Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Last night's game was only a few minutes old and manager Brandon Hyde already had been pressed about the chances that he'd try Richard Bleier again as an opener, with Aaron Brooks being the bulk guy. Hyde has made it clear that he's unable to plan too far in advance with a pitching staff that can't offer consistent performances. And the season is running out of games. It sure worked last night, though. "This was just something we tried. I don't know," Hyde said following a 5-3 win over...

In pursuit of championship, Bowie has to go through MLB pitchers

In pursuit of championship, Bowie has to go through MLB pitchers
The Double-A Bowie Baysox play at Trenton tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Game 1 of the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series. Bowie is in the finals for the second time in the club's 27-year history, looking for its second title. The Baysox came from down 1-2 in games to beat Reading in Games 4 and 5 in 2015 to win its only Eastern League championship. That team included Trey Mancini, Chance Sisco and David Hess. Mychal Givens also pitched for Bowie that year, but only in the regular...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde must get creative again with his rotation, with today's off-day perhaps making the task a little easier. And an expanded roster could come into play. Asher Wojciechowski is expected to be pushed back before his next start due to fatigue. Wojciechowski was charged with four runs yesterday in only two innings and has posted a 7.05 ERA in his last eight starts. "I just thought today he was really battling himself and thinking I'd give him a little bit of a...

Orioles swept in four-game series with 10-4 loss (updated)

Orioles swept in four-game series with 10-4 loss (updated)
Aaron Brooks fell behind by six runs last night before recording an out. Asher Wojciechowski was down after four batters this afternoon and didn't get past the second inning. It starts with starting pitching. It also can end there. The Rangers completed their sweep of the Orioles with a 10-4 victory before an announced crowd of 16,142 at Camden Yards that saved its loudest cheers for the Ravens scores displayed on the video board. Renato Núñez stirred the masses with his 29th home run...

Familiar bullpen faces need strong finishes (O's down 7-6)

Familiar bullpen faces need strong finishes (O's down 7-6)
The row of lockers against one wall in the home clubhouse at Camden Yards is the setting for a Triple-A reunion. The expanded roster has allowed pitchers Ty Blach, Chandler Shepherd, Branden Kline, Tanner Scott, Evan Phillips and David Hess to get back to Baltimore. Dillon Tate is assigned a corner locker that leads to the hallway outside manager Brandon Hyde's office, but he already had been recalled. Hyde is starting the next wave of auditions with the relievers, who are handed a clean slate...

Trey Mancini remembers the 2015 Bowie Baysox champs

Trey Mancini remembers the 2015 Bowie Baysox champs
As Double-A Bowie and Single-A Delmarva began the minor league playoffs this week, the Orioles' Trey Mancini remembered one of the best years of his baseball life. Mancini was on the 2015 Bowie team that won the Eastern League championship. It remains to present day the only title in Baysox history and the last title won by an Orioles' affiliate. In the opening round, Bowie lost Game 1 to Altoona but won three straight to advance to face a prospect-laden Reading team for the title. Reading...

Williams getting a chance he knew would come (O's up 3-2)

Williams getting a chance he knew would come (O's up 3-2)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mason Williams signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on March 28 because he saw an opportunity to play for them. It just took a while. Williams had his contract selected today from Triple-A Norfolk and got the start in center field in Game 1 of the doubleheader. He's the 57th player used by the Orioles to break last year's club record. "He was a guy I saw a couple years ago in Cincinnati and he's had a really nice year in Norfolk for us," said manager Brandon...

Orioles DFA Peterson and announce call-ups (updated)

Orioles DFA Peterson and announce call-ups (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles designated infielder Jace Peterson for assignment today to make room for outfielder Mason Williams on the 40-man roster. Williams had his contract selected today from Triple-A Norfolk. Pitchers Ty Blach, David Hess, Evan Phillips and Chandler Shepherd and catcher Austin Wynns were recalled today. Peterson batted .220/.269/.330 in 29 games. Williams is wearing No. 40. Shepherd was named the International League's Player of the Month for August after going 3-1...

More on Orioles' expanded roster and exclusions

More on Orioles' expanded roster and exclusions
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field is running low on available locker space. Roster expansion can shrink a room. It also can trigger some fans, depending on which players are kept out of it. The pitching staff is gaining more arms for the bullpen and perhaps the rotation with the arrivals of David Hess, Chandler Shepherd, Ty Blach and Evan Phillips. A third catcher always is desired, and Austin Wynns boarded a flight last night. Blach is starting the opener of...

Trumbo makes triumphant return in Orioles' 5-4 loss (updated)

Trumbo makes triumphant return in Orioles' 5-4 loss (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Mark Trumbo stood on the on-deck circle today in the top of the first inning, waiting for an opportunity that was a year in the making. A chance to bat again in a major league game. No longer a prisoner to the pain in his surgically repaired right knee. Just putting on the uniform and checking the lineup card felt like a win for Trumbo. Finding his name in it, grabbing a bat and walking past the indoor cage and onto the field was the greatest reward. The Orioles left two...

The pitching, expanded roster, Trumbo's return and more (tied 4-4)

The pitching, expanded roster, Trumbo's return and more (tied 4-4)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Rays manager Kevin Cash aren't ready to list their starters for Tuesday's doubleheader at Tropicana Field. There's too much uncertainly to finalize pitching plans. Hyde knew he'd need a spot starter and Hurricane Dorian created a complication by forcing the teams to play a doubleheader in order for the Orioles to fly back home a day earlier. The bullpen obviously comes into play. Hyde is waiting to find out who's available after...

Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian

Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian
The list of Orioles who are going to join the expanded September roster is bound to include some pitchers who have spent the summer on the shuttle. Extra arms are coveted over the final month. We can speculate about guys like David Hess, Evan Phillips, Branden Kline, Chandler Shepherd, Tom Eshelman, Tanner Scott and Tayler Scott. We'll wonder about Keegan Akin. We'll assume that it's not happening for Dean Kremer, who's assigned to the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Luis...

As rotation continues to struggle, what will it look like next year?

As rotation continues to struggle, what will it look like next year?
The readers of this blog are starting to beat the drum already. The Orioles, they say, need to sign some starting pitching for 2020 to avoid a repeat of the pitching we've seen in 2019. OK, that sounds reasonable. But here is the issue: To get real quality with a track record of success, they probably need to offer a free agent a multi-year contract. Are they going to be ready to do that? Probably not. Failing that, you get back to the pitchers you can get for a one-year deal, and they won't...

Rio Ruiz recalled for return to Orioles roster

Rio Ruiz recalled for return to Orioles roster
The Orioles have swapped out a pitcher for a position player to give their short bench a little more length. Third baseman Rio Ruiz has been recalled today from Triple-A Norfolk and will be in uniform for the series opener against the Astros at Camden Yards. He'll find out later whether he's in the lineup against left-hander Wade Miley. Ruiz was optioned to Norfolk on July 24 following the series finale in Arizona. He joined his wife for the birth of their first child and was transferred to...

Hyde: "We're going to keep it in-house"

Hyde: "We're going to keep it in-house"
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wouldn't go into much detail about his dugout confrontation with first baseman Chris Davis that slapped another ugly coat on a 14-2 loss to the Yankees at Camden Yards. Hyde said he wanted to keep it private and would speak with Davis later. He also expressed remorse that it happened in view of the public, including media, and downplayed the impact it would have on his relationship with Davis and the season. Davis apparently left the ballpark and wasn't available...

Orioles can't hold down the homers in 9-4 loss (updated)

Orioles can't hold down the homers in 9-4 loss (updated)
Whether it's the baseballs or the ballpark or the pitching or the stacked lineups providing the opposition, the Orioles simply cannot contain the number of home runs surrendered this season. They come in waves. They come in bunches. And a lot of them come from the Yankees, who hit six more tonight in a 9-4 victory before an announced crowd of 17,201 at Camden Yards that waited out a one-hour-and-12-minute delay before the first pitch. The Orioles have surrendered 229 home runs this season,...

Orioles set to add Shepherd to staff

Orioles set to add Shepherd to staff
The Orioles are prepared to make another roster move later today after pitcher Chandler Shepherd joined them in San Diego last night while they were losing to the Padres 8-1. The corresponding move could involve David Hess, who started last night. Or they could hold onto Hess and keep him in the rotation. Another pitcher could be optioned or the move could involve outfielder Dwight Smith Jr., who aggravated his calf injury last night. Getting a position player to the West Coast for a day game...

A look at the homer barrage by Padres and some trade talk

A look at the homer barrage by Padres and some trade talk
SAN DIEGO - Orioles right-hander David Hess had a pretty good slider going, striking out an impressive seven batters in 4 2/3 innings. But it sure doesn't offset the four homers and five runs he allowed last night. The Orioles' momentum that they started in Anaheim didn't translate to San Diego last night. They got blasted 8-1 as San Diego hit five home runs. Four of them went 400 feet or more. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Franmil Reyes homered on Hess' first two pitches of the game, both 94 mph...

San Diego bashes five homers, wins big in series opener

San Diego bashes five homers, wins big in series opener
SAN DIEGO - When the San Diego Padres swept a two-game series in Baltimore late last month, they hit nine homers in those games. Tonight, they hit two on the first two pitches. That is how the night started for right-hander David Hess, recalled today from Triple-A to make this start. Hess allowed four homers in all as the Padres beat the Orioles 8-1. It was the opener of a two-game series at Petco Park. The Orioles (35-71) fall to 4-4 with one game to go on this road three-city trip. They have...

Hyde on trade deadline talk and pitching plans (O's lose 8-1)

Hyde on trade deadline talk and pitching plans (O's lose 8-1)
SAN DIEGO - With less than 48 hours to the Major League Baseball trade deadline, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was asked today if he expects the club to make some trades by 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. "Maybe. Possible. I have no idea honestly," Hyde said. "We might have five guys move. We might have nobody move. From what I have heard, it is very up in the air. "Me and Mike (Elias) talk quite a bit. So we talk a few times a day and he lets me know what is going on, if there are any rumblings. If I...