SARASOTA, Fla. _ Orioles manager Buck Showalter said new right-hander Alex Cobb threw a bullpen session behind Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday, and drew quite a crowd while doing so.
Between that showing and the meeting Cobb had with the manager, pitching coach Roger McDowell and bullpen coach Alan Mills, Showalter said he has a much better idea of how the Orioles will get the starting pitcher up to speed after he signed in the final week of spring training.
"We sat down with him today for an extended period, Roger and Alan, and got a really good feel for what he's thinking, what he's been doing, and kind of putting the program together," Showalter said. "We're not set in stone with it. It's obvious watching him today he's been throwing a lot. He's not that far away. We want to make sure that, much like Zach (Britton), we don't get ahead of ourselves. We've got a couple days in mind."
Showalter indicated that there are plenty of moving parts with the plan. Because of his late signing, Cobb gave his consent to being optioned to the minor leagues so the Orioles don't have to carry him on the 25-man roster without pitching him.
With so many affiliates close to Baltimore, such as Double-A Bowie and High-A Frederick, the Orioles will be able to get him acclimated to life in his new home and keep him in close contact with the major league staff while he prepares.
