Moore manages to move around his shortstops at Bowie

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BOWIE – Adam Hall walked into the home clubhouse at Prince George’s Stadium Wednesday afternoon, glanced at the Bowie Baysox’s lineup card posted on the wall to his left, saw his name atop the order as the designated hitter and decided to have some fun with it.

“Are you sure you got that right?” he asked Kyle Moore, manager of the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate.

Moore hadn’t made a mistake. He’s tasked each day with rotating infielders at different positions and roles, perhaps his biggest challenge on the job.

Too many prospects on a roster won’t bring much chirping from his office, but it’s stressful.

The Orioles created a formula of sorts for Moore to ensure that Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and Joey Ortiz get consecutive starts at shortstop and then bounce to other spots. Keeping it warm for the next guy. Keeping the developmental process churning and also flashing some creativity.

    

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Baseball prospect lists are dropping like snowflakes as the start of major league spring training is put on ice. Organizations and players are ranked within a top 100, 30, 20 or 10. And the variety doesn't change how the Orioles are perceived within the industry. They keep gaining respect, with the only caveats being how they're a bit "top heavy" in the system. Trust me, they gladly would have taken it back in the day. The Athletic's Keith Law offered his opinion this week on the top...
    

More on Orioles' signings and releases

More on Orioles' signings and releases
The noticeable increase in international spending by the Orioles included six-figure bonuses for Edwin Amparo and Leandro Arias. They have more in common than cash. Amparo ($650,000) and Arias ($600,000) are Dominican-born shortstops. They're teenagers and switch-hitters, with the latter ranked as the No. 46 prospect in MLBPipeline.com's Top 50 list. Here's what the club said about both players in Saturday's news release announcing the 24 signings: Arias, 16, is a shortstop prospect...
    

Orioles claim Fox, add six players to 40-man roster

Orioles claim Fox, add six players to 40-man roster
The Orioles are protecting six players again in the Rule 5 draft that's scheduled for next month in Orlando, Fla., placing pitchers DL Hall, Kyle Bradish, Kevin Smith, Félix Bautista and Logan Gillaspie, and infielder Terrin Vavra on the 40-man roster at tonight's deadline. The day began with 32 openings, heavy subtractions made since the last game. The most recent transaction impacting the roster before today was the claiming of pitcher Bryan Baker off waivers from the Blue Jays on Nov....
    

Taking a last look at possible protections in Rule 5 draft

Taking a last look at possible protections in Rule 5 draft
The Orioles' 40-man roster is holding at 32 players and must be set by Friday, before a Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings that remains in limbo, as well as Orlando, with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will complete the task of protecting players, which follows the many transactions that cleared room for them. There will be the obvious calls and probably at least one that seems possible but falls a little short of a...
    

Orioles open fall instructional camp in Sarasota

Orioles open fall instructional camp in Sarasota
The Orioles begin their fall instructional league camp this morning in Sarasota, Fla., and players gathering at the Ed Smith Stadium complex include 19 that MLBPipeline.com ranks among the top 30 prospects in the organization. One of the headliners is outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the second-overall pick in the 2020 draft who hasn't been able to play since his diagnosis of myocarditis following his selection. He's been taking batting practice and is now cleared for an increase in baseball...
    

Orioles facing many more 40-man moves

Orioles facing many more 40-man moves
The early work on the Orioles' 40-man roster consisted of one move that probably didn't require hours of study, deliberation and angst. The team likes Travis Lakins Sr. Manager Brandon Hyde talked about the reliever's recovery from elbow surgery and the likelihood that he'd be ready for spring training. But it made no sense to move Lakins from the 60-day injured list to a 40-man roster that requires heavy cuts. A chain saw rather than a pocket knife. Teams figured to pass on Lakins after he...
    

Orioles lose Burdi on waivers and outright Lakins

Orioles lose Burdi on waivers and outright Lakins
The Orioles began work this afternoon on a 40-man roster that must undergo significant changes to accommodate injured players and prospects eligible for the Rule 5 draft. One spot opened up when reliever Zack Burdi was put on waivers and claimed today by the Diamondbacks. The 40-man now holds 39 players. Burdi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30 and made his lone appearance with the Orioles on Sept. 6, tossing a scoreless inning against the Royals. He was optioned the next day. The...
    

A look ahead at Game 2 tonight in Bowie

A look ahead at Game 2 tonight in Bowie
BOWIE - It is not a must-win like their game Sunday, when the season would have been over with a loss, but it's a pretty vital game for the Bowie Baysox tonight. They host Akron in Game 2 of the Double-A Northeast Championship Series. After losing here 5-1 last night, they would be in an 0-2 series hole with a loss tonight, and heading to Akron for the rest of the series. Game 3 is set for Friday night at 6:05 p.m. The Baysox, who tied with Akron for the most runs scored in the league in the...
    

More thoughts on yesterday's comeback win in the Bronx

More thoughts on yesterday's comeback win in the Bronx
Say what you will about the 2021 Orioles, and the dialogue fills a lot of pages, but there's no denying that they're playing hard with the season down to its final month and hopes of staying competitive buried a long time ago. You don't overcome a trio of three-run deficits yesterday at Yankee Stadium if you're already booking offseason vacations. You don't win two one-run games in the series. You don't keep grinding. There are obvious signs and more subtle ones, the latter including how...
    

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason
The Orioles aren't playing tonight. They have an off-day in New York. We should all be so lucky. "Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Broadway?" "Practice, practice, practice." I've already mastered the art of the mailbag. How to gather questions, provide answers - or at least make the attempt - and exhibit tremendous patience while repeating myself. And also how to make it conversational at times, which ain't easy with the mail. I implore everyone to be as expansive as you'd like...
    

Losing streak puts Orioles in position for first pick in 2022 draft

Losing streak puts Orioles in position for first pick in 2022 draft
Moving below the Diamondbacks for the worst record in the majors has put the Orioles in front of everyone else for the No. 1 pick in the 2022 amateur draft. There must be a reward for enduring such agony. Baseball America's early mock draft, published last month, has IMG Academy outfielder Elijah Green as the top choice. It noted his "special combination of elite physicality, electric tools and an impressive underclass track record of hitting." Former Orioles bench coach John Russell, a...
    

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more
Baseball America has published its updated top 30 prospects list for the Orioles, and first-round pick Colton Cowser ranks fifth while beginning his professional career in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Heston Kjerstad, last year's first-rounder, hasn't appeared in a single game after being diagnosed with myocarditis, but he's sixth. This year's second-round pick, infielder Connor Norby, is 10th. A big jump was made by Double-A Bowie shortstop Joey Ortiz, who's 12th in the system...
    

Because You Asked - Heading Home

Because You Asked - Heading Home
The month of July is behind us and the ol' mailbag is swollen like a tick on a Doberman. The dog days of summer are upon us. I need to get back to answering your questions - over and over without complaint or pointing out how many of them are repetitious. It can be done with sincerity or a dash of sarcasm. It can be informative and fun. It's a floor wax, it's a dessert topping. There is no editing for length, clarity, style or brevity. It's the internet. We have room. Also, my mailbag cup...
    

Elias talks about trade deadline, minor league injuries and more

Elias talks about trade deadline, minor league injuries and more
The Orioles tried to trade at least one of their relievers prior to today's deadline. Talks began more than a week ago and kept moving at varying paces until 4 p.m. The effort wasn't lacking, only an agreement. Triple-A reliever Shawn Armstrong was dealt to the Rays this morning for cash considerations. Injured shortstop Freddy Galvis was sent back to the Phillies for Single-A pitcher Tyler Burch just before the negotiating window slammed shut. No one in the current bullpen had to pack up and...
    

Mullins chasing 200 hits, plus other O's notes

Mullins chasing 200 hits, plus other O's notes
In the middle of a remarkable year we can think back to the first few games of the season and recall that center fielder Cedric Mullins was raking pretty much from the start. He went 9-for-13 in that opening series at Boston, which included a 5-for-5 game in the series finale. By the end of April he was batting .337. But there were times in May that it seemed like Mullins' bat was crashing back to earth. He was batting .291 in late May. Then came June and so much for his bat cooling off. He...
    

Because You Asked - The Last Knight

Because You Asked - The Last Knight
What about this and what about that? Why is this taking so long, and will that ever happen? And where's Chris Davis? Oh, the questions never stop, which is why mailbags exists. They're also a popular filler for sportswriters - our version of breadcrumbs. Some might call it lazy. Those accusers are driven to another county and pushed out the door. And I'll go the extra mile to find a new movie sequel title. You ask 'em and I answer 'em, and then someone else asks the exact same thing and I...
    

Bradish gets set for Triple-A debut, O's offense perks up

Bradish gets set for Triple-A debut, O's offense perks up
The Dylan Bundy trade has been looking pretty good recently for the Orioles. It was a trade from Dec. 4, 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels and the Orioles got four right-handers in return. They added Kyle Bradish, Kyle Brnovich, Zach Peek and Isaac Mattson. Mattson has already made it to Baltimore and Bradish got one step closer Saturday with his promotion from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. That was a quick promotion but the 24-year-old Bradish had thrown 13 2/3 scoreless innings on seven...
    

Some big nights on farm, but O's fall big to Yankees

Some big nights on farm, but O's fall big to Yankees
As it turned out, right-hander Jórge Lopez might have broken through that fifth-inning barrier and had a strong outing in his previous game versus the Boston Red Sox, but he could not build on that last night. López got an early exit, the Orioles fell into an early deficit and they added another loss against the New York Yankees. The Yankees led 5-0 after two innings and beat the Orioles 8-2 at Camden Yards as López had a rough night, one where he gave up six hits and five runs (four...
    

Hyde provides updates on Martin and Stewart (Franco signs)

Hyde provides updates on Martin and Stewart (Franco signs)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is withholding Richie Martin from his first game until after Thursday's off-day. Hyde is being cautious with Martin, who had the hamate bone removed from his left hand in January. Martin hit yesterday on a back field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "Wrist is feeling pretty good," Hyde said today on his Zoom call. "We're pushing him back a couple days. ... He's going to continue to take at-bats on the back field here. "It's just coming off a hamate and your...