Trainer on Coby Mayo: “We started seeing that he’s the real deal"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The memory still makes Tom Flynn laugh. The sound rings in his ears like the ones created each time that Coby Mayo smacked another baseball. Mayo was an 8-year-old hitter on his Little League team in South Florida. The Spanish-speaking players in the Latino community would affectionately bark out his nickname after another home run. “Coby always ha
The year 2023 will be remembered in Birdland as the year the O's moved back atop the AL East
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As the calendar year 2023 comes to an end today, we can reflect on what a special year it was for the Baltimore Orioles and their fans. It was a year they returned to the playoffs, they returned to the top of the AL East and they returned to a club that won 100-plus games. The Orioles finished 101-61 to hold off the Tampa Bay Rays by two games to w
Most significant stories of 2023: The young guys develop
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2023. We conclude the series today with the development of several key young players at both the major- and minor-league levels … The Nationals won 71 games this year, and they happily accepted the praise that came with the 16-game impr
Agent on Coby Mayo: "Now you ask teams and they’d all take him in the first round"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Coby Mayo isn’t bothered or distracted by the passing traffic. By the Orioles prospects in the fast lane and the attention that's tailgating them. Prior to the farm system’s rise to a No. 1 ranking, Mayo would have been the center of attention and recipient of the organization’s top player award. Rarely is a hitter ignored who slashes .290/.410/.56
Most significant stories of 2023: Rizzo and Martinez stay, but staffs change
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2023. We continue the series today with the organization’s decision to re-sign Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez but make changes to each man’s staff … The question loomed over both Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez’s heads all season. Such is
Is a trade inevitable for the Orioles?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If you look at the Orioles' possible Opening Day roster as 2024 approaches, we can see that it’s crowded between Triple-A and the majors. Once again this year, it is not easy to find playing time for all that might be good enough to make that roster. It’s been said many times, but having too much talent doesn’t seem to be a problem except for getti
Looking back on 2023 season filled with Orioles surprises and achievements
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Mike Elias expressed confidence on Feb. 3, the first day of the Birdland Caravan, that the Orioles would concentrate on contending. The rebuild “is behind us,” he said. They were set up to be “a very competitive team for years.” Then, they exceeded expectations by country miles. They’d love to stick with the old script in the new year, with deletio
O's set up well to fortify talent base in the 2024 MLB Draft
Steve Melewski
Orioles
During the Winter Meetings we found out the Orioles signed closer Craig Kimbrel, and also that top prospect Jackson Holliday could begin the 2024 season in the O's starting lineup. We also got some very good draft news for the club. The assumption, confirmed in Nashville, was that the Orioles would have three picks well up in the draft. Sure they w
Most significant stories of 2023: Lerners lose their patriarch
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
We’ve reached the final week of the year, so it’s time to look back at the Nationals’ most significant stories of 2023. We continue the series today with sad news that came just before the start of spring training: Ted Lerner’s death … Ted Lerner was born Oct. 15, 1925, the same day the Washington Senators lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Pit
A little more on Hays' value and Orioles' defense
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The ball is dropping soon to signal a new year, and improvements in the Orioles’ defense have robbed me of my annual quip about popups. This isn’t the 2018 team that ranked near or at the bottom in pretty much every advanced metric. Or the 2003 team that was guilty of a misplayed grounder, missed cutoff man, botched rundown and fumbled double play