A couple of leftovers for breakfast

A couple of leftovers for breakfast
The eventual promotion of Adley Rutschman to the major league roster, whenever it happens, comes with the expectation that the Orioles will have a veteran mentor ready as his backup. But the club already seems equipped to tutor him. The staff isn't running short on former catchers. Manager Brandon Hyde caught 69 games in the minors and 13 with the independent Chico Heat. Major league field coordinator and catching instructor Tim Cossins caught 217 games in the minors and two with the...

Some reasons why Nottingham netted a minor league deal

Some reasons why Nottingham netted a minor league deal
The Orioles had a quiet weekend, at least on the transactions wire. They could have been working on their minor league coaching staffs or engaging in negotiations with representatives for minor league free agents. But nothing public to digest. Their work isn't done behind the plate, but Jacob Nottingham is a heavy favorite to make up half the catching duo on opening day because he's under contract. It doesn't take much more than that. The 40-man roster is lacking a backstop and that won't...

The pitch mix and the one the O's threw more than any AL team

The pitch mix and the one the O's threw more than any AL team
If we are going to consider and discuss the Orioles' 2021 pitching performance, you know the club will rank at or near the bottom of the American League in many team categories. For instance, they were last in team ERA at 5.84, which was just over a full run per game worse than Minnesota, next at 4.83. But we're not here today to hammer away at some rough pitching stats. Today, I wanted to take a look at the Orioles' 2021 pitch mix. This can be interesting to look at and size up how they...

Another look at arbitration-eligible Orioles

Another look at arbitration-eligible Orioles
The Orioles must tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players by Dec. 2, assuming they can conduct business on that date. The collective bargaining agreement expires the previous day. I yearn for the days when CBA made me think "Continental Basketball Association." Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias has decisions pending on eight players - Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander, John Means, Jorge López, Pedro Severino, Pat Valaika, Paul Fry and Tanner Scott....

The rise and fall of Valdez and Plutko

The rise and fall of Valdez and Plutko
The Orioles already made a few decisions on their minor league free agents, bringing back outfielder Cristopher Céspedes and pitchers Ofelky Peralta and Nick Vespi. Other moves will be sprinkled into their offseason, with some bigger names in the industry likely to compete for jobs on minor league deals with invitations to spring training. Like the past winter when the Orioles signed starters Félix Hernández, Matt Harvey and Wade LeBlanc. Relievers Adam Plutko and César Valdez...

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...

Putting Hays in corner an appealing move for Orioles

Putting Hays in corner an appealing move for Orioles
Among the important developments for the Orioles in 2021, and it requires looking past the record, run differential, negative WARs and the rest, is the ability of Austin Hays to stay in the lineup after his return from a strained left hamstring on June 11 and play in a career-high 131 games. A mark that wasn't hard to surpass considering the previous best was 33 last summer. Hays accumulated 529 plate appearances, and he built on a reputation for finishing strong while others tend to whither....

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (plus notes)

Orioles and Red Sox lineups (plus notes)
The Orioles' final home game of the 2021 season will begin with rookie Alexander Wells making his 11th major league appearance and eighth start. Wells has a 7.61 ERA and 1.745 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings. He's averaging 12.3 hits, 3.4 walks, 5.9 strikeouts and 2.2 home runs per nine innings. Wells has completed five innings in his last two starts, allowing eight runs and 11 hits. He faced the Red Sox on Sept. 19 and surrendered five runs and six hits, with J.D. Martinez hitting a solo...

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason

Because You Asked - The Edge of Reason
The Orioles aren't playing tonight. They have an off-day in New York. We should all be so lucky. "Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Broadway?" "Practice, practice, practice." I've already mastered the art of the mailbag. How to gather questions, provide answers - or at least make the attempt - and exhibit tremendous patience while repeating myself. And also how to make it conversational at times, which ain't easy with the mail. I implore everyone to be as expansive as you'd like...

Wondering what's next for Hunter Harvey

Wondering what's next for Hunter Harvey
Hunter Harvey moved closer to his reinstatement from the 10-day injured list by working the sixth inning last night with Triple-A Norfolk. The one run allowed won't matter as long as felt good afterward and this morning. The Charlotte Knights loaded the bases with no outs on three consecutive soft singles, beginning with former Orioles farmhand Yermín Mercedes. Harvey induced three ground balls, getting a force at home on the first. A 4-3 putout plated the run. Harvey threw 20 pitches, 13...

Mistakes and homers doom O's as skid reaches 13 (updated)

Mistakes and homers doom O's as skid reaches 13 (updated)
Only the pitch count was threatening John Means tonight. At least for a while. Means carried a two-hit shutout into the fourth inning at Tropicana Field, but he already threw 66 pitches - 12 to strike out Kevin Kiermaier in the third. A bigger issue arose when Jorge Mateo's error led to three unearned runs, the last two coming on Mike Zunino's homer. Means was at 80 pitches heading into the fifth, Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer and the Orioles' losing streak reached 13 games with the Rays...

Orioles swept for 14th time with 6-2 loss (updated)

Orioles swept for 14th time with 6-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles had their brief moment this afternoon. The early rally, the hit with a runner in scoring position, a lead against the Red Sox. Keegan Akin took his turn on the mound in the bottom of the first inning and surrendered a three-run homer to J.D. Martinez among his 22 pitches. The next three innings saw Akin bend but not break, keeping the Orioles in the game, unsure whether it keeps him in the rotation. But the losing streak is rolling into St. Petersburg, Fla., for the next stop on the...

O's game blog: Looking to end losing streak in series finale

O's game blog: Looking to end losing streak in series finale
With two losses this weekend at Boston and a riding 10-game losing streak, the Orioles are desperate for a win this afternoon at Fenway Park in the finale of this three-game series. The Orioles swept three from Boston at Fenway to begin the 2021 season, winning the games by a combined 18-5 score. But they have lost the first two games this weekend by a combined 24-3 score. Boston had 17 hits, bashed five homers and went 7-for-12 with runners in scoring position Saturday in pounding the Orioles...

Orioles add Abad and Wade to bullpen, plus lineups (updated)

Orioles add Abad and Wade to bullpen, plus lineups (updated)
The expected bullpen changes came today, with the Orioles designating Adam Plutko for assignment and optioning Dusten Knight to Triple-A Norfolk. In their place, the Orioles selected the contracts of Konner Wade and veteran left-hander Fernando Abad from Norfolk. They made room on the 40-man roster by transferring left-hander Bruce Zimmermann to the 60-day injured list. Plutko allowed home runs in a club-record six relief appearances in a row. He posted a 6.71 ERA and 1.633 WHIP in 38...

Orioles allow season-high 16 runs in latest loss (updated)

Orioles allow season-high 16 runs in latest loss (updated)
If it really does start with starting pitching, as baseball folks preach, the Orioles really are having a rotten weekend in Boston. Spenser Watkins allowed six runs last night in four innings, the sweat making it harder to find his grip on the ball. Manager Brandon Hyde revealed earlier today that left-hander Bruce Zimmermann must remain on the injured list after spraining his ankle in a training mishap, which prohibits the rookie from joining the rotation on Sunday. Jorge López loaded the...

Orioles trying to find ways to fix a frustrating situation

Orioles trying to find ways to fix a frustrating situation
There are no easy or obvious solutions to the Orioles' explosive bullpen, holes in the rotation and thinning roster due to injuries. Not unless the production picks up at its highest affiliate. That would at least provide an option. Relievers have surrendered 52 runs in the past five games - 16 scored in the eighth inning in the Rays' sweep - and manager Brandon Hyde can't be criticized for running the same group into games every night. He can't be ripped for ignoring hot hands that simply...

Yankees make short work of Wells and defeat O's 13-1 (updated)

Yankees make short work of Wells and defeat O's 13-1 (updated)
The home debut for Orioles rookie Alexander Wells remains on hold through five major league appearances. His acts are played on the road. Auditions that he hoped would lead to a regular gig. Off-days Thursday and Monday can jumble the rotation again, but Wells appeared to have a shot at pitching at Camden Yards against the Rays or, more likely, the Tigers before the Orioles flew to Boston next weekend. In the meantime, tonight marked his first appearance at Yankee Stadium. The audition hit a...

Cabrera homers twice and Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)

Cabrera homers twice and Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)
Over the past few hours, the Orioles attempted to win a game in Detroit, find a trade partner and gain more clarity on their roster heading into the weekend. They went 0-for-3. Casey Mize was only partially to blame. Rookie Alexander Wells surrendered four runs in five innings, Mize carried a shutout into the seventh, the Tigers won 6-2 and manager Brandon Hyde concluded his postgame Zoom call with the same players who made the ride from the team hotel to Comerica Park earlier in the...

Bullpen trade chips aren't displayed in 7-3 loss (updated)

Bullpen trade chips aren't displayed in 7-3 loss (updated)
Scouts who descended upon Camden Yards again tonight weren't attracted to the crab cakes and pit beef. Those are just perks of the job. The Orioles are sellers again and the trade deadline is 4 p.m. Friday. Contenders are checking on available players and determining whether there's a potential match and at what cost. The weekend series against the Nationals and the current two-game set against the Marlins comprise the final homestand before August. Remaining observations on Orioles trade...

Harvey chips in with six scoreless again in 5-3 win (updated)

Harvey chips in with six scoreless again in 5-3 win (updated)
The latest reshaping of the Orioles rotation, like a big ball of clay that can be manipulated to take on many forms, put Matt Harvey into tonight's game rather than assigning him the task of closing out the series a day later. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't want Harvey waiting a full week between starts after the veteran right-hander tossed six scoreless innings in his last outing. Harvey didn't want to wait any longer. Meanwhile, the Nationals scratched Max Scherzer due to right triceps...