How will Orioles make room for Triple-A starters?

How will Orioles make room for Triple-A starters?
While the Orioles work in spring training to round out a rotation that so far holds John Means, Alex Cobb, most likely Asher Wojciechowski and a bunch of questions, they also need to figure out what to do at Triple-A Norfolk. They can't finish that task until they know which starters are heading north with them. There could be some cuts due to overflow. And we know that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is trying to sign one more veteran. The Tides rotation has the potential...

After rough year, David Hess looks for 2020 turnaround

After rough year, David Hess looks for 2020 turnaround
He ranks third on the Orioles with 33 starts the last two seasons. He trails only Dylan Bundy (61) and Andrew Cashner (45). But as of right now he may be a longshot to significantly add to that in 2020. That is because right-hander David Hess took a big step backwards last year, going 1-10 with a 7.09 ERA in 23 games of which 14 were starts. The Orioles went 2-12 in those starts. It was just a year before that when Hess pitched much better and ended his season with a solid finish. In 2018, the...

Orioles announce LeBlanc signing

Orioles announce LeBlanc signing
The Orioles' minor league deal with left-hander Wade LeBlanc has moved into its next phase of progression. It's been announced by the club. Official word came earlier today, including how LeBlanc receives an invitation to major league camp. News broke last week that the two sides had reached agreement. LeBlanc was expected to take his physical in Sarasota, Fla. Today's news is an indication that LeBlanc signed a contract. The deal wasn't done last week. The competition for rotation spots...

Orioles sign Wade LeBlanc to minor league deal (updated)

Orioles sign Wade LeBlanc to minor league deal (updated)
The Orioles may have found their veteran starting pitcher to toss into the spring training competition. An industry source confirmed tonight that left-hander Wade LeBlanc, 35, has agreed to a minor league contract and will be in camp when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 11. The list of spring training invites released this afternoon by the club now includes LeBlanc, an 11-year veteran who's spent the past two seasons with the Mariners. LeBlanc went 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.179 WHIP in 32...

Could Cobb consume leftover innings?

Could Cobb consume leftover innings?
The decision to trade Dylan Bundy to the Angels left a big hole in an Orioles rotation that already had team officials scrambling to fill spots. He made 30 starts in 2019 and logged 161 2/3 innings, totals that led the club with rookie John Means as the surprise runner-up. Means bested Bundy in plenty of other categories, including wins, ERA, WHIP, average against and WAR. But the first-round pick in 2011 has left lots of people wondering how the Orioles replace those innings. Is the answer...

Holt: "It's a really special group of coaches who are here"

Holt: "It's a really special group of coaches who are here"
The Orioles wrapped up their annual minicamp in Sarasota, Fla., with the usual perks, including new coaches getting acclimated to the Ed Smith Stadium complex and the staff checking on pitchers who are making adjustments intended to improve their results in 2020. Chris Holt, promoted to director of pitching, described the camp as consisting of "three solid, intensive days." A nice head start to spring training, which begins in three weeks. "It's really a special group of coaches who are...

Orioles remain interested in starting pitchers and infielders

Orioles remain interested in starting pitchers and infielders
The days keep melting away until pitchers and catchers report to the spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla. The Orioles have filled some of their needs, but they aren't done. While the media keeps making predictions on the rotation, the guesswork aimed at the back end of it, the club has been negotiating with representatives for starting pitchers who remain on the market. I'm hearing that the Orioles are discussing major league deals and minor league contracts that would include...

Because You Asked - The Final Destination

Because You Asked - The Final Destination
The Orioles have removed a lot of the uncertainty that hung in the air after their final game of the season. However, there are questions that always linger like the aroma of a hard-boiled egg. And that's no yolk. This is why mailbags exists. This is why I continue to do sequels to the original. I don't have all the answers, but I'll keep pretending. Forgive the snark. What's your ideal rotation for the Orioles? Palmer, McNally, Dobson and Cuellar. Trying this again, what's your ideal...

Taking the incomplete rotation for a spin

Taking the incomplete rotation for a spin
A total of 18 different pitchers made starts for the Orioles on the mound in 2019. We know they'll need five to start next season and the number over 162 games will go well north of that, probably. Let's take stock of the rotation as of today. The 2019 O's produced a rotation ERA of 5.57 to rank 14th in the American League. The Los Angeles Angels were worst at 5.64. The Orioles rotation rated 10th in innings (789), ninth in opponent average (.271), 15th in homers allowed (179), 15th in OPS...

What's next for Orioles as spring training approaches?

What's next for Orioles as spring training approaches?
The important offseason dates keep falling off the baseball calendar, leaving it almost as bare as an oak tree in the winter. The Orioles have moved past the arbitration period, the upcoming hearing dates not applying to a team that reached agreements with all of its eligible players. Hall of Fame voting results will be announced Jan. 21 on MLB Network, revealing whether Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is a unanimous pick. The local angle for Orioles fans is reduced to whether Curt Schilling is...

Taking the latest look at the Orioles roster (Castro update)

Taking the latest look at the Orioles roster (Castro update)
Does the José Iglesias signing, which was announced yesterday, remove some of the uncertainty over the Orioles roster on opening day? Of course. A new shortstop was a high priority and projections with Richie Martin at the position felt like he had become an offseason placeholder. He's going to play at Camden Yards in 2020. Maybe it's in April, maybe it's later. Maybe it's in a utility role. But it's going to happen. The Orioles had to decide which shortstop to sign and how much to give...

Updating the Orioles' rotation competition

Updating the Orioles' rotation competition
The rumblings yesterday morning that the Orioles made a roster move were followed by an announcement that they signed pitcher Kohl Stewart to a major league contract and immediate thoughts about him competing for a rotation spot. Anybody with starting experience, at whichever level, is going to be thrust into the mix. Do the Orioles have their desired eight candidates heading into spring training, a number agreed upon by executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Is anyone else tired of all the leftovers in the fridge? Of checking to make certain that nothing is growing on them before popping them in the microwave? Of wondering who brought the spinach dip before realizing that, brother, that ain't spinach? Well, it's only food that comes with an expiration date. Not the Orioles-related notes and quotes that didn't make it into previous holiday articles. I've written about pitcher David Hess' new offseason workout program, based on a visit to the P3...

Holt on Hess: "There's no lack of desire on his end to improve"

Holt on Hess: "There's no lack of desire on his end to improve"
As David Hess tumbled out of the Orioles rotation and off the 25-man roster, unable to stay in the zone that carried him through 6 1/3 hitless innings in Toronto on the first night of April, he believed that he had more in the tank. He used the phrase during our phone conversation last weekend. He mentioned how pitching coach Doug Brocail and director of pitching Chris Holt agreed with him. It was a group opinion. But what exactly does it imply? That he's capable of pitching deeper into games?...

Hess hopes copying Means' offseason leads to similar results

Hess hopes copying Means' offseason leads to similar results
David Hess isn't certain if he'll follow John Means in the Orioles rotation. However, he's decided to follow in the left-hander's offseason footsteps. Means turned from fringe pitching prospect to staff ace and runner-up in American League Rookie of the Year voting after a winter spent at P3 (Premier Pitching & Performance) in St. Louis - a center that offers personalized baseball training to athletes across the Midwest with the goal of providing instruction and individualized strength...

Trying to set the roster in December

Trying to set the roster in December
Knowing that the Orioles have more work to do on their roster is on par with being able to recite your zip code. You won't gain the respect of your peers or earn bragging rights among friends. The rotation and middle infield are in a construction zone. The bullpen and bench aren't set. A new rule allowing teams to carry 26 players also increases the guesswork. I reached my yearly deadline for submitting a mock lineup, rotation, bullpen and bench for consideration by a national publication....

Harvey's on solid bullpen ground in 2020

Harvey's on solid bullpen ground in 2020
The degree to which Hunter Harvey has advanced his professional career can be measured through bullpen projections for 2020. Through the notion that Harvey might be the only sure thing for the Orioles. There are assumptions to be made, of course. Mychal Givens is slotted into the bullpen with the caveat that he could be traded, if the market cooperates, while MLBTradeRumors.com projects his salary to climb to $3.2 million. Richard Bleier is mentioned as a non-tender candidate, but I've been...

Who's storming through the door to enter Orioles rotation?

Who's storming through the door to enter Orioles rotation?
An important part of the Orioles' pitching fantasies involves the pounding of the door that leads to the major league staff. A two-fisted beating. Maybe a swift kick or two to bust it off its hinges. There wasn't much more this summer than a light tapping. Eighteen pitchers made starts for the Orioles in 2019. Luis Ortiz was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on June 14 to start against the Red Sox, replacing Andrew Cashner, and the club had to ignore his 7.01 ERA and 1.65 WHIP while executing...

Looking at the pitch mix for the World Series teams and the O's

Looking at the pitch mix for the World Series teams and the O's
The World Series teams both have plenty of quality starting pitchers who can throw big-velocity fastballs. They just don't throw them as much as many other teams. For instance, the Houston Astros this year threw the lowest percentage of fastballs of all 30 major league teams at 45.6 percent. This despite the fact that Houston's average velocity of 94.2 mph ranked second in the big leagues, according to FanGraphs stats. As for Washington, the Nationals this season rated 15th in fastball usage...

Toronto produces walk-off win in the 15th inning

Toronto produces walk-off win in the 15th inning
TORONTO - A marathon game that featured 21 runs, 29 hits, 10 homers and 20 pitchers finally ended early Tuesday morning at Toronto. Anthony Alford hit a walk-off homer with two outs in the last of the 15th as Toronto beat the Orioles 11-10. Alford hit a 2-2 changeup from right-hander Ryan Eades, the 10th O's pitcher, to end a five-hour, 21-minute struggle. Eades had thrown 2 2/3 scoreless when Eades connected for his first career home run in his 51st career plate appearance. Earlier, for the...