O’s Grapefruit League Takeaways March 7th – March 12th

Here are some basic thoughts from a week worth of Spring Training Games for the O’s.

Game 5 March 7th Takeaways:

1) The story remained the competition in the bullpen with Hendrickson, Ohman, Mickolio, and Berken each throwing scoreless innings.

1a) David Hernandez went 1.2 innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 er (homer to Wagner), had zero walks, and 4 k’s.

2) Was interesting looking out at the team, and seeing Caleb Joseph, and Pedro Florimon and wondering if their future with the O’s will begin in 2011. Florimon could potentially be an option at SS. You figure Joseph will spend nearly all of 2010 in Bowie. The O’s will have to decide if they value him getting regular playing time in Norfolk in 2011, over improving the O’s bench.

3) Trembley has been using a line-up of Markakis, Tejada, Wieters at 3,4,5 a lot.

Game 6 Takeaways March 8th:

1) Matusz was outstanding, with 6 k’s in his 2.2 innings of work.

2) Gonzalez, Hernandez, and Uehara each received an inning of work. If the O’s can turn over 7th inning leads to this trio, the O’s should be able to chalk up wins.

3) Good to see Wilfrido Perez back on the mound and healthy. If he has his velocity back, and can improve his walk-ratio; the lefty is another power-arm that could join the O’s at some-point this Summer.

Game 7 Takeaways March 9th:

1) Tillman went 2.1 innings, allowed 4 hits, 1 er, 1 bb, with 1 k.

2) Reimold was back in the line-up, with 2 at-bats, and the start in LF.

3) I do not think the back-up catcher position has ever been in question, but when Moeller adds a couple of hits, all discussion completely ends.

4) Meredith went another 0.2 scoreless, and Sarfate was extended to 2 innings. Sarfate has looked so good, you wonder if he is working his way back into the mix.

5) Arrieta has has a pretty middling Spring. 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 er, 1 bb, 2 k’s. Would like to see him look strong tomorrow (Sunday) in the B-squad game. At a minimum, want to see him get a couple of innings of work.

Game 8 Takeaways March 10th:

1) MLB Network Televised game, was good to see some palm-trees, baseball in-general, and Bergesen back on the mound. His stuff was sitting too far up in the zone, and he struggled with command overall; but he was healthy enough to be back on the mound and make 35 pitches. That is all that mattered. I’m on the record as stating I believe his numbers will ‘normalize’ in 2010, but even when/if that occurs, the innings he can provide to this staff are very important. Joy to watch a pitcher who works quickly, and has an idea of what he wants to accomplish.

2) Another start for Scott at 1st, which is somewhat curious. If they were going to give Scott multiple outings at 1st, why bother signing Atkins? As we said all Winter, could have just moved Scott to 1st to start 2010, with Reimold at DH, and Pie in LF. I have to imagine the O’s are giving Scott sometime at 1st because of Reimold’s Achilles. There must be some internal consideration of easing Reimold back into LF, but wanting to keep his bat in the lineup.

3) Jones just missed a nice running catch towards RF. The camera did not really show the positioning Jones had. I am very interested to see if the O’s insist on him playing a bit deeper this year.

4) Snyder has had very little at-bats, and done nothing during those opportunities. Unlike Reimold last-year, the team is not going to have a hard time sending him back to AAA. Like Reimold last-year, he can only control what he can control – and has to go back to the Minors and rake.

5) 2 innings scoreless for Berken. The writing seems to be on the wall that he is going back to Norfolk to start, and I do not see why.

6) Hendrickson had another 2 innings of scoreless ball. Even without taking into account his contract, his Spring performance is securing his place on the roster. Ohman struck-out 2 more in his inning of work. I’ve said since he was signed that I believe he was a lock for the roster, and his work this spring has done nothing to change that opinion.

7) Competition is a wonderful-thing, with Mickolio and Albers both again having scoreless outings. As good as Mickolio has looked, the fact that he has an option left is a huge X against him making the team.

Game 9 Takeaways March 11th:

1) Millwood was smacked around, allowing 9 hits in his 2.2 innings. The performance is not a worry, but you want to see him get to about 4 innings in his next-start.

2) Hernandez again finished the game, also going 2.2 innings, allowing 5 hits (including a HR to Portes), 3 er, 0 bb’s, with 5 k’s.

The O’s are giving his much work as the projected-rotation, which could mean they are preparing him to start at AAA. To me, that would be a mistake. Having another guy that has the ability to extend, and provide additional innings out of the bullpen is something to be excited about. It could help get the O’s away from specialized bullpen pitchers so prevelent around baseball. With Arrieta already going back to AAA, you already have a pitcher with greater upside waiting in the wings to join the rotation if necessary. Adding Hernandez’s power-arm to the bullpen would be ideal.

3) Another scoreless inning, and 2 k’s for Uehara. With his impeccable control, he might have the ability to really flourish in the bullpen.

4) A triple, and homer for Andino. Again, the bench is known; with the only roster suspense existing in the bullpen.