Sanders sees sufficient strides from Mountcastle in left field

Sanders sees sufficient strides from Mountcastle in left field
Former Orioles manager Johnny Oates always insisted on putting his best defensive outfielder in left at Camden Yards, which is why Brady Anderson did most of his early work in the corner, though the three-time All-Star is mostly identified as playing center in Baltimore. There was the angle, and fans in the first row of seats who easily could reach out and interfere with fly balls or attempts to catch them. Oates wanted Anderson guarding that area. The Orioles want Ryan Mountcastle, a player...

Teams scouting Santander while his swing brings stellar stats

Teams scouting Santander while his swing brings stellar stats
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander avoided a serious oblique injury late in camp, a twinge handled properly with a little rest and plenty of controlled at-bats on the back fields. Nothing that would tempt him into the kind of aggressive swings that led to his placement on the injured list last September. He's started in right field in the first three games, collecting three more hits yesterday in an 11-3 win at Fenway Park. He's the first Orioles player with an RBI in three straight games...

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more

Hyde on second base, Santander, opening day and more
How the Orioles handle second base in the early portion of the season is a fluid situation that begins this afternoon with Rio Ruiz making his first career start at the position in the regular season. A two-game audition late in camp has led to more opportunities. The length to be determined. Ruiz is the Orioles' third different opening day starter in a row at second base after Jonathan Schoop's run of five consecutive assignments. Jonathan Villar started in 2019 and Hanser Alberto last...

Wrapping up Orioles' 6-5 loss to Pirates

Wrapping up Orioles' 6-5 loss to Pirates
John Means got his work in today. His arm is healthy. The opening day assignment is waiting for him. The rest are just details. Means threw 82 pitches in 3 2/3 innings and allowed three runs in a 6-5 loss to the Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton. He walked the leadoff batter in each of the last three innings. He struck out the last two that he faced. He's ready. "I feel like I'm ready to go," he said in his Zoom call. "Feel like my body is there. I'm recovering well. Yeah, I feel pretty...

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates
Rio Ruiz is playing third base this afternoon and manager Brandon Hyde has put Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays in the same outfield again, as the Orioles head back to Bradenton to play the Pirates. Mullins is leading off and playing center field and Hays is in right. Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. Third baseman Maikel Franco gets the day off and returns to the lineup on Tuesday. Trey Mancini is the first baseman as he keeps proving that he'll be ready for opening day and an...

Harvey injury leaves Hyde with bullpen choices

Harvey injury leaves Hyde with bullpen choices
The likelihood of Hunter Harvey going on the injured list prior to opening day creates the latest curiosity in Orioles spring training. Exactly how the Orioles choose to replace him in the bullpen. Hyde could pivot and carry an extra bulk-type reliever rather than concentrate on a back end, one-inning type. The latter scenario would appear to make more sense with the team prioritizing length and having an abundance of candidates to fit the description. Folding another closer candidate into the...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The growing possibility that Chris Davis begins the season in the injured list, whatever its length, removes the misguided argument that he's blocking a prospect. Davis hasn't done it. Prospects aren't kept at Triple-A or the alternate camp because he's in the organization. Ryan Mountcastle wasn't making the club on opening day 2020. Yusniel Diaz isn't making it next month. (Mountcastle is 2-for-19 with a double, home run, five RBIs, no walks and four strikeouts. Don't panic.) A four-man...

Hunter Harvey exits 6-2 loss with oblique injury (Fenter returned)

Hunter Harvey exits 6-2 loss with oblique injury (Fenter returned)
Orioles reliever Hunter Harvey threw one pitch today and left the mound. The same questions about injuries and durability followed him. At least it wasn't Harvey's arm, the only good news attached to the scene. The Orioles announced that Harvey injured his left oblique, which should keep him off the opening day roster and adjust the team's bullpen plans. An oblique doesn't heal quickly. The Orioles have plenty of references at their disposal. Today was supposed to mark the third appearance...

Orioles allowing fans inside Camden Yards at 25 percent capacity

Orioles allowing fans inside Camden Yards at 25 percent capacity
In the latest sign that Major League Baseball is moving in carefully measured increments toward the normalcy that didn't exist last summer, the Orioles are allowing fans back into Camden Yards at 25 percent capacity to begin the 2021 season. In observation of social distancing guidelines and approved capacity limits, the club will begin the season by hosting approximately 11,000 fans per game, according to a press release issued this morning. As the public health situation improves, the...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The center field competition between Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins won't necessarily push one of them to the bench. Manager Brandon Hyde is willing to put them in the same lineup with their ability to handle all three outfield spots, which would strengthen the defense. The designated hitter role comes with a revolving door now that Renato Núñez has left the organization. On any given day, Ryan Mountcastle or another outfielder could land in that spot. "I think I'm going to move all...

Wrapping up Orioles' 6-4 loss in exhibition opener (updated)

Wrapping up Orioles' 6-4 loss in exhibition opener (updated)
The firsts are out of the way. The first Orioles exhibition game. The first standing ovation for Trey Mancini in his first at-bat since March 2, 2020. His first hit immediately after the emotional scene. The first defensive lapses. The first reminder in 2021 that Yusniel Diaz, who hit a two run homer off former Oriole Carson Fulmer in the sixth, is poised to make his debut later in the summer. The first loss and overreactions from fans. Mancini lined a single into center field and struck out...

Lineup speculation, pitching decisions and more

Lineup speculation, pitching decisions and more
The first lineup of 2021 spring training will be posted later this morning, with Trey Mancini the only confirmed player in it. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Mancini will be the first baseman. The rest can be speculated. The Orioles are home, which usually puts more starters on the field. They had Hanser Alberto leading off and playing second base last year in the first game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mancini was in right field, Chris Davis at first base, Pedro Severino behind the plate, Dwight Smith...

Mancini playing first base in Sunday's opener (and other notes)

Mancini playing first base in Sunday's opener (and other notes)
The first exhibition lineup posted Sunday morning by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde will include Trey Mancini at first base. The comeback has reached another important stage. Mancini missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy treatments for Stage 3 colon cancer. His final at-bats came on March 2 before he left the team. He went 4-for-14 with two RBIs in five games. "I'm going to play him at first, DH him some, especially the first couple weeks," Hyde said. "I talk...

Penning more thoughts on some relievers

Penning more thoughts on some relievers
Left-hander Fernando Abad, signed by the Orioles to a minor league contract in December, has been exceptional as the closer for Toros del Este in the Dominican Winter League. Abad made 10 appearances prior to the Caribbean World Series and didn't allow a run in 11 innings. He surrendered only three hits, walked one batter, struck out 10 and recorded six saves. Toros del Este is set to compete in the Caribbean World Series beginning Sunday at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal in Mexico. Abad will be a...

Cueing some curiosities in 2021

Cueing some curiosities in 2021
The Baltimore baseball media often was promised during manager Buck Showalter's tenure that its curiosity soon would be satisfied. Mostly, yes. Sometimes, no. I'm curious whether spring training is going to start on the dates set for each club. Of course, every team is being told to get ready for it. The same message was sent in October. What's the alternative? Better to keep that mindset and adjust later if necessary, rather than assume a delay and then be surprised when camp opens on time....

Hess on Rutschman: "He's the real deal"

Hess on Rutschman: "He's the real deal"
Before pitcher David Hess took his first dive into free agency and came up with a minor league deal from the Rays, he spent the majority of his summer at the Orioles' alternate camp site in Bowie. The Orioles put Hess on their opening day roster and gave him one relief appearance in July and two in August - all of them on the road and in blowouts. There were the occasional taxi squad assignments, including the duration of the final trip of 2020. Otherwise, Hess worked out at Prince George's...

A no-return policy on Orioles

A no-return policy on Orioles
The day after Christmas exists in many households to eat leftovers, vacuum pine needles and return unwanted gifts. There's also time spent rehashing some of the most uncomfortable moments at the dinner table. The Orioles haven't been shy about keeping receipts and making returns, no matter whose feelings get hurt. Just ask Grant Balfour's agent. Sometimes they can be talked into returning home with the same item, but feeling much better about it. Just ask Yovani Gallardo's agent. (If you...

Prepping for the Rule 5 draft

Prepping for the Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft begins at noon today and the Orioles, as usual, are going to participate. It's what they do. It should be named after them. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias appeared on "MASN All Access" on Monday afternoon and offered confirmation. "I would expect some activity in the first round of the Rule 5 draft," he said. That's good enough for me. But he doubled down in a Zoom conference call with the media. "If there are only four players that we feel are worth...

Orioles trade Iglesias to Angels (updated again)

Orioles trade Iglesias to Angels (updated again)
The Orioles did more today than decide the contract status of their remaining arbitration-eligible players. They also traded shortstop José Iglesias to the Angels after picking up the $3.5 million option on his contract a month ago. An industry source confirmed the trade. The return for Iglesias is unknown, but it marks the second deal between the teams around the non-tender deadline. The Orioles sent pitcher Dylan Bundy to the Angels a year ago for four minor league pitchers, including...

Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)

Latest review of arbitration-eligible O's (Severino update)
The baseball offseason wouldn't feel complete unless the names of arbitration-eligible players and projected raises were recited weekly until the deadline, which mercifully is arriving on Wednesday. There were seven Orioles on the original list. Yolmer Sánchez increased it to eight, but Renato Núñez came off after being designated for assignment and granted his release. Trades are possible in the coming days, just as the Orioles dealt infielder Jonathan Villar and starter Dylan Bundy...