Week in review: Talking Chris Davis, 2019 success and Britton's new deal

Week in review: Talking Chris Davis, 2019 success and Britton's new deal
In looking back at the last week on this blog, we got into a few interesting topics and will revisit a few today. Your takes and comments on these topics are very welcome. On Monday, we took yet another look at Chris Davis. He's firmly in the doghouse of fans around Birdland after his struggles hit a new low in 2018. Last season, Davis hit .168/.243/.296 with 192 strikeouts, 16 homers and 49 RBIs. The same player who produced an OPS of 1.004 in 2013 and .923 in 2015 posted a .539 OPS in...

As the holidays approach, some answers to pressing baseball questions

As the holidays approach, some answers to pressing baseball questions
Here are answers to questions that might come up at family gatherings over the holidays: Question: The White Sox haven't had a winning record since winning 85 games in 2012. Why would Bryce Harper or Manny Machado consider going to Chicago's South Side? Answer: The White Sox hope to have two things going for them: money and a team that is loaded with young talent. The White Sox, tired of playing in the shadow of the crosstown Cubs, have to get Harper or Machado to believe that they would be...

Looks like it's time for Orioles to step up their analytics game

Looks like it's time for Orioles to step up their analytics game
In this baseball age of Statcast, analytics and the explosion of data everywhere, the hope would be that Orioles players have had access to anything that players from Boston, New York or any other team have had access to. But maybe they don't. This comes from the players themselves and it's not good. "It's been 20-fold (with increased analytics) since coming over here,'' Kevin Gausman told MASNsports.com's Mel Antonen for this article in early August. "We've talked about analytics,...

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves

Former Orioles, ex-Nationals are heading to postseason in droves
A year ago, there would have been no inkling that lefty Wade Miley could be a consequential pitcher in the 2018 postseason, not when you consider his league-leading 93 walks and 5.61 ERA last season for the Orioles. But as the postseason begins, Miley, 31, is one of a list of former Orioles and Nationals players with a chance to make the World Series, most of whom were on the rosters of the local nines at the start of 2018. Manny Machado bleeds Dodger blue and Zach Britton wears Yankees...

Showalter expects nice ovation for Britton (tied 4-4)

Showalter expects nice ovation for Britton (tied 4-4)
Tonight's series opener against the Yankees provides reliever Zach Britton with a chance to visit friends and former teammates and at some point over the weekend receive an ovation from appreciative Orioles fans who didn't get the chance to honor him prior to the July 24 trade. Britton showed up at Camden Yards around 2:30 p.m. today and made his first walk to the visiting clubhouse. He knew its location but hadn't been inside of it until today. The first order of business, however, was...

Zach Britton on returning to Baltimore with the Yankees

Zach Britton on returning to Baltimore with the Yankees
When former Orioles closer Zach Britton walked underneath the stands at Camden Yards today and down a tunnel, his destination for the first time in this park was the visiting clubhouse. He made it there eventually. "Walking down the tunnel and going past the home side, I stopped in for a second just to say hi," Britton said this afternoon during an interview in the Yankees dugout. "I've never been on the visiting side, so this is all new. I tried to talk to teammates that I didn't get a...

Waiting on Trumbo decision and Britton's return

Waiting on Trumbo decision and Britton's return
Before the first pitch is thrown tonight to open a four-game series against the Yankees, it's possible that the Orioles finally know whether Mark Trumbo has opted for surgery on his sore right knee or will try rehabbing it and perhaps extend his season. Trumbo flew back to Baltimore after Sunday's game instead of accompanying the team to Toronto. He's on the 10-day disabled list but could be sidelined a lot longer, considering that the knee has been flaring up since May. Multiple opinions...

More on yesterday's moves, Bleier with post-surgery update

More on yesterday's moves, Bleier with post-surgery update
NEW YORK - The Orioles started last night's series opener against the Yankees with only 23 players on their active roster. They subtracted starter Kevin Gausman and second baseman Jonathan Schoop, and infielder Breyvic Valera didn't show up from Triple-A Norfolk until after the first pitch. A pitcher will be added before today's game and another move is anticipated Thursday with infielder Jonathan Villar joining the team following yesterday's trade with the Brewers. Villar can be a useful...

Showalter talks about today's trades

Showalter talks about today's trades
NEW YORK - The smoke still hasn't cleared from today's trade activity. The Orioles are fortunate that they didn't set off the sprinkler system at Yankee Stadium. In an impressive late flurry of moves, the Orioles sent starter Kevin Gausman and reliever Darren O'Day to the Braves for right-hander Evan Phillips, infielder Jean Carlos Encarnacion, catcher Brett Cumberland and left-hander Bruce Zimmermann. The Orioles also received $2.5 million in international signing bonus slot money, while...

More thoughts on the trade deadline and the rebuild

More thoughts on the trade deadline and the rebuild
The Orioles will attempt to strike another deal or two before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. However, the biggest trades have been completed as long as center fielder Adam Jones is resistant to waiving his 10-5 rights. Manny Machado is playing for the Dodgers. Zach Britton is coming out of the Yankees' bullpen. Brad Brach will be pitching for the Braves after he reports. Jones has earned the right to choose where he plays by being in the league for 10 years and with the Orioles for five, but...

No longer necessary to question O's willingness to deal with Yankees

No longer necessary to question O's willingness to deal with Yankees
The time has come, and it's long overdue, to bury the narrative that the Orioles won't consummate trades with the Yankees. Dig the hole until you strike oil. The Orioles were willing to do it at the Winter Meetings despite reports to the contrary. Executive vice president Dan Duquette made the declaration in his suite at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in a room full of media members. Everyone heard it. It was written and repeated over the airwaves. And it wasn't just lip...

Hess on returning, Showalter on Britton leaving

Hess on returning, Showalter on Britton leaving
The Orioles announced today that they recalled right-hander David Hess from Triple-A Norfolk and he's headed to the bullpen, filling the roster spot that belonged to closer Zach Britton. And Chris Tillman has been released, which allows him to become a free agent and attempt to latch on with another team. Left-hander Donnie Hart wasn't eligible to rejoin the Orioles because he hadn't been down for the minimum 10 days. Tides manager Ron Johnson told Hess late last night about his promotion....

Brach on Britton: "It's going to be sad to see him leave"

Brach on Britton: "It's going to be sad to see him leave"
The Orioles will need to make another roster move after last night's trade of closer Zach Britton to the Yankees. They can replace the name on the lineup card, but the intangibles supplied by the longest-tenured player in the organization aren't as easily transferrable. Darren O'Day was the bullpen leader, but he's out for the season following hamstring surgery. Britton has been mentoring the younger pitchers, but his pending free agent status and the club's rebuild assured that he'd be...

Zach Britton: "It's been a great 12 years"

Zach Britton: "It's been a great 12 years"
Zach Britton started to say his goodbyes to teammates tonight during the rain delay, his trade to the Yankees not official but the certainty undeniable. He checked his cell phone and knew exactly what was transpiring. Standing at his locker late tonight, his eyes reddened, Britton tried to sum up the feelings coursing through him after meeting with manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette. He's leaving the organization that drafted him in the third round in 2006 and...

Ramírez gets first major league win as O's defeat Red Sox 7-6

Ramírez gets first major league win as O's defeat Red Sox 7-6
Yefry Ramírez picked the night that the Orioles were finalizing a Zach Britton trade to earn his first major league win. He may be overshadowed, but it's still a nice achievement. Give the young man a hand and maybe a shaving cream pie. Orioles manager Buck Showalter can't promise Ramírez a set number of starts through the remainder of the season. He won't base his decisions on a start-to-start basis. The leash won't be advertised as especially long or short. Ramírez will take the...

Orioles close to dealing Britton to Yankees (updated)

Orioles close to dealing Britton to Yankees (updated)
The Orioles and Yankees have made substantial progress tonight toward a trade that would send left-hander Zach Britton to the Bronx and finally close out a sweepstakes that has taken on various forms over the past few weeks. A source confirmed that talks have escalated quickly and a deal is nearing completion that would bring back three players to the Orioles, including Double-A Trenton right-hander Dillon Tate, but it isn't done. There's the whole medical review process and other points that...

Latest on Britton trade talk (O's lead 2-1)

Latest on Britton trade talk (O's lead 2-1)
The tarp has been peeled off the infield at Camden Yards while the grounds crew rakes the dirt and applies the drying compound. Dark clouds are hovering, but the rain has stopped. The tarp hasn't been rolled up. It's just folded in the outfield. The gates opened about 30 minutes later than usual as head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry continued to monitor the radar. As always, the Orioles will try to play tonight and avoid losing an off-day or being subjected to another doubleheader. Meanwhile,...

Morning notes on Schoop, Brach and Scott

Morning notes on Schoop, Brach and Scott
While the Orioles seem to be more focused on engaging in trade talks related to their pending free agents, with closer Zach Britton leading the pack and likely to be gone before the end of the homestand, they also are hearing from teams expressing interest in players who remain under control beyond 2018. Starters Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy, reliever Mychal Givens and second baseman Jonathan Schoop are attracting attention and the Orioles won't regard anyone as untouchable in a rebuild. Only...

Showalter on Britton, Jones, left side of the infield (O's down 5-2)

Showalter on Britton, Jones, left side of the infield (O's down 5-2)
The tarp is off the field again at Camden Yards after more rain fell in the afternoon. The sun comes out, dark clouds return, the sun comes back out and rain starts and stops. It's been a maddening pattern. The forecast isn't favorable, but the Orioles as always will try to play tonight and avoid a doubleheader or losing an off-day. They've checked the schedule for alternate dates, just in case. Manager Buck Showalter didn't use Zach Britton yesterday in Toronto while a 4-1 lead dissolved...

Orioles injury updates

Orioles injury updates
Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop has relocated to the locker formerly used by Manny Machado at the end of the row, with third baseman Renato Núñez setting up next to him. Zach Britton, Adam Jones and Brad Brach are at their same lockers. They still haven't been traded. Reliever Darren O'Day returned to Camden Yards today to begin treatment following his hamstring surgery. He's out for the rest of the season. Reliever Richard Bleier will meet the team in New York on July 31 for a...