TAMPA, Fla.-What’s happening? Mark Trumbo will play his first game of the spring when the Orioles play the Toronto Blue Jays today in Sarasota.
Trumbo, who had surgery on his right knee last September, will be the designated hitter.
“We’re going to give it a shot,” Trumbo said. “There’s not really anything left but going out there and getting in the game.”
Trumbo is not likely to play in the field this spring.
There are 12 days between now and the end of the Grapefruit League schedule, and Trumbo is philosophical about whether he’ll have enough game action to get ready to start the season.
“That’s what we’ve got,” Trumbo said. “Ideally, a bit more would be great, but I’m just happy we’ve got some to work with.”
Manager Brandon Hyde said Trumbo would see limited action. “We’re going to give him a couple of at-bats,” Hyde said. “Hopefully, he comes out of the game feeling great, and we’ll kind of reassess from there on his schedule the next two weeks.
“All of his tests, everything he’s been doing the last couple of weeks, has been phenomenal.”
Hyde won’t play Trumbo on Thursday.
Andrew Cashner will face Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman and is scheduled to be followed by Yefry Ramirez, Cody Carroll, Evan Phillips and Tanner Scott.
Alex Cobb, who hasn’t pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 5th, will go “four-plus” innings in his next start, Hyde said. Cobb’s wife had a baby on March 8, and he threw a simulated game instead of starting.
Outfielder DJ Stewart was sent to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
“We have a huge number of outfielders,” Hyde said. “We like DJ a lot, and he played really, really well. I love his style of play, and he epitomizes what we’re going to be about. Defense is very, very important to him. He hustles.”
Hyde thinks Stewart needs more at-bats, and he’ll get them in minor league camp. He’ll begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
Yusniel Diaz, who was reassigned to minor league camp, also suffered from the outfield glut, and the Orioles want him to play regularly at minor league camp.
Catcher Austin Wynns’ sore left oblique continues to improve, and he could play next week, Hyde said.
What’s happened?— Chris Davis returned to action after missing eight days because of a strained left hip flexor, and was 1-for-2 in the Orioles’ 8-7 loss to the New York Yankees.
Davis struck out looking in the first inning and had an opposite-field RBI single in the second. He was removed after two at-bats.
Davis is 2-for-14 with eight strikeouts.
“I need to play a little bit more,” Davis said. “I think we’ll be able to do what we need to do for me to be ready over the next couple of weeks.”
Davis said that he was purposefully taking more pitches than he would in the regular season.
“Early on, I wanted to see as many pitches as I could,” he said. “It’s tough in spring training because a lot of times you have at-bats against guys who are trying to make the team or guys that are trying to make an impression, and you take two pitches, and you’re down 0-2. But I think for me, the biggest thing is just getting into a rhythm, getting into a position where I feel like I’m seeing the ball well, even if I’m taking a lot of pitches, even if I’m taking a lot of called strikes…That was my plan going in, and the next few weeks, it’s time to start swinging a little bit.”
Hyde said that Davis is not on the same schedule as Trumbo.
“Chris has just got limited at-bats,” Hyde said. “He had a hip that took a little bit of time, and he’s recovered from that. The next two weeks, we have to get him some at-bats.”
After throwing 10 scoreless innings, Mike Wright allowed two runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Yankees’ front-line players.
“That’s a power lineup,” Wright said. “When I was [pitching against Boston], they had a lot of their ‘A’ guys, too. Same test as that. Being on the road, being a night game, it was pretty exciting.”
John Means gave up three runs on four hits in two innings following Wright. Nate Karns and Richard Bleier pitched scoreless innings, but Mychal Givens gave up three runs in the eighth while retiring just one batter.
“His stuff looked really good,” Hyde said. “His velo was up. I just thought he missed in the middle part of the plate a couple of times, and they were really aggressive with him. He didn’t look like he was commanding…It just wasn’t his night.”
Austin Hays had a three-run double and hit his fourth home run of the spring.
What’s up with? Branden Kline. He’s allowed two runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking one in 3 2/3 innings in his first major league camp.
Kline, who’s never pitched above Double-A, has seen two rounds of cuts, but he remains on the camp roster.
“It’s been serious time since I’ve been here,” Kline said. “My main point this offseason is come into camp ready to go, ready to compete for a spot. The fact that I’m still here gives me a pretty good chance, I think.”
What’s what? Ryan Mountcastle, who was also reassigned to minor league camp, got his first professional experience at first base during early Grapefruit League games.
Hyde said Mountcastle will see playing time at first and third, and that his throws from third improved in the last couple of weeks.
What’s the word? “At some point, you have to go out and see what you’ve got. There’s no further hurdles that would give any better indication than game action.”-Trumbo on his rehab
What’s the number? 11. Hays has 11 RBIs this spring to lead the Orioles.
What’s the record? 9-8-2. The Orioles play the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05 p.m.
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Hyde said about Givens “His stuff looked really good.” It sure did... to the Yankee hitters! Is Givens going for an all time high ERA in the Grapefruit League? 30.38 is unbelievable!
Lol his stuff looked good. That’s a Bucky comment from
Hyde
Ekin: great comment!
BH: Hyde will need a ton of excuses for his team this year. He's gonna have to borrow from a lot of sources.
Ahhhhhhhh .... that explains it. Davis is "purposefullly" taking more pitches this year. And he struck out looking the 1st inning. THIS is what is considered a change to his approach?
Is it just me, or is anybody else around here confused by this 'change'?
Boog: All you can do at this point is just shake your head. His comment about taking more pitches and then striking out looking reminds me of the AFLAC duck emerging from the barber shop after listening to some of Yogi Berra's comments.
He doesn’t have a clue and I don’t think he cares what anyone thinks. Hope he isn’t part of this team.....
Davis is purposefully taking more pitches, but struck out looking in the 1st inning. Strike three probably isn't the pitch he should be taking? SWING CHRIS SWING!
Did you have hear the word DENIAL This sums up everything I have ever heard from Chris Davis mouth about how bad he has been for over two years and how he is going to change his approach to hitting
“Let’s see....I had a really bad season last year. Like, historically bad. But really, how much actual history are we talking about? Baseballs only been around for like 25 years, right? Right. So, let’s see — last season I led everyone on the planet in called third strikes, bat on the shoulder. Probably should knock that down a percentage point or two. I need to make a change. A change...hmm...Maybe this spring I’ll purposefully watch more pitches down the middle! Yeah, that’s it! Nailed it!”
At this point I’m totally clueless about the Chris Davis situation. I agree with all of your other comments from fans, I don’t think anyone else has seen a change to his batting stance. At least he had a hit to the opposite field, that’s progress. Right
It is progress.
With regard to CD, there’s nothing we can do but stand by and watch. Let’s see if he’s just (yet again) paying lip service, or if he actually does make a change in approach now that the “watching pitches” part of spring training is apparently over.
I agree with Trent on Davis in that I am confused with his approach if in fact if it is what he says.He looked at 3 straight strikes his first time up.I am thinking he should be jumping on the first pitch and not worry about the pitcher just throwing the ball down the middle to try and get ahead in order to make his team.I would be worried about my game not theirs.If he went to opposite field purposely then I will have some confidence in him but nothing was said on that,He should be working on getting his BA up about 50 points (at least) from last year and not worry about the homeruns because he has been getting neither the past year or so.I am still with him at this time and hope he can do something to help this team and himself.Givens is not looking good either whether he has good stuff or not.Wright was facing a ferocious lineup for sure and I would say he did not do that bad.John Means looked better than his stats showed and an error.misplayed ball.etc. hindered him.Those Yankees look unbeatable to be honest with great powerful hitters and an amazing bullpen (Britton fabulous).Only problem may be the starting pitching but it looks as if their starters can go 4-5 innings the game is in the bag.Hays still impressing and Santander made good contact in his one at bat.They both are offensively a ways ahead of Mullins,just saying coach.Of course we are all amateurs with professional opinions and may not consider some of the intangibles but this is how I see things right now.I like Mullins aggressiveness and speed though he would have been out by a mile on the third base steal.At this point it looks like the pitching is going to kill the team unless things change and it is getting past the (it's still early) point.Of course I am saying that wishing for a winning season which is of course highly unlikely. I would say the evaluations will undoubtedly be continuing throughout the season and the team is in for one big trial and error scenario,as us fans will have to endure.
Rich — Is Hays playing his way onto the Opening Day roster? And if he and Diaz and Mountcastle — and even Stewart — swing the bat really well in the first half of the season, what are the odds the O’s would either trade Trumbo (which would probably require them eating much of this year’s salary), or finally cutting bait with Davis?
Fareastern, it looks as if Hays is playing his way onto the roster. The second part of your question is super-hypothetical, and I can't answer that without considering many other factors.
Looks like Groundhog's Day, Baltimore style, has struck again. Is it 2017, 2018 or 2019? Chris Davis is admiring called third strikes and the pitching SUCKS!!!!!!!! At least we've got some young, top-flight outfielders to watch, along with a dynamic shortstop and second baseman. Otherwise, it's time for the Orioles to take their annual deep, deep dive to the very depths of the American League East. The AL has the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Submariners.
I'll be the first to mention him --Givens. My God. He's showing absolutely nothing. Hyde has picked up the old company line already--"yeah but he looked good". I guess what else are you gonna say? Hays has not only made the team but looking as the RF starter and eventually pushing Mullins out of CF. No offense to those two but the day Trumbo/Davis are not a part of your story the better.
Agree, the future should be Hays, Diaz and Mullins if he can hit and hopefully Santander keeps up his Spring hitting. The sooner Davis and Trumbo are gone the better. Problem is we have no starting pitching and Givens maybe should go back to shortstop the way he looks.
Oriel... looks like you missed the first comment in this thread... mine... about Givens. Only one word fits for it... OUCH!
Sounds as though ST has been successful this far. No serious injuries to A players. That is if we have A players. We do. They’re just very young A. Davis got his second hit and Trumbo will see today if he can stand upright. Have a happy day everyone!