Baltimore Orioles re-sign Pedo Alvarez, fall vs. Boston

Before this afternoon’s 7-1 loss in Fort Myers vs. Boston, the Baltimore Orioles re-signed 1B/OF/DH Pedro Alvarez. This will be Alvarez’s third year in the organization, and it comes on another minor league deal. If Alvarez makes the 40-man roster he’ll make $1 million, and that could balloon to $3 million based on incentives.

That may well have been the Orioles’ highlight of the day. Gabriel Ynoa got the start for the Birds down in Fort Myers, and while he struggled a bit in the first inning, he rebounded. Ynoa’s line: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K. The four strikeouts are certainly a good sign.

Ynoa’s lone surrendered run came on Swihart’s RBI-double in the last of the first. Keep in mind that Ynoa was one of maybe two players on the field for the Orioles who has a legitimate shot to make the big league roster. With camps opening earlier, the rule regarding teams bringing a minimum of three regulars on road games doesn’t kick in until March 1st. So while the Orioles reserves really struggled against Boston’s semi-regular lineup, the overall result isn’t really important.

Luis Sardinas‘ RBI-single in the fifth tied the score at one for the Orioles. However that’s as close as they got before Boston broke it open. Swihart’s two-run homer in the last of that fifth inning would give Boston a 3-1 lead. That was immediately followed by a solo homer off the bat of Barfield, running the score to 4-1.

Boston would round out the scoring on an RBI-double by Hernandez in the sixth, followed by a sac fly-RBI by Barfield. And that rounded out a fairly uneventful afternoon at Jet Blue Park. As I said above, Ynoa had his struggles in the first inning. But he pitched out of them and also had a very strong second inning. He admitted as much after his outing via his translator (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

I was not commanding my fastball. That’s what happened that first inning, after the second hitter. But afterward I was able to make the adjustment and attack the hitters and get ahead of them.

Again, very few players on the trip itself are going to be seriously examined in terms of making the final roster. While there was lots of raw talent on the field for the Birds today, it was a fairly ho-hum type of game. But that’s what you get in spring training.

The Orioles return to Sarasota tomorrow to take on Detroit at Ed Smith Stadium. Kevin Gausman will make his inaugural start of the spring, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Michael Fulmer. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Nestor Cortes impresses in tie with Minnesota

The Baltimore Orioles are looking to fill out their pitching staff in this year’s spring training, and if the few things they’ve seen thus far are any indication, they have options. This evening in Sarasota they got a look at Nestor Cortes, who retired six of seven hitters that he faced. Cortes’ line: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

Cortes was taken in the Rule 5 draft from the New York Yankees, and after his outing he said he felt good out there (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

Yes, I think I attacked the strike zone real well, commanded all my pitches. Just one mistake pitch left out over the plate, good contact. That was it.

Whether or not Cortes ends up in the rotation remains to be seen. But the O’s also got good performances virtually out of everyone they threw into the game this evening. Alec Asher pitched two innings and struck out four. Minnesota scored their lone run in the second on a sac fly-RBI by Petit.

In terms of wins and losses (if you’re into that type of thing as far as spring training games go), the Orioles had their chances. They left the bases loaded in the fifth, sixth, and eighth. If this were a regular season game, I’d talk about how that’s something that needs to change. And the fact is that it is. However you can stomach that a bit given the fact that this is really only the second game – technically the third, but it was the second game so far as the regulars go.

You can’t strand runners on base in games. However as I’ve said ad hoc the past two days, hitters are still behind pitchers. Sometimes it takes players ten or twelve real at-bats before their timing comes back.

The Birds trailed for much of the night, however Austin Wynns‘ three-run homer in the last of the seventh tied the game at one. The Birds also threatened in the last of the ninth, but couldn’t push the winning run across. The managers had already gotten together and had decided that the game would end after nine innings. So it ends in a tie, leaving the Birds still searching for their first spring victory.

The Orioles’ “B-team” lost earlier in the day in Clearwater to Philadelphia – this was a split squad day for the Birds. Dylan Bundy was smacked around in the limited action he saw. Bundy’s line: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 0 K. That’s not exactly how the Orioles saw Bundy’s first spring outing going, but that’s what these games are for; working through growing pains.

The Birds will hit the road tomorrow and head to Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers to take on Boston. Gabriel Ynoa will get the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Brian Johnson. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Not the Wright stuff

The Baltimore Orioles didn’t exactly get off to the start they wanted this afternoon in Grapefruit League play. Mike Wright got the starting assignment, despite knowing that he would only work two innings. Technically he was tagged with the loss, but we’re splitting hairs in looking at that. Wright’s line: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K.

The first inning set the tone for the game, with Tampa fouling off pitch after pitch. Tampa seemed to play this game with the urgency of a pennant race, keeping their at-bats alive as the game went on. And eventually that paid off. Having said that, Wright rebounded in the second inning, and ended up looking fairly good – even debuting some new repetoir (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

I’m featuring a cutter now and (Johnson) fouled off two of them up and in. I need to be a little more crisp and I think we can roll from there.

Tampa took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sac fly-RBI by Adames. This came on the heels of a base hit and a walk. Even in split squad form, Tampa’s hitters don’t give up at-bats. For what it’s worth, Wright atoned for his long first inning by making quick victims of Tampa in the second.

Tampa would add a second run in the third as Wendle grounded into a double-play which netted an additional run. The Orioles brought Pedro Araujo in to pitch the fifth, and that perhaps was the highlight of the game for the O’s. Araujo was sharp as could be, retiring Tampa in order with a groundout and two strikeouts.

Tampa would keep the pressure on in the seventh as the first two hitters reached base (one on a HBP). Ciuffo then broke the game wide open with a two-RBI single off of reliever Jeff Ferrell. Tampa would add an additional two runs in the seventh on a Padlo homer (off of Donny Hart).

However the silver lining here is that the Birds battled in the last of the ninth. With two on and nobody out, in a New York minute the Tampa lead was cut in half. Chance Sisco smacked the Orioles’ first homer of the spring, this one of the three-run variety. However while the Birds got a few other players on base, they were unable to get any closer than that. The O’s fell 6-3 to drop to 0-1 on the spring.

That late rally was music to Orioles’ fans ears, however I suspect they would have preferred that the runs came from the regulars who were in earlier in the game. As a reminder, hitters are still about a week behind pitchers (and catchers). Anyone who watched this game saw an extension of the end of last season – the Orioles struggling to get guys on base, and not being able to get them home when they do get someone on. But again, pitchers are ahead right now.

They also ran into a young group of Tampa Rays who weren’t overly concerned about scoring runs or getting on base. They focused on quality at-bats, and in turn they found themselves on base. While Tampa’s reserves defeated the majority of the Orioles’ starters, you have to take these results with a grain of salt. Especially this early in the spring.

Jonathan Schoop was a late scratch, as he had developed Bursitis in his elbow. It’s unclear how much time he’ll miss, but this is why you have depth. Again, I think the highlight of the day was that fifth inning. Araujo looked very sharp, and there’s no doubt he caught the eye of the coaching staff.

The Orioles will face a split squad day tomorrow. The “B-team” travel to Clearwater to take on Philadelphia at 1 PM, with Dylan Bundy getting the start. He’ll be opposed by Philadelphia’s Zach Elfin. Tomorrow night most of the regulars will take on Minnesota at Ed Smith Stadium, with Nestor Cortes Jr. getting the start for the Birds. He’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Adalberto Mejia. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles, Mike Wright open Grapefruit League schedule

The Baltimore Orioles will finally open the Grapefruit League schedule this afternoon with Mike Wright on the mound against Tampa. How long Wright is in the game today remains to be seen – I’m anticipating two innings. I would also expect the regular field players to be in perhaps five or six innings – maybe three turns at the plate or so. So goes MLB spring training.

This afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium the O’s are going to play perhaps the biggest baseball game in the history of western civilization. At least the biggest game for today at least. Let’s be frank; these games themselves don’t really provide players with a “big game” kind of feel, or “big game experience.” But for someone like Mike Wright, who could very well be battling for the fifth starter’s slot, it is a big game. Anytime you step on the field against another team it’s a big game.

It’s also a big game for the likes of Manny Machado and Tim Beckham. As we all know by now, Machado will be the team’s starting shortstop this year, while Beckham will be manning third base. Mark my words that at some point fans will laud Dan Duquette for acquiring Beckham. He fit in well with Baltimore almost immediately, and became a quick fan favorite. He also gets on base and is very quick. That’s exactly what the Orioles need.

However he’s played only five games at the hot corner in his career. So spring training is of supreme importance to him this year so as to get ready for the regular season. And the same goes for Machado, who will need to re-acclimate himself to shortstop. You also have Chris Davis, who’s coming off of a disappointing offensive year. However Davis claims that he’s changed his approach at the plate over the course of off season training, and will be more aggressive this year at the plate – as opposed to looking at called strike threes.

While the pomp and pageantry of spring Opening Day isn’t anything near what the Orioles will see next month at Camden Yards, it’s always exciting to see the games begin. The O’s will join all MLB clubs today in wearing the caps of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School baseball team today during the game. That of course is the school that was attacked senselessly last week in a mass shooting.

So here we go! The Orioles take on the Tampa Rays this afternoon in Grapefruit League game one. The aforementioned Mike Wright will be on the mound for the O’s. He’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Yonny Chirinos. For what it’s worth, Tampa will be in a split squad situation today, with presumably most of their B-team heading to Ed Smith Stadium. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles sign Colby Rasmus to a minor league deal

The Baltimore Orioles have had their eyes on Colby Rasmus for the past couple of years. And as of yesterday they finally got him. Rasmus, who had previously considered retirement, agreed to a minor league contract (with an invite to spring training).

Make no mistake about the fact that Rasmus will be on the major league roster. The fact that he signed a minor league contract is just a footnote in terms of the team playing roster games. Across nine big league seasons, Rasmus is a career .242 hitter, with an OBP of .311. I would expect Rasmus to platoon in the outfield, where he’s comfortable at all three positions.

Rasmus of course was injured for much of last year with Tampa, where he had some hip issues. He also had some personal problems, but apparently all of that has now cleared up. Despite his issues last year, Rasmus has averaged 25 homers per season for his career.

I suspect that part of what drew the Orioles to him was the fact that he’s a left-handed bat. I wouldn’t classify him as a “big bat,” but he’ll give the lineup a bit of stability in terms of balancing right and left. And that was a big issue last year.

Is this a good signing for the O’s? That’s tough to say. They wanted Rasmus three years ago, but couldn’t land him. Now that he was thinking of retiring, they got him on a no-risk minor league contract. Many Orioles fans will argue that nobody wanted him any longer – except the Orioles. One way or the other, Rasmus is now part of the organization. And again, it’s a no-risk contract given the fact that it’s a minor league deal.

The Orioles will hold an intrasquad scrimmage this afternoon at 12:30 PM at Ed Smith Stadium. They kind of have a grueling schedule (as far as schedules in spring training go) the first weekend of Grapefruit League play. Of course the opener is tomorrow at 1 PM, however on Saturday the O’s have their first split squad day of the year. They’ll play at Philadelphia at 1 PM in Clearwater, and then at home at 6 PM in Sarasota against Minnesota. Sunday afternoon they head down to Fort Myers to play Boston. That’s four games in 48 hours! (Obviously two different “teams” will play in the two games on Saturday.)

I would expect Rasmus to see some action in some of these road games. Let me state right now that I think many of the outfield reps come the regular season should go to guys like Austin Hays, because that’s the future. But a lot of that will be contingent on how guys look in spring training. Both offensively and defensively.

Baltimore Orioles: Who starts on Friday? (updated)

With the spring opener now only two short days away, the Baltimore Orioles are turning their attention to the Tampa Rays. Let’s be frank; wins and losses don’t matter at this point. I’m going to say that again for clarity; wins and losses don’t matter at this point. But you play like you practice, so the Orioles owe it to themselves to play hard in these spring games.

So here’s an interesting question: who gets the [Grapefruit League] Opening Day start on Friday? This isn’t the regular season, so it really doesn’t matter. Some might put the newly re-signed Chris Tillman forth as a possible starter. However while he’s the longest tenured Oriole on the pitching staff, I’m not sure he’s been in camp long enough.

I would go with Kevin Gausman as a starter on Friday. Mind you, whomever starts won’t be in the game but for perhaps two or three innings. There have been years where the first turn through the rotation has only seen guys throw one inning. This isn’t the regular season where there’s even a rotation (despite the fact that I used that term a moment ago). It’s just about getting your work in at this point and having a strong spring.

In fact, these games are all but scripted in terms of who pitches and when. Buck Showalter will have a schedule for each game as to who’s pitching that day, how many innings, which innings, etc. And barring an emergency or an incredibly poor performance, most managers will stick to that schedule regardless of what happens in the game. That’s just how it works.

So regardless of whomever gets the starting nod on Friday, it’s not something into which I would read too much. I’m going with Gausman because while I also think he’ll be the Opening Day starter, they’re going to want to get him as much work as possible. This season, and thus this spring, is very important for him – as well as for Dylan Bundy.

Update: I’d like to thank reader CBoemmeljr for the information that Mike Wright will be starting on Friday against Tampa.

 

Baltimore Orioles re-sign Chris Tillman

The Baltimore Orioles yesterday announced another free agent pitcher signing – technically. RHP Chris Tillman is returning to the O’s, after signing a one-year major league contract. Tillman took his physical yesterday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

The contract guarantees Tillman $3 million in base salary in 2018. Through other bonus’ and incentives, he could earn up to an additional $7 million. Ultimately this is a good move for the Orioles because it comes cheap, and both sides appear confident that he can have a comeback-type of year.

It also adds one more name to the rotation. And I’ve said from the beginning that Tillman would end up back in Baltimore. This move should come as no surprise to anyone. So as I said, this is technically a free agent signing. But in reality it’s a continuation of Tillman’s stint with the O’s.

That brings the O’s to four starters in camp. And I think you can probably get away with finding one starter as the Grapefruit League schedule progresses. Two or three to fill out the roster might have been a challenge. But odds are someone will find their way into the rotation by standing out in spring training. For the record however, the O’s only need four starters through the first week of the season.

Baltimore Orioles: Presidential first pitches for President’s Day

Today the Baltimore Orioles will hold their first team workout with the full squad. Grapefruit League play of course will begin on Friday in Sarasota as the O’s take on Tampa. But today is also a Federal Holiday: President’s Day.

So as a baseball writer and a lifelong civics and history buff, I write this column every year – combining the two. Any game in which the President of the United States throws out the first pitch is special. Usually this happens on Opening Day or in the World Series. It can also happen in the All-Star game – or any other game for that matter.

The tradition began in 1910 with President William Howard Taft throwing out the first pitch on Opening Day for the Washington Senators. The 100th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2010 when President Barrack Obama threw out the first pitch on Opening Day at Nationals Park in Washington DC. In between those two bookends, every President has done the honors at least once.

And if you think about it, that’s quite an accomplishment given that Washington didn’t have baseball for so long. Of all of the gentlemen who have done it, President Franklin D. Roosevelt did the honors more than any other. And that makes sense given the fact that he was President for longer than any man in history. He was also in a wheelchair for most of his adult life, adding to the fact that it’s impressive he did it every year. But that in and of itself is no excuse for his first pitch hitting a Washington Post camera on Opening Day, 1940. C’mon Mr. President, command the ball – don’t throw it!

After baseball left our nation’s capital, Baltimore was able to host the “Presidential Opener” a few times. Not only that, but President Jimmy Carter’s lone first pitch as President came in the World Series in 1979 at Memorial Stadium. President Ronald Reagan came to town on Opening Day in 1984 and 1986, as did President George H.W. Bush in 1989. (Reagan also threw out the first ball in a World Series game at Memorial Stadium in 1983.)

President Bush returned to Baltimore on Opening Day 1992, however that came at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The inaugural game at the ballpark, in fact. I remember it very well; the President, a former Yale first baseman, threw the ball off the plate and in the dirt. He would later say that was exactly what he wanted to do – slider low and inside to a right-handed hitter. I always thought that was a pretty quick comeback on his part.

President Bill Clinton came to Baltimore twice to open the season with the first pitch, in 1993 and 1996. And President George W. Bush became the first sitting President to toss out the first ball in Washington DC when baseball returned in the form of the Nationals. His successor, President Obama, gave a great quote about our national pasttime in 2016 in Cuba attending the historic Tampa Rays vs. Cuba game (quote courtesy of Michael Memoli, Los Angeles Times):

There is something about baseball that is so fundamentally woven into our culture. And in some ways, at a time in our lives where everything’s a mile a minute and kids are on their phones all the time and there’s just this constant stream of information, there’s nothing like going to a ballpark and just everything slowing down a little bit.

The rhythm of the game gives you a sense of appreciation about all the blessings we have. It’s still a family game in a way that is really hard to match.

He couldn’t be more right. And a great part of that is due to the relationship that baseball has with America’s Chief Executives. No other sport can brag of Presidential participation like baseball can. Hockey games will sometimes mirror this tradition by having a ceremonial drop of the puck, but let’s be real – it’s a baseball thing. And it’s mainly a thing because the President of the United States is involved.

Which brings us to the current time period. I know that Baltimoreans and people in countless other places would love for the President to come and do the honors in their city. It’s a non-partisan tradition that celebrates America’s pasttime, and America herself. But let’s not kid ourselves, it really belongs in one city and one city only. So to President Donald Trump or anyone in the Trump Administration who’s willing to listen, in closing I say one thing. The President of the United States should throw out the first ball on Opening Day in Washington D.C. every year.

Party affiliation and politics aside, that needs to start happening again. Yes, that means that the Washington Nationals should always open at home, and the sitting President should be there to do the honors. If he wants to do it in other cities on other days over the course of the year, fine. But I’ll say it again: The President of the United States should throw out the first ball on Opening Day in Washington D.C. every year!

Baltimore Orioles: Important spring training for the infield

For the first time in awhile, there are some questions facing the Baltimore Orioles’ infield going into a baseball season. And not all of them concern on-field matters. Some do, and we’ll start there. We knew that the Orioles would probably have a new shortstop in 2018; we just didn’t think it was going to be Manny Machado.

I don’t think fans should worry too much in terms of the quality of play. While Machado hasn’t played shortstop consistently in over five years, it’s his natural position. It’s why the Orioles drafted him – make no mistake about that. However the Grapefruit League schedule is going to be really key to getting Machado ready for the season, as it’ll give him a chance to face live bullets…in games that don’t count. The switch sounds simple enough, but the throw to first is different, the angles are all different, and the double-play duties are different.

Which brings up to the hot corner; Tim Beckham has vociferously said that he’ll be fine at third base. But it’s not a position at which he’s spent significant time. Now I know the emphasis that Buck Showalter puts on defense; they wouldn’t have made this move if they didn’t think Beckham could handle it. And with the way that he embraced Baltimore, the Orioles, the fans, etc. when he was traded here, you can’t help but give the guy a shot.

The elephant in the room obviously is also Machado’s contract situation. Namely, it expires after the season. He’s expected to hit free agency, however the Orioles apparently have been in close contact of late with his agent about an extension. For what it’s worth, he’s saying all the right things (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

Obviously, this is the only organization I’ve ever played for and the only organization I know, so I could definitely stay here, play for this organization, play for the crowd, play for the fans. This is all I know. It’s a great organization that I’ve always played for and gave me an opportunity to come up here and play in the big leagues, but at the same time, there are some things that are out of my jurisdiction, out of my hands. What I can do is go out there and give them the best season I can and see what happens.

The Orioles also have to deal with the Jonathan Schoop situation, which came out of Orioles’ FanFest a few weeks ago. To be specific, Schoop opted not to show up – at the last minute. Later we found out that it was due to his salary situation (regarding arbitration) not being resolved, and at the time he said that his agent advised him against attending.

You might say that the fans are ultimately the ones who suffer when business and baseball intersect. It wasn’t a popular decision with the fans, and manager Buck Showalter and GM Dan Duquette both voiced frustration with Schoop as well. However to his credit, Schoop is trying to make amends (quote courtesy of Brittany Ghiroli, mlb.com):

Every fan, I’m going to sign for them and give them something back. I’m glad it’s over and I can focus on baseball now so I can focus on being out there and helping the team win.

Personally I think that Schoop may want to reevaluate who represents him if he was advised against going to an event as innocent as FanFest. And one that means so much to the Baltimore community at that. (I said at the time that if Tim Beckham – a guy mind you who had just been traded to the Orioles the previous summer – could show up and be excited for the fans on his birthday, there was no reason why Schoop needed to miss FanFest. Regardless of what his agent said.) However my hope is that fans quickly forget about that and view it as a blip on the radar once the Grapefruit League season starts next Friday. Once Schoop smacks a ball out of Ed Smith Stadium or turns a double-play with Machado, all should hopefully be well.

Similar to the year when Toronto tried to pick off Dan Duquette as their GM, there have been a lot of distractions this off season. And for all of the wrong reasons. However the Orioles hope that come Friday when games begin, all of that melts away. Needless to say, the upcoming slate of spring games are important to a lot of people for a lot of reasons.

Baltimore Orioles have been burned by boldness

Many fans question why the Baltimore Orioles are so timid on the free agent market. Especially with pitchers. Fans see other teams making big splashes, and in essence taking big risks. And often times they pay off.

But the Orioles aren’t big on dishing out contracts like other teams do – for pitchers, that is. That’s not to say that they’ve never done it. Ubaldo Jimenez‘s contract just came off the books starting this year. And while the Jimenez contract was an anomaly in that it was a large contract dished out to a free agent pitcher, it was also one that most national pundits lauded. Many people, myself included, felt that the Orioles made a good move in getting Jimenez…

…and contrary to what fans think, it wasn’t a total disaster. People shouldn’t forget that there were a few big games down the stretch (such as the 2014 AL East-clinching game) that Jimenez started and in which he came up big. When the bright lights were on, he tended to show up big. But the overall story of his tenure in Baltimore is lackluster.

And that’s one of the reasons why the O’s aren’t willing to go after the likes of a Jake Arrieta, because they don’t want to commit a lot of money and years to a guy who may or may not produce. Now that’s not to say that finding starting pitchers in the Rule 5 draft is the way to go either, but one can’t totally blame them for being timid when it comes to signing free agent pitchers.