Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Adley Rutschman caught last night for short-season Single-A Aberdeen, the media attention much lighter, and threw out two more runners attempting to steal. The first overall pick went 0-for-4 with a walk and run scored and is 4-for-20 with the IronBirds and 6-for-34 with a home run as a professional. The bat will come around. Give it time. Executive vice president Mike Elias is impressed by Rutschman on many levels. "Everything that I've heard has been exactly what we expected," Elias said...

O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series opener with the Yankees

O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series opener with the Yankees
After a 1-5 road trip where the Orioles lost the last two games in Cleveland, the club begins a one series, four-game homestand tonight. The Orioles host the New York Yankees in the series opener. The O's offense produced 12 runs on 20 hits on Thursday and Friday in Cleveland with six doubles and four homers, and Baltimore batters went 6-for-17 with runners in scoring position. But in the last two games they scored one run on six hits with a team batting average of .102 (6-for-59). Their only...

Yesterday's loss, today's game and making concessions

Yesterday's loss, today's game and making concessions
The disappointment of yesterday's 5-3 loss in Toronto should be softened by the realization that few people outside the most optimistic and unrealistic predicted four wins on a six-game road trip introducing a 2019 season that's extremely low on expectations. A season all about the rebuild and what's best for the long-term plan. Instant gratification isn't the primary goal, but can happen in spite of it. The big fear was an 0-6 start and a team staggering into today's home opener against...

Trumbo on knee, Cashner on start (game ends 1-1, updated)

Trumbo on knee, Cashner on start (game ends 1-1, updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Mark Trumbo will back off baseball activities for a while as part of the reset in his recovery from right knee surgery and, he hopes, eventual return to the lineup. The Orioles will place Trumbo on the injured list and keep him back in Sarasota while they break camp and get ready for opening day at Yankee Stadium. Trumbo met with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde and they came to an agreement. "The realistic part about it is I...

Wrapping up a 7-5 win

Wrapping up a 7-5 win
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been a bad weekend for pinkies. Second baseman Jonathan Villar came out of today's game in the top of the fourth inning with some swelling in his right pinky finger, the result of a head-first slide into second base and an unfortunate collision with an infielder's spikes. Christopher Bostick replaced Villar, who singled and stole second base in the first inning and drew a walk in the third. "He had a little cleat in the finger and it just started to swell a little bit...

Orioles notes, quotes and anecdotes

Orioles notes, quotes and anecdotes
SARASOTA, Fla. - In evaluating young left-hander Josh Rogers, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can't afford to become distracted. Not for a second. Divert your eyes and another batter is retired. Another inning is completed. "I tell you what, if you go to get a drink with Josh Rogers on the mound, you better have your head up with your eyes on the field because you're going to miss about 10 pitches," Hyde said. "The tempo is unbelievable. He gets the ball and goes, he gets on the rubber and...

O's game blog: A look at the offense since the All-Star break

O's game blog: A look at the offense since the All-Star break
The Orioles offense has been putting up some impressive numbers since the All-Star break and we'll see if that can continue as the team opens a three-game series tonight in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles have basically gone from having an offense that was about the worst in the American League before the break to one of the best after. Before the break, the Orioles averaged 3.6 runs per game. Since the break they have scored 6.2 per game. O's pre-break: A .227 team...

O's game blog: Andrew Cashner scheduled to face Detroit in Game 2

O's game blog: Andrew Cashner scheduled to face Detroit in Game 2
After Chris Tillman's gem last night and a 6-0 win, the Orioles (7-19) host the Detroit Tigers (10-14) tonight in the second game of a weekend series. Tonight's game will not start on time. At around 6:30 p.m. the Orioles annouced a delayed start due to inclement weather. No start time has been announced. Update: Now we do have a start time. The Orioles announced tonight's game will start at approximately 7:30. Last night's win, as Tillman allowed one hit over seven scoreless, snapped...

Wrapping up a 6-5 win and Grapefruit League schedule (updated)

Wrapping up a 6-5 win and Grapefruit League schedule (updated)
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles are going to make a few more cuts later tonight following a 6-5 win over the Phillies. Two of the more vulnerable players are outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Luis Sardiñas, who can be reassigned to minor league camp while the team inches closer to a set opening day roster. The camp roster will be down to 30 players and only one more cut is required with Zach Britton on the 60-day disabled list, Gabriel Ynoa and Mark Trumbo headed to the 10-day DL, and...

Orioles lineup vs. Twins

Orioles lineup vs. Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is serving as the designated hitter tonight, Luis Sardiñas is the shortstop and Danny Valencia is the third baseman for the Orioles' 6:05 p.m. game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Anthony Santander is the right fielder and Craig Gentry is in center. Chris Davis continues to accumulate at-bats as the leadoff hitter. Chris Tillman is starting tonight and the bullpen includes Joely Rodriguez, Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo, Andrew Faulkner, Lucas Long and James...

Wrapping up a 13-5 win

Wrapping up a 13-5 win
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pick your favorite Orioles home run in the first inning. Manager Buck Showalter issued the challenge to the intimate media gathering following today's 13-5 win over the Pirates, then pointed out how Trey Mancini's two-run homer was hit into the wind in left-center field and bounced on the platform tower next to the batter's eye. A big-boy shot for sure. Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop launched balls into the left field picnic area off Pirates starter Chad Kuhl and the...

Good news on Davis MRI and wrapping up a 4-2 win

Good news on Davis MRI and wrapping up a 4-2 win
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The MRI on Chris Davis' right elbow/forearm today didn't reveal any structural damage, according to manager Buck Showalter, and the first baseman is projected to be out only three to five days. Concerns about Davis were raised throughout the organization when the discomfort increased and it appeared that the issue may not have been muscular. "Anytime you've got something that's not healing and what they think, you worry about if there's something structurally in there,...

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
SARASOTA, Fla. - Austin Hays is serving as the designated hitter today and Craig Gentry is leading off and playing center field, as the Orioles make the trip to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. The lineup is missing a projected starter for the 2018 season. Joey Rickard is in right field - he could work into a platoon - and Anthony Santander is batting cleanup and playing left field. Austin Wynns is catching after hitting a home run last night to give the Orioles a 1-1 tie with the Twins. For the...

Miguel Castro preparing for chance to start

Miguel Castro preparing for chance to start
SARASOTA, Fla. - The second day of Orioles minicamp concluded this morning with Hunter Harvey, Joely Rodríguez, Luis Gonzalez, Lucas Long and Yefri Ramírez throwing bullpen sessions. Harvey's sessions always will attract interest, but manager Buck Showalter also has varying levels of praise for the other four pitchers in the group. He's relieved that Gonzalez, a left-hander who went 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 36 relief appearances at Single-A Frederick and didn't give up an...

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...

Tillman still a possible target for Orioles (plus Rule 5 note)

Tillman still a possible target for Orioles (plus Rule 5 note)
With the GM meetings concluded and the Winter Meetings less than a month away, the industry buzz on pitcher Chris Tillman remains that he's seeking a one-year deal and the chance to re-enter the free agent market following the 2018 season. The Orioles are in play as long as Tillman keeps his expectations at a modest level. They like him as a bounceback candidate on a pillow contract. The rotation certainly has room for him. One of the lingering questions is whether Tillman would have to settle...

With latest loss, the Orioles are falling back in the wild card race

With latest loss, the Orioles are falling back in the wild card race
How many times this year has it looked like the Orioles were in big trouble in the standings? Well, the latest is now after the club's 5-0 loss last night in Cleveland. They are facing nine more games on this road trip and now they are three games behind Minnesota for the second American League wild card with 21 games to go. They are 27-40 on the road where they will play 14 of those remaining 21 games. So yeah, it could be looking better and they could be positioned better. The Orioles won...

Eastern League playoff notes and quotes from Bowie

Eastern League playoff notes and quotes from Bowie
BOWIE, Md. - It has been an exciting few days here in Bowie. On Tuesday, the Double-A Bowie Baysox sent outfielder Austin Hays to join the Orioles. Today, Bowie's Garabez Rosa was named the Eastern League Most Valuable Player. But tonight's scheduled playoff series opener between Bowie and Altoona has been rained out. The first two games in Bowie are now scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights at 7:05 p.m at Prince George's Stadium. Go to baysox.com for ticket information. Rosa joins Calvin...

Pondering the future, a draft pick gets signed and farm notes

Pondering the future, a draft pick gets signed and farm notes
It was such a poor start to the second half this past weekend for the Orioles. Swept by the Cubs and three poor starting pitching performances. Maybe the 2017 Orioles are not done, but it feels like they are. They have the time to salvage this season, but they just don't seem like they have nearly enough starting pitching to do so. Growing speculation that the Orioles are considering trading some key players may actually come as exciting news to fans at this point. Many that write on this blog...

A look at the unheralded pitcher leading the Eastern League in ERA

A look at the unheralded pitcher leading the Eastern League in ERA
He saw 720 players taken ahead of him in the First-Year Player Draft and he's never been on anyone's top prospects list. But there is one list where he ranks No. 1 right now. He is the league leader in ERA in the prospect-laden Double-A Eastern League for the Bowie Baysox. A 24-year-old right-hander taken by the Orioles in round 24 in 2014, Lucas Long has had one impressive season for Bowie. He is 5-3 with a 2.10 ERA. Over 73 innings, he has given up 61 hits and just two home runs, with 16...