The exhibition season for the Orioles ended today as they lost to the Blue Jays, 7-4 in Sarasota this afternoon. Derrek Lee, who started Spring Training on the injured list, went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Lee says he’s healthy and ready to go.
Matt Wieters had two hits and drove in run as well.
Chris George, who started the game, gave up three runs on five hits in two innings of work. The bullpen – Koji Uehara, Mike Gonzalez, Kevin Gregg and Jason Berken – held their own until the latter portion of the game when Josh Rupe and Pat Egan each gave up two runs in an inning of work.
Both teams seemed to have trotted out their everyday lineups as a final-tune up to the regular season.
From here on out, the games count for the Orioles as they kick-off the season against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.
Then again, it must be a shock for the players heading north realizing that they may have to play in some chilly weather for the next month or so after being in Florida since late February.
Good to see baseball finally back up north here soon!
Earlier this afternoon, the final cuts were made in camp as Zach Britton (as expected), catcher Craig Tatum and infielder Brendan Harris were sent to the minors. Meanwhile, Robert Andino & Jake Fox – who was not going to be cut – are on the team.
It looks like there are no major injury issues now aside from Justin Duchscherer, who will start the season on the DL; in addition, Matusz’s status for this weekend is still up in the air after being hit with a liner yesterday.
After observing the Orioles over the past month or so – the first week in person, some on TV and on the radio – it’s hard for me to say how things will go in 2011. How the Orioles do will depend on health and if the new acquisitions produce, plus if some of the young everyday stars take their games to another level.
.500 is reasonable goal, but they will need a lot of things to go right. The Oriole will win more than 68 games and Buck Showalter will do his job well; however, they have quite a bit of ways to go in order to contend.
At this point, I think most fans would be happy with some improvement and a promise of a better future.
