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Orioles Minicamp Storylines

How I wish that I was there in person to share some news and notes from Ed Smith Stadium. Instead, I’m shivering up here like the rest of Birdland. However, from reports, here are the thrilling storylines emerging from Orioles Minicamp:

Old Man Hendrickson

Mark Hendrickson, who pitched for the Orioles from 2009-2010 (and again in their minor league system in 2011 and 2013) has asked for another tryout with the team. Hendrickson has dramatically lowered his arm slot since he last graced the mound at Camden Yards, and is trying to resurrect his career as a lefthanded specialist.

But the storyline we’ll hear is that he’s old. Hendrickson is 40 in 2014, and is a grandfather. Look to hear more about Hendrickson in relation to Father Time than any reports on his pitching.

Also expect that, with an already crowded bullpen, Hendrickson will be forced to return to independent ball (he played the 2014 season with the York Revolution) or take a coaching position within the Orioles’ organization.  My money is on the former – this guy is raging against the dying of the light. Good for him. You go, grandpa.

Recovering All Stars

When will Manny Machado and Matt Wieters be back? The Orioles managed to make it to the ALCS with the likes of Caleb Joseph and Ryan Flaherty getting regular reps, in place of the Orioles’ wounded All-Stars. With the departures the likes of Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz, the Birds cannot afford to have them miss considerable time.

The team is already dropping hints that Machado might not be ready for opening day, and despite the assurances of Wieters’ agent, his status also remains in questions.

Minicamp will provide the Orioles a chance to evaluate both players, while being evasive with the media, who will try asking the same question a million ways until they give up.

Offseason Conditioning

Minicamp is the unofficial start to the ever popular “best shape of my life” discussion. Veteran players show up to work with something to prove, with  BSoML claims. Then there are the Chris Tillman pictures. You know the ones I’m talking about. A couple of grainy cell phone pictures have led some to believe that Chris Tillman is slowly turning into Santa Claus, a la Tim Allen. Maybe he’s put on some weight – that’s a possibility. It’s also possible that the pictures are simply unflattering, and the beard he’s sporting makes him look heavier. Let’s relax. Even if he is packing some extra pounds, there’s still time for him to get into BSoML.

Coolbaugh and the Gang

 

New Orioles hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh is in town for the minicamp, which means that all questions will be about one of the players not present: Chris Davis. Davis needs a bounce-back performance in his walk year, and the Orioles need him to make up for the loss of Nelson Cruz and expected regression of Steve Pearce.

Oh, he may look in on the players in Sarasota, but the stories that emerge from minicamp will focus on Crush.

A Look at the Young Guns

Minicamp is mostly for the pitchers, and there are a few notable arms in camp. The Orioles are getting their first look at Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy as they recover from injury. Neither are expected to experience any setbacks, but Harvey projects to start in A-ball, and Bundy in Bowie. It will be interesting to see how far both of them progress by October.

The Orioles will also get their first look at Rule 5 Draft acquisitions Logan Verrett and Jason Garcia. If either stand a chance of sticking on the 25-man roster for the entire season, a good first impression can’t hurt.

Fringe Players Trying to Impress

This means  you, Henry Urrutia. Urrutia doesn’t figure into the team’s Major League plans, but you have to give him credit for taking advantage of opportunities presented, and making an impression with work ethic. That being said, I hope that the only news we hear from Henry Urrutia in 2015 is that he shagged flies in the background while the real business of minicamp took place.

A Trickle of Front Office News

The Orioles announced Tommy Hunter signed a one-year deal for $4.65MM, to avoid the arbitration process. It isn’t huge news, but it’s January, so we’ll take what we can get. Minicamp may provide a few tidbits like this before it wraps, as the team and the beat writers spend some time in close quarters. Eventually, you have to think that the Orioles will throw them a bone. The Orioles very rarely go to arbitration (who would want to face an Angelos organization in any court-like hearing?), so expect more of these cases to settle.

Also remember that Dan Duquette is a late-offseason ninja.

The Beautiful Freaking Weather

Yeah, some linespace (or I guess, these days, it’s blogspace) will be devoted to telling us how much Sarasota doesn’t suck, compared to cold, dreary Maryland.

This, above all, is the worst storyline possible.

 

Hurry up, Spring. We need you in so many ways.

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