Josh Land

Daniel Clark: Looking at how the newest Orioles have fared

April 08, 2014, 6:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles are now eight games into the 2014 season and have a record of 3-5. However, the team is on a high after a great win over the Yankees on Tuesday. Prior to that, there seemed to be a lack of spark and many rallies were being killed by poor baserunning and poor pitch selection. Thankfully, it's only the early days of a new season and it could have been worse. There's also the encouraging thought of Manny Machado's future return, which will likely be later this month. Of the 25...

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Bird Talk: Machado extension speculation, more on Meek, Hunter, Britton and others

April 08, 2014, 4:29pm

Orioles

Bird Talk: Machado extension speculation, more on Meek, Hunter, Britton and others

The Orioles opened the first week of the season with series against two American League offensive powerhouses: the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. While the club only came away with two wins during the first week, the offense seemed to come alive on Tuesday against the Yankees. Here are some stories you may have missed about the Orioles from other media outlets. * In the wake of Mike Trout's six-year contract extension with the Angels, former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, now...

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Nationals Chatter: Zimmerman fantasy tips, Rendon feature and more on Harper

April 08, 2014, 2:24pm

Nationals

The Nationals made it through the first week with a 4-2 record. The Nats swept the Mets in New York, but then dropped their first series to the Braves at Nats Park. The team was bit by the injury bug several times in the first week, losing catcher Wilson Ramos and outfielder Scott Hairston while third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's status is in limbo for the time being. Here are some stories you may have missed about the Nationals from other media outlets during the first week of the season. *...

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O's continued presence in Sarasota obvious at All-American Family Day

April 08, 2014, 8:46am

Orioles

O's continued presence in Sarasota obvious at All-American Family Day

The Orioles may have returned north to start their season, but the team's presence is still strong at the team's spring training home in Sarasota, Fla. This past Sunday, teams donning black and orange took the field at the Orioles' Ed Smith Stadium for the All-American Family Day & Concert softball game, hosted by the Baltimore Orioles. The Sarasota All Stars, made up of local celebrities including media members and politicians, squared off against the Manasota Military All Stars, and...

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Jon Shepherd: A primer on pitch framing (or how a ball is worth 0.17 runs)

April 07, 2014, 1:01pm

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: A primer on pitch framing (or how a ball is worth 0.17 runs)

You may have heard the term "pitch framing" bandied about lately. In this guest blog, we hope to make the concept behind pitch framing and its implementation more familiar to you. How does one figure out how to measure how well a catcher frames pitches? Well, it is like any idea. Ideas go through several stages in order to be implemented. Typically, an idea for a design is created in order to address a desire. These ideas are then tested for their soundness against what we already know. From...

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Stuart Wallace: The good and bad of an aggressive approach at the plate

April 07, 2014, 12:27pm

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: The good and bad of an aggressive approach at the plate

In the infancy of the 2014 season, the Nationals have already had a pair of at-bats that sans a hit or run scored have resonated with the team and fans alike. Last week, it was Danny Espinosa's eight-pitch at-bat against New York Mets reliever Bobby Parnell, culminating in a walk and a new look for the oft-maligned second baseman - that of a patient, strike zone-savvy hitter. In Sunday's game against Atlanta Braves starter Alex Wood, it was Nate McLouth's 13-pitch duel that turned heads,...

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Win signed gear by using #masnOrioles

April 07, 2014, 11:56am

Orioles

Update: Tweet with #masnOrioles now to be entered to win a signed Buck Showalter jersey! When the Orioles are playing, one thing is certain: O's fans are sharing their opinions of their team on social media. Twitter is a perfect tool for a community of O's fans to come together and talk about their favorite players, awesome plays, thoughts on the game and more. We love seeing tweets from Birdland and want to reward you for getting social. All this week, you can enter to win signed O's...

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Win autographed gear using #masnNationals

April 07, 2014, 11:13am

Nationals

Update: Tweet with #masnNationals now to be entered to win a signed Gio Gonzalez jersey! For many sports fans, Twitter is a perfect tool for talking about their team. Through Twitter, we can see Nationals fans thoughts on the lineup, game commentary and more. Well, we want to reward you for getting social. All this week, you can enter to win signed Nats gear simply for tagging your tweets with #masnNationals. Send us pictures of your set-up to watch the game or tweet about your favorite...

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Andrew Stetka: What will Hardy's future bring?

April 07, 2014, 5:17am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: What will Hardy's future bring?

There were a lot of questions entering spring training for the Orioles, and a few answers were found along the way. We discovered who would fill out the rotation. We've learned who would get playing time at second base and in left field. The bullpen has filled in and roles have been mostly defined. The one thing that didn't resolve itself during the spring was the future of shortstop J.J. Hardy. There were multiple reports, even from MASNsports.com's own Roch Kubatko, that the O's were...

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Marty Niland: Rizzo's moves take some sting out of Zimmerman's injury

April 07, 2014, 5:02am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Rizzo's moves take some sting out of Zimmerman's injury

A collective sigh of relief swept through Nationals Park when Ryan Zimmerman stepped up to pinch-hit in the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves. Although he struck out (a bit awkwardly, at that), the appearance was a sign that whatever is bothering Zimmerman's troublesome right shoulder is not enough of a concern to keep him from swinging a bat. Zimmerman has insisted since he was first injured in 2012 that he does not feel any soreness at the plate, but this was a sure sign that the...

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Washington socialites: Twitter stalking the Nats from opening week

April 06, 2014, 9:53am

Nationals

Washington socialites: Twitter stalking the Nats from opening week

Twitter has given fans a new way to connect to their favorite Nationals. Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Gio Gonzalez are just few Nats that have taken to Twitter to keep their fans in the loop. Every week, we'll take a look back on the week that was in the Nationals' Twitterverse. So without further ado, let's get started. Gio Gonzalez helped steady our heart rates before the best day of the year: Breathe it in Boys and Girls,Opening Day Is In the Air. #2014 #OpeningDay #NatsvsMets - Gio...

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Bird tweets: Opening week in the Orioles Twitterverse

April 06, 2014, 9:00am

Orioles

In recent years, Twitter has given a new dimension to sports by allowing fans to directly connect to players and teams in an unique, personal way. How else would we see what Adam Jones is having for dinner? Every week, we'll take a look back on the week that was in the Orioles Twitterverse. So without further ado, let's get started. Adam Jones' first #StayHungry tweet of the season: ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡ðŸ’¡LIGHTS HAVE FINALLY TURNED...

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Opposite dugout: Fish hope to keep flying in D.C.

April 06, 2014, 8:32am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Fish hope to keep flying in D.C.

Manager: Mike Redmond, second year Record: 5-2 Last 10 games: 5-2 Who to watch: RF Giancarlo Stanton (.345/.406/.655, 2 HR, 7 R, 12 RBIs); 3B Casey McGehee (.375/.467/.625, 5 XBH, 10 RBIs); SS Adeiny Hechavarria (.393/.379/.464, 3 RBIs, 6 R); RHP Tom Koehler (1-0, 3.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 5-14, 52 runs scored, 86 runs allowed Pitching probables April 8: Henderson Alvarez vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 9: Jacob Turner vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 10: Tom...

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Zimmerman frustrated with latest shoulder setback

April 06, 2014, 8:01am

Nationals

Zimmerman frustrated with latest shoulder setback

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is clearly frustrated after his latest shoulder setback. Zimmerman was forced to leave Saturday's game at the end the fifth inning after experiencing right shoulder soreness. He felt it after committing a throwing error in the fourth inning, which led to the Braves scoring two runs. "It's just more sore than it usually it is," Zimmerman said at Nats Park prior to Sunday's game. "For the last how many years, I've played when it felt good and I played when...

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Opposite dugout: Yankees still looking to hit early stride

April 06, 2014, 7:55am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Yankees still looking to hit early stride

Manager: Joe Girardi, seventh year Record: 3-3 Last 10 games: 3-3 Who to watch: 3B Yangervis Solarte (.471/.526/.706, 4 doubles, 5 RBIs); CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.333/.417/.429, 2 doubles, 3 SB); RHP Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 2.57 ERA, 8 Ks, O BB); RHP Hiroki Kuroda (0-1, 3.00 ERA) Season series vs. O's (2013): 10-9, 72 runs scored, 77 runs allowed Pitching probables April 7: Hiroki Kuroda vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 1 p.m., MASN HD April 8: Ivan Nova vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 1 p.m., MASN HD April 9: Masahiro Tanaka...

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Nationals place outfielder Scott Hairston on DL, recall first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from Syracuse

April 06, 2014, 6:54am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today placed outfielder Scott Hairston on the 15-Day Disabled List with a left oblique strain and recalled first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 27-year-old Moore joins the Nationals after hitting .265 (13-for-49) with a double, home run and six RBI in 20 Grapefruit League contests for Washington. He also played in one...

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Inside the Park: The boys are back in town

April 05, 2014, 8:17am

Nationals

Inside the Park: The boys are back in town

Even though it was exciting to watch the Nationals sweep the Mets in New York, there's nothing like baseball being played in the nation's capital. Yesterday, the Nats hosted the Braves for their home opener in front of 42,834 fans at Nationals Park. The stadium was alive as James Brown announced the starting lineup, the boys ran out on the red carpet and the flag was unfurled in the outfield. We captured some of that electric atmosphere in the video below. While you take a look back at the...

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Matthew Taylor: An opening day parade would've been a good way to start 60th anniversary celebration

April 03, 2014, 6:09pm

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: An opening day parade would've been a good way to start 60th anniversary celebration

The Orioles are celebrating the diamond anniversary of their arrival in Baltimore, an occasion the team is marking with a special 60th anniversary website and promotional days at the ballpark in August. If it were up to me, the season-long celebration would have started on Monday with an opening day parade, a nod to the celebratory atmosphere that pervaded Baltimore on April 15, 1954. I enjoy learning about Orioles history, and the story of the 1954 parade is one of my favorites that I've...

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Patrick Reddington: Casting a watchful eye to the farm

April 03, 2014, 6:05pm

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Casting a watchful eye to the farm

Four of Washington's minor league affiliates started their respective 2014 campaigns Thursday night. There are interesting prospects to follow throughout the Nationals organization, so we decided to take a look at five players we'll be following closely this season on MiLB.tv or on trips to minor league parks. Matt Purke: Taken 14th overall by the Texas Rangers in 2009, Purke didn't sign, choosing instead to attend Texas Christian University where the left-hander put together an impressive...

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guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz patrick reddington drew ward jake johansen lucas giolito matt purke matt skole

Williams on the sweep, Roark, tomorrow's starter (plus Zimmerman)

April 03, 2014, 2:29pm

Nationals

Williams on the sweep, Roark, tomorrow's starter (plus Zimmerman)

Manager Matt Williams covered an array of topics after Thursday's 8-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field, including Jordan Zimmermann's status, Tanner Roark's quality spot start and the Nats' sweep. Perhaps the main topic is whether Zimmermann can start the Nationals' home opener Friday after being scratched Thursday because of flu-like symptoms. The first indication that Zimmermann might be on track to prevent the Nats from employing a bullpen game tomorrow is the fact that the team used...