SARASOTA, Fla.-What’s happening? – Manager Brandon Hyde isn’t sure who will start and relieve. He said that pitchers who’ve done both in their careers — Miguel Castro, Mike Wright and Jimmy Yacabonis — will be stretched out this spring.
“We’ll make a determination sometime in the next month, whether we’re going to stretch them out or shift them more into a bullpen role,” Hyde said. “We’re going to keep our options open with everybody, and anybody who’s got a chance to start, we’re going to try and stretch them out.”
Hyde has some thoughts about Mychal Givens, who finished the season as the Orioles’ closer.
“I tell you what his role is right now,” Hyde said. “It’s to pitch in high-leverage situations, whether that’s closing, whether that’s the seventh or the eighth. Obviously, we’re in a good spot if Mychal comes in the game to pitch.”
Joe Angel, who has broadcast Orioles games for 19 years, discussed his retirement on Thursday. The story was originally reported on BaltimoreBaseball.com on Feb. 9.
“After 42 years of doing it, I think that’s enough,” Angel said on 105.7’s Orioles Hot Stove. “The Orioles have been fantastic. This is something that’s been in the work for several months during the offseason. We finally came to the point where both the Orioles and I agreed that, hey, this is a good time to say goodbye.”
Jack Reinheimer, the infielder who was designated for assignment when Nate Karns was signed on Feb. 7, has cleared waivers and will receive an invitation to spring training.
What’s happened? – Alex Cobb threw his first bullpen, and Hyde was pleased with what he saw. Late last year, Cobb’s season was cut short by recurring blisters.
“I think it’s something that pitchers are prone to,” Hyde said.
Gregory Infante, who signed a minor league contract, has yet to report to camp because of an illness. Hyde said that Infante is back in Venezuela, and once he’s allowed to travel, will be treated in camp.
Dean Kremer is the only pitcher in camp who has yet to pitch and won’t for a while. Kremer has a left oblique injury that he suffered two weeks ago, and he expects to be sidelined for another two weeks.
What’s up with? – Cael Brockmeyer. When Jesus Sucre was delayed by visa problems, the Orioles called Brockmeyer, who was set to report to minor league camp on Sunday. He gives the Orioles six catchers.
Brockmeyer is known to Hyde and catching coach Tim Cossins because he was in the Cubs’ organization.
“It definitely helped,” Brockmeyer said. “I know I had contacted the Orioles before they had hired them and talked to some of their front office guys before then, and once I found out they had been hired here, it was an extra surprise and extra special, so it definitely helped me decide to come here. Like I said, I had a good history with them, liked them, enjoyed them a lot, think they’re good baseball guys, so I’m excited to go.”
What’s what? – Hyde has made a number of adjustments to the spring training regimen. The most apparent came when Pearl Jam blared while the pitchers and catchers began stretching.
“I’m just trying to create a great environment that I’ve been a part of for years,” Hyde said. “Whether that’s music or more [pitching] mounds or being a little lighter in some situations, the bottom line is that I want guys to be pros when they’re out here.”
Hyde also has invited all the Triple-A and Double-A managers and coaches from Norfolk and Bowie to camp.
“I want our organization to be around the environment that we’re putting together and the major league coaching staff as much as possible,” Hyde said.
“Our big league coaches are going to go down to the minor leagues at times,” Hyde said. Minor league coaches will also come up to the major leagues to observe, Hyde added.
What’s the word? – “When you’ve been a minor league coach, and you’ve been on Field 76 in the back, and it’s 97 degrees out, and there’s no music, I know what that feels like.”-Hyde on the atmosphere he’s trying to create.
What’s the number? 11. That’s the number of infielders on the spring training roster. Only Chris Davis and Jonathan Villar seemed assured of spots on the 25-man roster.
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Wave that baby bye bye, Joe Angel!
>>”Only Chris Davis and Jonathan Villar seemed assured of spots on the 25-man roster.”
And IMO Davis shouldn’t be assured of anything. Ideally, he should have to earn his way back to a starting position on this team, especially with the log jam at 1B/DH.
You can’t sit 22 million a year. Davis only produced when he was on Adderall. Once it was banned he looks like he’s sleepwalking at the plate
I understand the reason Crush Davis is still around, but can somebody please explain to me why I keep seeing Mike Wright's name?
Because he looked like Cy Young, Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson, rolled into one, on the day of his major league debut a few years ago.
Maybe, but he's looked like Charlie Brown every day since!
Mike Wright spelled Wrong
I remain optimistic, if we can pitch, the defense and speed will play and we’ll compete, it will take time but I believe... I also believe Chris Davis will be a key player production-wise and a leader for the youth movement...no one’s in his league defensively and we need at least one bopper to drive folks in. Really counting on surprise at pitching...we’re more than OVERDUE!! Bundy and Harvey need to show, Givens must shut down as games will be close, Cobb and Cashner can ball, if healthy and if we don’t have a fifth or until we can try Hunter, use an opener and let someone SHOW us that role, or use Sabermetrics to elect a rotating opener, maybe multiple days a week...we’re going to have to be CREATIVE to compete, but this roster looks more Orioles than most we’ve had the past 20 years...
It's nice to hear from an optimistic, Delsyn.
Del... methinks you’re looking through rose colored glasses... just saying...
If it was a "mutual decision" that means Joe Angel was forced out too. A no class move by Elias and the Angelos boys. Another reason for me not to care about this tanking bunch of nobodies who will be pretending to be a major league team in 2019, 2020, 2021 and who knows how long. Wait til Elias has to face the "Beasts of the East" 38 times a year. Houston had it easy vs being in the AL East.
Could it be that the Orioles want someone in the booth who is willing / able to bring the analytics side of the game to the broadcast? That doesn’t really appeal to me but his statement definitely leaves some things unsaid.
Woe,woe,woe. Do we have a Trumpesque conspiracy that Joe Angel was forced out? Fill me in. Rich I find this hard to believe. If Angel is also a part of the cynical,old school past Im with Elias. But still hard to believe.
I'm not privy to what went on, but Mike Elias has a lot to do, and nothing to do with the broadcasters., Orial.
Finally some good news ... just in from Beantown ... Chris Berman will NOT be doing any Oriole radio broadcasts.
A comment that’s has nothing to do with this article. Tampa Bay a club with a terrible home park, terrible attendance and less budget their ours has such a better team then us. This is why I’m so elated with the new management. DD ruined this organization and he didn’t get any help from the manager or owner either. Buck last season was just a pawn and it looks like the brothers are having a chance to be their own men.
For better or worse DD never had the help of ownership that Elias now does.
He had their money to waste
So who exactly did he waste it on? You're not putting Crush's contract on him are you?
A comment that’s has nothing to do with this article. Tampa Bay a club with a terrible home park, terrible attendance and less budget their ours has such a better team then us. This is why I’m so elated with the new management. DD ruined this organization and he didn’t get any help from the manager or owner either. Buck last season was just a pawn and it looks like the brothers are having a chance to be their own men which is very promising
I really like reading that Hyde is having the minor league coaches involved in spring training, and during the season. I felt over the last few years there major league club and minor league ones didn’t work together on development. Hyde seems to really be pushing this as part of his plan.
I hope Thome will be the next to leave. He doesn't know a fastball from a breaking ball, a high pitch from a low pitch, what inning, or who is batting half the time.
Thorne?