Monday Bird Droppings: There is baseball this week!

Mar 27, 2023 - 11:00 AM

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Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! Are you ready to watch some baseball this week? Real, regular season baseball? Because it’s coming! This Thursday is Opening Day with the Orioles taking on the Red Sox in Boston.

Yes, there is still one spring training game left. This afternoon the Bird close out their 2023 Grapefruit League season with a 1:05 game against the Cardinals. Dean Kremer, your #2 starter, will make his final spring tune-up before he starts in Boston this weekend.

If you’re near a cable TV or have access to mlb.tv, you can watch this final game of spring training on MASN. **Insert snark about number of games broadcast on MASN here**

There were a number of news items out of spring camp this weekend. Mychal Givens tried and failed to throw off the mound, limping away after testing his sore knee. It’s not official, but I’ll be shocked if he is ready for Opening Day.

Also injured is James McCann, who is struggling with a strained oblique. Those obliques are tricky to heal, so we might not see him on Opening Day either.

Finally, the Orioles sent DL Hall, Yennier Canó, and Spenser Watkins down to triple-A. It was a bit of a surprise on Hall, who I thought would start the season in the bullpen.

There are still 41 players in camp, a number that will have to be whittled down to 26 before the team flies to Boston tomorrow night.

Links

Orioles observations on Andrew Politi’s roster case, Jorge Mateo in center, Keegan Akin’s versatility and more – Baltimore Sun
Jacob Calvin Meyer goes deep on Andrew Politi's spring as we near decision time on if he'll make the major league roster. With the current bullpen injuries I'd say he has a chance.

Orioles' McCann out with oblique injury - BaltimoreBaseball.com
Anthony Bemboom, come on down! Or is it Maverick Handley?

Connolly: It’s a ‘good problem,’ but O’s have tough decision on Grayson Rodriguez - The Athletic
I guess it's a good problem to have more starters than spots, but doesn't that also depend on how good those pitchers are?

Orioles prospect DL Hall to begin 2023 season in Minors - MLB.com
It's not what many people expected, but DL Hall's early season injury and the crowded field for the rotation mean that he's headed back to Norfolk. We'll see him up soon enough after he's stretched out and another starter gets hurt or stinks.

Baltimore Orioles season preview - Pinstripe Alley
In case you're wondering what a division rival blog has to say about your favorite team.

Camden Chat’s 2023 Orioles pre-season contest - Camden Chat
There are just three days left to play! We’re got more than 200 entries so far. Don’t you want to be one of the cool kids?

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies. 2021 Oriole Matt Harvey celebrates his 34th birthday today. 2015 eight-gamer Junior Lake is 33 and 1987 12-gamer Dave Van Gorder is 66.

On this day in 1994. the Orioles traded the talented but injury-prone David Segui to the Mets for Tom Wegmann and Kevin Baez. Segui would return to the Orioles for the end of his career from 2001-2004.