Another lost weekend for Orioles during baseball's shutdown

Another lost weekend for Orioles during baseball's shutdown
The Orioles are supposed to be hosting a weekend series against the Astros, but the 2020 season remains on hold. Fans were supposed to be gathering at Camden Yards to make trash can jokes and boo one of baseball's cheaters. Or have we already forgotten the scandal that dominated spring training conversations until the shutdown? Until the coronavirus pandemic shoved it into darkness. Major League Baseball delivered one of the harshest punishments in the sport's history after the Astros were...

Wondering how prospect development works in 2020

Wondering how prospect development works in 2020
No matter what happens on baseball's major league side, the players swatting away another ownership proposal this week as if inhabited by the spirit of Dikembe Mutombo, it appears to be a certainty that the minors will remain shut down until 2021. Fans keep wondering how the Orioles' prospects and the rebuild process are going to be impacted. No one truly knows. These are unprecedented times and there's no history to rely upon. All I can do is assume that it won't be good. What happens with...

Adjustment in Castro's delivery monitored from long distance

Adjustment in Castro's delivery monitored from long distance
The last pitch thrown by Orioles reliever Miguel Castro on March 6 provided evidence that work done on the side, the late tinkering of his delivery, was producing the desired results. But could he keep it going so many miles from the spring training complex? From his home in the Dominican Republic over the past two months? Pitching coach Doug Brocail keeps checking on it while back at his residence in Texas. Again, the video technology that's keeping family and friends connected during the...

Armstrong's strong spring and a deeper dive into Orioles bullpen

Armstrong's strong spring and a deeper dive into Orioles bullpen
The magic of video is enabling the Orioles to stay connected while spread all over the country. I've heard that reliever Shawn Armstrong was able to share a bullpen session with one of his teammates that included a fastball clocked at 97 mph. Armstrong's fastball averaged 93.9 mph last season, per BrooksBaseball.net. There is no data available on his home workouts. An expansion of rosters from 26 to 29 players for the first month enables the Orioles to carry at least a few extra relievers to...

Learning about the Orioles before spring training ended

Learning about the Orioles before spring training ended
The Orioles would have been hosting the split-squad Nationals this afternoon if spring training had proceeded without interruption. More roster cuts would have been made in order to get closer to 26. To at least get out of the 50s, which I'd love to do. Instead, players are returning home or waiting for the next directive. Workouts turned informal and then became discouraged. Trying to stay unified is admirable, but no longer seems practical. At least in large groups. Owners are clinging to...

Eshelman picks bad time for poor start (O's lose 14-2)

Eshelman picks bad time for poor start (O's lose 14-2)
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The auditions for jobs in Orioles camp moved this afternoon to the Blue Jays' newly renovated spring training complex. Thomas Eshelman made another start while trying to convince the Orioles to keep him as a fifth starter or long reliever. Mason Williams led off and played center field, hopeful that he'll head north in a bench role or perhaps as Trey Mancini's replacement in right if needed. Utility candidates Pat Valaika, Stevie Wilkerson and Dilson Herrera landed in the...

Brandon Bailey: "I believe I'm a big leaguer"

Brandon Bailey: "I believe I'm a big leaguer"
SARASOTA, Fla. - Brandon Bailey didn't see it coming. In Orioles camp as a Rule 5 selection, Bailey thought he might be heading north with the club instead of making the drive to West Palm Beach. That he'd be on a major league team's opening day roster instead of returning to the Astros complex and awaiting his minor league assignment. The Orioles included Bailey and Rule 5 reliever Michael Rucker in Friday afternoon's camp cuts. Bailey goes back to the Astros after allowing one run in four...

Cobb on simulated game, Stewart on ankle

Cobb on simulated game, Stewart on ankle
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb was held back in camp this morning and assigned a simulated game on the Ed Smith Stadium field while left-hander John Means traveled to Clearwater. The top two starters in the Orioles rotation got in their work on the same day. Cobb threw a lengthy bullpen session prior to the sim game, with Austin Wynns catching him. The veteran right-hander has gotten over the illness that slowed him in camp and restricted him to one inning in his only exhibition start. Whatever he...

Updating Stewart and Wells injuries in Orioles camp

Updating Stewart and Wells injuries in Orioles camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - Kohl Stewart's bid to win a spot in the Orioles rotation should get underway within the next few days. Stewart has been sidelined with a sore right biceps muscle, but he played catch yesterday and will repeat the activity this morning. He's scheduled for a bullpen session on Friday while the team is in Bradenton to play the Pirates. The exhibition debut could happen by Sunday or Monday. "I feel really good. They were just extra cautious, honestly," Stewart said. "It...

Dillon Tate on role: "Just get these guys out"

Dillon Tate on role: "Just get these guys out"
SARASOTA, Fla. - The most successful of the three pitchers acquired by the Orioles in the Zack Britton trade in July 2018 posted a 6.43 ERA last summer in 16 appearances, his first in the major leagues. Dillon Tate wasn't a huge smash statistically, but there were moments that suggested his stuff would play at this level. That he could be a weapon with his hard sinker and swing-and-miss changeup. Manager Brandon Hyde and pitching coach Doug Brocail saw it from the dugout. The Rays saw it...

Doug Brocail's strong praise for John Means and Alex Cobb

Doug Brocail's strong praise for John Means and Alex Cobb
The Orioles may have plenty of uncertainty in their rotation at the start of spring training. They've got plenty of candidates competing for spots in the starting five. But they feel they've got two players that are a given at the top of the rotation, good health willing, of course. They are lefty John Means and righty Alex Cobb. Second-year pitching coach Doug Brocail was heaping some big praise on both during an interview on the "Orioles Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 FM the Fan this...

Hyde on Cobb, LeBlanc, Lakins, position players and more

Hyde on Cobb, LeBlanc, Lakins, position players and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have completed their second day of workouts, with two players still unable to participate. Pitcher Brady Rodgers was supposed to throw in the bullpen with the second group, but he's being held back due to soreness in his right arm. Pedro Severino hasn't caught due to an illness. Severino arrived in camp yesterday wearing a mask. But not the kind he's going to use when he's behind the plate. Alex Cobb threw with the first group and manager Brandon Hyde remains...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
By the time that the media descends upon the Ed Smith Stadium complex for spring training, three new coaches on manager Brandon Hyde's staff will be familiar with every corner of it. The coaches' retreat that's folded into the annual January minicamp in Sarasota enabled Fredi González, Anthony Sanders and Darren Holmes to become acclimated with the spacious facility. No need to waste valuable time later. Drills will run more smoothly. This isn't the old Fort Lauderdale complex with its...

Holt: "It's a really special group of coaches who are here"

Holt: "It's a really special group of coaches who are here"
The Orioles wrapped up their annual minicamp in Sarasota, Fla., with the usual perks, including new coaches getting acclimated to the Ed Smith Stadium complex and the staff checking on pitchers who are making adjustments intended to improve their results in 2020. Chris Holt, promoted to director of pitching, described the camp as consisting of "three solid, intensive days." A nice head start to spring training, which begins in three weeks. "It's really a special group of coaches who are...

Holmes feeling at home with Orioles after earlier stint

Holmes feeling at home with Orioles after earlier stint
Darren Holmes already had ties to the Orioles prior to his hiring as bullpen coach. One that played out in public and another that happened behind the scenes - its significance to the organization much slower to develop. Fans can be excused if they've forgotten how Holmes appeared in five games with the Orioles in 2000, former executive Syd Thrift acquiring a reliever who was trying to pitch through a back injury that later required surgery. What does Holmes remember about his brief tenure in...

How Holmes joined Orioles coaching staff

How Holmes joined Orioles coaching staff
Darren Holmes was the last of three coaches hired by the Orioles during the offseason, chosen to replace John Wasdin in the bullpen. Perhaps the delay can be blamed on the process that led to his signature on a contract. The Orioles said they weren't going to rush through the interviews and stayed true to their word. The first step was a phone call placed by Holmes to Orioles pitching coach Doug Brocail, which was followed by a series of conversations and face-to-face meetings that brought...

Stewart embracing chance to be role model as he tries to make club

Stewart embracing chance to be role model as he tries to make club
The challenge of winning a job with the Orioles in spring training is kept in its proper perspective, with Kohl Stewart overcoming a much larger obstacle to forge a career in professional baseball. Camp competition isn't going to rattle him. It feels more like a reward. Stewart earned a football scholarship to Texas A&M. He was the fourth overall selection by the Twins in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. The accolades kept pouring in, a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at age 9 unable to...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Is anyone else tired of all the leftovers in the fridge? Of checking to make certain that nothing is growing on them before popping them in the microwave? Of wondering who brought the spinach dip before realizing that, brother, that ain't spinach? Well, it's only food that comes with an expiration date. Not the Orioles-related notes and quotes that didn't make it into previous holiday articles. I've written about pitcher David Hess' new offseason workout program, based on a visit to the P3...

Orioles announce 2020 coaching staff

Orioles announce 2020 coaching staff
The 2020 Orioles coaching staff is now official. The hiring of Anthony Sanders as first base coach, Fredi González as major league coach and Darren Holmes as bullpen coach have been announced after various reports surfaced over the past four weeks. Sanders replaces Arnie Beyeler and González replaces José Hernández, who shifts to assistant hitting coach, the role previously held by Howie Clark. Holmes replaces John Wasdin. Beyeler, Clark and Wasdin weren't retained for next...

Hess hopes copying Means' offseason leads to similar results

Hess hopes copying Means' offseason leads to similar results
David Hess isn't certain if he'll follow John Means in the Orioles rotation. However, he's decided to follow in the left-hander's offseason footsteps. Means turned from fringe pitching prospect to staff ace and runner-up in American League Rookie of the Year voting after a winter spent at P3 (Premier Pitching & Performance) in St. Louis - a center that offers personalized baseball training to athletes across the Midwest with the goal of providing instruction and individualized strength...