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

Monday, April 4, 2016

Game stories:

Orioles highlights: Reserves help Orioles win exhibition finale in Philly The Sun 4/1

Worley makes start as O's win spring finale MLB.com 4/2

After rain delay, O's get lead against the Phillies MASNsports.com 4/1

Franco homers again, but Orioles beat Phillies 8-7 AP 4/2

Columns:

Not a dome or Port Covington stadium, Camden Yards hosts 25th home opener The Sun

4/4

Dan Duquette: Reliance on youth shows 'you're in transition with your major league

pitching staff' The Sun 4/4

Orioles eager to see how Dylan Bundy's bullpen role evolves as season progresses The

Sun 4/4

'Tremendous competitor' Chris Tillman ready for Opening Day; Vance Worley makes

roster The Sun 4/3

Hyun Soo Kim on Orioles initial roster after week of uncertainty The Sun 4/3

Final Orioles roster includes Kim, but there's no clear road map for his success The Sun

4/3

Introducing the Orioles' 2016 season preview section The Sun 4/3

Schmuck: Now or never, or now and forever for free-spending Orioles? The Sun 4/3

Crush to judgment: The Orioles' quest for the single-season home run record The Sun 4/3

Increased payroll brings increased expectations for 2016 Orioles The Sun 4/2

Schmuck: Orioles end spring the same way it began, with roster drama The Sun 4/2

After facing astronomical expectations with Pirates, Pedro Alvarez gets fresh start with

Orioles The Sun 4/2

Pitch imperfect: Why the Orioles starting pitchers can succeed, and why they could

struggle The Sun 4/2

Looking at the Orioles' likely Opening Day 25-man roster The Sun 4/2

Orioles vs. the stats: Why analytics are down on the Orioles The Sun 4/2

Still at crossroads with Hyun Soo Kim, Orioles likely forced to carry him The Sun 4/1

Miguel Gonzalez becomes free agent, Orioles bullpen takes shape and Hyun Soo Kim

speaks The Sun 4/1

Orioles highlights: Reserves help Orioles win exhibition finale in Philly The Sun 4/1

Maryland senator to deliver first pitch at Orioles Opening Day The Sun 4/1

For Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop, 'the sky is the limit' The Sun 4/1

Orioles release former major leaguers Mike Carp, Alex Liddi from minor league camp

The Sun 4/1

Oriole Bird in midseason form on GMA The Sun 4/1

Kim not concerned after declining Minors assignment MLB.com 4/3

Orioles announce Opening Day roster MLB.com 4/3

Showalter's mind on mother as new season dawns MLB.com 4/3

Showalter expounds on well-rounded roster MLB.com 4/3

Thorne offers bold predictions for 2016 O's MLB.com 4/2

On opposite sides, Twins, O's have same goals MLB.com 4/1

O's hope to re-sign Gonzalez after clearing waivers MLB.com 4/1

Orioles lineup vs. Twins MASNsports.com 4/4

Opening days past and present MASNsports.com 4/4

Worley and Reimold go from bubble to opening day roster MASNsports.com 4/3

Duquette and Showalter talk about Kim, the roster and more MASNsports.com 4/3

Quick hits before today's workout MASNsports.com 4/3

Orioles set 25-man roster (updated) MASNsports.com 4/3

Spring training stars, the roster and the menu MASNsports.com 4/3

More thoughts on the roster MASNsports.com 4/2

Orioles whittle down spring training roster to 29 players MASNsports.com 4/1

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies MASNsports.com 4/1

Miguel Gonzalez given unconditional release MASNsports.com 4/1

Chaz Roe placed on waivers (updated) MASNsports.com 4/1

Opening day notes and quotes with Chris Tillman, Adam Jones, Hyun Soo Kim and more

MASNsports.com 4/4

The Orioles' minor league "break camp" rosters MASNsports.com 4/3

Hyun Soo Kim on making the roster plus minor league rotations and notes

MASNsports.com 4/3

A few final questions before the opener MASNsports.com 4/3

A few notes on Xavier Avery, Garabez Rosa and winning ways (updated)

MASNsports.com 4/2

Hyun Soo Kim indicates he's still not going to accept a minors assignment

MASNsports.com 4/1

Vance Worley talks about his final spring training outing MASNsports.com 4/1

Showalter pregame in Philadelphia on Kim, Gonzalez and more MASNsports.com 4/1

Twins-Orioles Preview AP 4/4

South Korean OF Hyun Soo Kim makes Orioles' roster AP 4/3

Chris Tillman gets Opening Day start against Twins CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/4

Showalter mulling leadoff hitter for Opening Day CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/3

Kim says he doesn't hold a grudge against Orioles CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/3

Kim is on Orioles' 25-man roster CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/3

Orioles make cuts, get closer to Opening Day group CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/2

Orioles officially release Miguel Gonzalez CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/1

How will messy Kim situation end for Orioles? CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/1

Orioles end exhibition season with visit to Philly CSN Mid-Atlantic 4/1

Orioles' Buck Showalter Not Worried About National Media Projections

PressboxOnline.com 4/4

New Food About To Debut At O’s Games CBS Baltimore 4/1

Hyun-soo Kim makes Orioles’ Opening Day roster after all NBCsports.com 4/3

'It's just like a holiday': Scenes from Orioles Opening Day Baltimore Business Journal

4/4

8 things you need to know on Opening Day Baltimore Business Journal 4/4

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-highlights-reserves-help-orioles-

win-exhibition-in-philly-20160401-story.html

Orioles highlights: Reserves help Orioles win exhibition

finale in Philly

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

Before the Orioles’ exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team’s final tune-up

before Opening Day, manager Buck Showalter wondered how long he should play his starters.

A 47-minute rain delay in the middle of the third inning Friday gave him the perfect opportunity.

Reserves Xavier Avery and Steve Tolleson both hit two-run homers off Phillies reliever Ernesto

Frieri as part of a five-run fourth inning. Garabez Rosa hit a game-tying homer and Ryan

Flaherty scored on a wild pitch in the ninth as the Orioles won their exhibition finale, 8-7, over

the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Pedro Beato allowed a two-run homer to pinch hitter Darin Ruf in the bottom of the eighth,

capping a three-run inning that gave the Phillies a 7-6 lead, before the Orioles rallied.

Right-hander Vance Worley allowed one run over two innings before the rain delay. After

allowing back-to-back singles to open his outing, Worley retired six of the final seven batters he

faced. Five of those outs came on ground balls.

Worley, who said he hasn’t yet been told whether he’s making the Opening Day roster, was

originally scheduled to throw four innings or 60 pitches, whichever came first. But he was

removed when play resumed after just 34 pitches.

Kim sighting

Hyun Soo Kim appeared in his first game since March 26, pinch hitting in the ninth against the

Phillies. He came on with two on and one out, and proceeded to ground into a fielder’s choice at

second base.

Avery adding late pop

Avery, a nonroster invitee, likely won’t make the Orioles’ Opening Day roster, but he definitely

opened some eyes late in camp. Avery’s opposite-field two-run blast in the fourth off Frieri was

his third in his past five spring games and his fourth of the exhibition season. Granted it was

mostly in later innings, but Avery hit .313 with eight RBIs this spring. The outfield in Triple-A

Norfolk is deep, but given his strong spring it will be difficult to not make Avery — a former

Orioles second-round draft pick — the everyday center fielder there.

Rickard keeps rolling

The Orioles left Sarasota, Fla., but Rule 5 draft pick Joey Rickard’s strong spring continued to

the end. He started in left field and batted ninth, a possible foreshadowing of Opening Day, and

drove in the Orioles’ first run of the night with a two-out RBI single off Phillies starter Aaron

Nola. Rickard also made a nice running catch on a tailing liner off the bat of Cedric Hunter to

end the bottom of the first inning. The only remaining question now is whether Rickard, who hit

.397 (25-for-63) this spring, is the club’s Opening Day left fielder Monday.

Quotable

“I still like it here a lot. The fans still kind of like me, so that’s a good thing. I didn’t get booed

too bad every time I’ve made my return here. I’ve always liked playing here and pitching here,

but it’s also going to prepare me for Camden [Yards]. It’s a small park there, too, so being able

to keep the ball on the ground tonight, that’s a good start if I’m in Camden.”

— Worley, who came up with the Phillies, on pitching at Citizens Bank Park again

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170101264/worley-makes-final-bid-as-os-beat-phillies

Worley makes start as O's win spring finale

By Paul Hagen / MLB.com

April 2, 2016

PHILADELPHIA -- After relinquishing an eighth-inning lead, the Orioles came back with two

runs of their own to beat the Phillies, 8-7, on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park in the big league

exhibition finale for both teams.

Garabez Rosa, who went 3-for-3, tied it in the ninth with a leadoff dinger -- the sixth homer of

the game -- off Dalier Hinojosa. Later in the frame with runners at the corners and two

outs, Ryan Flaherty scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Hinojosa, who is in the mix to

close out games.

Darin Ruf's two-run eighth-inning homer off Pedro Beato gave the Phillies a 7-6 lead.

Xavier Avery and Steve Tolleson both blasted two-run long balls as the Orioles batted around in

the fourth to take a 6-1 lead. The five-run outburst, which broke open what had been a 1-1 tie,

came against relievers Ernesto Frieri, who gave up both long balls, and Anthony Vasquez.

That came after No. 2 starter Aaron Nola finished on a high note by pitching three strong

innings, striking out five batters while allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Torrential rain interrupted play with the Phillies coming to bat in the third. The 47-minute delay

cut short the outings by both starters, a development that had more potential significance for the

Orioles' Vance Worley than it did for Nola.

Worley, who finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting for the

Phillies in 2011, was making his final bid to earn a spot in the rotation. Even if he doesn't claim a

starting spot, he's likely to stick as a reliever because he's out of options and signed a $2.6

million contract during the offseason.

In his two innings, Worley gave up one run on three hits.

"It would have been nice [to have a longer audition], but it is what it is," Worley said. "You can't

control the weather.

"I think there are a few of us who still don't really know what our role is or if we're even on the

team. We're just waiting patiently. I don't know. Until I'm told something, I'm just going to

assume I'm here. I'm not going to think too far ahead. I'm just showing that I can do all the roles,

so hopefully they see that."

Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco blasted his Major League-leading ninth spring home run

into the second deck in left in the bottom of the fourth against O's non-roster invitee Edgar

Olmos.

Two batters later, Ryan Howard homered to center against the lefty. Phillies manager Pete

Mackanin said before the game that Howard will open the season starting only against right-

handers as he platoons with Ruf at first.

Nola, meanwhile, is penciled in to start the Phillies' second regular-season game on Wednesday

in Cincinnati as well as the home opener against the Padres on April 11. He only threw 53

pitches, but he said the plan had been to taper down anyway.

"My body feels good," Nola said. "My arm feels real good."

Up next for the Orioles: Baltimore will be off Saturday and work out on Sunday before

beginning the 2016 season against the Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Monday. First

pitch on Opening Day is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET and can be seen live on MLB.TV. Right-

hander Chris Tillman will make his third consecutiveOpening Day start for the O's.

Up next for the Phillies: The Phillies will wrap up their exhibition season at 1:05 p.m. ET

Saturday at Citizens Bank Park with a rematch against a Futures Team made up of many of their

top prospects. It can be seen live on MLB.TV. For the big league team, veteran right-

hander Charlie Morton will get his final tuneup before the Phillies open the regular season

against the Reds on Monday at Great American Ball Park. Right-hander Jake Thompson, rated

the organization's No. 2 prospectby MLBPipeline.com, will start for the Futures.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/orioles-and-phillies-tied-1-1-in-rain-delay-

in-philadelphia.html

After rain delay, O's get lead against the Phillies

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - It's pouring and very dark, and the Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies are in a

rain delay with this game tied 1-1 after two and a half innings at Citizens Bank Park.

One day after playing their Grapefruit League finale, the Orioles were back in a major league

ballpark tonight for their final spring training game in a matchup with the Phillies.

After the Orioles were retired in the first by Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola, the Phillies

took a 1-0 lead on Vance Worley in the last of the first.

Freddy Galvis led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a Cesar Hernandez line

single to center. After a forceout at second left runners at first and third, an RBI groundout to

short by Maikel Franco scored Galvis for the 1-0 lead. Joey Rickard made a nice running catch in

left field to end the inning.

The Orioles tied it 1-1 with an unearned run in the second. With two outs, Jonathan Schoop

reached on an error on first baseman Ryan Howard. He went to second when Caleb Joseph

walked and scored on Rickard's single to center. Rickard, who began today batting .387, drove in

his eighth run of the spring.

The Orioles are 11-15-5 this spring. Since an 0-10-2 start, they are 11-5-3, which includes a

record of 6-1-1 their past eight games.

Through two innings, Worley has allowed three hits and the one run with no walks or strikeouts

on 34 pitches, 20 for strikes.

Update: After a short period of heavy rain and completely dark skies, there is some partial

clearing now in Philadelphia and the tarp is off the field as of about 7:15 p.m. Looks like they are

going to resume this game and we'll pass along a re-start time if and when we get one.

Update II: Hey, we just got one. This game will resume at 7:40 p.m. Worley did not return after

the rain delay and Edgar Olmos came on to pitch the third.

O's go deep: Buck Showalter made several subs after the rain delay and the bench players

provided some punch in the top of the fourth. Against right-hander Ernesto Frieri, Xavier Avery

and Steve Tolleson hit two-run homers for a 5-1 lead.

Avery, who homered to left, has hit four spring homers in 31 at-bats. It was No. 2 for Tolleson.

The O's went on to make it a five-run inning and lead 6-1. They got singles from Garabez Rosa,

L.J. Hoes and Chris Davis to load the bases, and Rosa scored on an RBI grounder by Julio

Borbon. Ryan Flaherty pinch-ran for Davis, who goes 1-for-3 in the finale.

Maikel Franco's long homer to left in the fourth off Olmos made it 6-2. Franco has nine spring

home runs and this one made the second deck. Two batters later, Ryan Howard's blast made it 6-

3.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=360401122

Franco homers again, but Orioles beat Phillies 8-7

Associated Press

April 2, 2016

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco hit his major league-leading ninth

homer of spring training, but Garabez Rosa hit a tying homer in the ninth inning for Baltimore

and then another run scored on a wild pitch to give the Orioles an 8-7 win over Philadelphia on

Friday night.

Ryan Flaherty scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Dalier Hinojosa. Xavier

Avery and Steve Tolleson each hit two-run homers for the Orioles.

Franco launched an upper-deck shot to left that measured 449 feet. The slugging Phillies third

baseman has shown he is completely healed from a fractured left wrist that shortened his rookie

campaign last season when he batted .280 with 14 homers and 50 RBI in 304 at-bats.

"I'm in a good moment right now," Franco said. "I want to stay positive with my routine, have

fun and enjoy the game. Monday I have to be ready."

Darin Ruf and Ryan Howard also went deep for Philadelphia, which hosts a contingent of

Phillies minor leaguers on Saturday before traveling to Cincinnati for Monday's season

opener. Odubel Herrera added three hits.

Aaron Nola started and allowed one unearned run over three innings for Philadelphia with five

strikeouts.

Baltimore opens the regular season at home against Minnesota on Monday.

Ruf's solo homer off Pedro Beato put the Phillies ahead in the eighth.

Ashur Tolliver pitched out of trouble in the ninth, stranding runners on second and third, for his

first save.

Howard went deep to the opposite field for his third homer of the spring. Earlier on Friday,

Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin announced that Howard would start the season platooning

at first base with Ruf.

Mackanin said Howard accepted the platoon but added, "He's not crazy about the idea."

The game was delayed 47 minutes by rain.

FOR STARTERS

Orioles: Vance Worley allowed one run on three hits in two innings in his final chance to

impress Baltimore brass. The right-hander threw 34 pitches, 20 for strikes.

Worley's role -- if he'll even have one -- is up in the air. He could be the No. 5 starter, have a

bullpen spot or even be out of a job come Monday.

"Until I'm told something, I'm just going to assume I'm still here, so that's a good thing," he said.

"I'm not going to think too far ahead until I get a handshake that says, `Good job. You're here."

Phillies: Nola was sharp while facing 13 batters. The right-hander threw 34 of his 53 pitches for

strikes before the rain halted his outing.

"Of course, I wanted to go a little longer," Nola said. "I felt good. All my pitches felt good."

KIM UPDATE

South Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim grounded into a fielder's choice in the eighth inning,

dropping his average to .177.

Kim signed a two-year, $7 million deal in the offseason presumably to be the Orioles' everyday

left fielder. After his subpar spring, though, Baltimore would like Kim to start the season in

Triple-A. Kim has yet to consent to the move, and the club has until noon on Sunday to keep him

on the 25-man roster or waive him if Kim won't report to Triple-A.

RICKARD ROLLS

Joey Rickard had an RBI single in his only at-bat. Rickard entered Friday tied for the American

League lead with 24 hits this spring. A Rule 5 draft pick in the offseason, Rickard has made the

club's opening day roster and is one reason the Orioles are eager to send Kim to the minors.

SAFE AT FIRST

First-base umpire Chris Conroy slid on his backside on the wet grass while running down the

right field line in the fourth inning. The fans gave Conroy a loud mock cheer.

GONZALEZ RELEASED

The Phillies released right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, whom they signed for $12 million

in 2013. The Cuban native was hampered by injuries and appeared in just six games for

Philadelphia, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.

ROSTER MOVES

Orioles: Baltimore reassigned Beato, OF L.J. Hoes, INF Paul Janish, RHPTodd Redmond and

Tolleson to minor league camp after the game. They optioned C Francisco Pena to Triple-A

Norfolk and outrighted LHP Zach Phillips and RHP Chaz Roe to Norfolk.

Phillies: C J.P. Arencibia, OF Will Venable and right-handers Andrew Bailey and Ernesto

Frieri will not be on the club's opening day roster, Mackanin said after the game.

UP NEXT

Orioles: Host Twins at 3:05 p.m. on Monday in season opener. Baltimore RHP Chris

Tillman opposes Minnesota RHP Ervin Santana.

Phillies: Host a minor league contingent from Phillies farm system at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday.

RHP Charlie Morton starts for the Phillies against RHP Jake Thompson.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-camden-yards-0404-20160404-

story.html

Not a dome or Port Covington stadium, Camden Yards hosts

25th home opener

By Sean Welsh / The Baltimore Sun

April 4, 2016

The Orioles don't play in a dome, and don't call it a stadium.

It's a ballpark.

Despite all the alternate plans — proposals for a dome, a multipurpose stadium to attract a

football team back to town, handfuls of alternate sites — Baltimore ended up with a baseball-

specific ballpark on a former industrial site.

"It's fascinating. Back in the '60s, when that was all the rage … everyone was trying to get one,"

said Janet Marie Smith, who served as the vice president of planning and design for the Orioles

during the development and construction of Camden Yards. "Who knows why that didn't come

about [in Baltimore]. How lucky for all of us."

The Orioles host their 25th home opener at the seemingly timeless Oriole Park at Camden

Yards today.

Rick Sutcliffe, who pitched a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in the first game at 333 W.

Camden Street, is old enough to be Chris Tillman's dad. The Orioles' starting pitcher today was

about to turn 4 years old when the ballpark opened in 1992.

But it's hard to imagine baseball in Baltimore at any other location or under any other

circumstances.

Say, beneath a dome.

Or with center fielder Adam Jones standing on a faded patch of grass that would double as the

end zone for the Ravens.

Or if the backdrop of the Warehouse were replaced with a view of the elevated stretch of

Interstate 95 hovering above Port Covington.

Yes, Eutaw Street could have been replaced by the shores of the middle branch of the Patapsco

River.

At that location — now the proposed site of a Kevin Plank-led development project — a

multipurpose stadium was proposed, surrounded by a sea of parking spaces.

Other early renderings proposed the demolition of the Warehouse to enable the construction of a

larger, multipurpose stadium on the current Camden Yards site. More than one design proposed a

domed facility. Another showed a baseball-only park oriented more directly north than the

current version.

Alternate locations were considered — from the Memorial Stadium site to Baltimore County,

and from the opposite side of the Warehouse to closer to Washington.

But a late-'80s study by stadium planners Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum/Sports Facilities Group

— known simply as HOK — found, in part: "The Camden Yards Site also creates the

opportunity for fan linkage to existing and future downtown Baltimore attractions."

Fortunately for Baltimore — its baseball fans and the city's businesses and residents — the

Orioles nest was created at Camden Yards.

Smith, now the senior vice president of planning and development for the Los Angeles Dodgers

after successful stints advising other clubs on stadium projects, was early in her career when the

Orioles hired her. She credited former club president Larry Lucchino with having the vision for

the old-style ballpark that blended into the city's landscape. And she said her background as an

urban planner was likely what landed her the job.

The vision of the Orioles, the Maryland Stadium Authority and then-Gov. William Donald

Schaefer was a game-changer for other cities looking to develop entertainment complexes.

"It demonstrated that sports could be used as an urban-revitalization tool," Smith said.

Since it opened, the ballpark has hosted a papal mass, concerts and an All-Star Game. Sixteen

postseason games — the first on Oct. 1, 1996, and the most recent in 2014 — have been played

there. Most notably, perhaps, it was the site of Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-setting 2,131st consecutive

game played.

Ripken, though, wasn't so sure about Camden Yards entering the early spring of 1992.

"After playing 10 years at Memorial Stadium, I didn't like the idea of a new ballpark and I wasn't

initially excited about Camden Yards," Ripken said. "That changed the minute I stepped onto the

field. The way the ballpark was built right into the landscape of the city made it feel like it had

been there forever. It really set the standard of all the other parks that have come since then and

is such a source of pride for our city."

Ripken later would end his streak at the ballpark, and he played his final game there in 2001.

The ballpark didn't just replace an ugly site mere blocks from the Inner Harbor. It also revitalized

the surrounding neighborhood.

Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago feel as if they were built into the fabric of

the city, in part because they had to be. They were erected on "funky blocks," Smith said, and the

necessity of asymmetry gave the facilities character.

Camden Yards offered the same opportunity: Demolish the Warehouse and build a "perfect

circle"-type facility, or leave the landmark in place and build the ballpark around it.

"The Warehouse became the real reference point, from the creation of Eutaw Street to the

brickwork and shape of the [ballpark], the shape of the grandstand and the playing field," Smith

said.

She was tasked, in part, with overseeing how the ballpark melded into the street and towering

brick structure that would be stationed beyond the outfield walls.

Her other role as vice president of planning and development was making the facility work for a

company: the Orioles.

What did the grounds crew need? The ticket office staff? What was the right number of bleacher

seats?

The Orioles built a ballpark that ushered most fans in from center field — a complete 180 from

most stadiums built before its time.

"We were turning that on its head," Smith said.

"We really worked hard to make the outfield come alive. So when you pass through that turnstile

at Camden and Eutaw, you felt like you arrived," she added. "It turned out to be such a

successful experience, just a few years later, teams wanted to create an outfield experience. I

kind of laughed. We did it out of necessity. We were trying to make lemonade out of this lemon.

But it was such a successful experiment."

Camden Yards was a success beyond its footprint, too.

Smith and others behind the decision-making process in the late 1980s, before the site was

cleared for baseball, envisioned a complex.

Even the hotel looming above the left-field seats — if you can look beyond its aesthetic

shortcomings — was part of that vision.

It wasn't just about building a ballpark, but also about using public funding in the best interest of

the public.

"We felt this civic responsibility about Camden Yards, and I think that's part of the reason why it

was so well received," Smith said.

Suddenly, downtown Baltimore wasn't just the Inner Harbor and the block or so that surrounded

it. It had expanded a few blocks west, to an area where you couldn't even see the water.

At 25 years old, the ballpark is already beyond the halfway mark of the life span of its

predecessor. Memorial Stadium was demolished in 2001, a decade after its final season. Camden

Yards already has been remodeled, although subtly.

The Orioles and the stadium authority have worked to keep the ballpark up to date, adding high-

definition video boards, a center-field bar atop the batter's-eye wall, and a statue park beyond the

bullpens in recent years.

Michael J. Frenz, executive director of the stadium authority, said: "Oriole Park at Camden

Yards was rated by Stadium Journey as the No. 1 overall stadium experience in North America

for the second straight year — we intend to continue to work with the O's to improve the

condition of the ballpark and enhance the fan experience."

In the years since the first Opening Day at Camden Yards, two-thirds of baseball's franchises

have built new ballparks. And a majority of the 20 newest parks in baseball have taken the lead

from Camden Yards: None were built with football in mind, and only two carry the "stadium"

moniker.

Camden Yards "was held out as a model for that era of ballparks," Smith said. "It was very much

a civic building, and one that Baltimore and the state of Maryland take great pride in."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-dan-duquette-reliance-on-youth-shows-

youre-in-transition-with-your-major-league-pitching-staff-20160403-story.html

Dan Duquette: Reliance on youth shows 'you're in transition

with your major league pitching staff'

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

April 4, 2016

When Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was touting the team’s four homegrown

pitchers who are set to take part in their first Opening Day on Monday, he touched on the biggest

issue the 2016 Orioles might have.

While the inclusion of starter Mike Wright, possible fifth starter Tyler Wilson and relievers

Mychal Givens and Dylan Bundy on the Opening Day roster is a good sign for the organization

as a whole, it also means, Duquette said, that “you’re in transition with your major league

pitching staff.”

He added, however, that he’s confident with the group he has entering Opening Day.

“I like the track record of [Chris] Tillman and [Yovani] Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez,” Duquette

said. “They’ve all won more games than they’ve lost, and they should provide some good

leadership for the team. When you look at what Mike Wright has done, he’s got good stuff. He

looks like he’s going to be a good, winning, solid major league pitcher. Then we’ve got Kevin

Gausman in the wings. We have a pretty good, solid starting rotation.”

That rotation, headlined by Tillman on Monday, represents the biggest question on an otherwise

talented team. Tillman is trying to work back toward his All-Star form of 2013 and his career

year in 2014 after posting a 4.99 ERA in a difficult 2015.

Gallardo is the marquee free agent pitcher the Orioles signed, bringing questionable peripherals,

with his walk rate rising each year, his strikeout rate declining, and his WHIP coming in at a

career-high 1.416 last season. Jimenez was at times the Orioles’ best pitcher, but a disastrous

July and August saw him end the season with a 4.11 ERA.

Gausman, who begins the season on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, has the

highest upside among the group, with a big fastball and the potential for his first full season as a

starter ahead of him. Until he rejoins the rotation, it will be Wilson or Vance Worley in his place.

And Wright, who joins the rotation to begin the season after making nine major league

appearances last year, has what some believe is the best pure stuff in the Orioles system.

But in this case, the mix of established veterans who will likely give you what they expect and

young, homegrown pitchers isn’t fostering much optimism. Results for the group in spring, save

for one or two starts for each, were not promising.

Pitching coach Dave Wallace said Sunday that he thinks the rotation is “going to just take us a

while.”

“It’s going to take us a while to know Yovani even though he’s a veteran,” Wallace said. “It was

nice seeing him in the spring, but there’s nothing like seeing a guy in the regular season. That’s

when it all happens. We’ve had so many guys over the years who have ‘good springs’ and the

season starts and maybe it’s a different story. On the flip side, you have guys who never have

good springs – and I’ve had so many of those guys – but when the bell rings and the lights come

on they’re different animals.

“You’re anxious to see that. You’re anxious to see Yovani and some of the other young guys,

Tyler and Mike and all those guys, to see what we have. … It’s a different scenario, but it’s kind

of exciting to wait and see.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-eager-to-see-how-dylan-bundys-

bullpen-role-evolves-20160403-story.html

Orioles eager to see how Dylan Bundy's bullpen role evolves

as season progresses

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 4, 2016

One of the biggest questions entering spring training for the Orioles was how pitching

prospect Dylan Bundy would adapt to pitching out of the bullpen for the first time in his career.

A strong Grapefruit League season answered a lot of questions regarding Bundy, but as the

regular season begins today, defining his role among the relievers is still a work in progress.

Bundy posted a 3.65 ERA in 12 1/3 Grapefruit League innings, holding opposing hitters to a

.229 average while recording eight strikeouts and two walks. But more important than the

numbers Bundy posted was the different scenarios the Orioles were able to put Bundy in this

spring.

He worked more than one inning four times, including three two-inning stints. He worked twice

in three days and was brought in once to get out of a bases-loaded jam.

Pitching coach Dave Wallace said Sunday that the team won’t hesitate to put Bundy in those

situations – including the possibility of working on back-to-back days -- in the regular season.

“We’re not going to extend him a whole lot,” Wallace said. “He’s not going to go out there and

pitch six or seven innings on April 10, but I think as the season evolves and as he comes through

when we see his recovery, to me it’s going to be huge because major league innings are far

different than spring training innings. So that’s one of the things we’re going to keep an eye on.”

The club will keep a close eye on Bundy’s recovery, especially since he has pitched in just 17

minor league games since Tommy John surgery in 2013. They will still handle him with care.

Because he is out of minor league options, Bundy must be carried on the 25-man active roster or

the team would risk losing him. And because he’s pitched so few innings, his role has to be in

the bullpen, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said during spring training it is possible that

Bundy gets a look as a starter in the second half of the season.

“We want to make sure he’s on track and OK,” Wallace said. “The good thing is the way Buck

handles the bullpen and the pitchers. We want to get into the season and see what it brings.

That’s one of the reasons we gave him different scenarios during the spring. However, we took

our time doing it just because of a lot of the things physical that he’s been through. But my gosh,

he’s come through with flying colors. It’s nice to have that guy to look forward to and hope and

wish, but let’s kind of hold back a little bit and hold the reins and see what we have.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-tremendous-competitor-chris-tillman-

ready-for-opening-day-vance-worley-makes-roster-20160403-story.html

'Tremendous competitor' Chris Tillman ready for Opening

Day; Vance Worley makes roster

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 3, 2016

The Orioles are counting on a bounce-back season from right-hander Chris Tillman, and he'll

have the opportunity to start the year on the right foot when he makes his third straight Opening

Day start Monday against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards.

Tillman was the Orioles’ top starter in 2013 and ’14, posting a 29-13 record and 3.52 ERA over

those two seasons. But last year, his ERA ballooned to 4.99 and he went 11-11.

This spring training, Tillman posted a 7.24 ERA but was strong in his final outing, holding

the Detroit Tigers to just one run and four hits.

“Knowing him the way we know him know, there’s a little bit of an attitude as far as, I think he

wants to have a really good year,” pitching coach Dave Wallace said during a workout Sunday at

Camden Yards. “He came in ready to go. I think he had a really good spring. I don’t care about

the stats. He threw the ball really well. … I’m looking forward to him having a real good game

tomorrow and helping us win the ballgame. That’s what Chris does well. He’s a tremendous

competitor."

Tillman said the biggest thing he can take out of spring training is that it's now over. Before

Tillman starts talking about the way last season ended for him, he wants to make sure it doesn’t

appear as though he’s making excuses about a left ankle injury that nagged him through the

season’s final two months.

After injuring his ankle at the end of a July 29 start against the Atlanta Braves— an 8 2/3-

shuotut-innings outing that was one of his best starts of the year — he ended the season with a

6.22 ERA over his final 11 starts.

“I think it started physical,” Tillman said. “I’m by no means making excuses, because I was

more than frustrated by that happening, because it was kind of a freak thing. I wasn’t being lazy,

and then something happened. We were doing the right things, and it just happened. I rolled my

ankle and I think it started physically, and then I think it just started creating bad habits because I

wanted to be out there every fifth day, and I think that’s part of the learning curve.”

After rolling his ankle, Tillman’s next start was pushed back, and he skipped his next after that,

but he never went on the disabled list for the injury.

“Sometimes you have to have to back off it a little but [also try] to get better and help your team

the way you know you can,” Tillman said. “I think I got pushed back once or twice. I think it

started physical. It wasn’t comfortable by any means. I think it just created bad habits

mechanically. You can do all you want to, effort-wise, but if you’re not there, then you’re

fighting an uphill battle.

"I think mechanically, I was good enough to get through games. I just wasn’t executing. And it’s

about executing, and when you have those things going against you, it’s tough. That being said,

that’s everyone in the big leagues. Everyone has something going on at the same time, so that’s

not me. That’s everyone.”

Worley makes team: Right-hander Vance Worley arrived at Sunday’s workout still not knowing

whether he had made the team’s 25-man roster, but when he showed up at the Orioles clubhouse

for the first time and everything was in his locker, he had a good feeling.

“I said [to myself]: ‘OK, that’s a good start,’ ” Worley said.

Worley soon was called into manager Buck Showalter’s office and told he had made the team.

Worley and right-hander Tyler Wilson will be available out of the bullpen for the first two games

of the season, after which one of them will be selected to start Sunday’s game against the Tampa

Bay Rays, the first time the Orioles will need a fifth starter.

“When I get the ball, I’ll just take it and go,” Worley said. “That’s all I know right now.”

Worley, who was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason and posted a

4.32 ERA in 16 2/3 spring training innings, felt he pitched well enough to make the club but

didn’t want to assume anything.

“Not in this game,” Worley said. “I’ve been the guy on the bubble the last few years, and really,

spring training isn’t what it used to be, where you could really go into camp and work your way

into baseball shape. You have to show you’re ready to go to win a job.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-hyun-soo-kim-on-orioles-initial-roster-

after-week-of-uncertainty-20160403-story.html

Hyun Soo Kim on Orioles initial roster after week of

uncertainty

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

April 3, 2016

A week of roster intrigue and public posturing regarding the roster status of South Korean

outfielder Hyun Soo Kim ended with the precise opposite outcome as the Orioles had initially

strove for.

Kim was included on the 25-man roster the Orioles were required to submit toMajor League

Baseball by noon Sunday.

A slew of roster moves late Friday left the Orioles with the final group all but set.

Outfielder Xavier Avery was re-assigned to the minors, meaning Kim andNolan Reimold will

open the season with the team.

"I'm very happy to be on the roster, and I will try my best to make it up to the coaching staff and

organization (for giving me) the chance," Kim said through translator Danny Lee before the

team's workout Sunday.

"The management has done what they had to do," Kim said. "There's nothing that I have feelings

about that, and I'm going to try to whatever I have been doing here before, to show the fans and

others who have been watching me what I can do."

Over the last week, with Kim carrying a .182 batting average in theGrapefruit League after going

hitless in his first 24 plate appearances, such an outcome seemed unlikely.

On Tuesday, after days of reports that Kim wouldn’t end up on the roster, executive vice

president Dan Duquette said as much on both the in-game broadcast of Tuesday’s game on

MASN, and then to reporters in Sarasota.

“It looks like he’s not going to be on the 25-man roster to start the season,” Duquette said. But

the two-year, $7 million contract that Kim signed in December requires his consent for a minor

league assignment.

As the days wore on, it was clear that wasn’t in Kim’s plans. On Thursday, Duquette explained

in a text to reporters that the Orioles were excited to have Kim on their roster and respected his

rights as a player, but felt he needed more time.

Kim didn’t get that in the last two weeks of spring training in Sarasota. He worked out every day

with the team, but played sparingly over the last two weeks as others got looks in the outfield.

His representatives in Korea said in a statement there that he did not plan to accept an

assignment to the minors, and Kim referred to that when asked Friday after the exhibition win

over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Kim appeared in that game in the ninth inning. Manager Buck Showalter had said he wasn’t

likely to play until the situation was resolved earlier in the week, then reversed course.

“Regardless of what’s going on with his situation, I do have a heart,” Showalter said. “So you

listen to things and you still do what your heart tells you sometimes.”

Kim said he never really considered going to the minors, and is unsure of how fans will receive

him given all that's gone on. When asked if he thought he earned a roster spot, he only said his

focus now is to stay on the team.

"I haven't thought about that," Kim said.

Here’s the rest of the roster:

Starting pitchers: Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo, Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright

Bullpen: Zach Britton, Darren O’Day, Brad Brach, Mychal Givens, Dylan Bundy, T.J.

McFarland, Tyler Wilson, Vance Worley.

Infielders: First baseman Chris Davis, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, third baseman Manny

Machado, shortstop J.J. Hardy, utility infielder Ryan Flaherty, first baseman/designated

hitter Pedro Alvarez.

Outfielders: Center fielder Adam Jones, right fielder Mark Trumbo, outfielder Joey Rickard,

outfielder Nolan Reimold, and Kim.

Catchers: Matt Wieters, Caleb Joseph.

Three players — left-hander Brian Matusz (back), right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder), and

outfielder Jimmy Paredes (wrist) — will all begin the season on the disabled list.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck-blog/-final-orioles-roster-includes-kim-but-no-

clear-road-map-for-his-success-20160403-story.html

Final Orioles roster includes Kim, but there's no clear road

map for his success

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

April 3, 2016

The deadline for major league clubs to submit their official Opening Day rosters passed at noon

on Sunday, and -- for the Orioles -- it was anticlimactic.

There had been so much said and implied over the last few days that no one should be surprised

that Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim was included among the 25 players who will run down the

orange carpet on Monday at Oriole Park.

The rest was equally predictable. The Orioles officially put Kevin Gausman, Brian

Matusz and Jimmy Paredes on the disabled list, retroactive to March 25, so all could be eligible

to be activated on April 10. The O's also sent outfielder Xavier Avery back to minor league

camp.

Now, the focus shifts from whether Kim would really be on the team to how the Orioles will use

him. He clearly did not do anything in spring training to win regular playing time, but since he's

going to be part of the O's bench, you can bet that manager Buck Showalter will try to find some

opportunities to play him.

It will be hard, however, to justify playing him ahead of Rule 5 draftee Joey Rickard or

veteran Nolan Reimold. Rickard was one of the most productive players in the Grapefruit

League and Reimold came on very strong at the plate at the end of spring training.

The situation could become increasingly uncomfortable if Rickard continues to play so well that

Kim cannot get onto the field for any appreciable opportunity to show he belongs on the major

league roster.

The Orioles do not want to embarrass Kim, because of the impact that might have on their future

attempts to recruit Korean players. They also cannot blame him for sticking to the letter of his

contract when they asked him to accept a minor league assignment he had every right to reject.

It is the front office that painted itself into this corner and now it is manager Buck Showalter who

is left the task of trying to make the best of this strange situation.

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2016-season-preview-section-20160403-story.html

Introducing the Orioles' 2016 season preview section

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 3, 2016

Baseball season is finally upon us and The Baltimore Sun print subscribers will find our

annual Orioles season preview special section tucked inside their Sunday editions. Online

subscribers have had a sneak peak of special section content over the past few days. It is all

online now. We take our Orioles season preview seriously – it is a product of lots of hard work

from reporters, photographers, designers and editors that began well before spring training

began – and the past two years, our O’s season preview has been honored by the Associated

Press Sports Editors as one of the top 10 special sections in the large newspaper category.But the

real reason we make this special section – at least in my opinion – is so our readers can have it as

a useful keepsake. Hopefully Sunday won’t be the last time you pick it up. It’s full of your usual

season preview elements: a look at the American League East, 2016 staff predictions and

projected 40-man roster capsules. But we take you several levels deeper with a combination of

thoughtful analysis, features, and opinion pieces that we hope every reader can enjoy now and

throughout the season. Keep the print product by your side and bookmark the special section

main page on your computer. For beat writers like myself, producing season preview content can

be overwhelming. You’re reporting and writing larger pieces for the special section while still

attending to the daily beat coverage. And anyone who followed the Orioles this spring knows

there was a lot to write about this team over the past two months.But that’s not what we’re here

to tell you about. Brainstorming for the special section began a few weeks before we left for

Sarasota, Fla., and this year’s theme seemed like an obvious one. The Orioles had committed

nearly $208 million to retain core players Chris Davis, Darren O’Day and Matt Wieters. When

the season ended, it appeared that the three players might have played their last games as Orioles,

but an unprecedented offseason of spending netted the return of all three.While one of the big

reasons the Orioles kept those three players was their on-field contributions, their return also

kept the team’s core leadership group – adding Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy to that group –

together for at least one more year. With the exception of Wieters, that group will be under team

control for at least the next three seasons, extending the team’s window of winning. With our

cover story, we took a closer look at this group. What kept them all in Baltimore, especially

when each of the five had the opportunity to play elsewhere? We found out that they’ve grown

together in different ways to form a leadership group that makes the Orioles clubhouse special.

Our cover photo was shot by staff photographer Karl Merton Ferron with the help of Orioles

public relations. As always, he did an incredible job on it. That's not all. Columnist Peter

Schmuck takes a look at the long-term ramifications of the Orioles' spending. I take a closer look

at the team’s starting pitching – the club’s biggest question mark coming into the season – by

breaking down the rotation and offering a feature on Kevin Gausman. Schmuck also detailed

the power potential of the Orioles’ batting order and sat down with O’Day for a Q&A. Fellow

beat writer Jon Meoli looks at Hyun Soo Kim and the difficulty evaluating players out of South

Korea (which is timely given recent events) and looks at the analytical part of

prognosticating that consistently picks the Orioles to struggle. Childs Walker and Mike

Klingaman also wrote a great retrospective on the Orioles’ first World Series title season in

1966.The final product is one we are proud of. We all hope you enjoy it.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/season-preview-2016/bs-sp-schmuck-orioles-tab-

column-20160402-column.html

Schmuck: Now or never, or now and forever for free-

spending Orioles?

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

April 3, 2016

During an offseason that was expected to feature a futile attempt to retain a long list of expensive

free agents, the Orioles unexpectedly embarked on an unprecedented spending spree that delivers

them into the 2016 season with a record payroll and greatly enhanced expectations.

No matter what happens, no one will be able to say that the front office took a halfhearted

approach to keeping the franchise competitive the way it did a year earlier. Ownership removed

any financial constraints this past winter and the Orioles ranked among the biggest-spending

teams in all of baseball.

It isn't difficult to divine what that means for 2016. If everyone remains healthy, the Orioles

should be one of the sport's most explosive and exciting teams, with premier sluggers all through

their lineup. If the starting rotation comes together — which is a very big if — they should be

right in the hunt for the American League East title, despite what you might be hearing from the

people who have made a habit of predicting their demise at this time of year.

More difficult to predict is what this sudden change in economic direction means for the long-

term future of the franchise, which still faces the revenue-affecting uncertainty of the ongoing

MASN rights dispute and the prospect of more giant expenditures to retain its most talented

players.

Nothing is really knowable at this point, but it's fair to wonder whether this season represents the

proverbial fork in the road for the Orioles, the outcome determining whether the franchise finally

embraces the industry's runaway salary structure or recoils from it the way it did in the early

2000s.

In other words, is it now or never, or now and forever?

There's no question that ownership has displayed a sense of urgency for the upcoming season

that has not been seen since the Orioles built the star-studded teams that reached the American

League Championship Series in 1996 and 1997. That might come as a surprise to some fans, but

owner Peter Angelos is a highly competitive guy who has enjoyed his team's recent renaissance

and wants to see it continue.

Last year's .500 finish and the potential last fall for a huge free-agent exodus put that in serious

danger, so the Orioles made their move — retaining Matt Wieters with a huge qualifying offer,

giving Chris Davis a giant contract, re-signing Darren O'Day for four years and adding several

potential impact players.

The case can be made that the way the Davis negotiations dragged into January forced the

Orioles to rebuild on a second front, but that doesn't change anything. They've gone all in on this

year and stabilized the roster through at least 2018. Now they need to get results if they want to

get back into the vault when it comes time to sign budding superstar Manny Machado to the

megacontract he's likely to command in the next few years.

Success really does breed success. It also breeds higher television ratings and bigger gate

receipts, which still might not offset a $300 million contract to retain one of the game's most

exciting players but certainly would take some of the sting out of it.

Still, this is a team with a history of skepticism about big spending that is not restricted to

ownership. Baseball operations chief Dan Duquette loves to shop in baseball's bargain basement

and spread his payroll budget more evenly around the roster. If Machado continues to bloom —

and there's little reason to think he won't — the Orioles will face another fiscal crossroads as

soon as next year.

It also won't be long before the Orioles will have to consider tacking a few more years onto

Adam Jones' long-term deal, which expires after the 2018 season.

If it might be a little early to connect all those dots, it's not too early to look at the soft underside

of this year's team and see how brittle this new era of Orioles economics could turn out to be.

Despite the late signing of free-agent starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo, the Orioles rotation is

awash in uncertainty.

The Orioles are looking for a turnaround performance from Chris Tillman and another step

forward by Ubaldo Jimenez, whose disappointing first season with the team only confirmed the

club's skepticism about spending big money on free-agent pitching. The news two weeks ago

that top young pitcher Kevin Gausman required a cortisone shot to relieve soreness in his right

shoulder, followed by the release of Miguel Gonzalez, only added to the unpredictability of the

pitching situation.

Though there are some other options — most notably minor league prospect Tyler Wilson, who

pitched well this spring — the rotation remains a work that hasn't made enough progress to allay

fears that it could undermine the rest of the offseason rebuilding project.

This all could create something of a Catch-22 for the Orioles, since a poor performance by the

rotation would blunt the impact of all the offseason expenditures, which might make it difficult

to persuade ownership to approve another giant contract next winter to add a premier starter to

fix the problem.

Manager Buck Showalter is fond of saying that, ultimately, "our curiosity will be satisfied," but

that doesn't make that fork in the road any more passable or the unknown any more palatable.

For all of the millions that the Orioles spent over the past five months, the future is still a fragile

thing.

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judgment-20160402-story.html

Crush to judgment: The Orioles' quest for the single-season

home run record

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

April 3, 2016

It looks like "Murderers' Row" on paper. Now, it's time to find out what it can do when the lights

come on.

The Orioles have assembled an unprecedented collection of power hitters who could combine to

challenge the all-time single-season home run record. They could field a lineup that features a

25-plus-homer guy in every slot in the batting order and as many as five 35-plus guys at the heart

of it.

So, will the Orioles bash opposing pitchers into oblivion all year or will they find out that it is

possible to have too much of a good thing?

It's hard to imagine their not being one of the most exciting and explosive teams in the major

leagues, not when last year's team ranked third in the majors with 217 homers and has been

upgraded with a big-time right-handed slugger (Mark Trumbo) and an equally dangerous left-

handed power bat (Pedro Alvarez).

"It sure could be," shortstop J.J. Hardy said. "If we all stay healthy and all do what we're capable

of, yeah, it's a pretty darn good lineup, but it's not as easy to do as it is to say. It's definitely

possible, and to have that capability is a good thing."

The math isn't hard to do. If you take the best home run year from each of the eight projected

starters who have played in the major leagues and add the totals, the best-case power potential is

260 homers, or just four homers short of the all-time single-season record set by the Seattle

Mariners in 1997. That number would break the Orioles' single-season mark of 257, set by

the American League Championship Series-bound 1996 team; it stood as the majors' all-time

record for just one year.

Is it really necessary to remind anyone in which era all those home runs were hit?

The reason the record seems so approachable is not just the Bunyanesque hitters at the heart of

the Orioles lineup.

There's also unknown potential with whichever player earns the starting job in left field and two

regulars — Jonathan Schoop and Matt Wieters — coming off injury-affected 2015 seasons.

"You look around this clubhouse and see all these big boys. … It's powerful," Schoop said.

If there is reason to scoff at the likelihood of a record season, it is because the Orioles entered

this past offseason with the same offensive priority as the winter before and again did not

seriously address it. Executive vice president Dan Duquette went in search of players who would

improve on last year's meager on-base percentage (.307) and came back with two more players

whose career OBP does not represent significant potential improvement.

Which leads to an obvious question: At what point is there enough power in a lineup to

makeOBP irrelevant?

For that matter, is there a point where the Orioles crush the ball so regularly that they can gloss

over the other major problem facing the 2016 club — a starting rotation that needs step-up

performances from almost everybody?

Lest anyone forget, the Orioles were one of the top power-hitting teams in baseball last year and

that wasn't enough to keep them in the AL Eastrace until the end.

The home run potential of this team might be much greater, but center fielderAdam Jones said it

would be a mistake to think the Orioles offense can just power-wash one of baseball's toughest

divisions.

"The thing is, what we're not going to try and do is rely on" the home run, Jones said.

"Obviously, it's a good weapon to have and we have guys that hit line drives and are strong

enough to drive it out of the park. We just need to create more runs. If we create them, we'll be

able to utilize the home run a lot better.

"Pitchers, at the end of the day, will have to be careful about everybody, because if you hang

anything or leave a fastball over the plate, we have the power to hit the ball out. Everybody has

the power to hit the ball everywhere, not just to their pull side."

The depth and power of the Orioles lineup should be intimidating to opposing pitching staffs.

There really is no break in it — from the 35-homer guy who probably will be at the top of the

lineup (Manny Machado) to the young slugger who might bat ninth (Schoop).

"It could be tough, and not just because of the power," said Chris Davis, who has led the major

leagues in home runs two of the past three years, "but I think there's good balance in this lineup

both right- and left-handed, from what we've seen so far. We haven't scored a ton of runs [this

spring], but you see the body of work.

"It's going to be fun to see what this lineup can do."

The positive impact of all that power goes way beyond frightening the guy 60 feet away and

knocking him off the mound. It also takes pressure off the Orioles rotation and creates

opportunities for the club's highly regarded bullpen to earn wins and saves in games that might

otherwise be over early.

"You look back over the recent years and you see a lot of games that we're losing by two or three

runs in the sixth or seventh inning and all of a sudden we're winning by one," premier setup man

Darren O'Day said. "From a pitching perspective, if you look at the distribution of wins our

bullpen has gotten over the last few years, it's because of the power in our lineup that can score

and put up a crooked number at any time.

"You know you're not out of any game because of how quickly things can snowball. It's

obviously pretty cool to watch."

The Orioles didn't start flexing their muscles right away in spring training. The club opened with

a long winless streak that featured a lot of low-scoring games. Some of that was because of the

front-loaded schedule of road games that many of the regulars avoided, but it did take some time

for the offensive chemistry to begin to develop.

No one doubted it would.

The Orioles have five starters who have hit at least 33 home runs in a season and seven who have

hit at least 23. The hitters projected to be in the lineup have combined for 19 seasons of 25

homers or more.

If everyone stays healthy, the single-season team record is very much in play, but it would

resonate only if it is a byproduct of a successful 2016 season.

"The only record I want is to hold up a trophy at the end of the World Series," Jones said. "I don't

care about the home run record, man. If we hit 190 home runs and win the whole thing, do you

think anybody's going to say anything about our power? I just want to win. I don't give a damn

how it happens. We can squeeze 40 times this season. I don't care how. I just want to win."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-opener-payroll-20160401-story.html

Increased payroll brings increased expectations for 2016

Orioles

By Childs Walker / The Baltimore Sun

April 2, 2016

Like many Orioles fans disappointed by years of failed attempts to sign free-agent superstars, let

alone keep their own, Timothy Morris prepared himself for Chris Davis to be gone this season.

The Butchers Hill resident certainly did not expect to walk into the Orioles’ 25th home opener

at Camden Yards on Monday and see the power-hitting Davis jog down the traditional orange

carpet with reliever Darren O’Day and catcher Matt Wieters, also free agents last winter.

“Having Davis, Wieters and O'Day on the Opening Day orange carpet is great,” said Morris, a

season-ticket holder. “No one can really say the Orioles are afraid to spend money anymore.”

The front office delivered a three-month storm of spending that vaulted the Orioles from 17th of

30 Major League Baseball teams in payroll in 2015 to a projected 11th at $142 million in 2016.

To pay for that spending, the Orioles raised ticket prices.

Big contracts often create big expectations among fans, a dynamic that executive vice

president Dan Duquette also experienced in his years as Boston Red Sox general manager.

“We spent more money in the offseason, and I hope the fans believe we spent it wisely,”

Duquette said as he packed up his spring trainingoffice in Sarasota. “We have a pretty good club.

It’s going to come down to the starting pitching, which it always does, doesn’t it?”

Manager Buck Showalterdownplayed any pressure the bigger payroll might bring.

“The expectation would have been the same,” he said. “I want expectations. I want the bar to be

high. The bar is never going to change. It wasn’t there when I first got here — you know where

the bar was. It was one thing we wanted to change.”

Some fans are not impressed. Terry Cook of Parkville described the cognitive dissonance of

watching the club spend big, as fans have long demanded, only to end up with the same strengths

and weaknesses.

“All that money spent, and the Orioles didn’t upgrade a single position,” Cook said.

They’ll try to improve in the standings with the same formula that won them some success in the

past four years — lots of home runs, excellent relief pitching, sound defense and Showalter’s

game management.

Given the resolutely middle-class spending proclivities of owner Peter Angelos, many fans

assumed they’d watch several stars depart this past offseason, just as Nick Markakis and Nelson

Cruz had left the previous offseason. The players themselves spoke at the end of last season with

an elegiac tone about the likely breakup of a core that had brought winning baseball back to

Baltimore, going 62 games over .500 from 2012 to 2015.

Davis, Wieters and O’Day are all back, joined by two other threats to hit 30 home runs — Mark

Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez. The one major free-agent loss was starter Wei-Yin Chen, but the

Orioles spent $22 million to replace him withYovani Gallardo, one of the more dependable

starters in baseball over the past five years.

For all the activity, however, the wider baseball world does not seem impressed. Analysts from

Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and ESPN have all picked the Orioles to finish last in

the American League East. Keith Law of ESPN rated Davis’ club-record $161 million deal the

worst signing of the offseason.

The Orioles might hit 250 home runs, the popular wisdom goes, but their starting pitching will

let them down, just as it did in 2015.

“I’m not sure I saw the moves in the offseason that would make them a better team,” said Jim

Bowden, an ESPN analyst and former general manager for theCincinnati Reds and Washington

Nationals. “Yes, it’s great to keep your players, but you can’t kid yourself.”

Of course, none of this naysaying comes as much surprise to a club that was far from a popular

pick in 2012 or 2014, seasons that ended in the playoffs.

“The critics have not done a real good job predicting the performance of the Orioles the last few

years,” Duquette said. “So I don’t spend a lot of time listening to the chatter out in the market.”

More misgivings

Fans said they welcome the underwhelming prognostications.

“I almost take zero stock in their predictions, based on how far they are usually off,” Morris said.

“I think the O's may very well struggle, with starters getting roughed up early in games, but I

also believe the team could just stun the baseball world with the frequency of home-run, power-

laden comebacks. Further, let me predict a national humor story of our high scores and late,

high-scoring nights.”

Donning his own fortune teller’s hat, he added: “The real story will be Baltimore slamming its

way to the pennant.”

National analysts, however, aren’t the only ones with misgivings about the 2016 Orioles, who

will open against the Minnesota Twins. Grateful though they are for Angelos’ spending spree,

ardent fans also see the club’s flaws.

Said season-ticket holder Julie Saxenmeyer: “If you had told me after last season that the O's

would spend the money they did to retain Davis and O'Day on long-term deals, and that even

Wieters would be back, and that they'd sign a decent starter like Gallardo, and trade for Trumbo

and bring in Alvarez, I would've said, 'Great offseason!' And yet it still feels like there are major

holes in this team, namely in the starting rotation.”

She sees a tough road ahead, given the mighty offense of the Toronto Blue Jays, the revamped

roster of the Red Sox and the pitching jewels possessed by theNew York Yankees and Tampa

Bay Rays.

“I’m expecting a .500 season,” she said of the Orioles. “Not as bad as some analysts have

predicted, but not nearly good enough, either.”

This ambivalence is familiar to longtime Orioles fans, who remember 1998, when the Orioles

had the most expensive payroll in the game, inflated by a then-record $65-million deal for

slugger Albert Belle. They went 79-83, the first of 14 straight losing seasons for the franchise.

The plan all along

The free-agent spree was a natural product of the club’s long-term planning, Duquette said. The

Orioles had operated conservatively for many years and entered the offseason with few long-

term commitments. That left them room to bid liberally on players they wanted to keep.

The parade of unexpected returns began with Wieters’ decision to accept a one-year, $15.8

million qualifying offer in November.

O’Day was next, and the Orioles warded off the competition by giving him $31 million over four

years, one of the richest deals ever given to a relief pitcher.

That left Davis. With a league-best 159 home runs over the past four seasons, the popular Davis

seemed exactly the sort of player who would soar beyond Angelos’ usual spending. Fans had

come to expect it, based on past flirtations with big-ticket free agents.

Instead, “Mr. Angelos took a personal interest in Chris,” Duquette said. “He heard the consistent

feedback from fans that they wanted us to re-sign him.”

In late January, the Orioles announced Davis would be back with a deal that nearly doubled the

previous largest in club history.

His contract helped push the payroll to a projected $142 million, up 29 percent from 2015. The

Orioles announced increased ticket prices — an average of about $5 more per game for both

season and single-game seats — less than three weeks after Davis signed.

Several fans said they weren’t thrilled by the price bump. Saxenmeyer was “annoyed” but

renewed her tickets nonetheless, saying that “we understood the reasoning.”

Club spokesman Greg Bader said overall sales are similar to what they were at the same point in

2015, when the Orioles drew 29,374 per game, second-best since 2005.

Tally the additions and subtractions and a skeptic might say the Orioles are merely a more

expensive version of the same team that fell short in 2015.

“I think the moves we’ve made have been very well received by the fans,” Duquette said. “But

the proof is in the pudding.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-column-0403-20160402-

column.html

Schmuck: Orioles end spring the same way it began, with

roster drama

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

April 2, 2016

Spring training isn't about perfect endings, which is a good thing for theOrioles, who have spent

the final week before the start of the 2016 regular season in the same kind of roster-related

turmoil that characterized the early weeks of camp.

It was just five weeks ago that the Orioles were locked in the on-again, off-again negotiations

with starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo and got blindsided by free-agent outfielder Dexter Fowler.

They emerged from February with Gallardo under contract, but could only wonder what the

future might hold for the starting rotation after horrible exhibition debuts by Ubaldo Jimenez and

Miguel Gonzalez.

Fast forward to the beginning of April and clarity is still in short supply. The 25-man major

league roster will be finalized Sunday and it apparently will include embattled outfielder Hyun

Soo Kim, even though executive vice president Dan Duquette went on television Tuesday and

said it wouldn't.

The Orioles also announced the decision to release Gonzalez and recoup about $4 million of his

2016 contract, which made sense economically, but still came as a surprise considering that the

veteran right-hander had winning records in three of the previous four seasons and was one day

removed from his best performance of the exhibition season.

It has been that kind of spring. The contract with Fowler seemed like a done deal, and that was

confirmed by several news organizations citing industry sources, but he walked into the Chicago

Cubs training facility at about the time the Orioles were expecting him at the Ed Smith Stadium

complex.

To be fair, Duquette and manager Buck Showalter never confirmed that the deal was done. But

they had to be as surprised as anyone that Fowler and his agent would turn up their noses at a

three-year, $35 million deal to accept far less than the Cubs had offered in November.

The Kim situation also is a head-scratcher. The Orioles painted themselves into a corner by

signing him to a two-year contract that did not give them the right to send him to the minor

leagues, then by Duquette announcing that Kim would not be on the 25-man Opening Day roster.

Now it looks like he will be, though it would be foolhardy to make any more predictions ahead

of the roster deadline.

That leaves all sorts of room to speculate about what happened. Did Duquette announce that

decision under the assumption that club officials could persuade Kim to accept a minor league

assignment instead of a $7 million check for doing nothing? Or, did he simply get ahead of

himself and eventually reconsidered burning that much salary?

Kim didn't shed a lot of light on the situation Friday except to confirm a statement from his

agency that he will not accept the minor league assignment. That leaves the Orioles with no

option but to carry him or release him, and it appears that they do not want to burn all that

money.

They have enough roster flexibility at the moment to buy some time. The decision to reassign

slick infielder Paul Janish to minor league camp allows them — if they choose — to keep five

outfielders, which leaves enough room for Kim, Nolan Reimold and Rule 5 draftee Joey Rickard

to remain on the roster.

The Orioles have expressed the desire to also keep Gonzalez by signing him to a minor league

contract, but it seems more likely that he'll get some outside offers to remain in the major

leagues. He did stumble last season, but he dealt with multiple injuries, so it won't be difficult for

a team in need of an experienced starter or long man to rationalize taking an inexpensive chance

on him.

Obviously, the Orioles were not satisfied with his performance this spring after giving him a

large raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility, and his performance Tuesday night was

not compelling enough to change anybody's mind. Still, the decision to release him was curious

considering that he still had a minor league option and the club is not exactly swimming in

organizational rotation depth.

With Kevin Gausman on the disabled list after receiving a cortisone shot in his pitching shoulder,

the Orioles already have announced that both Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson — originally

thought to be competing for the same spot on the pitching staff — have made the team. Vance

Worley, who also was competing for that spot, also appears likely to win a place in the bullpen,

leaving few rotation options at Triple-A Norfolk.

Of course, no one should be surprised by anything at this point.

It has been that kind of spring.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-spring-training-alvarez-0403-

20160402-story.html

After facing astronomical expectations with Pirates, Pedro

Alvarez gets fresh start with Orioles

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

April 2, 2016

Pedro Alvarez's story is not a cautionary tale, because others will endure the same experiences in

the future.

Alvarez has gone from being viewed as one-time savior of a then-depressing Pittsburgh Pirates

franchise to being without a job, forced to wait out an entire offseason before joining the Orioles

well into spring training on a modest one-year deal.

Any player whose promise merits him that type of expectation also earns him a second chance.

Alvarez and the Orioles hope the team's warm, welcoming group of fellow second-chancers is

the type of environment in which the slugger can jump-start his career.

“My idea of expectation has never changed,” Alvarez said. “I hold myself to the highest standard

possible, so whatever expectation anyone has of me, believe me, I have a higher one.

“Whether someone expects me to hit x-amount of home runs or whatever it is, I know what I

want from myself and I know what I'm capable of. I think a lot of guys in this room have had to

live up to some expectation. We're all men here, and I think every year you're able to play this

game, you're more and more comfortable in your own skin and you know what you can do.”

Alvarez scoffs at the notion he would harbor ill will toward the Pirates, who didn't tender him a

contract for 2016 knowing he'd likely earn more than $8million in salary arbitration.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that's because the Pirates gave Alvarez an opportunity and

helped him fulfill his dream. Alvarez was the second pick overall in the 2008 draft behind

shortstop Tim Beckham, signed out of Vanderbilt to a four-year, $6.4 million contract and made

a big leaguer in short order.

Alvarez indeed grew into the middle-of-the-order bat the Pirates envisioned. He hit at least 30

home runs twice, leading the National League with 36 in 2013 and making the All-Star team.

That year also showed some of his warts, with an NL-high 186 strikeouts in 152 games and a

.233 batting average that's just off his career .236 mark.

Fans, it seemed, wanted more. As time wore on, it became clear that more was desired from

Alvarez than he could reasonably be asked to deliver.

“That's what happens when you get drafted really high and have a lot of expectations,” longtime

Pirates teammate Jordy Mercer said. “We weren't a winning club when we drafted him. I think

we just came off a [94-loss] season at the time, and so he was the ‘second coming.' He was the

guy who was going to change the organization, so he had a lot of pressure from the get-go right

on his shoulders.”

By the end of 2014, Alvarez's defense at third base sunk to a level that required him to move to

first base. In 2015, his defense at first base was such a liability that he was often lifted for a

defensive replacement, and among fans there was a constant battle between those who thought

his power was worth the defensive problems and those who didn't.

When asked about Alvarez's final year in Pittsburgh, Mercer and infielder Josh Harrison homed

in on the fact Alvarez was given a first baseman's mitt in spring training and asked to learn a new

position.

“You can ask anybody that's never played a position before, when you get asked to play a

different position full time, things are going to get thrown off because your routine is going to be

different,” Harrison said. “Now, instead of knowing that I've played this position my whole life,

now I've got to spend more time at a position I haven't played before. You have to make

adjustments on your workload, to understand managing your time all over again.”

Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty, Alvarez's past and current teammate who roomed with him at

Vanderbilt, put a different spin on it. Alvarez was lifted from 83 of his 124 starts last season,

primarily for a defensive replacement.

“He was really only playing five or six innings, and still put up the numbers that he did,”

Flaherty said. “He still hit 27 homers or whatever it was and played half the game. That's not a

terrible year in itself.”

Even so, the Pirates spent the beginning of the offseason trying to trade him, and ultimately did

not tender him a contract in December.

By all accounts, Alvarez is settling in nicely with the Orioles after signing a $5.75million

contract March 10 with $1.25million in incentives.

During spring training, he was among the earliest to get work in, before stretches and batting

practice began. Pirates teammates described him as a diligent worker who was a good teammate

through a difficult 2015. Mercer said that even back when they were teammates on Team USA

during their college days, Alvarez took the most joy out of standing in the batter's box and being

a hitter.

Given that the Orioles have Chris Davis, the $161 million man, at first base and blossoming

superstar Manny Machado at third base, that's mostly what Alvarez will get to do as the Orioles'

primary designated hitter.

Without the weight of a new position on his mind, and combined with an atmosphere in which

Alvarez seems comfortable, that could be the best situation possible for a player on a one-year,

incentive-laden contract.

When the Orioles announced that contract, Alvarez got a taste of the culture Flaherty had

promoted to him all offseason. One by one, his new teammates came into the media room for his

news conference. Alvarez braced himself for a prank, but was moved by the fact it was just basic

support from men he was only beginning to know.

“I thought it was pretty special,” he said. “It's just little things like that that may be overlooked.

It's such a stat-driven world now. There's things that get overlooked. There's no stat for team

chemistry. There's no sabermetric for that cohesiveness. That's what gets you to win a lot of

games.”

Whether he needed one or not, the fresh start is one the Orioles hope to benefit from as much as

Alvarez does.

“Time will tell,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Everybody deserves a fresh start. Time will

tell.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/season-preview-2016/bs-sp-orioles-pitch-imperfect-

20160402-story.html

Pitch imperfect: Why the Orioles starting pitchers can

succeed, and why they could struggle

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 2, 2016

Spring training did little to quell the doubts about the Orioles rotation heading into this season. If

anything, concern about the team's starting pitching became more glaring during exhibition

games.

The Orioles rotation posted a 4.53 ERA last season, the second-worst mark in the American

League. Talk entering spring training focused on the team needing a rebound season from right-

hander Chris Tillman, as well as continued progress from right-hander Kevin Gausman.

One week into spring training, the Orioles signed veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo to a two-

year, $22 million deal. Even though Gallardo's addition appeared to shore up the rotation,

manager Buck Showalter made it clear there was a competition at the back end.

Here we look at the Orioles' top six starting pitchers and what needs to happen for the rotation to

get back to its form from 2014, when it finished fifth in the AL with a 3.61 ERA.

Kevin Gausman

2015: 4-7, 4.25 ERA in 1121/3 innings (3-7, 4.22 ERA in 1001/3 innings over 17 starts)

Why he will have success: Because he finally has a clear head going into the season. For the

first time, Gausman doesn't need to worry about being sent to the minors or to the bullpen, and

that peace of mind has to help him know one bad outing won't lead to his demise. If he's able to

add a quality breaking ball to his fastball-changeup combo, he will have the tools to dominate at

the big league level.

Why he will struggle: If the cloud of health problems linger, Gausman could be in trouble. He

said he pitched through shoulder tendinitis last year. He is aiming for 200 innings this season, but

if the health of his arm is a concern — he received a precautionary cortisone injection in March

— the Orioles again will be forced to handle Gausman with care instead of finally letting him

loose.

Yovani Gallardo

2015: 13-11, 3.42 ERA in 1841/3 innings over 33 starts with the Texas Rangers

Why he will have success: Because he has the longest successful track record of any Orioles

starter, a resume of at least 30 starts and 180 innings in each of the past seven seasons. He hasn't

been in an Orioles uniform long, but he has already shown that he provides the calmness and

quiet confidence the rotation needs. He's an anchor.

Why he will struggle: His strikeout rate has declined incrementally over the past four seasons,

dropping from 9.0 per nine innings in 2012 to 5.9 last year. He has shown he can still pitch

effectively without power stuff, but now that he's a contact pitcher, the Orioles defense must play

well behind him. The Orioles will be kept busy by ground-ball outs, but as a whole the defense

will have to be better than last year.

Ubaldo Jimenez

2015: 12-10, 4.11 ERA in 184 innings over 32 starts

Why he will have success: Because when he throws strikes — and doesn't hurt himself with

control problems stemming from mechanical flaws in his unconventional delivery — Jimenez

can be a formidable starter. Last season, his 3.3 walks per nine innings was the lowest in his 10-

year career and well below his career 4.1 mark. He was 7-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 starts in the

first half of the 2015 season.

Why he will struggle: Jimenez had a 5.63 ERA in 15 second-half starts and opponents recorded

an .805 OPS against him after the All-Star break. That's an indication that hitters made

adjustments to him in the second half of 2015. When Jimenez's mechanics get out of whack, it

can take time for him to rediscover his best self.

Chris Tillman

2015: 11-11, 4.99 ERA in 173 innings over 31 starts

Why he will have success: Because in his true form, he's more like the pitcher who had back-to-

back 200-inning seasons in 2013 and 2014 than the one who labored through last season. He

appeared to begin to find his form before an ankle injury caused him to miss a start in August.

Tillman pitched through it the rest of the way, but his 6.22 ERA over his last 11 starts indicated

it affected him more than he said.

Why he will struggle: If his walk and strikeout rates continue to go in the wrong direction,

Tillman will struggle to get back to his inning-eating ways. He's already a pitcher who goes deep

into counts, but his 3.3 walks per nine innings last season — his highest since 2011 — didn't

allow him to get deep into games.

Mike Wright

2015: 3-5, 6.04 ERA in 442/3 innings over 12 games (2-5, 6.48 ERA in nine starts)

Why he will have success: Because all indications this spring were that he's ready to take a step

forward in his development. He showed poise and power, and was able to work his way out of

jams — something he wasn't able to do in the major leagues last season. He had a tremendous

offseason working with Brady Anderson in California. He has shown he can be dominant, as

demonstrated by his 141/3 scoreless innings over two starts to begin his big league career.

Why he will struggle: He's sometimes unable to keep his cool when things go wrong. One of

the lasting images of Wright last year was him violently punching the dugout bench over and

over with the fist on his pitching hand after a 11/3-inning outing in Toronto in June. Wright had

a 10.88 ERA over his final six starts.

Tyler Wilson

2015: 2-2, 3.50 ERA in 36 innings over nine games (1-2, 4.32 ERA in five starts)

Why he will have success: Because the more major league experience he gets, the better he will

become. Wilson is a smart pitcher who soaks in advice and information. His stuff is pedestrian,

but you can't count him out because he keeps the ball on the ground (52 percent ground-ball rate)

and in the ballpark (just one homer in 36 big league innings).

Why he will struggle: As noted above, his stuff is average. His fastball barely cracks 90 mph,

and even though he knows how to pitch, it's unclear whether his stuff will allow him to succeed

as a full-time major league starter. He had an impressive spring, but he's more likely slotted for

shuttle duty in 2016.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-looking-at-the-orioles-likely-opening-day-

25man-roster-20160401-story.html

Looking at the Orioles' likely Opening Day 25-man roster

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 2, 2016

The Orioles headed back to Baltimore after their exhibition finale Friday night with their

Opening Day roster essentially set. The one question remaining was the same one the Orioles

brass has been asking itself the past week.

Will the Orioles be forced to carry outfielder Hyun Soo Kim on their 25-man roster?

The eight roster cuts the Orioles made after their 8-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at

Citizens Bank Park put the roster picture into focus. The most interesting of the moves was the

club reassigning infielder Paul Janish to minor league camp. He was pushing for a utility

infielder spot and had an upward mobility clause in his contract.

The team also reassigned pitchers Pedro Beato and Todd Redmond, outfielder L.J. Hoes and

infielder Steve Tolleson, and optioned catcher Francisco Pena to Triple-A Norfolk.

Right-hander Vance Worley said after his abbreviated outing Friday that he hadn’t been told yet

whether he made the team, but it’s likely that he and right-hander Tyler Wilson will open the

season in the bullpen before one of them is selected to start April 10 when the Orioles need a No.

5 starter.

“Until I’m told something, I’m just going to assume I’m still here, so that’s a good thing,”

Worley said after Friday’s outing. “I’m not going to think too far ahead until I get a handshake

and say, ‘Good job, you’re here.’”

So that leaves the final two roster spots coming down to Kim, outfielder Nolan Reimold and

nonroster outfielder Xavier Avery.

Avery has had a strong spring – even though most of his playing time was as a reserve – hitting

.313/.476/.813 with four homers, eight RBIs and 10 walks in 32 at-bats. But since Avery was

signed to a minor league contract, it would be easy to send him to the minors.

Reimold struggled out of the gate this spring, hitting .150 through his first 13 games, but he was

8-for-12 with three homers over his final five Grapefruit League games.

Reimold is also out of minor league options and we know the situation with Kim. If the Orioles

are indeed forced to carry Kim, Avery will likely be the odd man out.

Here’s how my projection of the roster breaks down, because at this point I believe the Orioles

will be forced to carry Kim.

Pitchers (12)

Starters (4)

RHP Chris Tillman

RHP Yovani Gallardo

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez

RHP Mike Wright

Relievers (8)

LHP Zach Britton

RHP Darren O’Day

RHP Brad Brach

RHP Mychal Givens

RHP Dylan Bundy

LHP T.J. McFarland

RHP Tyler Wilson

RHP Vance Worley

Catchers (2)

C Matt Wieters

C Caleb Joseph

Infielders (5)

1B Chris Davis

2B Jonathan Schoop

SS J.J. Hardy

3B Manny Machado

UT Ryan Flaherty

Outfielders (5)

CF Adam Jones

OF/1B Mark Trumbo

OF Joey Rickard

LF Hyun Soo Kim

OF Nolan Reimold

Designated hitter (1)

DH Pedro Alvarez

Disabled list (3)

RHP Kevin Gausman

OF/DH Jimmy Paredes

LHP Brian Matusz

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/season-preview-2016/bs-sp-orioles-analytics-

20160402-story.html

Orioles vs. the stats: Why analytics are down on the Orioles

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

April 2, 2016

As baseball embraces the numbers behind the game, 2016 appears to be another year in which

the Orioles try to find success in the face of data that say it won't come.

The sounds of the Orioles' first glove pops and batting practice swings of spring training are

often accompanied by the winds of denial, with players and fans alike rejecting projection

systems and forecasts that don't match their own assessments.

Websites that host such projections, and thus hear the brunt of the backlash, say there's plenty of

underlying data that support their low expectations for the Orioles, and having been wrong in the

past doesn't mean that they'll be wrong again.

"The thing that we can kind of take comfort in is we know we're not biasing the projections in

any way," said Dave Cameron, managing editor of FanGraphs, which has been down on the

Orioles in recent years. "We're not anti-Orioles. We're not trying to say, 'How do we make

Orioles fans upset today?' We have algorithms based on a decent amount of historical data, and

it's generally proven to work in most cases. This is what those algorithms spit out."

FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus are two of the foremost sites for public baseball analytics

and projections, with each site sending members into Major League Baseball's front offices on

both the scouting and data sides. Their sites have created and emphasized stats that even casual

fans now use, and both use the extensive data history of the game to make annual projections.

Both sites take a player's history and the underlying statistics that they control, distribute those

"events" throughout the course of the season based on playing time and project the number of

games a team with that type of history would win in a given season.

"We're essentially just forecasting the number and type of events," Cameron said. "We think this

team is going to hit X number of home runs, Y number of doubles. We're just kind of

aggregating individual player projections and summing them up and trying, based on kind of

proven mathematical models, if you have this many home runs and this many walks and give up

this many home runs, it will generally translate into this many runs and runs allowed. Then you

can turn that into an expected win total."

For the fifth straight season, comprising almost all of the Orioles' recent renaissance, they're

projected to finish below .500. As of March 25, Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA (Player Empirical

Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm) system projected the Orioles to go an American

League-worst 74-88, and FanGraphs had them at 79-83. But because of some recent seasons in

which similar uninspiring projections were blown away, fans are reluctant to take the predictions

seriously.

The Orioles themselves feel this way. Shortstop J.J. Hardy said the Orioles "know that [analysts']

opinion doesn't matter." Manager Buck Showalter said he doesn't read the predictions to begin

with.

And the two sites hear frequently from Orioles fans who point out they don't believe what they're

reading because of past success despite low expectations.

Specifically in the Orioles' two most recent playoff years, the forecasts didn't see them coming.

From 2012 to 2014, no team outperformed its FanGraphs projections more than the Orioles. In

2012, when the Orioles broke a long playoff drought by finishing 93-69, PECOTA projected

them to win 71 games. FanGraphs and PECOTA each had the 2013 Orioles, who finished 85-77,

pegged to win 75 games. The 96-win Orioles of 2014 were forecast to go 75-87 by PECOTA and

76-86 by FanGraphs.

It was only last season that they were more in line, with PECOTA projecting 78 wins and

FanGraphs at 79. The team had to scrape to get to 81-81. Sam Miller, editor-in-chief of Baseball

Prospectus, said PECOTA has a 1-in-8 chance of underprojecting three years in a row, but that

does not indicate a fourth straight year will follow. Last season was an indicator of that, he said.

"PECOTA's recent history of being 'low' on them was cited as proof that the system just can't

handle their exceptional unprojectability," Miller wrote in an email. "Then, the Orioles won 81

games and weren't playoff contenders."

Miller and Cameron said the same few factors contribute to teams' overperforming, including

good health, an above-average bullpen and good situational baseball — getting outs when teams

are in scoring situations against them and driving in runs when they have the opportunities.

"The thing the Orioles were good at a couple of years ago, and they weren't good at last year, is

essentially timing those events to be as fortuitous as possible," Cameron said. "They essentially

sequenced their events in the best way possible. That's not something we can project — the

timing of events is outside of the scope of our knowledge."

Many of these factors are cited as reasons that projections have recently come in so low for the

Orioles and Kansas City Royals, who have reached two straight World Series and enter 2016 as

reigning champions.

These factors can create big swings in actual wins, but there's hardly any consistency to them,

and as a result they are difficult to predict. When it comes to forecasting how a team will fare

based on expected runs scored and runs allowed, the Orioles struggle mightily in the latter.

Analysts believe this team will hit, but Cameron cautions that teams that strike out substantially

more than the league average have historically come in way under their projections.

FanGraphs projects the Orioles rotation to be the worst in baseball except for that of the Atlanta

Braves, who are rebuilding.

"If you're bad pitching, especially guys that don't strike guys out a lot pitching in front of bad

outfield defense, that can turn into a lot of runs," Cameron said. "The offense should be fine, but

we think the rotation is going to be not good, and the bullpen is going to have to be amazing to

carry them again."

Similarly, PECOTA projects the Orioles to allow the most runs in baseball, and projects that a

rotation that replaces Wei-Yin Chen with Yovani Gallardo won't improve upon the American

League's second-worst starters' ERA last season.

"The Orioles could overcome this in any number of ways — Kevin Gausman breaks out, Chris

Tillman switches back to his 2014 self, some unexpected spring training invitee ends up

shocking the sport, etc.," Miller wrote. "But that's what the Orioles are up against this year: a

rotation that most likely isn't very good. They'll have to fix it or outslug their problems."

Both sites have had to combat the perception that there are blind spots in their systems, or

perhaps that they're biased against certain teams, but overall don't waver much in their belief that

they're right more often than they're wrong.

Miller said Baseball Prospectus knows "baseball is unfathomably unpredictable," and projections

can both be "seen as hubristic" and "wildly inaccurate." Cameron said the exact numbers on their

projected records typically hit within five games in either direction.

"These aren't intended to be prophecy," Miller said. "They're simply a way of organizing

information in a way that we think is useful to a lot of people, primarily at the individual player

level."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-still-at-crossroads-with-kim-it-is-

likely-team-will-be-forced-to-carry-south-korean-outfield-20160401-story.html

Still at crossroads with Hyun Soo Kim, Orioles likely forced

to carry him

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

The Orioles officially ended their preseason still at an impasse with outfielder Hyun Soo Kim,

who is fighting the club’s attempt to send him to the minors to start the season. And as the hours

count down to Opening Day, it appears more likely that the Orioles will be forced to carry the

South Korean outfielder on their 25-man roster.

Kim, speaking for the first time since being told the Orioles wanted to send him to the minors,

said that he stands by a statement sent out by his agency Thursday saying that he would refuse a

minor league assignment. When the Orioles signed Kim – who had been one of the top players in

Korean Baseball Organization for the past decade – to a two-year, $7 million deal, there was a

clause included that prevented the club from sending Kim to the minors without his consent.

“Every decision was made through discussion with the agents,” Kim said through his interpreter,

Danny Lee, after the Orioles' 8-7 exhibition win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank

Park. “So whatever she says is the same as my thoughts.”

The Orioles have now had several conversations with Kim about going to the minors, but the

team remains at an crossroads with the outfielder. And with less than 48 hours before Opening

Day rosters must be set, there’s no sign of a resolution. It’s getting more likely that the Orioles

will be forced to carry Kim on their major league roster to open the season.

Another sign of that occurred following Friday’s game when the team made eight roster cuts,

including reassigning infielder Paul Janish to minor league camp, to trim their spring roster to 29

players. Because Kevin Gausman, Brian Matusz and Jimmy Paredes are expected to open the

season on the disabled list, it appears the team’s last two Opening Day roster spots would come

down to Kim, outfielder Nolan Reimold and nonroster outfielder Xavier Avery.

Manager Buck Showalter inserted Kim into Friday’s game against the Phillies as a pinch hitter in

the top of the ninth inning, marking the first time Kim has played since last Saturday. Kim came

to the plate with two on and one out and beat out a double-play ball on a grounder to second

base.

"It's been quite a while,” Kim said. “The feeling was very nice. … It was very special to get an

at-bat today. I wasn't really expecting it. I was able to be there and be part of today's game. I

actually felt good about the end of the game."

Showalter said he considered starting Kim in the team’s exhibition finale and wanted to get him

at least one at-bat. He pinch hit for designated hitter Pedro Alvarez.

“There were some other variables there,” Showalter said. “… He’s working hard. Regardless of

what’s going on with his situation, I do have a heart. So you listen to things and you still do what

your heart tells you sometimes.”

Speaking after the game, Kim granted an interview but seemed uncomfortable throughout,

especially when asked about how the past week has been for him.

"All I tried to do was get ready so I could play at any time, and whenever the skipper asked me

to go out and play," Kim said. "Without knowing when to play, I was actually able to see the

game, see how others play and was actually able to learn from that. I enjoyed watching [and]

learning.

“Everyone around here [is] treating me the same way. I still feel I am part of the team. And

everybody is still very nice to me. And whatever happens to me, I am trying to get ready for

every situation that I can be in the game and in any kind of situation. So I can prepare for it.”

Kim opened the spring hitless in his first 23 at-bats and hit just .178 during the exhibition season.

He was 8-for-22 in his final 10 games, but failed to record an extra-base hit and walked just

once. Before his at-bat Friday, he didn’t play at all in the final week of the exhibition season.

Including at-bats he received in minor league games, Kim was third on the team in plate

appearances.

Asked if he received a fair chance to make the team, Kim said he wasn’t “going to talk about

which one is right or which one is wrong.”

“I’m not going to make any comments [on that],” Kim said. “All I want to do is be a good

baseball player who gets ready every time whenever for whoever needs me so I can be there to

play.”

Asked whether he’s thought he could learn from opening the season in the minors, Kim said,

“That one I haven’t actually thought about it.”

Showalter said Kim getting into Friday’s game doesn’t change his status.

“No, it’s the same situation,” Showalter said. “What would change about it? Not that I know of.

He didn’t tell me. I wasn’t told. I really didn’t ask a whole lot. We talked a little about it some

today. It was an option for me.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-notebook-0402-20160401-

story.html

Miguel Gonzalez becomes free agent, Orioles bullpen takes

shape and Hyun Soo Kim speaks

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

Former Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez cleared release waivers Friday, officially

receiving his unconditional release from the club and becoming a free agent.

It seems unlikely, but the Orioles still hope they can re-sign Gonzalez to a minor league deal and

have him pitch in the rotation at Triple-A Norfolk. Gonzalez will likely get a major league offer

elsewhere.

"We still hope that we can figure out a way to have him pitching in Norfolk here very shortly,"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Miguel is in some ways a no-lose situation. He's going to

get offers from other clubs, including us, and we'll see what's the best way to hold our depth and

put the best team on the field."

The Norfolk rotation could definitely use an upgrade. Since Mike Wright andTyler Wilson will

open the season with the major league club, the current Triple-A rotation consists of Odrisamer

Despaigne, Todd Redmond, Nick Additon and Terry Doyle.

The Orioles placed Gonzalez on release waivers Wednesday, parting ways with a key piece of

their starting rotation for the past three-plus seasons. By releasing Gonzalez before Opening Day,

the team paid him just $1.275 million instead of the $5.1 million he agreed to this offseason

through the arbitration process.

Showalter seemed optimistic but realistic that Gonzalez could return.

"It's the same chance that other teams have," Showalter said. "I'd like to think ours are a little

better, but we'll see. He's earned the right to make the choice of where he wants to go. I talked to

him about it [Friday], not long after he cleared. I wanted him to hear from [pitching coachDave

Wallace] and I and [bullpen coach Dom Chiti].

"I know Dom and Wally have been staying in touch with him. He's already been contacted by

three or four clubs, so we'll see where it goes. … He talked to Dom about the clubs he had heard

from, so I've got an idea of where the competition is."

Roe and Phillips clear waivers: The Orioles passed relievers Chaz Roe and Zach

Phillips through waivers unclaimed and will outright both to Norfolk, essentially setting the

club's bullpen as Opening Day looms.

Both players can reject outright assignments to Triple-A, but because both are signed to major

league deals, it's unlikely they would refuse those assignments.

That essentially sets the Orioles bullpen to be closer Zach Britton, setup manDarren O'Day, Brad

Brach, Mychal Givens, Dylan Bundy and T.J. McFarland. Either Wilson or Vance Worley will

start on April 10 when the Orioles need a fifth starter, but Showalter said both candidates will

initially be available out of the bullpen. Left-hander Brian Matusz is set to open the season on the

disabled list.

Roe was a nonroster invitee to camp last year, but came up in late May and had a 0.90 ERA in

his first 15 outings (20 innings, holding batters to a .162 batting average). Roe struggled in the

second half of the season and eventually went on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, but pitched

well this spring. He posted a 2.31 ERA over 11 2/3 spring innings and did not allow an earned

run in his last eight outings over 8 1/3 innings.

"Chaz, I have no doubt he has the ability to impact our club this year. It would be nice to have

him down there, especially with the amount of roster spots we have open to us now," Showalter

said.

"It's kind of like having a player with an option to have those many roster spots open. Most clubs

don't have three roster spots open this time of the year. That's why those guys got through, that

and what it costs to pay them."

Phillips, who was signed to a major league deal last week to serve as insurance for Matusz,

allowed three runs over 3 1/3 spring innings with the Orioles. Phillips being outrighted means

that the Orioles will open the season without a situational lefty reliever.

Kim still with club: Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim was with the team for its exhibition game against

the Phillies on Friday night in Philadelphia but again did not start. He pinch hit in the ninth.

The Orioles are trying to talk Kim into accepting an assignment to Triple-A. But according to a

clause in Kim's two-year $7 million contract, he can refuse the assignment. After Friday's game,

Kim confirmed that he doesn't want to go to the minors.

The sides have talked multiple times with no resolution, and Kim's agency issued a statement

Thursday saying he would not accept a minor league assignment.

“I'd like to think you prepare for everything,” Showalter said. “So I'll let the people that are

handling it handle it, and we'll be in a position to adjust either way. … If he's on the club, you

obviously have to take someone off of it. We're settled on which way we're going to go. We've

got plenty of roster room.”

Rosters must be set by Sunday, so it's looking more likely the Orioles will be forced to carry Kim

on their Opening Day roster. He hasn't started since last Saturday.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette declined an interview request through the team

Friday, saying through a spokesperson that he had nothing to add about Kim.

More cuts: After Friday's game, the Orioles reassigned right-hander Pedro Beato, outfielder L.J.

Hoes, infielder Paul Janish, right-hander Todd Redmond and infielder Steve Tolleson to minor

league camp. They also optioned catcher Francisco Pena to Norfolk.

With these moves, the Orioles now have 28 players on the active roster and one nonroster invitee

at the conclusion of major league spring training.

Around the horn: On Friday, right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder tendinitis) threw his first

bullpen session since receiving a cortisone injection, throwing 25-30 pitches, all fastballs and

changeups. … Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez threw four innings (60 pitches) in a Triple-A

intrasquad game Friday in Sarasota, allowing two earned runs on six hits, striking out two and

walking one. Jimenez will make his first regular-season start Thursday against theMinnesota

Twins at Camden Yards. … Matusz (1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 1 K, 3 BB, 37 pitches), Britton (1 IP, 1 H, 2

K, 12 pitches), O'Day (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 13 pitches) and Bundy (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 19

pitchers) all pitched in the same minor league intrasquad game in Sarasota. ... Orioles minor

league left-handerFelix Rutledge was suspended 50 games without pay after a second positive

test for a drug of abuse. Rutledge is on High-A Frederick's roster. ... Former Orioles

catcher Taylor Teagarden, among the athletes accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in

a December report by Al Jazeera, was suspended 80 games for violating the league's drug policy.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-highlights-reserves-help-orioles-

win-exhibition-in-philly-20160401-story.html

Orioles highlights: Reserves help Orioles win exhibition

finale in Philly

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

Before the Orioles’ exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies, the team’s final tune-up

before Opening Day, manager Buck Showalter wondered how long he should play his starters.

A 47-minute rain delay in the middle of the third inning Friday gave him the perfect opportunity.

Reserves Xavier Avery and Steve Tolleson both hit two-run homers off Phillies reliever Ernesto

Frieri as part of a five-run fourth inning. Garabez Rosa hit a game-tying homer and Ryan

Flaherty scored on a wild pitch in the ninth as the Orioles won their exhibition finale, 8-7, over

the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Pedro Beato allowed a two-run homer to pinch hitter Darin Ruf in the bottom of the eighth,

capping a three-run inning that gave the Phillies a 7-6 lead, before the Orioles rallied.

Right-hander Vance Worley allowed one run over two innings before the rain delay. After

allowing back-to-back singles to open his outing, Worley retired six of the final seven batters he

faced. Five of those outs came on ground balls.

Worley, who said he hasn’t yet been told whether he’s making the Opening Day roster, was

originally scheduled to throw four innings or 60 pitches, whichever came first. But he was

removed when play resumed after just 34 pitches.

Kim sighting

Hyun Soo Kim appeared in his first game since March 26, pinch hitting in the ninth against the

Phillies. He came on with two on and one out, and proceeded to ground into a fielder’s choice at

second base.

Avery adding late pop

Avery, a nonroster invitee, likely won’t make the Orioles’ Opening Day roster, but he definitely

opened some eyes late in camp. Avery’s opposite-field two-run blast in the fourth off Frieri was

his third in his past five spring games and his fourth of the exhibition season. Granted it was

mostly in later innings, but Avery hit .313 with eight RBIs this spring. The outfield in Triple-A

Norfolk is deep, but given his strong spring it will be difficult to not make Avery — a former

Orioles second-round draft pick — the everyday center fielder there.

Rickard keeps rolling

The Orioles left Sarasota, Fla., but Rule 5 draft pick Joey Rickard’s strong spring continued to

the end. He started in left field and batted ninth, a possible foreshadowing of Opening Day, and

drove in the Orioles’ first run of the night with a two-out RBI single off Phillies starter Aaron

Nola. Rickard also made a nice running catch on a tailing liner off the bat of Cedric Hunter to

end the bottom of the first inning. The only remaining question now is whether Rickard, who hit

.397 (25-for-63) this spring, is the club’s Opening Day left fielder Monday.

Quotable

“I still like it here a lot. The fans still kind of like me, so that’s a good thing. I didn’t get booed

too bad every time I’ve made my return here. I’ve always liked playing here and pitching here,

but it’s also going to prepare me for Camden [Yards]. It’s a small park there, too, so being able

to keep the ball on the ground tonight, that’s a good start if I’m in Camden.”

— Worley, who came up with the Phillies, on pitching at Citizens Bank Park again

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-state-senator-to-deliver-first-

pitch-at-orioles-opening-day-20160401-story.html

Maryland senator to deliver first pitch at Orioles Opening

Day

By Michael Dresser / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

President Ronald Reagan did it. So did President George H. W. Bush. President Bill Clinton did

it twice. Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer did it last year.

Now it's state Sen. Bobby Zirkin's turn to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day for

the Baltimore Orioles.

Zirkin, a Baltimore County Democrat, has received the nod to join legendary Orioles catcher-

turned-broadcaster Rick Dempsey in flinging ceremonial first pitches Monday when the Orioles

take on the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards.

While that might seem like a heady assignment for a mere state senator, Zirkin is no back-

bencher. He heads the Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee, which deals with all manner of

bills affecting criminal and civil law in Maryland.

Zirkin said Friday that he is taking on the job at the invitation of Orioles ownerPeter Angelos, a

prominent lawyer with whom he meets periodically. During a recent chat over coffee, Zirkin

said, Angelos offered him the job.

"I'm just hoping not to 'Bull Durham' it and hit the mascot," Zirkin said in a reference to the 1988

baseball movie with Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon.

However, Zirkin pledged not to hold back.

"I don't care where it goes. I'm throwing it hard," he said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-spring-training-0402-20160401-

story.html

For Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop, 'the sky is the

limit'

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

Jonathan Schoop doesn't want to say it, because even the loftiest goals can be met and seem to

lack ambition in retrospect. He learned that from his double-play mate, J.J. Hardy, who also

doesn't want to say it because it would put undue pressure on Schoop.

Everyone in the Orioles' clubhouse has done the mental math and seems to have an idea of what

a breakout season for the 24-year-old Schoop in 2016 will look like. Only Manny Machado will

say it.

"This year, I think he's capable of winning the Gold Glove, and he's capable of winning the

Silver Slugger," Machado, Schoop's close friend coming through the organization, said. "He's a

special player. He's a very special player, and I think this is the year that everybody's going to

see who Jonathan Schoop is."

Schoop was something of a surprise inclusion on the Opening Day roster at age 22 in 2014,

playing 137 games because his defense made him a viable major leaguer at the time and he had

pop in his right-handed bat. A year ago, Schoop was primed for a leap and opened the season

with three home runs in his first nine games before a knee injury robbed him of nearly three

months of the season.

Many use his final line last year as a glimpse of what his ceiling is. He was still eighth among

second basemen with 15 home runs, and improved his slash line from .209/.244/.354 in 2014 to

.279/.306/.482 in 2015.

He returned in the Orioles' 82nd game of the season — exactly the midpoint — giving him a full

second half. That he hit .281/.306/.468 with 12 home runs and 16 doubles in that span gives an

easy way to project what a full season would look like. Many are simply doubling his 15 home

runs in 86 games and slapping 30-home-run potential on him this season. Even Schoop.

"Everybody, they've compared last year and doubled it, and I had a great year," he said. "It gave

me confidence, because when I came back from the knee injury I did so good. It helped me for

this season. It helped me for this spring, and it helped me to prepare myself better and helped me

to be a better player."

Hardy said that's not a bad tactic to take.

"In my own mind, I think that's helpful to do — I did it when I was younger," Hardy said. "But

obviously, pitchers are going to make adjustments."

Schoop says he's adjusting, too. During a Grapefruit League season when Schoop hit

.355/.385/.581 with his fourth home run in 22 games during Thursday's finale, he showed

improvement in his plate discipline. In an admittedly small sample size, and against pitchers who

aren't feeding him the steady diet of breaking balls he's liable to see in the regular season,

Schoop's 4.5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk rate this spring was roughly half his career average of 8.83-1.

"I feel like I'm selecting a lot better," Schoop said. "I'm better than two years ago. I'm better than

last year. I'm swinging at more strikes, and eventually, they have to come throw a strike. Three

years ago, I was helping the pitcher a lot. I kind of eliminated that a little bit, but I've still got a

long way to get better at it."

"Jon, very seldom do they … get him out a whole lot in the strike zone," manager Buck

Showalter said. "It's just trying to take him off the sweet spot of the bat with some movement,

and some deception, and some balance issues.

"I've loved the way they've concentrated on it. Now, we go to the next level, if you can carry it

over into the season. It would be a big asset for us if we could get better at it."

The game could also adjust for Schoop. In 2015, his batting average on balls in play was .329 —

80 points higher than his BABIP in 2014. It's unclear whether a regression to the league-average

of around .300 is to be expected, though a pessimist could look at the near-identical rise in

batting average and BABIP and say some of those hits won't fall in 2016.

Generally, batters who hit the ball harder than usual have more fall in for hits, and Schoop does

that. But with just two full seasons under his belt, it's unclear whether his 2014 BABIP of .249,

last year's, or somewhere in between is Schoop's norm. Most statistical forecasts have Schoop

batting around 250 with a .720 OPS and 16 home runs.

But the type of production many see for Schoop, who will be hitting near the bottom of a lineup,

where he can ambush any poor pitcher who tries to sneak a fastball past him, is mostly the kind

that can't be fielded: home runs.

He believes that if he's healthy, his season will play out the way everyone hopes.

"If I show I can play the whole year, the numbers are going to be there," Schoop said. "I'd like to

set a lot of goals, because like J.J. taught me, if you set for one goal, you say you want to hit 20

[home runs], you hit 20 and say, 'I should hit more.' You're never going to be satisfied with it."

Said Machado: "The sky is the limit."

"He's a player that hasn't shown what he's really capable of. He's a guy that's a five-tool guy. He

can run, he can steal, he can hit for power, he can hit for contact," Machado said. "He's learning

how to hit the ball the other way, and if he can learn how to hit the ball the other way, he can be

one of the best second basemen in the league."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-release-former-major-leaguers-

mike-carp-alex-liddi-from-minor-league-camp-20160401-story.html

Orioles release former major leaguers Mike Carp, Alex

Liddi from minor league camp

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

A pair of former major leaguers the Orioles took a look at on minor league deals this spring

training — outfielder Mike Carp and infielder Alex Liddi— were among five players released

from minor league camp this week, according to an industry source.

In addition to Carp and Liddi, reliever Dylan Rheault, outfielder Yariel Vargas, and infielder

Tanner Witt were also released.

Carp, a member of the 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox, last played in the majors in

2014 with the Texas Rangers. He spent time last season in spring training with the Washington

Nationals and briefly played for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, but said he needed

to take time off to recharge.

He returned this spring for the opportunity to contribute with the Orioles as a left-handed hitting

outfield bat, but didn’t get a look in any major league games during spring training.

The 27-year-old Liddi played parts of three seasons in the majors for the Seattle Mariners from

2011 to 2013, but spent all of last season in Double-A Northwest Arkansas in the Kansas City

Royals organization.

Liddi appeared in one Grapefruit League game as a late-inning substitute.

Rheault, a 6-foot-9 right-hander drafted in the 19th round in 2013, worked as a reliever in the

Orioles system and had a 6.39 ERA in 38 appearances last year for High-A Frederick.

Vargas, 22, played just seven games last season in Short Season Class-A Aberdeen.

Witt signed as a minor-league free agent midway through last season and hit .245 in 49 games

for Frederick.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-oriole-bird-in-midseason-form-

on-gma-20160401-story.html

Oriole Bird in midseason form on GMA

The Baltimore Sun

April 1, 2016

The Oriole Bird was shaking his tail feathers along with the other Major League

Baseball mascots this morning on "Good Morning America."

The Bird took over the control room with the San Francisco Giants' Lou Seal, Clark of

the Chicago Cubs, Slugger from the Kansas City Royals and a few others before dancing to

Backstreet Boys' "Everybody." GMA was celebrating Opening Day with Mascot Madness.

Judging from his dance moves, it looks like the Bird is already in midseason form.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170297154/hyun-soo-kim-discusses-make-orioles-roster

Kim not concerned after declining Minors assignment

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Hyun Soo Kim is officially on the Orioles' roster, and the outfielder said on

Sunday, through his interpreter, that he has no feelings either way on the front office trying to

persuade him to accept an assignment to Triple-A.

"The management has done what they had to do," said Kim, who was signed to a two-year, $7

million contract this winter that includes the clause that he must agree to a demotion. "There's

nothing that I have feelings about that, and I'm going to try to do whatever I have been doing

here before, to show the fans and others who have been watching me what I can do."

Kim, who started the spring 0-for-21, didn't play in the final week, and executive vice president

of baseball operations Dan Duquette told reporters that Kim was not going to make the Opening

Day roster. But the outfielder refused to go to the Minor Leagues, thus forcing the O's hand since

they didn't want to release him and eat his salary.

"It was his option. We asked for his consent because we thought that was the best way to prepare

him. He didn't see it that way," Duquette said of Kim going to Triple-A. "The good news is, if he

hits like it says he can hit in the book, I think that we have a need for a left-handed hitter on our

roster, and hopefully the next part of his hitting will be a stronger sample of what we saw in the

spring."

Asked if he considered the idea of going to the Minors to get a little more work in, Kim said:

"Not too much."

As for not playing, Kim said he was also OK with that, using the time to learn and watch from

the bench. He is not expected to start in left field with Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard winning that

spot with a fantastic camp.

"I'm very happy to be on the roster, and I will try my best to make it up to the coaching staff and

organization [for giving me] the chance," Kim said.

He figures to get an opportunity at some point as Orioles manager Buck Showalter likes to use

the entire 25-man roster. Showalter spoke with Kim again on Sunday and said he felt like the

outfielder was in a good place and "ready to go".

"I'm going to use everybody," Showalter said. "And I think he has a chance to contribute. We

will figure that out as we go, how that's going to be. The other team will have something to say

about that."

Kim also said he didn't think about whether or not he earned his spot.

"I'm just trying to do my best to stay in the team," he said. "I haven't really thought about that."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170291772/baltimore-orioles-finalize-25-man-roster

Orioles announce Opening Day roster

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles finalized their Opening Day roster on Sunday afternoon with the

final outfield spots going to Hyun Soo Kim and Nolan Reimold, while odd man out Xavier

Avery was reassigned to Minor League camp.

The news, which also saw Brian Matusz, Kevin Gausman and Jimmy Paredes go on the disabled

list, didn't come as a big shock. While Avery had an impressive spring, Kim declined the team's

wishes to send him to Triple-A, forcing his way on the roster despite a lackluster Grapefruit

League campaign.

Reimold started slowly but ended on a high note and gives the Orioles another high on-base

percentage guy to go along with starter and Rule 5 Draft pick Joey Rickard.

The O's breakdown includes 12 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders.

All three of the DL stints are retroactive to March 25 and could be eligible to return as early as

April 10.

Baltimore opens its season on Monday at 3 p.m. ET against the Twins, with righty Chris

Tillman getting the ball.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170303422/buck-showalter-misses-mother-on-eve-of-

season

Showalter's mind on mother as new season dawns

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- This year's Opening Day will have a different feel for Orioles manager Buck

Showalter.

It's the first baseball season opener Showalter has had without his mother, Lina Carrie Spires

Showalter, who passed away in early October at the age of 87.

"I was thinking about that the last few days. Picked up the phone about three times to call her,"

Showalter said. "So, all of you call your mom, for me."

Showalter's club will open 2016 at home versus the Twins, and the O's manager is no stranger to

how important the beginning of a baseball season is to the city and entire fan base.

"The anticipation, we are putting something out there we want our fans to be proud of," he said.

You are doing something important, you are going to be critiqued and our guys are all looking

forward to playing some games. ... They spent a lot of time preparing for this, and it's not just

tomorrow. It's a new beginning."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170247076/buck-showalter-discusses-orioles-roster

Showalter expounds on well-rounded roster

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- In a game focused on numbers, Orioles manager Buck Showalter enters

Monday's Opening Day against the Twins at 3:05 p.m. ET hoping his club has more quality than

quantity when it comes to this year's pitching staff.

"It's one thing to have inventory, it's another thing to have depth. People get that confused,"

Showalter said in a sit-down with MLB.com to preview the season. "You want to have more than

just bodies that are inventory. You want to have quality depth. We have that potential."

The Orioles' rotation will be tested right away, first with Chris Tillman and then new

Oriole Yovani Gallardo, whom Showalter calls a "consistent professional pitcher." Still, with the

loss of lefty starter Wei-Yin Chen, Baltimore -- which retained free agents Matt Wieters, Chris

Davis and Darren O'Day -- chose to boost its lineup with power bats like Pedro

Alvarez and Mark Trumbo.

"We scored more runs [in 2015] than we did the year before, but our starting pitching was

inconsistent. There are going to be some nights in the American League where you're going to

have to outscore some people," Showalter said. "I think we've worked hard this spring to try to

be a little more well-rounded. We can't go through the season walking nine or 10 times a year.

Our guys know it."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170247296/os-broadcaster-gary-thorne-makes-predictions

Thorne offers bold predictions for 2016 O's

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

April 2, 2016

BALTIMORE -- As the Orioles get ready to open up the regular season in Baltimore against the

Twins at 3:05 p.m. ET on Monday, fans and media alike are wondering: What are this club's

strengths and weaknesses?

"Everybody, really, in the starting rotation is a question mark," said MASN broadcaster Gary

Thorne, who sat down with MLB.com as part of an Opening Day preview package. "They have

the offense that is going to cover a little bit, maybe a run a game, which is huge in Major League

Baseball. I think they have the offense that can cover that, and maybe pick up the four or five

runs a game that will allow the pitchers to have an ERA that's kind of in the middle of the pack."

Pitching concerns aside, Thorne had some pretty bold predictions for the O's this season,

including an expectation of 30 homers from second baseman Jonathan Schoop.

"I really think he's going to be an exciting player," Thorne said. "He's young, he's good, he cares

and he has great natural abilities. J.J. Hardy, if he's healthy, I think will have a really good

season. He still loves to play the game. He had to play it last year hurt, and it showed up in the

numbers and in his daily approach to the game, where he couldn't do the things he wanted to do.

"Dylan Bundy as a starter -- I think it's going to happen. And my sense is he's going to be

outstanding. I think he's going to be what they hoped for three years ago. ... They need Kevin

Gausman and Bundy to both be starters before this year's done, and maybe even be 1 and 2 in the

rotation, as far as quality starts. If they get that, they're going to have a really good season."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170049316/in-opener-os-ready-to-seize-the-moment

On opposite sides, Twins, O's have same goals

By Doug Miller / MLB.com

April 1, 2016

The Twins and Orioles are teams on the cusp.

Both finished out of the postseason hunt in 2015, but they were in the race for much of the

season before bowing out. And both teams have reasons for optimism that '16 will end with them

playing October baseball.

On Monday, the two teams will face each other on Opening Day. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.

ET at Camden Yards in Baltimore, with Twins right-hander Ervin Santana going up against O's

righty Chris Tillman.

Both clubs are eager to get the season started and see how far they can go.

The Twins entered 2015 with a young team and a lot of question marks. Now, they lift the lid on

2016 coming off an 83-win season that marked their first record above .500 since '10. They were

in the American League playoff hunt until the second-to-last day of the season. Now, it's time to

make that final push.

"There are higher expectations this year," Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier said. "This is

the first time in my career I've come in not wanting to win, but expecting to win."

Dozier is surrounded by talented young players, including outfielders Eddie Rosario, rookie

Byron Buxton and slugger Miguel Sano. The Twins also added Korean slugger Byung Ho Park

to their lineup, and they have solid veteran arms in Santana and Phil Hughes, plus promise in the

farm system in the form of Minor League pitchers Jose Berrios and Tyler Duffey.

"Collectively, we have lot of confidence," manager Paul Molitor said. "I think learning how to

win is important. … Winning can get pushed down the ladder a bit, but I think that changed last

year and I think some of our young guys learned that, too."

As for the Orioles, it hasn't been too long since the core of the team ran away with the AL East in

2014. Last year was a down year, comparatively, but the tools are in place for a big-time

rebound.

Baltimore still features a potent lineup that includes Manny Machado, Chris Davis, Adam Jones,

a healthy-again Matt Wieters, new additions in sluggers Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez and

emerging second baseman Jonathan Schoop. The bullpen is rock solid with closer Zach Britton

and setup man Darren O'Day, both among the AL's best.

The starting rotation is an uncertainty for the O's, but the team is hopeful that its rotation will be

a cohesive and durable unit. Yovani Gallardo is the newest member of the staff, and he will be

relied upon for consistency and pitch efficiency.

Kevin Gausman, once he returns from the disabled list, will look to deliver on his tremendous

promise. Ubaldo Jimenez will try to put two solid halves of a season together. Mike Wright will

try to do his part in stringing quality starts together.

And Tillman, the Opening Day starter for the third consecutive year, will have to be the leader of

the staff and the one all of Baltimore's pitchers look up to.

"Collectively, it's important for all of us to pitch well on the night that we get the ball," Tillman

said.

"Opening Day is important, because it's the first game of the new season and everyone's excited -

- it's a whole new opportunity. But I think baseball is good in the fact that we do have 162

games, so we have plenty of starts to show up for."

Twins' projected Opening Day lineup

Brian Dozier, 2B

Joe Mauer, 1B

Miguel Sano, RF

Trevor Plouffe, 3B

Eddie Rosario, LF

Byung Ho Park, DH

Eduardo Escobar, SS

Kurt Suzuki, C

Byron Buxton, CF

Ervin Santana, RHP

Orioles' projected Opening Day lineup

Manny Machado, 3B

Adam Jones, CF

Chris Davis, 1B

Mark Trumbo, RF

Matt Wieters, C

Pedro Alvarez, DH

J.J. Hardy, SS

Jonathan Schoop, 2B

Joey Rickard, LF

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/170092686/orioles-hope-to-re-sign-miguel-gonzalez

O's hope to re-sign Gonzalez after clearing waivers

By Paul Hagen / MLB.com

April 1, 2016

PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez became an unconditional free agent Friday

after the Oriolesreleased him and he cleared waivers.

Next order of business: Try to re-sign him.

"We still hope we can figure out a way to have him pitch in [Triple-A] Norfolk," manager Buck

Showalter said. "In some ways, he's in a no-lose situation. He's going to get offers from other

clubs, including us, so we'll see what's the best way to hold our depth and put our best team on

the field."

Gonzalez was projected to be the fourth or fifth starter this season. After he posted a 9.78 ERA in

six spring starts, however, questions arose about whether he could bounce back from a 2015

season in which he went 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA in 26 starts.

The 31-year-old right-hander had an option remaining, but he would have been making $5.1

million in the Minors, so the Orioles chose to give him 45 days and try to renegotiate. That salary

is also the reason he wasn't claimed on waivers, but he has attracted interest from other clubs.

Gonzalez is 39-33 with a 3.82 ERA in 95 career big league starts since 2012.

Showalter spoke to Gonzalez shortly after he cleared waivers. Pitching coach Dave Wallace and

bullpen coach Dom Chiti have also been in touch with him.

"I wanted him to hear from us," Showalter said. "He's already been contacted by three or four

clubs, so we'll see where he goes."

Worth noting

• Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim grounded into a forceout during a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth

inning of Friday's 8-7 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. His status remains uncertain.

Kim, who was given a two-year, $7 million contract and projected as the regular left fielder,

batted .182 in the Grapefruit League with no extra-base hits. The Orioles wanted to send him to

Norfolk to work on his game, but he has said he will exercise his right to decline to be sent

down.

• In eight additional roster moves announced after the game, the Orioles reassigned right-handers

Pedro Beato and Todd Redmond, outfielder L.J. Hoes and infielders Paul Janish and Steve

Tolleson to Minor League camp. They also optioned catcherFrancisco Pena to Triple-A Norfolk.

Left-hander Zach Phillips and righty Chaz Roecleared waivers and have been outrighted to

Norfolk.

• Minor League right-hander Felix Rutledge has been suspended 50 games after a second

positive test for a drug of abuse. Rutledge is currently on the roster of the Class A Frederick

Keys.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/orioles-lineup-vs-twins-15.html

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 4, 2016

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is in left field for the Orioles in their opener against the Twins today,

but third baseman Manny Machado will hit leadoff.

As he did for much of spring training, center fielder Adam Jones is batting second, followed by

first baseman Chris Davis, right fielder Mark Trumbo and catcher Matt Wieters. Designated

hitter Pedro Alvarez is hitting sixth.

Chris Tillman is making his third consecutive opening day start.

For the Orioles

Manny Machado 3B

Adam Jones CF

Chris Davis 1B

Mark Trumbo RF

Matt Wieters C

Pedro Alvarez DH

J.J. Hardy SS

Jonathan Schoop 2B

Joey Rickard LF

Chris Tillman RHP

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/opening-days-past-and-present.html

Opening days past and present

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 4, 2016

We've reached another opening day, my 20th on the Orioles beat.

There's rain in the forecast, but I've covered openers in the snow. Rain isn't going to faze me.

In 2003, the Indians' Ellis Burks hit a fly ball to right field in the third inning that Jay Gibbons

lost in the flakes. Second baseman Jerry Hairston sprinted after the ball, knowing that Gibbons

couldn't find it. First base umpire Chuck Meriweather ran up the line and ducked, unsure whether

it was going to bounce off his noggin.

Burks was credited with a run-scoring single off Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez.

"I had no idea," Gibbons said afterward.

The Orioles won the game in the 13th inning when Indians center fielder Milton Bradley

misjudged a Gary Matthews line drive with the bases loaded. Jose Leon crossed the plate for a 6-

5 victory.

Rick Bauer, Buddy Groom and Jorge Julio combined for four scoreless innings. Kerry

Ligtenberg gave up the tying run in the 12th.

How did this team only win 71 games?

Will the Orioles win enough games this season to get back into the playoffs? It starts today at

3:05 p.m.

Pedro Alvarez will be in the lineup as the designated hitter in his first opening day with the

Orioles. He's heard good things about them.

"It's a great ballpark, a lot of history, such a historic franchise," Alvarez said. "I'm very fortunate

to have the opportunity to be up here with the guys and get the year started.

"I'm optimistic for the opportunity. I know what I can do, I know that when I'm right, any

ballpark can be constructed to my swing. But again, just very happy to be here and very fortunate

to have this opportunity."

It starts today with an introduction and a jog down the orange carpet before a packed house,

Alvarez's first ovation at Camden Yards.

"I think that all the opening celebrations are pretty cool," he said. "You go to different parks and

they all have their different ceremonies. I think they're pretty neat. It's a special day for each

team and to go out there and enjoy your home opening day is pretty special. And going on the

road and seeing some of these other teams' opening days, too, it's all part of the neat experience."

Alvarez is switching leagues after signing as a free agent last month. Could there be an

adjustment period, even with interleague play?

"I think in this day and age with so much advanced scouting reports and stats and video, I think

no matter where you're at, you're pitched a certain way," he said. "You hear about the differences

and it's stuff that I've seen before. I take the approach of just embracing what was thrown at me

day to day. I'm definitely looking forward for the opportunity to see what this league has in

store."

Alvarez is wearing No. 24, which belonged to first base coach Wayne Kirby. They made a trade

that Alvarez kept private.

"We had a nice talk," he said, smiling. "That's between me and Kirb. We're keeping it behind

closed doors."

Zach Britton would love the chance to close today's game. He was dominant this spring,

allowing one run and three hits and striking out 13 batters in eight Grapefruit League innings.

Opponents batted .111 against him.

Britton has come such a long way from being a starter out of options and almost out of chances

in Baltimore.

"It's always been there," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's just a matter of how it was going to

fit. He's just ... let's throw out the pitching part of it, how far he's come as a pitcher, a father, a

teammate. He was never bad at any of those.

"It's kind of fun when you've been here five or six years to see the process that guys go through

in their lives. Zach's a winning player and it was always there. It was just what role could we find

where he could get outs, and I'm not that smart.

Anybody that sits around and says we thought he was going to be this kind of closer, they're

kidding themselves. We were just trying to figure out what role would fit his personality,

makeup, and so far so good. He's one of the best in the game."

Feel free to submit your lineups for opening day. I'm curious whether you have Joey

Rickardbatting first or last or someplace in between.

We know Rickard is in left field, Adam Jones is in center and Mark Trumbo is in right. We know

it's Manny Machado at third base, J.J. Hardy at shortstop, Jonathan Schoop at second, Chris

Davis at first and Matt Wieters behind the plate. We know Alvarez is the designated hitter.

We just need an order.

I'd bat Rickard first, following by Machado, Jones, Davis, Trumbo, Wieters, Alvarez, Schoop

and Hardy. Otherwise, keep Machado in the leadoff role and bat Jones second, which happened

in spring training.

No matter how you stack it, this lineup is scary. And in a good way. Not like the Jose Leon days.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/worley-and-reimold-go-from-bubble-to-

opening-day-roster.html

Worley and Reimold go from bubble to opening day roster

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

Vance Worley didn't know he made the club until noticing today that his jerseys and pants were

hanging in his locker at Camden Yards. Nolan Reimold wasn't aware that he was part of the

Orioles' 25-man roster until realizing that no one told him otherwise as morning turned to

afternoon.

The bubble guys didn't burst.

Worley started Friday night's exhibition game in Philadelphia and had no idea whether the

ensuing trip to Baltimore signified that he was staying for opening day.

"Just trying to patiently wait," he said. "You can only be so patient and today I show up and I've

got everything in my locker, so I was like, 'OK, that's a good start.' And then I got called into the

office and they said, 'Congrats, you've made it,' so now it's just do as I'm told. When I get the

ball, go."

The question is when he's getting the ball. The information coming from the Orioles hasn't been

expansive.

"I'm out of the 'pen to start the season," Worley said, "and that's it."

The Orioles need a fifth starter on April 10 and Worley, who was 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 16 2/3

innings over eight exhibition games, is a candidate for the assignment. Tyler Wilson also is a

consideration.

"Sure, I guess," Worley said. "Like I said, when I get the ball, just take it and go, and that's all I

know right now."

Worley broke camp with the Pirates last year and now he's sticking with the Orioles on opening

day, though there seemed to be a lot more moving parts this spring. He can't remember being in a

camp with so many decisions pending over the final hours.

"No, not that late," he said. "Usually, by that last scrimmage there's maybe two guys left in camp

that are on the bubble. We took a lot of guys to Philly. Yeah, a lot of last-minute decisions, but I

think they finally made up their mind what they want this team to be."

Now with his fourth organization in seven years, Worley couldn't take anything for granted and

assume that he earned a spot on the pitching staff.

"You don't want to assume anything, not in this game," said Worley, who's 31-28 with a 3.79

ERA in 104 games, including 81 starts. "I've been that guy on the bubble the last few years, and

really spring training isn't what it used to be where you can go into camp and just work your way

into baseball shape. You have to show up ready to go to win a job, and that's how I took this

spring."

Reimold was a late cut last spring as a non-roster invitee despite hitting .340/.439/.489 in 24

games, his lack of minor league options working against him. He needed a torrid stretch at the

end of camp this spring to improve his slash line to .269/.356/.481 with three home runs and

eight RBIs in 18 games.

"I never really feel safe," he said. "I think that the strong finish probably helped a little bit, but

it's just one of those things. I've been here for a long time, so I think they kind of know where I'm

at as a player and hopefully I'll be here for the long haul and win some games."

Reimold and Hyun Soo Kim made the club while Xavier Avery was reassigned to minor league

camp. Reimold didn't know how it would play out as he showed up for the workout.

"I guess as the deadline passed and nobody told me I didn't make the club, so today. But it's good

to be here and good to be able to have an opening day," he said.

Reimold can back up at all three positions when he isn't in the lineup.

"I don't really know what to expect," he said, "but I'll be ready for anything and we'll see what

happens."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/duquette-and-showalter-talk-about-kim-the-

roster-and-more.html

Duquette and Showalter talk about Kim, the roster and

more

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

The Orioles are continuing their workout today at chilly Camden Yards, many players wearing

wool caps and hooded sweatshirts.

Hyun Soo Kim is on the field with his teammates after the club failed to convince him to extend

his spring training in the minors.

"Kim's been on the roster and we asked him to take some more time to get the at-bats that we felt

he needed to show the form that he had shown in international competition," said executive vice

president Dan Duquette. "It was his option. We asked for his consent because we thought that

was the best way to prepare him. He didn't see it that way.

"The good news is, if he hits like it says he can hit in the book, I think that we have a need for a

left-handed hitter on our roster and hopefully the next part of his hitting will be a stronger sample

of what we saw in the spring."

Has it created an awkward situation in the clubhouse?

"These are all management issues," Duquette said. "There's also player decisions that enter into

it. But at the end of the day, we have 24 other players on the team and the 24 other players are

going to do everything they can to have the best team that we can have here, and I'm sure Kim

will do the same."

Kim isn't expected to be in the opening day lineup, and how he's used has yet to be determined.

"That's up to Buck (Showalter)," Duquette said. "We'll have to wait and see how that develops."

Showalter spoke again today with Kim.

"That's kind of between he and I," Showalter said. "We've had a lot of conversations since the

day he walked in. I had him in my office today just checking in. A lot of private things between

he and I. Let me tell you this, he's picking up the language day by day. That's good to see.

Normal things you'd do, but just checking on where he is. He's in a good place. He's ready to go.

Showalter reminded reporters that Kim got about 64 plate appearances this spring, third on the

team, if you factor in games played at the minor league complex.

"I'm going to use everybody and I think he has a chance to contribute," Showalter said. "We'll

figure that out as we go, how that's going to be. The other team will have something to say about

that. We have a lot of guys with track records and a lot of guys who don't have track records at

this level. He's one of them. Joey (Rickard) is one of them. Track records make managers,

coaches, some cases teammates more comfortable.

"Because the unknown is kind of ... what drives things is curiosity. But it's like opening up things

and see what you are going to get. Joey has had a good spring, and Kim, we'll see what happens

when a different microscope goes on, so to speak."

The Orioles set their roster at noon today.

"I like where we are. We're ready to go," Showalter said. "In a few days, maybe tomorrow, how

we got here, it's about the standings and who has got more runs after 27 outs. Or maybe more

outs. We'll turn our attention to the competition. We've been preparing, in the process of

preparing for the competition. Now the competition is here. And the competition will not be

ourselves."

Duquette said he likes how the team is "shaping up" and noted its local flavor on the pitching

staff.

"It looks like we're going to have a pretty good ballclub," he said. "I'm particularly happy about

the fact that we've got four pitchers who came through our farm system who are going to be on

our opening day roster. Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson made the team, two former minor league

Pitchers of the Year. And Mychal Givens is on the opening day roster. He had a great year last

year. He found the American League actually easier than the Eastern League when he came up.

And we have Dylan Bundy. Dylan Bundy's got the opportunity to fulfill all the promise that he's

shown over the years.

"When four pitchers come up through your farm system, that tells you, one, you're in transition

with your major league pitching staff, and then two, you've got a productive farm system. And

for these guys who are on the roster for their first opening day, it's got to be a great thrill for

them. It's a good story for the major league team, it's a good story for the organization."

Four spots in the rotation have been confirmed with Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo, Ubaldo

Jimenez and Wright.

"I like the track record of Tillman and Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez," Duquette said. "They've

all won more games than they've lost and they should provide some good leadership to the team.

And if you look at what Mike Wright has done, he's got good stuff. He looks like he's going to be

a good winning major league pitcher. And then we've got Kevin Gausman in the wings. We've

got a pretty solid starting rotation.

"Ideally, and I've said this several times, that we'd like to have a left-hander, so we've been trying

to stock up on left-handers in the bullpen and we're going to continue to look around. We have a

good defense. Infield defense should be good, one of the tops in the league. I think we've

strengthened our outfield defense when we added Joey Rickard. He looks like he's going to be

very helpful on defense, and when you have good defense in your outfield, all of your pitchers

are better."

The roster apparently won't change before Monday at 3:05 p.m.

"After you put your roster together, it becomes like the regular season, so the deadline is to set

your roster and then you can start making moves like you would anytime during the season. We

try to put the strongest roster we can out there day in and day out. To answer your question, I

expect this will be our roster for tomorrow," Duquette said.

"There's a lot of players available this time of the year. We probably vetted 10 or 12 over the last

couple of days. Friday was a really busy day. I was encouraged by some of the young players

that we brought up from the minors that looked very good, particularly Garabez Rosa. Xavier

Avery had a good camp. Those guys looked really good the last week."

Rickard is the fourth Rule 5 pick to make the club in the past five years, joining T.J. McFarland,

Ryan Flaherty and Jason Garcia.

"Joey Rickard earned his way to the big leagues and our analytics people and Felipe Alou Jr.,

who recommended him after he played on his team in the Dominican, they deserve a lot of credit

for identifying his skills," Duquette said.

"We're just giving Joey Rickard a chance and it looks to me like he's taking advantage of every

single opportunity he gets to help the team win a game. He gets on base, he steals bases, he plays

good defense, he's shown some power and he's gotten hits all over the field. So far, so good."

Showalter will let his players know who's in Monday's lineup before they leave the ballpark

today.

"I have one in strong mind," he said. "There was one little thing I wanted to think through a little

bit more. It's very obvious we are going to be pretty right-handed."

Showalter is considering whether to use Rickard as the leadoff hitter. Asked if he has any

reservations about it, he replied, "Yes."

"That's one of the things I want to think through a little bit," he said. "There's some advantages,

disadvantages. I think we all understand what that spotlight is like. If you ever feel challenged by

a day, I've seen his face twice down the hall and it's fun to look at. I'm living through him. That's

pretty cool. Fun to watch him."

This will be Showalter's sixth opening day with the Orioles, the first since his mother passed

away in October.

"I was thinking about that the last few days," he said. "Picked up the phone about three times to

call her. So, all of you call your mom, for me.

"But the anticipation, we are putting something out there we want our fans to be proud of. You're

doing something important, you're going to be critiqued and our guys are all looking forward to

playing some games. They spent lot of time preparing for this and it's not just tomorrow. It's a

new beginning."

Note: Former Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez has signed a minor league deal with the White

Sox, according to reports. The Orioles wanted to keep him in the organization, but the White Sox

were aggressive from the outset.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/quick-hits-before-todays-workout.html

Quick hits before today's workout

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he expects the 25-man roster to go

unchanged on opening day.

Last year, the Orioles designated reliever Ryan Webb for assignment and purchased catcher

Ryan Lavarnway's contract after setting the roster the previous day.

Duquette said the club looked at 10 or 12 available players this spring before setting its roster.

Manager Buck Showalter said Xavier Avery will play center field at Triple-A Norfolk and Julio

Borbon will play center field at Double-A Bowie.

My colleague, Steve Melewski, reported that first baseman Trey Mancini will open the season at

Bowie.

Showalter spoke again today with Kim and said the outfielder is in a good place, and he didn't

just mean Baltimore.

"He's ready to go," Showalter said.

(Showalter didn't mean Norfolk.)

Showalter will reveal his opening day lineup to his players today before they leave the ballpark.

Asked whether he has any reservations about batting Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard first, Showalter

replied, "Yes." It's obviously under consideration.

Showalter conceded that the lineup will be heavy in right-handed hitters, but he's fine with it,

noting how it works for the Blue Jays and prevents the opposition from using its left-handed

relievers.

Vance Worley and Tyler Wilson will be available out of the bullpen for the first two games.

Showalter hasn't named a fifth starter.

Worley was told today only that he made the team and will begin the season in the bullpen. He

has no idea whether he'll crack the rotation.

The Orioles are hoping that left-hander Brian Matusz will be ready to come off the disabled list

on April 10 and Kevin Gausman will come off the DL to make the April 19 start.

This is Showalter's sixth opening day with the Orioles and the first without his mother, who

passed away in October.

"I've picked up the phone three times to call her," Showalter said.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/orioles-set-25-man-roster.html

Orioles set 25-man roster (updated)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

The Orioles have set their 25-man roster for opening day, and it includes outfielders Hyun Soo

Kim and Nolan Reimold.

Xavier Avery has been reassigned to minor league camp and will report to Triple-A Norfolk.

Kim wouldn't give his consent to a minor league assignment and the Orioles wouldn't cut him

and eat $7 million.

The bullpen currently holds eight pitchers, including Tyler Wilsonand Vance Worley. Manager

Buck Showalter will announce a fifth starter for the April 10 game against the Rays.

Pitchers Kevin Gausman and Brian Matusz and infielder Jimmy Paredes have been placed on the

15-day disabled list, their assignments backdated to March 25.

Here's the 25-man roster:

Pitchers Chris Tillman

Yovani Gallardo

Ubaldo Jimenez

Mike Wright

Zach Britton

Darren O'Day

Brad Brach

Mychal Givens

Dylan Bundy

T.J. McFarland

Tyler Wilson

Vance Worley

Catchers Matt Wieters

Caleb Joseph

Infielders Chris Davis

Jonathan Schoop

J.J. Hardy

Manny Machado

Pedro Alvarez

Ryan Flaherty

Outfielders Adam Jones

Mark Trumbo

Joey Rickard

Nolan Reimold

Hyun Soo Kim

Alvarez will wear No. 24 and first base coach Wayne Kirby will switch to 21.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/the-games-that-dont-count.html

Spring training stars, the roster and the menu

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

The games that don't count have ended. The Orioles are working out today at Camden Yards and

opening the 2016 season on Monday afternoon against the Twins.

With so much angst over the Hyun Soo Kim situation and the rotation, let's pause to reflect on

pitcher Dylan Bundy and shortstop J.J. Hardy getting through camp healthy and productive.

Those are important achievements.

We haven't been given a firm innings limit for Bundy out of the bullpen. Manager Buck

Showalter indicated that Bundy could get some starts in the second half. Just get him through the

year without any trips to the disabled list and stretch him out enough to compete for a rotation

spot in 2017, which is where he really belongs.

Jonathan Schoop batted .349/.379/.571 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 63 at-bats. He's got

the potential to be an absolute beast near the bottom of the order, and plenty of folks in baseball

think he's Gold Glove worthy at second base - including the guy sitting in the manager's office at

Camden Yards.

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard was spring training's brightest star with a .397/.472/.571 slash line, a

team-leading 25 hits - three more than runner-up Schoop - six doubles, eight walks, five stolen

bases and 15 runs scored.

If Schoop hit a quiet .349, what was the volume on Ryan Flaherty's .333 average? He also posted

a .473 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage in 25 games and 42 at-bats.

Xavier Avery survived Friday night's roster cuts and made the final 26 by going 10-for-32 with

two doubles, a triple, four home runs, eight RBIs and 10 walks. He's a career .223 hitter with one

home run in 94 at-bats, his only major league duty coming with the Orioles in 2012.

The Orioles traded Avery, a former second-round pick, to the Mariners on Aug. 30, 2013 for

Michael Morse. He also was in the Tigers, Giants and Twins organizations, all of them last year,

before the Orioles signed him to a minor league deal in December.

Shortstop Paul Janish had to be a difficult cut for the Orioles. He always brings stellar defense,

but he also hit .294 with a .373 on-base percentage in 51 at-bats.

No major league clubs stepped forward and offered him a spot on the 25-man roster, enabling the

Orioles to reassign him to Triple-A Norfolk. He's got multiple opt-out dates on his contract,

increasing the challenge of keeping him in the organization through the season.

Nolan Reimold was batting .150/.227/.200 with no home runs and two RBIs in 40 at-bats over 13

games. He finished with a .269/.356/.481 slash line, three home runs and eight RBIs in 52 at-bats

over 18 games.

The Orioles must set their opening day roster by noon today. One player will be removed if no

one else is brought in from the outside.

Does it come down to Avery or Kim? Here's the current roster:

Pitchers Chris Tillman

Yovani Gallardo

Ubaldo Jimenez

Mike Wright

Zach Britton

Darren O'Day

Brad Brach

Mychal Givens

Dylan Bundy

T.J. McFarland

Tyler Wilson

Vance Worley

Catchers Matt Wieters

Caleb Joseph

Infielders Chris Davis

Jonathan Schoop

J.J. Hardy

Manny Machado

Pedro Alvarez

Ryan Flaherty

Outfielders Adam Jones

Mark Trumbo

Joey Rickard

Nolan Reimold

Hyun Soo Kim

Xavier Avery

Showalter has been seeking opinions from his regulars on whether Rickard should bat leadoff or

ninth. Is it too soon to put the Rule 5 kid atop the order?

The Orioles and their concessionaire, Delaware North, have made several additions to the food

offerings at the ballpark, highlighted by the following:

Jalapeno Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog: Deep-fried ESSKAY hot dog wrapped in jalapeno bacon

with American cheese.

Smoked Brisket BBQ Sandwich: Slow-smoked Angus brisket with house-made BBQ sauce

and tobacco onions.

Spicy Chicken Chipper: House-made Yukon gold kettle chips with smoked Buffalo-style

pulled chicken, blue cheese dressing, and diced celery.

The High Heater Burger: Two fresh beef patties with sautéed jalapenos, pepper jack cheese,

smoked bacon, and chipotle aioli.

Roma Chorizo Sausage: Fresh chorizo sausage with tequila lime caramelized onions and cotija

cheese.

Who's hungry?

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/more-thoughts-on-the-roster.html

More thoughts on the roster

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 2, 2016

Hunter Harvey has been playing catch at the Orioles' minor league complex while recovering

from a mild groin strain. He's feeling much better and it shouldn't be too long before he's back on

the mound.

Harvey was forced out of Tuesday's start at Twin Lakes Park in the third inning. He hasn't

pitched since 2014 due to a strained right flexor mass.

And that's how I start off your morning with good news.

The Orioles' camp roster is down to 29 players and we know that pitchers Kevin

Gausman andBrian Matusz and infielder Jimmy Paredes are headed to the disabled list.

You can do the math. That's 26 players for 25 spots.

Vance Worley started last night in Philadelphia and worked two innings before rain interrupted

his outing. He's still competing for the job as fifth starter or for a spot in the bullpen. He's also

due to make $2.6 million if the Orioles put him on their opening day roster.

I didn't think he had much of a chance after the Orioles signed Yovani Gallardo, but they

released Miguel Gonzalez and Matusz strained a muscle in his lower back. They outrighted Chaz

Roe yesterday. The Vanimal is alive and well.

I also never would have guessed that Xavier Avery would be among the last 26 standing. He's

won over manager Buck Showalter with his power, speed and defense. Those traits will get you

in good standing.

Avery missed some time this spring with a hip flexor and I just assumed he'd be headed to minor

league camp. The media checked on him a couple of mornings, but not because he was deemed

to have a solid shot at running down the orange carpet on opening day.

Funny how things can change.

With Matusz on the disabled list and Zach Phillips in Norfolk, the Orioles could remain in the

market for a left-handed reliever. Showalter warned after Phillips signed that they'd take a look at

him and he wasn't automatically going to make the club as Matusz's replacement. And sure

enough ...

Closer Zach Britton and long man T.J. McFarland don't qualify as left-handed match-up guys.

Hyun Soo Kim may not qualify as a major league outfielder, but he still could make the club

despite his .178 average and .402 OPS. A source last night confirmed that the Orioles have no

intention of releasing Kim and eating his $7 million salary. Kim has no interest in a minor league

assignment.

One person with the Orioles said they're in a "state of suspended animation" regarding Kim. I've

also been told that he has a "substantial" offer from a team in Korea, though it hasn't been

confirmed by a second source.

It doesn't really matter, since he wants to stay in the U.S. and be given a legitimate chance to

play in the majors.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/orioles-whittle-down-spring-training-roster-

to-29-players.html

Orioles whittle down spring training roster to 29 players

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

The Orioles made eight cuts tonight that put their opening day roster into sharper focus, unless

they make any other changes before Sunday's deadline.

It's still possible.

The Orioles reassigned pitchers Todd Redmond and Pedro Beato, infielders Paul Janish and

Steve Tolleson, and outfielder L.J. Hoes to minor league camp. They also optioned catcher

Francisco Pena and confirmed that pitchers Chaz Roe and Zach Phillips cleared waivers and

were outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

With these moves, the Orioles have 29 players on their roster as spring training draws to a close

with tonight's 8-7 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Kevin Gausman, Brian Matusz andJimmy Paredes are expected to be placed on the disabled list

to lower the total to 26. Rosters for opening day must be set by Sunday at noon.

Xavier Avery remains with the club as the one non-roster invitee. He homered again tonight, his

fourth of the spring, and raised his average to .313 with a 1.289 OPS. He also brings some appeal

as a left-handed hitting outfielder.

The Orioles signed Avery as a minor league free agent on Dec. 15. They originally drafted him

in the second round in 2008.

Manager Buck Showalter has praised Avery for being the strongest player in camp "pound for

pound." In other words, he shouldn't challenge Chris Davis.

Pitcher Vance Worley and outfielders Hyun Soo Kim and Nolan Reimold remain on the roster.

Worley started tonight's game and came out after two innings and a rain delay. He allowed one

run.

Worley is out of options and can fit in the bullpen and perhaps the fifth spot in the rotation if the

Orioles don't choose Tyler Wilson. They don't need a fifth starter until April 10.

Kim pinch-hit tonight, his first plate appearances since Saturday, and grounded into a force to

lower his average to .178. He still won't consent to an assignment in the minors, and one member

of the organization said they're in a "state of suspended animation."

Avery may have to be reassigned if Kim won't change his mind, leaving the competition for the

final spot between the two left-handed hitting outfielders. Avery is superior defensively.

However, he also can be sent to Triple-A Norfolk without his consent.

Janish has opt-out clauses in his minor league deal and may not make it through the season in the

organization. The Orioles covet his defense and were relieved that a team didn't offer him a spot

on its 25-man roster in spring training. He would have been allowed to accept it due to a clause

in his contract.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/orioles-lineup-vs-phillies-7.html

Orioles lineup vs. Phillies

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

Hyun Soo Kim isn't in the Orioles lineup for tonight's exhibition finale against the Phillies at

Citizens Bank Park.

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is playing left field and batting ninth. Manny Machado is leading off.

Adam Jones continues to bat second. Mark Trumbo is batting cleanup and shortstop J.J.

Hardymoves up to sixth.

For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B

Adam Jones CF

Chris Davis 1B

Mark Trumbo RF

Pedro Alvarez DH

J.J. Hardy SS

Jonathan Schoop 2B

Caleb Joseph C

Joey Rickard LF

Vance Worley RHP

Minor league left-hander Lex Rutledge received a 50-game suspension without pay after a

second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Rutledge was on Single-A Frederick's roster, though he didn't pitch last season after retiring. His

suspension begins at the start of the Carolina League season.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/miguel-gonzalez-given-unconditional-

release.html

Miguel Gonzalez given unconditional release

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

The Orioles officially have parted ways with former starter Miguel Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, 31, cleared waivers this afternoon and was given his unconditional release. He

becomes a free agent and may sign with any team.

Gonzalez was due to make $5.1 million this year after avoiding an arbitration hearing, but the

Orioles placed him on release waivers Wednesday before he could embark on his fifth season

with the club. Players released by opening day receive 45 days of pay.

Projected as a fourth or fifth starter in the rotation, Gonzalez went 1-4 with a 9.78 ERA in six

outings this spring. Opponents batted .412 against him.

The Orioles weren't convinced that he could bounce back from a disappointing 2015 season and

didn't want to pay him $5.1 million at Triple-A Norfolk. He has a minor league option

remaining.

Gonzalez went on the disabled list twice last season. His ERA jumped from 3.23 the previous

summer to 4.91, and his WHIP increased from 1.296 to 1.396.

Because Gonzalez was one of the more popular players on the Orioles, his release has upset a

large number of his former teammates.

Gonzalez went 39-33 with a 3.82 ERA in 101 career games, including 95 starts, with the Orioles

after signing out of the Mexican League.

The Orioles list their spring training roster at 37 players, including six non-roster invitees.

However, Chaz Roe also can be removed after clearing waivers today. An announcement is

pending.

In case you missed it, outfielder Hyun Soo Kim traveled to Philadelphia with the Orioles for

tonight's game against the Phillies.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/04/chaz-roe-placed-on-waivers.html

Chaz Roe placed on waivers (updated)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

Sitting on the roster bubble at the beginning of spring training, reliever Chaz Roe has been

placed on waivers as the Orioles break camp and head to Philadelphia for tonight's exhibition

game.

Roe appeared in 10 games this spring and allowed three runs and 12 hits in 11 2/3 innings, with

five walks, nine strikeouts and a hit batter. He left camp for a few days for the birth of his second

daughter.

Roe is out of minor league options.

The Orioles have two openings in their bullpen with left-hander Brian Matusz headed to the

disabled list.Tyler Wilson figures to occupy one of them after being told yesterday that he made

the team. He eventually could slot into the rotation as the fifth starter when one is needed on

April 10.

Vance Worley, who starts tonight against the Phillies, is out of options and another candidate for

the bullpen. Left-hander T.J. McFarland, who has an option remaining, may be needed as a long

man to back up the five right-handed starters.

Roe, 29, was 4-2 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.476 WHIP in 36 appearances last season. He was

outstanding in the first half, going 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in 20 appearances, but

registered a 6.91 ERA and 2.163 WHIP in 16 games after the All-Star break. He also went on the

disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder.

The Orioles have 37 players in camp, with Miguel Gonzalez likely to clear waivers and quickly

sign with another team. There's plenty of interest in him after the Orioles placed him on release

waivers this week, with SB Nation reporting that the White Sox were the most aggressive

suitors.

ESPN.com first reported that Roe was on waivers.

Wilson allowed one run in three innings yesterday while working on short rest.

"Felt good, felt really good," he said. "I think I only threw 23 pitches or something a couple days

ago, but like we talked about after that game, it's important to be able to feel my body on short

rest like that to kind of see what it feels like to have an extended outing, shorter rest then get

back out there again. That was a good experience and it felt really good."

Update: Roe cleared waivers. ESPN.com reported that he's expected to join Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles are down to 36 players if you include Gonzalez's removal.

Also, Hyun Soo Kim traveled with the Orioles for tonight's game in Philadelphia.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/opening-day-notes-and-quotes-with-chris-

tillman-adam-jones-hyun-soo-kim-and-more.html

Opening day notes and quotes with Chris Tillman, Adam

Jones, Hyun Soo Kim and more

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 4, 2016

Happy opening day, everyone - and welcome to the 2016 Orioles season!

When they play ball today at 3:05 p.m. at Camden Yards against Minnesota, right-hander Chris

Tillman (11-11, 4.99 ERA in 2015) faces right-hander Ervin Santana (7-5, 4.00 ERA in 2015). In

his last seven starts last season, Santana went 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA.

While Santana will be making his first opening day start, this is the third in a row for Tillman. In

the last two openers, he went 1-0 with an ERA of 1.54. He pitched the Orioles past Boston's Jon

Lester and Boston in 2014 and Tampa Bay's Chris Archer last April.

Tillman went 0-1 with a 7.24 ERA during spring training with a .345 batting average against.

Despite what those stats might indicate, Orioles pitching coach Dave Wallace said Tillman had a

good spring and he's confident the right-hander will pitch well today.

"We see a guy, when he is making good pitches, sometimes balls fall in and things happen that

the untrained eye doesn't see. When a guy is throwing the ball well, you just know it," Wallace

said.

"I think Chris came into camp in real good shape. Knowing him the way we know him now, he

has a little bit of an attitude (to pitch better in 2016) and wants to have a really good year. He had

a good spring, I don't care about the stats. He threw the ball well and had a real good side session

the other day."

About those predictions: Anybody notice the predictions that the Orioles will have a bad season?

Of course you noticed, it's been happening for weeks now.

A reporter asked outfielder Adam Jones if he cared about such predictions.

"You know, I don't," he said. "You have to play the games. That is the true test. Who knows? No

one knows. Except Vegas, for some reason.

"It's not about proving anyone wrong, it's about proving to ourselves that we are right and we can

play," Jones said. "We've won the most games in the AL last four years and still no ones gives a

rat's crap. Which is perfectly fine with us. We just have to go out and play good baseball and

focus on what we need to do."

Jones talked about the meaning of the opening day contest.

"They are all special," he said. "For the young guys and first-timers, this is pretty cool. For

(Joey) Rickard, it's pretty cool. Rule 5 guy, think his whole family will be here. Mychal Givens,

(Mike) Wright, (Tyler) Wilson - all those guys, I think, will really cherish how Baltimore does

opening day. It's pretty cool actually."

Bundy is ready: Right-hander Dylan Bundy certainly should cherish his first opening day in

Baltimore. After a strong spring, he feels healthy and ready to help this team out of the bullpen.

What went well for him this spring?

"Fastball location was pretty big," he said. "Commanding the fastball is the biggest part of

pitching in my mind. Being able to do that and also throw my offspeed pitches for strikes early in

counts."

Before he tries to navigate his way through American League batters, he must navigate his way

down the orange carpet during this afternoon's pregame ceremony.

"I don't want to trip. Might have to practice it with the right shoes," Bundy said with a laugh.

Kim speaks: Because he declined to play in the minor leagues, which was his contractual right,

Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim has become a controversial figure. Even before he plays in one

major league game.

Before Sunday's workout at Camden Yards, the Orioles outfielder spoke with reporters with the

help of translator Danny Lee. He was asked if he feels he has earned a spot on the roster and how

tough the last week was for him.

"Earning a spot, I was just trying my best to stay on the team," Kim said. "Have not really

thought about that. I was able to watch and learn on the bench during the (last few) games. It was

okay to watch from outside the field."

Kim added he continues to get support from his teammates.

"With great team support, I am very sure I will get used to the United States and major league

baseball," he said.

O's leaders in all-time opening day starts: 20: Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr.

13: Mark Belanger

12: Paul Blair, Eddie Murray and Boog Powell

11: Brady Anderson

10: Rick Dempsey

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/the-orioles-minor-league-break-camp-

rosters.html

The Orioles' minor league "break camp" rosters

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

Here are the Orioles' "break camp" rosters for their four full-season minor league affiliates. They

are Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, Single-A Frederick and Single-A Delmarva. These are

preliminary rosters and not completely set for opening day in the minors on Thursday. These

rosters are subject to some changes.

NORFOLK

Pitchers: Todd Redmond, Odrisamer Despaigne, Terry Doyle, Nick Additon, Oliver Drake,

Pedro Beato, Richard Rodriguez, Andy Oliver, Jason Stoffel, Edgar Olmos, Cesar Cabral, Chaz

Roe, Zach Phillips

Catchers: Audry Perez, Francisco Pena

Infielders: Joey Terdoslavich, Ozzie Martinez, Paul Janish, Michael Almanzar, Steve Tolleson,

Sharlon Schoop

Outfielders: Dariel Alvarez, Christian Walker, Henry Urrutia, Alfredo Marte, L.J. Hoes, Xavier

Avery

BOWIE

Pitchers: Parker Bridwell, Jason Garcia, Chris Lee, Joe Gunkel, David Hess, Ariel Miranda,

Stefan Chrichton, Ashur Tolliver, Donnie Hart, Jon Keller, Dennis Torres, Paul Demny, Bobby

Bundy

Catchers: Chance Sisco, Chris O'Brien

Infielders: Trey Mancini, Corban Joseph, Adrian Marin, Drew Dosch, Jeff Kemp, Garabez Rosa

Outfielders: Mike Yastrzemski, Glynn Davis, Quincy Latimore, Julio Borbon, Tucker Nathans

FREDERICK

Pitchers: Mitch Horacek, John Means, Matthew Grimes, Chipper Smith, Tanner Scott, Luis

Gonzalez, David Richardson, Jimmy Yacabonis, Ivan Hernandez, Garrett Cortright, Tanner

Chleborad, Max Schuh, Michael Zouzalik, Austin Urban

Catchers: Jonah Heim, Austin Wynns, Wynston Sawyer

Infielders: Aderlin Rodriguez, Steve Wilkerson, Erick Salcedo, Jomar Reyes, Anthony Caronia,

Cam Kneeland

Outfielders: Josh Hart, Jay Gonzalez, Jimmy Bosco, Tad Gold, T.J. Olesczuk

DELMARVA

Pitchers: Brian Gonzalez, Cory Jones, Cristian Alvarado, Lucas Long, Ofelky Peralta, Reid

Love, Ryan Meisinger, Garrett Cleavinger, Patrick Baker, Christian Turnipseed, Elias Pinales,

Robert Strader, Jay Flaa, Francisco Jimenez

Catchers: Alex Murphy, Stuart Levy

Infielders: Steve Laurino, Drew Turbin, Ryan Mountcastle, Alejandro Juvier, Ricardo Andujar,

Jack Graham

Outfielders: Cedric Mullins, DJ Stewart, Ademar Rifaela, Gerrion Grim, Natanael Delgado

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/hyun-soo-kim-on-making-the-roster-plus-

minor-league-rotations-and-notes.html

Hyun Soo Kim on making the roster plus minor league

rotations and notes

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

When the Orioles announced their opening day roster this afternoon, outfielder Hyun Soo

Kimwas on it. He did not accept an asssignment to the minor leagues and the Orioles are not

prepared to release him.

"Very happy to be on the roster and will try my best," Kim said through translater Danny

Lee this afternoon in the Orioles clubhouse.

Kim said, "Not too much," when asked if he considered the minor league assignment. He had the

contractual right to refuse such an assignment and did.

He was asked if he is comfortable with the Orioles management after the events of the past few

days and also what reaction he might get from fans on opening day.

"Not too sure what kind of reaction the fans might have being new here," he said. "The

management has done what they had to do. There is nothing I have any feelings about. I will just

try to do what I was doing here before. Want to show the fans and others watching what I can do.

"I heard the news I made the roster today and am starting to realize I am part of the team. I will

try my best to perform as a member of the team."

Kim went 0-for-1 Friday night at Philadelphia in his first game action since March 26. He ended

the spring batting .178 with no extra-base hits and two RBIs in 45 at-bats. Kim got an estimated

20 more at-bats in minor league games.

A couple of lockers away from Kim, Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard sat down, taking in his new

clubhouse surroundings. He is expected to make his major league debut tomorrow after batting

.397 this spring. It should be a pretty exciting next 24 hours for this young man.

"I'm trying not to think too far ahead," Rickard said. "Everything is happening so fast and I

couldn't be more excited. This is a dream come true. In spring, I just tried as hard as I could to

relax and stay within myself. It is easier said than done, but I'm comfortable and happy with how

it went."

Minor league notes: Orioles 2015 minor league Player of the Year Trey Mancini is going to start

the season at Double-A Bowie, according to director of player development Brian Graham.

Mancini hit .359/.395/.586 with an OPS of .981 in 84 games last year at Bowie and was expected

to begin this season at Triple-A Norfolk. But Joey Terdoslavich is going to open the year as

Norfolk's first baseman with Christian Walker in left for the Tides.

Graham explained the decision for Mancini to start back at Bowie.

"For us as an organization to begin the season, we just want all our assets to get an opportunity to

play," Graham said. "Mancini is one of our best prospects and he can go from Double-A to the

big leagues just as he can from Triple-A.

"Just to begin the year he'll start in Double-A. He may not be there very long. I explained this to

Trey and he completely understands. Trey plans on playing extremely well and not being in

Double-A very long."

The minor league rosters have not been announced yet, but here are the starting pitchers for now

for each team, although the orders are not set.

Norfolk: Nick Additon, Odrisamer Despaigne, Todd Redmond and Terry Doyle.

Bowie: Joe Gunkel, David Hess, Parker Bridwell, Ariel Miranda, Chris Lee and Jason Garcia.

Single-A Frederick: Mitch Horacek, Matthew Grimes, Chipper Smith and John Means.

Single-A Delmarva: Brian Gonzalez, Lucas Long, Cory Jones, Cristian Alvarado and Ofelky

Peralta.

Norfolk has one starter too few and Bowie has six right now. It is possible that a pitcher from

Bowie gets moved up to Norfolk by opening day. There is also a chance the O's add a Triple-A

starter not currently in the organization.

Pitcher Hunter Harvey, the O's 2013 first-round pick, will start the year with Single-A Frederick.

Harvey was forced out of Tuesday's start at Twin Lakes Park in the third inning due to a mild

groin strain. The Orioles are targeting the Keys' opening homestand for his first start of 2016.

That homestand begins on April 14.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/a-few-final-questions-before-the-

opener.html

A few final questions before the opener

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 3, 2016

Thankfully, we are almost out of time to predict and project and prognosticate on what may

happen during the 2016 baseball season. That is because it starts today for six teams and for the

Orioles tomorrow afternoon.

The long spring is finally over. But in our final hours leading up to opening day, here are three

questions about the 2016 Orioles. There are many others we will get answers on during the

season, as well.

How will the rotation fare?: This is the big one and one we'll be tracking closely during the year.

Chris Tillman needs to pitch better than last year while the O's hope to get a lift from newcomer

Yovani Gallardo.

This unit is on the spot this year. The rotation is just one element of the team, but it's a big one

and the pressure is on the starting five.

Can the offense scratch out some runs?: We know the Orioles will hit a lot of home runs. They

will probably hit 200 or more for the fifth straight year. There have only been nine seasons the

team has hit 200 or more in club history and they've done it every year since 2012.

But on nights when the homers don't come, will the Orioles be able to manufacture or scratch out

a run or two to make the difference between a win and loss? It was a weakness of the offense in

2015. The Orioles ability to add a few wins by scratching out important runs could be big this

season.

Who will surprise us?: If we knew this answer, we wouldn't have to ask the question. But there

are surprises every year. Some players perform better than expected and some play worse.

Steve Pearce surprised in a good way in 2014 and also by not performing as well last year (not to

pick on him). There are sure to be a few surprises this season as well.

Here are some over-under prop bets listed for the Orioles from the online sportsbook Bovada.lv.

* Manny Machado - .285 batting average, 29.5 homers, 90.5 RBIs.

* Adam Jones - 27.5 homers, 89.5 RBIs.

* Chris Davis - 39.5 homers, 105.5 RBIs.

* Mark Trumbo - 25.5 homers.

* Chris Tillman - 11.5 wins.

* Ubaldo Jimenez - 11.5 wins.

* Zach Britton - 35.5 saves.

What are some key questions you have about the 2016 Orioles? How many games will they win?

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/a-few-notes-on-xavier-avery-garabez-rosa-

and-winning-ways.html

A few notes on Xavier Avery, Garabez Rosa and winning

ways (updated)

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 2, 2016

While many of us were focused on Hyun Soo Kim, Joey Rickard's nightly stellar play, Nolan

Reimold's late-spring surge and Garabez Rosa's seemingly nightly late-inning hit, the X-man was

laying in the weeds.

Has the Orioles' 2008 second-round draft pick Xavier Avery made this team? He has had one

impressive spring which included a two-run homer to left by the lefty hitter last night in

Philadelphia.

In 32 spring at-bats, Avery has hit .313/.476/.813 with four homers. He bounced around at

Triple-A for three different organizations last year, batting .282/.343/.382 with six homers and

52 RBIs in 124 games.

The player that turned down the chance to be a college running back at the University of Georgia

coming out of high school could be coming into his own at 26.

Do the O's have three outfielders for two spots and have to decide between Kim, Reimold and

Avery? The X-man stated his case again last night.

Rosa raking: Garabez Rosa has been with the Orioles a few times this spring, coming over from

minor league camp. Like last night, when he homered leading off the ninth to tie the Phillies 7-7.

The O's added one run later for the 8-7 win.

Save for 10 at-bats at Triple-A Norfolk last year, Rosa has been with Double-A Bowie since

2013. He might soon be chasing some of Caleb Joseph's career records there.

Rosa is 12-for-21 with the Orioles this spring, batting .571 with a homer and 10 RBIs. At 26, he

still might have the defensive versatility to one day chase a reserve spot in the majors. Think of a

right-handed batting Ryan Flaherty-type player.

Rosa has played in 899 minor league games, all with the Orioles, without ever making the majors

since 2007. Last September, he was a playoff hero as Bowie won the Eastern League

championship. He homered twice in the decisive Game 5 win over Reading. Rosa had modest

stats last year for the Baysox (.253 with four homers and 35 RBIs), but he hit .385 with three

homers and 10 RBIs and was the MVP of the Eastern League playoffs.

Winning ways: Remember when the Orioles were 0-10-2 on March 11? They finished the spring

training schedule going 12-5-3 over their last 20 games and going 7-1-1 their last nine. Just like

there was no reason to panic March 11, these wins don't mean much either. But I'm sure the fans

still liked to see a few victories.

Now the fake games are over and finally, finally, we get to see one that counts on Monday

against the Twins.

Update: Here is a lengthy list of players recently released from the Orioles minor league camp:

Oswill Lartiguez OF

Elier Leyva OF

Yaisel Mederos 1B

Nigel Nootbaar RHP

Nik Nowottnick RHP

Hideki Okajima LHP

Greg Ross RHP

Tim Sexton RHP

Rubi Silva OF

Cody Wheeler LHP

Gene Escat RHP

Mike Carp OF

Alex Liddi INF

Dylan Rheault RHP

Patrick Palmeiro INF

Tanner Witt INF

Yariel Vargas OF

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/hyun-soo-kim-indicates-hes-still-not-

going-to-accept-a-minors-assignment.html

Hyun Soo Kim indicates he's still not going to accept a

minors assignment

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - The Orioles played their final exhibition game tonight in Philadelphia and

some roster decisions remain.

Chief among them: Will outfielder Hyun Soo Kim make the opening day roster? In his first

public comments tonight since the Orioles requested that he accept an assignment to the minor

leagues, Kim was asked about his status on the team right now.

"Everyone around here are treating me the same way," he said through interpreter Danny Lee. "I

still feel I am part of this team and everyone is still very nice to me. Whatever happens to me, I

am trying to get ready for every situation where I can be in the game. Every decision was made

through discussion with the agents, so whatever she says is the same as my thoughts."

So Kim is backing up his agency statement that he would not accept a minor league

assignment. Kim was asked about his confidence level and if a minors assignment could help.

"That one I haven't actually thought about it," he said.

Kim also sidestepped a question about whether he felt he got a fair chance this spring.

"To talk about the actual fairness or any kind of decision that the organization is making, I'm not

going to talk about which one is right or which one is wrong," he said. "I'm not going to make

any comments. All I want to do is be a good baseball player who gets ready every time whenever

for whoever needs me so I can be there to play."

Kim played tonight for the first time since Saturday March 26th in the seventh inning when he

was retired on a fly ball. He batted tonight with two on in the ninth of the Orioles' 8-7 win over

the Phillies. He reached on a fielder's choice grounder to first where the out was recorded at

second base.

Was he expecting to play tonight?

"It's been quite a while," he said. "The feeling was very nice, it has been awhile. It was very

special to get an at-bat today. I wasn't really expecting it. I actually felt good about the end of the

game.

"All I tried to do was get ready so I could play at anytime. And whenever the skipper asked me

to go out and play. Without knowing when to play, I was actually able to see the game, see how

others play and was actually able to learn from that. I enjoyed watching and learning."

After the game manager Buck Showalter said the fact Kim played tonight does not mean there

has yet been a change and/or resolution to his status.

"No. It's the same situation," Showalter said. "What would change about it? Not that I know of.

He didn't tell me. I wasn't told. I really didn't ask a whole lot. We talked a little about it some

today. It was an option for me.

"I almost started him tonight. There were some other variables there. But I wanted to wait and

see how many at bats (Pedro Alvarez) wanted. I wanted to at least get him one at bat. He's

working hard. Regardless of what's going on with his situation, I do have a heart. So you listen to

things and you still do what your heart tells you sometimes."

After tonight's 0-for-1, Kim ends spring training batting .178 with no extra-base hits and two

RBIs in 45 at-bats. Kim got an estimated 20 more at-bats in minor league games.

Showalter has not confirmed his fifth starter yet. It appears to be down to Vance Worley and

Tyler Wilson. Worley gave up one run in two innings tonight and did not return after a 47-

minute rain delay that started before the last of the third.

A questioner wondered to Showalter about Worley's status and if he is fighting for a roster spot.

"Who said he is fighting for the last roster spot? You said it," Showalter said. "No, we take in the

body of work and you try to make good decisions. There was one more game to play, so we

obviously at noon on Sunday have to show those cards. Dan (Duquette) is always working on

different things and we'll see what our options are. He's a good one. Good option for us to have.

He's presented himself pretty well."

The Orioles also made eight roster moves after tonight's game, which you can read about here.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/vance-worley-talks-about-his-final-spring-

training-outing.html

Vance Worley talks about his final spring training outing

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies added a run in the sixth tonight and now trail the Orioles 6-4 in

the eighth in the spring finale. Todd Redmond allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings after Edgar

Olmos gave up two solo homers. T.J. McFarland is now pitching. With Zach Phillips outrighted,

McFarland's chances to make this team likely got much better.

Vance Worley was scheduled to throw around four innings and 60 pitches here tonight. Due to a

rain delay, he went two innings and 34 pitches at Citizens Bank Park.

He gave up three hits and one run to the Phillies. He feels good about his spring overall and now

he waits to find out if he has made the Orioles' opening day roster and in what role that would be.

Worley was originally a third-round draft pick of the Phillies and played with them in the majors

from 2010-2012 and also pitched here when he was with the Pirates.

"I've always liked playing and pitching here," he said. "It can prepare me for Camden, that is a

small park, too. Being able to keep the ball on the ground tonight was important."

Worley said he certainly has taken note of the O's shrinking roster of pitchers as camp has gone

on.

"I think we all kind of do," he said. "There are a few of us who still don't really know what our

role is or if we are even on the team. We traveled with a lot of guys here. Just patiently waiting."

Worley has pitched as a starter and reliever this spring and in his career. Will that versatility be

big for him now?

"I guess. I'm just showing I can do all the different roles," he said. "Hopefully, they see that. It's

not easy bouncing around doing different roles. We'll see."

A candidate along with Tyler Wilson for the fifth starter's job, Worley ends spring with an ERA

of 4.32. Over 16 2/3 innings, he allowed 19 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) with four walks and

seven strikeouts. Over his last four games, he gave up just one run in 7 1/3 innings. In five of his

eight outings, he did not allow a run.

"Feel good about it," Worley said. "Obviously, it is difficult with all the different roles, but I

threw up zeroes when I needed to and made myself be seen."

Now he awaits the time when he finds out if he'll be running down the orange carpet on Monday

afternoon at Camden Yards.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/04/buck-showalter-pregame-in-philadelphia-

on-kim-gonzalez-and-more.html

Showalter pregame in Philadelphia on Kim, Gonzalez and

more

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

April 1, 2016

PHILADELPHIA - There is still no resolution to the situation involving the Orioles and

outfielderHyun Soo Kim.

The Orioles would like to send him to the minors to the start the season. But Kim, through his

agency, informed the club last night he won't agree to the assignment.

Kim is with the Orioles here tonight for the spring training finale in Philadelphia.

"He's not starting. We'll see what the game brings," manager Buck Showalter said.

Is Showalter now preparing for Kim to start the year on the O's 25-man roster?

"I like to think that you prepare for everything," he said. "We'll let the people that handle that,

handle it. I want to be in a position to adjust either way. Have to have a conversation with four or

five guys when this game is over."

Showalter is still not ready to announce his fifth starter. But that pitcher is likely to be available

in the bullpen during the first few games.

Speaking of pitchers, right-hander Miguel Gonzalez today cleared waivers and was given his

unconditional release. He becomes a free agent and may sign with any team.

Showalter said he still has hopes Gonzalez stays in the Orioles' organization.

"We still hope to figure out a way to have him pitch in Norfolk here shortly. Miguel is in, in

some ways, a no-lose situation. He is going to get offers from others clubs, including us.

"(The Orioles have the) same chance as other clubs have. I'd like to think ours are a little better,

but we'll see. He has earned the right to make a choice of where he wants to go. I talked to him

not long ago after he cleared. Wanted him to hear from (Dave Wallace) and I and Dom (Chiti). I

know Wally has been staying in touch with him. He's already been contacted by three or four

clubs. We'll see where it goes. He talked to Dom about the clubs he's heard from, so I have an

idea where the competition is."

The Orioles have not made any announcements on pitchers Chaz Roe and Zach Phillips, but both

players reportedly cleared waivers and have been outrighted to Triple-A.

Showalter made a brief comment about Roe this afternoon during his pregame press briefing.

"There is no doubt that he will be able to impact our club this year. It will be nice to have him

down there," he said.

The Orioles' Triple-A rotation for now seems to be shaping up with these four starters: Nick

Additon, Todd Redmond, Odrisamer Despaigne and Terry Doyle. Yes, they will need to add a

fifth.

Several O's pitchers stayed back today and pitched during a Triple-A intrasquad game in Florida:

Ubaldo Jimenez: four innings, six hits, two earned runs, one walk, two strikeouts, 60 pitches

Brian Matusz: 1 2/3 innings, no hits, no runs, three walks, one strikeouts, 37 pitches

Dylan Bundy: one inning, one hit, no runs, one walk, one strikeout, 19 pitches

Zach Britton: one inning, one hit, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts, 12 pitches

Darren O'Day: one inning, no hits, no runs, one walk, no strikeouts, 13 pitches

Kevin Gausman threw a bullpen session today for the first time since he received a cortisone

injection on March 20 for shoulder tendinitis. He threw 25 to 30 fastballs and changeups, and it

went quite well, Showalter said. The team is still targeting April 19 for his season debut.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=360404101

Twins-Orioles Preview

Associated Press

April 4, 2016

BALTIMORE -- After squaring off six times in spring training, the Baltimore

Orioles and Minnesota Twins became quite familiar with each other.

On Monday, it gets real.

"It's a new beginning," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "This is when you've got to show

your cards."

Opening day at Camden Yards features two AL squads that finished with nearly identical records

in 2015. The difference was, the Twins derived a good deal of satisfaction from going 83-79 and

Baltimore was disappointed in its .500 finish after reaching the league championship series one

year earlier.

Both teams expect to improve this season. The Twins appeared to take a step in that direction

during an uneventful spring training in which they went 19-11 -- including 4-2 against the

Orioles.

"I don't put a lot of stock into wins other than, when you win games, you're doing some things

right," second-year manager Paul Molitor said.

The Orioles opened 0-10 with two ties, and that wasn't even the worst of it. Free agent

outfielder Dexter Fowler appeared close to signing before returning to the Cubs, and right-

hander Yovani Gallardo finally came aboard after an exhaustive physical. Gallardo is now part

of a starting rotation that will open with Kevin Gausman on the disabled list and without

stalwart Miguel Gonzalez, who was cut last week.

There was also the saga of outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, who failed to make the transition from

South Korea to the majors but will start the season on the 25-man roster because his contract

provides him the option of declining an assignment to the minors.

The Orioles will seek to put all that behind them Monday, when Chris Tillman makes his third

straight opening day start. The Twins will counter with right-hander Ervin Santana, who closed

out a 7-5 season by going 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA in September.

Although the Twins are in the AL Central and Baltimore operates in the AL East, these teams

have already seen each other so often it's as they're in the same division.

"It's a little strange to see a team so often in spring and then have to line up against them," Twins

righty Phil Hughes said before Sunday's workout at Camden Yards. "I had to throw on the minor

league side and do all sorts of stuff in spring training just so I wouldn't have to face the Orioles

four times in spring training."

Showalter really couldn't explain why the Orioles and Twins are seeing so much of each other

this spring.

"Go figure. That's another scheduling glitch," he said. "The priority was always to get your work

done and prepare for the other 13 teams in our league. We tweaked that some the last couple

times we played them, just to be on the safe side."

The less he sees of the Twins, the better.

"They've got a really good team," Showalter said. "They're one of my picks to really be very

competitive this year. I really love the job that Molitor does."

The Twins are seeking a suitable encore to their breakthrough season.

"If we do a couple things a little bit better, we have a real good shot of doing what we need to

do," Hughes said. "Hopefully these young guys feel a little more comfortable in their second

year."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/15124464/south-korean-outfielder-hyun-soo-kim-initial-

baltimore-orioles-roster

South Korean OF Hyun Soo Kim makes Orioles' roster

Associated Press

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- South Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim has made the Baltimore Orioles' 25-

man Opening Day roster after resisting the team's effort to send him to the minor leagues.

Kim batted .178 during spring training and had only one plate appearance over the final week of

the exhibition season.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette hoped to option Kim to Triple-A for more

seasoning. But Kim's $7 million, two-year contract included a provision that prevents the club

from sending him to the minors without his consent.

So, when Baltimore announced its final roster on Sunday, Kim made the cut.

"We asked him to take some more time to get the at-bats that we felt he needed to show the form

that he had shown in international competition," Duquette said. "It was his option. We asked for

his consent because we thought that was the best way to prepare him. He didn't see it that way."

Kim, 28, said through a translator: "The management has done what they had to do. I'm going to

try to ... show the fans and others who have been watching me what I can do."

He conceded that it might take some time.

"With the great team support, and support from the teammates, I'm very sure that I will get used

to the United States and Major League Baseball," Kim said.

Kim was one of the top players in the Korea Baseball Organization before signing with the

Orioles. The team envisioned him being a starter, but it became apparent early that Kim was

going to have problems against big league pitching. He went hitless in his first 23 at-bats,

managed only eight hits in 45 at-bats and walked only once.

The Orioles hope that after making the adjustment to a new culture and better pitching, Kim will

put up decent numbers.

"The good news is, if he hits like it says he can hit in the book, I think that we have a need for a

left-handed hitter on our roster," Duquette said. "Hopefully the next part of his hitting will be a

stronger sample of what we saw in the spring."

And until then?

"I'm going to use everybody, and I think he has a chance to contribute," manager Buck Showalter

said.

Baltimore placed three players on the 15-day disabled list Sunday: right-hander Kevin

Gausman (shoulder strain), lefty Brian Matusz (rib cage) and infielder Jimmy Paredes (sprained

left wrist). Also, outfielder Xavier Averywas reassigned to minor league camp.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/chris-tillman-gets-opening-day-start-against-

twins

Chris Tillman gets Opening Day start against Twins

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 4, 2016

Today's Game:

Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, 3:05 p.m.

Starting pitchers:

Ervin Santana vs. Chris Tillman

Keys to the Game:

Can Tillman beat the Twins? He's O-4 with a 6.82 ERA in six starts against them.

How will Joey Rickard, who starred in the spring, react to regular season play?

News and Notes:

Santana is 4-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 starts against the Orioles and has a 6.38 ERA in seven

starts in Baltimore

Current Orioles are batting .215 against Santana.

Current Twins are .237 against Tillman.

The Opening Day roster has five rookies: Rickard, Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens, Hyun Soo

Kim and Tyler Wilson.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/showalter-mulling-leadoff-hitter-opening-day

Showalter mulling leadoff hitter for Opening Day

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Monday will be a different Opening Day for Buck Showalter. It will be the first

without his mother, who died on the final day of the 2015 season.

"I was thinking about that the last few days," Showalter said. "Picked up the phone about three

times to call her. So, all of you call your mom, for me.”

Showalter said that he had a lineup in mind for Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins,

but hadn’t finalized it. He was going to reveal it to the players before they left on Sunday.

Will Rule 5 draft choice Joey Rickard be the leadoff hitter?

"That's one of the things I want to think through a little bit," Showalter said. "There's some

advantages, disadvantages. I think we all understand what that spotlight is like. If you ever feel

challenged by a day, I've seen his face twice down the hall and it's fun to look at. I'm living

through him. That's pretty cool. Fun to watch him."

Pitching coach Dave Wallace has lots of confidence in Chris Tillman, who’ll be starting for the

third straight opener.

“Tremendous competitor, looks like he’s throwing the ball well,” Wallace said. “He’s going to

want to pitch better every year he plays than he did the previous year. That’s what makes Chris

Tillman the guy that he is.”

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/kim-says-he-doesnt-hold-grudge-against-

orioles

Kim says he doesn't hold a grudge against Orioles

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE – Hyun Soo Kim doesn’t know what his role is going to be with the Orioles. He

knows that because he declined the team’ minor league assignment he’s on the team.

Kim was asked on Sunday if had considered the team’s request.

“Not too much,” he answered through his translator.

“I’m very happy to be on the roster and I will try my best to make it up to the coaching staff and

organization (for giving me) the chance,” Kim said.

It was not a decision the Orioles agreed with. Kim signed a two-year, $7 million contract that

forbids the team from sending him to the minor leagues without his consent.

“Kim’s been on the roster, and we asked him to take some more time to get the at-bats that we

felt he needed to show the form that he had shown in the international competition,” Executive

Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette said.

“It was his option, and we asked for his consent because we felt that was the best way to prepare

him—that he needed more time on his transition. He didn’t see it way, but the good news is that

if he hits like it says he can in the book, I think we need for a left-handed hitter on the roster,

then the next part of his hitting will be a stronger sample of what we saw in the spring.”

Manager Buck Showalter, who spoke with Kim several times in the last week, continued to talk

with him, and is confident that despite his .178 spring average he’ll be ready to contribute.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/kim-orioles-25-man-roster

Kim is on Orioles' 25-man roster

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 3, 2016

BALTIMORE – Despite the Orioles requests that he accept an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk,

Hyun Soo Kim turned the team down, and will start the season on the 25-man roster.

The Orioles officially announced the roster, and trimmed it to 25 by assigning outfielder Xavier

Avery to minor league camp. They also placed Kevin Gausman (shoulder), Brian Matusz (back)

and Jimmy Paredes on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Mar. 25.

Kim, who ended spring training with a .178 average, signed a two-year, $7 million contract that

requires him to give his consent for a minor league assignment.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-make-cuts-get-closer-opening-day-

group

Orioles make cuts, get closer to Opening Day group

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 2, 2016

A chaotic spring training came to an end on a brutally long evening in Philadelphia. After the

rain-delayed 8-7 win over the Phillies, the Orioles made a series of moves that got them closer to

their Opening Day roster.

The Orioles still have until noon on Sunday to finalize their 25-man roster.

There weren’t any real surprises among the cuts, but there’s one player remaining on their roster

who didn’t figure to be there a few weeks ago.

Xavier Avery, who played for the Orioles in 2012, is the only non-roster invitee still on hand.

Avery, who hit his fourth home run of the spring on Friday night, and stole a base, left the team

in Aug. 2013 when he was sent to Seattle for Michael Morse.

Several organizations later, he’s back, and if Hyun Soo Kim somehow changes his mind and

accepts a minor league assignment, and the Orioles don’t pick up another outfielder, Avery could

make his first Opening Day roster.

Kim, who had been silent in recent days, told reporters in Philadelphia that he would not accept a

demotion, and he pinch hit in Friday night’s game, his first playing time in six days.

By noon Sunday, the Kim drama will come to an end—for the moment.

Two non-roster pitchers, Pedro Beato and Todd Redmond, were assigned to minor league camp.

Two other pitchers with major league experience, Chaz Roe and Zach Phillips, passed through

waivers and were assigned to Norfolk. Outfielder L.J. Hoes and infielder Steve Tolleson were

assigned to minor league camp as was infielder Paul Janish. Catcher Francisco Pena was

optioned to Norfolk.

All moves were expected though there was some thought the Orioles could keep Janish and Ryan

Flaherty because of Flaherty’s ability to play the outfield.

Because of a provision in his contract, Janish had to be made available to every major league

team, but for now, the Showalter favorite stays in the organization.

As for Avery, his speed and defense help, and so does being a left-handed hitter. He has tools

that Kim, who is also left-handed doesn’t have.

For now, T.J. McFarland and Vance Worley are the 11th and 12th pitchers on the roster, but the

Orioles continue to look for alternatives.

With Brian Matusz starting the season on the disabled list, only McFarland and Zach Britton are

left-handers. Matusz, Kevin Gausman and Jimmy Paredes will be placed on the disabled list to

start the season.

The Orioles continue to hope that Miguel Gonzalez, who is now a free agent will accept a minor

league deal and go to Norfolk. Several other organizations are interested in Gonzalez, but none

may offer him a major league contract.

NOTES: Minor league infielder Felix Rutledge received a 50-game suspension for testing

positive for a drug of abuse. Former Orioles catcher Taylor Teagarden was suspended 80 games

for a violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. … Rick Dempsey and

Maryland State Senator Bobby Zirkin will throw out first pitches on Opening Day. … The

Orioles roster is now at 37 with the removal of Gonzalez, Phillips and Roe. They have 29 players

on their spring roster.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-officially-release-miguel-gonzalez

Orioles officially release Miguel Gonzalez

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 1, 2016

Two days after he placed on release waivers, Miguel Gonzalez has been officially released by the

Orioles. Gonzalez was informed by the club of the move on Wednesday.

Gonzalez reportedly has garnered interest from several other clubs, and if he doesn't sign with

one of them, he can go to Norfolk to pitch there. That seems unlikely.

Gonzalez was outpitched during the spring by Mike Wright, who will be the team's fourth

starter.

Chaz Roe and Zach Phillips both cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Norfolk. Those

moves have not been officially announced.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/how-will-messy-kim-situation-end-orioles

How will messy Kim situation end for Orioles?

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 1, 2016

SARASOTA, Fla. – Between now and noon on Sunday, the Orioles will figure out what to do

with Hyun Soo Kim.

He’s not reporting to Triple-A Norfolk according to his agent despite the Orioles repeated efforts

to convince him to do so.

The team can add him to the 25-man roster, which they don’t want to do, try and find a buyer in

South Korea, which Kim doesn’t want them to do, release him and pay $7 million for watching

him hit .182 in Grapefruit League play.

After Kim had played a handful of games, scouts were unanimous in their judgements. He

wasn’t good enough to play in the major leagues. His offense was lacking. He couldn’t drive the

ball. His defense wasn’t good, either. His arm was weak and couldn’t cover a lot of ground.

The Orioles hoped it was a case of culture shock and that he’d adjust. After an 0-for-23 start, he

got somewhat better, but there were no extra-base hits.

Early in camp, manager Buck Showalter kept cautioning when it came to Kim: “If he goes north

with us.” At the time, it seemed like an unnecessary proviso. Of course he was going north. Kim

was the starting left fielder, and the team didn’t pay him $7 million over two years to watch him

play at Norfolk’s Harbor Park.

Those warnings were not only necessary but farsighted just like Showalter’s assessment that

there was competition for the rotation that some people didn’t understand.

Every other outfielder in spring training, major league or minor league was better than Kim. It

wasn’t just that Joey Rickard outplayed him. Dariel Alvarez, Xavier Avery, L.J. Hoes, Alfredo

Marte, Nolan Reimold and Henry Urrutia were all better. So was Christian Walker who’s played

just two games in left.

There’s talk from people both in the States and in Korea that the Orioles should do the honorable

thing and keep Kim on the 25-man roster.

He’s not good enough. Perhaps as Dan Duquette suggests, some time in Triple-A could enable

Kim to be better, to acclimate, and be a useful major leaguer.

For now, Kim looks like a mistake, but the Orioles were quick in recognizing that.

It’s not uncommon for players to think they’re better than they are. In fact, it’s very common, but

Kim is far from a major leaguer.

He should try Norfolk and see how he hits there. Maybe he just needs that time.

The Orioles have 48 hours to do something with him. It will be a long 48 hours for Duquette and

Showalter.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-end-exhibition-season-visit-philly

Orioles end exhibition season with visit to Philly

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

April 1, 2016

Tonight's Game:

Baltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Starting pitchers:

Vance Worley vs. Aaron Nola

Keys to the Game:

Does Worley have a chance to make the team? Worley gets a final chance to impress.

Wilo the Hyun Soo Kim controversy be solved today? The Orioles have until noon Sunday to

make a decision on Kim.

News and Notes:

Oliver Drake was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. There could be more cuts after tonight's game.

Matt Wieters won't be catching.

The Orioles have Saturday off and will workout Sunday.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2016/04/04/orioles-buck-showalter-not-worried-about-

national-media-projections

Orioles' Buck Showalter Not Worried About National Media

Projections

By Paul Folkemer / PressboxOnline.com

April 4, 2016

Prior to the Orioles' 2016 regular-season opener April 4, a reporter reminded O's manager Buck

Showalter that his team was predicted by most national publications to finish out of contention.

Most baseball pundits and projection systems have forecast the Birds to finish in fourth or fifth

place in the American League East, missing the postseason.

Showalter, as expected, put little stock into the projections. He pointed out that the Orioles have

constantly outplayed their expected record during the past four years, during which time the club

has the most wins in the AL.

"We answered these same questions last year and in '14 and the year before, and that's OK,"

Showalter said. "I understand what it looks like on paper, but also I've got a pretty good cheat

sheet every day that I'm in the locker room with these guys. I've been around them, and I know

what they're about. So I think some people miss that about them."

According to Showalter, the Orioles are using the media's lack of confidence in them as an

incentive.

"They've got a pretty quiet burn about it," Showalter said. "It's like David Cone said a long time

ago, 'I get a chance to change that every day. I go out there every fifth day.' Someone was asking

him about getting booed at Yankee Stadium, and he said, 'Well, they're waiting to embrace me.

I've just got to give them something to embrace me about.' So we control that. We really do. I've

said many times, these projections, people love to see what supposedly baseball-educated people

predict. We're going to find out. There's no hiding from 162 games."

As for Opening Day, Showalter would rather focus on its significance to the city, the fans and

the players -- especially the players who are experiencing it for the first time. The Orioles'

season-opening roster includes six players who have never been on an Opening Day roster

before: right-handers Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens, Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright and

outfielders Joey Rickard and Hyun Soo Kim.

Rickard, in particular, was the buzz of Orioles camp, winning the starting left-field job as a Rule

5 pick. He batted .397/.472/.571/1.044 during 28 games. There was some thought that Rickard

might even be the Opening Day leadoff hitter, but Showalter opted to play it slow, instead

penning him into the No. 9 slot with third baseman Manny Machado batting leadoff.

Still, the fact that Rickard earned his spot in the Opening Day lineup impressed Showalter.

"I had three [potential lineups]," Showalter said. "He was in three different places, but he was in

all three. … [This is] a guy that was playing winter ball in Montgomery last year. What are they,

the Biscuits? That's what's great about baseball. And next thing you know, he's the first question

on Opening Day. That's cool, you know?"

Showalter also spoke glowingly of Bundy, the oft-injured top prospect who stayed healthy and

excelled in relief this spring.

"That was very quietly one of the better things that happened in Sarasota," Showalter said. "And

now we'll go to another part of the process for Dylan. I'm hoping next year that this is all behind

him and he's been helping and he's in our rotation. That's what we're hoping. Maybe he becomes

kind of like Zach [Britton], and we think, 'Geez, do we want to move him around?' I don't know.

We will find out. He's excited in his own way.

"It's kind of funny that he's kind of under the radar here when you look at the background. I think

he's kind of prospering under that environment, too. But he earned it. If you just went by spring

training and didn't know he was out of options and this and that and whatever, he would've made

your club. It was one of the better performances from start to finish of the guys we had in

Sarasota. Let's see if it continues."

Another first-timer is Wilson, who posted a 2.60 ERA during seven spring games and is a

candidate to fill the No. 5 starter's spot while right-hander Kevin Gausman is on the disabled list.

"He's one of those guys that's overachieved in other people's minds," Showalter said of Wilson.

"He's a very easy guy to trust. He's athletic. He's probably one of our best conditioned guys. He

fields his position. He holds runners. He understands scouting reports. He understands who he is

and who he isn't. And he never quits firing.

"He's not going to back off the competition. He's not going to get that wow factor when he sees a

certain guy in the batter's box. He looks at it as an opportunity to do the same thing he's been

doing since the 10th grade, at every stop. He's done nothing but been a winning pitcher

everywhere he's gone."

Showalter said even Kim, whom the O's put on the roster seemingly against their will after he

refused a minor league assignment, could gain valuable experience.

"It might be good in a way that he kind of steps back and is able to take in a little bit from afar,"

Showalter said. "We all get too close to things, and there's some positives about him being able

to take it in. But I also realize this is some more uncharted waters for him. There's a lot of things

happening to him for the first time in his 28 years, so he's getting a lot of support from coaches,

management and, most importantly, the players. I know they're all pulling for him. There's a real

good vibe around him with his teammates."

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/04/01/new-food-about-to-debut-at-os-games/

New Food About To Debut At O’s Games

By Jessica Kartalija

April 1, 2016

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — These days, eating at a baseball game is so much more than peanuts

and Cracker Jacks.

Jessica Kartalija had the tough assignment of tasting the new concessions at Camden Yards.

Somebody’s got to do it, right?

It’s baseball time and Jessica headed to the kitchen with Executive Chef Ryan Farrell to try

what’s hot in the kitchen this season.

The catering team is hard at work creating five new items to tempt your tastebuds while you

cheer on the O’s.

The High Heater Burger

The Brisket Sandwich

The Buffalo Chicken Chipper

The Jalapeno Cheddar Dog

The Roma Chorizo Sausage

Back in the kitchen, she gave the rookie a chance and it’s two thumbs up for the brisket

barbecue.

Opening Day is Monday. Live pre-game coverage begins at 2, followed by the game against the

Twins. You can watch it all live on WJZ.

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/04/03/hyun-soo-kim-makes-orioles-opening-day-roster-after-all/

Hyun-soo Kim makes Orioles’ Opening Day roster after all

By Bill Baer / NBCsports.com

April 3, 2016

The Orioles originally wanted outfielder Hyun-soo Kim to accept a demotion to the minor

leagues to begin the season, believing that he needed a bit more time to adjust. But Kim, as is his

contractual right, resisted such an assignment.

As a result, the Orioles thought things over and added him to the roster after all, Eduardo A.

Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports. The Orioles were otherwise looking at the possibility at

simply eating his $7 million salary for nothing.

Kim struggled in spring training, racking up only eight hits — all singles — in 45 at-bats. He

was quite the power hitter in the Korean Baseball Organization, ripping 142 home runs over

parts of 10 seasons.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2016/04/04/its-just-like-a-holiday-scenes-from-

orioles.html

'It's just like a holiday': Scenes from Orioles Opening Day

By Jonathan Munshaw / Baltimore Business Journal

April 4, 2016

The threat of rain certainly didn't stop Orioles fans from coming out in droves to celebrate

Opening Day.

Even three hours before the first pitch, fans were gathering outside of bars, restaurants and hotels

— anywhere they could find a patch of grass or concrete to stand and enjoy a beer on a mild

April day.

Standing room was hard to come by — especially closer to the stadium. But no matter how busy

the crosswalks got or how long the lines at the Natty Boh tents got, though, it couldn't damper

fans' optimism.

"It's a rebirth for the team," fan Dave Arnold said as he walked outside the Baltimore Convention

Center on his way to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Monday was Arnold's first ever Opening Day. He was traveling with his friend, Robert Smith,

who had been to nine other Opening Days for the O's.

"All we have is positive feelings," Arnold said. "It's just like a holiday."

Above, you can see some of the scenes from Camden Yards and the surrounding area on

Monday.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/feature/8-things/2016/04/8-things-april-4-16.html

8 things you need to know on Opening Day Bottom of Form

By Jonathan Munshaw / Baltimore Business Journal

April 4,2016

Good morning, and happy Opening Day!

Loyal readers of 8 things know I'm not the most loyal Baltimore sports fan, but my Nationals

also open the season today in Atlanta, so good times all around.

Here are eight things you need to know before you head out to Camden Yards today.

If you are going to the game, it'd be wise to wear a jacket or poncho. Although it'll be

warmer than yesterday, there's a chance of showers after 2 p.m. ABC2

Opening Day is always a time for optimism in baseball. Everyone's team has a clean slate

in front of them. And while it'll be tough for the O's to win the American League East this

year, the numbers at least give them a fighting chance. FiveThirtyEight

After a long week of back-and-forth threats, the Orioles decided to keep Korean

outfielder Hyun Soo Kim on the 25-man Opening Day roster. Kim's agent threatened to

move the player back overseas if the Orioles had wanted to move him down to AAA.

Kim hit just .125 in Spring Training. ESPN

Wind gusts of over 50 miles-per-hour made driving Saturday night and Sunday morning

difficult, knocking down trees and branches into roads and knocking out power. At one

point Saturday, almost 30,000 BG&E customers were without power. CBS Baltimore

Rain on Friday and Saturday certainly didn't cut down on crowds at Light City.

Organizers are estimating that about 400,000 people came to the city to see the light

festival, 100,000 more than expected. Baltimore Sun

An Amtrak train struck a backhoe that was on the track near Philadelphia, killing two

construction workers and injuring dozens of passengers. The derailment caused backups

at Baltimore's Penn Station. It's currently unclear why the backhoe was on the track, or

why the train was traveling on that path if construction was taking place. CNN

Baltimore City Housing Commissioner Dan Graziano was grilled by public housing

residents over the weekend. Graziano appeared at a town hall-style feedback meeting,

where residents complained about inadequate heating, mold and leaky ceilings. CBS

Baltimore

Although it was originally thought the presidential primaries would be decided by the

time Maryland's elections came along on April 26, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie

Sanders are setting up a fight in the state. Sanders has set up a regional headquarters in

Baltimore, and Clinton held an event in Howard County on Sunday. Baltimore Sun