Orioles decline to renew contract of bullpen coach John Wasdin

Orioles decline to renew contract of bullpen coach John Wasdin
The Orioles made a third and perhaps final change to their coaching staff this afternoon. Bullpen coach John Wasdin has been notified that he won't be invited back in 2020, according to a source. Wasdin, 47, joins first base coach/outfield instructor Arnie Beyeler and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark, who learned yesterday that their contracts wouldn't be renewed. All three coaches were working on one-year deals after the Orioles hired Brandon Hyde as manager in December. Adjustments to...

Beyeler and Clark won't return to Orioles coaching staff in 2020

Beyeler and Clark won't return to Orioles coaching staff in 2020
The Orioles started to make changes to their coaching staff this afternoon. First base coach Arnie Beyeler and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark won't be retained in 2020, according to multiple industry sources. They were working on one-year contracts that won't be renewed next season. Beyeler also served as the outfield instructor, handling two tasks that belonged to Wayne Kirby under previous manager Buck Showalter. Kirby has been hired by the Braves as minor league outfield...

Orioles could eliminate title of minor league catching coordinator

Orioles could eliminate title of minor league catching coordinator
As Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias makes a series of changes to the front office, player development and scouting departments, it's become clear that titles also can be altered or eliminated. It isn't just the individuals behind them. I've heard that the Orioles might do away with the role of minor league catching coordinator that used to be filled by Don Werner, who learned earlier this month that he wouldn't return in 2020. Elias said the following back on...

More on Elias' media session and Davis' Sunday home run

More on Elias' media session and Davis' Sunday home run
While sorting through Sunday afternoon's 15-minute dugout interview with Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, held before the home finale, there were certain points that stood out more than the others. It's bound to happen during a conversation of that length. The important and enlightening stuff mixed in with the more obvious parts. Wins and losses don't matter in the early stages of a rebuild, but Elias still is asked about them. And he still has to remind people...

Wilkerson recounts his pitching debut (O's lead 2-1)

Wilkerson recounts his pitching debut (O's lead 2-1)
Stevie Wilkerson couldn't come up with a new nickname after making his pitching debut last night. He was open to suggestions. "Stevie Slider" wouldn't work because he doesn't have one in his limited arsenal. The super-utility player might settle on "Stevie Strike-thrower." No one can argue that it doesn't fit after he located the zone on seven of his 10 pitches in the ninth inning of a 16-4 loss. Wilkerson became the fourth position player to toe the rubber this season and the 31st...

Hyde and Cossins catch up on friendship

Hyde and Cossins catch up on friendship
The failures that keep flowing to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde as if shot through an open hydrant are made more tolerable by having his best friend to share in the journey. Hyde is a first-time manager guiding the Orioles through the infancy stage of a massive rebuild. He appreciates the competitiveness one night, including yesterday's 8-4 win in Seattle that ended a 10-game losing streak, and then fumes at the litany of mistakes in a blowout loss. He walks that thin line between encouraged...

O's fail to protect late lead and lose 8-6 in 10 innings (Hess optioned)

O's fail to protect late lead and lose 8-6 in 10 innings (Hess optioned)
The final game of the homestand was turning into a day of atonement for the Orioles. An improved level of play had to satisfy their manager, who fumed after yesterday's defeat. And then Brandon Hyde boiled over and got tossed on Father's Day. Scolded by Hyde for their shoddy play the previous afternoon, mental and physical errors pushing him to the breaking point, the Orioles were offering a crisper version of themselves. But they couldn't avoid another series of missteps and had another win...

Hyde on the catchers, Davis, Stewart and more (O's lead 11-5)

Hyde on the catchers, Davis, Stewart and more (O's lead 11-5)
ARLINGTON, Tx. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde stopped short today of saying that he'd go with a strict platoon at catcher. However, his roster is set up where Pedro Severino can start against left-handers and Chance Sisco can play versus right-handers. Severino is in the lineup tonight with the Rangers starting southpaw Drew Smyly. He's slashing .351/.405/.649 when the opponent sends a lefty to the mound. Sisco is expected to stay on the bench Wednesday night against lefty Mike Minor and make...

Karns ready to start pitching again in Sarasota

Karns ready to start pitching again in Sarasota
Brandon Hyde is back in the manager's office this morning, marked absent for only one day. He didn't need to bring a note from home. He had a valid excuse. The responsibility of knowing when to remove a starter and which relievers can be trusted to get the last outs falls again in his lap. The lack of a more veteran presence in the bullpen has been an issue for the Orioles, though certainly not an uncommon one in a rebuilding situation. They certainly could use Nate Karns, a strikeout pitcher...

Hess unable to build on last start in 8-2 loss (updated)

Hess unable to build on last start in 8-2 loss (updated)
The plan to duplicate the first five innings of his last start unraveled today for David Hess after back-to-back walks in the opening frame. Seldom is there a positive outcome. Free passes aren't really free. Brandon Belt singled with two outs to score both runners, Buster Posey homered in the third and the Orioles never led in an 8-2 loss to the Giants before an announced crowd of 19,352 at sunny Camden Yards. Renato Núñez homered again, but the Orioles fell to 18-40 overall and 8-22 at...

O's game blog: Looking for a series win against the Giants

O's game blog: Looking for a series win against the Giants
After their 9-6 win over the San Francisco Giants last night the Orioles will win this series if they get a victory either today or tomorrow. That would give the team its first series victory since April 22-24 at Oriole Park against the Chicago White Sox. The Orioles scored just seven runs in three games earlier this week against Detroit. Last night they had eight by the second inning. Their night included Dwight Smith Jr.'s grand slam in the first, Trey Mancini's two-run shot in the second...

Cossins on managing: "I'd be lying if I said it's not exciting" (down 8-2)

Cossins on managing: "I'd be lying if I said it's not exciting" (down 8-2)
Tim Cossins left the manager's office this afternoon, walked into the auxiliary clubhouse for the pregame media session and joked about changing the desk. He's only in charge for one day, the Orioles' field coordinator and catching instructor replacing Brandon Hyde for today's game against the Giants. Hyde is in Illinois for his daughter's high school graduation and he flies back into Baltimore later. "Obviously it's exciting," Cossins said. "I'd be lying if I said it's not exciting....

Givens' effective outing, Wynns' early work, Hess' start and more

Givens' effective outing, Wynns' early work, Hess' start and more
The high-leverage situations continue to find Orioles reliever Mychal Givens. Just not in the ninth inning. Maybe they should be considered lower high-leverage. Givens stepped on the mound last night with a runner on base in the seventh, one out and Evan Longoria representing the tying run. Longoria struck out on a changeup. Brandon Crawford struck out on a 96 mph fastball. An entire ballpark exhaled. Manager Brandon Hyde let Givens leave on a high note after a third batter, with Kevin Pillar...

Notes on Bundy, Bleier, Hays, Sisco and more (O's lead 5-1)

Notes on Bundy, Bleier, Hays, Sisco and more (O's lead 5-1)
A day after Orioles starter Dylan Bundy raised some concerns over his decline in velocity and poor command, the sense within the organization remains that he isn't hurt. "I feel fine physically and that's the most important thing," Bundy said this morning. Manager Brandon Hyde checked again on Bundy this morning. "His velo was down a little bit all game long," Hyde said. "What we saw, and I talked to him about it - he understood totally, too - in the fifth inning there his velo dropped a...

What Cobb's return means for the rotation (and other notes)

What Cobb's return means for the rotation (and other notes)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde checked on Alex Cobb yesterday, received the information he wanted and proceeded with his pitching plans for the weekend and beyond. Cobb's back is fine. The spasms are gone. And he's coming off the injured list Friday to start against the Twins at Camden Yards. The rotation lines up as Cobb, Dan Straily and Dylan Bundy for the weekend series, followed by David Hess and Andrew Cashner for the first two games against the White Sox in...

Hess hit hard and dugout heated in 8-1 loss (updated)

Hess hit hard and dugout heated in 8-1 loss (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If David Hess had any shot at getting deeper into his start tonight against the Rays, he needed to soften the contact against him. Think pillow instead of pillar. Everything that Hess threw was tattooed, with exit velocities in the first inning of 115.4, 102.3, 105.6 and 108.9 mph - the latter resulting in a three-run homer by the University of Maryland's Brandon Lowe on a ball that traveled 409 feet, according to Statcast. Hess allowed another run in the second and...

Orioles split series with 8-1 win over Red Sox (updated)

Orioles split series with 8-1 win over Red Sox (updated)
BOSTON - The Red Sox put a catcher at second base today. Their starting pitcher worked an inning in relief two days ago. Their Gold Glove center fielder has the flu. Their left fielder fouled a ball off his foot yesterday and couldn't play. If the Orioles had a game screaming for them to win, this was it. They still had to go out and earn it. And without their manager for the last four innings. Dan Straily allowed only one run over five innings, Dwight Smith Jr. had a two-run homer and two-run...

Notes on Núñez, Cobb, Wynns, bullpen and more

Notes on Núñez, Cobb, Wynns, bullpen and more
BOSTON - Renato Núñez is in the Orioles lineup again today as the designated hitter, the 13th time in 15 games that he's served in the role. However, his right biceps has improved to the point where he could get some starts at third base. Soreness in the arm kept Núñez off the field late in spring training and Rio Ruiz has received most of the starts at third. "I think you're going to see Noonie over there a little bit," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I think the arm recovery,...

Hyde and Elias on the catching situation and more (tied 6-6)

Hyde and Elias on the catching situation and more (tied 6-6)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's news of the likely placement of three Orioles on the injured list finally brings the opening day roster into clear focus unless a late waiver claim or trade muddies the picture again. Splatters happen. Jesús Sucre should be told later that he's on the club, making his opt-out date insignificant and finalizing the composition of the catching tandem. Sucre, signed to a minor league deal on Feb. 1 with a guarantee of $850,000 if he made the team, will be paired with...

Notes on rotation, Infante, Sucre, Sisco and defense (tied 4-4)

Notes on rotation, Infante, Sucre, Sisco and defense (tied 4-4)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Alex Cobb is making his Grapefruit League debut in Friday's split-squad game against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Nate Karns is making his second start in the night portion against the Yankees in Tampa. No way to shield them from a division opponent, especially with the Orioles returning to Fort Myers on Saturday to play the Red Sox. Cobb has been slotted ahead of Andrew Cashner after throwing live batting practice yesterday on Field 2 at the Sarasota complex. Cashner threw...