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...

Iglesias glad to be an Oriole and expecting to win in 2021

Iglesias glad to be an Oriole and expecting to win in 2021
José Iglesias was driving to one of the happy places in his life. His ranch about an hour outside of Miami. Twice described by the shortstop as "beautiful" before his arrival yesterday afternoon. Iglesias seems to be on a nice roll whether or not his vehicle is in motion. He's remaining with the Orioles, who picked up the $3.5 million option on his contract rather than paying the $500,000 buyout and tossing him into the free agent pool. He's back with the organization that he never...

Is a frigid free agent season looming?

Is a frigid free agent season looming?
After a season of uncertainty - no one knew in July if the year would be played to the finish - baseball now faces more uncertainty. This one involves not games, but salaries and free agency. Will it be a chilly winter - and we are not talking about air temperatures? It could wind up downright frosty and we're not talking about precipitation. There is a feeling around the game that the top free agents this winter may still get their money, but after that elite group, the dollars won't be...

Talking the rotation, the infield and more

Talking the rotation, the infield and more
Taking stock today of a few topics that have recently been discussed in Birdland. * O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias pledges to sign some starting pitchers this winter (minor league and/or major league deals) to bolster rotation depth. Is this the right move for now? The club had two of its young pitchers emerge last season in the rotation and Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer flashed both talent and poise. They showed that work on their individual development was paying...

Mancini on his position in 2021 and Iglesias' return

Mancini on his position in 2021 and Iglesias' return
Trey Mancini has experienced the move from first base to left field and the shift to right. He's taken all the ground balls and shagged flies on back fields and in batting practice. And he's never cared where the Orioles put him. The indifference is more pronounced, if that makes sense, with Mancini coming back from colon cancer surgery and a six-month period of chemotherapy treatments. He missed the 2020 season, but baseball wasn't a priority. Mancini was fighting for his life. Do you think...

Reviewing news and notes from yesterday's Elias video call

Reviewing news and notes from yesterday's Elias video call
The biggest news to come out of yesterday's Zoom conference call with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias was the latest promotion bestowed upon Chris Holt. That's three titles in three years with the Orioles. I'd hold out for space cowboy. The Orioles hired Holt as minor league pitching coordinator in November 2018 and bumped him a year later to director of pitching, a move intended to more closely connect him to the major league team. Now he's adding pitching coach to his...

Holt and Holmes given new titles (plus other notes)

Holt and Holmes given new titles (plus other notes)
The Orioles are down to one vacancy on their major league coaching staff. In his Zoom conference call this afternoon, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said Chris Holt will be the primary on-field pitching coach as the replacement for Doug Brocail. Holt also will retain his duties as director of pitching - an arrangement that had been expected for a while and is unique in baseball. His new title is "pitching coach/director of pitching" as his reach keeps expanding across the...

The move took a few dollars, but made so much sense

The move took a few dollars, but made so much sense
Maybe Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias looked at this only from an on-the-field standpoint. It made perfect sense to pick up the $3.5 million option and bring shortstop José Iglesias back in 2021. Yes, he missed time injured, but when he played, he played great and was almost indispensable. He hit, he defended and he provided leadership. But beyond the value he provides on the field, the move to bring him back will have other impact, too. It will calm a segment...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
With the World Series over and teams firing up the hot stove, it shouldn't be much longer before the Orioles identify the return on the trades of pitchers Tommy Milone and Hector Velázquez. When is it considered late to be announcing players to be named later? The Orioles sent Velázquez to the Astros on July 29 for a PTBNL. He never threw a pitch in 2020 outside of summer training camp and alternate camp sites. Milone was traded to the Braves the following day for two PTBNL, an...

Orioles pick up option on José Iglesias' contract (updated)

Orioles pick up option on José Iglesias' contract (updated)
The Orioles made their one option decision for the 2021 season. Shortstop José Iglesias is returning to the Orioles. They're picking up his $3.5 million option, according to a source. The alternative was Iglesias accepting a $500,000 buyout and re-entering the free agent market this winter. The deadline arrived this afternoon. A coronavirus pandemic complicated the process with revenue lost this season and teams seeking ways to save money, including a slew of furloughs and layouts...

Orioles claim Yolmer Sánchez off waivers (updated)

Orioles claim Yolmer Sánchez off waivers (updated)
The Orioles have tossed an interesting name into their infield mix. Former Gold Glove recipient Yolmer Sánchez was claimed off waivers today from the White Sox, increasing the 40-man roster to 33 players and leading to speculation over the team's plans for a few incumbents. The Giants signed Sánchez, 28, as a free agent in January and granted his release on Aug. 21. The White Sox brought him back to the organization less than a week later and he went 5-for-16 with three doubles, a home...

Could Kohl Stewart stay with Orioles? (and other notes)

Could Kohl Stewart stay with Orioles? (and other notes)
Three months after leaving the Orioles due to health concerns related to COVID-19, pitcher Kohl Stewart has no regrets and is working out in preparation for the 2021 season. The reps are done now with Stewart coming off the 40-man roster, a move announced Thursday by the Orioles. He declined his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and became a free agent. This is the second time that Stewart has been outrighted, with the Twins removing him from their 40-man roster in November 2019, so he...

What's next for Orioles?

What's next for Orioles?
The conclusion of the World Series, with the crowning of a 60-game COVID champion, opens the door for free agency and trades. The official offseason is underway. As always, please continue to breathe normally. Players enter free agency the day after the World Series. For the Orioles, it's a short line at the moment with only pitcher Wade LeBlanc and catcher Bryan Holaday, according to Baseball-Reference.com. A two-man stampede doesn't make much noise. LeBlanc will be removed from the 60-day...

Santander chosen as Gold Glove finalist

Santander chosen as Gold Glove finalist
The marked improvement of Anthony Santander as a major league outfielder is illustrated further by his selection today as a finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove. Santander is joined by the Yankees' Clint Frazier and the Rangers' Joey Gallo as finalists in right field. The winners will be announced on Nov. 3. None of the Orioles were chosen as finalists last year. Manny Machado is the last Orioles recipient of a Gold Glove, finishing first among third basemen in 2015. He was chosen as a finalist...

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,...

Another quizzical look at the Orioles

Another quizzical look at the Orioles
Schools are open with remote classrooms, which should make it easier for you to take today's quiz. Except it's much harder to cheat off the person next to you. I can't fix that part. Also, I waited again until the weekend to pass out a quiz because I'm a real jerk. Please share your answers with the moderator. The opening day starter will be: A. Alex Cobb B. John Means C. A pitcher who signs over the winter D. None of the above The 2021 Most Valuable Oriole will be: A. Ryan Mountcastle B....

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...

Sizing up the 2020 Orioles offense

Sizing up the 2020 Orioles offense
In judging the 2020 Orioles offense, a rating may be in the eye of the beholder. And it may heavily depend on when that person watched this team. If they saw them only play National League teams, they may rate the offense as one of the best in the game. If they saw only games against the American League, they will have a few questions about the bats. If they saw only the last few weeks, they will ponder if this group is just terrible. But more on the timing later. Let's first take a look at a...

Hyde's final pregame media session of 2020

Hyde's final pregame media session of 2020
The Orioles are finishing their "two-part season" today, as manager Brandon Hyde calls it. Players who were hot early and faded this month. A team that made a run at the playoffs and fell hard down the stretch. "I think a lot of guys are disappointed in the last 20 games and how they're finishing up, and that's really them putting pressure on themselves, wishing from a team aspect they could have done more to help us in the last 20 games," Hyde said today in his final pregame Zoom...

Final Orioles lineup for 2020

Final Orioles lineup for 2020
The 2020 season ends today for the Orioles with Keegan Akin on the mound for his sixth major league start. The Orioles are one game ahead of the Red Sox for fourth place in the American League East. Akin made his first start against the Blue Jays in Buffalo and was tagged with two unearned runs with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He's walked one batter and struck out 15 in his last two starts over nine innings. Austin Hays is batting .388/.423/.612 (19-for-49) with three home runs and 11...