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Friday, March 10, 2017

Columns:  With roster spot up for grabs, Orioles outfield depth uneven this spring The Sun 3/10  Joey Rickard having another good spring as he tries to cement spot on Orioles roster The Sun 3/9  Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim on the cover of 'MLB The Show 17' — in South Korea The Sun 3/9  Inbox: What's the latest on Tillman, Britton? MLB.com 3/9  Castillo's HR highlights 4-run Dominican rally MLB.com 3/9  Witness 's first great defensive leap and nonchalant reaction of 2017 MLB.com 3/9  Showalter on Bleier, plus other notes MASNsports.com 3/10  Will this be the year for Team USA? MASNsports.com 3/10  Primer: What’s happened so far in Sarasota, and what’s on the horizon BaltimoreBaseball.com 3/9  SPRING TRAINING: O’s prospect Mancini swings a big stick Sarasota Herald-Tribune 3/8  Orioles' Youth Day an example to be followed Your Observer 3/9  Fred Manfra, Longtime Orioles Radio Man, Reflects On Decades In Booth WBAL Radio 3/9

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-with-roster-spot-up-for-grabs-orioles- outfield-depth-uneven-this-spring-20170309-story.html

With roster spot up for grabs, Orioles outfield depth uneven this spring

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun March 10, 2017

After center fielder Adam Jones lamented the athleticism and defense in the Orioles' corner outfield spots, the team seemed to prioritize giving players who fit that bill a chance this spring.

They already had Chris Dickerson in the system, but brought in Craig Gentry as another talented defender who can play a corner outfield position and compete for a roster position. Add in the athletic minor league free agent Logan Schafer and Rule 5 pick Aneury Tavarez, there were plenty of new faces who could possibly have improved the Orioles' outfield defense.

However, especially in contrast with some of the bat-first outfielders that share the camp stage with them, the drawbacks of such players are becoming evident. To this point, none of them are hitting much at all.

Joey Rickard, who is the incumbent when it comes to spare outfielders, is off to a good start, but few others can say the same. Gentry homered Wednesday in a win over the , but that was just his fifth hit in 20 at-bats this spring. And that’s the best of the bunch.

Dickerson, who missed some time with a foot problem that he said sapped all of his power from his front foot and caused swinging to be difficult, has just one hit in 14 at-bats. Schafer has one hit in 18 at-bats, while Tavarez has four hits in 18 Grapefruit League at-bats.

For both Gentry and Dickerson, proven major leaguers when they’re able to stay on the field, their health is what’s going to distinguish them this spring in ’s eyes.

“Today was the guy that shows why he’s been such a sought-after third and fourth outfielder over the years when he’s healthy,” Showalter said after Gentry homered Wednesday. “The big thing is just staying on the field. He and Chris Dickerson both, it’s kind of been their challenge. They all know how athletic and good they can be.”

Gentry has been hampered by several injuries, including back problems, that have limited him the last few years. But the Orioles believe he’s now healthy and has a chance to be a suitable right-handed hitting fourth outfielder if all goes well. Dickerson, though he hits left-handed, has similar upside for them.

Which, if any of them, stick around on the roster is far from decided. Both Tavarez and fellow Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander must be offered back to their old clubs or exposed to waivers if they don’t make the team, and if Rickard continues to perform in the spring, it could be hard to send him out, even if he has minor league options. It helps that the team has three days off in the first eight days of the season to manipulate the roster and maybe carry fewer pitchers than normal. There’s also the return of Michael Bourn (broken finger) that could complicate things.

Either way, while there has been strong defense from the entire group this spring, the Orioles will hope to see more days at the plate like Wednesday from Gentry to bolster his candidacy. The same goes for the rest of his peers.

“He’s going through little periods that remind him what he can do when he’s healthy and remind everybody else, and that’s what we were hoping when we brought him in,” Showalter said of Gentry. "We felt like we could present that opportunity for him. He’s got a lot of people here that know him and he’s comfortable around. … I know when [hitting coach] Scott [Coolbaugh] called me, we thought he could be a piece for us if he can get back to where he was. He’s still a real athletic ... he brings a lot to the table that teams are in need of when he’s healthy.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-rickard-0310-20170309-story.html

Joey Rickard having another good spring as he tries to cement spot on Orioles roster

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun March 9, 2017

Even as his rookie year was cut short by an unfortunate thumb injury in July, Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard packed three different glimpses of what he could become into five months of baseball.

Throughout spring training and deep into April, he was a revelation and fan favorite on every level. But then he cooled and by the end of May lost his everyday job to Hyun Soo Kim. The third act was that of a usable platoon player, one who could hit left-handed pitching and defend well.

Taken as a sum, it all screams fourth outfielder — a player who can give a spark for a week or two as an everyday player, provided it's not for too long, but spends the rest of the season starting a few times a week and otherwise coming off the bench.

But as he enters his second full season, it's still too early to box Rickard in as any one thing. During a spring training in which he's competing in a messy spare-outfielder situation, he won't limit what he can provide.

"You don't want to ever sell yourself short," Rickard said. "I think I can play this game and eventually be there [every day], but whatever this team calls for, whatever is needed, I'll be ready."

Whether he'd be ready for spring to begin with was one of the team's principal concerns this offseason. Rickard tore a thumb ligament July 20 in New York, and try as the Orioles did to get him back for the stretch run, it didn't heal in time and the team suffered for it.

After Rickard batted .350 through 14 games last season, his average plummeted when he hit .200 from that point until his role finally changed. Even though he couldn't sustain the type of production that initially made him beloved in Baltimore, there was still value to having Rickard around.

After a miserable series for the club in Houston in late May, Adam Jones moved into the leadoff spot, Kim became the primary left fielder, and Rickard became a player who started against left- handed pitching and came off the bench to use his speed and defense.

From that point on, Rickard's performance leveled off. He hit .299 from the time of that major switch until he injured his hand, and the team struggled to replace him with , Nolan Reimold and Drew Stubbs as right-handed-hitting platoon outfielders for the final two months of the season.

Even so, Buck Showalter somewhat surprisingly said at the in December that how Rickard will respond in his second season — without the Rule 5 restrictions that keep him in the majors all year, and with more expectations — isn't a sure thing. This was the same manager that who constantly lamented Rickard's absence down the stretch — from his grinding at-bats to his speed and ability to hold his own at any outfield spot.

But so far this spring, Showalter said he hasn't seen anything to indicate Rickard would change from the player as he saw last spring.

"Physically, he's fine, knock on wood," Showalter said. "He's kind of picked up where he left off last spring. … Joey led us last year with 76 [plate appearances in spring training], so he looks very much like he did last year — a guy that we were excited to add."

Defensively, the club hopes a year of familiarity with major league ballparks will improve his outfield play. Offensively, Rickard knows all he can do is try to put together the patient at-bats that the Orioles often lack.

For instance, in his first at-bat Monday against the in Lakeland, Fla., pitcher Mike Pelfrey got ahead 0-2 on Rickard and tried to sneak a fastball past him on the outside corner. It just missed, but Rickard laid off and worked the count full before eventually popping out.

That at-bat didn't prove productive, but Showalter values those types of plate appearances. It wasn't a one-time thing, either. Rickard entered Thursday's day off batting .333/.583/.533 this spring, and his eight walks are the most of anyone in the major leagues so far.

Rickard might be in a battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster with nonroster outfielders Craig Gentry and Chris Dickerson. But there are enough glimpses to allow for the idea that he could be bound for much more.

"I think any time you get a fresh start, it's a positive," Rickard said. "I'm seeing the ball well right now — that was a closer pitch [from Pelfrey] than I thought it was — it kind of ran back a little more. But that's always been a part of my game, and when I'm relaxed and feeling good, I'm able to lay off those pitches."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-orioles-outfielder-hyun-soo-kim- on-the-cover-of-mlb-the-show-17-in-south-korea-20170309-story.html

Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim on the cover of 'MLB The Show 17' — in South Korea

By Jonas Shaffer / The Baltimore Sun March 9, 2017

Hyun Soo Kim is big in South Korea.

The Orioles outfielder, Seoul native and former Korea Baseball Organization star will grace the cover of the popular "MLB The Show" in the country this year, according to Dan Kurtz, founder of the English-language MyKBO.net.

Kim follows infielder Jung Ho Kang as a cover athlete overseas and joins Ken Griffey Jr. as one of the faces of this year's game.

"MLB The Show 17" will be released March 28, and Kim figures to get a ratings bump. He was rated a solid if unspectacular 70 overall in his first appearance in last year's game.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218642710/where-do-zach-britton-chris-tillman-stand/

Inbox: What's the latest on Tillman, Britton? Beat reporter Brittany Ghiroli answers fans' questions

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com March 9, 2017

Thursday is the Orioles' first off-day this spring, and it's as good a time as any to answer some of your most common and pressing questions.

What's the latest on Zach Britton and Chris Tillman? -- Rob F., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Both Britton and Tillman threw bullpen session on Wednesday, which is a good sign, and the next step for each pitcher will be determined by how their body responds to that. For Britton (oblique), being ready for Opening Day isn't in jeopardy as long as he doesn't have any setbacks. Obviously with Tillman, who is a starter and who we knew from the outset of camp wouldn't be ready to go on April 3, things will progress differently.

It's definitely a good sign that they've both moved to regular full bullpen sessions. So long as they stay on track it looks like the Orioles could avoid either guy missing serious time, which is huge. Tillman (shoulder) will obviously need to build his arm back up a lot more and have his own Spring Training before the O's consider him as an option.

Are the Orioles concerned at all with J.J. Hardy? He's had some injury issues in the past and now again this spring. -- Mary M., Columbia, Md.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Sarasota, Fla., on Wednesday that Hardy was "very close" to returning to full baseball workouts with the team, meaning spring games aren't far behind. As a position player, you can really speed up getting ready in the spring, so it doesn't look -- right now -- like Hardy's in jeopardy of missing Opening Day.

Is there concern because Hardy has been dealing with a back injury that has plagued him before? Of course. The O's are a much better team, particularly defensively, when he is at shortstop. Hardy's presence on the field and in the clubhouse can't be understated, and it has already been pointed out several times this spring by young infielders Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado.

You can look at it two ways. One is that the Orioles and Hardy caught the injury early enough -- and he passed all the structural tests -- and hope it won't crop up again. Or you can panic that he's already dealing with something. Showalter and the rest of the staff will take the first option, particularly as Hardy enters a big year and the team will have to decide whether to pick up his option for next season.

Do you think Trey Mancini will make the team? -- Pat S., Dundalk, Md.

I had Mancini on my preseason predictions, and I'm sticking with it. He's definitely not a lock, but assuming Tillman doesn't go north with the Orioles, the early off-days create opportunities for some roster maneuvering. And no one takes better advantage of roster manipulation than the O's.

If they do go heavy on the position players for the Opening Day roster, I think Mancini has a shot. He crushes left-handed pitching, a team need, and deserves a chance after being a great late-September addition. If Mancini does make the team, though, he could be a quick victim of a roster crunch, depending on what the O's do elsewhere.

Why is Machado playing for the Dominican Republic team in the ? -- Dave R. Norfolk, Va.

This question keeps coming up. Maybe it's because fans don't like seeing Machado in any other uniform? Machado said last year he planned on playing for the Dominican, where his family is from. Yes, he was raised in Miami, but this was something he really wanted to do for his mother and grandparents. Playing in the World Baseball Classic is a big honor and, for a lot of guys, there's no guarantee it will happen more than once. So Machado wanted to do this for his family. He'll be back when the defending-champion Dominican team's run is over.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218663276/welington-castillo-hits-homer-for-dominicans/

Castillo's HR highlights 4-run Dominican rally

By Matt Kelly / MLB.com March 9, 2017

Anticipation was at a fever pitch Thursday night at Marlins Park, as a decidedly partisan crowd was eager to see the kind of damage that Team Dominican Republic's stacked lineup could deliver.

After a couple of loud outs in the first inning of the Dominicans' Pool C against Team Canada, the Dominican fans got their wish.

Highlighted by a two-run homer by catcher Welington Castillo, the Dominican Republic broke a scoreless tie with four second-inning runs off Canada starter Ryan Dempster en route to a 9-2 victory. Employing all nine hitters in its lineup during the frame, the Dominicans showed off the frightening power that helped them put together an undefeated run to the 2013 World Baseball Classic title. They will take the field next against Team USA on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET in a game that can be seen live on MLB.TV and MLB Network.

"Our team did a good job in being aggressive, but at the same time selective," Dominican Republic manager Tony Pena said. "And when this team has the lead, everyone knows the type of bullpen that we have. We can close out the game."

Castillo, a free-agent signing of the Orioles playing in his first Classic, debuted with a bang. The catcher's second career at Marlins Park was a certified barrel, according to Statcast™, with a 100.5-mph exit velocity and 30-degree launch angle. Only eight right-handed hitters had hit opposite-field home runs at cavernous Marlins Park during the 2016 season, as Castillo did Thursday. Coincidentally, Castillo was one of them, blasting an opposite-field homer as a member of the D-backs off the Marlins' Justin Nicolino last May. Only five of Castillo's 60 career home runs in the Major Leagues have gone the opposite way.

The rally began with a sharp double to the gap by Dominican Republic right fielder , who then advanced to third on a fielder's choice ground ball hit by Adrian Beltre. , starting in center field in place of Pirates teammate , singled back up the middle to bring Cruz home for the game's first run.

Castillo followed with his homer, but the Dominican Republic kept rolling after that. Shortstop Jose Reyes picked up his second hit of the game with a single, and second baseman Robinson Cano followed with a single of his own after a popout by Manny Machado. Left fielder Jose Bautista then upped his team's lead to 4-0 with an RBI single before first baseman Carlos Santana -- the Dominicans' ninth batter of the inning -- flied out to retire the side.

The Dominicans' four-run rally did more than establish an early lead -- it also knocked out Dempster after just two innings and 49 pitches. By finishing under 50 pitches, Dempster -- who hadn't faced Major League competition since Game 1 of the 2013 -- can now come back and pitch later on in the first round.

The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, , as well as the Championship Round at , while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.

http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2017/03/09/218661172

Witness Manny Machado's first great defensive leap and nonchalant reaction of 2017

By Adrian Garro / MLB.com March 9, 2017

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, doing things at the hot corner with the type of precision that most fielders dream about (and which probably frustrates a lot of hitters).

With the 2017 season rapidly approaching, it's time to be reminded of this -- and he made sure everybody watching Thursday's Canada-Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic matchup was brought up to speed when Freddie Freeman of Team Canada slapped a line drive in his direction.

Though it sounded like a base hit, Machado made sure that didn't happen:

But, though we're all rather impressed with the effort, he didn't seem especially moved by it himself:

Guess that's what happens when this sort of otherworldly athletic feat is "just business as usual."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/03/showalter-on-bleier-plus-other-notes.html

Showalter on Bleier, plus other notes

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com March 10, 2017

SARASOTA, Fla. - With the first off-day now behind us, we’re ready for the first night game and another opportunity to catch up on sleep. No alarms are set unless you enjoy watching the sun rise.

The clubhouse opens to the media at 1 p.m., followed by the traditional posting of the lineup and the drive to Fort Myers for a 6:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox.

Ubaldo Jiménez makes his third start after allowing one run in two innings against the Yankees and no runs in three innings against the Rays. Tonight marks his first road game and likely a more challenging lineup than he’s faced at home.

The list of players who are having a bad week include Dariel Álvarez, Parker Bridwell and Jason García, who were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and Richard Rodriguez, Yermin Mercedes and Jed Bradley, who were reassigned to minor league camp.

None of them were projected to head north with the team, but it’s still a blow to be removed from the roster in the second week of March.

For Álvarez, it’s necessary to get him on a mound right away and begin the conversion to reliever. The Orioles are convinced that he can pitch in the majors, perhaps by next season.

Mercedes can gain a measure of satisfaction from being a late addition to the camp roster. He wasn’t planning on it and benefitted from Austin Wynn’s ankle injury, so the days spent at the complex were a blessing.

Manager Buck Showalter received confirmation that Mercedes can hit, the first hint coming when the Dominican native batted a combined .345/.404/.570 last summer at Single-A Delmarva and Frederick. He tends to swing from the heels until getting two strikes, then adjusts his stance and makes solid contact, suggesting that he’s capable of doing it anytime the mood ... wait for it ... strikes.

Mercedes, who turned 24 last month, is blessed with a strong arm, but the rest of his work behind the plate doesn’t grade highly. The Orioles will continue to tutor him, of course, but also wonder whether he’s destined to change positions. There’s plenty of time to figure it out.

Bradley is gone after three scoreless innings, but he shouldn’t be forgotten. He’s a nice left- handed bullpen piece at Norfolk who could make it to Camden Yards over the summer. Same with Richard Bleier, one of the optionable relievers that became a priority. He may leave camp to pitch for Team Israel, which has advanced to the next round of the World Baseball Classic, and the Orioles are expected to option him later this month, but he improves the depth.

“He’s an interesting guy,” Showalter said of Bleier, who posted a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings last year with the Yankees. “Some guys pitch better as they go to better levels and the hitters are more aggressive. When he’s faced better competition, he’s been very competitive, so he’s an interesting guy for us. And he’s got options.

“We’ve got so many moveable pieces that we haven’t had in the past. We really were painted in a corner a lot last year and the year before. That’s something we really wanted to get better at this year. Especially with that 10-day DL and all the stuff that’s different this year. That time you spent after a game or before a game thinking about where you’re going if this happens and that happens ...

“We were talking about the rotations in Double-A and Triple-A in our meetings. Do you take, for instance, a guy who might be a long reliever who pitches four innings and we need to bring somebody up the next day, if that guy’s starting down there and it falls on the wrong day, we’ve got a problem. So we might take that guy and make sure he’s not a starter unless we want to go down that road. But we were looking at their rotation and they’re going to be six or seven deep. I think they may end up with a six-man rotation there.”

T.J. McFarland’s departure opened the door for other left-handed relievers. McFarland chose the Diamondbacks over the Orioles on a minor league deal, figuring he could get back to the majors quicker with them. There’s a rule that prohibited the Orioles from selecting his contract before May 15 because they released him this spring.

Logan Ondrusek is another guy who’s having a bad week. A sore right elbow, an MRI- arthrogram and a team that’s waiting for find out if the discomfort is a sign of something worse than a day-to-day situation. We’ll be told about it later today.

Ondrusek had a shot at filling one of the two available bullpen spots, but those hopes are fading. An ankle injury sustained in a fielding drill kept him from pitching until March 3 and his second appearance included a two-run homer in Lakeland and elbow pain.

Gabriel Ynoa was supposed to pitch Wednesday, but he warmed in the bullpen for the Dominican Republic the previous day and couldn’t be used without risking injury. The Orioles loaned him to their opponent, a nice gesture, and it sort of backfired. Not a good week. But he’s probably available tonight.

Meanwhile, we’ve been butchering Ynoa’s last name and we need to correct the mistake, even if it ruins a good pun.

It’s pronounced “ee-know-uh,” so please act accordingly.

My first name is still pronounced “Rock.”

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/03/will-this-be-the-year-for-team-usa.html

Will this be the year for Team USA?

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com March 10, 2017

The World Baseball Classic has proven to be a force and very popular around the world, creating interest and great television ratings in many countries. But for the event to gain more interest here, Team USA probably needs to win this event - or least get deep into the competition.

As Team USA - with two Orioles on the roster - begins Pool C play tonight against Colombia, we can note that the Americans have been rather mediocre in previous editions of the WBC.

Japan has been to the semifinals in all three previous events and won the championship in 2006 and 2009. In the 2013 WBC, the team from the Dominican Republic went unbeaten and won it all.

The United States has never reached the championship game and made the semifinals just once in three events. That was in 2009 and the USA lost in the semis to Japan 9-4, before Japan went on to beat Korea for the championship.

So yeah, a few more wins from the Americans might create more interest in the event among Americans. Team USA went 2-3 in 2006, 4-3 in 2009 and 3-3 in 2013.

Three Orioles have played for the United States previously. In 2009, Brian Roberts went 7-for-16 (.438) with six runs, two doubles, a triple, a homer and two RBIs. Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, though, was not good on the mound, going 0-2 with an ERA of 14.73. Over 3 2/3 innings, he allowed 14 hits and 10 runs (six earned) in two games, one as a starter.

In 2013, center fielder Adam Jones played for Team USA and went 4-for-22 (.182) with a double, two runs and four RBIs. Jones and teammate Mychal Givens will represent the Orioles this year on Team USA.

The United States is joined by Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Canada in Pool C. The top two teams will advance to the next round, which will feature another round of four teams in two pools. Each of those pools will send two teams to the semifinals where single-elimination play begins and a team will then need two wins for a championship.

Right-hander Chris Archer of the Rays is expected to start for the Americans tonight at 6 p.m. against left-hander José Quintana of the White Sox for Colombia. On Saturday night, the USA will face the defending champion Dominican squad at sold-out Marlins Park in Miami. Sunday night, Team USA faces Canada. They will probably need a 2-1 record to advance.

The Dominican squad beat Canada 9-2 last night to open Pool C play as O’s third baseman Manny Machado went 2-for-5 with a run scored for the winners. O’s catcher Welington Castillo went 1-for-4 with a second-inning two-run homer that gave the Dominican Republic a 3- 0 lead.

That game Saturday night, United States versus the Dominican Republic, should be something and a great game that could also get more Americans excited about this event. This could be the game that really gets the WBC major exposure here. Jones and Givens play against Machado and Castillo.

According to , 51 media outlets have signed on to broadcast the WBC in platforms in 182 countries and territories with a worldwide global reach of more than 415 million households.

Broadcasts from the previous edition of the World Baseball Classic in 2013 set numerous records around the world. The 2013 final was one of the most watched sporting events in Dominican Republic history and was the year’s most watched sporting event in Puerto Rico. Japan against the Kingdom of the Netherlands (March 10, 2013) was the most viewed sporting event over the previous 12 months in Japan, out-rating all 2012 Olympic coverage. In Chinese Taipei, an extra- inning thriller between Japan and Chinese Taipei was the highest-rated cable program in the country’s history.

This year’s WBC has already featured some excitement and now that the Americans begin play tonight, we should be in store for much more.

Machado has spoken many times about playing for his family in this WBC. But here he does so in his own words in this first-person story for the Players’ Tribune.

Meanwhile, via the WBC Twitter feed, here is visual evidence how two Orioles helped the Dominican Republic win last night in Miami:

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2017/03/10/spring-training-primer-whats-happened-far- sarasota-whats-horizon/

Spring Training Primer: What’s happened so far in Sarasota, and what’s on the horizon

By Rich Dubroff / BaltimoreBaseball.com March 9, 2017

What’s happening: Three key Orioles, Chris Tillman, Zach Britton and J.J. Hardy, have yet to play this spring. The good news is that all three could be playing within the next week.

Tillman, who had a platelet rich plasma injection in December, won’t be ready to pitch Opening Day, but could be ready to start shortly after that. He may be able to pitch in an exhibition game by March 17.

Britton, whom the Orioles have been cautious with after he reported oblique discomfort, could be ready to pitch in the next several days.

Hardy, who has been slowed by a back spasm, is ramping up activities and could be ready to play by the beginning of next week.

Michael Bourn hasn’t played because of a broken finger, and he won’t be ready to start the season.

The biggest questions for the second half of spring training are: 1) Who is going to be the leadoff hitter? 2) Who will be the reserve outfielders? 3) Who will be the roster’s final two relievers?

What’s happened: Six Orioles are currently at the World Baseball Classic: Welington Castillo, Mychal Givens, Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Vidal Nuno and Jonathan Schoop.

The Orioles acquired two left-handed pitchers earlier in spring training: Nuno and Richard Bleier, who is considering a bid to play for Team Israel in the second round. They also signed two veteran outfielders, Bourn and Craig Gentry.

Gentry has a solid chance to make the ballclub as an extra outfielder, especially if the Orioles begin the season with 11 pitchers and 14 position players. There are three off days in the schedule’s first eight days, which means the club may be able to get by with fewer pitchers than usual.

In the first 13 games of Grapefruit League play, the Orioles are pitching well (3.79 ERA), but aren’t hitting (.209 batting average).

What’s up with: Seth Smith. Set to be the starting right fielder, Smith is batting just .091, getting his first hit in his fifth Grapefruit League game. Smith is an outside possibility to bat leadoff. Manager Buck Showalter is also considering Jones, who was the leadoff batter for most of last season, and Hyun Soo Kim.

Kim got his first hit against a left-hander in Tuesday’s win over the Dominican Republic, but those stats don’t count in the Grapefruit League.

The first controversy of camp erupted when the team reported on Feb. 13. Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations said that ESPN analyst and former major league center fielder Doug Glanville thought that Jones should play deeper in center field. And Duquette seemingly agreed.

Jones had suggested at FanFest on Jan. 28 that the Orioles needed to improve their outfield defense – but he meant personnel and not positioning.

What they’re saying: “What’s too honest, telling the truth? I think that shows that I care. I’m here for one reason. I’m not here to be friends with anybody. I’m here to win, and, at the end of the day, I think that’s what we’re all here for.” — Jones on Feb. 18, discussing the club’s need to upgrade its outfield defense.

What’s the number? 8 – That’s how many stolen bases the Orioles have in 13 games so far this spring. They had 19 in 162 games last season.

What’s the record? 7-5-1 — Ubaldo Jimenez starts against Boston’s Kyle Kendrick tonight as the Orioles play the Red Sox in Fort Myers at 6:05.

Rich Dubroff covers the Orioles for PressBoxOnline.com. You can read his stories here.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/sports/20170308/spring-training-os-prospect-mancini-swings-big- stick SPRING TRAINING: O’s prospect Mancini swings a big stick

By Doug Fernandes / Sarasota Herald-Tribune March 8, 2017

SARASOTA

For his major league debut last season, Baltimore's Trey Mancini didn't enter quietly through a side entrance.

Instead, the former Winter Haven High star burst straight through the front door.

A home run in his first career start, against the Red Sox in September, announced Mancini's arrival. A homer in his second was far more noteworthy — only 19 players in MLB history had done it previously.

But when Mancini went deep again in his third career start, that list got infinitely smaller. Since 1913, only three.

"They gave me (a chance) in September and I thought it went well," the graduate of Notre Dame said. This small taste of success at the big-league level left Mancini wanting more.

"I feel like I've had a great career in the minors," he said. "And I know I'm at the point where I think I can be a great major-league player."

The soon-to-be 25-year-old has submitted an impressive resume up to now.

Two years ago he was named the Orioles Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .341 with 21 homers and 89 RBI in 136 games split between Class-A Frederick and Class-AA Bowie.

That made Mancini the organization's top prospect heading into last season. And after hitting .302 at Bowie and .280 in 125 games at Triple-A Norfolk, with 13 homers and 54 RBI, he was summoned by the Orioles on Sept. 18.

For a player not even drafted out of high school, quite the rise.

Through and through, the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder is a Floridian. Mancini's dad, a doctor who plays guitar, attended Hardee High in Wauchula. Trey attended Winter Haven High and lives in Lake Wales in the offseason.

As a Blue Devil senior, Mancini hit .481 in 25 games. But not only was he not drafted out of high school, he wasn't offered a scholarship by any Florida college. So Mancini took his talents to Notre Dame, where he majored in political science.

"It was an awesome experience," he said. "I got a great education there. It's my favorite place. I go back for two football games every year."

After a career with the Fighting Irish, Mancini was taken by the Orioles in the eighth round of the 2013 draft.

"I was a good player coming out of college," he said, "but I had a lot of work to be done and I can't say enough about all the coaching that I've gotten at the minor- and major-league levels here. It's awesome."

Primarily a first baseman, he knows he won't supplant starter Chris Davis, but a potent bat usually has a way of finding its way into a lineup.

Thus far this spring, Mancini has been making that exact case. In 20 at bats, he's hitting .350. His four RBI are tied with Adam Jones for the team lead.

"There's still an opportunity for me to make this team," he said. "I just have to hit and I think they'll find a spot for me."

He has all his minor-league options left, but Mancini hopes he's seen the last of Norfolk. In his mind, he's already kicked in that front door. http://www.yourobserver.com/article/orioles'-youth-baseball-day-an-example-to-be-followed Orioles' Youth Baseball Day an example to be followed

By Ryan Kohn / Your Observer March 9, 2017

I’m going to let you know now, readers, that this week’s column is a little self-indulgent. Next week will be back to regularly scheduled programming, I promise.

The last time I wrote a column like this, the calendar had just turned to 2017, and I was writing about all the things I was looking forward to in the new year. The most prominent thing on that list was spring training baseball.

Well, spring training is finally here, and I had the opportunity to attend the O’s March 5 game against the . I could tell you that they won 3-2, that starting pitcher Mike Wright went three innings and gave up just one earned run, and that new Baltimore catcher Welington Castillo got a key hit, a floating double to left field that landed inches away from diving Phillies left fielder Cam Perkins’ leather. I could, but I won’t, because even I’m not dumb enough to think anyone but me cares about spring training results.

What I really want to talk about is the club’s Youth Baseball Day promotion. The Orioles welcomed youth teams from around Florida, and even a few teams from the Baltimore area, to the stadium. Several Sarasota Little League teams were among them. Before the game, those youth teams, dressed in their forever-mismatched team colors, got to participate in a parade around the Ed Smith Stadium's field and wave to their cheering admirers. After the game, the kids got to run the bases like their heroes, or at least their pretend heroes. Some kids seemed more interested in looking around the crowd or horsing around with their friends than watching the game, which is great. I’m certainly not here to tell anyone how to enjoy a baseball game. There were other kids, though, who seemed enraptured. Those kids stuck to the railing like magnets after their time on the base paths was up. They were waiting for an autograph, any autograph. Sure enough, Orioles journeyman infielder Robert Andino came out and signed for anybody who wanted a memento. He even gave one extra-enthusiastic fan his bat.

I’ll always remember Andino for getting the hit that knocked the out of postseason contention on the final day of the 2011 season, one of the greatest days of baseball ever played. If you haven’t seen ‘Game 162,’ the documentary telling the story of that day, I highly recommend it. These kids were barely born on that day, if they were born at all. To them, Andino was a man in a uniform, and that was good enough. They’ll never forget him now, just like I’ll never forget David Segui, who signed my hat before a game against the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays at at Camden Yards when I was a tyke. I was there with my dad and my childhood best friend. I can’t be 100 percent sure, of course, but I believe I had the same enraptured look on my face that those kids had on Sunday. I remember nothing from that day except the details I just told you, and the fact that on that day, I fell in love with the game. I’ve re-fallen in love with it several times since, and I liked it before, but that day was certainly a catalyst. That hat is still sitting on a shelf in the sports room of my childhood home.

Baseball is not a game that readily appeals to young fans. It is slow, strategic and confusing if you don’t know all the minute rules. In fact, Major League Baseball is actively taking steps to speed up the game and engage the generations of now. (I don’t think creating an automatic intentional-walk sign is going to accomplish that, but that’s another issue, entirely.) The game needs those fans. The average age of a baseball fan was 53 in 2015, according to an ESPN study, while the average age of an NFL fan was 47, and 37 for NBA fans. Some say that the discrepancy comes from baseball’s current lack of star power. Pick an American at random, do they know who Mike Trout is? What about Clayton Kershaw, or the O’s own Manny Machado?

I doubt it, but I bet they have heard of Joe DiMaggio. They’ve certainly heard of Tom Brady and LeBron James. Those sports are “cool” now in the way baseball used to be.

I can’t disagree with any of that, but baseball does have one thing going for it: the beauty of the game. The sound of a no-doubt home run leaving a bat, the sight of a perfectly placed 12-6 curveball, the smell of popcorn and hot dogs wafting through the air. It put a spell on me, and for at least one day, it put a spell on some youth baseball players as well. I can only hope, for the game’s sake, that 15 years from now, those kids will still have their Robert Andino-signed memorabilia hanging in their homes.

If baseball truly wants saving, it should take a note from Sunday’s O’s experience. It doesn’t need to change the rules to be cool, or pander to certain audiences. It needs to do more with youth in local communities. Once they get inside the stadium, the magic of the game will take care of the rest.

http://www.wbal.com/article/225398/21/fred-manfra-longtime-orioles-radio-man-reflects-on- decades-in-booth

Fred Manfra, Longtime Orioles Radio Man, Reflects On Decades In Booth

By Tyler Waldman, WBAL Radio March 9, 2017

After 25 years in the booth for Baltimore Orioles games, Fred Manfra is going, going, but not quite gone.

Manfra, a Baltimore native who now lives in Fallston, is doing just a handful of home games in what may be his final season behind the mic. But believe it or not, he's not that sentimental about it.

He got a taste of retired life with last year's reduced schedule.

"I found out what summer was really like, which is something you don't really experience," Manfra told Brett Hollander Thursday. "You can sit out on the back and watch the game or listen to the game which I did most of the time and be grilling out there and be one of the fans."

If he'll miss anything, he said, it's being at the yard to watch pitching duels in person. But listening them to on the radio, watching them on TV and taking them in on digital platforms when he and his family moves to Tampa next year is the next best thing.

It's a far cry from a childhood spent with a transistor radio tucked under his pillow.

"I was in little league and I listened to Chuck, to Chuck Thompson. I always wanted to play for the Orioles. I wanted to replace Gus Triandos, the catcher," Manfra said. "I either wanted to play or broadcast and I never had the opportunity to play but the broadcasting kind of superseded everything and I'm so glad I did."

That career took him to covering horse racing, the Olympics and all sorts of national radio and television events. He just re-upped his deal with ABC Radio. But then he got a few phone calls. The first was from WBAL Radio's Jeff Rimer. He said he wanted Manfra to come down to do Orioles baseball. Manfra said he would. The next day he got a call from Jeff Beauchamp, WBAL's then-vice president and , asking the same thing.

"And then I get a call from [Orioles then-president] Larry Lucchino, first thing Larry says to me is 'You can come home,'" Manfra said.

So there he was, working with the man who once gave him his radio lullabies.

"Here you are working with your idol and I'll never forget the first game I worked with Chuck," Manfra said.

He recalled Thompson introducing him in his first broadcast, then tossing to Manfra. Manfra recalled being starstruck.

"My mouth opened and I started to try to get words out but I couldn't," Manfra recalled. "I had cottonmouth so bad, all the cotton fields of the south were in the mouth at the time."

He said he never forgot the lessons Thompson imparted on him.

"You become a friend of thousands of people you will never meet in person, but you have to treat each one of those folks as if somebody that is sitting next to you and telling them a story," Thompson said. "The guy that I heard on the radio was the guy that I met and became a friend with and that's what I tried to impart on myself."

He said that one of his greatest regrets, though, was never getting to call a World Series game in Baltimore, though if asked to call a Fall Classic game in Baltimore this season, he'd happily return, even if only for an inning. What's almost as rewarding, though, is seeing the renewed interest in Baltimore baseball following more than a decade of losing years.

"It's awfully nice to see young kids who at one time had no thought about the Orioles," Manfra said. "Now they're I want to be like Chris Davis or I want to be Adam Jones. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be like Joe Flacco, but it's nice to hear them talking about the Orioles in a more consistent manner."