Trying to reverse the losing (Scott and Kline recalled, plus notes)

Trying to reverse the losing (Scott and Kline recalled, plus notes)
SEATTLE - It is kind of a cycle the Orioles can't seem to get out of right now. At some point, all the losing was bound to take a toll on everyone in Birdland - and that includes the players. We have reached that point. The losing streak has reached nine and the longest of the year in the majors by any team is 10. Can the O's win tonight to avoid that? It will be tough. When John Means went to the injured list yesterday, that meant the Orioles were going to use a bullpen game tonight. Those...

Frederick is set to host the Carolina League All-Star game

Frederick is set to host the Carolina League All-Star game
OAKLAND - The All-Star break has arrived in the Single-A Carolina League, and tomorrow night the Orioles' Frederick Keys affiliate will host the All-Star game at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Frederick previously hosted All-Star games in 1991 and 2005. In that most recent game, the Orioles' Nick Markakis not only won the pregame Home Run Derby, but hit two homers in the game to lead the Carolina League past the California League. The All-Star Classic, presented by Visit Frederick, will...

Another one-run loss, plus Friday on the farm

Another one-run loss, plus Friday on the farm
That's four games on the road trip and four one-run games with three losses for the Orioles. Very competitive yet again, they did some good things but failed to win. Thanks to an error and a few timely hits, they took a 3-0 lead on Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole through four innings. Rio Ruiz had a clutch two-out, bases-loaded single in the first. Chance Sisco hit his first homer of the year and fifth of his career in the third. Sisco did a nice job to wait on a curveball over the outside...

Delmarva manager on Rodriguez, Hall and more (plus O's notes)

Delmarva manager on Rodriguez, Hall and more (plus O's notes)
It has been a little over two weeks since my trek to Salisbury, Md. and Perdue Stadium to see up close how the Orioles' Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds affiliate had gotten off to a remarkable 24-4 start. The Shorebirds were playing at a .857 winning percentage through 28 games and they were obviously going to cool off some. But it hasn't been much. After last night's 12-2 home win over Lakewood, the Shorebirds are 36-10 (.783). That is still easily the best-record in all of minor league full...

O's game blog: It's Straily against Sabathia at Camden Yards

O's game blog: It's Straily against Sabathia at Camden Yards
After losing by 10-7 and 11-4 the last two nights, the Orioles host the New York Yankees again tonight. It's the third contest of a four-game series. The outlook doesn't look too positive for the O's tonight. Right-hander Dan Straily (1-3, 8.51 ERA), who has been struggling, especially at home, goes against a Yankees team that enjoys mashing homers at Oriole Park. But that's why they play the games, so we're about to find out how this is going to go. Straily has been a big disappointment...

A complete team effort has keyed Delmarva's stunning start

A complete team effort has keyed Delmarva's stunning start
SALISBURY, Md. - Take a team that has gotten outstanding starting pitching and timely hitting. A team that has solid defense, great chemistry and likes to keep it loose. A team that features a young, progressive-thinking coaching staff. And you can get a team playing some good baseball. Make that great baseball. But even those connected with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds - the Orioles' affiliate in the South Atlantic League - are honest to admit they could not have expected anything like...

A look at short outings, Delmarva's start and a new top 100

A look at short outings, Delmarva's start and a new top 100
I'm not sure how it is going to happen, but the Orioles need to make it happen. They need to start getting more innings from their starting pitchers. The sooner the better. In 32 games during an 11-21 start, the Orioles' starting pitchers have thrown six innings or more just four times and have made only four quality starts. The starters' ERA is 5.54 and they have gone 5 1/3 or fewer innings 26 times, including in each of the last seven games. It was not a good road trip for getting deep...

O's game blog: John Means starts White Sox series opener

O's game blog: John Means starts White Sox series opener
The Orioles road trip moves on to Chicago and they start a three-game series tonight in the windy city. The Orioles (10-19) went 0-3 at Minnesota, scoring just four runs. They've lost seven of nine and 14 of the last 19 games. Left-handers get the start with John Means (3-2, 1.74 ERA) facing Manny Bañuelos (1-0, 2.51 ERA). In his three starts, Means is 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA. He has averaged 6.9 strikeouts/nine innings in his starts and 15.3 per nine when pitching out of the bullpen. The White...

Will splitter be there again tonight for Alex Cobb?

Will splitter be there again tonight for Alex Cobb?
Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb is expected to rejoin the rotation tonight, coming off the injured list for the second time this year. When he made his only start of 2019 on April 4 in the home opener, he went 5 2/3 and allowed five hits and two runs versus the New York Yankees. Cobb threw a heavy percentage of split-finger fastballs in that outing and it was a good sign. Because he did the same in the second half last year when he pitched so well. As the season wore on, his splitter got better...

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on the mound in homestand finale

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy on the mound in homestand finale
After they lost three straight to the Yankees and two of three to the Oakland Athletics in this current series, the Orioles host the A's again this afternoon. The game marks the end of this four-game series and seven-game homestand before a road trip begins in Boston Friday night. The Orioles beat Oakland 12-4 Monday, but lost the last two nights by 13-2 and 10-3 scores. During this homestand, O's pitching has allowed 23 homers and 56 runs. MLB leaders, homers allowed: 32 - Orioles23 -...

Rajsich won't return to Orioles in 2019

Rajsich won't return to Orioles in 2019
The sweeping changes within the Orioles organization have impacted director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Rajsich won't return to the Orioles next season, according to multiple sources. The decision was made before his contract expired on Friday. New executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias is in charge of making hires within each department, and scouting is undergoing a major overhaul. Former executive vice president Dan Duquette hired Rajsich in November 2011 as one of his first...

The Orioles' minor league All-Stars for 2018

The Orioles' minor league All-Stars for 2018
Today's let's take a look at some of the Orioles minor leaguers that had the most productive seasons in 2018. Presenting one man's version of the Orioles' minor league All-Stars for this year. This is not a listing simply of the best prospects, but the players who produced the best at each position. In some cases it's clear cut and in some it's not. 1B Aderlin Rodriguez: Rodriguez hit two homers and drove in seven runs on the final day of the season for Double-A Bowie to cap off a third...

Josh Michael: Some bold prospect predictions for 2019

Josh Michael: Some bold prospect predictions for 2019
This week marks the final week for guest bloggers on MASNsports.com and I could not think of a better way to wrap up the year than to look forward to next year. Today I present my bold Orioles prospect predictions for the 2019 season. Remember, these are bold predictions, so some of them may seem far-fetched, but if they all come true next year, please don't call me asking what your future holds or for the winning lottery numbers (I'd keep that info anyway). Breakout Offensive Prospect - SS...

Orioles select Ortiz's contract (plus notes)

Orioles select Ortiz's contract (plus notes)
SEATTLE - The Orioles expanded their roster to 29 players today by selecting the contract of right-hander Luis Ortiz from Triple-A Norfolk. The 40-man roster still has one open spot. Ortiz, 22, was acquired from the Brewers with infielder Jonathan Villar and shortstop Jean Carmona in exchange for second baseman Jonathan Schoop. He went 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in six starts with Norfolk, and his 31 2/3 innings raised his season total to 99 2/3. Ortiz will become the 54th player used by the Orioles...

Notes on 100 losses, stolen bases and the farm on Sunday

Notes on 100 losses, stolen bases and the farm on Sunday
With Sunday night's 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees, the Orioles were swept four straight and they fall to 37-94. The 2018 Orioles are closing in on becoming the third team in club history, which dates to 1954, to lose 100 or more. The 1954 Orioles went 54-100 and the 1988 Orioles went 54-107. There have been nine Orioles teams since 1954 that lost 95 or more in a season, and this club is one loss from becoming the 10th. The other nine teams are on this list: 107 losses - 1988100 losses -...

O's are settling in with speed atop the lineup

O's are settling in with speed atop the lineup
We have seen it for five games now: center fielder Cedric Mullins as the Orioles leadoff batter and followed in the batting order by infielder Jonathan Villar hitting second. It certainly provides the Orioles with the kind of speed at the top of the order that we have not seen often in recent years. To this point the duo has not had either a significant impact or impressive stats batting at the top of the order. But the sample is small and I'm all for seeing more of it and seeing what those...

Young shortstop Adam Hall gets pro career going at Aberdeen

Young shortstop Adam Hall gets pro career going at Aberdeen
When the Orioles drafted Canadian prep shortstop Adam Hall in the second round in 2017, it wasn't long before he signed and began to play in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He began his pro career going 6-for-9 in his first two games with a double, triple, four runs scored, a stolen base and two RBIs. Hard to get off to a much better start for the right-handed hitter from A.B. Lucas Secondary School in London, Ontario. But then Hall suffered an oblique strain that ended his 2017 season...

Will more youth be on the way, plus other notes and Aberdeen's roster

Will more youth be on the way, plus other notes and Aberdeen's roster
Right-hander Yefry Ramirez had the look of player who knew he did a decent job in the Orioles clubhouse yesterday. And for a player chasing a major league dream since his first season on the farm in 2011, to pitch in a big league game against a good team and handle himself well had to be so special for him. Ramirez saw two of his runs score after he left the game. Otherwise allowing one run over 4 1/3 would have looked much better. But he showed a major league quality changeup and got swings...

O's have taken more high school players early in recent drafts

O's have taken more high school players early in recent drafts
It has not exactly been an organizational mandate or philosophy, but the Orioles have selected more high school players than college players in the first five rounds of the draft over the last five years. High school kids can have more upside and can get to the majors at a younger age, sometimes than their college counterparts, who may be 21 or older in some cases when drafted. According to this report from Baseball America, the Orioles selected a high school player with 59.3 percent of their...

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy makes second-half debut

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy makes second-half debut
After getting a quality start and a win in well-pitched game last night, the Orioles shoot for two in a row tonight. Chris Tillman allowed one run over six innings in last night's 3-1 win over Texas. Tillman was pitching on 16 days' rest last night, and right-hander Dylan Bundy (8-8, 4.33 ERA) will be pitching on 11 days' rest tonight since his last start on July 6 at Minnesota. Bundy had a 3.05 ERA after his June 9 start against the Yankees. But in five starts since that game he is 2-3 with...