Valdez and Herrera making surprising bids for opening day roster

Valdez and Herrera making surprising bids for opening day roster
One of the more startling developments of summer training camp beyond John Means' dead-arm period is the potential crashing of the opening day roster projection party. Who invited César Valdez and Dilson Herrera? It feels like they carpooled and brought their own keg. The odds of Valdez's making the trip to Boston for Friday night's opener were placed at a "hard no" back in March, if such a thing actually exists, as he worked out at the minor league complex in Twin Lakes Park. His five...

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...

Valdez impressive in intrasquad (MASN airing two exhibitions)

Valdez impressive in intrasquad (MASN airing two exhibitions)
Asher Wojciechowski made his latest bid tonight to stay in the Orioles rotation by starting for the orange team, designated as the hosts, in the penultimate intrasquad game at Camden Yards. Never read too much into a scrimmage, whether or not it's accompanied by recorded crowd noise and walkup music, but Wojciechowski is lined up to serve as the No. 4 starter behind John Means, Alex Cobb and Wade LeBlanc. Dilson Herrera didn't care. He lined a two-run homer into the left field seats in the...

Wojciechowski on camp, the rotation and his message

Wojciechowski on camp, the rotation and his message
As Orioles starter Asher Wojciechowski increases his innings and pitch count in camp, he'd also like to tear down the stigma of a rebuilding club and the narrative that he perceives as following it through the summer. He can stomach the lowered expectations within the industry. But don't question the heart. "We all believe in ourselves," he said today in a Zoom conference call with the media. "To be honest with you, I get really tired with people saying, 'Oh, they're rebuilding, they're...

Orioles select contracts of LeBlanc and Milone

Orioles select contracts of LeBlanc and Milone
The Orioles appear to have made a couple of important roster decisions as they approach opening day. The club announced tonight that it purchased the contracts of left-handers Wade LeBlanc and Tommy Milone, who are likely to be included on the pitching staff that breaks summer training camp. LeBlanc is in line to be the No. 3 starter after signing a minor league deal on Feb. 1. Milone could be slotted as the fourth or fifth starter or be used in a long relief/swingman role. Either way, he also...

Orioles practice extra-inning situations in intrasquad

Orioles practice extra-inning situations in intrasquad
If rules are going to change in the 2020 season, the Orioles must keep up by implementing special drills in workouts and intrasquad games. This is a matter of baseball survival beyond staying safe in a pandemic. Beginning with Hunter Harvey in the bottom of the first inning, the Orioles sent a succession of relievers to the mound for the "visitors" and placed a runner on second base to simulate extra innings. Because this team has been known to stretch games beyond regulation. Mason Williams...

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...

Martin has broken bone in wrist, three spots in rotation appear set

Martin has broken bone in wrist, three spots in rotation appear set
The utility competition in the Orioles' summer training camp no longer includes Richie Martin, who's been lost in an unexpected manner. Martin underwent X-rays yesterday afternoon that revealed a fractured bone in his right wrist, an injury that occurred after he collided with first baseman Chris Davis while diving back into the bag during Friday night's intrasquad game. The former Rule 5 pick held his left hand while walking off the field, the discomfort caused by a torn fingernail and...

Means: "It was just kind of a surreal moment" (and Puig note)

Means: "It was just kind of a surreal moment" (and Puig note)
John Means insists that he didn't know it was coming. The conversation with manager Brandon Hyde. The confirmation that he'd be the opening day starter on July 24. "I think up until I get told that I'm opening day, I just kind of assumed I was just fighting for a job," Means said this afternoon in a Zoom conference call with the media. Means already has notched his first win. "I kind of like that mentality. I like to keep that back-against-the-wall mentality and just never get...

Orioles' first intrasquad game features home runs by Núñez and Hays

Orioles' first intrasquad game features home runs by Núñez and Hays
Austin Hays led off the top of the first inning tonight with a fly ball to the right field warning track. It bounced. It rolled. No one was around to retrieve it. Mark it down as F-9. Stevie Wilkerson was the only outfielder for the "home" team in the intrasquad game at Camden Yards. He played center field. Flanked by two ghost defenders. DJ Stewart played left field and Hays was in center for the "visiting" team, which settled for a 3-3 tie as the last few innings dissolved into live...

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...

Intrasquad games move Orioles to next phase of evaluations

Intrasquad games move Orioles to next phase of evaluations
The summer training camp is moving into its next phase for the Orioles. Past the routine workouts that define the spring version. Bring on the intrasquad games and some semblance of competition while manager Brandon Hyde turns up the heat on the evaluation process that's going to pare the roster to 30 players on opening day. Orioles versus Orioles is happening at Camden Yards for at least the next four nights. All of them 7 p.m. starts with two-hour media access. "These guys are itching to...

A few notes on openers, testing and some draft math

A few notes on openers, testing and some draft math
There are a few ways the Orioles could go with their rotation come opening day on July 24. They could have the traditional five-man look or go with a six-man rotation. If pitchers are not built up enough yet, teams can even piggyback starters, where one pitches the first half of the game and another the rest. They could also go with an opener. If they do sometimes use a starter in that role - following a reliever and becoming the so-called bulk pitcher - they have two pitchers with a lot of...

Elias explains policy on testing (plus workout notes, draft signings)

Elias explains policy on testing (plus workout notes, draft signings)
Orioles outfielders Dwight Smith Jr. and Anthony Santander remained absent for a fifth consecutive day of workouts. Explanations are going to be withheld for now based on a club policy that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias shared this afternoon. While other teams have confirmed the numbers of positive tests for COVID-19, making names public if given permission, the Orioles are giving the silent treatment. "We have a really elaborate testing setup that has been issued by the...

John Means: "I was ready to feel like I was worth something again"

John Means: "I was ready to feel like I was worth something again"
The Orioles haven't named their opening day starter for July 24, an announcement shelved due to baseball's shutdown. John Means was lined up for the assignment and nothing has happened to change the narrative. Means worked four "innings" yesterday while throwing live batting practice, which actually meant dialing down from his home activity. "I think I'm very close," he said today in a Zoom conference call. "Over the quarantine, I had built up to five innings, 75 pitches, but since the...

Contending vs. evaluating remains a popular storyline

Contending vs. evaluating remains a popular storyline
The ability of a 60-game season to thrust teams with normally low expectations into contender status has become a fascination of sorts in Baltimore. Fans wonder if the Orioles can make the playoffs, or at least flirt with the possibility from their lowered bar until closing time, due to the unusual dynamics brought by the coronavirus pandemic. Media is, at the least, curious about the possibility. The playoff field isn't expanded, since Major League Baseball had to implement its own vision of...

Recapping Day 2 of summer training camp

Recapping Day 2 of summer training camp
The Orioles still don't have a full turnout for their summer training camp, with manager Brandon Hyde saying again this afternoon that a couple of Dominican players remain in the intake process for COVID-19 testing. "We're still waiting on that," Hyde said today in a Zoom conference call. While some teams are confirming positive tests, whether or not they receive permission from players to reveal the names, the Orioles are keeping the process under wraps. Major League Baseball announced...

More from the first day of summer training camp

More from the first day of summer training camp
The Sarasota portion of camp ended for the Orioles on March 12, almost four months passing before they could reconvene at Camden Yards for unprecedented summer sessions. The roster has undergone some changes, with 45 players plunging into a pool and 15 others expected at the alternate site in Bowie. Manager Brandon Hyde won't block out everything he saw at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and during Grapefruit League games. It still counts. "Yeah, I think so," he said yesterday after leaving his...

Hearing from Hyde and LeBlanc on first day of summer training camp

Hearing from Hyde and LeBlanc on first day of summer training camp
The oddity of holding a summer training camp in July at Camden Yards showed itself this afternoon in a variety of ways. More than just the month and location. Starting up again after the coronavirus pandemic shut down baseball in March, the Orioles held their first workout today with Tommy Milone and Thomas Eshelman facing hitters while executive vice president Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde watched from the stands behind home plate. Separated by the tunnel that leads onto the...

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...