Orioles hire Darren Holmes as bullpen coach

Orioles hire Darren Holmes as bullpen coach
The Orioles have completed their major league coaching staff for the 2020 season. According to an industry source, the Orioles have hired former pitcher Darren Holmes as bullpen coach. The team hasn't made an announcement, but the deal is done. Holmes, 53, had served as Rockies bullpen coach since 2015. He didn't have previous experience on a team's coaching staff, but he worked in 2014 as the Braves' biomechanics pitching consultant. The Rockies replaced Holmes last month with minor league...

Hyde on Hays, rotation, rebuild, trades, Martin and more

Hyde on Hays, rotation, rebuild, trades, Martin and more
SAN DIEGO - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can't make roster projections for 2020 without knowing it's exact composition. However, he said this afternoon that center fielder Austin Hays is "definitely" in the mix to bat leadoff. A healthy Hays is going to be on the opening day roster. There's no gray area in center field. Hyde also told the media during his 20-minute session that he'd like to have eight candidates for the starting rotation in camp. The Orioles are pretty much down to three...

Orioles adding Fredi González to coaching staff

Orioles adding Fredi González to coaching staff
The Orioles are nearing completion of the hiring process for their coaching staff, another item to cross off a long list of activities. Former Marlins and Braves manager Fredi González has been chosen as major league coach, according to a source. González inherits the title that belonged to José Hernández, who shifts to assistant hitting coach, per the source. Two of the three vacancies on the staff have been filled, including Anthony Sanders' hiring as first base coach. Sanders...

Flaherty becomes latest ex-Oriole to join Padres coaching staff

Flaherty becomes latest ex-Oriole to join Padres coaching staff
As we wait for Orioles news beyond additions to the front office and 40-man roster, I'm wondering what exactly is happening in San Diego. Besides the perfect weather, of course. The Padres reportedly have hired former Orioles utility infielder Ryan Flaherty as quality control coach. They've already added Bobby Dickerson as bench coach and Wayne Kirby as first base coach - two former members of manager Buck Showalter's staff. An announcement is expected this week. If the Padres really want to...

Harvey hoping for fewer restrictions and more games in 2020

Harvey hoping for fewer restrictions and more games in 2020
Hunter Harvey came to the Orioles in August with a set of instructions. He didn't write them. They were attached as if pinned to his sleeve. Handle with care. Proceed with caution. Do not use on back-to-back days or nights. "This end up" seemed unnecessary, but they were detailed instructions. The Orioles don't abuse their relievers. Managing a bullpen is a skill, one of Buck Showalter's finest qualities, and Brandon Hyde also has made it a professional priority. But Harvey's case is...

Leftovers for breakfast (updated)

Leftovers for breakfast (updated)
Hunter Harvey doesn't know whether he's going to be a reliever or a starter with the Orioles after he reports to spring training in February. He still hasn't been told anything at this point. Harvey prefers the bullpen and is anticipating the same role as the one he held in seven major league appearances after the Orioles called him up. He's just waiting for confirmation. "Nothing's set in stone that I'll stay in the bullpen, but I kind of hope that I do," Harvey said last night while...

More from Mike Elias on "Hot Stove Show"

More from Mike Elias on "Hot Stove Show"
Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias explained last night how Chris Holt's duties will change following his promotion to a director of pitching position. And how Holt will coexist with pitching coach Doug Brocail, who returns to the major league staff next season. Elias broke it down while appearing on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "This is a structure we're seeing more and more across the league and it's just part of the changing landscape of the sport...

Orioles promote Chris Holt to director-of-pitching role

Orioles promote Chris Holt to director-of-pitching role
The Orioles remain in the process of building their minor league staffs, including the implementation of an extra coach with each affiliate. In the meantime, they've elevated minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt to a position that more closely connects him to the major league team. Holt has been promoted to a director-of-pitching position that extends his reach from the minor league side and more easily allows him to join Orioles pitching coach Doug Brocail in utilizing the technology...

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 begin final series by beating Red Sox 4-1 (updated)

Orioles begin final series by beating Red Sox 4-1 (updated)
BOSTON - The final series of the 2019 season came upon manager Brandon Hyde in quick fashion, the months since spring training gaining speed and distorting as if painted by Picasso. The only similarity to a work of art, though tonight's game had shades of a masterpiece. "It does seem like spring training was years (ago). I feel like the season did kind of fly by," Hyde said before tonight's 4-1 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. "I remember being here early in the year, a little bit...

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...

Brooks does bulk of work behind Bleier in 5-3 win (updated)

Brooks does bulk of work behind Bleier in 5-3 win (updated)
Richard Bleier emerged from the Orioles dugout at 6:45 p.m. and began making the walk to the bullpen. Coaches Doug Brocail and John Wasdin were waiting for him. So, too, was Chance Sisco, who grabbed a ball and played catch to loosen his arm. Bleier wasn't on the usual starter's warmup schedule. He wasn't in the traditional mindset. This was a reliever used as an opener and he was going to do it his way. Filling a spot in the rotation that he hadn't occupied since the minors and winter...

Orioles ignore race talk in Motor City with 6-2 win (updated)

Orioles ignore race talk in Motor City with 6-2 win (updated)
DETROIT - The pennant races have an evil twin. Sort of like fight club. Not supposed to talk about it. Clubs tanking in order to earn the first draft pick. Some fans are upset if their team wins, as if screwing up the master plan. Rooting in reverse is trendy. The Orioles and Tigers began their four-game series tonight, the two worst records in baseball colliding like a couple of rusted-out Ford Pintos. But don't believe for a second that players in the visiting clubhouse cared an ounce about...

Updating Harvey, Wojciechowski, Lowther and more

Updating Harvey, Wojciechowski, Lowther and more
Orioles reliever Hunter Harvey said he's been experiencing some biceps soreness and will be given a few extra days of rest before he's available to pitch over the weekend in Detroit. Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't used Harvey since Sept. 2 at Tropicana Field. Harvey faced one batter. "We talked about things just from finally pitching a full season, so it's just normal stuff, nothing bad," Harvey said. "I think I'll be back in there this weekend." Harvey has appeared in six games with the...

Villar joins 20/20 club and Alberto is injured in 8-3 win (updated)

Villar joins 20/20 club and Alberto is injured in 8-3 win (updated)
Jonathan Villar walked up the first base line in the fourth inning and chucked his bat as if disgusted by what he had done with it. The truth sat on the opposite side. Guys who join the 20/20 club have no complaints. Villar hit his 20th home run to go with his 28 steals, becoming the sixth Orioles player to achieve the milestone in an 8-3 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 13,287 at Camden Yards. The second of two changeups thrown by Rays left-hander Jalen Beeks landed in the...

Means loses no-hit bid and game 5-4 (with quotes)

Means loses no-hit bid and game 5-4 (with quotes)
The fingerprints are fading from the John Means panic button. Another loss surfaced tonight, but Means seemed to be fine. He just couldn't hold form or catch a break after the fifth inning, which is a distinct pattern with the Oriole in 2019. Means carried a no-hit bid into the sixth, faced six batters and didn't record an out. He threw 28 pitches. A one-run lead disappeared like those fingerprints. The Royals scored three times, with Gabriel Ynoa leaving the bases loaded, and the Orioles...

Brocail on pitching inside and fixing Means

Brocail on pitching inside and fixing Means
Getting away from the Yankees offers the kind of relief to the Orioles that the bullpen has struggled to provide this season. Sixteen losses in a row to them. Seventeen total out of 19 games. Some ugly, some competitive. They count just the same. Among the lessons learned is the wisdom in walking Gleyber Torres. Doesn't matter whether first base is open. Down five runs in the eighth, two on and two outs, you hold up four fingers. Manager Brandon Hyde would have been roasted by media and fans...

Orioles surrender five home runs in 11-2 loss (updated)

Orioles surrender five home runs in 11-2 loss (updated)
Orioles pitching coach Doug Brocail and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel walked to the mound tonight with two outs in the fifth inning and a 2-1 count on Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk. They wanted to check on Asher Wojciechowski as Jimmy Yacabonis warmed in the bullpen. Something didn't seem right to them. Allowed to stay in a game he already trailed by three runs, Wojciechowski threw a strike and then served up his second homer of the night, which brought manager Brandon Hyde out of the...

Armstrong's adjustment adds to ability to attack hitters

Armstrong's adjustment adds to ability to attack hitters
PHOENIX - Shawn Armstrong's solution began as a lengthy heart-to-heart pitching conversation with teammate Jimmy Yacabonis on the night that the Orioles flew into Arizona. Armstrong didn't have a clean outing in his last six appearances. Didn't feel right for much longer. A "three-to-four week inconsistent patch," as he calls it. "I felt like at times I had the shape to my pitches and kind of revert right back to backup sliders, backup breaking balls and so forth the next outing, and then...