Hyde on changes in Orioles camp, roles and more (updated)

Hyde on changes in Orioles camp, roles and more (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first spring training as a major league manager, Brandon Hyde is bringing some of his previous tactics while running camps to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. Music blared as the Orioles came onto the field for early stretching and warm-ups, the play list including two Pearl Jam songs, and the tunes switched to country later in the morning. The row of mounds on one of the back field areas has been expanded from four to six, allowing for more simultaneous...

Being on 40-man roster only "small stepping stone" for Kline

Being on 40-man roster only "small stepping stone" for Kline
Time remains in the offseason to break down the top storylines of spring training, the most anticipated interviews, the most intense competitions, the best and worst of everything. The dissections will cut deep. The repetition that usually follows will numb the mind. The locker belonging to pitcher Branden Kline is going to attract media despite the interviews he gave last weekend at FanFest and Thursday night on 105.7 The Fan's "Hot Stove Show." He's talked about his injuries, the...

Castro would find relief in throwing more strikes

Castro would find relief in throwing more strikes
The two scoreless innings that reliever Miguel Castro worked on Sept. 22 in New York might seem insignificant when cast in the overall picture. The Orioles were barreling toward another loss and destined to finish with the worst record in the majors and in franchise history. Seven batters faced after replacing starter David Hess in the sixth and just one hit allowed on a Gleyber Torres double that was followed by a passed ball and out at the plate on a fielder's choice. But Castro lowered his...

Orioles claim Jack Reinheimer off waivers

Orioles claim Jack Reinheimer off waivers
The Orioles keep building infield depth and increasing their options as they move through the offseason. The latest utility candidate arrived today in Jack Reinheimer, claimed off waivers from the Rangers. Pitcher Austin Brice was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Reinheimer, 26, was a fifth-round pick of the Mariners in 2013 out of East Carolina University who appeared in 21 games with the Mets last summer and went 5-for-30 with five walks and nine strikeouts. He was...

Prepping for today's FanFest

Prepping for today's FanFest
The annual FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center is being held today, giving fans an opportunity to grill executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, manager Brandon Hyde and his coaching staff, assistant general manager Sig Mejdal and senior director of international scouting Koby Perez in various forums for Birdland Membership holders and the general public. They won't offer timelines for contention or to have their departments fully staffed. But Elias will be asked...

Constructing Orioles roster a gradual process

Constructing Orioles roster a gradual process
While the baseball world balances on the edge of its seats waiting for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper to sign their monstrous contracts, which will reduce the media's baseball chatter by about 75 percent, the Orioles are quietly researching ways to fill out their roster. Much of the heavy lifting outside of it is done. Two big front office hires have been completed in executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and assistant Sig Mejdal, the latter responsible for building up the...

A few ideas for the Orioles as they head into 2019

A few ideas for the Orioles as they head into 2019
A new year carries with it the same tasks placed in front of executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, assistant Sig Mejdal and manager Brandon Hyde. No one has been hired to replace director of player development Brian Graham and director of scouting Gary Rajsich. Only two coaches are known to have joined the staff, with a third offered a job in the bullpen, per sources. And how's that analytics department coming along? Openings remain for a manager at Triple-A Norfolk, a...

More roster talk, Lee update and former Orioles in October

More roster talk, Lee update and former Orioles in October
Setting the 40-man roster prior to the Rule 5 draft won't necessarily be the first order of business for the Orioles' reconstructed front office, with the non-tender deadline set for Nov. 30, but it's going to involve more heavy lifting. The roster is full and the Orioles need to create room for pitchers Dillon Tate and Branden Kline, who are assured of making it. Catcher Martin Cervenka and left-hander Luis Gonzalez also are expected to have spots open to them. As I've pointed out in the...

Some early roster rumblings and Rule 5 questions

Some early roster rumblings and Rule 5 questions
I've warned in the past that it's much too early to project how the Orioles will fill out their 25-man roster. It's only October and no one has been hired in the front office and as the new manager. There are so many steps ahead that it would fry a Fitbit. Players will be added via trades and/or free agency, fitting into whatever budget has been laid out by ownership. The Rule 5 draft again could be utilized, though perhaps not to the extent of the previous offseason, when three selections...

Whittling down the walks would work wonders for Orioles

Whittling down the walks would work wonders for Orioles
A new manager for the Orioles likely will bring in his own pitching coach rather than inherit Roger McDowell. It's the usual outcome. Few coaches carry over to the next skipper. The ones that do should receive an award bearing Elrod Hendricks' name. Manager Mike Hargrove inherited Eddie Murray on his 2000 staff, giving him an extra coach and forcing Brian Graham, formerly on the Indians' staff, to the press box as the "eye in the sky." Graham also was given the title of "offensive and...

Jones on Showalter: "It's the end of an era"

Jones on Showalter: "It's the end of an era"
Orioles manager Buck Showalter has been complimenting Adam Jones at every opportunity this week as the outfield approaches what's expected to be his final game in the organization. Tonight gave Jones the chance to return the favor as Showalter's status remains in question. Jones didn't sound like someone who anticipates Showalter being back next season. "I think for the franchise it's just meant accountability," Jones said following a 5-2 loss in Game 2 that completed the Astros' sweep...

Orioles swept in doubleheader with 5-2 loss in Game 2

Orioles swept in doubleheader with 5-2 loss in Game 2
The sixth doubleheader of the season for the Orioles resulted in the third sweep against them. Two more losses to toss on the pile. The Orioles have grown accustomed to peering through the defeats to find positive strands. It's one way to maintain their sanity and stay optimistic as the worst season in franchise history sputters to a stop. Rookie Yefry Ramírez made his 13th major league start and 18th appearance tonight in Game 2 and he offered quality by baseball's long-standing...

Wrapping up Game 1 loss (O's down 5-2)

Wrapping up Game 1 loss (O's down 5-2)
The Orioles are trying to avoid being swept in today's doubleheader and also are seeking their first win against the Astros this season. The process is complicated, of course, by the opponent rolling out ace after ace. It seems unfair, as if the deck is stacked. Myles Straw hit his first major league home run, a solo shot to center field in the first inning to give the Astros a 1-0 lead, but rookie catcher Austin Wynns tied the game in the second with a single off left-hander Dallas Keuchel...

Mancini on Jones: "That only comes around once in a blue moon"

Mancini on Jones: "That only comes around once in a blue moon"
The sixth and final doubleheader of the 2018 season will be played today, giving fans perhaps twice as many chances to cheer Adam Jones before he hits free agency. Jones could start in right field and later serve as designated hitter. He also could sit out one of the games, his presence in the lineup a certainty on Sunday. Teammates tend to fumble for words while expressing what Jones has meant to the organization and especially within the community. A simple question can tie them up like a...

Wrapping up a 6-3 win

Wrapping up a 6-3 win
NEW YORK - Alex Cobb knew his finger was going to flare up today while he warming in the bullpen. It wasn't a sudden occurrence. He didn't have visions of a lengthy start. The signs pointed toward an early exit and non-blistered fingers crossed. Cobb was done after four pitches, but the bullpen covered nine innings in a 6-3 victory that gave the Orioles five victories in nine games at Yankee Stadium for their only winning record in an American League ballpark. "I knew I wasn't going to last...

Cobb exits after four pitches and O's down early (O's lead 6-3)

Cobb exits after four pitches and O's down early (O's lead 6-3)
NEW YORK - Alex Cobb's season has ended today after four pitches. The blister on Cobb's right middle finger flared up again while the veteran was facing Yankees leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen. Cobb threw four fastballs between 90 and 92 mph, getting ahead 0-2 in the count before missing with the last two. Cobb looked down at his finger after the fourth pitch, swiped at the ball with his glove in disgust and glanced toward the Orioles dugout. Manager Buck Showalter came to the mound and Cobb...

DJ Stewart hits first major league homer and O's take series finale (postgame quotes)

DJ Stewart hits first major league homer and O's take series finale (postgame quotes)
They are not a rock band, but tonight Jimmy and the bullpen got it done for the Orioles. Right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis went the first four innings and the bullpen took it from there. The O's hung on late for a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards. The Orioles (44-108) end the homestand going 3-6. In each series - against Oakland, the Chicago White Sox and Toronto - they lost the first two games, but avoided the sweep by taking the series finale. DJ Stewart hit his first career...

Yacabonis goes four scoreless, Stewart homers in win (updated)

Yacabonis goes four scoreless, Stewart homers in win (updated)
The choice came down to Jimmy Yacabonis and Mike Wright Jr. for tonight's start that would close out the penultimate homestand of the 2018 season. Manager Buck Showalter weighed his options, checking rest days, and chose Yacabonis. Wright would back him up. It was a tag-team affair on a night when the Orioles were promoting World Wrestling Entertainment. How appropriate. Yacabonis shut out the Blue Jays over the first four innings and Wright blanked them in two. Miguel Castro hopped into the...

Yefry Ramírez throws strong game, but O's blanked (with quotes)

Yefry Ramírez throws strong game, but O's blanked (with quotes)
An injury-riddled and struggling Orioles rotation got a shot in the arm tonight. It came from the right arm of Yefry Ramírez. He put together his best start since he threw five scoreless July 14 in Baltimore against the Rangers. But would he or the team get a win out of it? Chicago White Sox right-hander Reynaldo López made that a no. He's been pitching well lately, and that sure carried over tonight as the White Sox beat the Orioles 2-0 in front of 23,266 at Oriole Park. Chicago won an...

Showalter on Cobb and wrapping up a 3-2 loss

Showalter on Cobb and wrapping up a 3-2 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter noticed tonight how Alex Cobb was checking a finger on his right hand with two outs in the top of the second inning and knew instantly that pitching plans would have to be adjusted. That what appeared to be the makings of another solid start for Cobb would deteriorate into a bullpen game. Cobb had to be replaced in the third inning because the blister on his middle finger broke open again, and the Athletics scored three runs off Mike Wright Jr. and held on for a...