Leftovers for breakfast
Leftovers for breakfast
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The removal of Don Long as hitting coach yesterday will lead the Orioles to their latest set of offseason interviews. With candidates tabbed inside and outside the organization. The first step was informing Long of the decision, followed by the compiling of a list of names that won't be rushed. Tim Gibbons could get consideration after completing his first season as Triple-A Norfolk hitting coach. The Orioles aren't afraid to venture outside the box and Gibbons has performed these duties for...
Some of the top farm pitchers get closer to Baltimore
Some of the top farm pitchers get closer to Baltimore
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As the Orioles work to improve their pitching in 2022, there remain a few ranked pitching prospects the club has yet to see pitch in Baltimore. And there are others, like Zac Lowther and Alexander Wells, that we saw get their feet wet this year. Enough to know how tough it is to pitch in the American League East. The Orioles still play more than half their games outside of the East, this is true, but the division remains the best in the baseball and maybe the toughest in all of sports. Topping...
Orioles replacing Don Long as hitting coach
Orioles replacing Don Long as hitting coach
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The first day of the Orioles' offseason is bringing changes to the major league coaching staff. Hitting coach Don Long will not return in 2022 and assistant hitting coach José Hernández will switch to a different role on the staff, according to a source. The club will open a hiring process for both jobs that likely is going to consider both internal and external candidates, which has been the case in past years. The other coaches serving under manager Brandon Hyde are expected to return...
Kendall, Steenstra and Mills won't return in 2022
Kendall, Steenstra and Mills won't return in 2022
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The changes on the minor league side of the Orioles' operation continued today at the highest and lower levels. Triple-A Norfolk manager Gary Kendall and pitching coach Kennie Steenstra, and Rookie-level Florida Complex League manager Alan Mills won't be returning in 2022, according to multiple sources. They were informed of the club's decision this morning. The Orioles haven't announced the moves. Kendall spent eight seasons as manager with Double-A Bowie before joining the Tides in 2019....
After a season that crumbled, Nats have a lot to do
After a season that crumbled, Nats have a lot to do
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The high point of the 2021 season for the Nationals, as it turned out, came June 30, probably right at the moment Trea Turner slid into third base to complete the third cycle of his career. The Nats were well on their way to a 15-6 romp over the Rays, completing a 19-9 month of June to raise their record to 42-40, standing in second place in the National League East, only 2 1/2 games behind the Mets. Everything seemed to be right there in front of them, and an exciting second half of baseball...
Next task for O's: Try to get better in the rugged AL East
Next task for O's: Try to get better in the rugged AL East
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles took two of three games from the Boston Red Sox in their final home series of 2021. They allowed just 10 runs in those three games. But it didn't go as well in the final road series at Rogers Centre. The Orioles gave up 11 homers in three games - and 28 runs in the series - in getting swept by Toronto. The Blue Jays hit nine homers the last two games in posting 10-1 and 12-4 wins. Any improvement the Orioles look to make in 2022 must start on the mound. They will need their current...
Orioles can begin easing into offseason
Orioles can begin easing into offseason
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The offseason business can commence with the Orioles completing their final regular season game yesterday in Toronto and finishing at 52-110, and with a club-record 62 players used, - catcher Nick Ciuffo being the last - and 16 making their debuts. Major League Baseball prefers that teams remain relatively quiet this month while the playoffs are ongoing. No major announcements. But the 40-man roster can be adjusted, for example, while the Orioles sweat the small stuff. They also can evaluate...
Crowd salutes Zimmerman, then Sox beat 'pen (updated)
Crowd salutes Zimmerman, then Sox beat 'pen (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The outcome of the game was important - to the Red Sox. The Nationals wanted to respect that. And yet there were things the Nats felt they needed to do in this Game 162, whether putting a 23-year-old rookie on the mound for his major league debut, giving a retiring catcher a chance to take the field one last time or giving a potentially retiring franchise icon a chance to depart the field to the celebration he deserves. So it was that today's season finale played out on South Capitol Street in...
Orioles finish 2021 season with 12-4 loss to Blue Jays (updated)
Orioles finish 2021 season with 12-4 loss to Blue Jays (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Pat Valaika grounded into a force against Adam Cimber this afternoon and the Orioles' 2021 season was a wrap. The fifth in a row below .500. A final record of 52-110, with two fewer wins than the last full season in 2019. With 56 road losses that are third-most in team history. And with a minus-297 run differential. The Blue Jays did their part to stay alive in the wild card race by winning 12-4 at Rogers Centre, a game that included George Springer's leadoff home run against Orioles rookie...
That's a wrap: O's fall in 2021 season finale
That's a wrap: O's fall in 2021 season finale
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It got lopsided early. And while the Orioles' season began with a bang when they swept Boston at Fenway Park in April, it didn't end that way. The Toronto Blue Jays, in a game they had to have, blew out the Orioles 12-4 today to complete a three-game sweep that ends the Orioles' 2021 season. They finished 52-110 and with the second-most losses in club history, behind only the 115-loss 2018 Orioles. Arizona was tied late in its game today. A Diamondbacks win and the Orioles and Arizona would...