Looking at leadership on the Orioles

Looking at leadership on the Orioles
As I watch the National Football League and college teams try to make it through their seasons with the COVID-19 interruptions and rescheduling - Maryland's games against Ohio State and Michigan State have been canceled, for example, as the Terrapins pause all activities - I'm still amazed that Major League Baseball reached the finish line. I didn't like the chances at the outset and lost the last ounces of faith after the Marlins debacle. The biggest win recorded at Camden Yards was the...

Checking the 40-man roster again before it inflates

Checking the 40-man roster again before it inflates
With the Orioles on the verge of adjusting their 40-man roster, this seems like an opportune time for a final scroll of the current edition. There are 35 players listed and at least three prospects are expected to join them by today's deadline. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is likely to make further subtractions later as he attempts to plug holes or increase depth via the free agent and trade markets - though minor league deals would delay the process. Here are the 15...

O's still not ready to worry much about closer's role

O's still not ready to worry much about closer's role
Should the Orioles look to establish one pitcher as their closer in the 2021 season? Baltimore had five pitchers record saves in the shortened 60-game season in 2020. The short answer for me is definitely not. No reason to try and find one established closer right now. In fact, on a rebuilding team, why not give several players a chance to save games next year? Find out which players seem to handle the ninth-inning pressure well and which do not. Closing games is hard and there are pitchers...

More on instructional league, bullpen and a Hall of Famer's birthday

More on instructional league, bullpen and a Hall of Famer's birthday
The Orioles are going to take the competitive side of their fall instructional league to the next level. Games will be played with teams from other camps beginning on Monday. Thus far, the Orioles have been arranging intrasquad matchups, which started this week, similar to the activity this summer at the alternate site in Bowie. The Pirates and Rays will provide the opposition as two of the three closest teams to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Pirates are based in Bradenton and the Rays in...

Light free agent winter workload for Orioles

Light free agent winter workload for Orioles
Part of a team's offseason agenda is attempting to retain its own free agents. Hold onto the players who are deemed irreplaceable and affordable. The Orioles won't be bogged down by this type of business. The current list of Orioles free agents is a brief read. Left-hander Wade LeBlanc and third catcher Bryan Holaday are the only ones assured of hitting the market. The $3.5 million option on shortstop José Iglesias' contract is going to be picked up unless there's a monumental,...

In 2020, O's 'pen was good again

In 2020, O's 'pen was good again
There are areas where we saw improvement during the 2020 Orioles season, but few as dramatic as the bullpen. The bullpen ERA improved by nearly two runs per game. And the 'pen changed from one that gave up a lot of homers and was among the easiest to get a hit off in the American League to a stingy one in allowing homers and much tougher to hit. At a time when bullpens are used more than ever and are more important than ever, the trend upward this season was big for the Orioles. The 'pen...

A few random notes and some chat about the skipper

A few random notes and some chat about the skipper
The Orioles public relations staff put out some excellent season wrap-up notes and stats on the club. Some of these stats were posted throughout the season, and here are some of the final numbers: * The Orioles led the major leagues with a batting average of .409 when putting the first pitch in play. San Diego was second at .408, followed by Atlanta at .399, the New York Mets at .394 and Washington at .373. * While O's shortstop José Iglesias did not have enough at-bats to qualify for the...

Armstrong armed with effective plan in 2020

Armstrong armed with effective plan in 2020
The Orioles had players in 2020 who made obvious improvements. To miss it would require a blindfold and disabling of your Twitter account. They provided nice stories to get us through the summer. To offset the collapse that kept the Orioles away from the expanded playoff field. I'm wondering how many fans noticed that reliever Shawn Armstrong was very effective when healthy? I should have known because it's my job, but he was sneaky good. Only after reviewing the final bullpen numbers did I...

Orioles' offense awakens in 13-1 win (updated)

Orioles' offense awakens in 13-1 win (updated)
On the day that Orioles manager Brandon Hyde summons Austin Hays into his office this weekend for the traditional exit interview - in a non-traditional major league city - he's going to talk again about the importance of staying healthy in order for the young outfielder to reach his full potential. The Orioles know what Hays can do when he's on the field. They just need to keep him on it. Exactly how does a team protect a player from a succession of freakish injuries? Hays hasn't slowed down...

Kremer has shortest outing and O's lengthen skid with 9-1 loss

Kremer has shortest outing and O's lengthen skid with 9-1 loss
Staying in the pennant race until the final week of the season is small consolation for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. A feeling of pride that doesn't overflow the cup. Hyde recounts the leads lost along the way. The games that should have been won. And it gnaws at him. A "pretty good accomplishment," Hyde says, considering the inexperience, injuries and daily challenges of living and working in a pandemic. But his competitive side reminds him of the offensive droughts and late-inning...

Phillips on injured list (plus lineups and notes)

Phillips on injured list (plus lineups and notes)
The Orioles placed reliever Evan Phillips on the 10-day injured list this afternoon with right elbow inflammation and recalled Branden Kline, who traveled with the team as part of the taxi squad. Phillips won't pitch again this season, but avoided a more serious injury. He walked off the mound in the sixth inning last night after surrendering a three-run homer to Christian Vázquez, and while facing Jackie Bradley Jr. Kline has made one relief appearance with the Orioles this summer and...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Orioles reliever Dillon Tate tossed a scoreless inning in Sunday's game at Camden Yards and showed no signs of an injury. Nothing happened at the ballpark that led to his placement on the injured list with a sprained finger on his pitching hand. A fall in his apartment the following day was responsible, the final blow in a 2020 season that brought pains and gains. Tate didn't have the best luck. He was struck on the right arm by a Pat Valaika comebacker during a July 10 intrasquad game at...

Hyde on Tate, Iglesias, Zimmermann, Fulmer and more

Hyde on Tate, Iglesias, Zimmermann, Fulmer and more
Orioles reliever Dillon Tate fell yesterday in his apartment and landed on the injured list. Tate "had an unfortunate accident where he tripped in his apartment yesterday," manager Brandon Hyde said during a Zoom conference call with the media. The accident occurred on the team's off-day. Tate came down on his hand and sprained his right pinky finger, and he's scheduled to undergo an MRI later today. The Orioles reinstated reliever Shawn Armstrong from the injured list as Tate's...

Tate on injured list and Armstrong activated (plus lineup)

Tate on injured list and Armstrong activated (plus lineup)
The Orioles have made an adjustment to their bullpen today by activating Shawn Armstrong from the injured list and putting Dillon Tate on the 10-day IL with a sprained right finger. Infielder Ramón Urías has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie to fill the vacant roster spot after the Pirates claimed pitcher Carson Fulmer off waivers yesterday. Armstrong hasn't pitched since Aug. 22 due to left SI joint inflammation in his lower back. He's 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.892...

Reviewing recent roster and player pool reconstruction

Reviewing recent roster and player pool reconstruction
The trade that brought right-hander Conner Loeprich to the Orioles organization was announced in the ninth inning of Sunday afternoon's game against the Rays. In the middle of the filing frenzy, when most of the beat crew is rushing to get its stories ready to post after the final out - and hoping that the score and stats don't require a late adjustment. César Valdez was in the process of retiring the side in order for his second save. Leadoff hitter Willy Adames smoked a ball to the...

Lineups and notes on rotation, Armstrong, offense and more

Lineups and notes on rotation, Armstrong, offense and more
Ryan Mountcastle is back in left field tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Braves at Camden Yards. Mountcastle made his first start at first base last night in a 5-1 loss. Pat Valaika is playing first base, Andrew Velazquez is at second base and Hanser Alberto has moved to third. Austin Hays is in center field instead of Cedric Mullins. José Iglesias produced his 15th multi-hit game last night, tied with Alberto for the team lead. Iglesias is batting .375 (24-for-64)...

Hyde: "Our focus is on us"

Hyde: "Our focus is on us"
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is fielding playoff questions again. His club is a half-game behind the Yankees for the last spot and a game behind the Astros. Six wins in the last eight. Again an interesting national story. Is there scoreboard-watching among the players and staff? Or at least the 2020 version of it? "I think we're focused on the Orioles right now and we need to win as many games as possible," Hyde said this afternoon in his Zoom conference call. "I'd be lying to say I...

Injury updates on Chris Davis and Austin Hays

Injury updates on Chris Davis and Austin Hays
The Orioles begin a six-game stay in New York tonight with their series opener against the Mets. They boarded a train yesterday with a taxi squad and at least one injured player. Chris Davis is on the trip and could be activated before the Orioles return to Baltimore and start their final homestand of the 2020 season. They'll have the option to do so while he's staying with the team. Davis has been working out at the alternate camp site in Bowie for more than a week, contradicting a recent...

Eshelman starting opener, Alberto and Núñez return to lineup

Eshelman starting opener, Alberto and Núñez return to lineup
Right-hander Thomas Eshelman is starting the first game of today's doubleheader against the Yankees. Eshelman is the replacement for veteran Alex Cobb, who's on the injured list for protocol reasons. The Orioles don't offer specific information if an absence involves COVID-19 testing. "We're just following protocol and he's just unavailable today, and that's really all I can say on it at this point," manager Brandon Hyde said during his Zoom conference call. "Eshelman's going to start...

Orioles place Armstrong on injured list (and other notes)

Orioles place Armstrong on injured list (and other notes)
The Orioles have placed reliever Shawn Armstrong on the 10-day injured list with soreness in his lower back. Evan Phillips has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Armstrong has a 2.19 ERA and 0.892 WHIP in 11 appearances, with three walks and 12 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. He hasn't pitched since last Saturday and the IL move is retroactive to Wednesday. The team is calling the injury "left SI joint inflammation." "It's just a flare up," manager Brandon Hyde said during...