You probably noticed that as of Friday afternoon, I am no longer writing with a Sarasota, Fla., dateline.
Now that I have left Florida and am back in chilly Maryland, where it might snow tonight or tomorrow, I thought I'd pass along some observations from spring training while I hope that snow shovel can stay in my basement collecting dust.
* Watching the pitchers step up and pitch well in the battle for the fifth starter's position was impressive. It has been a good competition and...
VIERA, Fla. - Oh, hey there. I'm back.
After a few days home, I've returned to Viera ready for the final stretch. The Nats now have just five more days down here before shipping up north to take on the Yankees in an exhibition game at Nationals Park on March 29, and I'll have you covered the rest of the way.
Big thanks to Pete Kerzel for filling in for me in my absence. My time away from Florida was actually a bit longer than expected; my flight down to Orlando got hit with a lengthy...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland will make his first start of the spring on Monday against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium.
Zach Britton was listed as the starter before being optioned today.
With Jake Arrieta going from being Tuesday's starter against the Minnesota Twins to pitching at minor league camp, it's probably safe to assume he's going to be named the fifth starter. You can read something into it.
The Orioles are expected to make one or two cuts Sunday...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen was handed a couple of excuses for his poor outing today, and he politely declined them.
The wind? Didn't aid the three home runs that he surrendered. The limited starts in Grapefruit League games? Doesn't matter.
"I felt OK today, but delivery-wise, they got my timing really well today," Chen said through his interpreter after allowing six earned runs (seven total) and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies.
"Most of my pitches were...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen may not recognize Grapefruit League hitters today. Maybe that's why he's struggling through three innings.
Chen has allowed five runs and seven hits, with two walks, two strikeouts and a hit batter. He's served up back-to-back home runs to Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, and the Philadelphia Phillies have taken a 5-0 lead.
Chen has thrown 69 pitches, 44 for strikes, in only his third start outside of Twin Lakes Park.
Ben Revere struck out leading off the top of...
The Orioles today announced that they have optioned left-hander Zach Britton, infielder Jonathan Schoop and infielder Yamaico Navarro to Triple-A Norfolk and have reassigned right-hander Daniel McCutchen to minor league camp.
With the assignment, the Orioles now have 40 players at major league spring training, including 11 non-roster invitees.
In addition to reassigning pitcher Daniel McCutchen to minor league camp earlier this morning, the Orioles have made three more cuts today.
The club optioned left-hander Zach Britton and infielders Jonathan Schoop and Yamaico Navarro to Triple-A Norfolk. While Schoop and Navarro weren't expected to make the 25-man roster, Britton was in the thick of the competition for the fifth starter's job.
Sending the 25-year-old to the minors begins to clear up the rotation picture, as Jake Arrieta...
SARASOTA, Fla. - You can include Tommy Hunter on your list of pitchers who are amused and challenged by the free-swinging minor leaguers who stand in the box against them at Twin Lakes Park.
Hunter threw 51 pitches yesterday against a group of Tampa Bay Rays Single-A hitters while the Orioles were playing in Port Charlotte.
"I felt pretty good," he said. "Got my work in. They swung at a lot of pitches, so it's hard to really ..."
No need to finish the thought, though Hunter came back to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reassigned pitcher Daniel McCutchen to minor league camp this morning, reducing their roster to 43 players.
More cuts are expected later today.
McCutchen allowed five runs in 7 1/3 innings this spring, all of them coming in a March 7 game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He lowered his arm slot after that outing, at the suggestion of manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Rick Adair, and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings over three appearances. He also picked up a...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold is starting in right field for the Orioles in today's game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.
Nate McLouth is starting in left field. Maybe they'll change positions every inning.
For the Orioles:
Nate McLouth LF
Brian Roberts 2B
Chris Davis 1B
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
J.J. Hardy SS
Nolan Reimold RF
Manny Machado 3B
Steve Pearce DH
Wei-Yin Chen LHP
Mark Hendrickson is back in camp after leaving the team earlier this week for...