No structural damage in Harvey's elbow (updated)

No structural damage in Harvey's elbow (updated)
BOSTON - An examination on Hunter Harvey's right elbow Monday in Baltimore didn't reveal any structural damage, with his latest bout of discomfort related to tendinitis. Harvey will remain shut down after his latest round of flat ground sessions in Sarasota were halted on Sept. 18. He's basically been prescribed rest. The Orioles no longer are sending Harvey to the Arizona Fall League, where he was supposed to pitch for the Glendale Desert Dogs. Harvey underwent an MRI on Aug. 22 that...

Cervenka, Lee and Ripken among Orioles' minor league signings

Cervenka, Lee and Ripken among Orioles' minor league signings
BOSTON - The rain continues to fall at Fenway Park and the forecast remains ominous. However, there's been no word so far on a postponement and split doubleheader on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Orioles announced that they've signed right-handers Cristian Alvarado and Francisco Jiménez, left-hander Chris Lee, catchers Martin Cervenka and Daniel Fajardo, infielder Anderson Feliz, and first basemen Ryan Ripken and Wilson García to minor league contracts for the 2019 season. Cervenka and Lee...

One of the best relievers in the Carolina League is now headed to the AFL

One of the best relievers in the Carolina League is now headed to the AFL
If you were to ask an Orioles fan which lefty reliever had the best season of any of the southpaws on the O's farm this season, that fan could make a very strong case for Tyler Erwin, who had an outstanding year for Single-A Frederick. The Orioles are sending Erwin to the Arizona Fall League, which begins next month. He'll play for the Glendale Desert Dogs. In 50 games for the Keys, Erwin, who turned 24 in August, went 4-4 with 18 saves and a 1.58 ERA. Over 68 1/3 innings, he allowed 45 hits...

Because You Asked - Full Throttle

Because You Asked - Full Throttle
The last 10 games of the season can't pass without another dive into the ol' "mailbag," which requires actual quotation marks because air quotes won't work here. I tend to gravitate toward the duplicates, hoping that an answer will eliminate the repetition. But I've learned over the years that it doesn't really work. At least we're having fun, right? Right? I'm running low on movie sequel titles. Similar to how the Orioles are running out of starters. But I'm not injured and I'm not...

Notes on rotation, Cervenka, tonight's game and more

Notes on rotation, Cervenka, tonight's game and more
While the Orioles were deciding to start Evan Phillips last night and monitoring the weather in case their rotation plans had to be altered again, they had John Means and Dillon Tate throwing side sessions down in Sarasota to remain options for Wednesday night. Lots of balls in the air, lots of moving parts. "We've got that well underway," said manager Buck Showalter. "Trying to make sure that we're covered there." Means and Tate must be protected in the Rule 5 draft and eventually will...

Notes on Jones, Hays, Carroll and tonight's pitching matchup

Notes on Jones, Hays, Carroll and tonight's pitching matchup
The Orioles are down to their last 13 home games, giving fans 13 more chances to salute their captain, Adam Jones, before he's gone. And more if they're willing to travel to New York or Boston. How many times will they find him in the lineup? Jones will play this week. Manager Buck Showalter made it clear over the weekend that he isn't sitting Jones for the rest of the month. But does the plan call for a home/road split, with Jones staying on the bench outside of Camden Yards? Is there an...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
A few observations, thoughts and random musings - they tend to have the same characteristics - while waiting for the start of a three-game series at climate-controlled Tropicana Field in the third-to-last road series of 2018: * The Orioles didn't bring back a major haul for second baseman Jonathan Schoop and pitchers Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day at the non-waiver trade deadline. It was more about salary relief, international signing bonus slots and minor league depth. But second baseman...

Hays and Wilkerson included on Glendale roster in AFL

Hays and Wilkerson included on Glendale roster in AFL
Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays and Triple-A Norfolk infielder Steve Wilkerson are the only confirmed Orioles assigned to the Glendale Desert Dogs roster in the Arizona Fall League. The Orioles have four spots saved for pitchers and one for a catcher, who will be announced at a later date. As I wrote yesterday, Bowie catcher Martin Cervenka would have to re-sign as a minor league free agent before the Orioles could send him to Arizona. Orioles minor league infield coordinator Dave...

Trumbo chooses knee surgery (plus other notes, O's lead 7-5)

Trumbo chooses knee surgery (plus other notes, O's lead 7-5)
The latest examination of Mark Trumbo's right knee today brought the same recommendation for surgery, which the veteran will undergo while ending his 2018 season. The Orioles passed along the information this afternoon, saying that Trumbo will decide on a date and location for the procedure within the next few days. Trumbo flew out to Northern California for the latest consultation. He was shut down and placed on the 10-day disabled list after an Aug. 19 game in Cleveland with discomfort in...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Announcements on the Orioles' international signings should be trickling out now that they revealed their agreement yesterday with 16-year-old switch-hitting outfielder Isaac Bellony of the Dominican Republic for $220,000. That's one. There are believed to be at least eight others, from what I've been told, including 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Moises Ramirez for $225,000, as reported by Baseball America (and confirmed here) but still not announced by the club. The paperwork on the...

Hitting a few Orioles topics on an off-day

Hitting a few Orioles topics on an off-day
A few random questions and thoughts as the Orioles enjoy another off-day before beginning a three-game series in Cleveland: * Is Joey Rickard's stock on the rise? He's making it hard for the Orioles to put him back on the Triple-A shuttle, collecting six hits in 20 at-bats this month - he was robbed of a hit to end last night's game - with a double, triple and home run. Rickard closed out July with six hits in 16 at-bats, including three doubles and a home run, and also had eight RBIs. The...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
No one can judge a trade after only four games and no one is ready to anoint Jonathan Villar as an ideal successor to second baseman Jonathan Schoop. The Orioles don't know whether he's starting at the position for the remainder of the season and into 2019 and whether he's the top choice to bat leadoff based on his ability to swipe bags. But the early returns on Villar are favorable and the sample size is irrelevant. These are early returns. They don't need to stretch over two months to fit...

Latest winless road trip followed by Yankees clash, plus farm notes

Latest winless road trip followed by Yankees clash, plus farm notes
Well, as they are 2-17 in their past 19 home games, we can't necessarily say it will get better for the Orioles as they return home today. They host the New York Yankees this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. in a single-admission doubleheader. The last-place Orioles (24-65) are now 41 games under .500 and 37 games out of first as they begin an eight-game homestand today. They just endured their third 0-6 road trip of the season. They lost all six in April at Boston and Detroit. They did the same in May...

Minor league notebook: Mountcastle's return, props for Peralta & more

Minor league notebook: Mountcastle's return, props for Peralta & more
Orioles third base prospect Ryan Mountcastle is expected to join Double-A Bowie sometime in the next several days. He's played four games at extended spring training in Florida with two games in the field. He will probably head north after another three or four games in Florida and join the Baysox. Mountcastle had been out since mid-March when he was hit by a pitch in a minor league spring game and suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand. He is ranked as the No. 65 prospect in baseball...

Susac and Vielma optioned, Sisco wins job (O's win 6-1)

Susac and Vielma optioned, Sisco wins job (O's win 6-1)
SARASOTA, Fla. - If the Orioles stick with their camp roster, Chance Sisco will serve as the backup catcher on opening day. The Orioles announced today that they've optioned catcher Andrew Susac and infielder Engelb Vielma to Triple-A Norfolk. They already sent out Austin Wynns, leaving Sisco as the last catching reserve standing. Sisco had a two-run double and two-run homer yesterday in a 10-7 win over the Red Sox and is batting .419/.471/.839 (13-for-31) with five doubles, one triple, two...

Orioles' Dan Duquette on the club's three Rule 5 picks

Orioles' Dan Duquette on the club's three Rule 5 picks
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles have taken two players before in the Rule 5 draft. They topped that today, adding three selections in the major league phase. They chose three pitchers. They selected lefty Nester Cortes from the Yankees organization. In 30 games (13 starts) this season, he went 7-4 with a 2.06 ERA. He pitched at three levels in 2017, but mostly at Double-A and Triple-A. He's 25-14 with a 2.08 ERA in 84 career minor league games, including 40 starts, with 344 strikeouts in...