Cashner shows off stuff, consistency
Machado doesn’t put much stock in Judge hoopla; Davis looks to return this weekend
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. – Andrew Cashner spent the first two weeks of his Orioles tenure showing that hehopedtobeanasset in the clubhouse for a starting rotation that had lost its way. After two Grapefruit League starts, he’s showing he can help plenty on the mound, too.
Cashner scattered four hits and allowed oneruninfive innings while striking out three in the Orioles’ 4-4tie with the NewYorkMets on Friday at First Data Field, pitching so efficiently that he added onto his 63 pitches in the game with15 more in the bullpen after.
In two starts, in which he has allowed just one run on five hits in nine innings, the most important thing about Cashner’s presence has become clear to manager Buck Showalter.
“I think that what wore on us last year more than anything is the constant, ‘How muchis going to be enough tonight? Whatare we getting?’ The unknown of the starts. ‘I wonderifthis guyis going to beable to keepus engaged in the game tonight,’ ” Showalter said. “The other part of it, Cash will bring. Whether or not on a given night, he’s going to have some challenges. But it won’t be from lack of focus and effort and being ready. He’s not going to fear the competition.”
He’s only done it in an Orioles uniform twice in the Grapefruit League, but Showalter sees the type of mindset and arsenal that can keep his team in games every night.
Cashner is able to sink the ball for bad contact and locate his two-seam inside and out early in counts to get ahead. He brought along a good breaking ball and changeup Friday, and pounded the strike zone.
“I think the thing that people miss is he’s got a lot of ways to get you out,” Showalter said. “If you go back through the pitches today, it’s not just sinking it. He’s got changeups, breaking balls. He’s not a one-way Harry. But he’s capable of pitching like that on a given night.”
The only damage off Cashner came quickly, when he fanned the first two batters in the third inning before allowing a two-out double off the left-field wall to Asdrúbal Cabrera, who scored when Jay Bruce singled on the next pitch.
But Showalter and Cashner are pleased with the right-hander’s spring so far.
“I thought I worked both sides of the plate,” Cashner said. “I worked the ball up. I Andrew Cashner, warming up last month during spring training, scattered four hits and allowed one run in five innings while striking out three against the Mets on Friday. was really working on my breaking ball today, thought I threw some good ones. I got a lot of ground balls, and got the sinker up at the top of the zone. It’s fun to work with Caleb [Joseph]. ... For me, it’s a process. It’s not so much [ just] spring. The season is just a process of building up and doing what I need to do to build up. I think that for me, it starts with my glove-side fastball and everything works off that. I’m pleased with where I’m at. Can I get better? Yes. We’ll see where we’re at here at the end of spring.”
Cashner left with a 2-1lead after the Orioles scored two runs in the sixth on a home run by third baseman Tim Beckham, a walk by center fielder Colby Rasmus and a double by shortstop Manny Machado into the rightfield corner that brought Rasmus home on an error.
Cabrera homered off left-hander Donnie Hart to tie the score in the eighth, and rookie Anthony Santander swatted a two-run home run, his fourth of the spring, to put the Orioles ahead after a single by Aderlin Rodriguez in the ninth.
In the bottom of the inning, minor league right-hander James Teague, who has developed into something of a Grapefruit League closer, allowed a pair of unearned runs and the game ended in a tie. Machado stays hot, weighs in on Judge: Machado had been quiet for two days on the hoopla surrounding New York Yankees star Aaron Judge admitting and then being reprimanded for telling the free-agent-to-be that he’d look good in pinstripes. But Machado said Friday that he didn’t make much of the entire situation.
“I think it was just blown out of proportion,” Machado said. “I’m always going to back him up. He’s a great kid and has a bright future ahead of him.”
Judge told reporters covering the Yankees on Wednesday when they visited the Orioles in Sarasota that he’d made the comments to Machado on the field during batting practice, and was subsequently reprimanded by Yankees management on behalf of Major League Baseball for tampering.
On Thursday, Showalter shrugged off the ordeal, joking that he was glad Machado wasn’t caught saying the same thing to Judge. Machado said Judge “always means well.” “Everyone always jokes around about a lot of things, and things that we say on the field usually stay on the field,” Machado said. “I’ve told a lot of people they’d look good in black and orange as well, trying to get guys over here. It’s just part of the game. Youwant to put the best team out there onyour field and if I’m a part of this team, I want to bring the best guys over here as muchasIcan. I wantto get a ring as well.”
Machado’s pending free agency looms over everything he does, but even with his move back to shortstop, it seems neither will be able to dampen the enthusiasm building around his 2018 season.
Against the Mets on Friday at First Data Field, Machado went 1-for-3 with a double. Machado is now batting .425 (17-for-40) with five doubles and three home runs, all while looking like he never moved off shortstop when he reached the majors.
He said that when things went badly last year, he’d try to fix something and end up more out of whack. This year, he’s staying with the plan every day — and seeing results.
“I just try to be consistent, try to be consistent with everything every day,” Machado said. “Don’t try to switch up and turn off for the day or try to look for something wrong. Try to stay with everything I’ve beenworkingwiththisoffseason. Continue doing it now and going forward.” Davis expected back this weekend: Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said he’s ready to return to Grapefruit League games when the club plays its next home game today after missing two weeks with a right elbow/ forearm injury in his throwing arm, and believes he will have enough time to prepare to be ready for Opening Day in less than two weeks.
“I would like to play tomorrow, but I’m not going to guarantee that,” Davis said Friday. “So. I’ll let Buck make that decision and we’ll go from there.”
Speaking before Friday’s game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, Showalter said the plan before the team came east was for Davis to play Sunday, and that hasn’t changed in his mind.
“He's making good progress,” Showalter said. “Everydayis alittle better. Right now, the plan is for himto play Sunday. Whenweleft, it was. I haven't heard anything to make me think that's not going to happen.”
Davis hasn’t played in a Grapefruit League game since leading off on March 2, and he received a cortisone injection in his elbow/ forearm area last Saturday following a lull in his progress. But now, Davis is optimistic the injury is completely resolved and won’t be a recurring problem. Around the horn: Showalter, unprompted, said Friday that the more he's seen from utility infield candidate Éngelb Vielma, the more impressed he's been. ... Showalter said presumptive closer Brad Brach pitched two innings with a pair of walks and three strikeouts in minor league camp Thursday, Brach’s first multi-inning stint of the season. Richard Bleier and Mychal Givens also pitched in minor league games Thursday. ... Showalter said Bleier might need a wisdom tooth pulled soon, but the club is unsure of when to do it.