At a time in spring training when pitchers have been giving up their first runs of the Grapefruit League season and being sent out of big league camp, and touted prospects are clearing lockers so the major league fringes can be filled out, every data point manager Buck Showalter has to use to make roster decisions becomes vital.
On Tuesday, after watching a parade of roster contenders help the Orioles erase an early deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins, Showalter counted as many as seven roster spots still up for grabs with just over two weeks left before Opening Day.