masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgRyan Flaherty received a text message yesterday alerting him to the fractured bone in J.J. Hardy’s left foot. He was in Louisville with Triple-A Norfolk and headed out to the field when told to catch a flight to Baltimore.
Flaherty had to backtrack and retrieve his luggage. He arrived last night around 7:30 p.m. and is starting at third base tonight in the series opener against the Yankees.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen in this game. I’m just fortunate to be back here,” he…

Ryan Flaherty received a text message yesterday alerting him to the fractured bone in J.J. Hardy’s left foot. He was in Louisville with Triple-A Norfolk and headed out to the field when told to catch a flight to Baltimore.

Flaherty had to backtrack and retrieve his luggage. He arrived last night around 7:30 p.m. and is starting at third base tonight in the series opener against the Yankees.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen in this game. I’m just fortunate to be back here,” he said.

“Every day up here is a good opportunity. Every time you have a chance to help the team in whatever way it is, then that’s a good opportunity.”

Flaherty was starting at shortstop in the original lineup before manager Buck Showalter moved him to third. Showalter has a variety of options while covering for Hardy.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Flaherty said. “The way defenses are now and shifting, it’s not a huge deal, I don’t think, wherever it is. But whatever they want to do.”

Flaherty was 2-for-10 in four games with the Orioles, but he collected eight hits in 19 at-bats with Triple-A Norfolk.

“Obviously, I got a chance to get in there and got some hits, so that was nice,” he said. “Try to carry it back.”

Flaherty can play any position – he’s also the emergency catcher – and Showalter is confident using him at third or short while Hardy is on the disabled list.

Showalter-Distressed-Sidebar.jpg“I think he’s very similar at both,” Showalter said. “He’s made his way into our lineup in the playoffs because of injury. I think Ryan’s capable at any place we put him. I’m not going to get into, ‘He’s X-amount better at this position than that position.’ Ryan’s done a great job at second base, too. We’re glad to have him back.

Showalter met with Machado in his office before changing the lineup.

“Manny’s going to play shortstop tonight. Ryan’s going to play third,” Showalter said. “I’d keep in mind that Pedro (Alvarez) has played a lot of third base, too. He’s played more third base than Manny has. There’s some options there. I’d like to keep them all open. I’d also like to keep from moving guys around a lot.

“I talked to Manny in detail about it, got his feelings about it. This is the way we’re going to go tonight.

“Manny made the case he wants the Orioles to win. That’s all we talked about. What all this about is, ‘If you want me to play third, I’ll play third. If you want me to play short, I’ll play short.’ He’s in.”

The news on Hardy yesterday was disappointing, but not unexpected. He sustained a hairline fracture in his left foot Sunday after fouling a ball off it.

“If there’s such a thing as a good break. There shouldn’t be any complications from it,” Showalter said.

“I knew at the time … Richie (Bancells) was kind of hoping it hit in the flesh area. It happened real fast. He went from the at-bat to shortstop. I went to the mound to make a pitching change. I asked him how he was doing. He said, ‘This is strange. It’s gotten real stiff and sore in a hurry.’

“It didn’t swell as much as a turned ankle or something else. I’m hoping that it’s less time, but I’m like him. I’m not going there. I’m trying to stay in my so-called area of expertise.”

Showalter is encouraged by the progress Yovani Gallardo is making as he works his way back from right shoulder tendinitis.

“He’s doing good,” Showalter said. “I’m very optimistic on the return we’re going to get on some of the things he’s doing. Hopefully, he’s moving toward throwing here before too long.”

It’s going to be a while before Hunter Harvey can pick up a ball after undergoing sports hernia surgery today in Philadelphia.

“That came out good,” Showalter said.

Harvey hasn’t pitched in a minor league game since July 2014, but Showalter doesn’t consider it a significant setback. Harvey hasn’t been sidelined by one chronic injury.

“I think if he pitches from June, July on and finishes up strong like we think he can, I think he’s OK. But you’d really like to see him get the ball every fifth day at some point there and kind of get some of that experience he needs to finish off some things,” Showalter said.

Showalter referred to closer Zach Britton as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle. Britton played catch this afternoon to get an idea when he’d be ready to pitch. The disabled list doesn’t appear to be a consideration and it’s possible that the Orioles use Britton in this series.

“Zach’s improved,” Showalter said. “We’ll see how his availability is tonight.”

The Orioles still have a three-man bench, but for how much longer?

“What time is it now?” Showalter quipped. “I don’t know. We’ll see how tonight goes. It depends on how much we use some people. We’d all rather get back to 12 (pitchers) and four on the bench. It’s been tough. You kind of take each day as it comes and see where you are. Try to get it settled as soon as you can because you really need to kind of let it get settled in there for a month or so without J.J.”

As I’ve written, the Orioles could purchase infielder Paul Janish’s contract after his return from paternity leave, which begins on Wednesday.

“I just feel fortunate that we have people like Manny and Ryan and Paul,” Showalter said. “And I wouldn’t forget that Jonathan’s played a lot on that other side of the diamond. I just like the versatility that we have. There are a lot of clubs that would really have a tough time with things like losing their shortstop, and we feel like we’ve got multiple people who can do it and not have as big a dropoff as some teams would. I hope. We’ll see.”

The Orioles activated infielder Steve Tolleson from Triple-A Norfolk’s disabled list. They also activated left-hander Jeff Beliveau and assigned him to Single-A Frederick.

Beliveau is recovered from labrum surgery in April 2015.

The White Sox designated left-hander John Danks for assignment. The Orioles figure to have interest, but he reportedly refused an assignment to the minors, which led to Chicago cutting ties with him. There may not be a fit here despite the appeal of a left-handed starter.

For the Yankees
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Starlin Castro 2B
Didi Gregorius SS
Chase Headley 3B

Luis Severino RHP