Amber Theoharis

What Showalter is saying about Bundy

2012-08-27T22:56:25Z

Before Monday's game against the White Sox, I asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter flat out, "So when are you calling up Dylan Bundy?"

Unsurprisingly, there was no direct answer.

Showalter is definitely being coy on the topic, but based on the conversation that ensued after my kamikaze question, I'm going to go out on a limb and say we will see Bundy in an O's uniform by season's end. What his role will be is the mystery.

In complete Showalter fashion, instead of an answer to my question, he began with a story. His story was that of a young Mariano Rivera who Showalter put on the 25-man roster for the 1995 playoffs while managing the Yankees. According to Showalter, everyone thought he was crazy for bringing the the young reliever up. We all know the rest of that story. Eighteen seasons later, Rivera is a future Hall of Famer and Showalter's only regret is that he didn't use him as a closer in the postseason.

Now before we put Bundy on the O's hypothetical postseason roster and into the Hall of Fame, Showlater's point was that he's not afraid to bring up a young pitcher if he thinks he'll help the team.

With the recent trade for left-hander Joe Saunders and the imminent return of right-hander Jason Hammel, the O's will have a logjam of starters. Showalter could bring Bundy up just to get his feet wet and use him out of the 'pen. When asked if he believes in promoting a player just to get him acclimated to the big league experience, Showalter went into another story in lieu of an answer.

He spoke again about those mid 90's Yankees teams and the decision to keep Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte around in the postseason their first year to travel with the team and soak in the environment. We all know how that story ends as well. Everything turned out just fine for those three.

So here's what I took away from story time with Showalter. He believes in introducing players to the big leagues late in the season and postseason, and he'll do it regardless of outside influences. Based on that, I would not be surprised if Bundy is called up Friday. That's the deadline for him to be playoff-eligible. If he isn't called up on Aug. 31, he still could be placed on the big league roster for the playoffs if someone heads to the disabled list.

I personally am not a believer that a short stint in the big leagues can ruin a young pitcher if they're not ready. I love the saying, "You can't ruin the good ones." There's every reason to believe Bundy is a good one. I say bring him up if scouts believe he can handle it.

Two questions for national baseball media

2012-08-22T23:52:17Z

With so much buzz about Orioles manager Buck Showalter being a top candidate for American League Manager of the Year, we haven't heard much about Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Sure, Davey was given a bit more chicken to make chicken soup as they say (Buck sure makes noodles and brooth taste delicious), but he still has a fairly young team ahead of schedule. Shouldn't there be some credit there?

Is Johnson the National League Manager of the Year? If not, who is his biggest competition? Pirates manager Clint Hurdle probably was midseason, as the Pirates were quite the feel good story. In the second half though, the Reds are running away with the NL Central. Still, Hurdle should be in the discussion if Pittsburgh grabs one of the wild cards.

M.O.Y. for Johnson would be a great story. At 69 years old, the oldest manager in the majors comes back after being out of the game for more than a decade (Dodgers 2000) and leads a perfect mix of young phenoms (Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper) and savvy veterans (Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman) to the promise land. Not bad for a guy who fell into the roll midway through 2011. Had Jim Riggleman not given the Nationals a big fat sianara last June, Johnson may still be enjoying life out of uniform.

Many predicted the Nationals were going to make some noise this year, but very few would have banked on them having the best record in baseball in late August. Yet here is where they stand, on cruise control gliding into the franchise's first playoff appearance since coming to Washington in 2005.

How much credit does Davey deserve for that? I say a lot. Look around baseball at team's like the Angels and to some extent the Red Sox. Chalk full of talent, but both sit in fourth place near the bottom of their divisions. A roster full of talent doesn't always translate into wins. Someone has to manage that talent.

Here's my second question: Why isn't Jordan Zimmermann getting more play in the national media? Is it because he's a third starter on a team with big lightening rods like Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper who steal all the thunder?

Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez were all stars and deserve every ounce of the attention they've received, but how does a guy with one of the top ERA's in baseball go unnoticed? It's late August people. Hey Buster Olney! Hey Ken Rosenthal! Hey Peter Gammons! There's a great story in D.C. and it has nothing to do with an innings limit.

Did you know: Jordan Zimmermann's ERA is only one one-hundredth of a point higher than Justin Verlander's?

Why is he so good? Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty told me Zimmermann has three plus pitches. He said his 94 mph fastball plays harder because of his stuff. He said Zimmermann has a slider you can't see and a plus curve ball.

It might be best if Zimmermann continues to fly under the radar. He will be a big weapon for the Nats in the playoffs.

A lesson in the unwritten rules of throwing at a batter

2012-08-17T21:49:11Z

Since the outlawing of public executions at the turn of the 20th century, nothing satiates a crowd's primal lust for blood like a pitcher throwing a 95 mph fastball at another human being's head. Admit it, you love a good beaning. Even more so, we all love the hours of debate that follow. The big question: Was it intentional? In a conversation of five different baseball minds, you're sure to hear five different opinions.

Thursday night in Baltimore, the debate began. Did Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz intentionally throw at Adam Jones? As of 5 p.m. Friday evening, the question was still raging in the MASN studios. To help your quest for knowledge, I'll fill you in on part of the conversation. It's great insight to the unwritten rules of intentionally throwing at a batter.

O's manager Buck Showalter clearly felt the beaning wasn't an accident. When asked after the game he curtly replied, "We'll file that one away." Code for, "When the time is right, get ready for some retaliation." For the record, the Orioles will see the Red Sox two more times this season. The first will be Sept. 21 at Fenway, then a week later the two teams square off again at Camden Yards. Get your tickets now. Wouldn't it be ironic if Kevin Gregg got the call to bean Big Papi? Nothing like a rematch of two big, slow dudes who would prefer walking on hot coals over having to act like they're fighting again. Maybe David Ortiz is practicing his show punches right now while on the disabled list.

As to the matter concerning Jones Thursday night. My MASN colleague, former World Series MVP Rick Dempsey, believes Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia probably gave the signal himself after being plowed over by Jones at the plate the previous night. A clear-cut case of retaliation. Dempsey said he used to give the signal quite a bit behind the plate. The objective was to take a guy mentally out of the game before he got on a roll.

MLB Network Radio host and former Orioles general mannager Jim Duquette was also in on this conversation. His take: Jones' play at the plate was kosher and so was Buchholtz beaning Jones the next day if the Red Sox pitcher believed it wasn't kosher. Duquette dropped some knowledge on the conversation. Why didn't the Orioles retaliate in that same game? The Orioles were winning by two runs when the beaning took place in the third inning. The obvious: It would be stupid to hit a Boston batter, put him on base and allow the potential tying run to come up to the plate next. Not exactly smart baseball.

Also, an unwritten rule of beaning: You hit our best player, we hit your best player. What many of us hadn't noticed was the Red Sox's two best players, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez, were the final two outs of the top of the third inning. The incident happened in the bottom of the third. That meant the Orioles would have had to wait until Pedroia came back up to bat in the fifth inning. By then, the game was tied 3-3. Not a good time to just give the opposition a free base. Especially Pedroia who can wreak havoc on the base paths.

And so, we wait until Sept. 21.

MASN analyst and former Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson keyed me in on a part of the game I never knew. Rarely does the manager tell a pitcher to hit a batter. It's not a position the manager wants to be in if a player is asked why he hit someone. Johnson told me never in his big league career did a manager tell him to hit a batter. Usually, he said, a pitcher knows what happened and will ask his teammate involved if he thought it was a dirty play or unsportsmanlike or whatever. Then, the pitcher makes his own decision on when to retaliate. Usually the beaning will come in a two-out situation when a game is not close, or early in a game. That way, putting a runner on base who could potentially score won't hurt the team's chances of winning.

By the way, Jones was hit by Buchholz with only one out. Because of that, Johnson said he wasn't so sure it was intentional.

As I said, ask five different people, you'll get five different opinions. What did you think?

Troy Patton dealing and flying under the radar

2012-08-09T01:10:43Z

When wondering how the Orioles are winning games these days, one can't deny the impact of the second-best bullpen in the American League. All-Star closer Jim Johnson has deservedly soaked up most of the attention, followed by the emergence of Pedro Strop, and the resurgence of veterans Luis Ayala and Darren O'Day. With that many relievers having solid years, lefty Troy Patton, who has a 2.76 ERA in 47 appearances, has failed to get the attention he's earned.

"It's kind of nice to just fit in quietly to a very good bullpen, and it's nice I'm not getting the attention because of how well the other guys are doing too," Patton said. "Pedro and Jim are having amazing years and everyone else's ERA's are so low that mine doesn't really stand out."

What does stand out is Patton's current scoreless streak. Has anybody noticed the southpaw hasn't given up an earned run since July 2 when he was tagged for two home runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched against Seattle? That's a span of 15 appearances in which the 26-year-old has pitched 11 1/3 scoreless innings.

When I brought the streak to Patton's attention, he superstitiously knocked on his wood locker.

"I was unaware of that," Patton said. "Honestly, I've gotten lucky a couple of times. I got a really good save by Luis Ayala. The other day, I let a runner on base with no outs which is a tough situation, and he pitched out of it for me, and I think it's happened one other time where O'Day saved me. It's nice that I can put together some scoreless innings with the help of other guys."

A humble answer for a pitcher who early in his career was humbled by the bright lights of the big leagues. Patton came to Baltimore in December 2008 as one of five players involved in the Miguel Tejada trade. He'd played part of the 2007 season in the major leagues for the Houston Astros, but in 2008, after undergoing shoulder surgery, Patton missed the entire season. Both 2009 and 2010 were mostly spent in the minor leagues (only one big league appearance in 2010). Down on the farm, Patton's numbers weren't exactly eye catching.

Then, in the second half of 2011, Patton got his chance and posted a 3.00 ERA in 20 games with the Orioles. Those appearances were scattered as he shuttled back and forth between Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore. A few times he got the call, but wasn't even activated. Patton sort of became an inside joke with reporters. The guy who stood by with his suitcase just to hear the O's were sending him back down.

This year Patton has stuck, spending his first full season (so far) in the big leagues. The consistency has allowed him to find a groove.

"It was pretty crazy the up and down last year, but a lot of it has to do with momentum and confidence. I'm a big pitcher as far as I build off of each outing and I've been able to do that recently," Patton said. "I've been keeping myself out of a lot of trouble, which by throwing strikes, I've been able to do and that just helps me build confidence and go after hitters, and good things happen."

Good things are happening for Patton thanks to perseverance. It wasn't an easy path, but the southpaw has finally found his way to becoming the Birds' quietest weapon in the bullpen. Exactly the way he prefers it.

On weekend of his two-year anniversary, Showalter deserves praise

2012-08-04T19:41:13Z

Has Buck Showalter been the Orioles' most significant acquisition in the last five years? I'm going to say no. That would be two-time All Star Adam Jones, who came over from Seattle in the 2008 Erik Bedard trade.

But Showalter has to be second.

I'm not sure if that's a testament to the positive impact Showalter has had on the organization or an indictment of how the organization has failed to acquire marquee talent in recent years. Take it any way you want.

You have to give O's executive vice president Dan Duquette some credit. He has found some diamonds in the rough in Wei-Yin Chen and Jason Hammel this year, but neither would be considered marquee talent like Jones. Maybe Chen will be in the coming years.

The Orioles celebrated Showalter's two-year anniversary as the Birds' manager Friday night with a shutout loss at the hands of the Rays. It was an ill-timed gift for the skipper, who has succeeded where many before him failed.

Showalter has been a big reason the Orioles are still winning in August with some of the worst stats in baseball. He's never been out-managed and his expectation to win every day has permeated through the clubhouse.

Think about it. The Orioles' flaws are glaring right now, especially offensively after Friday night's game.

The O's are second in the AL in strikeouts, trailing only Oakland. They have the worst average with runners in scoring position in the American League (.232), and the team's on-base percentage is the third-worst in the league.

With stats like that, the only way you'd believe this team was 1 1/2 games out of a wild card spot is if I told you their pitching was the best in baseball. That's not the case. The Birds' ERA ranks 21st of 30 MLB teams.

So, what gives?

Don't discount Showalter's role.

Previous managers wanted to win, but often were sidetracked by player development at the big league level. On Aug. 3, 2010, that ended. Showalter expected big leaguers to act like big leaguers. The fact that a young player might still be learning wasn't an excuse for mistakes. He was the first manager since I began covering the team in 2004 to use the term "not good enough" on a regular basis. Buck has clearly set the bar high and those who aren't willing to reach it have a found a spot waiting for them on the Triple-A roster.

You always have to give credit to the players when a team is winning, but you can't count out the clubhouse culture certain managers establish to create a winning environment. Joe Maddon was credited with it for Tampa Bay and Showalter should get the same recognition in Baltimore.

It all starts with accountability and respect. From Day 1, players like Jones tell me Showalter treated them like men. He didn't micromanage. "Do your job" was his motto. Players appreciated that and you see them wanting to play for him.

Maybe this weekend, the Orioles can wrap a couple of important wins over the Rays up in a bow and give Showalter the anniversary present he deserves.

Sounding off: Orioles take on hot topics

2012-07-27T12:57:31Z

Looking through my reporter notes from this week, I noticed I had a bunch of interesting material from inside the Orioles' clubhouse that never made it to air. I wanted to share some players' thoughts with you on some of the big topics surrounding the team, straight from the editing room floor.

Topic: J.J. Hardy took a pitch in the ribs Thursday. Luckily, X-Rays were negative. We'll see if he is able to play with the sore torso as he's been playing for weeks with a sore shoulder. Hardy has felt better recently after receiving a cortisone injection, but many fans asked me on Twitter if Hardy's throws to first were being affected by the pain.

Hardy's response: "Not much. I mean it hurt when I was throwing. It hurt, but it wasn't affecting my throws. I mean, it wasn't like I was not going to throw the ball hard because I was hurting. It was just after I threw, it would kind of hurt a little bit. It's just a matter of staying on my workouts and keeping it strong and it's been good lately."

Topic: Despite Chris Davis' four-RBI game against the Rays Thursday, the Orioles are 17-for-107 (.159) with runners in scoring position over their last 16 games. How does a team collectively pull out of a RBI slump?

Wilson Betemit's Reponse: "We have to put everything together with men on base. We're now in a situation where we're not hitting with men on base. And we have to do that because if you have a guy on base, you need to bring him in because sometimes we don't have men on base and we have to go up there and have a big swing to get runs. But that's the game, that's what's happening. We have to go in there and do a better job."

Hardy's Response: "It seems like every team I've been on, at some point in the season this conversation comes up where the team isn't hitting with runners in scoring position, and every year we seem to come out of it. So hopefully we come out of it sooner than later."

Topic: So if the Orioles aren't driving runners in and Nick Markakis is one of the few hot hitters in the lineup (batting .352 with five doubles since coming off DL), has Buck Showalter thought about moving Markakis back down in the order so he can drive in runs?

Showalter's Response: "Have I thought about it? Oh sure. He really likes the idea he's going to get 50 extra at-bats (leading off). The computer tells you, which I'm not going to be a prisoner to, that you should take your best hitters and hit them first and just line them up in order. The whole idea is to get them to the plate as many times as possible. The good thing about Nick is he's capable of hitting anywhere in the order. He brings some attributes you look for in a leadoff hitter. He brings some attributes you look for in a two-hole hitter, a three-hole hitter and, at times, a four-hole hitter. Nicky can hit anywhere and I've certainly thought about it, but it fits best right now."

Bottom line is Showalter doesn't have anyone else to bat leadoff right now.

Topic: Jim Thome is now an Oriole. Despite his age and declining production, Thome's track record instills fear in opposing pitchers. They know he can still turn on one. More importantly, he brings veteran experience to what has been a relatively young O's clubhouse. Have the young stars taken advantage of that experience?

Adam Jones' response: "Me and him, we just talk about slapping people's stuff all day. We talk about it all day, like, 'Man let's get after these guys.' I mean, he's brought intensity to my game and to the lineup because he's up there hacking. He's up there with a plan and he's helped us formulate a plan and just square that ball up and try to drive it all over the field. Don't just try to be one dimensional."

What should Rizzo do to strengthen playoff push? Major league scouts sound off

2012-07-19T01:40:44Z

One of the most interesting things a baseball reporter can do is sit in the press box with a group of Major League Baseball scouts. You can't get better baseball knowledge anywhere else.

Usually somewhere between the time when the clubhouse closes after pregame access and the game starts there's a whole swarm of them. They're easily spotted with their metal clipboards and lanyards around their necks bearing the logo of their respective organizations.

Before Wednesday's game against the Mets, I jumped into a conversation some scouts were having. The topic was: If you were Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, how do you go about filling the void left by Stephen Strasburg when he's shut down in early September?

About three scouts from three different organizations were debating. Interestingly, most agreed they would have saved innings throughout the season, skipped a start here or there and even gone to a six-man rotation at some point using either Chien-Ming Wang or John Lannan so Strasburg would still be under 160 innings heading into the playoffs.

I agree. Everyone involved in the discussion wondered why this wasn't more of a consideration with the Nats brass. Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson have said the innings limit will not affect how they pitch Strasburg, and Johnson reiterated Wednesday they are still shutting their ace down no matter what situation the team is in at that point.

Knowing that, the discussion turned to what the Nats should do at the trade deadline. I said stand pat. In the playoffs, the Nats will only need a four-man rotation and, in my opinion, All-Star Gio Gonzalez is tied for the National League lead in wins and is undoubtedly an ace. Jordan Zimmermann has the 12th-lowest ERA in baseball right now. Edwin Jackson's track record last year in the playoffs for the world champion St. Louis Cardinals proves he answers the bell. And Ross Detwiler, who'd be the Nats' fourth starter, has a 3.15 ERA with a strikeout-per-nine-inning ratio of 6.2. How many fifth starters around the league have those types of stats?

Baseball is about winning now, and if I thought the Nats couldn't win in the playoffs with the four pitchers listed above, I'd be all for going after a big-name pitcher. But I think they can win with the personnel they have. Plus, to me, it's not worth giving up top prospects to get a pitcher who Johnson would love to have, but won't really need when Strasburg returns to the rotation in 2013.

Most of the scouts differed with me. They said they'd go get a Matt Garza type (Ryan Dempster will command way too much). I asked what would you want for Garza if you were Cubs GM Theo Epstein. The consensus: The asking price would probably be one big league/Triple-A pitcher like John Lannan and two of the organization's top prospects. So say goodbye to third baseman Anthony Rendon and outfielder Brian Goodwin.

Garza isn't having a stellar year. He's 5-7 with a 4.02 ERA, but he is 28 years old and would be under the Nats' control through 2014.

What would you do? It's OK to side with the scouts. They have a little more experience at this than me, but just remember I will be a GM one day, so you might want to get on the bandwagon early.

Crystal ball time: Who makes the playoffs?

2012-07-12T15:23:23Z

Let the second half begin. The Nationals enter Act Two four games ahead of the Braves in the NL East. The Orioles are seven games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

It would be beyond exciting to see both teams make the playoffs for the first time since baseball returned to Washington in 2005. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening. Absent the luxury of a crystal ball, my prediction is we are going to see two teams trending in different directions in the second half.

The Nationals are going to continue their reign at the top of the standings. At the very worst, I see Davey Johnson's group grasping that first NL wild card spot. Pitching will be the reason.

The Nats' starting rotation was the best in baseball in the first half, going 35-23 with a 3.25 ERA. Four of its five starters could be No. 1s on many other major league ballclubs. Couple that with a bullpen that is fourth in the NL, and you have one of the best staffs in baseball.

The back end of the Nats' pen is only going to get stronger with the return of Drew Storen shortly after the All-Star break. Storen saved 43 games for Washington in 2011. As Gio Gonzalez said, "They're always cleaning up our mess. They're always cleaning up our laundry and putting it away for us. I feel the back end of our bullpen is incredible."

Meanwhile, as refreshing as it's been for Orioles fans to have a first half worth watching, I just can't see the Orioles catching the Yankees. Even though the Yanks have taken big hits in the pitching department with injuries to Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia, their bats are just too potent. New York's hitters can jack three-run homers at any minute. It'll be hard for anyone to outslug them. Plus, they get Sabathia back next week.

If I had to call the AL East now, I'd say the Yankees win the division, while the Rays slip into second place and the Orioles and Red Sox battle it out for third. Toronto will finish in the basement.

I know, I'm not exactly being optimistic, but I am being realistic. The O's just don't have the starting pitching. Playoff teams have at least two shutdown pitchers at the top of the rotation. Jason Hammel and Wei Yin Chen have surpassed expectations in the first half, but can they remain consistent through 162 games?

Chen doesn't have a big league track record to reference, and Hammel's track record shows he's never sustained this pace through a complete season. Hammel is 29 years old and has been in the big leagues since 2006.

Forget the top of the rotation. Most teams have decent ones and twos. What separates contenders and non-contenders is the quality of a team's third and fourth starters. Look at the Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann. He's heading into the second half with a 2.61 ERA. The Nats' fourth starter, Edwin Jackson, has a winning record (5-4) with a 3.73 ERA. Plus, he's on pace to pitch 200-plus innings this year. Not many fourth starters are as effective and can eat innings.

Meanwhile, Buck Showalter is uncertain who his third, fourth and fifth starters will be in the second half. Sure, Chris Tillman put together a nice outing in his one big league start this year, but if your house was on the line, would you put your money on Tillman?

Who knows what Miguel Gonzalez is capable of? That will be a wait-and-see, as well. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, and Tommy Hunter have all been demoted to the minor leagues. If two of the three miraculously get back on track and start dealing, then maybe the O's fate will change. For now, fans can only hold onto that hope.

At least the Orioles' bullpen is still tops in all of baseball, but eventually they can't keep picking up the slack for an ineffective back end of the rotation. All bullpens, even the best, will wear down over time.

Pitching will undoubtedly be the deciding factor for both the O's and Nats in the second half.

Question for the blogosphere: Who has a better shot of making the playoffs? O's or Nats?

What's Rizzo's plan for the second half?

2012-07-08T14:21:17Z

The Nationals are wrapping up their strongest first half since 2005, when they went into the All Star break 19 games above .500. That year, the Nats finished in last place in the National League East with a .500 record.

Many believe the 2012 Nats are different. They appear built for the long haul and a big reason is their strong starting pitching. But there are some questions surrounding the Nationals when they return from the break. I sat down with Nats GM Mike Rizzo to discuss his second-half plans.

It's been very clear from day one that Nats ace Stephen Strasburg will be shut down around 160 innings pitched. At the break, he stands at 99 innings. As my MASNsports.com colleague Byron Kerr pointed out, Strasburg is projected to reach his limit sometime around the first week in September. So what's the plan to fill the void in the rotation once he's shut down?

"We feel that the rest of our rotation is very strong," Rizzo said. "We've got three guys in the rotation that could be top-of-the-rotation guys on a lot of ballclubs. We've got great depth in the system. We've got a 10-game winner and a 3.77 ERA last year in John Lannan in Triple-A for us, so we feel good about where we're at. We've got good depth. We've got high ability guys in the rotation and I think we'll fill the void from within."

Reading between the lines, that probably means the Nats aren't going to be big buyers in the starting pitching department, but will they stand pat at the trade deadline unless blown away by a trade offer?

"We really like the ballclub that we have," said Rizzo. "The construction of the club was meant to play meaningful games in September and beyond, so we like the makeup of the ballclulb and the chemistry of our club. But if there's a way to improve the ballcllub and do so for the long term - we're not going to make any knee-jerk, short-term decisions, but long-term stuff that can improve the ballclub - we have no problem with that."

Key injured players are expected to return after the All-Star break, like closer Drew Storen and outfielder Jayson Werth. Davey Johnson will also see his bench bolstered when Chad Tracy is activated off the disabled list. How much of a boost will their return give the club?

"We consider (Werth and Storen) two trades at the trade deadline," Rizzo said. "To have our five-hole hitter in Jayson Werth, our big catalyst for our offense, a two-way player, and we have a rookie who had 43 or so saves last year coming into the bullpen with a fresh arm and really a hunger to get back in the game, (that) will really be good for us."

My guess is the Nats don't make any big moves at the trade deadline. As Rizzo alluded to, a GM would be hard-pressed to find available players who will have the same impact Storen or Werth will. It's nice to see Rizzo isn't caught up in the idea of improving the ballclub by making arbitrary moves just because he can.

There's no question Strasburg will be hard to replace, but if the Nationals' bats continue to produce runs the way they did in the week leading into the break, and the bullpen continues to be a strength, I think this Nationals team will be a force in the playoffs - even without their ace.

Thanks to young phenoms, hustle is back in baseball

2012-06-27T00:48:59Z

There's a Charlie Hustle revival going on in the major leagues.

Last weekend, we saw 19-year-old Bryce Harper visit Camden Yards and the very next series, we see 20-year-old Mike Trout. About a month ago, the Orioles visited Toronto, where they got a glimpse of 22-year-old Brett Lawrie. Throw in Kansas City's Eric Hosmer and there's suddenly a crop of young, exciting players infiltrating the big leagues.

I've sat down with Trout, Harper, and Lawrie. Their maturity stood out. More importantly, their love for playing the game hard is what left me impressed.

Before my interviews, I read all the scouting reports. They were all quite similar. Most were said to play the game at a Pete Rose, fever-pace. After watching the young bucks in action, there's no question: they're all-out, and it's so refreshing to see.

This next wave of talent is so fun to watch and O's manager Buck Showalter told reporters debates often take placed in the clubhouse about who you'd rather take on your team. It's hard to decide.

This week with the Angels in town, we get a closer look at Trout, the leadoff man Dodgers manager Don Mattingly compared to his former teammate, Rickey Henderson. Mattingly said Trout, who leads the American League in stolen bases, has the "same unworldly talent" as his former teammate and all-time stolen base leader.

Those are big shoes to fill. After watching Trout score from second on a Torii Hunter single in the third inning of Tuesday's game, I don't doubt the comparison. He was blazing. Trout told me he isn't afraid of being thrown out. He's learned from Henderson. Trout said he looked up some stats and even though Henderson had 130 stolen bases in 1982, he was thrown out 42 times. According to Trout, you have to take the risk.

It's up to the Orioles' pitchers to have very quick times to the plate against the Angels. It's a facet of the game Showalter has pounded home since spring training and his staff has improved. Matt Wieters told me you hope Trout doesn't get on base, but when he does, pitchers have to get that ball to him quick so he has a fighting chance of throwing him out. Trout told me if Angels first base coach Alfredo Griffin tells him an O's pitcher is 1.4 seconds or higher to the plate, he's definitely taking off.

As for Harper, ask O's center fielder Adam Jones if the teenager hustles. On a ball to center during last weekend's Battle of the Beltways, Jones fielded it, but Harper kept going and stretched the single into a double. Jones wasn't expecting it. Neither was anyone else. Harper is as heads-up as it gets.

As exciting as it is to see the young talents value hustle, it's surprising. Think about it. Players that are in their early 30s saw Rose and Henderson play. They had that generation of ballplayers to look up to. Players in their teens and early 20s grew up idolizing players like Derek Jeter, who plays hard but he isn't that demon on the basepaths type of guy. There really isn't a player in the late '90s or early 2000s that defined hustle the way Rose and Henderson did in the '80s.

Whatever the reason or influence, these young players are inspiring, fun and give me hope that in the era of free agency and big contracts, there is a future generation of superstars who will propel the game forward by throwing back.

On to brighter battles of the Beltway variety

2012-06-21T13:12:33Z

After watching Davey Johnson and Joe Maddon exchange blows Wednesday, I was considering this blog entry be a list of all of baseball's unwritten rules. Then, my friend Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times informed me that two books have already been written on the subject.

There goes my dream. Luckily, I have another great idea. It involves a wooden round circle with spokes inside. Can you imagine the possibilities?

Rather than focus on inventing the wheel or a past rift between two huffy managers, I thought your time would be better utilized reading a blog about the future.

And that is the mid-Atlantic rivalry known as the "Battle of the Beltways" is coming to Baltimore this weekend.

For the second time in the same season, it's an interleague matchup worth watching. The Nationals are still a first-place team and the Orioles are contenders in a close American League East. As of Thursday morning, every single team in the AL East was above .500.

After covering both teams, I believe the Nationals are a better team based solely on their starting pitching. Even so, the Orioles took round one and might be in a good position to win round two. Why? Pitching matchups.

I know, I know. The Nationals lead the major leagues in fewest runs allowed, ERA, starters' ERA, batting average against and strikeouts per nine innings. Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez are probably the second-toughest one-two punch in the National League right now behind the Mets' R.A. Dickey and Johan Santana.

But Strasburg and Gonzalez aren't pitching this weekend in Baltimore. The Orioles' two best pitchers are.

Here are the pitching probables for the weekend series:

* Friday: Jordan Zimmermann vs. Jason Hammel
* Saturday: Edwin Jackson vs. Wei-Yin Chen
* Sunday: Ross Detweiler vs. Jake Arrieta

Friday's Zimmermann/Hammel matchup could come down to run support. Whose bats are hotter? Zimmermann owns the seventh-lowest run support average in the National League (3.2 runs per game). Meanwhile, the Birds swing the lumber when Hammel is on the bump. He averages 5.7 runs of support per start.

On Saturday, we could really see a pitchers' duel. Chen has been as consistent as they come with a 7-2 record and 3.36 ERA. Meanwhile, Jackson has pitched well recently at Camden Yards. In his last two starts there, he is 1-0, allowing one run, walking two and striking out 14 in 14 innings pitched.

The Nats' eight everyday position players are batting .231 against lefties, but Chen will have to find a way to get Bryce Harper and Danny Espinosa out. Harper is hitting .327 versus lefties and Espinosa is .365.

Sunday will be Detwiler's first start since being demoted to the bullpen May 25. We'll see if he comes out rusty or ready to prove he deserves to stay in the rotation. Arrieta will have to stay away from the one big mistake. In his last outing against the Mets, he pitched well until giving up a game changing grand slam to Ike Davis.

As for the hitting, the Nats haven't shown much power. Meanwhile the Orioles haven't shown much run production. Overall, I believe the Orioles are more of an offensive threat, especially at home.

So I leave it to you in the blogosphere. Why will you be watching this weekend? Who is more of an attraction, Harper or Adam Jones? Which team will still be contending in September? Most of all, who will you root for and why?

Clippard: All-Star reliever turned perfect closer

2012-06-16T16:43:37Z

When asked what Tyler Clippard's key to success is, Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty told me his changeup is going really good, but most off all, "He's all a@# and elbows coming at you."

I think that means he's deceptive. And that just might be my favorite quote of the year.

Clippard's mechanics are far from textbook, but according to McCatty, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Clippard says it's hard to tell if closing is the role he was destined to fill, but he's been a quick study over the past three years.

"I got to watch a lot of people work," Clippard said. "I was always a set-up guy, or a middle-inning guy, so I got to see what that role entailed. As I got more confidence as far as what I was doing out on the mound, it was something I felt I could do. I got my opportunity and it's working out."

This time last year, the Nationals' reliever was heading to his first All-Star Game. He was the Nats' sole representative selected by National League manager Bruce Bochy.

Clippard deserved it after an outstanding first half, which turned into his best career year. The then 26-year-old ended the 2011 season with an impressive 1.86 ERA in 72 appearances.

But that was as a set-up man. Drew Storen, who was the Nationals' closer, was on his way to converting 43-of-48 save opportunities. Clippard did have seven save opportunities in 2011, but he failed to record one save. At the time, it looked as if closing wasn't his thing. Clippard was solid, but in the eighth inning.

This season, early injuries to Storen, Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez have left the closing duties to Clippard, and this time, he's delivered. Since becoming the closer in May, he's a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities. Four of those saves came on the road last week against the power-hitting AL East teams.

His approach was to stay away from the big inning.

"You want to keep those extra runners off base, because you know there are a lot of power hitters in their lineup and if you make a mistake, they're eventually going to get you every now and then," Clippard said. "Limiting the damage is the best way to go about it."

Clippard has done more than limit the damage lately, but don't necessarily expect him to make the 2012 NL All-Star roster. His nine saves pale in comparison to other NL closers like Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel (19), San Francisco's Santiago Casilla (18) and even former Nat-turned-Pirate Joel Hanrahan (17).

Plus, this year's NL manager Tony LaRussa most likely won't be forced to select a lone Nationals representative. Multiple Nationals like Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and even Bryce Harper could be voted onto the All-Star roster by the fans, managers and players.

All-Star or not, Clippard has been a big factor in the Nationals' success and a pleasant surprise considering he was just a ninth-round draft pick selected by the Yankees in 2003. He pitched one year in the big leagues for the Bronx Bombers, mostly as a starter, in 2007 before being traded to Washington. Clippard appreciates the opportunity he had to study Mariano Rivera, the best closer of all time.

"I was more or less a fly on the wall," Clippard said. "I was trying to stay out of his way. In 2007, I was the young guy, but I just noticed how calm he was at all times and how he kept himself composed and together. He had a routine that he always stuck with no matter what. He worked hard. Everything you wanted in a good player, he brought to the table. He's someone I looked up to a lot."

Clippard looked up to the best and now, coming into his prime at 27 years old, he looks to solidify his position as one of the most reliable relievers in the National League. Where he lands after Storen's return somewhere near the All-Star break is unknown. But, having two arms that can be used to close games is a good problem for Davey Johnson to have.

Old friends reunite on first-place battlefield

2012-06-07T00:59:47Z

With the Mets in town and just five games separating first and last place in the NL East, the Nationals don't have to be reminded of the importance of every divisional series. Tuesday's 12-inning grind-it-out win proved Ian Desmond's proclamation, "We've packed our lunch."

Amber Theoharis talks with Ian Desmond about the importance of the Mets series

But the Mets are ready to work also. They too feel the divisional pinch.

"Every divisional game is so critical especially when you come on the road to play a team who's playing so well. We know we're going to get their best and we're going to try to match that," Mets third baseman David Wright said.

But among the heated battle for first place is a long-time friendship composed of hot-corner brethren. When Wright looks in the opposing dugout, he doesn't see a bitter rival. Instead, he's thankful to play in the same division as childhood friend Ryan Zimmerman. Each series is a chance to catch up.

"We've become so close off the field. We try to have friendly competition on the field, but also, we genuinely root for each other when our teams aren't playing each other," Wright said.

The two met as teenagers playing on the same travel team in the Virginia Beach, Va., area. There must have been something in that tide-water because also on that team was Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton and Baltimore's Mark Reynolds. Talk about a loaded roster.

"David was always a year, two years older than me. Growing up, he was always the guy I'd look up," Zimmerman said. "It's been fun to see how each of our careers has grown."

Zimmerman was a first-round pick (fourth overall) of the Nationals in 2005 out of the University of Virginia. Wright was drafted out of high school, going in the first round (38th overall) in 2001.

Both players soon found themselves the faces of their respective ballclubs, a position long removed from the high school fields of Virginia Beach.

"Both organizations put us in the forefront from the beginning," Zimmerman said. "Not that that's a bad thing or anything like that, but we've gone through a lot of the same ups and downs. He's been hurt a little bit. We've had to battle through some things. I have. So I guess you could say we've kind of gone through the same things."

Common experience, common background, and an admiration for each other's skill set has built a mutual respect.

"He's a tremendous third baseman," Wright said. "He's a great leader and the face of the franchise, so when I go out there and watch him play, I try to learn as much as I can."

Said Zimmerman: "He's loyal. He's very even-keeled. You'd never know if he's hitting .400 or .200, and those are the kind of guys you want on your team and in your organization. No matter who comes in, everyone can learn from him and kind of learn what it takes to be a good player."

Zimmerman and Wright have exceeded becoming just good players, and both have hit big paydays.

Wright is entering the final year of a six-year deal with the Mets, who have a $16 million club option. The third baseman is having an MVP-caliber season, so you can be sure the club will exercise that option and then negotiate an extension. So he has an ever bigger payday on the horizon. Meanwhile, Zimmerman just signed a six-year, $135 million deal with the Nationals.

That means $190-million is being made between these old friends. $190 million. I wonder how many gloves that would buy for their old all-star team? If they come up short, Upton and Reynolds can always pitch in.

Baseball drafts are funny things

2012-06-04T13:14:32Z

The Orioles and Nationals will look to the future tonight as they harvest the best amateur talent in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. This time of year, amid all of the predictions, it's hard not to look back.

For the rest of you baseball junkies who have nothing better to than to look back at previous draft orders like me, I highly recommend doing so. It's amazing to see who was passed up and how many first overall picks were misses. My favorite was the 2008 draft. Tim Beckham went No. 1 to the Rays. He's yet to see the big leagues and is currently serving a 50-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Meanwhile, Brett Lawrie and Jemile Weeks weren't even in the top 10.

In the mid-Atlantic region, Saturday night was a showcase of first-rounders. Both the Orioles and Nationals trotted two of their former top picks out to the mound. Both came back with wins. Both, however, have been a tale of two very different picks.

The Nationals' 2009 No. 1 overall pick, Stephen Strasburg, struck out nine batters in seven scoreless innings against the Braves that night. The Orioles' 2008 fourth overall pick, Brian Matusz, pitched his best outing of the year against Tampa Bay, giving up just one earned run and striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings.

If both organizations would have gazed into their crystal balls and saw those two lines as samples of what they'd be getting once Matusz and Strasburg arrived in the big leagues, you can bet there would have been high fives all around the war room that draft day.

But it hasn't been that simple, and drafting talent in the first round isn't that easy.

Going back to the years both players were drafted, there wasn't much debate. Any team in baseball would have taken Strasburg if they owned that top pick. Out of San Diego State, the righty was as sure-fire as they get. And any team looking for a pitcher in 2008 would have taken Brian Matusz. It was a position player-heavy draft, but Matusz was the first pitcher taken at No. 4.

Today, Strasburg has one of the best ERAs in baseball, but the Nats had to endure losing their prized pick for most of the 2011 season to Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Matusz continues to battle back from a disastrous 2011 season. Saturday night was another baby step in the right direction, but it hasn't been easy for the lefty. Neither player's journey has been picture-perfect.

As for position players, the Nationals have been been more than pleased with the first month and a half of Bryce Harper's big league career. His .288 batting average with five homers is impressive, especially for a 19-year-old. I'm going to go out on a limb and say no one will look back on the Nationals' 2010 first overall pick as a bust. But that's just me.

I know this will strike a chord with O's fans, but the verdict is still out on the Orioles' biggest first-round pick in recent history, Matt Wieters. He's an All-Star and is undoubtedly one of the best defensive catchers in the game. But a .261 career batting average over his first three and a half years of his major league career is a little concerning. I'd love to see Wieters hit more consistently and when it's all said and done, he probably will. But for a man who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as the next big thing, the offensive numbers have been subpar. Still, I believe there isn't a manager in baseball that wouldn't want Wieters on his roster.

Who will be the next talents the Orioles and Nats put their faith in? We'll find out tonight. The Orioles have the fourth overall pick once again. For a team that has been so committed to using top picks on pitching, it will be interesting to see if they go for areas of need, like corner infield.

The Nationals do not have a top-10 draft pick for the first time since 2006. They sit at No. 16. Will they go for a left-handed hitting outfielder or continue to stock the farm system with power arms after losing Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole and Tom Milone in the Gio Gonzalez trade?

Whoever both teams pick, you can be sure on some random night five years from now, we'll be evaluating them, as well.

Meeting with Rays with be a telltale series for Orioles

2012-06-01T13:00:37Z

The Orioles came into the month of May like lions and went out like lambs. The old adage typically refers to the month of March in Maryland, but I'm trying to make a point here.

Just as the mid-Atlantic springtime weather can be unpredictable, so have the Birds been in the last month. As we head into June and July, we'll find out if the O's struggles are just a rough patch, or the beginning of that downward spiral Orioles fans are so accustomed to.

May began on such a high note. The Orioles were riding a five-game winning streak that included series wins over the Yankees and Red Sox. The pitching was impressive as the Birds' staff held the second-best ERA in baseball. The bullpen was even better. That first week in May, Jim Johnson, Matt Lindstrom and the gang boasted the best ERA of any bullpen in the major leagues.

Not to mention the bats. The O's were leading the majors in home runs, and they were clutch. Night after night, someone came up with a two or three-run bomb to give the O's a chance.

The words "cautious optimism" were thrown around like dollar hot dogs on college night.

Then, this past week happened. Capping off the bipolar month was the three-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

Here we are - June 1. Nick Markakis joins Brian Roberts, Nolan Reimold, and Matt Lindstrom on the disabled list. The O's are skidding into Tropicana Field on a five-game losing streak. By some random act of God, Buddha, or some sort of cosmic alignment, the Orioles are still in first place. There isn't a man on that roster that doesn't know they're lucky to be there.

Everyone knows the reality. There's only a 2 1/2-game differential between the AL East's first- and last-place teams right now. Any team could be anywhere in the standings at the end of the weekend.

I'm not a fan of hyping up series, but when it comes to perception and momentum, the battle of first-place teams in Tampa this weekend is huge. Not so much for the players. One series loss in June won't put the nail in the coffin for any team. But for everyone else in the baseball world, this series will start to answer questions. Can the Orioles do what postseason-bound teams do? Can they limit the losing streaks, grind through injuries and pull out of funks?

If the Orioles lose this series - or even worse, get swept again - it might signal to an already skittish fan base, that the bottom they hoped wouldn't fall out is starting to crack.

We'd be able to hear the "I knew it wouldn't last" comments all the way from Dundalk to Westminster. Admit it: Some of you already are saying it.
If the Orioles take at least two out of three, they'll continue what is likely to be a season-long campaign of proving they're legit. The comments about how Buck Showalter's group battles through adversity will be all over the message boards.

The task begins Friday night and it is a tall one as David Price takes the mound for the Rays in the opener. The lefty is dealing right now. He's averaged better than seven innings in his last seven starts and has a 2.28 ERA over that span. Also, he's 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA against the O's in his career.

This will be Wei-Yin Chen's first start against the Rays. He is coming off a quality start against the Royals last week in which he received a no-decision.