Grayson Rodriguez's spring speed bump was probably just that. But it could it be occasion for the Orioles to knock his roster plans off course.

The Orioles' top pitching prospect would have been well-served not to give the team any reason to question his place on the Opening Day roster, because they'll take it.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA – Sometimes, you just need to see it for yourself.

There’s no other way to check that box when it comes to writing about the Orioles at this point in the spring than going to Sarasota, so that’s what I did, and so far it’s been quite worth it.

That was especially true on Sunday, when Grayson Rodriguez faced a lineup of Boston’s backups and prospects and in the span of one tough inning might have created an inflection point in their spring.

Up until this point in his spring, and in particular with his three dominant innings that preceded his fourth-inning struggles, Rodriguez had done exactly what he had to in order to ensure his place in the Opening Day rotation: simply leave no opening for them to go in a different direction.

As his fourth got away from him a bit, I couldn’t help but wonder if that had changed.