Josh Land

Matthew Taylor: Savoring the main course, and maybe O's just desserts

September 05, 2014, 7:34am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Savoring the main course, and maybe O's just desserts

What is the proper recompense that Orioles fans deserve for enduring 14 consecutive seasons of losing baseball? The honest answer is nothing. If you're a longtime sports fan, you know the hard truth is that the game doesn't owe us as fans anything. The joys are few, the frustrations many. Nevertheless, I cling to my sometimes naive belief that loyalty will be rewarded in time. It wasn't so long ago, during a period when the sufferings were plentiful and often substantial (think 30-3), that...

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Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to stay hot in Washington

September 05, 2014, 5:36am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to stay hot in Washington

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 64-75 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Marlon Byrd (.266/.314/.463, 24 doubles, 25 HR, 78 RBIs); 1B Ryan Howard (.224/.308/.379, 20 HR, 87 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (8-6, 2.50 ERA, 1.15 WHIP); RHP Jerome Williams (3-0, 2.03 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 8-8, 56 runs scored, 72 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 5: Jerome Williams vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 6: A.J. Burnett vs. Tanner Roark, 4 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 7: Cole...

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Patrick Reddington: Enjoy LaRoche while you can

September 05, 2014, 5:33am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Enjoy LaRoche while you can

Veteran Washington Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was dealing with a lower back issue that kept him out of the lineup for Tuesday afternoon's game. Tyler Moore started at first base in the series finale in Los Angeles on Wednesday, but as the game went on, LaRoche's bat was needed, so Nats skipper Matt Williams turned to the 34-year-old middle-of-the-order bat after Bryce Harper singled with one down in the ninth and the Nationals trailing 2-0. LaRoche went 0-for-9 with three strikeouts...

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Opposite dugout: Rays' struggling bats wasting plenty of good pitching

September 05, 2014, 4:13am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Rays' struggling bats wasting plenty of good pitching

Manager: Joe Maddon, ninth year Record: 67-74 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 3B Evan Longoria (.255/.325/.397, 22 doubles, 18 HR, 81 RBIs); 2B Ben Zobrist (.273/.357/.404, 31 doubles, 9 HR, 44 RBIs, 74 R); RHP Alex Cobb (9-7, 2.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP); LHP Drew Smyly (9-10, 3.31 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 5-11, 51 runs scored, 71 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 5: Alex Cobb vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Sept. 6: Drew Smyly vs. Kevin Gausman, 1 p.m., FOX Sept. 7: Jeremy...

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Orioles extend player development contracts with five affiliates

September 04, 2014, 1:08pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced they have extended the working agreements with five minor league affiliates. The club signed four-year agreements through the 2018 season with Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, and Class-A Frederick and two-year agreements through the 2016 season with Class-A Delmarva and Short-Season Class-A Aberdeen. "We have been very pleased with our arrangements with these clubs over the years and look forward to continuing those relationships," said Vice President of...

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David Huzzard: Rendon as good a choice as any for NL MVP

September 04, 2014, 5:49am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Rendon as good a choice as any for NL MVP

The fun part about the Most Valuable Player award is that it isn't about trying to figure out who the best player . It's about trying to figure out what crazy voters are going to do. Most of the inane arguments about the MVP award center around the word "valuable" and what the true essence of a valuable player is. One of the central beliefs of the voters is that a valuable player can't possibly play on a losing team and if they were truly valuable they would play for a winning team. This...

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Zach Wilt: Happily eating crow on preseason prediction about Schoop

September 04, 2014, 5:21am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Happily eating crow on preseason prediction about Schoop

Every once in a while, I make awesomely accurate predictions. Back in June, I boldly (and annoyingly) proclaimed to everyone I know that "Guardians of the Galaxy" would be the best movie of the summer. It's grossed nearly $300 million at the box office, partially due to the fact that I've seen it three times and would gladly go again if I could just convince someone to join me. It's arguably Marvel's best movie to date. Told you guys. Other times, I make horribly inaccurate (and equally...

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Rachel Levitin: This year's Nats creating their own storylines

September 03, 2014, 5:20am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: This year's Nats creating their own storylines

When you've got a team like the Nationals, who started in 2005 and didn't really start getting good until 2012, team storylines tend to take on a life of their own. If a team isn't losing, that's one topic of conversation. If a team is so bad that there players are laughable, that's another. But throughout the Nats' time, they dug their way out of the gutter and become a feel-good story of sorts. In 2005, when Ryan Zimmerman was called up, he became a story. His prowess down the line,...

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Daniel Clark: As magic number shrinks, confidence grows

September 03, 2014, 4:53am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: As magic number shrinks, confidence grows

As each week passes by, I can't help but feel increasingly excited and more confident about what awaits this magical Orioles team. As is so often the case when your team has held a division lead for a significant period of time, the pessimist inside can't help but worry that they could slip up down the stretch and allow the unthinkable to occur. At the conclusion of play last Wednesday night, the Orioles held a six-game division lead over the Yankees - a figure that had shrunk from a...

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Williams updates LaRoche's back, discusses facing Kershaw

September 02, 2014, 5:50pm

Nationals

Williams updates LaRoche's back, discusses facing Kershaw

Adam LaRoche's back has landed him on the bench for the second time in seven games. After his bout with his back last week against the Phillies, LaRoche didn't miss a game, pinch-hitting in the one contest he didn't start, and then returning to the lineup the next five in a row before being removed from Monday's game in the seventh because of tightness. LaRoche is out again tonight against the Dodgers, as the Nationals take a cautious approach with the veteran first baseman. "His...

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Dave Nichols: What do the Nats do when - or if - Zimmerman returns?

September 02, 2014, 5:53am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: What do the Nats do when - or if - Zimmerman returns?

The Nationals have taken their lead in the National League East and run with it. At the start of play Tuesday, they enjoy a seven-game lead over the Atlanta Braves, who have been mired in mediocrity for weeks now - and were no-hit Monday afternoon by a group of Philadelphia Phillies pitchers. Additionally, with Monday's 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nats have wrested the mantle of winningest team in the entire NL, owning one more victory than their hosts for the next two days. Of...

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Jon Shepherd: It will take history for the O's to lose the AL East

September 02, 2014, 5:41am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: It will take history for the O's to lose the AL East

When it comes to data scientists trying to mainstream the thoughts they have, there can be some misunderstandings. A major topic is how exactly to treat uncertainty or a relatively minimal probability. Three years ago, the Boston Red Sox led a journey starting on Sept. 3 when they reached a 99.6 percent chance of making the playoffs when Carl Crawford mashed a home run and a double, notching four RBIs, to when Carl Crawford feebly dove for a duck snort off of the bat of Oriole Robert Andino and...

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Opposite dugout: Reds in process of halting second-half spiral as they arrive in Baltimore

September 02, 2014, 4:22am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Reds in process of halting second-half spiral as they arrive in Baltimore

Manager: Bryan Price, first year Record: 66-71 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C Devin Mesoraco (.280/.361/.531, 21 doubles, 20 HR, 65 RBIs); 3B Todd Frazier (.278/.340/.456, 20 doubles, 23 HR, 70 RBIs, 73 R, 19 SB); RHP Mat Latos (5-3, 3.15 ERA, 1.08 WHIP); RHP Mike Leake (10-11, 3.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2013): Did not play Pitching probables Sept. 2: Mat Latos vs. Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 3: Dylan Axelrod vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Sept. 4: Mike Leake...

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Williams on call-ups: "You have more bullets"

September 01, 2014, 3:35pm

Nationals

Williams on call-ups: "You have more bullets"

While the Nationals get set to take on the Dodgers for a three-game series in Los Angeles, Matt Williams will get used to a more crowded clubhouse. September is here, allowing for expanded rosters. To kick off the month, the Nats added six players: right-hander Aaron Barrett, left-hander Xavier Cedeno, catcher Sandy Leon, first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore, outfielder Steven Souza Jr., and right-hander Blake Treinen. "That's the beauty of having all these guys in September," Williams...

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Nationals add six players to expanded roster

September 01, 2014, 11:41am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-hander Aaron Barrett, left-hander Xavier Cedeno, catcher Sandy Leon, first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore and right-hander Blake Treinen from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (left shoulder) was returned from rehab and reinstated to the active roster. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Barrett, 26, is 3-0 with a 3.21...

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Orioles recall right-handers Evan Meek and Kevin Gausman and select contract of left-hander Joe Saunders; Infielder Kelly Johnson reports to club

September 01, 2014, 8:05am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Evan Meek from Triple-A Norfolk and right-hander Kevin Gausman from the GCL Orioles and selected the contract of left-hander Joe Saunders from the Tides. Additionally, infielder Kelly Johnson has reported to the club. Meek, 31, went 2-0 with 16 saves and a 1.94 ERA (41.2IP, 9ER) in 39 games for the Tides this season, striking out 37 and walking four. He has also appeared in 15 games for the Orioles this...

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Marty Niland: Seattle slugfest shows Nats can beat anyone, anywhere

September 01, 2014, 5:17am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Seattle slugfest shows Nats can beat anyone, anywhere

The Nationals and their fans bid a reluctant farewell to Seattle after the team pounded a Mariners staff with the lowest ERA in baseball for 10 home runs over three days in pitcher-friendly Safeco Field. Manager Matt Williams told reporters before the series that it was not necessarily a measuring stick for a team that has struggled against top competition. Even so, it was a huge confidence-builder for the Nats, who can now head into the stretch run feeling that they are currently capable of...

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Andrew Stetka: Appreciating what we're seeing with the Orioles

September 01, 2014, 5:07am

Orioles

We've finally reached that point in the season. It's the first day of September and there's only four more weeks of regular season baseball left. It's been a long road to get to this point and the finish line is in sight. Baseball players, managers and coaches all view the season as a marathon. The fans hanging on to every pitch during the season mostly do the same, though overreactions happen. Take the Orioles' trip to Wrigley Field two weekends ago as an example. Some fans would have...

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Opposite dugout: Top two teams in NL meet as Dodgers welcome Nats

September 01, 2014, 4:22am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Top two teams in NL meet as Dodgers welcome Nats

Manager: Don Mattingly, fourth year Record: 77-60 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.279/.337/.465, 35 doubles, 19 HR, 91 RBIs); RF Yasiel Puig (.298/.384/.489, 33 doubles, 9 triples, 13 HR, 59 RBIs); OF Matt Kemp (.279/.345/.468, 31 doubles, 16 HR, 64 RBIs); LHP Clayton Kershaw (16-3, 1.73 ERA, 0.84 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 1-2, 10 runs scored, 10 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 1: Roberto Hernandez vs. Gio Gonzalez, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD Sept. 2: Clayton Kershaw vs....

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Orioles recall left-hander Wei-Yin Chen from Gulf Coast Orioles; catcher Steve Clevenger optioned to Aberdeen

August 31, 2014, 8:33am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander Wei-Yin Chen from the Gulf Coast Orioles and have optioned catcher Steve Clevenger to Short-Season Class-A Aberdeen. Chen, 29, is 13-4 with a 3.76 ERA (148.1IP, 62ER) in 25 starts for the Orioles this season. Clevenger, 28, has batted .234/.289/.364 in 27 games for the Orioles. He batted .305/.366/.389 with two home runs and 30 RBI in 64 games for the Tides this season.