Orioles moving on to finalization of roster for opening day

Orioles moving on to finalization of roster for opening day
The Orioles must turn in their opening day roster by noon Thursday and decide whether anyone else is headed for the injured list. They must sort through the pile of ailing players and figure out if it's smarter to just remove guys from the pool and send them to the alternate camp in Bowie. It's a job so big, they should hire interns. Infielder Richie Martin underwent wrist surgery and is on the 60-day injured list, pitcher Ty Blach had a ligament reconstructed in his left elbow and utility...

Orioles still don't know whether John Means can start opener

Orioles still don't know whether John Means can start opener
The Orioles are waiting to find out the results of Stevie Wilkerson's visit today to a hand specialist and should be able to gather more information later this afternoon. Wilkerson had swelling in his left ring finger after making a diving catch last night in Philadelphia. He's become a candidate for the injured list. John Means isn't throwing while trying to work through a dead-arm period. He's just receiving treatment and the Orioles aren't sure about his status for opening day. "John...

Updating Means, exhibition pitchers and more

Updating Means, exhibition pitchers and more
The Orioles remain uncertain about John Means' status for opening day, though there's been improvement in the condition of his left arm. Manager Brandon Hyde said the club remains in day-to-day mode with Means. "He felt a lot better today," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call with the media. "Has done a lot of treatment today. We haven't made a decision on that yet, but obviously we need to do that here in the next couple days." The Orioles won't use a starter on short rest if...

Delays for Santander and Smith could mean starts for Stewart

Delays for Santander and Smith could mean starts for Stewart
Rio Ruiz's fly ball was slicing toward the left field line. DJ Stewart was racing to it. Could have been a double, could have been an out with flair. Could have been an injury to Stewart, who made a sensational diving catch and really felt it. Stewart rose to his feet and bent forward for a couple of seconds. He straightened, reached for his right ribcage and motioned to center fielder Andrew Velazquez that he was fine. The first intrasquad game featuring crowd noise piped into the ballpark...

Recapping today's workout, Santander's second day on the field

Recapping today's workout, Santander's second day on the field
The Orioles didn't play an intrasquad game today, devoting the hours on the field to live batting practice and workout drills. Alex Cobb threw live BP after John Means started last night. Wade LeBlanc is expected to pitch Thursday night to stay in line for the opening series in Boston. Anthony Santander stood in the box against Cobb and appeared to be tracking pitches rather than hunting for something to hit. He did the same from the right side against Rob Zastryzny. Also throwing today during...

Mountcastle gets more work in left field, Milone retires 15 of 16

Mountcastle gets more work in left field, Milone retires 15 of 16
Ryan Mountcastle was given another look in left field tonight for the "visiting" Orioles in their intrasquad game at Camden Yards. Use him before they lose him. Both teams had a full outfield, which in itself is a noteworthy achievement. Mountcastle, Andrew Velazquez and Mason Williams for the team wearing white. DJ Stewart, Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins for the team in orange. Both lineups held 10 players. The Orioles suddenly are overflowing - though still minus outfielders Dwight Smith...

Orioles finalize plans to use Bowie stadium as alternate camp site

Orioles finalize plans to use Bowie stadium as alternate camp site
The final arrangements have been completed on the Orioles' alternate summer camp site. The club is using the Prince George's Stadium facility in Bowie, which is the home of the Double-A Baysox. Preparations are ongoing to get the complex ready and the first full workout is expected to be held on Thursday morning. There are 53 players working out at Camden Yards, with the last eight additions ticketed for Bowie. That group consists of outfielder/infielder Ryan Mountcastle, outfielders Mason...

Players unable to work out losing chance for opening day roster

Players unable to work out losing chance for opening day roster
Time is running out for players who can't participate in summer training camp to make the Orioles 30-man opening day roster. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't reference outfielders Dwight Smith Jr. and Anthony Santander, who have been held out of workouts and intrasquad games - the assumption being that it's linked to COVID-19 testing - but there are 13 days left before the beginning of the season. Santander was projected to start in one of the corners and Smith had a shot at the other - or at...

Cobb sharp in debut before pitch limit; Martin, Tate banged up

Cobb sharp in debut before pitch limit; Martin, Tate banged up
Alex Cobb had one outfielder behind him tonight as he worked the first inning of an Orioles intrasquad game. So he did the smart thing. He kept the ball in the infield. A wise strategy that he implemented throughout his outing. A couple of grounders and a chopper in the first got Cobb back in the home dugout with minimal effort. A leadoff walk to Chance Sisco in the second was followed by a bouncer, strikeout and ground ball. Richie Martin grounded out leading off the third and Bryan Holaday...

Iglesias and Blach make brief appearances in intrasquad game

Iglesias and Blach make brief appearances in intrasquad game
Not only did José Iglesias make it into tonight's intrasquad game at Camden Yards, but he doubled off John Means into an empty right field in the top of the first inning and stroked another double into left-center in the third. That's one way to remove the concerns about your back. Or at least get the media off the one belonging to manager Brandon Hyde, who provided updates the past two days. However, Iglesias was hobbled as he ran the bases, twice came out for a pinch-runner and was...

Update on Iglesias, tonight's intrasquad and Cobb

Update on Iglesias, tonight's intrasquad and Cobb
Orioles shortstop José Iglesias could be available to play in tonight's intrasquad game at Camden Yards after missing last night's affair. Manager Brandon Hyde said Iglesias' back has improved and the veteran is a gametime decision. He'll test it later this afternoon before the club determines his status. Iglesias also sat out Tuesday's workout because of the discomfort. "We're going to go through all the pregame stuff with him and make a decision," Hyde said in today's Zoom...

Iglesias sitting out tonight's intrasquad game (and other notes)

Iglesias sitting out tonight's intrasquad game (and other notes)
Orioles shortstop José Iglesias won't play in tonight's intrasquad game at Camden Yards due to soreness in his back that kept him out of yesterday's workout. Manager Brandon Hyde said it's a precautionary move and is hoping that Iglesias will be available on Thursday. Tonight's game is going to be relaxed, which is typical of intrasquad settings. Hyde said he'll use some "ghost defenders" rather than filling every position. "You'll see a not full field out there," Hyde said during...

Elias: "So far we are expecting full participation"

Elias: "So far we are expecting full participation"
Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said today that he anticipates having a full roster and staffs for the beginning of spring training 2.0. Camps open on Friday after testing for COVID-19 is conducted two days earlier. Multiple players on other teams already have decided to sit out the 2020 season, which is reduced to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross and the Diamondbacks' Mike Leake opted out today. "After a great...

Reviewing the weekend's activity

Reviewing the weekend's activity
The past two days have been productive for the Orioles and media covering the team. An announcement was made Saturday afternoon on the signings of draft picks Jordan Westburg, their Competitive Balance Round A selection and the 30th overall pick, and outfielder Hudson Haskin, their second-rounder and the 39th overall. And yesterday brought confirmation on 44 of the 60 players who will be tossed in the pool for spring training 2.0. More players will be announced later in the week. The Orioles...

Orioles announce 44 of 60 players in pool

Orioles announce 44 of 60 players in pool
The Orioles are preparing for their second spring training, or first summer camp if that's the preferred description, by revealing the majority of their 60-player pool earlier today. Forty-four players have been announced and outfielder Trey Mancini goes on the 60-day injured list to leave the 40-man roster at 38 players. The injured list eventually will be reduced to 45 days, but Mancini won't play in 2020 while undergoing chemotherapy treatments following his colon cancer surgery in...

Because You Asked - I Want to Believe

Because You Asked - I Want to Believe
Because I've become quite adept at disappointing fans who seek answers from me during the coronavirus pandemic, I'm comfortable opening my latest "mailbag" and also putting the word in quotation marks. With all of the binge-watching that's taking place in households around the world, I'm hoping that you'll happily accept my latest sequel. Try to fit it in between episodes of "Ozark" and "Tiger King." In a related story, I haven't seen either one. I actually thought the latter was a...

How it might look in 2020: O's outfield

How it might look in 2020: O's outfield
Over the next few weeks, let's take a look at some aspects of the Orioles and how they were shaping up at the time that spring training was halted. Today, a look at the outfield. Earlier, I made my projection for the five-man rotation in this entry and an infield with a roster of seven in this entry. While we may see rosters larger than 26 players when baseball does start this year, we are going with a roster of 26 for this exercise. So with five in the rotation and eight in the bullpen...

Reviewing the Orioles' 40-man roster and upcoming decisions

Reviewing the Orioles' 40-man roster and upcoming decisions
While checking eBay to see whether anyone is selling liquid hand soap ... I accepted the challenge on Twitter yesterday of naming five jobs that I held before becoming a sportswriter, and discovered that I couldn't complete the list. I've literally only had five jobs: * "Unskilled labor" for a construction company the summer before college, which I'm certain was suggested by my parents to ensure that I'd go to college. * A clerk at Glen Burnie Bingo on Richie Highway, where I'd often...

Taking an Orioles quiz during the shutdown

Taking an Orioles quiz during the shutdown
With no baseball to be played or watched on a Sunday, what better substitute than a pop quiz on the Orioles? Oh, please, no need to thank me. This is the coronavirus edition. Extra credit awarded for expanding on "none of the above" by making a prediction. The Orioles' fifth starter will be: A. Tommy Milone B. Kohl Stewart C. A player who wasn't in camp D. None of the above The backup catcher will be: A. Chance Sisco B. Austin Wynns C. Bryan Holaday D. None of the above The right fielder on...

Orioles option four players

Orioles option four players
The Orioles whittled their camp roster to 50 players this afternoon while making their first moves since baseball's shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pitcher David Hess, infielder/outfielder Ryan Mountcastle, outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Ramón Urías have been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. No cuts had been announced since left-hander Keegan Akin was optioned to the Tides back on March 10. A few competitions gained some clarity today. Mullins was a candidate to make the...