masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter said outfielder Hyun Soo Kim isn’t on the travel roster for Monday afternoon’s game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.
Kim was on the list tonight, but he didn’t play in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Pirates.
The intrigue continues to grow.
Infielder Ryan Flaherty isn’t expected to play Monday after being scratched tonight with flu-like symptoms. Showalter joked that Flaherty stayed back because his fiancé is in town.
Ubaldo Jimenez got…

BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter said outfielder Hyun Soo Kim isn’t on the travel roster for Monday afternoon’s game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.

Kim was on the list tonight, but he didn’t play in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Pirates.

The intrigue continues to grow.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty isn’t expected to play Monday after being scratched tonight with flu-like symptoms. Showalter joked that Flaherty stayed back because his fiancé is in town.

Ubaldo Jimenez got in most of his work in the bullpen, raising his pitch count to around 80 after retiring

“He’s been real good lately,” Showalter said. “He finished up down in the bullpen. Got his pitch count up. I think he had four more ups there.”

Jimenez was removed after throwing 36 pitches. The Orioles didn’t want to risk an injury.

showalter-new-hat-sidebar.jpg“If I leave him out there he’s got 40 pitches in one innings and we’re not going to do that when he can get the work done down there,” Showalter said. “Nobody in the box there.”

The bullpen tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings.

“Brad (Brach) was real good,” Showalter said after Garabez Rosa and Josh Hart drove in runs in the ninth, the rally starting with another Joey Rickard single. “I’ve been wanting to get a look at (Jason) Stoffel all spring and was able to see that. Good breaking ball.

“It was good to see Chaz (Roe) back. Proud papa came back and it looked like he was crisp. I thought his stuff was about as crisp as it’s been all spring.”

Oliver Drake recorded the save after issuing a leadoff walk. He still hasn’t allowed a run this spring.

“He got them out,” Showalter said. “His command was creating situations he shouldn’t be creating.”

Nolan Reimold homered, singled and walked to continue a torrid three-game stretch. He’s collected six hits, homered twice and driven in four runs.

“Yeah, last three games. Sometimes starts off the bench. Took a step back,” Showalter said.

Reimold took Trevor Williams deep in the first inning after former Pirate Pedro Alvarez homered to right field. Alvarez was batting here for the first time since the Pirates non-tendered him. The swing must have come with at least a smidgen of satisfaction.

“I’m very sensitive to like, when he first got to us, I would never ask him about playing against the Pirates or whatever,” Showalter said. “We had one opportunity where we didn’t, just to kind of let him get settled in a little bit. You basically kind of grow up with an organization, be a first round pick. I think he’s handled it real well.

“I don’t think there’s any … I didn’t see any of that. They gave him a great opportunity, drafted him top fie in the country. I think everything I’ve talked to him (about) and heard, he’s very thankful for the opportunity they gave him.”

Alvarez was fine at first base. No issues.

“The biggest thing is he’s just engaged in it,” Showalter said.. “We talked to him and we’re going to need him to play some first, play some third and be available. On the surface going into the season, it looks like he’s going to serve a lot of his role as the DH, but that can change in one oblique, one whatever. He’s a big part of the what-if if we’ve got to go somewhere at first or third.”

Showalter may be going back to Taco Bell tonight. He ordered a chicken quesadilla last night and the Orioles extended their winning streak to four games. Whatever regrets he carried – and we’ve all been there – have been forgotten.

“I’m doubling up,” he said. “We won. We’re on a roll, man. Mild sauce was special last night. She said, ‘Hot or mild?’ That was the toughest call I had last night.”