Because You Asked - Analyze That

Because You Asked - Analyze That
With the 2021 season officially over and baseball moving into full offseason mode, important dates on the calendar crossed off one at a time, the mailbag again is inflating like my ego. My new wife is only available to deflate the ego. Not the mailbag. That one is up to me. Just to review: You, my wonderful followers - which unfortunately sounds like a cult that will be documented on Netflix - ask me many questions that I attempt to answer. Some of you ask the same ones as if I ignored you. And...

Orioles outright Severino, Greene and Diplán

Orioles outright Severino, Greene and Diplán
The Orioles did some heavy work today on their 40-man roster, including outrighting catcher Pedro Severino to Triple-A Norfolk. Severino and relievers Conner Greene and Marcos Diplán cleared waivers and were outrighted. They can become free agents after going through a procedural process that might take a couple of days. Left-hander Fernando Abad entered free agency this afternoon and the Pirates claimed reliever Eric Hanhold off waivers. The moves have left the Orioles with 30 players on...

Which relievers are returning to Orioles in 2022?

Which relievers are returning to Orioles in 2022?
Are there any guaranteed returns among Orioles relievers beyond Rule 5 pick Tyler Wells? Is it weird that Wells is the first and perhaps only mention? This is quite the commentary on Wells, who emerged as the most likely closer candidate next spring, and the state of the bullpen. Left-handers Paul Fry and Tanner Scott are eligible for arbitration and projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to make $1.1 million and $1 million, respectively. Teams expressed interest in both relievers at the trade...

More on Orioles' 40-man moves, plus Stowers note

More on Orioles' 40-man moves, plus Stowers note
As the participants in the World Series begin to come into focus, the Orioles are busy doing their own heavy lifting with moves to clear room on their 40-man roster. They needed a big broom. The season concluded with a full 40-man. Putting reliever Zack Burdi on waivers, and he was claimed by the Diamondbacks, was just the first attempt. They're down to 35 after outrighting catcher Austin Wynns, infielder Pat Valaika, and pitchers Thomas Eshelman and Konner Wade. That leaves space for the five...

Orioles facing many more 40-man moves

Orioles facing many more 40-man moves
The early work on the Orioles' 40-man roster consisted of one move that probably didn't require hours of study, deliberation and angst. The team likes Travis Lakins Sr. Manager Brandon Hyde talked about the reliever's recovery from elbow surgery and the likelihood that he'd be ready for spring training. But it made no sense to move Lakins from the 60-day injured list to a 40-man roster that requires heavy cuts. A chain saw rather than a pocket knife. Teams figured to pass on Lakins after he...

New CBA and old rotation concerns inhabit O's offseason

New CBA and old rotation concerns inhabit O's offseason
The Orioles can make plans and create lists and envision how to properly operate their offseason, but the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement sits on their shoulders. Never removed or forgotten. It's potential influence, a constant presence. A new CBA must be negotiated after Dec. 1. The first face-to-face session between Major League Baseball and union officials was held in August and included a proposal for a revised service time arrangement for arbitration-eligible...

Orioles' late rally falls short in 6-4 loss in Toronto (updated)

Orioles' late rally falls short in 6-4 loss in Toronto (updated)
The Orioles tried to stay in spoiler mode tonight while going with a bullpen game rather than a starter equipped to provide actual length. Teams wanting the Blue Jays to implode in the weekend series and influence the wild card race could be heard cringing. Their eyes were bulging while checking the late score. Injuries have tampered with the Orioles rotation, which becomes more settled in the last two games with John Means and Bruce Zimmermann. So, manager Brandon Hyde lined up his available...

Orioles' late rally can't prevent 7-4 loss (updated)

Orioles' late rally can't prevent 7-4 loss (updated)
Anthony Santander provided the first hit for the Orioles today with a game-tying, two-run homer in the fourth inning. It wasn't supposed to take that long or stand alone until the seventh. John Means was extended to 108 pitches. They weren't supposed to be crammed into five innings. An offense that scored three runs or fewer in five of the last six games remained sluggish most of the day and the Orioles settled for a split of the series after a 7-4 loss to the Rangers before 13,495 at Camden...

Mullins joins 30/30 club with home run in second inning (O's lose)

Mullins joins 30/30 club with home run in second inning (O's lose)
Teammates waved their arms at Cedric Mullins tonight after he returned to the dugout in the bottom of the second inning. Motioning him back onto the field. Demanding, in fact, that he accept a curtain call in celebration of his 30th home run and admission into an exclusive club. One that now has its only member from the franchise. Mullins stood on the dirt track and raised his batting helmet in appreciation of the loud ovation at Camden Yards. He slapped it a couple of times, still holding it...

Hyde on Akin, Ciuffo, Baumann and more

Hyde on Akin, Ciuffo, Baumann and more
Today's roster moves by the Orioles leave 10 players on the 10-day or 60-day injured lists. Only starter Bruce Zimmermann is a candidate to rejoin the active roster. Keegan Akin has a left adductor strain that requires a surgical procedure. He's on the 10-day injured list, but could be moved to the 60-day if the club needs space on its 40-man roster. "He's piled up a ton of innings," said manager Brandon Hyde, "and he's going to have a procedure done in the core region that we want to...

Lowther and three relievers combine on shutout (updated)

Lowther and three relievers combine on shutout (updated)
The strikeouts kept coming from Zac Lowther. For five innings before his removal from the game. Leaving him four on a chilly night to sweat out whether he'd earn his first major league win. The Orioles manufactured a run in the fourth inning, Ryan Mountcastle hit his 31st homer in the fifth and Austin Hays clubbed his 22nd in the eighth, and the bullpen protected Lowther's lead in a 3-0 victory over the Rangers before an announced crowd of 6,328 at Camden Yards. Mountcastle took over the...

Akin and Hays impress again, but O's lose 4-3 (updated)

Akin and Hays impress again, but O's lose 4-3 (updated)
As the Orioles keep piling more players on their injured lists and going day-to-day with others who are ailing, they cherish every individual who stays in the lineup or rotation and seems determined to finish strong. Keegan Akin, a couple starts removed from his six no-hit innings, shut out the Phillies over 5 1/3 and struck out six batters before Eric Hanhold replaced him. Austin Hays retained ownership of the month of September, his scorching bat producing a run-scoring double in the sixth...

Orioles put Urías on injured list and DFA Valdez

Orioles put Urías on injured list and DFA Valdez
The Orioles' roster moves are official and their 28-man roster has been refreshed again. The club has recalled infielder Jahmai Jones and reliever Konner Wade from Triple-A Norfolk today, placed infielder Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with a right adductor strain and designated reliever César Valdez for assignment. Reliever Joey Krehbiel, claimed off waivers yesterday from the Rays, was optioned to Norfolk. Urías was a late scratch from the lineup yesterday, but he...

Orioles bullpen brings its best until 10th in 3-2 loss (updated)

Orioles bullpen brings its best until 10th in 3-2 loss (updated)
The bullpen game plotted tonight by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde began to live up to its definition perhaps a bit sooner than anticipated. Conner Greene couldn't give the Orioles a second inning as the opener, his 24 pitches in a scoreless first against the Phillies beginning the parade of relievers. Marcos Diplán tossed two scoreless innings. Thomas Eshelman stranded a runner in the fourth, retired the side in order in the fifth and struck out two batters in the sixth around J.T....

Stewart goes on injured list (plus lineups, Urías scratched)

Stewart goes on injured list (plus lineups, Urías scratched)
The Orioles have placed outfielder DJ Stewart on the 60-day injured list with a right knee osteochondral defect and selected the contract of reliever César Valdez from Triple-A Norfolk. Putting Stewart on the 60-day IL created a spot for Valdez on the 40-man roster. Stewart wasn't going to return before the season ended on Oct. 3. An osteochondral defect, according to a quick Internet search, refers to a focal area of damage that involves both the cartilage and a piece of underlying bone....

Greene starting tonight, Orioles claim Krehbiel off waivers

Greene starting tonight, Orioles claim Krehbiel off waivers
With rookie Chris EIlis unavailable to make tonight's start due to some arm fatigue, the Orioles are going with Conner Greene in a bullpen game against the Phillies. Greene is making his first major league start after 18 relief appearances this season. He hasn't gone more than two innings or thrown more than 37 pitches, which happened in his debut on July 27 against the Marlins. Until allowing three runs Sunday in one-third of an inning at Fenway Park, Greene had strung together six scoreless...

Hanhold back in majors and working to stay there

Hanhold back in majors and working to stay there
BOSTON - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde expressed his opinion of reliever Eric Hanhold by getting the right-hander out of Friday night's game after only two batters. Sounds bad until Hyde explains why. Hanhold retired both batters in the sixth after replacing Dusten Knight, snagging a comebacker to get Hunter Renfroe in a rundown between second and third base and striking out Rafael Devers on a 95 mph fastball, and made such an impression on Hyde that he was removed to keep him available the...

Wells retires 11 of 12, but O's lose 8-6 to complete sweep (updated)

Wells retires 11 of 12, but O's lose 8-6 to complete sweep (updated)
BOSTON - The last of the three young starters for the Orioles took his lumps today just like everyone else. With the Red Sox showing no mercy early in their quest to earn a wild card spot in the playoffs. Go easy and you might be going home, and not to host a game in the postseason. Alexander Wells stepped into traffic this afternoon, knowing the risks and hoping to come out fine on the other side. Whether he did is open to interpretation, but it sure felt that way. He loaded the bases with no...

Orioles can't maintain rapid pace in 9-3 loss (updated)

Orioles can't maintain rapid pace in 9-3 loss (updated)
BOSTON - The Orioles came out swinging today in baseball's most literal sense. The first pitch to Cedric Mullins was lined into left field for a double. The first to Ryan Mountcastle was launched for a two-run homer. The first to Anthony Santander was lined to center for a single. The first to Austin Hays was pulled foul before he drew a walk. Nick Pivetta needed to pivot. The Orioles needed to find a way to sustain their momentum, which can be halted as if reaching a barricade. Rookie Zac...

Mountcastle surpasses Ripken in Orioles' 3-2, 10-inning win (updated)

Mountcastle surpasses Ripken in Orioles' 3-2, 10-inning win (updated)
Individual achievements remain in play for the Orioles as the final weeks expire on their season. During those times when trying to be spoilers doesn't bring full satisfaction. Ryan Mountcastle led off the bottom of the sixth inning today by depositing Jordan Montgomery's sinker into the Orioles bullpen, his 29th home run breaking Cal Ripken Jr.'s rookie record for a single season. Mountcastle also cut a deficit in half and the bullpen provided 4 1/3 scoreless innings in regulation. Clay...