Birdland farm check-in: Single-A Delmarva GM Chris Bitters

Birdland farm check-in: Single-A Delmarva GM Chris Bitters
Today we wrap up our look around Birdland with the four general managers of the Orioles' full-season minor league affiliates. Today I check in with Chris Bitters, the GM since November 2006 of the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. The Shorebirds begin their 120-game schedule in the 12-team Low-A East League on May 4 with the season running through Sept. 19. The recent announcement that sports facilities in Maryland can host fans at up to 50 percent of capacity was met with big enthusiasm by minor...

More with Chris Holt and another look at minor league schedules

More with Chris Holt and another look at minor league schedules
Orioles coach Chris Holt is on his third title in his third year in the organization. It just points to his growing importance to the club and how it has expanded each season. For two years, he was entrusted with overseeing pitching on the farm. Now he joins the major league staff for the first time in 2021. Holt was hired for the 2019 season as minor league pitching coordinator. That was the last full season before the pandemic, and of the Orioles' top six farm teams, four clubs led their...

No games, no problem: Delmarva still held events at Perdue Stadium

No games, no problem: Delmarva still held events at Perdue Stadium
As the summer was rolling on, it became apparent it would be a year without minor league baseball. Around the country, that hit some teams and their local communities pretty hard. No games for the fans to see, no revenue for the teams to generate. But that didn't keep Orioles farm teams from reaching out in their local communities to host events that brought some normalcy to fans and staff alike late this year. I've covered the minors long enough around Birdland to know that these clubs are...

Minor league season canceled in 2020

Minor league season canceled in 2020
The Orioles are making plans to keep their prospects and signed draft picks active and in developmental phase as Major League Baseball attempts to play a truncated season. There are no affiliates to aid the cause. The minor league season officially has been canceled due to COVID-19, with a press released sent out today to confirm what's been known for a while. What's never happened until this summer. "These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first...