Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
Austin Hays is in right field this afternoon and Cedric Mullins is in center as the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Twins. Trey Mancini is the first baseman and Tyler Nevin is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart (hamstring) and Chris Davis (back) remain out of the lineup. Rylan Bannon is starting at third base. Rio Ruiz is on the bench and struggling at the plate, where he's gone 1-for-12 with three strikeouts. Pat Valaika is 2-for-10 with a home run while in the thick of the utility...

Because You Asked - The Next Generation

Because You Asked - The Next Generation
The Orioles aren't playing this afternoon and get to enjoy a legitimate off-day, however it's done with pandemic restrictions. That's a long time to sit in a hotel room. No intrasquad nonsense that removes the "off" from their day. A few pitchers will be allowed inside the complex to throw. Otherwise, stay away and find something safe to do. There isn't much risk digging into my mailbag, unless I suffer a virtual paper cut. I'll try again to respond to the questions that are asked on a...

Reviewing Harvey's start, Mountcastle's homer and a 13-4 loss

Reviewing Harvey's start, Mountcastle's homer and a 13-4 loss
The contract was signed and workouts monitored. The ball was handed to him today in Dunedin, Fla. But Matt Harvey wouldn't really fit in with the Orioles until he faced Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk. Now he's truly a member of the club. Making his debut appearance, Harvey loaded the bases in the first inning and Grichuk drove in two runs with a double in Toronto's 13-4 win in Dunedin. Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle homered for the Orioles, who are 2-3-1. Catcher Nick Ciuffo drove in...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Tyler Nevin gets the start at first base and Brett Cumberland is the designated hitter for today's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. Ramón Urias is making back-to-back starts, being a late replacement for Freddy Galvis at shortstop yesterday and starting at second base today. Galvis remains day-to-day with a sore hip. Pat Valaika is the shortstop today. Ryan Mountcastle is in left field and Austin Hays is in center. First baseman Chris Davis remains out of the lineup with a...

Zimmermann and Urías making early impressions in camp

Zimmermann and Urías making early impressions in camp
Brandon Hyde won't overreact to individual production in early exhibition games. Like any manager, he'll place his judgments on hold until later. In the meantime, there are players assured of roster spots on opening day who just want to get ready. Players on the fringes who can get bumped in either direction. Important that they know the difference. The latter group can't be sluggish coming out of the gate, no matter how patient the manager is and how measured his reactions. Left-hander...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The reduction in rosters to 26 players and the possibility of manager Brandon Hyde carrying 14 pitchers really has tightened the utility competition at spring training. A three-man bench with a backup catcher and extra outfielder probably would leave room only for Pat Valaika, who must be designated as the favorite after batting .277/.315/.475 with four doubles and eight home runs in 2020, playing six positions and signing for $875,000 in January to avoid arbitration. A fourth reserve would...

Reflecting on yesterday's exhibition opener

Reflecting on yesterday's exhibition opener
The first exhibition game won't be remembered for the three errors and the five walks issued by Orioles pitching in the first five innings. The high pitch counts that prompted manager Brandon Hyde to pull his team off the field before the last out. Details, details. Hyde wasn't happy about any of it, but he didn't lose his perspective while the Orioles lost to the Pirates. Openers have a tendency to get ugly, and Trey Mancini's return from colon cancer and his first at-bats in a year - in...

Still wondering about Orioles as first workout looms

Still wondering about Orioles as first workout looms
The first spring training workout is four days away. Some baseballs will be dropped, but not many clues about how the roster is going to be constructed and the pitching staff assembled. The full squad doesn't take the field until Feb. 22, but again, there's only so much you can read into early drills. Maybe where some players are taking grounders, though the media isn't permitted on the back fields. Maybe where some players are grouped - whether a fringe guy is placed with the regulars or...

40-man roster could require restructuring

40-man roster could require restructuring
Pitchers and catchers are required to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in less than a week. The offseason is about to move into the spring training workout phase, followed by exhibition games - adjusted from the original schedule to eliminate longer-distance travel - played while everyone holds their breath. Not a bad idea during a pandemic. Reduce the risk of a positive test for COVID-19. The Orioles aren't a finished product and roster moves are coming while they're in camp. More...

The process of crafting a camp roster

The process of crafting a camp roster
Efforts made by the Orioles to find more starting options for the rotation and depth in the infield and upper levels of the farm system are synced with the task of filling out the camp roster for spring training. The amount of players allowed at complexes is expected to be capped at 75. The Orioles are going to treat the process in the same fashion as their 60-man pool and the summer training camp at Camden Yards. They didn't rush to reach their limit. They left room for players to filter in...

Do the Orioles have other trade chips stacked on their table?

Do the Orioles have other trade chips stacked on their table?
The question was delivered with Anthony Santander and Trey Mancini in mind. During a recent Zoom conference call with the local media, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias was asked about the possibility of acquiring players via trades rather than free agency. "Trades where we're adding to the major league team or trades where we're trading veterans for prospects?" Elias asked. Either way, but I was more interested in talks involving Santander and Mancini. "I think...

Orioles' lingering lineup questions

Orioles' lingering lineup questions
We know where newest Orioles infielder Freddy Galvis is going to play. He's the starting shortstop and expected to be part of a new double play combination with second baseman Yolmer Sánchez. But where does he hit? Why wait to gather more information? There's no fun in being patient and letting the process play out. Begin speculating and predicting now and beat the post-holiday rush. José Iglesias was slotted second and third in the lineup last summer, which seemed ridiculous until he...

Martin undergoing surgery on left hand (plus other notes)

Martin undergoing surgery on left hand (plus other notes)
Made available this afternoon to talk about the Freddy Galvis signing, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias shifted focus to another shortstop in the organization who's undergoing a second surgery. An unexpected piece of news dumped within a 20-minute interview. Elias revealed that Richie Martin broke the hamate bone in his left hand, apparently in a workout mishap over the weekend, and will undergo a procedure in Sarasota to remove it. Martin was expected to be ready...

Orioles preparing for arbitration hearing with Santander

Orioles preparing for arbitration hearing with Santander
The Orioles have ceased negotiations with the representatives for outfielder Anthony Santander and are preparing for an arbitration hearing next month. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed the team's stance this afternoon on a Zoom conference call with the local media. Both sides reached the 1 p.m. deadline without an agreement. Salary figures will be exchanged and a hearing date will be set for next month. "We have a file-to-go policy that I've been very consistent...

On this date today and in the past (Mancini update)

On this date today and in the past (Mancini update)
The deadline has arrived for teams to sign their arbitration-eligible players for the 2021 season. The Orioles tendered contracts to outfielders Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander back on Dec. 2. However, the sides will exchange figures later this afternoon if they don't reach agreements by 1 p.m., and hearings will be scheduled for next month. Negotiations are allowed to continue beyond the salary exchange. However, the Orioles could be in file-and-trial mode again, which heightens the...

Taking a few wrong turns

Taking a few wrong turns
Trying to predict moves in an unpredictable world is advised only if you're not putting down money. And I'm really talking about the baseball offseason. I get my share right. I also get some wrong. And sometimes I'm just a little surprised. I thought the Orioles would have no interest in bringing back Jonathan Villar, simply choosing to move on from a player they traded in December 2019, but they've spoken to his agent. A reunion remains a possibility. Villar obviously could play shortstop...

Orioles facts and what we learned from them

Orioles facts and what we learned from them
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. Hall of Famers John Wooden and Earl Weaver preached it. The phrase serves as the title of Weaver's autobiography. I'm using it this morning to lead everyone into my latest offseason collection of random facts. And most important, what we learned from them. No need to dig too deeply. Sometimes the answers are lying on the surface. Also, don't overlook an orchid while searching for a rose. Or something like that. * The Orioles were 18-11...

Disorder in an early lineup projection

Disorder in an early lineup projection
An offseason exercise that doesn't require a home gym, but makes me sweat as if competing in a triathlon, is creating an Orioles lineup in December. Taking the players on the current 40-man roster and the likely invites to spring training and filling every position. Go nuts and, if you dare, also craft a bench, rotation and bullpen. But only if you've stretched prior to attempting it. A national publication seeks my assistance every winter, with a deadline prior to the Christmas holiday. The...

Martin back on field after fracturing wrist

Martin back on field after fracturing wrist
Infielder Richie Martin's fractured right wrist must have healed. He's playing winter ball. Confirmation that doesn't require industry sources. Just access to a roster and statistics. Martin is in Puerto Rico with Criollos de Caguas. In his first four games, the former Rule 5 pick was 3-for-15 with two doubles, an RBI, a walk and three runs scored. He was 2-for-6 in his first two games and 2-for-11 after three. The third must have been rough. Martin should be full-go in spring training based...

How will the Orioles fill in their infield?

How will the Orioles fill in their infield?
Who's on first. What's on second. I don't know is on third. The Orioles can round out their infield by making us wonder who or what is at shortstop. I don't know. They don't know. We've come a long way from the days of Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, Jonathan Schoop and Chris Davis - with Ryan Flaherty the primary backup. José Iglesias won't be the shortstop in 2021 because the Orioles traded him and the $3.5 million on his contract to the Angels for two minor league pitchers. They're...