Josh Land

Zach Wilt: Offense can still carry the Orioles

June 15, 2017, 8:05pm

Orioles

Yesterday afternoon, the Orioles wrapped another disappointing road trip and fell back under .500 with a 32-33 record. The Birds went 1-7 on their eight-game road trip in D.C., New York and Chicago, and they have now lost 16 of their last 18 games away from the friendly confines of Camden Yards. They are now 11-23 on the road this season and thankfully return home tonight to play their next seven contests in Baltimore, where they have gone 21-10 this season. Home sweet home. It's been a tough...

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David Huzzard: What will a closer cost the Nationals?

June 15, 2017, 6:14pm

Nationals

Believe it or not, the Nationals don't have the worst bullpen in the majors. That isn't to forgive or forget just how bad the bullpen has been and how many leads they've blown, or that with even a league-average bullpen the Mets' recent hot streak wouldn't matter one bit. It is simply a fact. The Nats don't have the worst bullpen in the majors and it is going to cause them major issues when the trade deadline comes around. By ERA, the Twins have the worst bullpen in the majors at 5.39....

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Dillon Atkinson: When it rains, it pours

June 14, 2017, 5:30am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: When it rains, it pours

After Tuesday night's 6-1 loss to the White Sox, the Orioles are now 31-32 and in fourth place in the American League East, 7 1/2 games back of the division-leading Yankees. Sure, the Orioles' record makes it look like they're just a near perfectly average Major League Baseball club. But the maddening part of it all is that they started off the season 22-10, looking like they were going to prove all the major analysts' predictions wrong yet again. But now we're in mid-June, and it seems...

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Luke Erickson: Who's going to Auburn and West Palm Beach?

June 12, 2017, 12:04pm

Nationals

Luke Erickson: Who's going to Auburn and West Palm Beach?

Tonight is Day 3 of the First-Year Player Draft and what this means to me is discovering which of the players drafted by the Nationals will be on the rosters of the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays and the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals. That's it. I am well aware that this makes me an anomaly among some prospect followers, but consider this: I don't follow college baseball, which to me is like baseball the way 10-pin bowling is like candlepin bowling, nor do I care about the...

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Yard Work: Episode 9

June 12, 2017, 7:11am

Orioles

Hey, O's fans. Welcome to this week's edition of Yard Work. On this episode ... Happy Draft Day! Tonight is the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, where we'll see the biggest talent in college and high school baseball take the next step on their path to becoming major league players. The Orioles have several picks in the top 100, including the 21st overall selection. The team is usually mum on any insight when it comes to the draft, but who might they be looking at? Steve Melewski and I will...

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Marty Niland: Difo's gaffe ranks with the most infamous in Nats history

June 12, 2017, 5:40am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Difo's gaffe ranks with the most infamous in Nats history

The emotional roller coaster that is a Major League Baseball season hit its wildest stretch for Nationals fans over the past week. After the high of winning eight of their previous 10 games came the plummet of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers, the franchise that skipped town in 1971, leaving Washington without baseball for 34 seasons. All those emotions were at play in Saturday's 6-3 11-inning loss to Texas. After a fine performance on the mound from Gio Gonzalez, a clutch...

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Andrew Stetka: Chris Tillman's slow sink drowns O's

June 12, 2017, 5:20am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Chris Tillman's slow sink drowns O's

There's been a fairly common theme over the past five years when it comes to analyzing the Orioles. They are a team that's won because of power throughout the lineup, a strong bullpen and stellar defense. The one weak spot has always been the starting pitching. It's typically been a rotation that has been forced to overperform to some extent just to get by. Perhaps the best example of a stalwart among the starting pitching staff has been Chris Tillman. Tillman now finds himself in quicksand....

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Opposite dugout: White Sox fading fast in division race

June 11, 2017, 7:33pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: White Sox fading fast in division race

Manager: Rick Renteria (1st season) Record: 26-35 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: RF AvisaÃl GarcÃa (.332 average with 10 HR, 42 RBIs and 75 hits); CF Leury GarcÃa (.300 average with 6 HR, 21 RBIs); 1B JosÃ© Abreu (.278 average with 10 HR, 34 RBIs); LHP David Holmberg (1-0, 2.74 ERA); RHP Miguel Gonzalez (4-7, 4.89 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-3 Pitching probables: June 12: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey, 8:10 p.m., MASN2June 13: RHP Alec Asher vs. LHP Derek Holland, 8:10...

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Zach Wilt: Stumping for Schoop to go to All-Star Game

June 08, 2017, 6:43pm

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Stumping for Schoop to go to All-Star Game

We are just over two months into the 2017 season, and while there have been some ups and downs for the Orioles, there's been one true consistent presence: second baseman Jonathan Schoop. The 25-year-old is off to an amazing start, posting career highs in all three slashline categories, batting average (.286), on-base percentage (.336) and slugging percentage (.519). He's also on pace to finish the season with career highs in home runs (28) and RBIs (87). Schoop has been an important part in...

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Opposite dugout: Yankees using youth to excel atop AL East

June 08, 2017, 6:37pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Yankees using youth to excel atop AL East

Manager: Joe Girardi (10th season) Record: 34-23 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Aaron Judge (.330 with 18 HR, 41 RBIs); 2B Starlin Castro (.319 with 31 RBIs, 74 hits); LF Brett Gardner (.262 with 12 HR, 27 RBIs); RHP Luis Severino (4-2, 2.90 ERA); RHP Dellin Betances (3-1, 0.49 ERA). Season series vs. Orioles: 4-5 Pitching probables: June 9: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery; 7:35 p.m., MASNJune 10: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Luis Severino; 7:15 p.m., FOXJune 11: RHP Kevin Gausman...

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David Huzzard: Looking ahead to free agency after 2018 season

June 08, 2017, 6:33pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Looking ahead to free agency after 2018 season

There is a lot of talk about where Bryce Harper will land when he becomes a free agent after the 2018 season. There is also a lot of discussion of who else is available and if a Golden State Warriors-like super team could be formed in Major League Baseball. It is perfectly possible. Daniel Murphy and Harper are scheduled to be free agents from the Nats, Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson will both be free agents at third base, Charlie Blackmon and Adam Jones will join Harper as available...

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bryce harper daniel murphy david huzzard guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

SLAP tear prevention tips for baseball and softball players (via Johns Hopkins Medicine)

June 08, 2017, 6:09am

Orioles

SLAP tear prevention tips for baseball and softball players (via Johns Hopkins Medicine)

A SLAP tear can be a serious injury no matter your age or professional level. It is common in baseball and softball pitchers, position players and other athletes who do a lot of overhead arm motions similar to throwing. The majority of SLAP tears don't happen in one day and are usually a result of repetitive trauma inside the shoulder. Whether you are a baseball or softball player, a coach or a concerned parent, there are things you can do to prevent SLAP tears. Johns Hopkins sports medicine...

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hopkins medicine johns hopkins olivia witherite orioles buzz

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Nuremberg Legacy"

June 07, 2017, 10:05am

Orioles

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Nuremberg Legacy"

Norbert Ehrenfreund covered the Nuremberg trials as a journalist for the Stars and Stripes. He went on to become a lawyer and judge in California. Thus, "The Nuremberg Legacy "brings an insight from one who witnessed what went on at the trials and the insight of an attorney who has given great thought to what the trials meant then and now. Throughout "The Nuremberg Legacy," there is a voice of "let us not forget." The continued lunacy of those who preach there was no Holocaust requires...

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gary thorne hitting the books orioles

Yard Work: Episode 8

June 07, 2017, 6:35am

Orioles

Hey, O's fans. Welcome to another edition of Yard Work. On this week's episode ... It's hard to believe, but June is here already. And as the weather heats up, so has the competition in the American League East, where it seems the Orioles are always battling it out against a divisional foe. That might not be a bad thing, mind you, as the Birds are 21-13 vs. the AL East and sit just 2 1/2 games out of first place. On the offensive side of things, did we see Manny Machado return to form during...

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brian eller orioles orioles buzz podcast steve melewski yard work

Dillon Atkinson: Adding Tejada creates questions in Orioles infield

June 07, 2017, 5:12am

Orioles

On Tuesday afternoon, the Orioles added Triple-A Norfolk infielder RubÃ©n Tejada to the 25-man roster and designated infielder Paul Janish for assignment. Janish, 34, has appeared in 14 games in each of the 2015 and 2016 seasons for the Birds, as well as three games this year. The 27-year-old Tejada was acquired by the Orioles on Sunday evening in a trade that involved sending cash considerations to the Yankees. Tejada has played in seven major league seasons, mostly with the Mets. He played...

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Luke Erickson: Is too much attention being paid to Tebow?

June 05, 2017, 6:56am

Nationals

Luke Erickson: Is too much attention being paid to Tebow?

A lot of attention was paid this past weekend to the 29-year-old left fielder for the visiting Columbia Fireflies in a four-game series at the Nationals' Single-A Hagerstown affiliate, a matchup of the third-place team in the Southern Division against the first-place team in the Northern Division. From a baseball perspective, this is puzzling. After Sunday's game, he had 16 RBIs and 16 walks, 53 strikeouts and 53 total bases in 47 games. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) is .629 - roughly 60...

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Marty Niland: NL-best Nats should be well represented in All-Star Game

June 04, 2017, 7:35pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: NL-best Nats should be well represented in All-Star Game

These are great days to be a Nationals fan. Once upon a time, Washington was ridiculed as "first in war, first in peace and last in the American League." Now, after winning five of the first six games on their current West Coast road trip, the Nats are first in the National League, and first in just about everything else. At 35-20, the Nats have the edge on the 36-23 Rockies for the league's best record, and that's not all. Who is leading not only the National League but all of baseball in...

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Opposite dugout: As weather heats up, so have the Dodgers

June 04, 2017, 6:15pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: As weather heats up, so have the Dodgers

Manager: Dave Roberts (2nd season) Record: 35-23 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: C Yasmani Grandal (.273 average with 6 HR, 24 RBIs); SS Corey Seager (.271 average with 55 hits); LF Cody Bellinger (12 HR, 31 RBIs); LHP Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.28 ERA); RHP Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 3.38 ERA); RHP Kenley Jansen (1.17 ERA with 9 saves). Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (5-1 in 2016) Pitching probables: Monday, June 5: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, 10:00 p.m., MASNTuesday, June 6:...

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Andrew Stetka: Machado presents greatest conundrum in years for O's

June 04, 2017, 3:38pm

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Machado presents greatest conundrum in years for O's

Manny Machado spent the weekend doing what appeared to be working his way out of a major slump. No one can say for sure, but Machado went 6-for-15 with two home runs, two doubles and five runs scored over the course of four games against the Red Sox. Perhaps it's just Boston that brings out the bat for the All-Star third baseman. Six of his 12 home runs and 11 of his 27 RBIs have come against the Red Sox this season. But I suppose there could be some extra motivation behind that offensive...

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David Huzzard: It's safe to love Zimmerman again

June 02, 2017, 12:30pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: It's safe to love Zimmerman again

Every now and then, my new life in Virginia Beach, Va., takes me down Princess Anne Road to West Neck Road and past Kellam High School. Whenever I drive that way, I think of Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. An autographed picture of him also hangs in my favorite seafood restaurant, Margie and Ray's, and after the last two seasons and before this one, whenever I thought of Zimmerman, I was filled with sadness. As a longtime fan of the Nationals, Zimmerman is a part of many of my best...