Sunday Orioles spring training game thread: vs. Phillies

It’s a rarity for the Orioles to be televised on Orioles-owned MASN during spring training, so every time it actually happens, like tonight when the home half of an Orioles split squad plays the Phillies, it’s worth savoring at least a little bit. If you’re not going to be near a TV, that’s OK too: The game is also on the Orioles flagship station of 105.7, also a rarity in spring training!

As a bonus, Ryan Flaherty is leading off and playing shortstop for the Phillies, so we will surely get several innings worth of remarks about him and how he’s not on the Orioles any more. That’s not actually a bonus, I know.

An actual bonus might be that this game will represent the first real exhibition game action for new Oriole Andrew Cashner. Like every other spring training game, it doesn’t count, but if you want to get a look at who the new guy is for three innings or however long he pitches, here he will be.

Cashner is apparently still sporting a beard that the Orioles bent their longstanding facial hair policy just to allow him to keep it. I hope that three months from now, this is not still the best thing about him being on the team.

With a bunch of Orioles already having played a game this afternoon and Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo remaining on the shelf, it’s not exactly a projected Opening Day lineup, but it’s getting there:

1. Tim Beckham - 3B
2. Trey Mancini - 1B
3. Manny Machado - SS
4. Adam Jones - CF
5. Jonathan Schoop - 2B
6. Craig Gentry - RF
7. Anthony Santander - LF
8. Austin Hays - DH
9. Caleb Joseph - C

In addition to Cashner, Darren O’Day, Mychal Givens, and Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo are expected to pitch in the game.