Friday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles sluggers are on the mend

Hello, friends.

There are now 20 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day. That is Frank Robinson days to go until Opening Day, so win yourself a Triple Crown today, or an MVP award, or a couple of World Series titles.

The spring training schedule rolls on with another game against the Blue Jays this afternoon. Today, the Orioles are hitting the road to play the Jays, but as far as TV/radio is concerned, it's no different than yesterday: Nothing in Baltimore, and a Jays broadcast is available if you're a subscriber to the right MLB products.

51 players remain in Orioles camp. A lot of cuts are left to be made between now and the start of the season. Still, it'll probably be at least another week before they really start zeroing in on some of the key position battles, like the fifth starter spot. Starting pitchers in particular will have to start ramping up innings, leaving less time for fringe pitchers, but Buck Showalter seems contend to hide some of those players in simulated games and B games.

There's always the possibility of an injury surprise as well. At present, for example, both Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo are nursing what are characterized as minor injuries. Davis has been on the shelf for about a week. Trumbo could also be on the shelf for a week. If the situation for either one of those guys becomes more serious, the roster picture for Opening Day could become a lot less clear.

Around the blogO'sphere

Trumbo sidelined by quad injury, Ynoa having MRI on leg (School of Roch)
It’s 3-7 days out for Trumbo. Davis, by the way, is going to be out for a the sixth day from what was said to be 3-5 days. As for Ynoa, it’s shin splints.

Craig Gentry is Orioles' secret weapon (Orioles.com)
This headline may actually tell anyone all that they need to know about the 2018 Orioles.

Orioles want more of the same from Richard Bleier after he won bullpen spot last season (Baltimore Sun)
A repeat of his 1.99 ERA would be great indeed. Whether Richard Bleier can do that while striking out only about 10% of the batters he faces is something we may find out.

The Rays' unique rotation and O's that are trending up (Steve Melewski)
Steve Melewski is fascinated by the Rays going with a planned four-man rotation with every fifth game just being a bullpen game. It is certainly unorthodox.

Cashner begins Grapefruit League action Sunday; Wright's direction; Wynn's winning attitude (Baltimore Baseball)
Those who want to see Andrew Cashner in action will be able to watch him on MASN on Sunday evening, when the O’s network actually bothers to televise a spring game as the O’s themselves have Cashner pitch in a real fake game rather than just a fake-fake game.

Orioles using spring training to test former first round pick DJ Stewart in right field (Baltimore Sun)
It’s good for everyone if DJ Stewart can play both outfield corners. I don’t know if this is going to work out.

Leftovers for breakfast (School of Roch)
In this space yesterday, Baltimore Baseball’s Dan Connolly was heated up about the Orioles not signing Jon Jay. Roch Kubatko shares a tidbit that Jay was quite recently looking for two years and $16 million - Jay ultimately signed for $3 million guaranteed. Bit of a difference there.

Why Arrieta, Lynn, and Cobb fit (or don't fit) on all 30 teams (ESPN)
Anyone with eyes certainly thinks the Orioles still have a need to improve their starting rotation, which is why David Schoenfield puts the O’s as a “best bet” for signing one of the remaining free agent pitchers.

Birthdays and anniversaries

One lone former Oriole has a birthday today: 2011 reliever Clay Rapada. He is turning 37.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: explorer Amerigo Vespucci (1454), space pioneer Yuri Gagarin (1934), chessmaster Bobby Fischer (1943), actor Oscar Isaac (1979), actress Brittany Snow (1986), and rapper Bow Wow (1987).

On this day in history...

In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, American forces launched an amphibious assault to begin a siege of Veracruz, which they would eventually capture 20 days later. This was the first large-scale amphibious assault in American history, with over 8,000 men involved.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt submitted the first of his New Deal plans to Congress: the Emergency Banking Act, effectively creating complete federal deposit insurance, though the FDIC itself came later in the year.

In 1959, the first Barbie doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York.

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And that's the way it is on March 9 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Friday.