masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Left-hander Richard Bleier went with his head instead of his heart.
Bleier would have been honored to pitch again for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, as he did in the qualifying round in 2013, and he had a chance this week to fly out to Japan for the second round after being placed in the designated pitcher pool.
Waiting, not wading.
Bleier stood at his locker this morning, further proof that he declined the invitation.
“I just decided that I wasn’t going to go…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Left-hander Richard Bleier went with his head instead of his heart.

Bleier would have been honored to pitch again for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, as he did in the qualifying round in 2013, and he had a chance this week to fly out to Japan for the second round after being placed in the designated pitcher pool.

Waiting, not wading.

Bleier stood at his locker this morning, further proof that he declined the invitation.

“I just decided that I wasn’t going to go just because I think it would be better for me to pitch here ultimately,” he said.

“I talked to my agent, my wife, the front office and management and stuff. Obviously, on the Orioles side they said, ‘Do whatever you want, if you want to go, go,’ type of thing, but I think it just came down to it was really short notice. It was like a Tuesday when they asked me and I would had to have left on Thursday. I just decided I didn’t want to rush into things.”

Bleier is trying to break camp with the Orioles and has allowed only one run in four innings. There’s a spot for a third left-hander, someone who can go multiple innings to complement closer Zach Britton and rookie Donnie Hart, who’s been used more as a situational southpaw.

“I was definitely torn,” he said. “I know I need to be here, but just seeing the games on TV, it would have been a lot of fun to be there and be a part of it.”

Team Israel went 3-0 to move onto the next round.

“It’s really impressive,” he said. “They beat the Netherlands and everything and it really is impressive how it’s going so far.”

chris-davis-white-artsy.pngAs for today’s lineup, it’s changed with first baseman Chris Davis scratched due to his ongoing bout with bronchitis.

Davis just left the complex in street clothes and Mark Trumbo has replaced him at first base. Hyun Soo Kim is now the designated hitter and Joey Rickard is in left field.

For the Orioles
Chris Dickerson RF
Joey Rickard LF
Hyun Soo Kim DH
Mark Trumbo 1B
Chris Johnson 3B
Logan Schafer CF
Robert Andino 2B
Caleb Joseph C
Paul Janish SS

Mike Wright RHP