Some spring games have added value
Especially when teams face division rivals or unfamiliar pitchers
SARASOTA, Fla. — Buck Showalter heard that Lance Lynn was pitching against the Orioles and knew he’d be changing his lineup.
The Baltimore manager wasn’t concerned about the result of last week’s Grapefruit League game against Minnesota, played hours after Lynn officially joined the team. But Showalter figured the righthander might start when the Twins travel to Camden Yards for a three-game season-opening series later this month.
With that in mind, Showalter saw an opportunity.
Even in spring training, when wins and losses are meaningless, managers are always hunting for significant matchups. That’s especially true along the Florida Gulf Coast, where all five AL East rivals train within about three hours of each other.
Picking and choosing spots for players has been key for Baltimore this spring because the Orioles play 14 of their first 17 regular-season games against either division foes or the Twins, another regular spring opponent. When Minnesota signed Lynn to a freeagent deal a week ago Monday and announced him as the next day’s starting pitcher against the Orioles, Showalter stacked his lineup with regulars such as Manny Machado, Trey Mancini and Pedro Alvarez — a some-
what unusual move for a road spring training game.
The thing is, the O’s are likely to see Lynn that first weekend of the season, and Baltimore’s players are largely unfamiliar with him because he’s been in the National League his whole career with St. Louis. The spring game was a valuable sneak peek at his stuff and delivery.
“That’s why we got some of our guys over there,” Showalter said.
He can only hope his Birds do better the next time they see Lynn. He struck out five in three hitless innings.
Showalter is also trying to shield his established starters from AL East rivals, keeping Dylan Bundy, Andrew Cashner, Kevin Gausman and Chris Tillman away from the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Twins and Blue Jays. It’s no accident that Miguel Castro and Mike Wright Jr. have combined for four starts against those teams — they’re in contention for the No. 5 starter spot, and Showalter wants to see how they fare against division opponents.
“We want to see them in that environment to evaluate them better,” Showalter said.
This isn’t ground-breaking territory from Showalter, of course. The AL East clubs along the Gulf Coast often manipulate their rosters to either align or avoid matchups. Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi was especially aggressive about that.
“We went a couple springs with Joe where we didn’t see any of their starting pitchers,” Showalter said.
Girardi was replaced this offseason by Aaron Boone, a first-time manager who spent 12 years as a major league infielder. He hasn’t been quite as selective as Girardi, but he’s cognizant of the value in certain matchups based on his experience as a player.
“Any time you could see a pitcher that you’re going to face, you kind of sign up for that,” Boone said. “Especially someone you might see a lot.”
Boone said balancing rosters isn’t difficult in spring training because pitchers can always get in their work during simulated or minor league games. Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia have all taken turns in recent simulated games, and Showalter has done the same with Cashner and Gausman. It can actually be advantageous for the pitchers’ workloads to stay on the backfields, too, because minor league games are flexible on the rules.
Not that Showalter is going to stress too hard about all that. Considering the constant roster shuffle, the lack of competitiveness and the Gulf Coast winds, there’s only so much advanced scouting to be done.
“Evaluating down here is a real challenge,” Showalter said. “Spring’s a big fooler on both sides of it.
“What does it really mean? Not that much.”