WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez had sat through meetings with Joe Torre before, but only as a bench coach to Joe Maddon, and thus not as the primary point of contact between Torre (Major League Baseball's chief baseball officer) and his club. This morning's session at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, then, represented a new dynamic for Martinez, who was responsible for digesting everything Torre revealed regarding MLB's new pace of play rules and making sure any pertinent...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Reliever Brad Brach threw a bullpen session yesterday and confirmed that his first exhibition appearance comes Sunday afternoon against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. Brach is fine physically. He's just on a more deliberate pace, which isn't uncommon in Orioles camp. Darren O'Day didn't make his debut until Feb. 28. Closer Zach Britton also is held back each spring, though his Achilles surgery forced him on the 60-day disabled list. "Just taking it a little slower,"...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - I know none of you up north want to hear about the weather down here right now, but it has cooled off considerably across Florida, with the same cold front that has caused so much havoc back home swooping through this state as well. The wind has picked up and the temperatures have dropped - I know, I know, it's still going to be 75 degrees this afternoon - for the first time all spring. With the wind blowing in, it should be a good day to be a pitcher. Not that either...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Danny Valencia has arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, hugging teammates from his past who are here and dismissing the idea that his minor league deal will lead him to Triple-A Norfolk. He has every intention of playing in Baltimore this summer. The Orioles announced Valencia's signing this morning, which includes an invitation to major league camp. Valencia indicated that he'd exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, the date most likely near the end of March. Asked...

SARASOTA, Fla.- Pedro Álvarez and Tim Beckham are headed to Clearwater today for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies. Alvarez is batting third and playing first base. Beckham is hitting cleanup - don't read anything into it - and playing third base. Joey Rickard is in right field. The utility competition continues with Ruben Tejada at second base and Luis Sardiñas at shortstop. Pitchers listed behind starter Kevin Gausman include Alec Asher, Stefan Crichton, Jimmy Yacabonis, Lucas...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - There was no real drama to it, just a couple of at-bats in a Grapefruit League game against a couple of pitchers who may or may not make the Mets' opening day roster. But it was the first time Ryan Zimmerman had done any of that in a game this spring, so the simple fact he did get two at-bats yesterday in the Nationals' 2-1 victory was newsworthy. "Always good to get in there," the veteran first baseman said. "Two good at-bats, two good swings. I guess that's as...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making the second of their three trips to Clearwater today to play the Phillies. No split-squad action, however, so I'll be on the road. I didn't pack gray pants, but I'm still leaving the home facility. Chris Tillman will throw his two-inning simulated game on one of the back fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and manager Buck Showalter will watch before heading to Spectrum Field, where he'll update the media. My guess, and it comes with a spoiler...

The Orioles could still use a pitcher and three key free agent pitchers are still available in Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb. Opening day in Baltimore is now less than four weeks away and that trio is still out there. It has been a strange, bizarre and confusing free agent winter, one that could have long-range ramifications. But that is a story for a different day. For now, the O's could still get Lynn or Cobb. Arrieta is in play for everyone, but has not been linked to the Orioles....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Hunter Harvey will make his next start on Tuesday against the Twins in Fort Myers. Dylan Bundy starts Wednesday, though he probably will be hidden from the Rays in Port Charlotte. I wrote earlier today that Gabriel Ynoa starts Sunday against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Chris Tillman is still scheduled to throw a two-inning simulated game on Saturday and Andrew Cashner will throw a three-inning simulated game on Tuesday, if you're scoring at home. The Orioles...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - From Max Scherzer's perspective, it was just a guy standing at the plate wearing a No. 83 Mets jersey. The name on the back, or the hoopla that comes with it, mattered little. "No, I'm out there trying to get him out," the Nationals ace said. "I'm working on my instincts, what I think I need to do to get him out. Just working with (Matt) Wieters going over different things we're trying to accomplish today." Scherzer, of course, knew the guy's name. How could he...