Speed and outfield defense will be important in new Oriole Park left field
Speed and outfield defense will be important in new Oriole Park left field
Steve Melewski
Orioles
While we expect Oriole Park at Camden Yards to yield fewer homers in 2022 with the deeper outfield fence coming in left and left-center, the new dimensions and angles of those outfield walls will create more ground to cover for the defenders. Outfield defense in left and center just got more important for the Orioles. The Orioles may now place more of a premium on that outfield defense than before. And an outfield of Austin Hays in left and Cedric Mullins in center with have more frequent...
Elias and Mejdal on outfield changes at Oriole Park
Elias and Mejdal on outfield changes at Oriole Park
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Yes, the Orioles are quite aware that their pitching staffs in recent years have struggled. But the changes underway in left field and left-center field at Camden Yards are more about producing a park that plays more neutral and more toward norms in Major League Baseball. Right now, the club plays in a stadium that produces among the most home runs and runs in baseball - for all pitchers - and this will create a shift in that. Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said...
Nats expected to sign top international prospect Vaquero
Nats expected to sign top international prospect Vaquero
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
Today marks an important day on the baseball calendar, especially for teams looking to bolster their farm systems. The international signing period begins today, as opposed to the traditional July 2 opening, and runs through Dec. 15, allowing teams to sign young talent from foreign countries to their lower level minor league teams. For the Nationals, this presents another opportunity to add young talent as they attempt to revamp their entire organization from top to bottom. But unlike the...
Friday morning Nats Q and A
Friday morning Nats Q and A
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's been three weeks since we last did one of these, and so much has happened since then, right? Right? OK, so very little has happened since then, at least in the baseball world. At least the owners and players met Thursday for the first time since the lockout began six weeks ago, so that's a good thing, right? Right? Alas, the entire sport remains very much in a holding pattern until the two sides start to feel a little more urgency to get a deal done, which probably won't be for several...
New owners for Baysox and Keys, left field construction pics and more
New owners for Baysox and Keys, left field construction pics and more
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In a transaction that took effect on Jan. 1, 2022, the Orioles' Double-A Bowie affiliate has a new owner. So does a former O's affiliate, the Frederick Keys. Attain Sports and Entertainment - Maryland Baseball, LLC announced that it has purchased the Bowie Baysox and Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League. Led by owners Greg Baroni, CEO and principal general partner, and Richard Roberts, president and general partner, Attain Sports and Entertainment's mission is to present baseball as...
Orioles announce spring training promotional schedule
Orioles announce spring training promotional schedule
Doug Miller
Orioles
The Orioles today announced that individual tickets for all Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium will go on sale Saturday, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The club also announced its promotional schedule, which is highlighted by five giveaway items. Beginning Saturday, January 15, fans can purchase individual tickets for the Spring Training season. Birdland Members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance as part of a members-only pre-sale on Thursday, January 13. In...
What if Desmond took the Nationals' $107 million offer?
What if Desmond took the Nationals' $107 million offer?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Heading into the 2014 season, few shortstops in baseball were trending up like Ian Desmond. Back-to-back Silver Slugger seasons for a Nationals franchise that was beginning to establish itself as a perennial contender catapulted one of the last remaining Expos draft picks into the national spotlight. And that meant Desmond was due to be paid big money in the near future. The Nats recognized this, and in the kind of move they hadn't really been in position to make with many homegrown players...
O's will take BP program from the minors to the majors
O's will take BP program from the minors to the majors
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When the 2022 big league season begins, no doubt, the Orioles' new, young co-hitting coaches, Ryan Fuller and Matt Borgschulte, may have some thoughts on how O's hitters can improve. There may be some methods they eventually want to introduce and/or enhance for the big league hitters. One aspect that the Orioles are now likely to implement at the big league level was the batting practice routine and approach they used on the farm last year. The Orioles had actually intended to begin this...
Bullpen improvement must come both from within and from outside
Bullpen improvement must come both from within and from outside
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Stability has never been a hallmark of the Nationals bullpen. Truth be told, it's rarely a hallmark of any club's bullpen, given the inherent instability of the position. But the Nats took this longstanding theme to new (and often painful) levels in 2021. For only the third time in team history, Nationals relievers finished a season with a collective ERA north of 5.00, joining the 103-loss 2009 group and the tightrope-walking 2019 unit that managed to get it together just in time to win in...
Orioles set to make latest splash in the international market
Orioles set to make latest splash in the international market
Steve Melewski
Orioles
A new 11-month international amateur signing period begins for major league teams on Jan. 15. And the Orioles are expected to sign several of their key targets, including an outfielder that will be given the largest bonus for an international amateur in club history. In the signing period at this time last year, the club announced its first two seven-figure signings in this marketplace. The Orioles announced the signings of 17 players last year on Jan. 15, including 13 that got six-figure...