days pass. "I'll tell you what, I just like our guys," Hyde said yesterday while standing in the visiting dugout at Charlotte Sports Park. "I like the way our guys work. I didn't know what kind of work ethic our guys had. I didn't know how guys prepared. I didn't know the makeup of our players...

Sucre's arrival, Karns update, Davis' start and more (O's down 4-0)

Sucre's arrival, Karns update, Davis' start and more (O's down 4-0)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Jesús Sucre arrived in the Miami late last night, according to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, and he's expected in camp today. Sucre finally got his work visa and left Venezuela. Hyde estimated that the veteran might need less than a week of workouts before he's ready to play. "I'm going to ask him what he's been doing," Hyde said. "I don't even know really, to be honest with you, how much game stuff he's been doing. But I think realistically four or five...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
SARASOTA, Fla. - The competition for a spot or two in the back end of the Orioles rotation is ongoing and intriguing given the number of candidates and their varying pedigrees. Manager Brandon Hyde has a long way to go before coming to any conclusions, though he keeps getting asked about it less than a week into the exhibition schedule. "Still really early," Hyde said. "I've been around long enough to know that you can take only so much stock in spring training. I've seen guys have...

Cashner on Brocail, Carroll on last year's rookie experience

Cashner on Brocail, Carroll on last year's rookie experience
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles starter Andrew Cashner knew about the club's decision to hire Doug Brocail as pitching coach days before the news leaked. He kept it to himself, his approval muted until he arrived in camp. He wasn't going to be the one to break the story. They have a history. Cashner posted a 3.40 ERA in 28 starts with the Rangers in 2017 while working with Brocail, prompting former executive vice president Dan Duquette to give him a two-year deal worth a guaranteed $16...

Harvey impresses in live batting practice session (and other notes)

Harvey impresses in live batting practice session (and other notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini walked out of the cage today, passed Hunter Harvey in front of the bench and suggested that the right-hander stick with everything that he's doing in camp. If it ain't broke ... Mancini was smiling as he said it, a touch of sarcasm sprinkled in after Harvey locked him up during live batting practice. "He looked really good," Mancini said following the Orioles penultimate workout before Saturday's exhibition opener against the Twins. "Everything was working...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
I'm drawing closer to again making it through an offseason without running out of material. There were some narrow escapes along the way, especially with no media access to minicamp, but here we are, days away from the steady flow of spring training reports. I'm sitting on some leftovers, which can get messy. A comfortable chair would make more sense. For example, here's Trey Mancini on Cedric Mullins, who's expected to start in center field on opening day: "He's a really impressive...

Bonding process continues to unfold in Orioles organization

Bonding process continues to unfold in Orioles organization
New Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is seeking ways to familiarize himself with his players, the minicamp earlier this month in Sarasota and Saturday's FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center providing two convenient and effective methods. The coaches are learning about the players, Hyde as a manager and each other. Much of it happens behind the scenes, but the enthusiasm was put on display over the weekend. From the first floor to the third. Hyde has delivered a message to his staff...

Getting to know the new coaching staff

Getting to know the new coaching staff
DJ Stewart cut through the media room Saturday at FanFest, spotted Richie Martin and yelled "Noles!" The Rule 5 pick stopped the interview, smiled and replied "Gators!" The trash talk should be fun at spring training. Meanwhile, six of the eight coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff participated in FanFest and were introduced to the media. John Wasdin and Howie Clark recognized some of the faces because they already were part of the organization, the former switching from minor league...

Orioles announce coaching staff for 2019 season

Orioles announce coaching staff for 2019 season
The Orioles have unveiled their coaching staff for the 2019 season under new manager Brandon Hyde and it includes one holdover from last summer. Howie Clark returns as assistant hitting coach after the Orioles offered him a minor league contract following the expiration of his previous deal on Oct. 31. He'll work with new hitting coach Don Long, who spent the past five seasons with the Reds and replaces Scott Coolbaugh. Tim Cossins has been named major league field coordinator and catching...

Checking on the coaches

Checking on the coaches
Have the Orioles completed their coaching staff for the 2019 season? They seem to be done as long as the latest names to surface are accurate and there isn't a sudden change of plans. I'm hearing that Howie Clark is likely to return after serving as assistant hitting coach for the past two seasons. He was offered a minor league contract after his deal expired on Oct. 31, but he's in line to be included on manager Brandon Hyde's staff. Clark served as Single-A Delmarva's hitting coach in...