Cobb impressive early, Santander with two hits in 4-2 loss (updated)

Cobb impressive early, Santander with two hits in 4-2 loss (updated)
Alex Cobb knows the pain of being unable to start on opening day for the first time because an injury ruined the experience. He can sympathize with left-hander John Means, whose assignment in Boston is in jeopardy due to arm fatigue. Cobb isn't a candidate to replace Means because he stood on the mound tonight with baseball in hand and his own, more modest goal, in mind. The Orioles wanted to stretch out Cobb to four innings and never considered the idea of using him on short rest against the...

Taylor Davis and Austin Hays hit back-to-back intrasquad homers

Taylor Davis and Austin Hays hit back-to-back intrasquad homers
The Orioles played their final intrasquad game tonight at Camden Yards. Major League Baseball keeps chugging forward in its quest to begin the 2020 season. For the Orioles to reach opening day against the Red Sox, they first must play three exhibition games and hold a workout Wednesday in Baltimore. They'll head to Boston the following day. They aren't out of the woods, but they're almost ready to leave Maryland. Tonight was more of a scrimmage with crowd noise piped in but no player...

All in the family for Pat Valaika, plus other notes

All in the family for Pat Valaika, plus other notes
Beyond their coaches, big league hitters sometimes have someone else close to them they trust to help with their swing. It can be a friend, family member or even a player on another team. Orioles infielder Pat Valaika has his own hitting coach in his family. Valaika, 27, is one of five children, and his oldest brother, Chris, played four seasons in the majors with three clubs. Now he's the minor league hitting coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. "During the quarantine he lived in Arizona and...

Santander cleared for workouts at Camden Yards

Santander cleared for workouts at Camden Yards
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander has reported to Camden Yards and is participating in this afternoon's workout. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't provide any details on Santander's prolonged absence from summer training camp, which likely has been related to COVID-19 testing. Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. remains absent. The club is rushing to get Santander ready for the July 24 opener against the Red Sox in Boston, with a multitude of factors in play. "We're going to try our best," Hyde...

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...

Some interesting names emerge as O's add to player pool

Some interesting names emerge as O's add to player pool
He was not even a non-roster invite to spring training in February, but the guy they call "Big Mike" could make his major league debut during the shortened season of 2020. Right-hander Michael Baumann, who has some of the best stuff on the Orioles farm, was added to the club's 60-man player pool on Friday. The O's list of additions also included their 2019 top draft pick, catcher Adley Rutschman, along with pitchers Keegan Akin and Isaac Mattson, catcher Taylor Davis and outfielder Cedric...

John Means named opening day starter (and other notes)

John Means named opening day starter (and other notes)
The obvious has become official. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told the media today that left-hander John Means will start the July 24 opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Means made his major league debut in Boston in 2018. Means, the club's lone All-Star representative last summer as a rookie, will start the July 19 exhibition game in Philadelphia to prep for the assignment. "I told him yesterday and he's really excited," Hyde said on his daily Zoom conference call. Asked what made...

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...

More of what we're missing without the majors

More of what we're missing without the majors
The weekend was supposed to conclude another month of baseball, most likely leaving the Orioles at the bottom of the division standings, but we'll never know. We do know what happens when we assume. It isn't about wins and losses in a rebuild, the reminders coming at us like line drives. However, we could have checked on the progress of some important players in the organization. Players who are supposed to be pieces rather than placeholders moving forward. Under normal circumstances, if we...

Spring shutdown left players like Wynns uncertain of status

Spring shutdown left players like Wynns uncertain of status
The spring training shutdown did more than stop the workouts and exhibition games. It also led to the shredding of mock rosters, destroying all of the hard work put into choosing the 26 players who would head north for opening day. If there is a 2020 season, it's going to come with an expansion that might allow teams to carry 30 players and a hefty taxi squad. Those camp competitions that held our interest seem so insignificant under these revisions. The idea of carrying a third catcher seemed...

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...

Reviewing the roster during the shutdown

Reviewing the roster during the shutdown
The Orioles would have been making the short drive to Bradenton today for a game against the Pirates if spring training had proceeded without interruption. The trip back always takes twice as long because of the traffic, but it's still the easiest one. Many of the competitions are unsettled while baseball takes a long break, but shortstop is set. José Iglesias has the position locked down after signing a one-year deal with an option for 2021. He still holds the key. Iglesias came across as...

Checking the catching competition in Orioles camp

Checking the catching competition in Orioles camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are down to five catchers in spring training after the latest round of cuts. The group that held a realistic chance of making the team. None who have been waiting for the inevitable reassignment to minor league camp. Adley Rutschman and Martin Cervenka weren't jogging down the orange carpet on opening day and they knew it. Pedro Severino still appears to be a lock, but the backup job is up for grabs, with Chance Sisco holding favorite status upon reporting to the...

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...

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...

Wynns on Rule 5 picks: "They have great big league stuff"

Wynns on Rule 5 picks: "They have great big league stuff"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Internet makes pitching statistics easily accessible to the public and there are multiple sites offering full scouting reports. Video can be found in only a couple of keystrokes. It's reached the point where leaving your couch no longer is a prerequisite. Then there are those opportunities to hang out at a catcher's locker and pick his brain. Still one of my favorite activities, and especially in spring training with so many arms in camp. Austin Wynns turned 29 in...

Chandler Shepherd named starter for first exhibition game

Chandler Shepherd named starter for first exhibition game
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chandler Shepherd is starting Saturday's exhibition opener against the Braves in North Port, marking the end of the workout grind and moving spring training into its next phase. Left-hander Ty Blach will follow Shepherd, who's supposed to work two innings. "He's one of the guys that we're stretching out and it just kind of fell on that day," said manager Brandon Hyde, who shared his decision with the media. "See him go a couple innings." Shepherd started the final game...

Hess gaining information in camp

Hess gaining information in camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - The workout that's unfolding later this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex includes live batting practice sessions from 13 pitchers and regular bullpen sessions from 13. David Hess is in the latter group while he awaits his first Grapefruit League assignment. The opener is Saturday against the Braves in North Port and he hasn't been told whether he's involved in it. Hess has been pleased with his side work and first live batting practice round. The work done over the...

Spring training leftovers for breakfast

Spring training leftovers for breakfast
SARASOTA, Fla. - The snapshots from yesterday morning's media clubhouse availability included No. 1 prospect Adley Rutschman locked into separate conversations with catchers Bryan Holaday and Taylor Davis. Always a smile on his face. Appearing to be comfortable in his new surroundings. No one treating him like a hotshot superstar fresh out of college who doesn't belong here. The lockers on catchers row are occupied, in order, by Chance Sisco, Austin Wynns, Pedro Severino, Davis, Holaday,...