Orioles back in Boston for 2021 opening day
Orioles back in Boston for 2021 opening day
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
After going a substantial length of time without opening their season in Boston, the Orioles suddenly could be making a habit of it. The 2021 schedule was released today and the Orioles again will play the Red Sox in their first game on Thursday, April 1. The home opener is a week later, also against the Red Sox, on April 8. Until this year, the Orioles hadn't opened in Boston since 1966. The truncated 2020 season begins on July 24. The Orioles won't play at Camden Yards next season until...
Martinez details plan for first week of intrasquad games
Martinez details plan for first week of intrasquad games
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals gave a glimpse of how they run mini sim games on Wednesday at Nats Park, the highlight being a chance for Max Scherzer to pitch for three innings with teammates taking at-bats against the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Eric Thames, Trea Turner, Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor and others got at least three at-bats apiece to feel what it would be like against live pitching as they count down to a July 23 opening night against the Yankees. "We're trying to get as many at-bats as...
Extended break gave Kieboom chance to fix some glitches
Extended break gave Kieboom chance to fix some glitches
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When last we saw him on a baseball field, nearly four long months ago, Carter Kieboom was under an intense spotlight. And feeling the heat more often than not. The Nationals' top hitting prospect, Kieboom was trying to prove he was ready to replace Anthony Rendon as the club's starting third baseman, despite precious little experience at the position. His performances through one month of spring training, both in exhibition games and on back fields, suggested he was far from comfortable at...
Hunter Harvey: "I couldn't wait to get back to a ballfield"
Hunter Harvey: "I couldn't wait to get back to a ballfield"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Hunter Harvey was craving the chance to work a complete season out of the Orioles bullpen. A schedule consisting of 162 games. With the removal of signs suggesting that the team proceed with caution. Just as past injuries have been out of Harvey's control, so too is a pandemic that leaves teams with only 60 games and a slew of adjustments to the roster and rules. What hasn't changed is Harvey's mullet, unless the top of the grading scale has gone from spectacular to ultra-spectacular. He...
Orioles' first intrasquad game features home runs by Núñez and Hays
Orioles' first intrasquad game features home runs by Núñez and Hays
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Austin Hays led off the top of the first inning tonight with a fly ball to the right field warning track. It bounced. It rolled. No one was around to retrieve it. Mark it down as F-9. Stevie Wilkerson was the only outfielder for the "home" team in the intrasquad game at Camden Yards. He played center field. Flanked by two ghost defenders. DJ Stewart played left field and Hays was in center for the "visiting" team, which settled for a 3-3 tie as the last few innings dissolved into live...
Even during short season, the search for MLB success goes on
Even during short season, the search for MLB success goes on
Steve Melewski
Orioles
He had a very decorated minor league career. He was the Orioles' No. 1 prospect at the end of the 2016 season and twice was in Baseball America's top 100 nationally. He hit .340 while winning a batting title in the Single-A South Atlantic League and he's played twice in the All-Star Futures Game. But 25-year-old catcher Chance Sisco is still searching to find big league success. He hit .210/.333/.395 in 198 plate appearances last year. His bat was on fire last May at Triple-A Norfolk, where...
Iglesias sitting out tonight's intrasquad game (and other notes)
Iglesias sitting out tonight's intrasquad game (and other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles shortstop José Iglesias won't play in tonight's intrasquad game at Camden Yards due to soreness in his back that kept him out of yesterday's workout. Manager Brandon Hyde said it's a precautionary move and is hoping that Iglesias will be available on Thursday. Tonight's game is going to be relaxed, which is typical of intrasquad settings. Hyde said he'll use some "ghost defenders" rather than filling every position. "You'll see a not full field out there," Hyde said during...
At least three Nats pitchers not cleared for workouts yet
At least three Nats pitchers not cleared for workouts yet
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Three Nationals pitchers were confirmed today as having not participated in summer training yet, joining a group of five position players who have not yet been seen by reporters on the field through the first four workouts at Nationals Park. Pitchers Wander Suero, Roenis Elías and Joan Adon have not been cleared to join the rest of the club for summer training at Nationals Park, Davey Martinez acknowledged today, though the manager added each has tested negative for COVID-19. Suero and Adon...
Scherzer grunts his way through three innings in Nats' first sim game
Scherzer grunts his way through three innings in Nats' first sim game
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals took their first big step back to live baseball today with an intrasquad game in the early afternoon at Nats Park. The highlight was watching three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, in his home white uniform with red numerals and blue trim, on the bump grunting his way through each pitch for three innings, firing 48 pitches. "He looked good," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez on a Zoom video call. "He threw 48 pitches. We wanted to keep him right at 50, three full...
60-game schedule won't produce fair pennant race
60-game schedule won't produce fair pennant race
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
A 162-game season separates the great teams from the good teams, the good teams from the average teams, the average teams from the bad teams, the bad teams from the truly wretched teams. A 60-game season in which everybody's playing different schedules? Probably not. As foolish as it may be right now to look ahead three months and try to deduce how a season as tenuous as this one is might play out, it's worth at least a little bit of examination. Because even though Major League Baseball will...