Previewing next week's minicamp in Sarasota (updated twice)

Previewing next week's minicamp in Sarasota (updated twice)
While the extended forecast calls for snow possible later this week and temperatures so low that they can turn your thoughts to ice, the highs in Sarasota are stuck in the 50s until Sunday. Until the Orioles begin trickling into the Ed Smith Stadium complex for their annual three-day minicamp. Temperatures are supposed to climb back into the 70s by Monday's first workout with only a 10 percent chance of rain before everyone returns home. The guys living up north may leave kicking and...

Rehashing questions and revisiting Bundy

Rehashing questions and revisiting Bundy
We're in the midst of a new week in a new year with the same old questions hovering around the Orioles. Dogging them like a pack of Dobermans. How will executive vice president Dan Duquette fill out the rotation with three spots open and the club showing no inclination to spend the necessary amount to land an ace-like arm? Which left-handed hitters will be obtained, whether via trade or free agency, in an attempt to provide a little more balance to the lineup? Which left-handed reliever will...

Thoughts on Liranzo, Ramírez and Ynoa

Thoughts on Liranzo, Ramírez and Ynoa
Another day has passed for the Orioles with Manny Machado at third base, three openings in the rotation and the same need for a left-handed bat or two. A veteran catcher and utility player also haven't been crossed off the list. This is going to be a process. Here are three more pitchers worthy of a blog discussion while waiting for the hot stove to no longer feel cool to the touch: Orioles manager Buck Showalter predicted early in 2017 that pitcher Jesus Liranzo could have an impact on the...

Wondering how Moylan would fit in bullpen

Wondering how Moylan would fit in bullpen
As the GM meetings began Monday morning in Orlando, Fla., the Orioles already had their first "interested in" report. Which is similar to "in on." Don't let the phrasing confuse you. The bullpen always is a priority with the Orioles, no matter the returnees, and MLB.com's Mark Bowman wrote that they've expressed interest in right-hander Peter Moylan. There doesn't seem to be a nagging need for one if factoring in right-handers Brad Brach, Darren O'Day and Mychal Givens. Moylan led the...

Thoughts on coaches returning in 2018

Thoughts on coaches returning in 2018
Left-hander Tanner Scott allowed one hit and struck out four batters last night over two scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game. Ryan Mountcastle, batting third and playing third base, doubled and drove in a run. Meanwhile, the news that the Orioles were inviting back all of their coaches for the 2018 season drew mixed reactions on this blog and Twitter, which is exactly what should be expected. You can't get everyone on the same page. That would be boring - and a...

Orioles extend offers to entire coaching staff

Orioles extend offers to entire coaching staff
The entire Orioles coaching staff has been invited to return for the 2018 season. Contracts were being sent out tonight, according to multiple sources. The deals are for one year. Orioles manager Buck Showalter had expressed a desire to keep the staff intact and the process unfolded today. The coaches have the freedom to decline the offers extended to them, but everyone is expected to come back. They just need to sign and return the contracts. Bench coach John Russell, hitting coach Scott...

Still waiting on decision regarding Orioles coaching staff

Still waiting on decision regarding Orioles coaching staff
The Orioles apparently haven't made a final decision on their coaching staff for next season. There's been no confirmation on returns or changes. The situation needs to be resolved soon with contracts expiring at the end of the month. Then again, the Orioles have been known to move slowly on such matters. No one claims that Maryland is all about crab cakes, football and quick resolutions. Manager Buck Showalter has stated that he wants everyone back and he passionately defends first-year...

Davis wants entire coaching staff to return in 2018

Davis wants entire coaching staff to return in 2018
Coaching vacancies in baseball are opening up at a rapid pace, with a handful of teams already making changes before their seasons are cold. According to various reports, the Cardinals need a pitching coach, the Royals need a pitching coach and bench coach, the Phillies need a manager who's likely to make wholesale changes to the staff, the Mets need a manager and pitching coach with more changes perhaps forthcoming, and the Mariners rearranged their staff like furniture. And that's just off...

Castro's first start, Santander's latest start and more (O's down 7-0)

Castro's first start, Santander's latest start and more (O's down 7-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles haven't made a roster move today. Infielder Steve Wilkerson stopped by Tropicana Field to work out before heading to the Arizona Fall League. He isn't on the bench. A pitcher could be added Saturday with manager Buck Showalter deciding to give Miguel Castro his first major league start. "We were leaning that way," Showalter said. "Roger (McDowell) and I spent a lot of time with all the guys about their history and their innings and everything. He was...

Orioles lose 1-0 in 11th on wild pitch (updated and quotes)

Orioles lose 1-0 in 11th on wild pitch (updated and quotes)
Kevin Gausman pretty much did everything he could tonight except cross home plate for himself. Gausman shut out the Red Sox over eight innings, but the Orioles couldn't reward him. One night after the teams combined for 18 runs, played for 4 hours, 24 minutes and weren't done until the 11th inning, they were in a rush to do nothing. And they still managed to log 11 innings. Just as a brisker pace and with an odd twist. Brad Brach unleashed a wild pitch with the bases loaded, two outs and...

More bad times in Bronx for Orioles in 9-3 loss (with quotes)

More bad times in Bronx for Orioles in 9-3 loss (with quotes)
NEW YORK - Jeremy Hellickson walked Chase Headley today with two outs in the bottom of the third inning and received a group visit from head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell. Only three of them returned to the dugout. Hellickson stayed on the mound without throwing a single warmup pitch. Whatever happened to initiate the meeting must have passed. If only the same could be said for everything that's ailing the Orioles over the final...

Jiménez starting on Sunday (O's down 13-2)

Jiménez starting on Sunday (O's down 13-2)
NEW YORK - Ubaldo Jiménez is expected to start Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Yankees after the Orioles had listed the spot as TBD. Manager Buck Showalter wants to give Dylan Bundy extra rest again, pushing back the right-hander to the home series against the Red Sox that begins Monday night. The choice basically came down to Jiménez or Chris Tillman. "We've got really only two options there," Showalter said. "Ubaldo's coming off a good start, so it will probably be...

O's trade Keller, Showalter reflects on Michael (O's lose 9-1)

O's trade Keller, Showalter reflects on Michael (O's lose 9-1)
The Orioles traded minor league right-hander Jon Keller to the Rockies today to complete their April 7 trade for pitcher Miguel Castro, who's evolved into a valuable bullpen piece. Keller, 25, is a former 22nd-round draft pick in 2013 who went 10-14 with a 3.98 ERA in 125 games. He was 2-2 with a 5.80 ERA and 1.65 WHIP this summer in a combined 24 games with short-season Single-A Aberdeen, Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. Command was an issue for Keller, who walked nine batters in 15 1/3...

More on Bundy's gem and Mancini's stellar rookie season

More on Bundy's gem and Mancini's stellar rookie season
You know that a pitcher must have been exceptional when the number of "pies" to his face during his postgame interview exceeds the hits he allowed. Dylan Bundy wore three of them last night delivered by three of his teammates - his reward for holding the Mariners to Kyle Seager's bunt single in the fourth inning. No Oriole had tossed a complete-game shutout since Miguel González on Sept. 3, 2014 versus the Reds. The last one-hitter came from Chris Tillman and Zach Britton on July 18, 2015...

Orioles place Castro on bereavement list (O's trail 5-4)

Orioles place Castro on bereavement list (O's trail 5-4)
The Orioles have placed reliever Miguel Castro on the bereavement list and recalled pitcher Alec Asher from Triple-A Norfolk. They learned late last night that Castro had lost a close family member and might be leaving the team. Travel arrangements were finalized this morning after Castro met with manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Roger McDowell and traveling secretary Kevin Buck. Castro has been a valuable member of the bullpen and enabled the Orioles to remove the revolving door on it....

Tillman an option to start Aug. 22 (O's down 3-1)

Tillman an option to start Aug. 22 (O's down 3-1)
SEATTLE - Infielder Ryan Flaherty and Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander worked out today at Camden Yards after Single-A Frederick's game in Wilmington was postponed due to rain. Flaherty and Santander will work out again Wednesday - their injury rehab assignments ended and they can't appear in anymore games - and the Orioles will activate them from the disabled list on Thursday. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Chris Tillman felt good physically after facing four batters Sunday afternoon...

Bundy will work again on extended rest (O's lead 11-2)

Bundy will work again on extended rest (O's lead 11-2)
SEATTLE - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will provide additional rest for Dylan Bundy again by withholding the right-hander's next start until Aug. 22 or 23 against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Showalter will take advantage of Thursday's open date on the schedule to tweak the rotation. "Depends on some factors. See how some work days go," Showalter said. Bundy's most recent start came Saturday night in Oakland. He's logged 140 1/3 innings after totaling 109 2/3 last season. Ryan...

Tillman: "I haven't been pitching well enough and I understand"

Tillman: "I haven't been pitching well enough and I understand"
Going to the bullpen wasn't Chris Tillman's first choice, of course. He's been a career starter in the majors and for the vast majority of his minor league tenure, a relief role filled only six times. But he knew an 8.10 ERA wouldn't work on a team that's still trying to make the playoffs. "I need to get back to being me and it wasn't happening starting," he said this morning while standing at his locker. "I think this is going to be a good thing. I need to get back and I think it's...

Tillman moved to bullpen

Tillman moved to bullpen
Following another start that fell significantly short of his typical output in previous years, Chris Tillman is being moved to the Orioles bullpen for an undetermined period of time. Manager Buck Showalter said Tillman will be available for Sunday's series finale against the Tigers and won't start next week while the Orioles are on the West Coast. Tillman is 1-7 with an 8.10 ERA and 2.040 WHIP in 15 starts over 66 2/3 innings. He was charged with five earned runs and seven total Thursday...

Showalter on McDowell: "In a lot of ways, we're lucky to have him"

Showalter on McDowell: "In a lot of ways, we're lucky to have him"
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter offered a blunt assessment over the weekend of his club's streak of allowing at least five runs in 20 consecutive games. "It's an indication that we haven't pitched well, starting-wise," he said, the media crowding him in the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field. "Is that a revelation?" Probably not. Is it an indictment of the new pitching coach? Absolutely not, according to Showalter and his pitchers. Plenty of fans are pointing a...