masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – We’re ready for today’s game, which seems like the least important thing happening in camp today.

The Orioles added a bunch of minor leaguers, including Jeff Fiorentino, Rhyne Hughes and Blake Davis.

Here are some leftover pregame quotes from manager Buck Showalter:

On starting the year with one lefty reliever:
“It’s not the conventional, but …. with so many young pitchers in our rotation, we’re going to err on the side of length there. Like I told you, Clay (Rapada),…SARASOTA, Fla. – We’re ready for today’s game, which seems like the least important thing happening in camp today.

The Orioles added a bunch of minor leaguers, including Jeff Fiorentino, Rhyne Hughes and Blake Davis.

Here are some leftover pregame quotes from manager Buck Showalter:

On starting the year with one lefty reliever:
“It’s not the conventional, but …. with so many young pitchers in our rotation, we’re going to err on the side of length there. Like I told you, Clay (Rapada), you see his success against left-handed hitters in his career and here. Once we get the rotation settled down, I think we’ll be able to have a better opportunity to carry that luxury.”

Showalter confirmed that he called Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein yesterday and hopes that the matter is closed. I won’t rehash it here. I’m already tired of writing it, and I’m sure you get the reference. Involves a Men’s Journal article.

“I talked to Theo last night. I just felt like I need to call him,” Showalter said. “Anytime this time in spring training, it just caused them (Epstein and manager Terry Francona) to sit around and answer questions or whatever, so I spoke to both them.”

Is it a dead issue now?

“I don’t know,” Showalter replied. “I don’t handicap that. They’re not the ones that caused it, so to speak.”

Zach Britton allowed a one-out single to Detroit’s Will Rhymes in the first inning, but he induced a double-play bouncer from Magglio Ordonez. Britton threw 14 pitches, 11 for strikes.