Domenic Vadala: Heading into the offseason

Domenic Vadala: Heading into the offseason
Every year at the end of the season (postseason or not), I feel as if a blindfold has been removed from my head. Make no mistake about the fact that baseball season is and always will be No. 1 in my heart. However, from the time when hope springs eternal in March until the end, that's really all I'm able to see and hear. I tend to forget that there's an outside world that's not Orioles-centric. The season never really ends for me in a sense, as we publish fresh content daily at Birds...
    

Domenic Valada: "Battle of the Beltways" an extra-special series

Domenic Valada: "Battle of the Beltways" an extra-special series
With the O's in DC this week, we find ourselves watching National League games for the first time in a while. Some people like interleague play, and some don't - either view point is fine with me. But I'm a fan of it. People might ask how I can call myself a purist and like interleague play. The answer is because, as I said, I'm a purist - the pitcher is part of the team, so why shouldn't he have to swing a bat? But speaking for myself, the "Battle of the Beltways" is extra special....
    

Domenic Vadala: For resurgent O's, strong finish can affect next season

Domenic Vadala: For resurgent O's, strong finish can affect next season
Many people are simply accepting the presumption that the Orioles aren't going to make the postseason in 2015. At this point, you have no choice but to admit that the season is certainly trending that way. However, one thing I try to convey in my columns each day is that until the team is mathematically eliminated, there's still hope. People try to tell me that I'm naive for not accepting reality. Maybe it comes off as cliché to consistently say that the team still has a chance. But I see...
    

Domenic Vadala: Looking at O's misfortunes going into offseason

Domenic Vadala: Looking at O's misfortunes going into offseason
Over the past month or so, I've gotten various comments and tweets on Birds Watcher to the extent of blaming various people for the Orioles' misfortunes. And while I don't think anyone's going to say that the likes of Buck Showalter or Dan Duquette are in any danger of losing their jobs, it's an interesting question. Who or what is to blame? I'll start by absolving the players - in terms of the effort put forth. Again, a lot of folks seem to want me to come out and say that the Orioles...
    

Domenic Vadala: Cal Ripken Jr. belongs to fans of baseball

Domenic Vadala: Cal Ripken Jr. belongs to fans of baseball
If you're used to what I write on Birds Watcher and for that matter even here on MASN, a lot of what you read here today might come as a surprise. For the most part, I feel that writers should remain above the fray of the fan on the street when writing about the team. So most of what I try to put out there is analytical as opposed to emotional in nature. But some events rock the world. The career of the great Cal Ripken Jr. spanned my entire childhood, adolescence and into early adulthood....
    

Domenic Vadala: Orioles can learn from the way Royals carry themselves

Domenic Vadala: Orioles can learn from the way Royals carry themselves
Gary Thorne and Mike Bordick brought up a great point in regards to the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. They mentioned that the team was playing with a lot of confidence, and there can be no doubt about that. You can see it written all over their faces, with the manner by which they carry themselves and, heck, even how their fans react. So could the Orioles learn a lesson from that? The answer is yes - but to a point. The Birds are an uber-professional team in a sense. Think about it: When...
    

Domenic Vadala: Late-season deal could tip AL East in favor of Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Late-season deal could tip AL East in favor of Orioles
As we've all heard countless times, Major League Baseball's trade season doesn't end in July. The non-waiver trade deadline is, of course, at the end of July. However, trades can still be made until the waiver trade deadline at the end of August (which means that players can be traded so long as they pass through waivers). So with the Orioles now playing better (or so it seems) in the wake of the West Coast trip, I would submit that the waiver trade deadline is of supreme importance for this...
    

Domenic Valada: Wild card teams can channel momentum for postseason run

Domenic Valada: Wild card teams can channel momentum for postseason run
First off, while I recognize that it departs from my self-proclaimed status as a "baseball purist," let me preface this by saying that I really love how MLB approaches the postseason now. Some people still clamor for the old system of having two divisions and thus the two division champions going to the LCS series. If you feel that way, I can respect that. However, the fact is that over the years, some really good and deserving teams missed going to the postseason due to that system. So, the...
    

Domenic Vadala: Nick Markakis' return to Camden Yards a "Baltimore moment"

Domenic Vadala: Nick Markakis' return to Camden Yards a "Baltimore moment"
I, along with much of Birdland, had been anticipating July 27 for some time. Like most cities, Baltimore celebrates and appreciates its sports heroes. Over time we've seen many athletes play here only to leave and return in other uniforms, such as Eddie Murray, Bill Ripken, and even Rafael Palmeiro - albeit in a different manner given that he wasn't drafted here and brought into the big leagues with the Orioles. And we saw the same thing with Nick Markakis the other night when he came in as a...
    

Domenic Vadala: Should the Orioles buy or stand pat?

Domenic Vadala: Should the Orioles buy or stand pat?
If you read my column on Birds Watcher, perhaps you've noticed that we've started looking toward the trade deadline. This year, the Orioles do in a way find themselves in a bit of a dilemma. I'm not one of those folks suggesting that the Orioles should consider selling off because "they aren't good enough" or something like that. But in my view the real dilemma is "buy or stand pat?" The Orioles are a contending team, so let's just dismiss the notion of selling right now. So that...
    

Domenic Vadala: Would a small change benefit Birds?

Domenic Vadala: Would a small change benefit Birds?
First off, greetings from the Delmarva shore, which is where I am this week! I'm taking my annual summer hiatus from the big city, if you will - so far so good, I suppose! Much like Ocean City, coastal Delaware is a place that's chock full of orange and black this time of year, and as I've walked along the boardwalks of the "Small Wonder State," I've seen lots of TVs showing Orioles games in bars and restaurants. Speaking of small wonders, we all know that small ball is a part of the...
    

Domenic Vadala: Playing roster roulette with the Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Playing roster roulette with the Orioles
Barring a trade or injury, the Orioles are probably going to have to risk losing at least one player this week by designating them for assignment. If they opt not to option Jonathan Schoop to the minors to continue his rehab, they'll potentially have to DFA a second player at some point. This is never easy, both from a personal and a business standpoint. The last thing that any team wants is a guy that's literally on their payroll and playing for someone else. Having said that, the time is...
    

Domenic Vadala: Properly aligning baseball's All-Stars

Domenic Vadala: Properly aligning baseball's All-Stars
There's been a lot of talk lately about the voting process for the upcoming All-Star Game, and how the Kansas City Royals are monopolizing it. I've written about it on Birds Watcher, you've heard about it here on MASNsports.com, and as well on numerous other outlets. Let me be only the latest person to say that the entire scenario is a poor one - both for players and for baseball as a whole. There's a part of me that does, however, see the point that the Royals fans aren't doing anything...
    

Domenic Vadala: Crab cakes, cheesesteaks and forced rivalries

Domenic Vadala: Crab cakes, cheesesteaks and forced rivalries
This week could be called "forced rivalry week" in Major League Baseball with lots of teams playing two-game home-and-home series against regional or natural rivals. Admittedly, some of these so-called rivalries are more forced than others. This would normally be O's vs. Nats week; however, those two teams will play two three-game series later this summer and into the autumn. So the Orioles ended up with Philadelphia this week, which makes sense based on geography. The Atlanta-Boston series...
    

Domenic Vadala: Getting a grip on a slippery situation

Domenic Vadala: Getting a grip on a slippery situation
A few weeks ago, Brian Matusz and the Orioles became part of a league-wide discussion about foreign substances used by pitchers on the baseball. That kind of started up again late last week when it was announced that Matusz's eight-game suspension was being upheld (never mind the fact that Milwaukee's Will Smith had his shortened to six games for the same offense). I come at this from various angels. First off, I'm not a fan of opposing managers asking umpires to check guys. At a time when...
    

Domenic Vadala: A baseball anniversary and the Orioles' outlook

Domenic Vadala: A baseball anniversary and the Orioles' outlook
Today, June 3, is a notable date in the history of baseball, the 127th anniversary of the popular poem, "Casey at the Bat," by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. It was first published by the San Francisco Examiner on June 3, 1888. We all know the story. "The mighty Casey" is the heavy hitter for the team from the fictional town of Mudville. And with the "Mudville Nine" down by two runs in the last of the ninth with two runners in scoring position, the epic slugger Casey struck out to end the game....
    

Domenic Vadala: Is it time for O's to get creative at first base?

Domenic Vadala: Is it time for O's to get creative at first base?
I was a bit shocked when I saw the lineup hours prior to Monday's game against Houston. Aside from the time when he was suspended, when's the last time the Orioles' starting lineup didn't include Chris Davis? Sitting Davis on the bench is something that was lauded by many fans, and understandably so. Hovering around the Mendoza line isn't exactly what one would have expected going into this year. But my question is whether or not it's time to get creative with first base. And by creative,...
    

Domenic Vadala: With Wright, Orioles are doing things the right way

Domenic Vadala: With Wright, Orioles are doing things the right way
For starters, the debut of Mike Wright on Sunday was about as awe-inspiring as a debut can be. Seriously, I can't imagine what must have been going through his mind walking off the mound in the 8th inning to a standing ovation like he did. And he indicated as much after the game, saying that you really couldn't draw it up any better than that. However, Buck Showalter said something that piqued my interest in his postgame press conference on Sunday afternoon. He said that in Wright's case,...
    

Domenic Vadala: ReOpening Day recalls memories of Fantastic Fans Night

Domenic Vadala: ReOpening Day recalls memories of Fantastic Fans Night
Perhaps I'm a bit biased, but Baltimore has always had the best fans - always. Some might point to the empty seats at Camden Yards in losing years as evidence against that, but work with me. On Monday, we witnessed what was termed "ReOpening Day" in the wake of the civil unrest just a couple of weeks ago. And speaking for myself, it brought back a great memory from my childhood. For those who are too young to remember, the 1988 Orioles started 0-21. Believe me, as a 7-year old who was...
    

Domenic Vadala: Dealing with injuries and their aftermath

Domenic Vadala: Dealing with injuries and their aftermath
Every Major League Baseball season is different, and there are no ifs, ands, or buts about that. However, I would submit that if there's one thing that has kind of marred the first month of this year, it's been injuries. This is true regarding the Orioles, and it's true of other teams. If anything, the Orioles are probably luckier than most teams in that J.J. Hardy and Ryan Flaherty are currently doing rehab assignments, where some teams are starting to get bitten by the bug now. As we've...