This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Will the Orioles have at least two rookies in their starting rotation on opening day? Manager Brandon Hyde isn't handing out jobs a day before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer are expected to earn them, but that's exactly what they'll have to do. For now, Hyde is saying only that they've earned the opportunity. That is all. The rest is up to them. "I like to keep guys competitive," Hyde said during our recent video Q&A that's going to be...

Is the DH destined to be done in both leagues?

Is the DH destined to be done in both leagues?
I'm going to be accused of American League bias. I don't care. A universal designated hitter is coming to Major League Baseball in 2020 and 2021. If owners get their way, of course. It's in the proposal - or the agreement, depending on which term you've adopted. There's a sense that the new rule will carry beyond 2021. That pitchers will keep their bats in the rack except for extreme circumstances. Who's shedding tears? The purists who will miss a .050 hitter bunting the ball foul? I'm...

Could search for rotation help lead O's back to Andrew Cashner?

Could search for rotation help lead O's back to Andrew Cashner?
Could the Orioles' pursuit of rotation help lead them back to signing right-hander Andrew Cashner as a free agent for the second time? Before the 2018 season, they signed him to a two-year deal worth $16 million with an option for 2020. The Boston Red Sox acquired him from the Orioles in a trade in July and did not pick up that option. Cashner is available and can be an Oriole again. The Birds could be encouraged to sign him when they look at how well he pitched for the Orioles last summer. Or...

O's played at a 99-win pace with quality starts this year

O's played at a 99-win pace with quality starts this year
It is a statistic that has some importance. How much is debated and some discount it. It is the quality start statistic. A starting pitcher records one when he allows three earned runs or less in six innings or more. One reason some don't see its importance is that three earned runs allowed in six innings results in an ERA of 4.50. That is not all that impressive. But of course that is the worst ERA outcome you can produce in a quality start. And a high number of outings produce a single-game...

Hyde on roster, Stewart's return and more (O's down 9-1)

Hyde on roster, Stewart's return and more (O's down 9-1)
BOSTON - The Orioles are rolling the dice that a seven-man bullpen will be ample, with Chandler Shepherd optioned today to make room for outfielder DJ Stewart. Yesterday's break in the schedule allowed the relievers to rest, and more of them became available tonight. The payoff is a four-man bench and more roster flexibility. "It's nice we have that extra position player right now," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We lost a reliever, but hopefully we can stick with this number. We just...

Hyde on Broxton, center field, bench and more

Hyde on Broxton, center field, bench and more
The removal of Keon Broxton from the roster this morning has left center field available to Anthony Santander and Stevie Wilkerson. A corner outfielder and an infielder are going to share the position. Santander is making his fifth start today and Wilkerson has made 32. They're newbies learning on the fly ball. "Both guys have done a nice job out there when they've had the opportunity and continue to play out there," said manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles cut ties with Broxton after he...

Notes on Severino, Alberto, Cashner's return, more (O's up 11-2)

Notes on Severino, Alberto, Cashner's return, more (O's up 11-2)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said catcher Pedro Severino has been ill for the last three or four days and might not be available for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox. Catcher Austin Wynns has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and is on the bench tonight. Severino would have started against left-hander David Price. Left-hander Tanner Scott is on the taxi squad and likely will be recalled before Saturday night's game. Wynns could be optioned if Severino is feeling better. In the...

Who's the next Orioles player to be traded?

Who's the next Orioles player to be traded?
Once the Orioles completed and announced their trade with the Red Sox Saturday afternoon, swapping Andrew Cashner for Rookie-level Dominican Summer League outfielder Elio Prado and infielder Noelberth Romero, the logical question hung in the air like a mile-high pop up. Who's next? Waiting for the next shoe to drop has become its own sport. And you don't sweat as much. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias isn't done, at least in his attempts to move other players. It might...

More on rotation, Bundy's knee injury and Cashner trade (O's down 4-0)

More on rotation, Bundy's knee injury and Cashner trade (O's down 4-0)
The Orioles have set their rotation for the two-game series against the Nationals at Camden Yards. Asher Wojciechowski starts Tuesday night, followed by Aaron Brooks in the finale. Manager Brandon Hyde is unable to project much further down the road. Off-days on Monday and Thursday factor into his decisions, but it's mostly about finding replacements for Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy - one of them traded to the Red Sox, the other placed on the 10-day injured list. Bundy received a cortisone...

Orioles recall Eshelman and give him today's start

Orioles recall Eshelman and give him today's start
The Orioles have recalled right-hander Tom Eshelman from Triple-A Norfolk as the logical replacement for Andrew Cashner on the 25-man roster. Eshelman also is taking Cashner's turn in the rotation today. Someone has to start after the Orioles traded the veteran to the Red Sox yesterday afternoon. The pairing between Eshelman and the Rays is a familiar one. Eshelman made his major league debut against the Rays on July 1 at Tropicana Field and allowed two runs over five innings. The last four...

From trade rumors to an actual trade for Orioles

From trade rumors to an actual trade for Orioles
On Friday, before the Orioles traded pitcher Andrew Cashner yesterday, I asked Trey Mancini about the possibility of trade rumors becoming a distraction for the Orioles before this month is out. He looked back to last season when the Orioles pulled the trigger on several July trades that sent Manny Machado and several of Mancini's teammates out of Baltimore. "It was a strange year last year for sure being around for that," said Mancini. "Especially that last day. We all knew that Manny...

Reviewing the list of injured Orioles

Reviewing the list of injured Orioles
The Orioles must be expanding on their relaxed facial hair policy. They can't seem to shave their injured list. Reliever Josh Lucas was activated, optioned, designated for assignment and outrighted. He probably felt safer on the IL. John Means was reinstated back on June 28, the collective sigh of relief from the organization causing the flags to flutter above the bullpen area. But the rotation has lost Dylan Bundy to right knee tendinitis, forcing another roster move in a season loaded with...

Means struggles and Orioles settle for split (updated)

Means struggles and Orioles settle for split (updated)
While Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wonders how he's going to piece together his rotation following today's Andrew Cashner trade, he must rely even more on left-hander John Means to anchor the staff. It's a lot of weight to place on the rookie's shoulders, but who else is going to step up? How is Means going to hold up? Means allowed six runs and surrendered three homers for the first time in his career and the Orioles settled for a split of their doubleheader with a 12-4 loss to the Rays...

Cashner on trade: "It's a shocking moment" (O's down 9-3)

Cashner on trade: "It's a shocking moment" (O's down 9-3)
Andrew Cashner felt that a trade was coming. He could sense it. He could pick up on clues via the text messages on his phone. It's the timing that surprised him. Rather than make his scheduled start Sunday afternoon against the Rays, Cashner is packing his belongings and joining the Red Sox following today's deal that sends 17-year-old outfielder Elio Prado and infielder Noelberth Romero to the Orioles. Prado and Romero have been assigned to the Rookie-level Dominican Sumer League on separate...

Orioles trade Cashner to Red Sox

Orioles trade Cashner to Red Sox
The Orioles have made their first significant trade as the deadline approaches. Starter Andrew Cashner is headed to the Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Elio Prado and infielder Noelberth Romero. Prado and Romero are both 17 and natives of Venezuela. Prado will be assigned to the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Orioles 1 and Romero to the DSL Orioles 2. Cashner was supposed to start Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Rays and manager Brandon Hyde will need to come up with a...

O's game blog (nightcap): Means against Morton and Cashner traded

O's game blog (nightcap): Means against Morton and Cashner traded
The Orioles beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in Game 1 of today's split doubleheader and host the Rays tonight in the nightcap in Game 3 of a four-game series. Baltimore pitchers held Tampa Bay to three hits and Stevie Wilkerson hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the last of the seventh. He hit it that off lefty Colin Poche and had been 4-for-49 versus lefties until the homer. The O's pitchers shut down the Tampa offense after yielding 16 runs and 20 hits to the same team last night. Mychal Givens got the...

Can top three starters carry O's to a much better second half?

Can top three starters carry O's to a much better second half?
Here is a stat that may surprise you: The last 11 times that either Andrew Cashner or John Means was the Orioles starting pitcher, the Orioles are 9-2. That is not a misprint. They are 6-1 in Cashner's last seven starts and 3-1 in Means' last four. Taking it a step further, over the season to date, the Orioles are 11-6 when Cashner starts and 6-8 with Means. That's a winning record of 17-14. They are 5-12 when Dylan Bundy on the mound. So that is 22-26 when one of those three is the starting...

Questions and curiosities about the Orioles' second half

Questions and curiosities about the Orioles' second half
The Orioles open the second half of their season Friday night against the Rays and host two more teams, the Nationals for two games and the Red Sox for three, before going back out to the West Coast. (Quick, when is the last time they've played consecutive series of four, two and three games? Someone contact STATS or the other Elias.) There are some lingering questions and curiosities hanging over the team, including whether it finishes again with the worst record in baseball and gets the...

Hyde looking back and ahead

Hyde looking back and ahead
The All-Star Game is over and baseball's idle time stretches to Friday night, when the Orioles host a four-game series against the Rays. They have a doubleheader on Saturday. The 2019 season isn't about wins and losses, but it's still a hard sell for the manager, his coaching staff and his players. They understand the plan and support the direction, but they aren't going to lay down. The Orioles aren't running away with the first overall pick in next year's draft. They own the worst...

A look at the Orioles' improved play during a 5-3 stretch

A look at the Orioles' improved play during a 5-3 stretch
TORONTO - So why have the Orioles played much better lately? They looked bad during a 1-6 road trip and not much better in getting swept two in a row at home recently by San Diego. But they beat Cleveland 13-0 on back-to-back nights and are 5-3 over their last eight games. It's been a bit of a team effort. The O's offense has scored 21 runs the last three games and 53 over the past eight games. They've hit 13 homers in that span. The starting pitchers are 4-2 with a 2.05 ERA in the...