masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are back in Fort Myers today because they can’t get enough of I-75 south. Just slow down through the construction zones.
The rotation is a work in progress – my idea of a segue – with six starters vying for five spots. Miguel Gonzalez returns to the mound today against the Twins and will attempt to push his pitch count to 70-75. He’ll also attempt to stay in the majors rather than being optioned before opening day.
Gonzalez allowed one hit in two scoreless innings…

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are back in Fort Myers today because they can’t get enough of I-75 south. Just slow down through the construction zones.

The rotation is a work in progress – my idea of a segue – with six starters vying for five spots. Miguel Gonzalez returns to the mound today against the Twins and will attempt to push his pitch count to 70-75. He’ll also attempt to stay in the majors rather than being optioned before opening day.

Gonzalez allowed one hit in two scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on March 5, two runs and three hits in three innings against the Blue Jays on March 11 and two runs and four hits in four innings against the Phillies on March 16. He has no walks and seven strikeouts in his nine combined innings.

Miguel-Gonzalez-white-sidebar 2.png“I just need to work on my split,” Gonzalez said. “I think that’s the only pitch that I’m struggling with right now. My command. It’s up a little bit, flat. I just need to finish through it. It’ll come little by little.

“I think that’s probably the toughest pitch to work with when you haven’t thrown it in a while, so I’ll be OK. But everything else physically and mentally, I’m where I want to be. I think we’re going the right way.”

Center fielder Adam Jones is expected to make the trip today. He’s 6-for-28 this spring, a concern to absolutely no one.

Jones hit his first home run on Thursday and drove in two runs, giving him three RBIs this spring. He had “no idea” how his stats read before the game.

“All I know is my body is starting to feel better, getting over that soreness,” he said. “About the 24th, 25th, after that off-day, I’m going to start stretching out and getting back-to-back full games and get ready for the season.

“If anyone really looks at spring training numbers, look at Greg Maddux’s spring training over his career. I think when the lights turn on and it matters most, that’s when it counts. I don’t think spring numbers really matter to me. I’m sure fans always look at something to complain about, talk about something. I know what our manager, what we’ve got going on here, it’s all about April 6 through that last game of the season. That’s what’s important here.”

The Orioles have scored 45 runs in their last five games. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that they’ve won three in a row and four of five.

Dariel Alvarez had another hit and RBI yesterday. He’s batting .333 with seven RBIs in 14 games.

Alvarez will start the year at Triple-A Norfolk, but what about Jimmy Paredes? He had two more hits yesterday and is 13-for-29 with 10 RBIs in 16 games.

We’re warned about falling in love with spring stats. What about a mad crush? Is that OK?

Nolan Reimold also had two hits yesterday, along with two RBIs, and is 8-for-22 with five walks this spring.