Will the 2020 season produce a legit World Series champion?

Will the 2020 season produce a legit World Series champion?
Even if the coming 60-game Major League Baseball season gets played to conclusion through the World Series, fans are going to look back at this season for years and see strange things. Like a home run champion that might hit, say, 21 homers. Or a pitcher leading the majors in wins with seven or eight. Or a saves leader with 16. Or a World Series champion crowned after a 60-game season. Will that World Series winner be legit? Well, legit is in the eye of the beholder. To me, that answer is yes....

O's progressing toward deal with Sanders as first base coach

O's progressing toward deal with Sanders as first base coach
The Orioles are whittling down the vacancies on their coaching staff. Their talks with Anthony Sanders appear to be gaining momentum toward an agreement, though the proximity varies depending on the source. He's certainly become the frontrunner for the job and is expected to land it. FOX Sports reported that Sanders and the Orioles are close to an agreement. He would replace Arnie Beyeler as first base coach and also has the background to assume the responsibilities as outfield...

Gilmartin, Peterson and Sucre enter free agency

Gilmartin, Peterson and Sucre enter free agency
The offseason is moving through the period when players who have been outrighted off the 40-man roster can elect free agency. Players with a previous outright or who built up three years of service time in the majors. The market is open and the list of Orioles to enter it includes pitcher Sean Gilmartin, infielder Jace Peterson and catcher Jesús Sucre. The list of surprises is empty. The Orioles designated Gilmartin on June 25, claimed pitcher Tayler Scott off waivers from the Mariners and...

Armstrong on getting a fresh start with Orioles (O's lead 5-4)

Armstrong on getting a fresh start with Orioles (O's lead 5-4)
CHICAGO - The revolving door attached to the Orioles bullpen pushed Tanner Scott back to Triple-A Norfolk and brought in right-hander Shawn Armstrong, who's been added to the 25-man roster for today's doubleheader. The Orioles claimed Armstrong off waivers from the Mariners Sunday afternoon and he joined the club yesterday. "It's been a lot, but the Orioles made it super easy for me," he said. "I can't complain. They've done anything and everything for myself and my family. Went to...

Notes on Karns, Rickard, Smith, Wright and Rodriguez (O's up 4-2)

Notes on Karns, Rickard, Smith, Wright and Rodriguez (O's up 4-2)
Orioles reliever Nate Karns is reporting to Double-A Bowie on Thursday while his teammates fly to Minnesota for the start of a three-game series. Karns threw again today without discomfort in his right forearm. He's going to throw an inning with the Baysox Thursday and another inning a few days later. "He's going to have a couple outings and then we'll kind of reassess," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We always reassess after every outing, but we plan on him having a couple outings and then...

Orioles trade Mike Wright to Mariners

Orioles trade Mike Wright to Mariners
Mike Wright won't be staying in the Orioles organization. The club announced today that Wright has been traded to the Mariners for infielder Ryne Ogren, who is headed to low Single-A Delmarva. Wright was designated for assignment on Sunday while the Orioles selected Gabriel Ynoa's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Wright, a third-round pick in 2011 out of East Carolina University, was carrying a 9.45 ERA and 2.025 WHIP in 10 appearances covering 13 1/3 innings. He also was out of minor league...

Hyde on Wright, Ynoa, Karns and more (O's down 4-2)

Hyde on Wright, Ynoa, Karns and more (O's down 4-2)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde this morning handled the painful task of calling Mike Wright into his office with news that the right-hander had been designated for assignment. The club selected reliever Gabriel Ynoa's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. "It's been a tough morning," Hyde said. "We needed innings and we needed a fresh arm in here, and that was the decision we came up with. But it was hard to give Mike the news this morning. We're hoping that he clears, we're hoping that he stays...

Orioles DFA Mike Wright

Orioles DFA Mike Wright
The Orioles made a roster move today to bring up a fresh bullpen arm, and it included the decision to cut ties with Mike Wright. Wright has been designated for assignment prior to this afternoon's series finale against the Twins at Camden Yards. The Orioles selected Gabriel Ynoa's contract from Triple-A Norfolk and he'll be in uniform today. Wright worked 3 1/3 innings last night, surrendering three-run homers to C.J. Cron and former Oriole Jonathan Schoop. Wright was charged with four runs...

Twins' hit eight home runs and complete sweep of O's (updated)

Twins' hit eight home runs and complete sweep of O's (updated)
The patience that Alex Cobb required to get him through his two stints on the disabled list, the groin injury late in spring training and the back spasms that cropped up after his first start, will be needed to guide him through another difficult period in his professional life. Cobb's return to the active roster and rotation couldn't have gone much worse tonight. He allowed three home runs as the Orioles blew past the major league record. The nine runs charged to him tied his career...

Hess hit hard and dugout heated in 8-1 loss (updated)

Hess hit hard and dugout heated in 8-1 loss (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If David Hess had any shot at getting deeper into his start tonight against the Rays, he needed to soften the contact against him. Think pillow instead of pillar. Everything that Hess threw was tattooed, with exit velocities in the first inning of 115.4, 102.3, 105.6 and 108.9 mph - the latter resulting in a three-run homer by the University of Maryland's Brandon Lowe on a ball that traveled 409 feet, according to Statcast. Hess allowed another run in the second and...

Hyde on Davis, bench, Hess, Wynns and more (O's down 8-1)

Hyde on Davis, bench, Hess, Wynns and more (O's down 8-1)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A short bench for the Orioles has reached its tiniest stage with Chris Davis unable to play due a stomach virus. Manager Brandon Hyde needs length from his starters. He won't get it from his bench, which is down to infielder Hanser Alberto and backup catcher Pedro Severino. It's risky to use the second catcher, leaving Hyde with Alberto and fingers crossed. "Options are a little short," Hyde said. "It's part of it. This happens a lot throughout the year where things...

Home runs haunt Orioles again in 10-3 loss (Rogers optioned)

Home runs haunt Orioles again in 10-3 loss (Rogers optioned)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had the plan set up in his mind, with little chance that he'd stray from it. Dan Straily would make his first start since last September, with rookie Josh Rogers backing him up. Use the veteran right-hander against an Athletics lineup heavy in right-handed hitters before turning to the young lefty. The leash on Straily would be shorter than usual due to his inactivity since late in spring training, the Marlins releasing him on March 25 and the Orioles signing him...

After allowing seven homers, O's pitchers try to get back on track against the A's

After allowing seven homers, O's pitchers try to get back on track against the A's
After allowing seven home runs and 15 runs Sunday, there is nothing, really, to do for the Orioles pitching staff and team as a whole but get back on the horse tonight versus Oakland. Try to ride their way to victory and put that mess from Sunday in their rear-view mirror. The O's were competitive and led the Yankees in the first two games of the series. They just didn't win. Sunday they were blown out and it felt like about 10 losses, but really only counted as one. Time to get back to...

Yankees blast seven homers and sweep series in Baltimore

Yankees blast seven homers and sweep series in Baltimore
Maybe that series win at Yankee Stadium last weekend by the Orioles got the Yankees' attention. Because after scoring just five runs in three games at home against Detroit, New York came to Baltimore and hit 14 homers and scored 29 runs in a series sweep of the Orioles. Today right-hander Domingo Germán allowed two hits and two runs over six innings and New York bashed seven more homers in a 15-3 win to sweep the three-game series. The Yankees improved to 5-4 and the Orioles fall to 4-5 and...

Homers hurt Orioles again in 15-3 loss (with quotes)

Homers hurt Orioles again in 15-3 loss (with quotes)
David Hess didn't flirt with a no-hitter today. It was gone by the second inning, along with a scoreless tie and any hope that the Yankees might ease up on the power surge. Might stop trying to take out a few of the seats or the batter's eye. Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier and Gary Sánchez homered in the first three innings to create a four-run lead while the Orioles continued to wait for their first baserunner. And then their first hit. It was Domingo Germán's turn to chase history. It...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Trey Mancini made only two starts in right field coming into the season, both as a rookie in 2017. He learned to play left after moving off first base. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wanted him to become more acclimated to right and expand his versatility on a club that prioritizes it. It's become more than just an experiment. Mancini has been the right fielder in four of the first seven games, with Dwight Smith Jr. hunkered down in left. "It feels good," Mancini said before yesterday's 8-4...

Wrapping up reception for Davis, O's pitching and 8-4 loss

Wrapping up reception for Davis, O's pitching and 8-4 loss
The cheering that accompanied Chris Davis down the orange carpet this afternoon in the Orioles' home opener had the same lasting power as a bubble blown through a wand. Fans lost patience again with the first strikeout and vented harder with the next two. They cheered his replacement, Hanser Alberto, who pinch-hit in the eighth inning in an 8-4 loss to the Yankees. The bubble burst. Alberto's single only sharpened the criticism toward Davis, who's 0-for-17 with four walks and 11...

O's lose lead in the sixth as they fall in the home opener

O's lose lead in the sixth as they fall in the home opener
It was looking like there would be a good chance for a feel-good opening day at home for the Orioles. They were leading the Yankees 4-1 headed to the top of the sixth. But within a span of four batters the strong positive vibes hit a brick wall. Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres delivered his second homer of the game and it was huge. His three-run shot off Mike Wright turned a 4-2 Orioles lead into a 5-4 Yankees lead. New York went on to win 8-4 in front of a sellout of 44,182 at Oriole Park at...

Orioles surrender seven unanswered runs in 8-4 loss

Orioles surrender seven unanswered runs in 8-4 loss
Catcher Jesús Sucre set an outside target this afternoon with an 0-2 count on Gleyber Torres, the Orioles still holding a two-run lead with two outs in the sixth inning in their home opener. One more strike, one more out, and they could inch a little closer to their latest win. Mike Wright's 95 mph fastball tailed over the plate, moving up and in, and Torres didn't miss it. Contact was made and Sucre bolted out of his crouch, spun toward the home dugout and ripped off his mask. A chase...

Orioles saving best for last

Orioles saving best for last
The 2018 Orioles had five different pitchers register saves, led by Brad Brach with 11. Only Mychal Givens and Paul Fry remain with the club. Brach, Zack Britton and Darren O'Day were traded in July and Givens was anointed the closer this season by everyone except manager Brandon Hyde, who refused to hang the label on one reliever. He wasn't doing it just to throw everyone off the scent. The Orioles have won four games and four different relievers are credited with saves - Fry, Mike Wright,...