World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966 American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966

American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969

American League Wild Card 2012, 1996

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Columns:

Buck Showalter wants Orioles rotation to go to 'another level' of durability The Sun 3/2

In Orioles camp, ex-Navy standout Oliver Drake hopes to 'open some eyes' The Sun 3/2

Orioles prospect Hunter Harvey 'pumped up' for start of Grapefruit League games The

Sun 3/2

After surgery, Orioles infielder Paul Janish looking forward to getting back on the field

The Sun 3/2

Norris turns 30, eyes first 200-innings season MLB.com 3/2

Showalter: Young O's revere Hardy MLB.com 3/2

Former big leaguer McKnight dies; played for Mets and O's. MLB.com 3/2

Kicking off the exhibition schedule MASNsports.com 3/3

Norris: "There's a bigger buzz in the clubhouse, for sure" MASNsports.com 3/2

Notes from today's final full workout MASNsports.com 3/2

Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the pitching schedule MASNsports.com 3/2

A look at some possible reasons for predictions the O's will have a poor season

MASNsports.com 3/3

How Orioles can replace Nelson Cruz ESPN.com 3/2

Jeff McKnight dies of leukemia at 52 ESPN.com 3/2

Plenty Of Spring Intrigue For Orioles' Pitching Staff PressBoxOnline.com 3/2

Relative of Pirate great tries to make it with Orioles CSN Baltimore 3/2

Orioles pitcher acquired in Rule 5 Draft making noise CSN Baltimore 3/2

Orioles eager to get started in spring exhibition games CSN Baltimore 3/2

Cuban minor leaguer trying to make adjustment to Orioles CSN Baltimore 3/2

Gamboa trying to maintain control of knuckleball CSN Baltimore 3/2

Orioles Open Spring Schedule Tuesday Without Some Regulars CBS Baltimore 3/2

Monday is Read Across America Day WBAL-TV 3/2

Inside Spring Training with the Baltimore Orioles Mascot Sarasota Magazine 3/1

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck-blog/bal-buck-showalter-wants-orioles-rotation-

to-go-even-deeper-into-games-20150302-story.html

Buck Showalter wants Orioles rotation to go

to 'another level' of durability

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 2, 2015

Buck Showalter said Monday that he would “sign up in blood” for the production he got from his

starting rotation last season, but he said he thinks the Orioles can go to another level in terms of

pitching deep into games.

“It [the rotation] was the biggest difference in our club last year and it was in 2012,’’ Showalter

said, “and if we do it again this year, we’ll have some fun. We’ve just got to get consistently

deep in games.”

That’s been a point of emphasis every year since Showalter took over the club, and the Orioles

have improved in each of the past three seasons after ranking last in the major leagues in both

innings pitched by starters (881) and ERA (5.39) in 2011. That was an average of just 16.31 outs

per starter per game.

In 2014, Orioles starters pitched 958 2/3 innings and averaged 17.74 outs per start to rank 20th in

the majors and 10th in the American League, but ranked fifth in the AL in ERA (3.61). The

previous season, the club's starters averaged 17.39 outs to rank 22nd in the majors. And in the

2012 wild-card season, they averaged 17.36 outs and ranked 20th in the majors.

To put this all in perspective, the Cincinnati Reds were the top rotation last year in terms of

innings pitched and they averaged 18.96 outs per start, so the difference between the Orioles

rotation in 2014 versus 2013 (an average of about a third of an out) is actually fairly significant.

If the Orioles could make a similar improvement this year, they would -- using last year’s stats

for the purpose of projection -- move from 20th in baseball to 10th.

“I do think there’s another level these guys can go to,’’ Showalter said. “You’re talking about

Bud Norris, you’re talking about Tilly [Chris Tillman], you’re talking about [Wei-Yin] Chen,

and I don’t think anybody’s had a better offseason conditioning program than Miguel Gonzalez.

“…That makes our bullpen better. I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far about having a competitive

bullpen again, but it will only be a competitive bullpen if our starters, like Bud, are able to do

what they did last year.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/ph-ac-cs-oliver-drake-feaure-30215-20150302-

story.html

In Orioles camp, ex-Navy standout Oliver

Drake hopes to 'open some eyes'

By Bill Wagner / Baltimore Sun Media Group

March 2, 2015

Oliver Drake looked quite comfortable in the clubhouse of the Orioles' Ed Smith Stadium spring

training complex. Whether standing at his locker talking to a reporter or playing pingpong

against top prospect Dylan Bundy, the former Navy pitcher seemed right at home.

For a player making his second appearance at major league camp, half the battle is believing you

belong, and Drake certainly does not lack confidence. Asked whether he felt going north with the

Orioles for Opening Day was a realistic goal, the relief pitcher didn't hesitate.

"That's the plan. I came into camp with the idea of making the team," Drake said. "Whether or

not I get that opportunity is for others to decide. I just want to go out and pitch the best I possibly

can and open some eyes."

Drake is definitely a long shot to be part of a crowded Orioles bullpen that figures to have up to

seven holdovers from last year's roster. That being said, the Massachusetts native is one of the

more interesting Orioles stories this spring — a 28-year-old who has never pitched a full season

above Double-A Bowie and was converted from a starter to a reliever after undergoing shoulder

surgery in August 2012.

Drake was a minor league free agent this past offseason and drew the interest of several teams.

The Orioles tendered him a major league contract, and Drake did not need to think long before

accepting.

"I was thrilled when the Orioles offered a spot on the 40-man [roster]. I've been very happy with

the Orioles and was excited about coming back to the organization that drafted me and has

believed in me," Drake said. "It also helps that I'm familiar with the coaching staff and medical

staff."

Drake was on the 40-man roster once before, but his career took a wrong turn several months

after that designation was made in November 2011. He began the 2012 season on the disabled

list and wound up pitching just 18 innings in three starts that year before undergoing surgery in

August. Doctors performed what is known as an interval closure and also cleaned up his labrum.

Drake began the 2013 season in extended spring training before joining Bowie in June with

Orioles officials closely monitoring his workload and right shoulder. Working exclusively out of

the bullpen, the 6-foot-4, 215 pound right-hander pitched just 31 innings in 19 appearances and

put up solid numbers — a 3-0 record, with a 1.74 ERA and 38 strikeouts.

"I thought the Orioles had a great plan for me in 2013. I had a set number of innings I could

pitch, and the staff at Bowie made sure I got plenty of rest," Drake said. "The goal was to ease

back into things and finish the year healthy."

Drake was sent back to Bowie in 2014 and this time there was no pitch count or innings

limitations. He gives a lot of credit to minor league medical coordinator Dave Walker for helping

with the rehabilitation and comeback process.

"I did a lot of work with Dave Walker, and he was great. It was a real grind and some days felt

better than others, but I was able to get back to full strength," Drake said. "I felt really good

going into 2014."

Bowie manager Gary Kendall put Drake into the closer's role, and the results were a real

revelation that led to a career rebirth. Drake dominated the much younger hitters in leading the

Eastern League with 31 saves in 35 chances. He allowed just 41 hits in 522/3 innings while

recording 71 strikeouts and allowing just 17 walks.

Drake's 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings was easily a career-best. He held opposing hitters to a

.214 batting average in 210 plate appearances. He regained velocity on the fastball, which was

consistently clocked between 90 mph and 94 mph. He uses a split-fingered fastball as an off-

speed pitch and also throws a slider.

"I'm told [Drake] was as good a relief pitcher as there was in that league," Orioles manager Buck

Showalter said.

On the surface, it would seem the Orioles offered Drake a major league deal and berth on the 40-

man roster to avoid losing him to another organization. Showalter disputed that notion during

one of his daily news conferences last week.

"I don't care what other teams think of a player. To me it comes down to this: Do you like him,

do you want to keep him? If so, put him on the roster," Showalter said. "He's got good stuff and

showed last year that he's in good shape physically."

Showalter said he is not concerned that Drake turned 28 in mid-January and always has seemed

intrigued by his service academy background.

"We want to be real sure we don't miss on a Naval Academy guy," he said.

Barring a spectacular spring, the eighth-year professional likely will begin the season at Triple-A

Norfolk with the possibility of being called up to the major leagues because of an injury or need.

Drake was the Orioles' 43rd-round selection in the 2008 draft after two standout seasons at Navy.

He was scouted and signed by Dean Albany, who coached Drake with the Maryland Orioles and

knew he was eligible for the draft after just two years of college because he turned 21 in January

2008.

Halfway toward a valuable Naval Academy degree, Drake said he agonized over the decision to

stay in school or sign a professional contract.

"It was really tough. I went back and forth a bunch of times. Ultimately, I decided this was a

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I could always go back to college," Drake

said.

Navy coach Paul Kostacopoulos recalled that Drake received a $100,000 signing bonus along

with a college fund. That is the type of money commanded by much higher draft choices and

showed the pitcher how highly the Orioles regarded him.

"What I respect about Oliver is that he didn't just put one toe in the water; he went hard after this

and never backed off from believing he could make it work," said Kostacopoulos, who stays in

touch with Drake. "The odds of making the major leagues are incredibly long, but Oliver is close

enough to taste it. I think he's handled the ups and downs of pro ball with great mental toughness

and has always competed very hard."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-prospect-hunter-harvey-pumped-

up-for-start-of-grapefruit-league-games-20150302-story.html

Orioles prospect Hunter Harvey 'pumped up'

for start of Grapefruit League games

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 2, 2015

contact the reporter Major League Baseball Baseball Hunter Harvey Baltimore Orioles Buck

Showalter Grapefruit League Detroit Tigers

"I'm ready to start playing games. I'm really pumped up for that," Orioles prospect Hunter

Harvey said.

Not only did pitching prospect Hunter Harvey retire four of the five batters he faced in Sunday's

intrasquad game, but his fastball also showed impressive velocity in his first time facing hitters

in a game situation since last July.

Pitching in an extended sixth inning in the scoreless intrasquad game, Harvey's fastball was

clocked in the mid-90s.

Sunday “was the first time I really got after it in a while, so it felt good to really get back out

there and let it go,” Harvey said. “I'm ready to start playing games. I'm really pumped up for

that.”

Harvey, who is the organization's consensus No. 2 prospect, hadn't pitched against hitters since

July 25, before the Orioles shut the 20-year-old down with elbow discomfort. He has no

restrictions this season.

“I just tried to go out there and try to stay as smooth as possible and try to command the best I

could,” Harvey said. “On a couple of them, I tried to stay back and get a little bit more than the

other ones. But I tried to do it like last year, just let it flow.”

The Orioles held their last full-squad spring training workout Monday, their final tune-up before

today's Grapefruit League opener against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he believes his club is ready to start the spring schedule.

He acknowledged that he saw a lull in the way the team practiced Saturday, but they rebounded

well in Sunday's six-inning intrasquad game on the Ed Smith Stadium main field.

“I thought the day before yesterday, we had a spring training lull,” Showalter said. “We knew

the [intrasquad] game would be a little better and we knew today would be the last day, we really

tried to crisp it up a little bit. They're heard enough. It's time. It will be another part of the

process: the workouts, the games and the real games.”

The Orioles' spring schedule will include 34 games, including two home-and-road split-squad

dates, including one Thursday. After playing today, the Orioles will play their spring home

opener Wednesday against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium.

“I think a lot of our [veteran] guys, Adam [Jones], J.J. [Hardy], they know where the finish line

is and they know there's a finish line,” Showalter said. “They know where we want to be as the

apex of this curve.

“Even [in the intrasquad game], that's about as good a defensive game as you'll ever see in the

first organized game. ... I'm glad that [newcomers] Everth [Cabrera] and Jayson Nix and [Rey]

Navarro were exposed to that, because it's a high level to hold up your end on.”

Around the horn

Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who will start today's Grapefruit League opener, is scheduled to

pitch two innings. … Third baseman Drew Dosch, outfielder Julio Borbon and right-hander

Mychal Givens, all of whom have been working out at the minor league minicamp at Twin

Lakes Park, will make today's trip to Lakeland. … Showalter said the Orioles will break camp

April 4, with part of the team going to play the spring finale against the Atlanta Braves in Lake

Buena Vista and the other part heading to St. Petersburg, where the Orioles open the regular

season April 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-after-surgery-orioles-infielder-paul-janish-

looking-forward-to-getting-back-on-the-field-20150302-story.html

After surgery, Orioles infielder Paul Janish

looking forward to getting back on the field

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 2, 2015

Orioles infielder Paul Janish, who had surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow

last month, is scheduled to begin baseball activities Tuesday.

Janish, who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in November, also will resume throwing

Friday or Saturday, which will be the short end of the projected three- to five-week timetable to

begin a throwing progression.

“Up to this point, everything’s been really good,” Janish said. “I haven’t had any problems. I

haven’t had any residual soreness or pain. I’m, relatively speaking, in pretty good shape, so from

my perspective, I’m trying to massage the situation and expedite the process without pushing too

hard.”

Janish said he hopes to get into games March 20-21, which would allow him about two weeks to

show the Orioles what he can do as a utility infielder. Janish has played shortstop, second base

and third base in the major leagues. He upgrades the organization’s infield defense, which was a

priority in the offseason.

“At this point, my mentality is such that it’s just really important for me to get into games and

get to play for a week or two weeks just myself so that I’m ready for Opening Day whether it’s

in the big leagues or Triple-A or whatever,” Janish said. “And on the flip side of that, it’s to be

seen down here and get to play in some games so that when something does happen, whether

that’s at the camp or its in April, they have a frame of reference and I’m in the mix.”

Tuesday would be the first time Janish is on the field this spring. While players are working out

in the morning, he has been inside doing his rehab sessions.

“I’m getting a little restless and going a little crazy,” Janish said. “It’s fortunate that I feel good

too. It would be one thing if I wasn’t feeling good up to this point. I’m a little bit older player, so

I know how my body feels. I’m not going to do anything crazy, but I know I can proceed a little

bit quicker than the timeframe typically indicates.

“To be honest, it stinks [being unable to do baseball work] because, by nature, we want to be out

on the field. That’s our comfort zone. So being here stuck and kind of caged in, it creates a

restless feeling that none of us like.”

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/110925022/orioles-pitcher-bud-norris-eyes-first-200-

innings-season

Norris turns 30, eyes first 200-innings season

O's righty feels he's in best shape of career

By Michael Kolligian / Special to MLB.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. -- When asked what number he'd most like to see on his baseball card a year

from now, Bud Norris didn't hesitate.

"Two hundred," beamed the Orioles' birthday boy.

"Two hundred innings."

Norris, who turned 30 on Monday, would set a career high with such an achievement (he pitched

186 innings for Houston in 2011). The right-hander believes that superb conditioning makes the

goal both realistic and attainable.

"I felt I was in the best shape of my life last year, and I can say the same thing this year. I feel a

little bit better, actually. Going out there consistently every five days and putting up innings is

really what it's all about," said Norris, who logged 165 1/3 innings for the Birds last year.

"I'm glad when I hear that two hundred innings is a guy's goal," said Oriole manager Buck

Showalter. "It's a big deal. It's associated with consistency and taking the ball every fifth day.

"Bud doesn't want to come out of a game -- ever. I've never had Bud not fight coming out of a

game, and that's fine with me."

While it was clear last spring that Norris would earn a spot in the rotation, 15 regular-season

wins and a victorious effort in the American League Division Series-clinching victory over

Detroit have made him a cornerstone of the 2015 staff.

"Coming to a new culture here with Baltimore was the best thing to ever happen to me, in all

honesty," he said. "Having a fresh start last year with this team and this city and this organization

was something that I was looking forward to in my career."

Norris says that the Orioles' successful 2014 campaign has produced a discernible carryover

effect in camp.

"With the things that we accomplished last year, there are really positive vibes," he said. "I saw a

lot more smiles quicker and earlier around camp."

And a happy camp is a productive camp, according to Norris.

"Absolutely, he said. "We're smiling for a reason. We had a great year last year. We know there's

a lot of hard work ahead, but we really enjoy what we do. To go out there and play baseball

every day? We're truly blessed."

Have there been any other noticeable differences in camp as a result of last year?

"Absolutely. It's loose, and that's a good thing," said Norris. "We have a lot of good people in our

clubhouse that really root for each other and root for the city and root for the team. When you

have people around you that support you and get the best out of you, that's what you want."

Norris boasts his biggest smile when the discussion turns to batterymate Matt Wieters, who

missed most of last season after sustaining an injury in May that required Tommy John surgery.

"I'm extremely excited to get Matt back behind the plate, not only from the throwing side of the

game, but also from the leadership standpoint," Norris said. "Understanding the opposing

lineups, the way he calls games and of course, the way he contributes offensively.

"We missed a big piece of our clubhouse last year. To get him back healthy is going to make us

that much better."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/110927586/buck-showalter-young-orioles-players-revere-

shortstop-jj-hardy

Showalter: Young O's revere Hardy

Shortstop, along with infield mates, sharp in drills

By Michael Kolligian / Special to MLB.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Midway through his team's Monday morning infield drills on the field

known as Camden Yards South, Orioles manager Buck Showalter shared a tidbit about J.J.

Hardy.

"You should hear our younger players when they talk about him," said Showalter of his Gold

Glove shortstop. "They speak with reverence. Absolute reverence. That gives you an idea of his

standing in the game right now."

Hardy appeared to be in midseason form throughout the session. Manny Machado drew audible

praise from Showalter during bunt drills, Jonathan Schoop turned double-play feeds effortlessly

and Chris Davis looked particularly agile at first base during cutoff plays.

Kevin Gausman, who will start Wednesday in the O's Grapefruit League home opener against

the Tigers, turned in an impressive bullpen session later in the morning, consistently hitting the

bottom of the strike zone -- marked by a series of brightly-colored strings -- under the watchful

eye of pitching coach Dave Wallace.

Gausman's final offering, a nasty two-seamer that tore through the bottom of the strike zone as it

crossed the plate, earned him a spirited fist pump from Wallace.

Showalter and executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette were also on hand

for the session.

Up next: The Orioles will travel to Lakeland, Fla., on Tuesday for their 1:05 p.m. ET Grapefruit

League opener against the Tigers.

Baltimore righty Ubaldo Jimenez will be opposed by Detroit lefty Kyle Lobstein.

Jimenez will be looking for similar results to those he achieved in last year's Orioles debut, when

he threw two scoreless innings against Philadelphia at Ed Smith Stadium. Jimenez held the

Phillies hitless, striking out three without walking a batter.

Davis, Hardy, Adam Jones, Machado, Matt Wieters and Steve Pearce are not expected to make

the trip.

A full assortment of O's starters will likely take the field at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday at

1:05 p.m. when Gausman opposes Tigers righty Anibal Sanchez in Baltimore's spring home

opener.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/110982370/former-big-leaguer-jeff-mcknight-dies-played-

for-mets-and-os

Former big leaguer McKnight dies; played

for Mets and O's.

By Chad Thornburg / MLB.com

March 2, 2015

Former Major Leaguer Jeff McKnight passed away on Sunday after a 10-year battle with

leukemia. He was 52.

McKnight spent parts of six seasons in the Majors, with the Mets and Orioles. He primarily

played the infield but logged time at every position except center field and pitcher. He hit

.233/.284/.304 through 218 career games.

A second-round selection by New York in the 1983 First-Year Player Draft, McKnight made his

Major League debut with the Mets in 1989. He spent the next two years in Baltimore before

returning to New York for three seasons to finish his career.

His father, Jim McKnight, also played in the Majors, with brief appearances for the Cubs in the

early 1960s.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/03/kicking-off-the-exhibition-schedule.html

Kicking off the exhibition schedule

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

March 3, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first exhibition game is upon us. All it requires is about a 90-minute

drive to Lakeland, Fla.

Don't bother looking for the regulars. Orioles manager Buck Showalter already confirmed that

Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and Steve Pearce aren't

making the trip. And neither is Caleb Joseph, who's staying in Sarasota until his son is born.

Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start and is scheduled to throw two innings. The bullpen includes Eddie

Gamboa, Chris Jones and Oliver Drake.

Infielder Paul Janish will take ground balls at 8 a.m. on one of the back fields. Showalter will be

checking him out.

I've written that the Orioles want to hire former Dodgers pitcher Ramon Martinez. An

announcement could come later this week.

Remember how Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia was clocked in the mid-90s during his one inning in

Sunday's intrasquad game? So was Hunter Harvey, the Orioles' first-round pick in the 2013 draft.

He's just more deceiving because the ball seems to gain a little giddy-up at the end.

Harvey said he's gained 11 pounds since last spring, increasing his weight to 196. He's hoping to

tack on another 10-12 by the time he reports to camp in 2016.

Harvey said he doesn't lose weight during the season.

"If I do, it might be one pound," he said.

Veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson was clocked around 84 mph in the intrasquad game,

which is enough for a guy who's 6 foot 9 with an arm slot that's closer to submarine style.

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is noticeably leaner this spring, though he only dropped about

seven pounds.

"That's the main thing I wanted to do, be leaner for me to move around better," he said. "I didn't

lose a lot of weight. I lost some weight to be leaner and faster."

Schoop, 23, changed his diet and workout routine over the winter to achieve his goal.

"The way you eat and I moved around a lot, running around, ride a bike, play soccer," he said.

"The agility of soccer players, their conditioning, moving around. I think that helped me a little

bit.

"I felt I was moving pretty good last season, but you can always get better. Like I can get to more

balls and it's better not only for me, but for my team, too."

Showalter was so happy with Schoop's defense last season that he thought the rookie should have

been included in the Gold Glove discussion. Schoop's glovework and plus arm kept him in the

majors while he batted .209/.244/.354 in 137 games, but he's fighting for his job this spring after

the Orioles signed Everth Cabrera.

Cabrera is a candidate to start at second base or serve in a utility role. It will be difficult for

Cabrera, Schoop and Ryan Flaherty to all make the team.

"I just look at me and what I can do for the team and what I can do to help us win. We'll see what

happens," Schoop said.

"I would like to get the average up, but overall I feel pretty good about (the season). You can

always get better. That's how baseball is. You've got to get better every year, you know? That's

why I'm here, trying to be better than last year."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/03/norris-theres-a-bigger-buzz-in-the-

clubhouse-for-sure.html

Norris: "There's a bigger buzz in the

clubhouse, for sure"

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Bud Norris is celebrating his 30th birthday today. He's used

to being in spring training for the occasion and much prefers spending it in Sarasota after training

with the Astros in Kissimmee.

"My girlfriend's here and her birthday was yesterday," Norris said.

Norris isn't certain when he's scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut, but he's ready.

"You work a lot of the offseason to get your body in shape, but really for the pitchers and

catchers our first couple weeks is really to get our baseball legs back under us," Norris said. "I

feel great. I'm excited to get back out there and we're excited to start playing baseball games

again and not just have all these practices. It's time for another good year.

"I've had three side sessions already. I have one more I think on Thursday and go from there.

Now, it's like putting the training wheels back on. You're really trying to teach yourself to get

through it and I feel good."

Norris won a career-high 15 games last season and the Orioles reached the American League

Championship Series. Two solid reasons why he's eager to get back on the mound.

"There's a bigger buzz in the clubhouse, for sure - personally and for the team and the city,"

Norris said. "We know what we accomplished last year. We've had a couple talks with just the

group to talk about what we really want to accomplish and play two more weeks of baseball.

"We understand we've just got to take it one day at a time down here, but I'm excited to get it

going again. This is a great group of core guys that helped us every day get better and that's what

we're looking to do again and expand on the season we had last year and go all the way."

The rotation is intact and includes six candidates for five spots. The only question on Norris is

where he'll be slotted.

"We're all going to take advances in our personal careers," Norris said. "(Kevin) Gausman has

another year under his belt, (Wei-Yin) Chen has another year under his belt, Miggy (Miguel

Gonzalez) has another year under his belt, and (Chris) Tillman, too, for that matter. We're

excited for everybody to get back out there and learn and figure it out again.

"That's why we have such a great rotation with six guys for five spots, pushing each other every

day, and we know that it's not going to be a free ride. Everybody pushes everybody and that's

makes it a lot more fun, too."

Norris is one of 11 Orioles who can test free agency after the season. He won't let it become a

distraction. That's why he's got an agent, to handle the business side of the game.

"You have to," Norris said. "What makes it easy is knowing we have a winning team around here

and that the ultimate goal is to win a World Series. When you're focused on winning, that's the

only focus you need and that's the only one you should have. My job is to go out there and pitch

every fifth day, give my team an opportunity to win games and what happens happens. It's out of

my hands and I just want to go play baseball. That's what it's about.

"We have an opportunity to do something very special again this season and that's what we're

looking forward to."

Manager Buck Showalter said he knew Norris would make the rotation last spring, though he

didn't broadcast it. There's certainly no doubt about 2015.

"Bud had some success in Houston before he got here, but I think he's established himself with

his teammates as much as our fans that he's the guy we'd like to think we can count on, and he's

got some track record now," Showalter said.

"I think Bud really with the changeup last season, which was a point of emphasis in the spring,

you look back at the number of changeups he used in that playoff game (in the Division Series),

how important it was, and it's gotten better since then. It might be a pitch that could help take

him to another level.

"We've got guys like him and Tillman, some guys that still have another level they could go to.

Bud is an athletic, competitive-driven guy. The endgame is pretty good."

Norris came up big in his first playoff start, shutting out the Tigers on two hits over 6 1/3 innings

at Comerica Park to clinch the Division Series.

"I think when you pitch in that arena and that stage that he did last year at the end and present

yourself like he did, I don't care if you're 31 or 21, there's a little voice in your head that really

keeps you steady in how you feel about yourself and knowing what's there," Showalter said.

Norris' motor runs fast, as evidenced by his interviews, but he didn't speed out of control while

faced with the pressure of a playoff start.

"I think that's why the changeup has been such a challenge for him, because it doesn't fit his

personality at all," Showalter quipped.

"I wouldn't be honest if I said that I knew exactly what he was going to do. Until you're in that

arena and until you're on that stage ... To get that return, usually you get a nice return for that the

rest of their career when you're on that stage and handle it. He was pretty calm. Of course, I'm

pretty confident and calm about the things that we think we're good at and Bud thinks he's pretty

good."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/03/notes-from-todays-final-full-workout.html

Notes from today's final full workout

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to work two innings in Tuesday's exhibition

opener against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.

The travel squad will include infielder Drew Dosch, outfielder Julio Borbon and pitcher Mychal

Givens from minor league camp.

Manager Buck Showalter said Pat Connaughton, the Orioles' fourth-round pick in the 2014 First-

Year Player Draft who plays for the Notre Dame men's basketball team, has been throwing to

stay sharp and get his arm ready for minor league camp.

Connaughton allowed four earned runs (nine total) in 14 1/3 innings last year at short-season

Single-A Aberdeen.

Left-hander Brian Gonzalez, the Orioles' first pick (third round), has lost 26 pounds in the past

year.

"He's really had a great offseason," Showalter said, adding that Gonzalez may be summoned

from minor league camp to sit in the dugout for a game.

Miguel Gonzalez worked out again with vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson

over the winter in California. Showalter has noticed the change in Gonzalez's physique.

"I don't know if you all tapped on him, but he's like a rock," Showalter said. "He's got a goal of

pitching 200 innings this year because that's been the one kind of bugaboo on him. Miggy's not

the type of guy to talk about this, but his whole offseason he spent a lot of time with Brady. I hit

him the other day and it was like hitting a rock. His body fat is actually down and his weight's

up.

"The wear and tear, he's always had a couple spots where he's needed a DL period or miss a start.

He's very upfront. If you know Miggy's personality, it's not like he's shirking a responsibility. If

we can stay away from that, he could go to another level physically. He's done everything he can

to be there for us every fifth day.

"He was pretty good last year, but the one thing he's missing is that durability."

Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen said he's making his first exhibition start on Thursday. Gonzalez said

he's pitching in the night split-squad game in Sarasota, which puts Chen in Port Charlotte for the

day game against the Rays.

Showalter was much happier with the crispness of today's workout after noticing that the group

appeared more "uneven" a couple of days ago.

"We're ready as we'll ever be," Showalter said.

"I thought the day before yesterday we had like a spring training lull day. We knew the

(intrasquad) game would be a little better and we knew today being the last day, we tried to

really crisp it up a little bit. They've heard enough. It's time."

Showalter marveled at the plays made in the field during the intrasquad game.

"That's about as good a defensive game as you'll ever see in the first organized game," Showalter

said. "I think we counted five or six plays that in a college baseball game would have been easy

base hits and nobody would have said anything about them.

"I'm glad that Everth (Cabrera) and Jayson Nix and (Rey) Navarro and everybody got exposed to

that yesterday because that's a pretty high level you want to hold up your end on."

Showalter confirmed that Paul Janish will take ground balls on Tuesday.

"Bobby (Dickerson) and him will go out in the morning. That won't be a challenge for him,"

Showalter said.

"I think he's got a good chance to be ready to start the season and he might even get in some

things here before it's over. I know he's planning on it. I told Bobby I want to watch it a little

bit."

The Orioles aren't permitted to work out the day before their April 6 season opener against the

Rays at Tropicana Field. It's a mandatory off day.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/03/morning-notes-on-janish-wieters-and-the-

pitching-schedule.html

Morning notes on Janish, Wieters and the

pitching schedule

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Paul Janish, who underwent surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago to remove

bone chips from his right elbow, will take ground balls for the first time Tuesday and make

throws this weekend.

Janish's goal is to play in his first game March 20 or 21.

"Relatively speaking, it feels about as well as it can up to this point. Probably a little bit ahead of

schedule, which is a difficult thing to kind of expedite on the training room side of it," said

Janish, who signed a minor league deal on Nov. 20.

"I'm getting a little restless, but they'll allow me to start taking ground balls tomorrow. I don't

start throwing until probably this weekend, so from then on it will be 10 days to two weeks of a

throwing program, which will be abbreviated for me, not being a pitcher or anything of that

nature. It's a completely different kind of program.

"Fortunately, I haven't had any problems at all. Everything up to this point has been really

smooth, not having any residual soreness or pain or anything of that nature. It's all individual.

Some people just don't react the same. Fortunately for me, it's been good up to this point, so

hopefully we continue going down the right path."

Janish hoped to compete for a utility job, his plus defense at multiple infield positions the reason

executive vice president Dan Duquette signed him. Being unable to play in an exhibition game

until at least the third week of March hurts Janish's chances, but his primary goal now is to get

healthy, make an impression and leave the Orioles with a difficult decision.

"For me at this point, it would be enough time for me to be healthy and play on opening day,"

Janish said. "Where that's going to be, obviously I don't get to make that decision, but for me it's

just important to get seen, to be able to be down here in spring. Even early in the morning and

doing early work on the back fields and stuff, just to mix it in and be seen.

"At this point in my career, whether I get to start in the big leagues or not, I aspire to be in the

big leagues at some point this year and help the team in some capacity, so having the opportunity

to get seen during spring training is huge for somebody like me. That's really my goal at this

point, and depending how the chips fall, we'll adjust accordingly."

Janish already made an impression without taking the field. No one values defense more than

manager Buck Showalter, and he wanted improvement at the Triple-A level. He's mentioned

more than once in camp how Janish can "really pick it."

"That's huge, especially for a guy like Buck who needs to have confidence in who he's putting

out there," said Janish, who hasn't played in the majors since appearing in 52 games with the

Braves in 2013. "That's helping me out at this point because I think he does feel that way. Even

the brief amount that I've had the chance to talk to him, I've received that impression from him,

which is a good thing. And it probably helps being with Wally (Dave Wallace) and Dom (Chiti)

in Atlanta and them probably to a certain extent vouching for me, too.

"Those things definitely will help and that's what I'm talking about in the realm of getting seen in

spring training. That way I'm at least in the mix and that way when something does happen,

whether it's at the end of camp or if it's in April, people have a frame of reference with me."

Matt Wieters continues to perform his catching drills with the exception of unleashing throws to

second base. He's tweaking his routine today to include coming out of his crouch, a "catching-

specific" motion, as he calls it.

"Just trying to catch in the crouch, come up and make a throw," he said. "Before I've been able to

take my time to actually just wind up and make a throw. The distance will probably be shorter

today, but just more catcher's specific type of movements. Nothing different than what we've

done in the past, but take the step of making a throw like I would be making a throw to second

base. Not the same intensity, but just the motion.

"Before it's been getting the arm strength with the rehab. Now, it's just a matter of making it

more functional."

Catcher Caleb Joseph remains in camp today while waiting for the birth of his son.

Miguel Gonzalez will start the Thursday night split-squad game against the Blue Jays in Sarasota

that airs on MASN HD. Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter and Brad

Brach also are scheduled to pitch.

Steve Johnson will pitch in Tuesday's exhibition opener against the Tigers in Lakeland. Dylan

Bundy is scheduled to pitch Wednesday against the Tigers in Sarasota.

Ryan Webb will pitch Thursday in one of the split-squad games. The Orioles also are in Dunedin

that day to play the Blue Jays.

As previously reported, Ubaldo Jimenez is starting Tuesday and Kevin Gausman is starting

Wednesday.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/03/a-look-at-some-possible-reasons-for-poor-

orioles-season-predictions.html

A look at some possible reasons for

predictions the O's will have a poor season

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

March 3, 2015

Don't worry, Orioles fans, I am honestly not trying to get your blood pressure elevated and I'm

not trolling you. But I do want to spend some time today discussing this topic: O's season

predictions.

Keep in mind this very, very important fact: Predictions are interesting to look at and debate, but

they mean nothing. If you don't believe me just go back to some predictions for last year, which

missed on the Orioles by a mile.

But even after the Orioles posted 96 wins, an American League Championship Series appearance

and won their division by 12 games, here are some predictions for the 2015 Orioles that don't

even see them posting a winning record:

* Steamer projects 78-84

* Pecota projects 78-84

* FanGraphs projects 79-83

Recently, ESPN's Buster Olney said: "This is a team that has the deepest pitching staff in the

American League East."

So if the Orioles have such deep pitching, why are they predicted to have losing seasons in these

projections?

Good question, but the Orioles always seem to fare better when a human is providing the

opinion, rather than a computer or projection system.

I don't know what these systems use to project won-loss records, but PECOTA stands for Player

Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm.

PECOTA is a Baseball Prospectus proprietary system that projects player performance based on

comparison with historical player seasons. There are three elements to PECOTA:

1) Major-league equivalencies, to allow us to use minor-league stats to project how a player will

perform in the majors;

2) Baseline forecasts, which use weighted averages and regression to the mean to produce an

estimate of a player's true talent level;

3) A career-path adjustment, which incorporates information about how comparable players'

stats changed over time.

Yeah, that sounds like a system where the Orioles don't have a chance. And that system

predicted the Orioles would also finish 78-84 last year, missing their actual win total by 18.

Here is my take why the O's fare poorly in some of these predictions/projections:

* O's starting pitching is underrated: FanGraphs wrote that "Kevin Gausman is the most talented

starter in the rotation, but no one in there is really an impact pitcher."

Steamer projected the Orioles would allow 4.44 runs per game this year. Last year, the Orioles

allowed 593 runs (3.66 per game) to rank third in the AL. If they do give up 4.44 runs per game,

they would allow 719 for the season, which would have been 12th last year in the league. Why

Steamer sees the O's going from third to 12th in runs allowed, I truly have no idea.

Last year, the Orioles ranked third in the AL in team ERA at 3.43 and fifth in rotation ERA at

3.61. After the All-Star break, the Orioles led the league in both team ERA at 2.88 and rotation

ERA at 2.94.

They didn't just pitch good, they pitched great. But they don't score high in the sabermetric FIP

stat (11th in the AL in 2014) and maybe that hurts them in these projections. They don't strike

out many batters and some computers (and actual humans, too) are impressed by strikeouts.

Also, the O's don't have an ace and they seem to get downgraded for that, while not getting a

bump for having a deep starting staff one through five along with a solid bullpen. Plus, they have

depth on the farm. But Steamer doesn't seem to care.

* Computers can't really quantify defense very well: I'm not a fan of defensive metrics and think

defense is very hard to put a reliable stat on. When we evaluate players, we often put weight on

offensive stats but what about defense?

This is an area where the Orioles are among the best in the game, and maybe the metrics don't do

them justice and/or the computers don't put the weight and importance on defense that the

Orioles do throughout their organization. Run prevention often gets overlooked, in my opinion.

* The O's have more stars than they get credit for: While MLB Network listed just one Oriole,

Adam Jones, among the best 100 players in the game right now, the Orioles have players in Matt

Wieters, Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado and Jones that have either played in an All-

Star game, or won a Gold Glove or a Silver Slugger. Hardy and Jones have achieved all three.

So that is a solid talent base that will be on the field in five of the eight defensive spots on the

field, minus the pitcher.

Maybe it gets back to the losses of Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller, and some

that project and predict just see the club falling off significantly without those three.

I don't use any Optimization Test Algorithm when I look at how the Orioles may do this year.

But I still see a good team, probably one that is the best team in the division.

As the Orioles begin the Grapefruit League season today, it's probably time to put the computer

projections in the rearview mirror and have fun talking about actual games and results.

The Orioles always seem to fare better when that happens.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12405900/how-baltimore-orioles-replace-nelson-cruz

How Orioles can replace Nelson Cruz

If Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and Manny Machado produce, the O's will be just fine

By Jayson Stark / ESPN.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was just one year ago that Nelson Cruz came rolling into the Baltimore

Orioles' spring training camp. Who knew he was lugging 40 home runs in his equipment bag?

All for a "mere" 8 million bucks, too. Boy, those were the days.

Well, here we are one year later, and Cruz isn't walking back into this clubhouse. He's a Seattle

Mariner now, thanks to a four-year, $57-million deal the Orioles wouldn't come close to

matching for a guy who is two years removed from a PED suspension, profiles as a DH and turns

35 in July.

But if it makes the reigning major league home run king feel better, his old friends in Baltimore

miss him. They're just planning to go ahead and win the American League East again without

him. They're sure he won't mind.

"We're gonna miss Cruz," center fielder Adam Jones said. "And we're gonna miss more than 40

home runs. We're missing a great guy. ... But it's business. It's part of the game. And we're gonna

somehow, some way, pick up the slack.

"It's just how our makeup is as a team," Jones went on, at his eloquent best. "We just take care of

business. In the words of Marshawn Lynch, I'm all about that action, boss. Anything else is just

talk. Nobody in here talks. Talking don't get you nowhere. So why do people always want to

talk? It doesn't get you anywhere. It never has."

Nelson Cruz, who signed a four-year, $57M deal with the Mariners in the offseason, led the

majors in home runs (40) in 2014 while playing for the Orioles.

Hmmm. By "talk," Jones appears to be referring to all the "predictions" he's seen that peg the

Orioles for last place in the AL East this season. Yeah, last. Just one year after they won this

same division by 12 games -- the biggest margin by an AL East champ team not known as "the

Yankees" since the 1984 Tigers blew out the field by 15.

Best we can tell, though, the only "prediction" out there that has pegged these Orioles for last

place was actually a projection by Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA model, which doesn't

technically "talk" at all. But it does factor in the loss of productive mashers such as Cruz, along

with an offseason in which the Orioles didn't exactly light up the transactions column.

So this is really about math and facts, not talk. But that's OK, because Jones has some facts for

you himself.

"Matt [Wieters] missed five months last year," he said. "We've got [Manny] Machado healthy.

We've got a pitching staff that's healthy. It's for us to decide what we want to be between the

lines. You guys, with your predictions, you guys don't decide anything. You just make

predictions. I can predict anything, too. I can predict it's gonna be 150 degrees tomorrow."

Well, we'll take the under on that weather prediction, but we'll take the over on any prediction

that says this team is going to finish at the bottom of the AL East.

It's a definite fact that the Orioles haven't replaced Cruz's 40 home runs with any single player or

transaction. But they can replace his production. Easily. Take a look.

Home runs in 2013 by Chris Davis and Wieters -- 75.

Home runs by Davis and Wieters last year -- 31.

Home run drop-off by just those two players, both of whom seem primed to rebound -- 44.

So there. We just found 44 home runs in two guys who weren't healthy almost all of last year.

Got it?

We also noticed something else. Cruz bopped 74 extra-base hits last year. But you know how

many fewer extra-base hits Davis, Wieters and a now-healthy Machado had than they'd totaled

the year before? Let's take a look one more time:

So see? This team has that covered, too. We've done the math. You're welcome.

All right, so it's not really that simple. Obviously. But the concept is a tenet these Orioles live by,

no matter who's wearing their uniform and who isn't. This is one team for which it's never going

to be about any one guy, even if it's a guy who just took his 40 home runs and bolted for Seattle.

"You know there's only one home run champ," executive vice president of baseball operations

Dan Duquette said. "So we're not going to replace him one to one. But we have power at just

about every position in our lineup. Plus, Wieters, Davis and Machado are complete players.

They're very good defensive players. And two of them are Gold Glovers. ... So they're good

players on both sides of the ball."

The inference, though Duquette would never say it, is that Cruz was a great player on one side of

the ball. But he was, at best, a nonfactor on the glove side (when he's DH-ing) and, at worst, a

guy you wouldn't want the last out of a World Series hit to (when he's playing, say, right field in

Game 6 of, say, the 2011 Series).

The Orioles he leaves behind, on the other hand, are going to catch it -- all over the field. They

also return their entire pitching staff, other than Andrew Miller, and have two of Keith Law's top

13 pitching prospects in baseball -- Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy -- looming for future

reference.

What the Orioles never do, Duquette admits, is "grab a lot of headlines in the offseason," because

"that's not who we are. We pick up players year round. We don't do it all in the offseason."

So the transactions column will say that, by letting Cruz, Nick Markakis and Miller exit and by

making only two significant additions to their major league roster (outfielder Travis Snider and

infielder Everth Cabrera), the Orioles were one of this winter's big "losers." But in reality, they

can make up all that "losing" merely by having Davis, Wieters and Machado rebound to some

semblance of their 2013 selves.

Here, then, is where all three stand this spring:

The Orioles have to hope Manny Machado, 22, can get back to being healthy. He played in just

82 games last season.

Davis: In the talk-show world, the big news is that he was approved for a therapeutic use

exemption that allows him to take a prescription drug similar to Adderall (Vyvanse) to treat his

ADHD condition. In the actual world, the big news is that Davis is finally over the strained left

oblique that affected his swing from May on last year.

"The first couple of times I swung the bat in the offseason were really when I realized what a big

impact that [injury] had on me," Davis said. "I wasn't able to drive the ball the other way, or even

to right-center, the way I normally do. And it was causing me to really fly open and come off the

ball."

Well, the numbers bear that out. In 2013, Davis slugged .952 with 23 homers and 42 extra-base

hits on balls hit from center field to the left-field foul line. Last year: .655, with nine homers and

24 extra-base hits. Against pitches on the outer half, he hit .197 and slugged .439 last year. In

2013, it was .308 and .737. So it's far from unreasonable to think he has big upside in 2015.

Wieters: He's right on track to return from Tommy John surgery somewhere around Opening

Day, although he won't begin throwing in spring training games until March 17. After three

straight 20-homer seasons, Wieters was off to a tremendous start offensively last year

(.308/.339/.500 through 112 plate appearances) before elbow issues ended his season, so he's a

good bet to hit. He just has to get back on the field.

"I still have days where I feel like Opening Day could be here tomorrow and I'd be ready," he

said. "And there are days where I'm glad it's still a little bit away. So I'll certainly keep pushing.

And I think really this whole year, it's going to be a matter where you're not going to feel 100

percent. But hopefully, we can get as close to there as possible."

Machado: A little more than six months after having right knee surgery, he's way ahead of where

he was last spring, when he was recovering from similar surgery on his left knee. And the

Orioles clearly are expecting a big bounce back from a guy Duquette described as "an awesome

talent," not to mention an awesome talent who is still just 22.

But Machado's manager, Buck Showalter, recognizes that his third baseman has had two fairly

unique surgeries -- a complete reconstruction of the left medial patellar femoral ligament in

2013, and a comparable procedure to repair a partial tear of the same ligament in his other knee

last August.

"So there's a little unknown here," Showalter said. "It's not like we've got 20 of these types of

surgeries on big league players, where you know how it should go or shouldn't go, and what the

red flags are. But he's so ready to go. I mean, I can tell you, he's almost getting bored."

Unlike last year, when Machado had to start the season on the disabled list, he's playing with no

restrictions this spring. Remember, he took so long to get rolling last year, he wound up with 44

fewer extra-base hits than he had in 2013. So if he's back to what he used to be, he has comeback

player of the year written all over him.

Now, let's suppose Machado really does revert back to his 20-year-old self, or possibly even a

better version with age and experience. And let's suppose Wieters is healthy enough to get 500

trips to the plate. And then let's suppose Davis can pound the ball the other way again.

Then, it really won't matter at all that this team didn't exactly dominate the offseason. Will it? So

the Orioles are cool with letting the rest of us talk, project and underestimate them. They'll just

play the games.

"You know what?" Showalter said. "It's a lot more fun this way."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12411391/jeff-mcknight-former-new-york-met-baltimore-

oriole-dies-52-leukemia

Jeff McKnight dies of leukemia at 52

Associated Press / ESPN.com

March 2, 2015

BEE BRANCH, Ark. -- Jeff McKnight, a versatile player who spent six seasons with the New

York Mets and Baltimore Orioles, has died. He was 52.

McKnight's family told the Mets that McKnight died Sunday after battling leukemia for 10 years.

His father, Jim, who played for the Chicago Cubs briefly in the early 1960s, was born in Bee

Branch, Arkansas.

Jeff McKnight made his big league debut with the Mets in 1989 and hit .233 with five home runs

and 34 RBIs in 218 games. He singled in his final at-bat for the Mets in August 1994, on the

final day before a players' strike wiped out the rest of the season.

McKnight hit his first big league home run off Jack Morris, with an eighth-inning shot that

helped rally the Orioles over Detroit at Memorial Stadium.

McKnight was mostly an infielder and played every position in the majors except center fielder

and pitcher.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/03/02/plenty-of-spring-intrigue-for-orioles-pitching-staff

Plenty Of Spring Intrigue For Orioles'

Pitching Staff

By Jim Henneman / PressBoxOnline.com

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. -- This is destined to be the most interesting month of the Orioles' offseason,

which means when it comes to signing players, executive vice president of baseball operations

Dan Duquette will be even later to the party than usual.

The moves that almost certainly are in the offing may not be enough to satisfy the disgruntled

portion of the fan base, but the groundwork has been laid and is there for all to see. There won't

be any last-minute free-agent signings, but trade winds will definitely blow.

Last season, there were 13 pitchers on the 40-man roster who made up the best staff the Orioles

have had in almost two decades.

Ideally, manager Buck Showalter would carry about 11 pitchers during the season, especially the

first month, when a generous scattering of off days will provide more than enough rest time for

the rotation. In addition to the 13 pitchers who are slated to return from last season, the Orioles

added left-handed reliever Wesley Wright and two Rule 5 draft picks in Jason Garcia and Logan

Verrett to this season's mix.

The numbers, practically, insist Showalter will carry a 12-man staff, and even if somebody ended

up on the disabled list, it leaves 16 candidates for 13 spots, a mathematical impossibility that will

test Duquette's trading skills. There some option possibilities, but it really wouldn't make any

sense for starters like right-handers Kevin Gausman or Miguel Gonzalez to spend a day in the

minor leagues.

It goes without saying that last season's staff will not remain intact. It might be a stretch for a

team that considers itself World Series contender to even contemplate the possibility of carrying

two Rule 5 pitchers -- especially Garcia, who is 22 years old and hasn't pitched above Single-A.

But the Orioles thought highly enough of Garcia to entice the Houston Astros to use the fourth

pick to draft him, and then deal him to the Orioles. If you are wondering why one of the worst

teams in baseball wouldn't be interested in a player desired by a team that won 96 games last

season, you aren't alone. But that's a story for another time, perhaps. It's fair to suspect the

Orioles might have paid the Astros more than the $50,000 draft price, but if Garcia doesn't make

the Orioles' Opening Day roster, he'd have to clear waivers and be offered back to the Astros for

$25,000.

And that's only part of the intrigue surrounding the team's pitching as the Orioles prepare to open

a 32-game exhibition schedule in Lakeland, Fla., against the Detroit Tigers March 3. The Tigers

then visit Sarasota, Fla., for the O's home opener March 4.

With the way Showalter talked about Gonzalez March 1, it sounded like Gonzalez would be

more like a top-of-the- rotation candidate than somebody competing for a No. 5 or 6 spot in the

five-man rotation.

"I don't think anybody had as good an offseason as [Gonzalez] did," Showalter said. "He did a lot

of work with [vice president of baseball operations] Brady [Anderson], and his body is rock

solid. He's anxious to put up 200 innings. That's the one thing that's been missing. If he can stay

healthy and show that kind of durability, he can take it to another level."

Gonzalez averaged about six innings during 26 starts last season, numbers that leave him close to

what Showalter would consider to be a magic number for a starting pitcher.

"I'd say if your starters could average 20-21 outs per start, the bullpen would have to be pretty

horse hockey to not have a good year," Showalter said.

Consider 20 as the magic number going forward. That leaves one out for the seventh inning

specialist, three outs for the setup man and an inning for the closer. And that's basically what the

manager's manual suggests.

Showalter was still marveling about the defensive effort during the Orioles' six-inning intra-

squad game that ended up scoreless. And for Showlater, it wasn't as dull as the score sounded.

"I don't think you could see a better [defensive] game than that for the first time out of the box,"

Showalter said. "There were five or six plays there that could have gone through for base hits,

and nobody would've thought anything about it. That's what helped get us [to the American

League Championship Series] last year -- and if we can do it again, we'll have some fun this

year."

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/chaz-roe-relative-pirate-great-tries-make-it-

orioles

Relative of Pirate great tries to make it with

Orioles

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Every player in baseball has a story. Chaz Roe, who is trying to make the

Orioles as a reliever, is the great nephew of the man who hit the only World Series ending home

run.

Roe’s great uncle is Bill Mazeroski, who hit the home run that ended the 1960 World Series and

give the Pittsburgh Pirates an upset win over the New York Yankees.

When Roe was pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, he got to pitch a game at PNC

Park, the Pirates’ current home. It was two parks ago, at Forbes Field, that Mazeroski hit one of

the most famous home runs in baseball history.

Roe was born in Steubenville, Ohio near where Mazeroski is from, and before the family moved

to Lexington, Kentucky, the Pirate great helped him learn baseball. Outside PNC Park is a statue

honoring Mazeroski, and it was a thrill for Roe seeing a statue of his relative.

“It was unreal,” Roe said. “It was definitely good to see.”

The 28-year-old Roe pitched in 21 games for Arizona in 2013 and three for the Yankees last

year. One of them was against the Orioles. He was signed as a minor league free agent in

December.

“This is a great atmosphere around here,” Roe said. “These are good people to be around.”

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-pitcher-acquired-rule-5-draft-making-

noise

Orioles pitcher acquired in Rule 5 Draft

making noise

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Everyone was excited about Jason Garcia on Sunday. The Rule 5 draft

choice breezed through three batters and impressed onlookers.

But, the Orioles have another Rule 5 draft choice who threw a scoreless inning, too. Logan

Verrett, taken by the Orioles from the New York Mets, has pitched at a much higher level than

Garcia.

Verrett was 11-5 with a 4.33 ERA with the Mets’ Triple-A Las Vegas team in 2014. Even

though he pitched well and was invited to New York’s major league camp a year ago, Verrett

wasn’t protected last fall.

Because he’s a Rule 5 pick, Verrett has more eyes on him.

“I definitely feel like I’m going to get plenty of opportunities to be seen on the mound. I, for,

appreciate that opportunity. Being able to get out on the mound, just getting out there, the more

times I get out there on the mound, the better I can be. I hope I get as many opportunities as

humanly possible to pitch this spring training,” Verrett said.

He and Garcia have something in common, but it’s unlikely that both will be able to make the

club.

“It’s just like any other teammate. We joke around, we have fun together. We worked out

yesterday together. He’s become a good friend. He’s one locker over from me. There’s no sense

of competition. It’s a friendship,” Verrett said.

Verrett was happy to pitch in the intrasquad, and now he’s ready for more.

“These first couple of weeks of spring training can become a little monotonous. To break that up

by an intrasquad, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m excited for games to start, face other hitters, not

your teammates. I think that will be good,” Verrett said.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-eager-get-started-spring-exhibition-games

Orioles eager to get started in spring

exhibition games

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are ready to get their game on. Tuesday, they travel to Joker

Marchant Stadium for their first spring game against the Detroit Tigers. Ubaldo Jimenez will

start.

On Monday, the Orioles concluded their final day of workouts.

“We’re ready as we’ll ever be,” Showalter said.

The team wasn’t as crisp as Showalter would have liked on Saturday, but that was hardly the

case on Sunday. The Orioles intrasquad game was full of fine defensive plays and sharp pitching.

It was a six inning scoreless tie.

“That’s about as good a defensive game as you’ll ever see in the first organized game,”

Showalter said.

Jonathan Schoop was extremely sharp at second, and Showalter was glad to have integrated

newcomers Everth Cabrera, Rey Navarro and Jayson Nix into the operation.

The team worked on cutoffs and relays while Brad Brach, Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and

Darren O’Day threw bullpens.

Showalter said that infielder Paul Janish, who had surgery to remove bone chips from his right

elbow last month, will take some ground balls with third base coach Bobby Dickerson on

Tuesday.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/cuban-minor-leaguer-trying-make-adjustment-

orioles

Cuban minor leaguer trying to make

adjustment to Orioles

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Ed Smith Stadium is a world away from Carnaguey, Cuba. It’s a world that

Dariel Alvarez is trying to navigate.

In July 2013, the Orioles signed Alvarez for $800,000, and he’s made quite an impression since.

Last year, Alvarez made a few appearances in the late innings of spring games, and this year,

he’s here from the start.

“It’s very important for me. I’m learning a lot being around guys who are at a higher level like

Chris Davis,” Alvarez said through translator Maria Arellano, an administrator in the Orioles’

minor league department.

The 26-year-old Alvarez played 22 games at three levels after his signing in 2013 and last year

hit .307 with 15 home runs and 87 RBIs at Bowie and Norfolk.

"He really came on last year," manager Buck Showalter said. "There are a couple publications

that don't even mention him as a prospect, which tells you about those prognostications.”

Alvarez is making the adjustment from the minor leagues to big league camp.

“It’s the same thing. It’s just more intensity. The quality is higher. The biggest thing is the

English part. I need to learn more English,” Alvarez said.

He admits to being lonely. His wife and young son live in Miami.

“Of course, I have all my family in Cuba. I don’t bring that to the game, the part that I miss

them. I think about them at home a lot. I just concentrate on the game when I’m here,” Alvarez

said.

Fellow Cuban Henry Urrutia, who arrived in the U.S. in Feb. 2013, has been mentoring Alvarez,

imploring him to work on his English.

“Having Henry here has been very important, and he’s helped me to adjust and make things

easier because he kind of showed me around, how to get about, and been a good help,” Alvarez

said.

At the Winter Meetings, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette

spoke highly of Alvarez. When fans were worried about the departures of free agents Nelson

Cruz and Nick Markakis just before the meetings began, Duquette assured them that Alvarez

would soon be ready to play in the big leagues.

“I heard about it during the winter, and I’ve been working hard to make the major league club,

trying to do my best,” Alvarez said.

Before the games start, Alvarez has been working on his weaknesses.

“I’ve been coming to the field every day, trying to correct my mistakes and the errors that I

make, working hard to try and make the team,” Alvarez said.

The Orioles are hoping that Alvarez will cut down on his aggressiveness. He walked just 21

times last season.

“My style is aggressive, and I acknowledge that. I’m trying not to swing at too many bad pitches

and just make contact,” Alvarez said.

His goal for this spring?

“I’ve been working hard to make the big league club, so I’m hoping that Buck puts me in the

game,” Alvarez said.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/gamboa-trying-maintain-control-knuckleball

Gamboa trying to maintain control of

knuckleball

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. – Eddie Gamboa isn’t a pure knuckleballer. He throws the knuckler about half

the time, and the other half throws his other three pitches: fastball, cutter and changeup.

“I’m just trying to feel it out and see what’s more comfortable, to go out there into a game and

see what I’m going to have more success with,” Gamboa said.

The 30-year-old Gamboa says to have an effective knuckleball, “you’ve got to have control. You

could have the nastiest knuckleball…I’ve had some really good ones, but if you can’t throw it for

a strike, it’s pointless, it’s meaningless to even know how to throw a knuckleball.”

This is Gamboa’s second big league camp, his first on the 40-man roster.

“As long as it moves a little bit, I think it’s going to be effective. You could have a straight

knuckleball and get outs,” Gamboa said. “It’s an unpredictable pitch. That’s the exciting thing

for me.”

It helps when the catcher knows the knuckleball. In the minors, Gamboa threw to Caleb Joseph

and Brian Ward.

“You’re able to have that comfort when you’re able to go out there and pitch as opposed to

having a catcher that really doesn’t understand you, you’re out there shaking them off, trying to

get a groove,” Gamboa said.

“You hope it dances a little bit, but not too much.”

Many pitching coaches admit that know little about knuckleballs. Gamboa said Dave Wallace is

an exception.

“He’s seen a couple of good knuckleballers. He’s had some in the past. I don’t know if he knows

so much about it, but he knows when he sees a good one and when he doesn’t,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa’s father Jay is at every Orioles practice this spring. The elder Gamboa lives in

California, and they don’t get to see each other during the season. He watched his dad play in

weekend baseball leagues.

“Now we have the opportunity where he could watch me and hopefully he’s proud of me,”

Gamboa said.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/03/02/orioles-open-spring-schedule-tuesday-without-some-

regulars/

Orioles Open Spring Schedule Tuesday

Without Some Regulars

Associated Press / CBS Baltimore

March 2, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles are five weeks away from playing their first

regular season game — and that’s probably a good thing for them.

They have 34 Grapefruit League games beginning on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers in

Lakeland, Florida, and many of the Orioles regulars — Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones,

Manny Machado, Steve Pearce and Matt Wieters — won’t be making the trip.

Manager Buck Showalter has said Davis, who has one game left on his 25-game suspension for

amphetamine use, Machado and Wieters, are likely to play more road games this spring.

Machado and Wieters are each returning after surgery last season.

Ubaldo Jimenez, who was a disappointment after signing a four-year, $50 million contract in

2014, will start Tuesday against Detroit.

Showalter hasn’t named his opening day starter, but it’s likely to be Chris Tillman, who started

last year’s first game.

The manager said his club has been crisp since reporting to camp.

“A lot of our guys, Adam, J.J., they know where the finish line is,” Showalter said. “We know

where we want to be at the apex of this curve.”

Through the first 11 days of camp, there have been no major injuries and a lot of happy faces.

On Sunday, Showalter organized an intrasquad game, and it ended in a six-inning scoreless tie.

Even though there was only one extra-base hit, the pitching and defense were sharp.

“That’s as good a defensive effort you’ll ever see in the first organized game,” Showalter said.

In 2014, Baltimore won the American League East for the first time since 1997, winning by 12

games.

This year, several preseason prognosticators have opined that the Orioles won’t be able to defend

their title. A few have predicted that they’ll lose more than they’ll win.

“I don’t care where they picked us, first, second or last,” Showalter said.

On Sunday, Wieters, who had Tommy John surgery last June, caught two innings of the

controlled game. Base stealing was not allowed. Wieters had his first three at-bats of the spring

and said he felt strong. He hopes to begin catching on March 17.

“It felt good to be behind the plate and get some AB’s. It’s fun. It’s what I enjoy doing,” Wieters

said. “It was nice to get out there and be as normal behind the plate without being able to throw

the ball to second base.”

Wieters is scheduled to be Baltimore’s designated hitter on Wednesday when the Orioles play

their home spring opener. Davis and Machado are also expected to play.

Showalter doesn’t care about the results of this spring’s games, but come Apr. 6, he’ll care

intensely. For now, he can scoff at the predictions.

“What do they know that I don’t know?” Showalter said with a smile. “Actually, I kind of like it.

It fits us. I appreciate them helping us.”

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/Monday-is-Read-Across-America-Day/31566708

Monday is Read Across America Day

By Kim Dacey / WBAL-TV

March 2, 2015

BALTIMORE —Monday is Read Across America Day, the kickoff to Read Across Maryland

Month.

To celebrate, the Pratt Library is introducing a program that will take young readers from the

pages of a book out to the ballpark.

A new program at the library in honor of Read Across Maryland Month brings together two of

America's favorite pastimes: Reading a book and watching a baseball game.

"In Maryland, we ask people to read 30 minutes a day for 30 days to get them to read during the

winter months. It's a little colder out (at this) time of the year. We don't always talk about reading

the way we do in the summer," said Jessica Brown, with the Pratt Library.

The Tom Clancy Orioles Reading Club helps kids do just that. Participants get special

bookmarks at the library with reading suggestions for different age groups. If a child reads five

books on that list this month, they can bring the bookmark back for two free tickets to an Orioles

game.

"Kids ages birth through fifth grade can participate so we have the book lists broken down by

reading level. Obviously kids who are birth to age 5 aren't reading on their own -- the parents can

share those books on that list with their child and bring their list back to get tickets," Brown said.

The program was created by the Orioles in memory of team part-owner and Baltimore author

Tom Clancy, who died in 2013. Folks at the library said reading needs to be a part of a child's

life every day, even during the school year. They said snow days are the perfect time to stay

inside and curl up with a good book.

"It's really a habit we should be building, so when families are busy and they're hurried and

there's after-school programs and homework it can get lost in the shuffle, so this is an

opportunity to kind of pull it aside and say let’s make sure we're talking about it and we're

reminding people how great it is, and they can really get some awesome prizes in the process for

doing it," Brown said.

Participants have until April 1 to take advantage of the Tom Clancy Orioles Reading Club. Then,

this summer Pratt Library will be bringing back their summer reading program.

Meanwhile, Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday participated in the National Read Across America

Day at the Naval Academy Primary School in Annapolis.

The governor, school principal, and librarian spoke to students and took turns reading the classic

children's book "The Little Engine That Could."

https://sarasotamagazine.com/2015/03/01/inside-spring-training-baltimore-orioles-mascot/

Inside Spring Training with the Baltimore

Orioles Mascot

By Chelsey Lucas / Sarasota Magazine

March 1, 2015

On April 6, 1979, the Oriole Bird hatched out of a giant egg at Memorial Stadium, the home

ballpark of the Orioles in Baltimore from 1954 to 1991. Since then, he has served as the team’s

official mascot and goodwill ambassador—and he’s a star athlete as well, according to team

insiders, able to bat and throw with both wings. We asked the Orioles for an exclusive interview

with their mascot, who will be appearing at spring training games this month at Ed Smith

Stadium; his answers have been translated into English.

“While I’m in Sarasota year-round having fun at local events and supporting community causes,

spring training is a high point because it means a new baseball season is under way. I love

showcasing new dance moves in the warm weather at Ed Smith Stadium, and because so many

of our Baltimore-area fans make the trip, I see lots of friends from Oriole Park. You can’t beat

watching a game in the Sarasota sunshine with the best fans in baseball.”

“[Buck Showalter, the Orioles manager] sometimes will ask for whistles of encouragement when

we play other teams like the Cardinals or Blue Jays. He thinks I have insight into how other bird

teams work. Toronto’s mascot, Ace, is an in-division rival, since we are battling for the top of

the American League East. He’s always hatching up a plan to foil us, but once the season is over

we remain friends until our rivalry sparks again each spring.”

“Each season, all mascots get together at the MLB All-Star Game to help make the experience

the best it can possibly be for fans. From participating in events at FanFest and the Home Run

Derby to the actual game, the All-Star break is the one time each season when we can all get

together to catch up and have fun.”

“To stay in topnotch shape, I start my workout with wing crunches and presses. I also do some

exercises for my beak. For cardio, I do 90-foot flights. I have to stay active so I can keep up with

our team and our fans. Dancing is a pretty good workout, too.”

“Sept. 16, 2014, is one of my happiest memories because we clinched the American League East

for the first time since 1997. Another moment I will never forget was when Cal Ripken Jr.

caught Garry Maddox’s line drive to end the 1983 World Series. It was the first time I saw a

World Championship come to Baltimore!”

“Since I don’t travel with the team during the season, when the Orioles are on the road I spend

time visiting Orioles fans at various community events and gatherings in both Baltimore and

Sarasota. I love when I have time to visit with children because I can remind them of how

important it is to do their homework, listen to their parents and teachers, eat healthy foods and be

active.”

“The best and most important part of my job is to make sure that every fan who enters Oriole

Park and Ed Smith Stadium has a great time—whether it’s leading a cheer, starting the wave, or

taking a pie in the face after a victory. The not-so-best part has to be when the team is on the

road. Even though I watch them on the road, nothing beats a full nest at Oriole Park.”

Factoids

Fans often ask The Bird to give messages to the players, a request he is always happy to grant.

The largest attendance for a single Orioles game at Ed Smith Stadium was 8,797 on March 14,

2013.

The Orioles play the Tampa Bay Rays April 6-8, July 24-26 and Sept. 17-20. The full schedule is

available at baltimore.orioles.mlb.com.