Tag Archives: Alexi Casilla

Finalized Opening Day roster

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The Orioles finished 19-9 this spring, second in the Grapefruit league and third best overall. (Photo courtesy of James Gordon/Baltimore Sun)

The Orioles finished 19-9 this spring, second in the Grapefruit league and third best overall. (Photo courtesy of James Gordon/Baltimore Sun)

With Spring Training coming to a close and the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros playing baseball that actually matters last night at Minute Maid Park, the MLB regular season has officially begun.

The Baltimore Orioles are in Tampa Bay, Fla. and are preparing to open the 2013 season against the hometown Tampa Bay Rays.

Below is the Orioles’ finalized 25-man roster by manager Buck Showalter:

Starting Pitchers

  1. Jason Hammel
  2. Wei-Yin Chen
  3. Miguel Gonzalez
  4. Jake Arrieta
  5. Chris Tillman

Bullpen

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Early this spring The Birdhouse speculated about the Orioles pitching rotation. It’s a bit of a surprise to see Matusz tabbed as a starter once again after he dominated out of the pen last season.

The Birdhouse posted on March 26 about Pearce and the possibility of him cracking the roster after Wilson Betemit left a Spring Training game against Boston with a knee injury. Pearce did indeed beat out Conor Jackson for that bench spot.

The Orioles and Rays kick off the season tomorrow with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Tropicana Field. Hammel gets the Opening Day start for the O’s and he will match up against David Price.

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.

Full Squad Report Day

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February 14, Valentine’s Day, typically a day most men dread and most women love (pun intended).

This year, everyone can enjoy Valentine’s Day because it’s also the day full MLB squads report to Spring Training.

Some players, such as J.J. Hardy, reported before the Feb. 14 deadline.

Dan Duquette on his 2013 Orioles in an interview with Orioles.com:

“We have some things we can build on, because we had a good year last year, but this is 2013,” Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette said. “This is a new group of players. This is a new season. We have new challenges. This is effectively a new team, but I can tell you this: The consistency of the leadership from the manager and the work ethic of the players instilled last year, that should carry over.”

Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles is April 2, just 47 days away. Over the course of the next 7 weeks the Orioles will attempt to answer two important questions, who will be playing second base and what the starting rotation will look like come April.

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