FORT MYERS, Fla.-What’s happening?—Andrew Cashner makes his first spring start when the Orioles play the Detroit Tigers today. Dillon Tate, Gabriel Ynoa, Pedro Araujo, Cody Carroll, Brendan Kline and Tanner Scott are also scheduled to pitch.
Manager Brandon Hyde said that catcher Jesus Sucre has reported to camp and looks to be in good shape. He played winter ball in Venezuela.
“Obviously, we’re going to ramp him up as he feels,” Hyde said. “He might work out today…He hasn’t done anything for the last few days. We’re not going to rush him back any time soon.”
Nate Karns was scheduled to throw a side session and would be put back in the schedule if he responds well.
There was a locker set aside for Gregory Infante, but he hasn’t reported to Sarasota. Hyde said the right-handed pitcher, who had been ill in Venezuela, was still getting treatment in Miami.
Infielder Hanser Alberto also was scheduled to report to Sarasota.
What’s happened?— Mike Wright pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits in the Orioles’ 9-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Wright became the first Oriole to pitch three, and has thrown seven scoreless innings, allowing eight hits.
“You can’t really argue with zeroes, so I’ll take that any time,” Wright said.
Hyde has an open mind on whether Wright will start or relieve.
“We haven’t determined anything,” Hyde said. “We want him to continue to throw innings to see what possibilities we could have at that back end of the rotation.”
Yefry Ramirez followed with three innings, allowing a run on Xander Bogaerts’ home run, on two hits.
Paul Fry pitched a spotless seventh inning and Evan Phillips allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.
Trey Mancini was removed with a sore pinkie. “I’m not taking any chances,” Hyde said. “I pulled him out of the game just to give him a breather, give him a couple of days. I want him all the way right.”
Rule 5 draft choice Drew Jackson had three hits, Jace Peterson, Ryan Mountcastle and DJ Stewart each had two hits.
What’s up with-Eric Young Jr. Young continued his hot hitting, with a single and two walks. He’s batting .500 (5-for-10), and is in contention for an outfield berth.
“I’ve had bad springs and made the team,” Young said. “I’ve had awesome springs and didn’t make the team. At the end of the day, those are front-office decisions, and I can’t control those. All I can do is go out there and get myself ready for Opening Day, and where that’s going to be, hopefully, I’ll be going full throttle when that day comes.”
What’s what? Richie Martin continues to impress at shortstop. He made a diving play to rob Bogaerts of a hit and was 1-for-3, and is hitting .462.
“He made a great play defensively,” Hyde said. “Besides that, every routine play that he had…he just did everything really, really well. I’m just looking for guys to make the routine play, and if you can make a spectacular play once in a while, great. It’s the routine play that we’re counting on, and Richie made all the routine plays, and he also made an exceptional play.”
The Rule 5 draft choice is competing with Alcides Escobar for the starting shortstop job.
What’s the word? “I’m trying to make a spot on the team, so the intensity’s there regardless of who steps up to the plate.”-Wright on if he was more pumped up because Boston’s lineup featured some of their top-tier players.
What’s the number? 62. With Alberto and Sucre in camp, the Orioles have 62 players in camp. Infante would make it 63, but cuts are expected soon.
What’s the record? 4-3-2. The Orioles play the Detroit Tigers at home today at 3:05 p.m.
Nick Markakis, the durable outfielder who won two Gold Glove awards in his nine seasons…
Every weekday, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit…
In a strong first month of the season for the Orioles, they received two of…
BALTIMORE—What happened? The Orioles took three of four games in their first series with the…
BALTIMORE—After enduring their first shutout of the season the night before, the Orioles hit three…
Terry Crowley played 12 seasons with the Orioles, and though he wasn't a regular, he…
View Comments
Os have looked good but just realized we have not really seen our starting pitching yet. This is their Achilles heel. I don’t see Cashner producing this year. Hopefully he will for a couple of months then they can trade him. Other big question marks in Cobb, Bundy, Karns, Hess, Wright, Ramirez. Hopefully it will come together. I think the bullpen will be solid. Starting lineup should be competitive. But starting to feel like Mullins may be a placeholder till Diaz and Hays are ready. Not start the service clocks before they need to and prime the veterans so can trade them later. Goals of the first half.
It will be an interesting first half of the season, Bman.
I agree Starting pitching is the weakest part right now. Wright is not a starter on a good day 3 innings at most . Hess is hitable, Cashner totally erratic, Cobb up and down and Bundy has become a finesse pitcher. When he’s on he can keep hitters off, but when he’s not the 90 MPH fastball is sitting duck
There’s not much on this orioles team that is much of a strength. It’s primed to be a long season in Baltimore. I’m just hoping we get a nice return for givens at the trade deadline. Perhaps Bundy too if he figures it out. Other than that idk if we can even expect much to attract anything significant. Maybe Bleier or
Perhaps Villar could net us a decent prospect or two. No way with Cobb’s money owed or cashner’s recent track record that they’re going to bring anything back. Everything else is a long term piece or just a nothing place holder. Going to be a tough year.
Another informative article on whats going on,thanks Rich.I would hate to have to make some of these decisions (cuts,etc.) especially with some veterans teetering on the brink of making the team.I think Alcides has something left in his tank but do you want to go that way when you have a couple good young players? Young Jr.doing a good job but same scenario,do you want to hold back on trying out these young prospects frpm the big show as a couple of them seem ready to contribute.I mean it seems like they have been trying to ease a couple guys into their lineups the last couple years but do not give them a full shot.I know you want to try and remain competitive so this is going to be a tough job for management sorting this out,especially with the rule 5 guys in that mix. Keeping a Ricky Martin should mean you are going to use him somewhat regularly and keeping Alcides and him both may not be ideal an ideal situation.Of course the probability of trading Alcides Escobar before mid summer is also a possibility.Oriole management in an interesting situation and it will be fun to watch it all unravel (I think).
I would guess that they'll come close to using the same number of players they used a year ago, 56. Whoever starts the season may not be around in July or September, Tony.
Thanks for the kind words.
Rich, really good stuff again. You are on the hunt. I agree with Tony on Young & Escobar, rather see the young guys. The one that bothers me some is Sucre. Hyde speaks as though he’s already made the team He supposedly has an opt out in late March and he just got here. I’d rather see Sisco and Wynn getting their time here and continue to develop. Wynn went out over the winter months and worked with Dempsey on his footwork and blocking skills. I think people can tell Sisco has been putting in the work also. They have said it’s about developing players and I believe these 2 guys are worth that development, I also think they might of hit on something with these 2 rule 5 guys ,They look good thus far, Jackson has real good athleticism, so that would be hard to overlook. Great upside on both of them
I. Think the thought with sucre is that he could help teach one of the young guys either sisco or Wynn’s a little bit while being a traditional backup rather than having either Wynns or Sysco not get enough ABS or put them in a platoon situation this early on in their careers.
But I don’t disagree with you. I’d prefer to see Wynns and sisco up together and let the best guy fight it out all year or they develop some kind of platoon situation with them.
With regards to Martin, I like that Hyde emphasized that the importance of continuing to make the routine play, and the spectacular ones are good too.