FORT MYERS, Florida–What’s happening? In his first start with the Orioles, Chris Bassitt allowed two runs on two hits in two innings, walking two and throwing 40 pitches in the Orioles’ 8-7 Grapefruit League win over the Boston Red Sox before 9,278 at JetBlue Park on Sunday.
The 37-year-old Bassitt carries a reputation as a good clubhouse guy.
“They call them ‘glue guys,’ that kind of keep everyone together,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “We’re with each other all the time, 162 games during the season, you need somebody to keep everyone together and keeping it loose and having fun. When you lack those guys, players seem to get in their own way. Those guys are extremely valuable.”
Bassitt, who signed with the Orioles on February 13th, is trying to learn his new team.
“I don’t think I’ve done it yet just because there’s not enough time,” Bassitt said. “I genuinely care about you. I care how you are off the field. I care how you are on the field.
“People know me for just calling people out because it’s coming from a place of love. If I see you’re doing something wrong, I’m going to say it, and I think for the most part, people don’t like it, but when you come to a baseball team, the baseball team and the players may not like it at the time, but they love it long-term.”
When Albernaz was coaching with Cleveland the past two seasons, the Guardians’ backup catcher, Austin Hedges, was valued despite a lifetime average of .185 in 11 seasons.
“The clubhouse dynamic is extremely interesting for the people that don’t have visibility in there,” Albernaz said.
What happened? Bassitt has limited goals for the early part of spring training.
“It’s just building pitch count right now,” he said. “Facing an intradivsion team, you’re not going to game-plan and throw a specific way. Today was all about throwing heaters, a bunch of different kinds of heaters and just building arm strength within the heaters, just getting my lines the right way.
“That was the plan today, getting into a pitch count and throwing a good amount of fastballs, just to remind my arm, ‘We’re going.’”
With 11 seasons of major league experience, Bassitt knows what he needs to do to get ready for the regular season.
“I’ve always tried to coming into spring with the endurance side checked off the box,” he said. “I feel like a lot of people have the power coming into spring, and then they try to increase their endurance as they go. I think that’s where a lot of injuries and stuff happen. I wasn’t tired, I felt really, really good. It was a matter of getting reps.
“I feel like I was flying blind early in my career, and I was throwing stuff just to throw stuff. Now it’s understanding guys’ weaknesses, understanding game plans, understanding how to set pitches up … Let’s just take baby steps. Let’s not take everything at once.”
Non-roster right-hander Jeisson Cabrera allowed four runs on three hits and walked two in relief of Bassitt.
Albert Suárez allowed an unearned run in two innings. Luis De Léon, Anthony Nunez, Cameron Foster and minor leaguer Alex Pham threw scoreless innings.
Heston Kjerstad was 3-for-3. Samuel Basallo, playing his first game since being pulled after a tag at the plate gave him pain in his right side, was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Dylan Beavers had two hits.
In his final game before playing for Team Panama in the World Baseball Classic, Enrique Bradfield Jr. had his first hit of the season, a bunt single. He advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by Justin Slaten.
Bradfield also made an outstanding catch in right field on Kristian Campbell’s line drive in the second inning. ‘
“I’m excited. I’m a player that thrives off environment,” Bradfield said about the WBC. “Sometimes it can be hard to get yourself going in a normal spring training game, thinking about some of the environments I played in the past, in college.”
What’s up with Chayce McDermott? The 27-year-old right-hander had a difficult day on Saturday, allowing three consecutive home runs on three pitches.
In his previous two outings, McDermott threw hitless innings, striking out five and walking one.
The Orioles converted McDermott from a starter to a reliever last season.
“It’s obviously a different role, so obviously trying to change from balancing out the energy for six, seven innings to just going out for one, one-plus and just giving it my all, figuring out how to do that, and how it looks each day, backs-to-backs,” McDermott said. “The mindset has gone from game plan to how to attack for an inning.”
McDermott enjoys his new role, and the uncertainty that comes with it.
“You get to be a part of each game, possibly,” he said. “Even in games you may not pitch, there’s still a chance you’re going to go in. It’s like being a position player again. You’re always there. As a starter, you know when you’re throwing each time.”
What’s what? Orioles broadcaster Ben McDonald, who pitched for the team from 1989-1995 and worked as a guest instructor in Sarasota the past few weeks, is impressed with Bassitt.
“Bassitt reminds me of Rick Sutcliffe when I was younger,” McDonald said. “He’s going to be so valuable to the younger starters to be able to have an older guy, a veteran guy, to bounce stuff off of.
“When I listen to Bassitt talk, he’s really advanced in the way he thinks, the way he sets up guys, what he’s looking for, to read bats, and to hear him talk to [Kyle] Bradish the other day, it reminded me a lot of Sutcliffe.”
What’s the word? “When you look at Shane Baz’s stuff, it’s pretty special. I think his best years are in front of him, elite stuff. When he’s healthy, he’s a difference-maker.”-McDonald on another new starter, 26-year-old Shane Baz.
What’s the number? .429/1.181. Kjerstad’s batting average is up to .429 and his OPS is up to 1.181.
What’s the record? 5-4-1. After a day off on Monday, the Orioles will host Team Netherlands at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m. Trevor Rogers, who’s allowed two hits in five scoreless innings, will start for the Orioles. Ryjeteri Merite will start for the Netherlands.
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