Josh Land

No Need For Debate: If Possible, the Orioles Should Be Buyers

June 19, 2012, 7:32pm

Every year as the trade deadline approaches, fans who are fortunate enough to find their team in contention get the luxury of engaging in a fun debate: should our team be buyers? Should they, in other words, make a play for one or more guys who might take a group from pretty good to very good, possibly playoff good? Or should they stick with what they have and hope it's enough? As Orioles fans, we typically sit this out and instead engage in some deadline variation of "sell or do...

Braves-Nationals game rescheduled

June 19, 2012, 2:13pm

Nationals

After rain washed out the game between the Braves and Nationals back on June 1, the team today released its plans to move the game to July 21. The two division foes will play a split doubleheader at Nationals Park, with the first game beginning at 1:05 p.m. and first pitch for the second game to follow at 7:05 p.m. The two games against the Braves on July 21 will require separate admission. Season Ticket Holders and Mini Plan Holders with game tickets to the postponed June 1 contest may use...

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Will Yoder: Where is the 2010 Ryan Zimmerman?

June 19, 2012, 4:29am

Nationals

Will Yoder: Where is the 2010 Ryan Zimmerman?

If you followed Nationals spring training closely, you may have rightfully believed that Ryan Zimmerman was the best hitter on the planet. The 27-year-old was mashing the ball to all corners of the ballpark, and it looked as if the third baseman who once made his debut in Washington as a 20-year-old kid had finally reached his prime. While Zimmerman has started slowly on the stat sheet this season, everyone who was watching the games knew he was absolutely pounding the ball. On opening day,...

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Heath Bintliff: The Chris Davis breakout

June 18, 2012, 5:28pm

Orioles

Heath Bintliff: The Chris Davis breakout

Is there anything Chris Davis can't do? Even though I held my breath every time a ball was hit to right field this weekend, Davis has added the job skill of "major league right fielder" to his resume. It has been a remarkable season for Davis, as he continues to do things that he has never done before in the majors. He has played the outfield and pitched in his first major league game, but even more remarkable are the things he is doing at the plate. Davis' OPS+ of 132 is the highest of...

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Ted Leavengood: Not ready for prime time

June 18, 2012, 5:20am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Not ready for prime time

Win six in a row, lose three in a row. Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you. Such smug acceptance offers little consolation for Washington baseball fans. The six wins leading into the Yankees series only served to raise expectations. The idea was rampant going into the three-game weekend series that even the vaunted Yankees were fair game for the first-place Nationals. Only it did not turn out that way. The enthusiastic crowds that witnessed the Yankees series had playoff...

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Olivia Witherite: Sold on reacquiring Jeremy Guthrie

June 17, 2012, 6:24pm

Orioles

Olivia Witherite: Sold on reacquiring Jeremy Guthrie

Today, I told a co-worker that it might be nice to see Jeremy Guthrie back in Baltimore. I'll leave out all the details of her response, but it started with a harsh glare, followed by an "Are you crazy?" look. Granted, the former Orioles ace is not known for his great record or low ERA. But, could he bring some value back to the Orioles rotation if he was to leave Colorado? In Baltimore, the right-hander pitched to a 47-65 record with a 4.12 ERA over his five-year tenure. Beyond that losing...

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RHP Ryan Mattheus reinstated from DL, RHP Brad Lidge designated for assignment

June 17, 2012, 8:06am

Nationals

RHP Ryan Mattheus reinstated from DL, RHP Brad Lidge designated for assignment

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus from the 15-Day Disabled List and designated right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Mattheus missed the last 24 games with a plantar fascia strain (left foot). The 28-year-old went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA (3 ER/3.0 IP) in three rehab appearances with Double-A Harrisburg and...

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Oriole Park 20th anniversary tumbler June 23 giveaway won't arrive in time

June 16, 2012, 7:42am

Orioles

Because of a vendor distribution problem, the Oriole Park 20th anniversary tumbler giveaway scheduled for Saturday, June 23 will not arrive in time to be handed out as originally planned, the Orioles announced Saturday. Instead, those eligible for the original promotion (the first 10,000 fans 15 and over) will receive a "Greetings from Birdland" T-shirt on June 23, along with a voucher to be redeemed for the tumbler once they arrive. The voucher will explain the methods of redemption, but...

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Marty Niland: Could Harper make an impact on All-Star Game?

June 15, 2012, 5:35am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Could Harper make an impact on All-Star Game?

With the Nationals still atop the National League East, there has been much talk lately about the All-Star Game and which Nats deserve to go. However, it's a safe bet that no one in a Washington uniform will be voted into the starting lineup, since none of the regulars is close to the lead at any position. That leaves pitchers, the team's main strength this season, and reserves. Their fate is up to NL manager Tony LaRussa and his staff. On the mound, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez...

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Matthew Taylor: Before last night, Bedard had been at his best in interleague play

June 15, 2012, 5:25am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Before last night, Bedard had been at his best in interleague play

The Orioles tagged Erik Bedard for seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings Thursday night, hanging a rare interleague loss on the former O's lefty. For his career, Bedard was 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA, 1.011 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings in interleague play prior to last night's game. Some of his finest interleague outings came in Baltimore, including a dominating run through the senior circuit in 2006. Bedard went 3-0 against the National League in 2006 with a 1.29 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, and...

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Orioles place OF Endy Chavez on 15-day disabled list; recall INF Steve Tolleson from Triple-A Norfolk

June 14, 2012, 12:05pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have placed OF Endy Chavez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, retroactive to June 13, and recalled INF Steve Tolleson from Triple-A Norfolk. Tolleson has batted .237/.275/.447 in 12 games for the Orioles this season. Chavez has batted .171/.202/.219 in 32 games for the Orioles this season. He was previously on the disabled list from May 9-29 with a strained left oblique.

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Anthony Amobi: Can the Orioles sustain their success in 2012?

June 14, 2012, 4:50am

Orioles

It has been an extraordinarily good week for the Orioles, as they have shone in interleague play, taking two out of three games from the Phillies and taking the first two in their series against the Pirates. The Orioles had struggled until the middle last week during a brutal stretch, but found a way to turn it on against Boston. As of now, they are 36-26 and trail the New York Yankees by a game in the American League East standings. The Orioles are off to their best start in many years, and...

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Neal Shaffer: Orioles are making a point in 2012

June 13, 2012, 4:11am

Orioles

Truly, there is nothing else like baseball. Countless sporting trends have risen and fallen since this game arrived in our popular culture. Boxing and horse racing, once huge, today fade even from the margins. Auto racing comes and goes in various forms. Tennis had a moment but can't really make a dent anymore despite the fact that three of the greatest players of all time currently ply their trade. Anyone want to take bets on skateboarding or motocross? Through it all, there has been...

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Orioles reinstate 2B Brian Roberts from 60-day disabled list; option infielder Steve Tolleson to Norfolk

June 12, 2012, 2:34pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated 2B Brian Roberts from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for Roberts on the roster, the club has optioned INF Steve Tolleson to Triple-A Norfolk and transferred OF Nolan Reimold to the 60-day disabled list. Roberts has been on the disabled list with a concussion since May 17, 2011. He batted .238/.340/.429 with five doubles, a home run, five RBI and six runs in a 14 game rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Delmarva (two games),...

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Will Yoder: Revisiting some preseason predictions

June 12, 2012, 6:50am

Nationals

Will Yoder: Revisiting some preseason predictions

Several days before the 2012 campaign, I wrote a post at The Nats Blog offering five bold predictions on the impending Nationals season. I said at the time that the week before the season was a wonderful time for bloggers because it marked perhaps the only time all year long that we would have yet to be wrong. Well, it's nearly 60 games into the season now, so I went back to see what my preseason predictions were, and unfortunately, I have not fared well so far. Let's review: 5. Adam...

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Heath Bintliff: 'Pen versus 'pen

June 11, 2012, 7:53pm

Orioles

Earlier in the season, I wrote about how great the Orioles bullpen was doing and in the weeks since, the relievers have not only kept it up, they have gotten even better. Heading into this evening's game, the Orioles have the best bullpen in baseball in terms of ERA. But what you may not have known is that the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town, and they are bringing the best bullpen in the National League with them, the second best in baseball behind Baltimore. So if you're going to do some...

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Ted Leavengood: A special place makes for a special weekend

June 11, 2012, 5:25am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: A special place makes for a special weekend

As Bryce Harper pumped for all he was worth to score the winning run on Roger Bernadina's clutch double Sunday afternoon, the Fenway Park faithful had probably seen all they wanted of the Nationals and their young prodigies. Harper, Strasburg, and the rest of them. Espinosa, Clippard, Desmond, Gonzalez, they all had a hand on the broom that swept clean the old park on Lansdowne Street, "the little bandbox of a ballpark," as John Updike lovingly called it. With Yankee Stadium lost forever,...

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Olivia Witherite: The importance of bringing back Roberts

June 10, 2012, 7:42pm

As a young Orioles fan, I did not have the opportunity to grow up watching the legends that have defined the franchise. Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Rick Dempsey and even Cal Ripken Jr. unfortunately do not headline most of the memories that I have of the Birds. While I have grown up hearing and reading about them, I am what you could call Generation Y of Orioles fans. So although marked by many losing seasons that have included rotation struggles, errors, lack of situational hitting, etc.,...

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Nationals need help in latest All-Star numbers

June 10, 2012, 4:46pm

Nationals

I'm disappointed, Nationals fans. Disappointed in you. Here we sit, only a month away from this year's All-Star Game, and when I look at the current vote totals, no Nationals players are above fifth at their respective position. I'd shake my head if it didn't result in so many typos on my part. Fortunately, there is still time to redeem yourselves and help send your favorite Nationals players to the National League starting lineups for this year's festivities in Kansas City on July...

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Matthew Taylor: Lynn's two-homer game memorable for fan reaction

June 08, 2012, 4:38am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Lynn's two-homer game memorable for fan reaction

My baseball memory begins somewhere in the 1980s on 33rd Street. I can remember the first batting practice baseball I caught (Dante Bichette, Milwaukee Brewers), the nachos I helped spill during a rare visit to Memorial Stadium's blue box seats, and the lesson I learned about appropriate ballpark decorum by violating it with an obscene heckle. At its best, the ballpark can teach a kid a lot about the game. I got to thinking recently about the game I attended when Fred Lynn stroked two home...