Leftovers for breakfast

Alterations made to the 2020 season haven't changed how outsiders in the industry view the Orioles' chances of contending. However, the club keeps drawing praise for how it's conducted business during and after the shutdown.

Refusing to reopen the complexes in Sarasota and Baltimore proved to be wise decisions. And the precautions and protocols at summer training camp are giving players a greater sense of security.

"I think our medical staff has been unbelievable with all of this," said outfielder DJ Stewart. "Everyone didn't know what to expect coming in and kind of just feeling it out the first few days, but they've literally been on top of everything. Everyone has 1,000 questions and they've been on top of it. If they can't get the answer right away, they'll find someone who does have the answer.

"It made it really, really easy for us to go about our new normal so we can just concentrate on baseball. Obviously, being safe so we're all able to just do our normal thing, but staying safe and focusing on baseball. They've made it really, really easy on us."

Stewart arrived curious as to how the clubhouse and ballpark would be set up for workouts. The separate entrances for the three tier groups, players using both clubhouses, bunting drills conducted beyond the center field fence, pitchers using their own bag of baseballs.

"I've never experienced anything like this," Stewart said. "Obviously, it's big league baseball and we've got to make different adjustments, but I didn't really have any questions. It was just what was it going to look like? What can we do to get into a routine so we are able to just focus on baseball? And they've made that really easy for us."

The distractions and deviation from the norm haven't prevented teammates from thinking about outfielder Trey Mancini, who's unable to visit while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

"We've had our Zoom calls with Trey," Stewart said. "Obviously, he is in the fight for something way bigger than baseball right now, so we aren't really bothering him. He gets on Zoom calls when he can. Obviously, in between his treatments and stuff. He hasn't been able to come around the field yet, but I think with due time he'll reach out more and more.

"But we don't want his mind on what we're doing, really. We want him to kick this thing's butt so we can see him out there next year."

Iglesias-Throwing-Orange-ST-sidebar.jpg* Shortstop José Iglesias hit a career-high 11 home runs last year with the Reds before the Orioles signed him as a free agent, raising his eight-year total to a modest 32.

Iglesias didn't make any major adjustments to his approach. It's more about the natural development as a player. The plate wisdom that he's attained.

The Orioles will take whatever power he gives them. They're more interested in his exceptional defense.

"I think personally I don't do any mechanical changes drastically," he said. "Obviously, a little change here and there, but nothing dramatically. But I think understanding myself as a player and as a hitter, maturing at the plate. I think that's the main key.

"I think I have a routine that I know it works for me and I stay with it."

* Hitting coach Don Long is pleased to find out that Chris Davis, who singled last night off the center field fence, has brought the same approach that he used in Sarasota to produce one of the most productive springs on the team.

The melding of aggression and patience that might not make sense on the surface.

"I think it's good," Long said. "I think, like with a lot of these guys, he's still getting his feet under him in terms of having live at-bats, but his work's been great, his outlook, his mentality's been great. I think the thing that he's carried over from March is he has made a decision to be up there and be ready to hit and not be so in-between, and not be uncomfortable up there, and give himself the best opportunity to be successful by really being ready to hit and having the mentality to be up there to swing the bat and attack the ball and do some damage.

"It was really refreshing after being with him last year to see him come in with that outlook, because honestly, that's where it all starts. If I believe I can do something, I certainly have a much better opportunity to do it and be successful, and he's really carried that over here, an attitude and mentality that he came into spring training with."

* The player pool grew to 53 yesterday, but I'm tapping the brakes on the declaration that left-hander DL Hall will become the 54th.

Hall isn't currently in Baltimore, though he apparently passed through it.

A final decision hasn't been made on Hall, who was supposed to start the minor league season at Double-A Bowie. Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Hall could be added "at some point," but players are trickling into the pool to assure that the ones who might be needed in the majors are granted access before it reaches 60.

Hall has a serious shot at making it. But it isn't a done deal.

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