A look at pitchers that could be part of next wave of rebuild

A look at pitchers that could be part of next wave of rebuild
As the Orioles look to put together a starting rotation for 2020, one question will be how soon will some of their homegrown prospects get their chance at the starting five. When will some of the up and coming pitching prospects - homegrown or not - get their shot? Based on how executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and his staff ran the minors and promoted players in 2019, it is probably likely that they won't often have prospects skip levels or more as fast through the system as...

Is bullpen best for Brooks?

Is bullpen best for Brooks?
Let's take another shot this morning at addressing one of the litany of questions facing the Orioles before opening day 2020. Funny how so many of them lead to the pitching staff, whether it's the rotation or bullpen. What should the Orioles do with Aaron Brooks? The numbers make the decision appear to be simple. He's been much more effective as a reliever than as a starter, and the Orioles need to improve in both areas. The Orioles claimed Brooks off waivers from the Athletics on July 6,...

After tough outing, Kershaw shines in postgame interview

After tough outing, Kershaw shines in postgame interview
The Los Angeles Dodgers are becoming a bit of a tortured franchise. They have won seven straight division titles - something incredibly impressive - but they are already out of the 2019 playoffs. They lost Game 5 of the National League Division Series at home to Washington. Since the Dodgers started this run, four different teams have won the American League East title. But just one has won in the National League West. So the heartbreak was big when they blew a 3-0 lead after two innings and a...

Núñez made it easy to slot him as designated hitter in 2020

Núñez made it easy to slot him as designated hitter in 2020
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wasn't ready last month to hand Austin Hays the center field job on opening day. No amount of prodding from the media was going to soften his stance. It was too soon to begin construction of a 26-man roster to be unveiled in late March. The story is the same regarding Renato Núñez. Hyde won't say that Núñez is going to be the primary designated hitter next season. But he speaks as if Núñez is on the team. "I think it's way too soon to think...

Lefty Alex Wells threw a gem, but Bowie lost in Game 3

Lefty Alex Wells threw a gem, but Bowie lost in Game 3
BOWIE, Md. - The box score says that Double-A Bowie lefty Alex Wells was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the Eastern League Championship Series last night. Trenton beat Bowie 2-1 at Prince George's Stadium to take move to within a win of the Eastern League title. But Wells' performance on the field said something very different. He was in command and control and dealing from the outset. Only a rare steal of home put him and his team behind and put that "L" next to his name in the box score....

Trenton beats Bowie in Game 3 of Eastern League finals (quotes added)

Trenton beats Bowie in Game 3 of Eastern League finals (quotes added)
BOWIE, Md. - With the Prince George's Stadium crowd cheering loudly for a strikeout in the top of the seventh to get Double-A Bowie out of big jam, Trenton instead got a run - and the batter didn't have to do a thing. Trenton got the lead in a manner not often seen in baseball anymore. A steal of home. It led Baysox lefty Alex Wells to a very tough luck loss as the Thunder beat Bowie 2-1 tonight to take a 2-1 lead in games in the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series. Bowie will...

O's Mike Elias talks offseason, 2020 rotation and more (Bowie wins)

O's Mike Elias talks offseason, 2020 rotation and more (Bowie wins)
When the offseason begins for the Orioles soon, they'll have a general manager in place to hit the ground running for the fall and winter. O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was hired last year on Nov. 16. So he was not here as the offseason began after 2018 and had to play catch-up. That is not true this year. A few days ago Ben McDonald and I interviewed Elias on the pregame show on the Orioles Radio Network. Here are a few of the questions and answers. What are...

In pursuit of championship, Bowie has to go through MLB pitchers

In pursuit of championship, Bowie has to go through MLB pitchers
The Double-A Bowie Baysox play at Trenton tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Game 1 of the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series. Bowie is in the finals for the second time in the club's 27-year history, looking for its second title. The Baysox came from down 1-2 in games to beat Reading in Games 4 and 5 in 2015 to win its only Eastern League championship. That team included Trey Mancini, Chance Sisco and David Hess. Mychal Givens also pitched for Bowie that year, but only in the regular...

Delmarva and Bowie begin the minor league playoffs tonight

Delmarva and Bowie begin the minor league playoffs tonight
They've had a great year and they were reeling off wins from opening day on. And now the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will try to finish off a great season with a South Atlantic League championship. They'll send their ace, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (10-4, 2.68 ERA) to the mound tonight in Game 1 of a best-of-three league semi-final series at Hickory. They were the two clubs that won the most this year in that league with Delmarva going 90-48 (.652) and Hickory 83-52 (.615). Manager Kyle...

A look at the longest O's at-bat of the year, plus farm notes

A look at the longest O's at-bat of the year, plus farm notes
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - On Monday for the Orioles at Tropicana Field, there was a comeback by Baltimore from a 4-0 deficit, there was a starter going seven innings, there was some gas thrown late in the game by bullpen pitchers. But in the end there was an extra-innings loss as the Orioles fell 5-4 in 10 to Tampa Bay. There was also a clutch 13-pitch at-bat in the top of the sixth that was the longest this year by any Oriole. In the sixth, with the O's down a run and Mark Trumbo at second base,...

Five Orioles confirmed for Arizona Fall League

Five Orioles confirmed for Arizona Fall League
WASHINGTON - The Orioles have five confirmed representatives playing in the Arizona Fall League, with room for more additions. The Surprise Saguaros roster includes pitchers Dean Kremer, Alex Wells and David Lebron and infielders Rylan Bannon and Mason McCoy. Single-A Delmarva manager Kyle Moore is serving as one of the coaches. The Orioles also have spots reserved for one more pitcher and an outfielder. It's possible that Double-A Bowie's Yusniel Diaz fills the latter spot after missing...

A look at the top contenders for the Jim Palmer Award

A look at the top contenders for the Jim Palmer Award
This all could change because there are a couple of weeks to go in the minor league season, and it's just one man's opinion, but at this point there are probably four to five strong contenders for the Jim Palmer Award. It goes to the O's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Right now in some order you can list Single-A Delmarva's Grayson Rodriguez, Double-A Bowie's Michael Baumann, Alex Wells and Zac Lowther as prime contenders. I'll add to that a pitcher who has flown under the radar but...

On Bowie off-night, Baysox pitchers take it in at Oriole Park

On Bowie off-night, Baysox pitchers take it in at Oriole Park
For one night, they took time away from getting consistent outs against Eastern League hitters to take in a big league game. Double-A Bowie left-handers Zac Lowther and Alex Wells were guests of the Orioles last night, touring the clubhouse, meeting the coaches and doing a series of interviews. They made the rounds as they took a night off from the mounds. They are both having special seasons. Lowther was the Orioles Minor League Jim Palmer co-Pitcher of the Year last season, sharing the award...

Bowie manager Buck Britton: "It's been a special turnaround"

Bowie manager Buck Britton: "It's been a special turnaround"
While Orioles farm teams at Triple-A Norfolk and Single-A Frederick have struggled this year, four other affiliates went into play last night in first place. Those were clubs at Double-A Bowie (25-7), Single-A Delmarva (21-10), short-season Single-A Aberdeen (23-15) and the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles (16-7). But no team has had such a remarkable turnaround this year as Bowie. The Baysox were 7-23 on May 5. That was not only the worst record in the Eastern League at that time, it was...

O's lefty Alex Wells moved to Double-A and met the challenge

O's lefty Alex Wells moved to Double-A and met the challenge
When left-hander Alex Wells had solid stats last year at Single-A Frederick but was not as dominant as he was the previous season at Single-A Delmarva, you had to wonder if some of his doubters would be proven right. The lefty without the big fastball would have it tougher as he moved up the Orioles' minor league ladder. Surely hitters would figure him out with more frequency as he got closer to the majors. Then came the 2019 season. The 22-year-old from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia...

Veteran catcher, strong rotation put Baysox on top

Veteran catcher, strong rotation put Baysox on top
We could not have expected this when the Double-A Bowie Baysox were 7-23 on May 5. That was the worst record in all of minor league baseball. But the Baysox have been winning big ever since, and they were 20-7 in June and are 12-3 in July. They are 44-21 since that low point and have the Eastern League's best second-half record at 21-6. There are many reasons they charged into first-place in the second-half Eastern League race. A solid offense led by guys like Mason McCoy, Rylan Bannon and...

Once considered Nats' catcher of the future, Severino doing well with O's

Once considered Nats' catcher of the future, Severino doing well with O's
When the Orioles and Washington Nationals play the next two nights at Camden Yards, the player once considered the Nats catcher of the future will be in the Baltimore dugout. Pedro Severino, who turns 26 on Saturday, was signed for $55,000 by the Nationals out of the Dominican Republic in December of 2010. For five straight years starting in 2013, he was ranked among Washington's top 16 prospects. He reached a high of No. 9 after the 2016 season. Always considered a solid defender with a...

On the O's farm, Bowie Baysox continue to roll

On the O's farm, Bowie Baysox continue to roll
The Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are no longer the only farm team Orioles fans can feel excited about it. Now there are several in terms of won-loss records. Through Sunday's games, three O's teams are in first place and another is one game out. Starting at the highest-level, Double-A Bowie has been on a winning roll for several weeks now. The Baysox are 29-9 since June 1. They are 18-5 in the Eastern League second-half race for the best record and they lead their division by 2 1/2 games....

Brooks added to roster (and other notes)

Brooks added to roster (and other notes)
The Orioles completed their pending roster move today by adding right-hander Aaron Brooks to the 25-man roster. Brooks will wear No. 38 and he's set to become the 47th player used by the Orioles this season. Reliever Josh Lucas was designated for assignment Saturday to make room for Brooks on the 40-man roster. Lucas cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, news also announced today by the Orioles. So much for a break. Brooks was a waiver claim Saturday from the...

A look at the Orioles' improved play during a 5-3 stretch

A look at the Orioles' improved play during a 5-3 stretch
TORONTO - So why have the Orioles played much better lately? They looked bad during a 1-6 road trip and not much better in getting swept two in a row at home recently by San Diego. But they beat Cleveland 13-0 on back-to-back nights and are 5-3 over their last eight games. It's been a bit of a team effort. The O's offense has scored 21 runs the last three games and 53 over the past eight games. They've hit 13 homers in that span. The starting pitchers are 4-2 with a 2.05 ERA in the...