Agent's role in convincing Valdez to sign before closing

Agent's role in convincing Valdez to sign before closing
To get César Valdez into the Orioles organization and eventually their bullpen and anoint him the closer based on his usage moreso than spoken words, he first had to be convinced to leave Mexico and trust the people closest to him. To regain his love of pitching in the majors, or at least the idea of it, rather than view the possibility through a skeptical lens. Valdez's success story entertains because of the dead-fish changeup that's just one separator from the traditional closers....

Orioles' home woes worsen in 10-1 loss (McKenna optioned)

Orioles' home woes worsen in 10-1 loss (McKenna optioned)
The fascination with the Orioles' poor home record builds with each defeat. The demands for a simple explanation grow along with the loss total. Here's a simple truth that played out again this afternoon: Location of the game doesn't matter if pitch location isn't precise. Rookie Dean Kremer surrendered a pair of home runs in the second inning, the Rays flexing their muscle throughout the series, the bullpen labored again and the Orioles were beaten 10-1 to complete the sweep. The Orioles...

Bullpen management made easier yesterday

Bullpen management made easier yesterday
A bullpen that experienced more hiccups over the weekend wasn't going to choke away a lead yesterday and subject the Orioles to a sweep. The use of rookie Bruce Zimmermann in a bulk role was rewarded in a big way with 5 2/3 sparkling innings. He was the first in a succession of southpaws, the baton passed to left hands. Manager Brandon Hyde knows who's available for every game, though he won't necessarily share it with the public. He tries to piece together nine innings when starters fail...

Zimmermann big in bulk role and Orioles win 10-6 (updated)

Zimmermann big in bulk role and Orioles win 10-6 (updated)
The sound of the first part of the plan backfiring was almost as loud as the contact made by the Yankees again this afternoon. Adam Plutko lasted one turbulent inning as the opener after the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs for the second time in less than 24 hours. Gary Sánchez and Clint Frazier hit back-to-back home runs. Bruce Zimmermann warmed in the bullpen. Assistant pitching coach Darren Holmes visited the mound. There wouldn't be a clean handoff of the baton. It wouldn't...

The vicious Valdez takes, Akin's audition and humble Harvey

The vicious Valdez takes, Akin's audition and humble Harvey
César Valdez retires the side in order with his bizarro changeup and he's a lovable, unorthodox closer who should get the ball in every save opportunity. An intriguing and embraceable success story. Who cares about his velocity? He blows a save and suddenly he doesn't belong in the role and the Orioles are clowns for refusing to find a better option. Enough of the warm and fuzzies. Can't close with that velocity. It's exhausting and predictable. Valdez is not a prototypical closer and is...

O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces Mets at Citi Field

O's game blog: Matt Harvey faces Mets at Citi Field
After they allowed two runs in the last of the ninth last night and lost 3-2 to the New York Mets, the Orioles will try to bounce back today. They play the Mets at Citi Field, looking for a win to split the two-game series. New York came to bat in the last of the eighth trailing the Orioles 2-0, but scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth off César Valdez to come back and win. The first-place Mets improved to 17-13 and have won six in a row, allowing only 13 runs in those games. The...

Means follows no-hitter with six scoreless innings in 3-2 loss

Means follows no-hitter with six scoreless innings in 3-2 loss
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't need to state the obvious with left-hander John Means. Didn't need to remind the ace to control his emotions in his first start after tossing a no-hitter in Seattle. The pregame tasks didn't include delivering special messages to Means. There would be some concessions after Means threw a career-high 113 pitches, the implementation of an extra day's rest already done. Hyde would monitor him closely and not push him. "I don't say anything," Hyde insisted...

López, Mountcastle, Mancini and 'pen team for 4-1 win (updated)

López, Mountcastle, Mancini and 'pen team for 4-1 win (updated)
Jorge López still doesn't have a smudge on his first-inning work this season, stranding a runner tonight and pumping his sinker at 96-98 mph. Opponents have four hits in 25 at-bats. How far would he venture into his latest start? That's always the curiosity with López. Ryan Mountcastle attacked the first pitch thrown to him leading off the second inning and drove it deep into the left field seats. How far it traveled wasn't as important as the way he's climbed back into the cleanup...

Jorge López clears fifth-inning hurdle and O's beat Red Sox

Jorge López clears fifth-inning hurdle and O's beat Red Sox
He's been pitching better lately and tonight Orioles right-hander Jorge López got past a big obstacle - the fifth inning. Entering this outing tonight - his seventh of the 2021 season - López had an ERA of 3.00 when pitching in the first four innings of his starts. But his ERA in the fifth inning was 42.43. That is not good. He had allowed 11 earned runs over 2 1/3 innings. And opponents had eight hits in 14 at-bats, including three homers, against him in that inning. But there he went...

Perusing Orioles position player pitching performances

Perusing Orioles position player pitching performances
The usage of a position player as a pitcher rarely is celebrated and never done under ideal circumstances. The plan isn't implemented to gain an advantage. Quite the opposite. And it isn't popular with the guy standing on the mound or the batter exposed to the possibility of crippling embarrassment. Ever strike out swinging against a utility infielder? The hitter who grounds weakly to short has bragging rights. There are random players who actually volunteer for the assignment. Who use their...

O's hit two homers in eighth, rally to beat M's (with quotes)

O's hit two homers in eighth, rally to beat M's (with quotes)
If one of the Orioles' goals tonight was to get right-hander Dean Kremer back on track, they did that. But could his strong outing lead to a win in the series opener at Seattle? It was a night where Seattle went with a bullpen game. And that actually was not great news for the Orioles. The Mariners bullpen began the game first in the majors in 'pen ERA at 2.30 and second in WHIP and batting average against. And for seven innings, five Mariners pitchers kept the Orioles off the board. And...

Hyde on Means: "He's turning into a complete pitcher"

Hyde on Means: "He's turning into a complete pitcher"
Suddenly, they are the cardiac Orioles. They lose a ninth-inning lead against the New York Yankees, but beat them in 10 on Thursday. They travel across the country, almost lose a lead in the last of the ninth at Oakland but beat the first-place A's for the second time in a row. One guess as to which pitcher started both games? It was John Means on the mound when the Orioles beat Oakland 8-1 last Sunday, snapping their 13-game winning streak. It was Means back out again, this time on the West...

The ace does it again: Means pitches O's past A's (updated)

The ace does it again: Means pitches O's past A's (updated)
Giving up a homer would annoy any pitcher. Tonight when he gave up one, it seemed to really annoy Orioles left-hander John Means. And Oakland batters would pay for that. A walk followed that solo homer in the Oakland second inning. Then Means would strike out eight of the next 12 Oakland batters and retire 14 in a row. He was well on his way to pitching another gem for the Orioles, as they beat Oakland 3-2 in the series and road trip opener. This win got very dicey in the last of the ninth....

Mullins' sacrifice fly in 10th bails out Valdez in 4-3 win (updated)

Mullins' sacrifice fly in 10th bails out Valdez in 4-3 win (updated)
Starting pitcher Jorge López came out of the dugout this afternoon and hopped across the first base line before teammates followed him onto the field. Manager Brandon Hyde was more interested in whether they could get on base. It wasn't the only time they trailed, but it's where you finish that counts. César Valdez was a strike away from stranding two runners after walks and notching his sixth save - though plate umpire Rob Drake was squeezing him - but Gleyber Torres lined an automatic...

O's win to split series as Mancini bat resurgence continues

O's win to split series as Mancini bat resurgence continues
The Orioles still didn't put up much offense today, but they did get just enough to win. After César Valdez could not hold a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth and the Yankees tied it up, the Orioles produced a 4-3 walk-off win in the 10th inning. Cedric Mullins' sac fly to center ended the game as the Orioles and Yankees split a four-game series. Ramón Urías was the runner placed at second in the last of the 10th. He moved to third on Pat Valaika's sac bunt ahead of Mullins' sac...

Valaika recalled and playing shortstop tonight

Valaika recalled and playing shortstop tonight
With shortstop Freddy Galvis day-to-day with left adductor soreness, the Orioles recalled infielder Pat Valaika from the alternate training site in Bowie and have him in uniform for tonight's game against the Yankees at Camden Yards. He's also in the lineup, batting ninth and playing shortstop. Valaika broke camp with the Orioles and was optioned April 9 to create roster space for DJ Stewart. He was 1-for-9 with a walk and run scored in four games. The Orioles optioned outfielder Ryan McKenna...

Can Matt Harvey join John Means in pitching well atop rotation?

Can Matt Harvey join John Means in pitching well atop rotation?
The Orioles have lefty John Means at the top of their rotation and he's throwing great baseball. What if Matt Harvey could build on last night's strong outing and join him for a nice one-two punch at the top? That could be big for the pitching staff, which already has its bullpen humming along pretty well. It would be a lift for the rotation if Harvey, who lowered his ERA to 4.26 last night, could string together a few strong outings. Last night was just the sixth time in 21 games that an...

Matt Harvey pitches O's past Yankees

Matt Harvey pitches O's past Yankees
With one strong outing tonight, Orioles right-hander Matt Harvey both pitched past his previous five-inning ceiling and pitched the O's to a win over the Yankees in the opener of a four-game series. After beginning Sunday with just one home win, now the Orioles have three after beating New York 4-2 in front of 6,367 at Oriole Park. The top of the eighth got dicey for the Orioles and ended with a controversial play that went against New York. Harvey picked up his second O's win and produced...

Harvey and Mullins lead Orioles to 4-2 win (updated)

Harvey and Mullins lead Orioles to 4-2 win (updated)
Freddy Galvis hit an opposite-field, run-scoring double tonight in the bottom of the second inning, stayed for the last out and was gone. Plated a run and retreated to the clubhouse. A lineup that lost outfielder Anthony Santander to a sprained ankle could have a vacancy at shortstop. Galvis was removed with left adductor soreness, basically an injury to the hip/thigh, but there wasn't much hurting Matt Harvey. He wasn't coming out of the game until shattering the five-inning barrier. Until...

Means dominates and Lowther debuts in 8-1 win (updated)

Means dominates and Lowther debuts in 8-1 win (updated)
Zac Lowther sat in the Orioles bullpen this afternoon and waited for the phone to ring. A second call in less than 24 hours that would thrill him. That would allow a fourth player on the club to make his major league debut in less than a month. The fly in the ointment was a former All-Star pitcher who's the undisputed ace of the staff. A starter who didn't need a reliever to provide length. John Means was dealing again. Austin Hays was destroying fastballs. Lowther wasn't debuting until the...