masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPart of my spring training routine that disappeared after March 11 was receiving and passing along the list of Orioles extras brought over from the minor league complex. Some high draft picks and some minor league free agents.
Pitcher Isaac Mattson fell into a different category. The Orioles didn’t draft or sign him. They acquired him from the Angels as part of the four-pitcher package for Dylan Bundy.
Mattson appeared in two exhibition games and totaled one inning, but he warranted our…

Part of my spring training routine that disappeared after March 11 was receiving and passing along the list of Orioles extras brought over from the minor league complex. Some high draft picks and some minor league free agents.

Pitcher Isaac Mattson fell into a different category. The Orioles didn’t draft or sign him. They acquired him from the Angels as part of the four-pitcher package for Dylan Bundy.

Mattson appeared in two exhibition games and totaled one inning, but he warranted our attention based on promise, the praise he received after the trade and the possibility that he could be in the bullpen later this summer.

We didn’t know on March 11 that Mattson would be appearing in the last game. That the coronavirus pandemic would wipe out the rest of spring training and delay, if not destroy, the regular season.

Mattson replaced Hunter Harvey in Dunedin and was pumping 93 mph fastballs. He recorded a strikeout, gave up a triple to Danny Jansen and stranded him.

Manager Brandon Hyde had summoned Mattson for a March 7 game against the Rays in Port Charlotte and used him for one batter. Also an impressive moment.

Branden Kline loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth inning on a hit and two walks. Mattson faced Yandy Díaz and induced a ground ball.

Mattson, 24, is the closest to being ready for the majors among the four newbies, including Kyle Bradish, Kyle Brnovich and Zach Peek.

Possessing a fastball with a high spin rate, Mattson registered a combined 2.33 ERA and 1.009 WHIP last summer at three levels of the Angels system and averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He also had a 1.69 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings with Mesa in the Arizona Fall League and was chosen to the Fall Stars Game.

I would have bet on Mattson making his major league debut later this summer, but the world is turned upside down and I can’t be certain of anything.

Stewart-K-Throws-BP-Orange-ST-sidebar.jpg* Kohl Stewart remains on the camp roster, which is frozen at 50 players, but the Orioles didn’t get a full read on him due to his sore biceps muscle.

Stewart had to work his way back to the mound, simulated games and lone exhibition appearance. He made a March 8 start against the Yankees and allowed three runs and five hits with two strikeouts in three innings.

All three runs scored in the second inning, with Stewart compounding his problems by slipping as he tried to barehand Rosell Herrera’s slow roller to the right side of the mound. A pair of RBI doubles and a sacrifice fly accounted for the scoring.

Getting through three innings on 44 pitches made the day a success for Stewart. He didn’t experience any discomfort in his arm and Hyde didn’t need to remove him early. But he appeared to slip out of the rotation competition and might need to settle for an opportunity to be used out of an expanded bullpen.

Tommy Milone also made only one appearance, tossing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts on Feb. 27 against the Pirates, but he’s occupying the back of mock rotations, including mine.

Milone pitched in a March 12 simulated game while recovering from tightness in his trapezius and neck and drawing closer to another start that never came.

The veteran left-hander joined Alex Cobb in the sim game and the media never got a chance to check on them afterward. Cobb had a blister. The world had a much bigger problem.

* If the 2020 season actually starts, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that games could be played in Florida and Arizona with radical realignment putting the Orioles in the Grapefruit League’s South Division with the Red Sox, Rays, Braves and Twins.

The Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, Tigers and Pirates would be housed in the North Division, and the Nationals, Astros, Mets, Cardinals and Marlins in the East Division.

This is another ridiculous idea that’s better than the Arizona-exclusive plan that’s also been discussed. A lesser form of crazy.

All 30 teams would return to the spring training camps and play games at their respective complexes, except for available major league domes in St. Petersburg, Miami and Phoenix.

The Grapefruit League and Cactus League winners would meet in the World Series in late November.

The asterisk that accompanies the champions’ name should be the size of a grapefruit.

But imagine the Marriott points!

These ideas are being kicked around like tin cans. They aren’t anywhere close to becoming reality. Sports are going to remain shut down for as long as there’s a health risk.

Major League Baseball is desperate to piece together a season. I get it. I’d just prefer that a mockery wasn’t made out of it and more people weren’t put in danger.