Roch Kubatko

Notes on Bundy, Diaz and Pop before Orioles' second spring game

February 24, 2019, 5:01am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Bundy is pitching in a simulated game this morning on one of the back fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He doesn't know when he's going to start a Grapefruit League game. Manager Brandon Hyde is considering whether to shield his starters from division opponents and the Orioles are playing the Blue Jays today, the Rays on Tuesday, the Red Sox on Wednesday, the Rays and Yankees on Friday in split-squad games, and the Red Sox again Saturday. Nate Karns starts Monday...

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Orioles lineup vs. Jays

February 24, 2019, 3:01am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is giving Chris Davis, Trey Mancini and Jonathan Villar their first spring starts today. Villar is leading off and playing second base. Mancini is batting second and playing left field. Davis follows them, starting at first base. Ryan Mountcastle is the cleanup hitter and designated hitter. Alcides Escobar, one of the newer additions to camp, is playing shortstop today. Austin Hays is the center fielder. It's Carlos PÃ©rez's turn to catch. For...

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Peterson hopes moving around keeps him in one place

February 23, 2019, 5:50pm

Orioles

Peterson hopes moving around keeps him in one place

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play their second exhibition game later today, giving manager Brandon Hyde more opportunities to show off the versatility of his roster and do a little more experimenting. Stevie Wilkerson hasn't played first base in the majors? Run him out there in the Grapefruit League opener against the Twins. Wilkerson came off the bag to glove Renato NÃºÃ±ez's throw from across the diamond and slap the tag on Ronald Torreyes. But he also couldn't make the clean...

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Hyde wraps up Orioles' 7-2 win

February 23, 2019, 12:27pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first game as a major league manager, albeit one that didn't count in real standings, Brandon Hyde placed zero importance on the final score. As the Orioles readied to take batting practice this morning on another sun-splashed Sarasota day, he sat in the home dugout at Ed Smith Stadium and insisted that he cared only about evaluating the performances. Take in the good and the bad and discuss. A "straight evaluation deal," as he put it. Most of what unfolded in front...

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Mullins and Sisco among standouts in Orioles' first game (O's win 7-2)

February 23, 2019, 10:48am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Though the batting order in the first exhibition game shouldn't be viewed as a precursor to the regular season lineups, Cedric Mullins carried the look of a legitimate leadoff hitter today against the Twins. Mullins walked, stole second base and scored in the first inning, doubled and scored in the third, and singled and scored in the fifth, as the Orioles posted a 7-2 victory at Ed Smith Stadium. Christopher Bostick replaced Mullins in center field, another movable piece...

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Sisco homers on first spring at-bat (quotes added, O's up 6-1)

February 23, 2019, 9:05am

Orioles

Sisco homers on first spring at-bat (quotes added, O's up 6-1)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wants his club to be aggressive on the bases this year, a message he's delivered to them in meetings and through the press. However, he's also fine with players circling them. Chance Sisco's first swing today resulted in a three-run homer off Chase De Jong in the bottom of the first inning to provide an early lead. Cedric Mullins led off with a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on catcher TomÃ¡s Telis' throwing error. Exactly the...

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Hyde on his debut, lineup, starters and more (O's up 3-1)

February 23, 2019, 7:26am

Orioles

Hyde on his debut, lineup, starters and more (O's up 3-1)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first game for Brandon Hyde as a major league manager has arrived today. Does a win or loss really matter to him? "No, not at all, zero," he replied while sitting in the home dugout at Ed Smith Stadium. Let's remember that it's spring training and other goals rank higher in the pecking order. "It's 100 percent about what we just did up until 11:30 and how we play," Hyde said. "We're going to evaluate that, we'll talk a little bit about a couple things that maybe...

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Trumbo on projected debut (and other notes)

February 23, 2019, 4:59am

Orioles

Trumbo on projected debut (and other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo said he isn't expecting to make his Grapefruit League debut this spring for a few more weeks, the process of recovering from September knee surgery continuing to play out. Trumbo has intensified his workouts in spring training, but the Orioles are being careful with him. "There's going to be a few tests to pass before. A safe bet would probably be two weeks from now," Trumbo said. "We still haven't totally ramped up. The full-speed sprint and kind of the...

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Orioles and Twins lineups for first exhibition game

February 23, 2019, 3:14am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is kicking off the first exhibition game this afternoon by sitting some of the regulars. First baseman Chris Davis, infielder Jonathan Villar and left fielder Trey Mancini are out of the lineup. Mancini said he knew in advance and is playing Sunday against the Blue Jays. The same must be true of Davis and Villar. Stevie Wilkerson gets the start at first base, Eric Young Jr. in left field, Rule 5 pick Richie Martin at shortstop and Jace Peterson at...

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Orioles enter exhibition opener in competitive mode

February 22, 2019, 4:33pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Just as it's unwise to read too much into the choice of a starting pitcher for the first exhibition game, the same applies to the order of the hitters and where certain players are positioned in the field. The leadoff hitter today against the Twins may be lowered or excluded Sunday versus the Blue Jays. The catcher isn't assured of breaking camp with the team, let alone being behind the plate on opening day. Take it all with a grain of salt, though it made more sense to do so...

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Bleier: "I think that I'm ready to compete" (Alberto claimed)

February 22, 2019, 9:00am

Orioles

Bleier: "I think that I'm ready to compete" (Alberto claimed)

SARASOTA - Richard Bleier has no idea when he's going to pitch in an exhibition game. The euphoria he felt after today's live batting practice session should carry him for a while. Facing hitters for the first time since June 13, prior to his lat surgery, Bleier broke out his entire arsenal and reported no discomfort or noticeable rust. "I'm very happy with how it went," he said. "Honestly, it was as good as it could have went. I felt great. I pitched very well. I made all my pitches. It...

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Bleier throws live batting practice to highlight workout

February 22, 2019, 6:43am

Orioles

Bleier throws live batting practice to highlight workout

SARASOTA, Fla. - The final workout this morning before the Orioles dive into their exhibition schedule included left-hander Richard Bleier's first opportunity to face hitters since undergoing lat surgery in June. Bleier threw 20 pitches on the Ed Smith Stadium mound, with Cedric Mullins, Jace Peterson, Eric Young Jr. and Andrew Susac serving as the batters. "Great day for Bleier," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I'm waiting to go in there to talk to him a little bit more, but for his first...

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Cashner on Brocail, Carroll on last year's rookie experience

February 21, 2019, 11:29am

Orioles

Cashner on Brocail, Carroll on last year's rookie experience

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles starter Andrew Cashner knew about the club's decision to hire Doug Brocail as pitching coach days before the news leaked. He kept it to himself, his approval muted until he arrived in camp. He wasn't going to be the one to break the story. They have a history. Cashner posted a 3.40 ERA in 28 starts with the Rangers in 2017 while working with Brocail, prompting former executive vice president Dan Duquette to give him a two-year deal worth a guaranteed $16...

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Harvey impresses in live batting practice session (and other notes)

February 21, 2019, 8:46am

Orioles

Harvey impresses in live batting practice session (and other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini walked out of the cage today, passed Hunter Harvey in front of the bench and suggested that the right-hander stick with everything that he's doing in camp. If it ain't broke ... Mancini was smiling as he said it, a touch of sarcasm sprinkled in after Harvey locked him up during live batting practice. "He looked really good," Mancini said following the Orioles penultimate workout before Saturday's exhibition opener against the Twins. "Everything was working...

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Notes on Villar and Osich before today's Orioles workout

February 21, 2019, 4:55am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jonathan Villar said this morning that he expects to play second base for the Orioles this season. Not his preferred spot in the infield, but it keeps him in the lineup. The signing of Alcides Escobar to a minor league deal and the presence of other shortstop candidates in camp make it more likely that Villar stays at second, where he made 36 starts for the Orioles after coming to them in the Jonathan Schoop trade with the Brewers. He started 18 games at short. "For me, I...

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Chris Davis hoping quiet approach at plate brings loudest results

February 20, 2019, 10:36am

Orioles

Chris Davis hoping quiet approach at plate brings loudest results

SARASOTA, Fla. - The swings keep coming on the main and back fields. Baseballs are launched over fences, one slamming into the metal roof of the indoor batting cage beyond Camden Yards South. Failure to square them up brings a quick and audible scolding from the man who's holding the bat. The man who can't escape the attention and scrutiny as another spring training unfolds. Who's amused when told about the experts on social media who break down his stance and whether a toe tap or the...

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RamÃrez to make start in exhibition opener (and other notes)

February 20, 2019, 8:54am

Orioles

RamÃrez to make start in exhibition opener (and other notes)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Yefry RamÃrez has been tabbed to start the Orioles' first exhibition game Saturday afternoon against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. "I feel great. Very excited when I was told about the news," Ramirez said via translator RamÃ³n AlarcÃ³n. "It makes he feel really good having this opportunity, so I feel there's a priority in order and I'm looking to try to take advantage of that." Manager Brandon Hyde didn't say it, but you shouldn't read too much into it....

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More on Yacabonis' role in camp

February 20, 2019, 5:11am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles held their annual Photo Day this morning at Ed Smith Stadium before taking the field for stretching and workouts. No media access until later today. The schedule doesn't show any bullpen or live batting practice sessions for the pitchers. Jimmy Yacabonis is on a starter's routine in camp, including two turns of live BP. Relievers were held to one. As I wrote yesterday, manager Brandon Hyde is open to using Yacabonis in the rotation or as a long reliever and will...

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Jackson trying to stay with Orioles as other Rule 5 pick

February 19, 2019, 6:29pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - A leisurely stroll for minor league infielder Drew Jackson turned into a joy ride. With a couple of crazy turns along the way. Jackson was left unprotected by the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft, held on the final day of baseball's annual Winter Meetings, and the Phillies selected him with the 11th overall pick. "My phone started blowing up," he said. Then came the one call that blew up his visions of going to spring training in Clearwater. "Very weird day," said Jackson, who...

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Orioles hire Kevin Brown to handle radio play-by-play

February 19, 2019, 11:28am

Orioles

(DRAFT) SARASOTA, Fla. - ESPN broadcaster Kevin Brown is joining the Orioles Radio Network in 2019, serving as a play-by-play announcer for about 50 games this season. Brown's hiring comes on the heels of Joe Angel's retirement after 19 seasons as the radio play-by-play voice of the Orioles. Angel spent more than four decades calling major league games, including two World Series, 44 postseason games and seven no-hitters. Brown currently serves as a play-by-play commentator on ESPN's...