masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFORT MYERS, Fla. – Manager Buck Showalter touched on a variety of topics, including Brad Bergesen, Chris George and Jake Fox, following today’s 6-5 loss to the Twins.

Take note of how Showalter refers to George, who threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings today and still hasn’t allowed a run, as being a starter or reliever “down there,” which should answer any questions about the left-hander’s chances of making the club out of spring training. And how Showalter subtly references Fox’s defense…FORT MYERS, Fla. – Manager Buck Showalter touched on a variety of topics, including Brad Bergesen, Chris George and Jake Fox, following today’s 6-5 loss to the Twins.

Take note of how Showalter refers to George, who threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings today and still hasn’t allowed a run, as being a starter or reliever “down there,” which should answer any questions about the left-hander’s chances of making the club out of spring training. And how Showalter subtly references Fox’s defense again.

On Bergesen:
“We’re lucky. The X-ray didn’t reveal any breaks or anything, so we’ll get some of the swelling and soreness out of there. That area there usually brings some challenges with feel and everything, so we’ll see where we are in the next day or two when the swelling goes down. But yeah, he got a pretty good one there.

“It seems like (Denard) Span’s hit five or six balls right up the middle like that. We were lucky. We’ll see where we are in the next few days, but I’m sure he’s going to be pretty sore.”

On George: “We talked about it yesterday that he was going to continue being a backup, but that he was going down. A lot of guys 28 to 32 start to figure it out. These guys come in with nothing to lose, and you can tell he’s letting it fly. He’s in a good spot mentally where he is. You can see his numbers jump up a lot as a relief pitcher. His velocity has gone from like 91 to 93 as a reliever. That happens to a lot of guys. It’s another potential option for us. The question is, will he be a starter or reliever down there? We won’t be able to figure all that out until things shake out here.”

On whether Bergesen’s injury complicates his decisions on the rotation:
“Until we find out what we’re dealing with the next two or three days, speculating on it right now is probably not the … it’s nice to have options, one of which Bergy was. I was real encouraged by (Justin) Duchscherer today. Of course, he’s not until down the road.”

On Fox: “Obviously, he’s had a great spring offensively.” (pauses) “And he’s capable of going out there at first and third and catch and left. He’s done a good job in spring training offensively.”