SARASOTA, Fla. - Eight of the Orioles’ spring training games will air on MASN, exceeding last year’s total by one.

The eight games are an even split between the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota and road trips. Two of the eight will be played at night. The broadcasts will be done remotely from Baltimore.

The first televised game is the opener against the Pirates on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. The last broadcast in Florida is March 22 against the Pirates in Bradenton, the team’s shortest drive of the spring.

Here’s the complete list:

Feb 22 (1 p.m.) - Pirates at Orioles
March 1 (1 p.m.) - Pirates at Orioles
March 3 (1 p.m.) - Red Sox at Orioles
March 10 (6 p.m.) - Orioles at Pirates
March 11 (1 p.m.) - Orioles at Yankees
March 17 (1 p.m.) - Orioles at Red Sox
March 20 (6 p.m.) - Yankees at Orioles
March 22 (1 p.m.) - Orioles at Pirates

The Orioles scored twice last night in the opening game of another homestand, a paltry output by their standards but also exhibiting two ways they can go about their offensive business.

They collected three singles in the third inning, the last two with two outs, keeping a rally alive and passing the bat to the next guy.

Cedric Mullins launched a changeup onto the flag court in right field in the fourth to break a tie. They also can flex their muscle.

This is a special group, with numbers early on that haven’t been posted here in a long time.

The game began with the Orioles leading the American League with a .260 average, .459 slugging percentage and .780 OPS. The last time they finished a season first in all three categories was also the first time they were crowned champions.

Amid the excitement of the Orioles making the playoffs for the first time in seven years came the sad news that Baltimore had lost one of its legends.

Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson passed away today at the age of 86. And nothing else seemed important.

A statement from the team and Robinson’s family read:

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Brooks Robinson. An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball.”

Nicknamed “The Human Vacuum Cleaner,” Robinson won 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards in a 23-year major league career spent entirely with the Orioles. He also made 18 All-Star teams – chosen Most Valuable Player in 1966 – was named MVP in the American League in 1964 and was selected MVP of the 1970 World Series, when everyone learned of his defensive prowess.

Players stood in the dugout yesterday at sold out Camden Yards to watch the ceremony honoring the 1983 World Series champions. None of them born before future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. squeezed Garry Maddox’s line drive for the last out.

All of them hoping 40 years is the limit between titles.

Ripken headed downstairs after the Orioles’ 7-3 win last night and talked to manager Brandon Hyde in the hallway outside the clubhouse. The 1983 team endorses the 2023 group that is a season-high 27 games above .500, loving the talent and energy, and how it’s brought fans back to Camden Yards.

Here’s more from Friday’s media sessions:

Al Bumbry on the similarity between the 1983 and 2023 Orioles.

Former Orioles pitcher Mike Boddicker didn’t hesitate when asked yesterday whether the Orioles can win the World Series, their first since the 1983 team that’s going to be honored prior to tonight's game. He pounced on the question like a dogpile on the mound.

“Heck yes,” he said.

“I look at these pitchers and stuff and I’m going, ‘Yeah, they’ve got enough, they’ve got enough.’ And they have fun. If you look down, they’re having fun.”

Build a 40^th anniversary reunion and they will come.

More than 20 players from ’83, ranging from superstars to modest contributors. They didn’t have the same careers but were on the same page about the similarities between their team and the 2023 Orioles, who won again last night and improved to 68-42.