The Orioles this afternoon earned a 6-2 win over the New Yankees as Zach Britton threw five plus innings of one-run ball, Luke Scott showed some life at the plate – finally – with a two-run homer, and the hottest Oriole on the planet, Jake Fox, hit his eighth longball of the exhibition season.
Although Britton faced a Yankees B-lineup with Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher in the lineup, he struck out five and allowed six hits. The Baltimore bullpen kept the Yankees at bay for the rest of the game and got Britton his second win.
With nine days remaining before the Orioles kick off the season in the Tampa Bay area against the Rays, one has to wonder if Britton has a role on the major league squad.
I’m sure it’s being talked about all over.
As a fan, I hope he makes it and is on the roster on Opening Day. Britton has shown that he can do the job based on his numbers in Florida and perhaps has been the best hurler on the team.
However, the business of baseball may work against him in this case.
If he can avoid being put on the major league roster, let’s say until May, then his arbitration clock starts later and the Orioles gain and extra year.
But if they bring him up when the season begins, the Orioles have him for six years, instead of a seventh.
As I see it, despite how well Britton pitches in Florida, he’ll start the season in the minors. The Orioles will take advantage of extending his service team and will use the same tactic as they did with Matt Wieters.
It makes perfect sense, even moreso considering the Orioles will not compete in 2011.
