The Baltimore Orioles have started their Spring-training schedule, splitting a pair of Grapefruit League games with the Tampa Rays these past two-days.
Game 1 March 3rd:
1) There have been a number of good comments this Spring about Guthrie, and how he looks more comfortable; not having to deal with the World Baseball Classic. Been great to hear that he is keeping the ball down, and showing increased movement. Effective 2 inning outing to get his feet wet.
2) The biggest story of the day, was the competition for the Orioles bullpen. Gonzalez, Johnson, Uehara, Hendrickson are locks. I have said previously I believe Ohman will make the team, and the enthusiasm surrounding Mickolio points to him coming North with the Birds as-well.
That leaves 1 spot available, with Hernandez, Berken, Albers, Meredith, and Sarfate all competing. Any-time Ohman is solid (1 inning scoreless on Wed), he will move closer to locking down a spot. Hernandez showed what he could bring to the table right-away with 2 innings, and 3 k’s. A power arm that can stretch is extremely valuable.
Albers, and Meredith both had scoreless 1 inning outings, while Sarfate allowed 2 hits, and a walk.
While I regularly caution about understanding sample-size, and not over-reacting; the scarcity of available spots in the bullpen, is going to quickly eliminate people. The margin of error is thin.
3) Bell hitting 2 homers, and Tejada having an error at 3rd, immediately led some O’s fans to wonder just when Bell would be taking over the hot-corner. That rush-to-judgment is unfair to both players. Bell is going to get the opportunity to refine his game at AAA; and Tejada is likely to play 150+ games this season. It might take 100 games for Tejada to feel comfortable at his new position. O’s fans analyzing Tejada’s conversion to becoming a 3rd-baseman on each play this year, will be operating in a fruitless-endeavor.
Game 2 March 4th:
1) Pie’s HR, and Triple were great to see, but his ‘leg-injury,’ should have crystallized things for the people that have been suggesting the O’s have ‘too-much,’ depth in the OF. While the injury was nothing, it was a reminder that injuries do occur.
2) By all accounts, Matusz quickly showed in his 1.1 innings, why he will be a force to be reckoned with in 2010.
3) Uehara, and Berken each had scoreless 1 inning outings in-relief, while Mickolio allowed a run during his inning of work. Hendrickson was knocked around a bit. I will not actively root-against an Oriole, but I am curious to see if the O’s would consider eating Hendrickson’s contract, if he had an absolutely miserable March. I think my earlier comment about sample-size is the right thought here. No matter how Hendrickson looks this Spring, his contract pretty-much guarantees he will be part of the roster.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.