After his 2021 season, what should we be making of Akin?

After his 2021 season, what should we be making of Akin?
After ending the 2020 season looking like he could be a key member of the 2021 Orioles rotation, lefty Keegan Akin was not even on the opening day roster this season. But he would eventually get to Baltimore. And partially because the minor league season didn't start until May, he wound up throwing just one game and two innings at Triple-A this year and pitching in 24 games and throwing 95 innings in the majors for the Orioles. After May 10, he never went back to the farm. Akin was one of just...

Mancini, Mountcastle and Belanger honored by MLBPA (updated)

Mancini, Mountcastle and Belanger honored by MLBPA (updated)
Though grinding through a rebuilding process that has left them with the first overall draft pick for the second time in four years, the Orioles made out wonderfully tonight in the Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Choice Awards. Trey Mancini was chosen as the American League's Comeback Player of the Year and Ryan Mountcastle was selected as Outstanding Rookie. The awards are especially meaningful to players because they're voted on by their peers. Mancini seemed to be the...

Do you remember where some former Orioles ended careers?

Do you remember where some former Orioles ended careers?
As a young Orioles fan it took many years for me to understand the Davey Johnson trade to the Braves following the 1972 season. Dealing a three-time All-Star and winner of three Gold Gloves at second base. An integral part of four World Series teams. The disappointment of a third-place finish in '72 after three straight American League pennants still ran deep. Now this? The Orioles were clearing a path for Bobby Grich, who won four Gold Gloves and made three All-Star teams before signing with...

Important Orioles events on this date

Important Orioles events on this date
On this date in 1970, the Orioles were a day removed from clinching their second World Series title. The champagne had barely dried. But a year later, they faced a must-win situation against the Pirates at Memorial Stadium. Down 3-2 in games, the Orioles won 3-2 in 10 innings on Brooks Robinson's sacrifice fly off Bob Miller that scored Frank Robinson, who drew a one-out walk and hustled to third base on Merv Rettenmund's single. Brooks always will be remembered for his defensive wizardry in...

More myths, misconceptions about some Orioles players

More myths, misconceptions about some Orioles players
Another weekend is passing without sports, unless we're counting the NFL draft. I'm on the clock again, challenging myself to come up a few more Orioles who were misunderstood or unfairly labeled. Who didn't completely earn their reputations. For example: * Albert Belle wasn't always a menace to the media and actually was a popular teammate. Let's start with the second part. I'm not saying that Belle was loved by everyone who wore the uniform during his two seasons in Baltimore, but...

Matthew Taylor: Revisiting a date ripe with significance

Matthew Taylor: Revisiting a date ripe with significance
Thursday night's Orioles game, a 7-6 loss to Toronto that extended the team's losing streak to four games, isn't much worth remembering. April 23 didn't turn out so well for the O's in 2015, so let's look back to a more memorable game that fell on the same date. Today's guest post revisits the Orioles' 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on April 23, 1969. One reason that 1969 game is significant is that it featured the two pitchers who would tie for the Cy Young Award at the end of the...

Matthew Taylor: How much defense makes up for a lack of offense?

Matthew Taylor: How much defense makes up for a lack of offense?
Would I appreciate Mark Belanger today? That's the question that's been on my mind lately as I watch Jonathan Schoop try to find his way a the plate, Manny Machado struggle to return to the preternatural form he displayed on offense last season or Ryan Flaherty serve as a jack-of-all-trades on defense while mastering none on offense. How much defense makes up for lousy offense? Let me state unequivocally that I'm not putting Schoop or Flaherty in the same category defensively as Belanger,...