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...

More on the possible 30-man roster and new rules for 2020

More on the possible 30-man roster and new rules for 2020
The composition of the Orioles' second camp roster is public knowledge. We've been able to identify the first 44 players set to gather later this week at Camden Yards. We're just figuring out exactly what to call it. "Summer camp" and "spring training 2.0" are getting mixed reviews on Twitter. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias used "summer camp" in yesterday's Zoom with the media, so perhaps that makes it acceptable. Put the blame on him if anyone rebels. Also under...

Castro facing hitters this week while increasing workouts back home

Castro facing hitters this week while increasing workouts back home
The last trip to the mound by Miguel Castro in an exhibition game resulted in three batters faced and three strikeouts. He left on such a high note that it should have come with a safety net. There's no real momentum in baseball. It's been described as the next day's starting pitcher. And any drops of it would have evaporated since Castro received his congratulatory handshakes and hugs in the visiting dugout at the Yankees complex in Tampa. Castro blew through the Yankees on March 6, learned...

Recalling where Orioles played one year ago and bullpen woes

Recalling where Orioles played one year ago and bullpen woes
At the risk of rubbing salt into an open wound caused by the sports shutdown, the Orioles are supposed to be playing the Royals tonight to begin a four-game series at Camden Yards. I would have spent the following weekend in Chicago for the three-game set against the White Sox, as the season rolled merrily along. A year ago today, the Orioles were in the middle of a series against the Twins in Minnesota that treated them with concrete gloves. No kidding. The Orioles were swept by a combined...

Armstrong's strong spring and a deeper dive into Orioles bullpen

Armstrong's strong spring and a deeper dive into Orioles bullpen
The magic of video is enabling the Orioles to stay connected while spread all over the country. I've heard that reliever Shawn Armstrong was able to share a bullpen session with one of his teammates that included a fastball clocked at 97 mph. Armstrong's fastball averaged 93.9 mph last season, per BrooksBaseball.net. There is no data available on his home workouts. An expansion of rosters from 26 to 29 players for the first month enables the Orioles to carry at least a few extra relievers to...

Wondering who's impacted by expansion to 29-man roster

Wondering who's impacted by expansion to 29-man roster
The competitions for roster spots with the Orioles remain on hold during the coronavirus pandemic. Players are working out at home, a few of them posting clever videos on social media. Small children and pets are coming in handy as alternatives to gym weights. Ever done squats with a German Shepherd draped over your shoulders? These are the dog days of spring. One of the likely adjustments to baseball's season, if it happens in 2020, is inflating the active roster from 26 to 29 players for the...

Another look at what could be coming in a 2020 MLB season

Another look at what could be coming in a 2020 MLB season
The agreement between Major League Baseball owners and players this week ensures that players will get service time in 2020, even if there is not a season. While both sides seem very committed to playing this year and playing the most games possible, they did account for this scenario in their latest talks. Players on the roster all year in 2020, no matter how many games are scheduled, will also get a full year of service time. That makes sense as they would have played a full year, even if...

Latest on Orioles' spring fleeing and roster decisions

Latest on Orioles' spring fleeing and roster decisions
SARASOTA, Fla. - Night turns to day and there isn't much clarity to the Orioles' plans moving forward since Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association provided three options for teams on Friday. As it pertains to the Orioles, they can: * Stay in Sarasota for informal workouts* Return home* Head to Baltimore for informal workouts Or can they? Personnel on the minor league side at Twin Lakes Park were told to stay. An email arrived early yesterday morning with those orders, a...

Shortened spring training schedule had noteworthy moments

Shortened spring training schedule had noteworthy moments
SARASOTA, Fla. - So the Orioles' spring training schedule came to an end when Major League Baseball made its announcements on Thursday afternoon. They finished with a Grapefruit League record of 9-7-3. They got in 19 games and had 15 more remaining, including the now canceled game at the Naval Academy. The Orioles produced a winning spring training record for the third time in the last four years and fifth time in the past eight. In 2019, they were 12-17-3 in the spring. Here is a look back at...

Bullpen bringing relief to Hyde despite yesterday's issues

Bullpen bringing relief to Hyde despite yesterday's issues
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are going to be making some tough roster cuts relating to their bullpen. They didn't get any easier yesterday despite the runs allowed in Dunedin. Mychal Givens tried to work through a second inning against the Blue Jays and surrendered a two-run homer to Randal Grichuk after hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. He's on the team. Hunter Harvey was scored upon for the first time when he hit a batter and Santiago Espina launched a 96 mph fastball onto the new...

Valaika homers, LeBlanc gets win, bullpen strong late as O's beat Miami

Valaika homers, LeBlanc gets win, bullpen strong late as O's beat Miami
JUPITER, Fla. - On a day when the Orioles got just three hits, they beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 to split two games on their swing through the east coast of Florida. They head back to Sarasota with a record of 7-5-1 after a loss to Washington and win over Miami. Today they scored two runs on Pat Valaika's third spring homer and two more on a throwing error. Four bullpen pitchers put up zeros from the sixth on to lock down the win. Non-roster invitee lefty Wade LeBlanc continued his bid for a...

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins (updated)

Orioles lineup vs. Marlins (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richie Martin is starting at second base today as the Orioles continue their East Coast trip with a 1:05 p.m. game against the Marlins in Jupiter. Austin Hays is leading off and playing center field - another hint, perhaps, of where he'll be slotted on opening day. José Iglesias, who had three hits yesterday against the Nationals, is batting second. Anthony Santander remains the designated hitter. Pat Valaika is playing first base while vying for a utility job. Stevie...

Cobb on simulated game, Stewart on ankle

Cobb on simulated game, Stewart on ankle
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb was held back in camp this morning and assigned a simulated game on the Ed Smith Stadium field while left-hander John Means traveled to Clearwater. The top two starters in the Orioles rotation got in their work on the same day. Cobb threw a lengthy bullpen session prior to the sim game, with Austin Wynns catching him. The veteran right-hander has gotten over the illness that slowed him in camp and restricted him to one inning in his only exhibition start. Whatever he...

O's bullpen righty Shawn Armstrong on his winter adjustments

O's bullpen righty Shawn Armstrong on his winter adjustments
Orioles bullpen right-hander Shawn Armstrong saw his performance fall off last year. Over four days in January at an O's mini-camp in Florida, the coaches had him make some changes and adjustments. He feels it has already paid off and that his progress will continue during the upcoming season. In his first four years in the big leagues, in parts of 2015 through 2018, he pitched to an ERA of 2.95 in 53 games with a WHIP of 1.138, a walk rate of 3.1 and a strikeout rate of 8.2 per every nine...

Bleier back to bullpen form in Orioles camp

Bleier back to bullpen form in Orioles camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richard Bleier made it through his second bullpen session yesterday morning as the sun finally managed to pierce the clouds that suggested rain might be headed to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The heat was turned up. The kind that doesn't require a radar gun to confirm. Bleier doesn't really care about the temperature or whether the sky is blue. He's in camp on a new contract - settling at $915,000 in December to avoid arbitration - and no longer a health riddle. He's...

DJ Stewart making progress from ankle surgery (plus notes)

DJ Stewart making progress from ankle surgery (plus notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The workout held today for Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart looked simple in nature. He did some light running on the dirt cart path along one of the practice fields, increasing his speed and intensity as the minutes passed. For a player coming off ankle surgery in October and unwilling to surrender the hope of being ready for opening day, each step taken by Stewart is an important achievement. Stewart, the former first-round draft pick out of Florida State University, underwent a...

Orioles welcoming pitchers and catchers to camp

Orioles welcoming pitchers and catchers to camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The real work is about to begin. Pitchers, catchers and position players choosing to report early will be arriving later today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, where the temperature will climb back into the 80s. Physicals must be passed, and that includes the yearly eye exams. (That last part was aimed at the "he needs glasses" crowd. Everyone gets their vision tested.) The front office contingent headed to Florida without a veteran starting pitcher - executive vice...

Improvement ideas related to Smith, Scott and Armstrong

Improvement ideas related to Smith, Scott and Armstrong
The report date countdown for Orioles pitchers and catchers has reached five days. Or the amount of time it takes a call to be confirmed or overturned. Which Orioles have something to prove in camp? Plenty of them, but here are a few ideas: Dwight Smith Jr. is viewed within the organization as a left fielder and nothing more. It's the only position he played last summer and his major league body of work includes a mere three starts in right and one in center with the Blue Jays. The metrics and...

Can the Orioles bullpen provide more relief in 2020?

Can the Orioles bullpen provide more relief in 2020?
Will reliever Travis Lakins break camp with the Orioles in late March, be optioned to the minors, be designated for assignment, clear waivers and stay in the organization or disappear? Those are the choices. How you rank them in order is entirely up to you. Lakins is on the 40-man roster after the Orioles claimed him off waivers Friday from the Cubs and designated utility player Stevie Wilkerson for assignment. He can be viewed now as bullpen depth and a pitcher with a shot at making the club...

Holt: "It's a really special group of coaches who are here"

Holt: "It's a really special group of coaches who are here"
The Orioles wrapped up their annual minicamp in Sarasota, Fla., with the usual perks, including new coaches getting acclimated to the Ed Smith Stadium complex and the staff checking on pitchers who are making adjustments intended to improve their results in 2020. Chris Holt, promoted to director of pitching, described the camp as consisting of "three solid, intensive days." A nice head start to spring training, which begins in three weeks. "It's really a special group of coaches who are...