Winter Meetings leftovers for breakfast

Winter Meetings leftovers for breakfast
SAN DIEGO - The interviews to find a replacement for Orioles bullpen coach John Wasdin are carrying over from Baltimore to the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde involved in the process. Hyde's inclusion is important, of course, since the hire will be working on his coaching staff. He had a voice in Fredi González's recent selection as major league coach and their ties to the Marlins organization made it a...

Cobb reinstated from injured list and Ynoa becomes free agent

Cobb reinstated from injured list and Ynoa becomes free agent
The Orioles made two moves this afternoon that kept their 40-man roster at 36 players. Pitcher Alex Cobb has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list and pitcher Gabriel Ynoa became a free agent after clearing waivers. Cobb is recovering from hip and knee surgeries in Tennessee. He's expected to be ready for spring training. Unable to pitch on opening day due to a strained groin muscle, Cobb lasted only three starts during April before again landing on the injured list with a lumbar...

Williams declines outright assignment

Williams declines outright assignment
The Orioles are continuing to clear space on their 40-man roster for future moves. Outfielder Mason Williams was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after clearing waivers and declined the assignment, electing free agency rather than staying in the organization. He could be re-signed later in the winter, but will explore other opportunities. Williams already was eligible to become a minor league free agent if he hadn't been placed on the 25-man roster. The outright assignment was listed yesterday...

Orioles claim Valaika off waivers and outright four

Orioles claim Valaika off waivers and outright four
The Orioles have reduced their 40-man roster to 38 players while making a waiver claim and outrighting four pitchers to Triple-A Norfolk. Much more activity will follow as the season concludes tonight with Game 7 of the World Series. Infielder Pat Valaika has been selected from the Rockies, who chose him in the ninth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of UCLA. He plays every infield position, mostly in the middle, and has some experience in left field. Right-handers Luis Ortiz, Ryan...

Who's storming through the door to enter Orioles rotation?

Who's storming through the door to enter Orioles rotation?
An important part of the Orioles' pitching fantasies involves the pounding of the door that leads to the major league staff. A two-fisted beating. Maybe a swift kick or two to bust it off its hinges. There wasn't much more this summer than a light tapping. Eighteen pitchers made starts for the Orioles in 2019. Luis Ortiz was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on June 14 to start against the Red Sox, replacing Andrew Cashner, and the club had to ignore his 7.01 ERA and 1.65 WHIP while executing...

Checking on Villar comparisons to Schoop

Checking on Villar comparisons to Schoop
Former Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop got a late start on his offseason, but he's able to head back home with the Twins swept in the American League Division Series. Schoop is a free agent again after signing a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Twins last winter. He slashed .256/.304/.473 with 23 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs and 59 RBIs in 121 games and he struck out in both plate appearances in the ALDS. The Orioles didn't attempt to re-sign Schoop and won't make an effort...

Shepherd set to make first major league start

Shepherd set to make first major league start
DETROIT - Being chosen as the International League's Player of the Month for August will be the last honor bestowed upon pitcher Chandler Shepherd in 2019. However, the true highlight of his summer is coming Tuesday night. Shepherd has been told that he's starting against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards, a first for him in the majors after two relief appearances with the Orioles. "It's special for me. I'm obviously super excited for the opportunity," Shepherd said yesterday morning while...

Orioles using 37 of 40 players on roster

Orioles using 37 of 40 players on roster
DETROIT - The Orioles are down to their last 14 games of the 2019 season and content to go through them with a 37-man roster. Reliever Tayler Scott was the last consideration and the Orioles recalled him yesterday from Double-A Bowie, which lost to Trenton in the Eastern League Championship Series. Manager Brandon Hyde had indicated that Scott could rejoin the team after he stayed down in the minors for the minimum 10 days. The Orioles decided to assign him to Bowie for the remainder of the...

Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian

Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian
The list of Orioles who are going to join the expanded September roster is bound to include some pitchers who have spent the summer on the shuttle. Extra arms are coveted over the final month. We can speculate about guys like David Hess, Evan Phillips, Branden Kline, Chandler Shepherd, Tom Eshelman, Tanner Scott and Tayler Scott. We'll wonder about Keegan Akin. We'll assume that it's not happening for Dean Kremer, who's assigned to the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Luis...

Talking about Rutschman, Karns, Wilkerson and Ortiz

Talking about Rutschman, Karns, Wilkerson and Ortiz
The day has arrived. And so has Adley Rutschman. The first overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft has ditched the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and is moving up one level to short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Florida couldn't hold the kid. Time to get him in Maryland. Rutschman would have reported a day earlier, but only for batting practice, if not for Thursday's rainout. The Orioles wanted him to catch in one more game, which he did yesterday. Because he was behind the plate,...

Orioles need more relievers after Anaheim marathon

Orioles need more relievers after Anaheim marathon
The Orioles are going to make a change to their bullpen later today. At least one. Manager Brandon Hyde used eight relievers and a position player last night after Jimmy Yacabonis, who earned the title of "opener" because Tom Eshelman followed with 4 1/3 innings. Otherwise, it's just a bullpen game. Well, it actually became both because the game stretched through 16 innings before the Orioles posted a 10-8 win. Eshelman allowed only one run. He's a hero. Gabriel Ynoa worked three scoreless...

Closer look at Orioles' roster usage

Closer look at Orioles' roster usage
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles made it through last night's game without calling upon a 47th different player. They managed to get by with the current group, covering nine innings and heading to Toronto for the final series before the All-Star break. Are 46 players a lot over the course of a season? How about in the first half? Spoiler alert: The first-half number is a club record. So, yes, it's a lot. Consider that the Orioles' record for a season is 56, set last year as they began to...

Orioles announce 27 July 2 international signings (updated)

Orioles announce 27 July 2 international signings (updated)
The Orioles today announced that they have opened the 2019-20 international signing period with 27 agreements. The club has signed 16 players from the Dominican Republic, eight from Venezuela and one each from Aruba, the Bahamas and Colombia. The club agreed with 15 pitchers (five left-handers and 10 right-handers) along with six shortstops, four outfielders and two catchers. According to a club press release, the class is led by outfielder Luis González, left-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz and...

O's call up Eshelman, scratch Bundy, acquire Wojciechowski

O's call up Eshelman, scratch Bundy, acquire Wojciechowski
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are ready to name their starting pitcher for tonight's game against the Rays. Tom Eshelman had his contract selected today and is going to open the series at Tropicana Field in his major league debut. He's also going to become the 45th player used by the Orioles this season. In order to make room for Eshelman on the 40-man roster, the Orioles have moved left-hander Josh Rogers to the 60-day injured list. They optioned left-hander Tanner Scott to Norfolk...

Sifting through more starter options

Sifting through more starter options
The series win and back-to-back victories are out of the way. The Orioles don't have to be reminded of the huge gaps. Of the many teases and failed attempts. Let it go. The next goal is a three-game sweep, which would be the first since Aug. 27-29, 2018 against the Blue Jays. Probably not as long ago as many people would have expected. David Hess, Josh Rogers and Sean Gilmartin were the winning pitchers in the series. Hess is in Triple-A Norfolk's bullpen, Rogers is on the injured list and...

Is Hess really changing roles?

Is Hess really changing roles?
One decision had been made on David Hess. He was going back down to Triple-A Norfolk as the latest poster child for the Orioles' quest to reset. But what would Hess be doing after returning to the International League? The Orioles could have slotted him into the Tides' rotation or continued with their plan to again make him a reliever, the path taken over the weekend until one appearance on Sunday turned into his last with the club. Manager Brandon Hyde told the media last night in Oakland...

Rogers leaned on Cashner long-distance

Rogers leaned on Cashner long-distance
The friendship that developed between pitchers Andrew Cashner and Josh Rogers in spring training shifted a bit toward mentorship last week as the veteran decided to contact the rookie. A phone call that accomplished two purposes. Check on Rogers' life outside of baseball and pass along some professional advice. Rogers was struggling and unable to gain a promotion until the Orioles had little choice. They needed a starter for Friday night, coincidentally with Cashner scratched due to a blister...

Orioles recall Jimmy Yacabonis

Orioles recall Jimmy Yacabonis
The shuttle has dropped off Jimmy Yacabonis at Camden Yards. Yacabonis is making his latest return to the Orioles, who recalled him this morning from Triple-A Norfolk. He replaces Luis Ortiz, who was optioned following last night's 13-2 loss to the Red Sox. The bullpen is holding eight relievers, though Josh Rogers won't be available for a while after throwing 82 pitches last night in 4 1/3 innings. Yacabonis is available this afternoon after working only two-thirds of an inning Thursday. He...

Boston belts six homers in series-opening blowout win

Boston belts six homers in series-opening blowout win
Orioles pitchers have allowed 22 runs over the last three nights. In the fifth and sixth innings. That is about all you need to know about the pitching since Wednesday night. Boston hammered three homers tonight in the fifth inning and six over the first five frames in crushing the Orioles 13-2 to start a three-game series at Oriole Park. The Orioles fall to 21-48 overall and to 9-26 at home. They've allowed 33 runs these past three games after giving up just 17 the previous six games. The...

Orioles stay on wrong side of lopsided score in 13-2 loss (Ortiz optioned)

Orioles stay on wrong side of lopsided score in 13-2 loss (Ortiz optioned)
Luis Ortiz was given orders to attack. Don't nibble or the Red Sox will devour you. Work quickly, throw strikes, stay aggressive. A high pitch count and short outing would be frowned upon on a club scrambling late last night to find a starter and freshen up the bullpen. Do anything to avoid it. Pitching coach Doug Brocail visited Ortiz by the third inning, which included a bases-loaded jam and prolonged at-bat by Brock Holt, who homered earlier in the game. Holt struck out looking at a slider...