Leftovers from the Winter Meetings

Leftovers from the Winter Meetings
No longer in Las Vegas for baseball's Winter Meetings, my body is in the process of adjusting to the time change and the lack of slot machines and second-hand smoke. Anyone know where I can score a $40 sandwich? In the span of a couple days, the Orioles indicated that Jonathan Villar was their starting shortstop and then grabbed two shortstops in the Rule 5 draft, selecting Richie Martin with the first overall pick and trading for Drew Jackson. I'm still inclined to believe that Villar will...

Maryland native Ryan Meisinger talks about leaving O's organization

Maryland native Ryan Meisinger talks about leaving O's organization
LAS VEGAS - Ryan Meisinger was driving from his Richmond, Va., home to Baltimore on Monday morning when he received a phone call from an Orioles official. He had no idea that it would change the direction of his trip and his life. Tripp Norton, the club's director of baseball operations, alerted Meisinger that he had been placed on waivers, with the Orioles hoping to sneak him through and keep him in the organization, but the Cardinals put in a claim. "Then, probably two minutes later after...

Orioles claim Rio Ruiz off waivers (and other notes)

Orioles claim Rio Ruiz off waivers (and other notes)
LAS VEGAS - The Orioles subtracted Maryland native Ryan Meisinger from their 40-man roster today and claimed infielder Rio Ruiz off waivers from the Braves. The Cardinals claimed Meisinger before he could clear, ending the feel-good story of the local kid pitching for his favorite team. Meisinger attended Northern High School in Calvert County and made his major league debut on June 29 at Camden Yards. Ruiz, 24, is a left-handed hitting third baseman taken by the Astros in the fourth round of...

Updating the 40-man roster and pending decisions

Updating the 40-man roster and pending decisions
A full 40-man roster has left the Orioles with another set of decisions to make while creating room for players leading into the Rule 5 draft and eventual outside acquisitions via trades and free agency. The deadline to non-tender players is Nov. 30 and the Orioles must figure out whether to give raises to infielder Tim Beckham and catcher Caleb Joseph. They're the ones who are at risk. Starter Dylan Bundy, reliever Mychal Givens and infielder Jonathan Villar obviously are staying on the...

Whittling down the walks would work wonders for Orioles

Whittling down the walks would work wonders for Orioles
A new manager for the Orioles likely will bring in his own pitching coach rather than inherit Roger McDowell. It's the usual outcome. Few coaches carry over to the next skipper. The ones that do should receive an award bearing Elrod Hendricks' name. Manager Mike Hargrove inherited Eddie Murray on his 2000 staff, giving him an extra coach and forcing Brian Graham, formerly on the Indians' staff, to the press box as the "eye in the sky." Graham also was given the title of "offensive and...

Astros interrupt Jones celebration with 2-1 win (updated)

Astros interrupt Jones celebration with 2-1 win (updated)
The first chance for fans to bathe Adam Jones in applause tonight came with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. The Most Valuable Oriole for 2018 focused on his pending at-bat rather than an ovation that gained momentum as Astros starter Gerrit Cole stepped behind the mound and plate umpire Bill Miller held up his hand to signal for time. Jonathan Villar stood at second base after a single and ground ball. A game was scoreless. A team captain likely was playing in his final homestand at...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The run that left-hander Tanner Scott allowed Wednesday in Game 2 of the doubleheader in Boston marked the third time in 11 outings that he was scored upon and the fourth in 15. He didn't surrendered more than one run in those games spanning 16 innings. Chipping away at the ERA has been a tedious process, but he's lowered it from 6.57 on Aug. 15 to 5.26. Scott has registered a 6.67 ERA and 1.778 WHIP in 27 games in the first half and a 3.81 ERA and 1.192 WHIP after the break. His September...

Wrapping up a 19-3 loss in Game 1 (O's lead 6-3)

Wrapping up a 19-3 loss in Game 1 (O's lead 6-3)
BOSTON - Today's 16-run defeat in Game 1 of a doubleheader is the largest for the Orioles since their 30-3 loss to the Rangers back in 2007. Also the first game of a doubleheader. Also hard to digest. Manager Buck Showalter never wants to use a position player to pitch, but he's done it twice this summer, with Danny Valencia and Jace Peterson. Peterson is the ninth player in Orioles history to do it, and he almost tossed a scoreless eighth after getting Ian Kinsler to ground back to the mound...

Orioles surrender 22 hits and use Peterson to pitch in 19-3 loss

Orioles surrender 22 hits and use Peterson to pitch in 19-3 loss
BOSTON - The opener of today's doubleheader became an elimination game for the Orioles. Candidates to start the nightcap were narrowed like a two-lane road winding through a construction zone. Ryan Meisinger faced only six batters in his first major league start, retiring one, and the wheels were in motion. Donnie Hart came in and let three inherited runners score. John Means entered in the third for his major league debut and Cody Carroll replaced him in the sixth and surrendered three home...

Updating the Orioles rotation (O's down 14-3)

Updating the Orioles rotation (O's down 14-3)
BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter knows who's supposed to start Game 2 of today's doubleheader. However, he won't reveal the name until he's certain that the pitcher won't be needed out of the bullpen for the opener. Ryan Meisinger gets his first major league start in Game 1. "He was going to pitch anyway," Showalter said. "They're all probably going to pitch today, so what order ... There's a lot of other things that I'm not going to talk about and the reflection it might have...

Thoughts on Meisinger and Yacabonis heading into doubleheader

Thoughts on Meisinger and Yacabonis heading into doubleheader
BOSTON - The rain washed away Jimmy Yacabonis' scheduled start last night and manager Buck Showalter snapped off a sharp curve by naming rookie Ryan Meisinger as the starter for Game 1 of today's doubleheader. He's waiting until his bullpen is settled to reveal his plans for Game 2. Meisinger has made 16 relief appearances and will become the 14th starter used by the Orioles this season, the same amount as the 1988 team. The 1955 club used 19. This is going to be another bullpen game....

Wrapping up a 6-3 win

Wrapping up a 6-3 win
NEW YORK - Alex Cobb knew his finger was going to flare up today while he warming in the bullpen. It wasn't a sudden occurrence. He didn't have visions of a lengthy start. The signs pointed toward an early exit and non-blistered fingers crossed. Cobb was done after four pitches, but the bullpen covered nine innings in a 6-3 victory that gave the Orioles five victories in nine games at Yankee Stadium for their only winning record in an American League ballpark. "I knew I wasn't going to last...

Bullpen handles nine innings and Beckham homers twice in 6-3 win

Bullpen handles nine innings and Beckham homers twice in 6-3 win
NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter always talks about having to prepare for the what-ifs. As in, what if the starting pitcher gets nailed on the shin by a line drive in the first inning? How will the bullpen cover the rest of the game? Showalter sits down with pitching coach Roger McDowell and bullpen coach Alan Mills to ascertain the availability of their relievers. An expanded roster doesn't necessarily provide adequate cover. Alex Cobb's blister issues had the Orioles on high alert...

Orioles spoil chance to hurt Yankees in 10-8 loss (updated)

Orioles spoil chance to hurt Yankees in 10-8 loss (updated)
NEW YORK - Two teams with separate agendas met tonight in the Bronx, the Yankees trying to clinch a playoff berth and home wild card game, the Orioles trying to impose their influence from last place. The word "spoiler" wasn't uttered in the visiting clubhouse, but it fit. Be the fly swirling around in the ointment. Burrow under the skins of the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros before scattering for the winter. There isn't much else to play for other than individual achievements. Becoming a...

Notes on tonight's starter, Meisinger's roll and Stewart's DH duty

Notes on tonight's starter, Meisinger's roll and Stewart's DH duty
The Orioles will reveal their starter for tonight's game before the anthem. Hopefully, before the media gains access to the clubhouse at 3:10 p.m. It's an unwritten rule that pitchers don't talk on the day that they're starting. I'd hate to approach the wrong guy. The choice would seem to come down to left-handers Sean Gilmartin (my guess) and Donnie Hart and right-hander Evan Phillips. No matter who gets the ball, the bullpen figures to be busy. Gilmartin has made two starts in the majors...

O's use big first inning, solid 'pen to beat White Sox (quotes added)

O's use big first inning, solid 'pen to beat White Sox (quotes added)
They were blanked last night, but the Orioles would not be shut out today. Behind their biggest first inning of the 2018 season, they beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 to avoid getting swept in three straight at Camden Yards. The Orioles (43-106) avoided, at least for a day, tying the 1988 Orioles for most losses in club history. They won for just second time in 10 games and third in the last 15 games. They are 26-48 at home. Chicago (59-90) was looking for its first three-game sweep in Baltimore...

Orioles avoid sweep and record-tying loss with 8-4 win (updated)

Orioles avoid sweep and record-tying loss with 8-4 win (updated)
On the four-year anniversary of the Orioles clinching their first division title since 1997, they managed to avoid tying the club record for most losses in a season. No champagne on ice, no plastic covering the lockers. An Orioles flag wasn't trotted around the warning track, fans didn't stick around to share in a celebration and Adam Jones didn't pie anyone. It was just a nice win on a gorgeous afternoon at Camden Yards following a loss last night that gnawed at Buck Showalter. Embrace the...

Orioles held to one hit in 10-0 loss (updated)

Orioles held to one hit in 10-0 loss (updated)
The Orioles allowed runs in only one inning tonight. However, 10 proved to be 10 more than they could handle. Four Athletics pitchers combined for the shutout in a 10-0 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 10,480 at Camden Yards. Trey Mancini had the only hit for the Orioles with a two-out single off Liam Hendriks in the first inning. Chris Davis reached on an error leading off the second and Jace Peterson walked in the third. Only three baserunners the entire night, as the...

Notes on Jones, Hays, Carroll and tonight's pitching matchup

Notes on Jones, Hays, Carroll and tonight's pitching matchup
The Orioles are down to their last 13 home games, giving fans 13 more chances to salute their captain, Adam Jones, before he's gone. And more if they're willing to travel to New York or Boston. How many times will they find him in the lineup? Jones will play this week. Manager Buck Showalter made it clear over the weekend that he isn't sitting Jones for the rest of the month. But does the plan call for a home/road split, with Jones staying on the bench outside of Camden Yards? Is there an...

Hess on football mishap and wrapping up 14-2 loss

Hess on football mishap and wrapping up 14-2 loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rookie David Hess will make his start on Saturday night against the Rays, with only a slight discoloration in the corner of his left eye. He let a football smack him in the face, but he caught a break. Hess is taking anti-inflammatory drops for his eye, but he's fine except for the kidding that comes from such a mishap. He has to wear it - and an LSU football helmet, which he donned early in the game while watching from the dugout. "I could not entirely tell you where...