What we've learned or had confirmed in the first week of camp
What we've learned or had confirmed in the first week of camp
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
We're entering the fourth day of workouts for Orioles pitchers and catchers, along with a handful of position players who reported early. What stands out for me as I sit in front of my laptop and attend the daily Zooms? No matter how much I crank up the heat in my house, it can't duplicate the Florida sun. But let's stay on topic. None of the pitchers and catchers reported late due to work visa or health issues, and that's as unusual as me being home while there's snow and ice on my...
Hyde on latest camp arrivals, Rule 5 pitchers and more (updated)
Hyde on latest camp arrivals, Rule 5 pitchers and more (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The third day of Orioles workouts in Sarasota, Fla., included the initial appearance of veteran pitcher Matt Harvey. His physical is complete and he's allowed on the field. Harvey stretched and played catch. "We're going to ramp him up when he's ready," manager Brandon Hyde said during his Zoom conference call with the media. "It was good to see him. I've seen him on the other side of the field, but never met him. It was nice to meet him and looking forward to watching him pitch this...
Scherzer confident ankle will be fine, not ready to talk contract
Scherzer confident ankle will be fine, not ready to talk contract
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Spring training injuries are nothing new for Max Scherzer. Remember the fractured knuckle that forced him to temporarily throw his fastball with a three-finger grip in 2017? Or the sore right side that cropped up last spring as a result of mechanical changes he made? So Scherzer's newest spring ailment - a sprained left ankle suffered two weeks ago - is merely the latest on the list. And if the 36-year-old ace is to be believed, this one won't have any long-lasting negative effects, just as...
Hunter Harvey: "I have to stay healthy"
Hunter Harvey: "I have to stay healthy"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The injury concerns will hover above Orioles reliever Hunter Harvey until he's able to shoo them away. Until he can give the team a full, uninterrupted season and become the dominant high-leverage pitcher they've been envisioning since his transition from starter. Harvey couldn't avoid the injured list in 2020, failing to latch onto the opening day roster with muscular tightness in his right elbow. The journey from Tommy John surgery in 2016 has been fraught with detours and...
Nats seek normalcy, fun amid camp protocols, restrictions
Nats seek normalcy, fun amid camp protocols, restrictions
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Sure, there were obvious signs of the difference between this camp and all previous ones. Staffers wore masks. Players tried to keep their distance from each other whenever possible. And, of course, there were no fans or reporters in attendance. All the same, there was an undeniable sense of normalcy Thursday morning when the Nationals opened spring training with their first official pitchers and catchers workout of 2021. Everyone involved knows things still aren't normal. But after getting a...
More with Chris Holt and another look at minor league schedules
More with Chris Holt and another look at minor league schedules
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Orioles coach Chris Holt is on his third title in his third year in the organization. It just points to his growing importance to the club and how it has expanded each season. For two years, he was entrusted with overseeing pitching on the farm. Now he joins the major league staff for the first time in 2021. Holt was hired for the 2019 season as minor league pitching coordinator. That was the last full season before the pandemic, and of the Orioles' top six farm teams, four clubs led their...
Nats never pursued other third basemen, confident in Kieboom
Nats never pursued other third basemen, confident in Kieboom
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
One by one, Mike Rizzo crossed off five must-have items on his offseason wish list this winter. Power bat: Josh Bell. Corner outfielder: Kyle Schwarber. No. 4 starter: Jon Lester. Left-handed reliever: Brad Hand. No. 2 catcher: Alex Avila. Those were the five roster holes the Nationals absolutely needed to fill. And though some may have felt there was a sixth hole that needed to be addressed as well - third base - Rizzo never believed it was necessary to make anything more than the standard...
Chris Holt on six-man possibility, plus minors schedules are out
Chris Holt on six-man possibility, plus minors schedules are out
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As he gets set to begin his third season in the Orioles organization, but first as the major league pitching coach, 41-year-old Chris Holt faces challenges everywhere he looks. How to continue to improve a staff that finished with a 4.51 ERA last year, up from 5.59 in 2019. How to continue to introduce more young pitching to the staff. And how to manage pitcher workloads in a 162-game season that followed a 60-game year. How do pitchers go from throwing 40 or 50 innings to getting back to, for...
Could Orioles break camp with a six-man rotation?
Could Orioles break camp with a six-man rotation?
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
A spring training camp with a roster that's grown to 73 players is bound to have a lot of moving parts. Fold in the influences of a pandemic that's turned the sport on its ear, and those parts can leave a vapor trail. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde knows that he's allowed to construct a 26-man roster, but he's open to any ideas. One of them is breaking camp with six starters. Hyde confirmed on Wednesday's Zoom conference call that it's a viable option. "I think anything's possible this...
Hyde on Mancini, Harvey, Hernández, Jones, infield and more
Hyde on Mancini, Harvey, Hernández, Jones, infield and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Two days into spring training workouts and the Orioles have no complaints. Players due to report have made it to Sarasota, Fla. Every pitcher in camp has thrown in the bullpen - half the group yesterday and half today. No one is being brought along slowly due to health concerns. Outfielders Trey Mancini and DJ Stewart and super-utility player Stevie Wilkerson reported early and hit on the field today. "(Mancini) looks really good," manager Brandon Hyde said in his Zoom conference call with...