masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are back home today to play the Rays at 1:05 p.m on MASN HD. They also have a game scheduled against the Puerto Rico Development Program at 2 p.m. on Field 4.
Brian Matusz, Darren O’Day, Wesley Wright, Logan Verrett and Tim Berry are scheduled to pitch in the Grapefruit League game. Chris Tillman and Tommy Hunter will pitch against Puerto Rico, and Matt Wieters will move behind the plate.
Wieters still isn’t cleared to make throws to second base in game…

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are back home today to play the Rays at 1:05 p.m on MASN HD. They also have a game scheduled against the Puerto Rico Development Program at 2 p.m. on Field 4.

Brian Matusz, Darren O’Day, Wesley Wright, Logan Verrett and Tim Berry are scheduled to pitch in the Grapefruit League game. Chris Tillman and Tommy Hunter will pitch against Puerto Rico, and Matt Wieters will move behind the plate.

Wieters still isn’t cleared to make throws to second base in game conditions, but at least he’s no longer serving as the designated hitter, a role he’d prefer to abandon. He’s 0-for-20 with a walk and four strikeouts this spring.

I’ll be stationed inside Ed Smith Stadium while my colleague, Steve Melewski, moves to the back fields. You get double barrel coverage this afternoon.

urrutia-sunglasses-in-dugout-white-sidebar.jpgThe Orioles were beaten again yesterday in Dunedin, but the day wasn’t a total loss. Henry Urrutia went 3-for-4 with two RBIs against the Blue Jays and is 6-for-15 with two doubles and four RBIs this spring.

Manager Buck Showalter has noticed Urrutia’s improvement in the outfield and respects his work ethic. Factor in the productive bat and he’s becoming a much more intriguing player.

It’s never wise to fall in love with spring stats, but Urrutia’s shouldn’t be ignored.

Will he break camp with the team? It’s not expected unless an injury creates an opportunity or Showalter chooses him to fill Chris Davis’ roster spot on opening day. But he’s doing everything right this spring following a winter devoted to conditioning and getting a head start on the competition.

Urrutia, Manny Machado and Jimmy Paredes are tied for the team lead with six hits.

Everth Cabrera had two hits from the leadoff spot and is 4-for-16 this spring. He was thrown out trying to steal and still doesn’t have a theft.

The stats show Cabrera with one caught stealing, but he also was nabbed in the opener in Lakeland. Or did I dream it?

schoop-fielding-gray-sidebar.jpgWe haven’t reached the finish line, but right now I don’t see him unseating Jonathan Schoop at second base. The real battle may be between Cabrera and Ryan Flaherty for the utility job.

Schoop’s defense alone makes him the favorite at second base. He’s been very good this spring and Showalter keeps pointing it out to reporters.

Caleb Joseph had another hit yesterday and is 4-for-8. Fatherhood really does agree with him.

Joseph’s work behind the plate appears to give him an edge over J.P. Arencibia and Ryan Lavarnway for the backup job. Steve Clevenger is focusing on his defense in an attempt to stay in the mix.

The Orioles are loaded at the position and I’m wondering how they’re going to keep everyone in the organization. For the sake of argument, let’s say Wieters and Joseph are on the opening day roster. Is there room at Triple-A Norfolk for Clevenger, Arencibia, Lavarnway and Brian Ward? None of them should have to go down to Double-A Bowie.

How exactly is this going to work?