Monthly Archives: March 2013

Pearce-ing the 25-man roster?

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Steve Pearce’s surprising spring stats and Wilson Betemit’s knee injury might mean Pearce will earn a roster spot. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America)

The old proverb says, “One man’s loss is another man’s gain.”

In yesterday’s Spring Training game between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, Wilson Betemit of the O’s went down in the 5th inning with an injury. After the game it was announced Betemit suffered a torn PCL in his right knee.

Betemit will be out an estimated 6-8 weeks, but that might be to the benefit of Steve Pearce.

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Taking a second look at the hole at second base

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The void at second base may not be solved in Spring Training for the Orioles. (Photo courtesy of J. Meric/Getty Images North America)

The void at second base may not be solved in Spring Training for the Orioles. (Photo courtesy of J. Meric/Getty Images North America)

Prior to the start of Spring Training, The Birdhouse asked, who’s on second for the Baltimore Orioles in 2013?

With the Orioles slated to face the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day just one week away, the search for the team’s second baseman is nearing an end.

The best assumptions to fill the hole at second are Brian Roberts, who has played in an O’s uniform in just 115 games since the start of the 2010 season. Alexi Casilla, who played middle infield for the Minnesota Twins between 2006 and 2012. And Ryan Flaherty, who served as a utility man for the Baltimore in 2012.

Roberts is the oldest Oriole on the 2013 roster. (Photo Courtesy of Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press)

Roberts is the oldest Oriole on the 2013 roster. (Photo Courtesy of Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press)

Roberts has played in 14 Spring Training games accumulating a .357 batting average with a home run, 4 RBIs, while drawing 4 walks and stealing 3 bases.

Casilla, who the Orioles acquired off waivers from the Twins on November 2, 2012, is another candidate for the role.

Casilla has appeared in 15 games this spring. He has posted a .289 average, with 2 doubles and 2 stolen bases. However, along with his 10 Ks, he has yet to homer and has yet to drive in a run.

Flaherty started 20 games at second for Buck Showalter and the Birds in 2012. The most games at any position for the 26-year old.

Flaherty is in his second season with the Orioles and the fourth of his career. (Photo courtesy of Jim Rogash/Getty Images North America)

Flaherty is almost guaranteed to make the squad based just on his position flexibility alone. This spring in 23 games, Flaherty is batting .262, with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs.

The battle for the role of second baseman may not be settled this spring. It could carry over to the regular season, where Showalter and the O’s will wait and see who steps up to win the job when the games actually matter.

The Orioles will open the 2013 season in Tampa with a 3 p.m. start on April 2. The Opening Day starter has yet to be named for the O’s.

The surging Pedro Strop

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Pedro Strop was a key member of the Orioles bullpen when they made the postseason for the first time since 1997.

Pedro Strop was a key member of the Orioles bullpen when they made the postseason for the first time since 1997. (Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison/ Flickr)

The Baltimore Orioles were a selling team in 2011. As they had been for the better part of the last decade and a half, until 2012.

On August 31, 2011, Andy MacPhail sent reliever Mike Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later. The next day, that player was Pedro Strop.

The trade didn’t seem like much to Orioles fans then. Strop had a 3.72 ERA for the Rangers in 11 relief appearances. But since the trade, Strop has become an integral part of the Baltimore bullpen.

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