Josh Land

Heath Bintliff: Should the O's have traded Jeremy Guthrie?

September 07, 2011, 4:24pm

Orioles

Heath Bintliff: Should the O's have traded Jeremy Guthrie?

As the Orioles move forward into 2012, one thing they definitely need to take a hard look at is shedding veteran players and getting younger, yet again. After all, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and even Matt Wieters are veteran players at this point, and with J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds under contract, the team could use some young talent. And one way to get some of that talent is to trade useful vets for promising kids. The front office has already made one move in that direction, trading...

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Orioles aid Hurricane Irene efforts

September 07, 2011, 11:29am

Orioles

The Orioles will assist with Hurricane Irene relief efforts by teaming up with the American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake and Potomac (GC&P) Blood Services Region for a series of blood drives this week in an effort to help rebuild the local blood supplies following Hurricane Irene. All donors will receive a complimentary ticket to the Orioles' game against the New York Yankees tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. The club is also working with the Maryland National Guard, Baltimore City...

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Daniel Moroz: Lumber numbers of struggling O's hurlers are surprisingly impressive

September 07, 2011, 5:18am

Orioles

Daniel Moroz: Lumber numbers of struggling O's hurlers are surprisingly impressive

The Orioles have had a tough season in many respects. Many, many respects. But there is one area in which they've been not only the best team in baseball, but the best team in baseball by far. It's their pitchers - when they're hitters. The best-hitting pitching staff in the National League belongs to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have a collective .190/.230/.257 line. That's obviously awful by regular standards (and one of the main reasons why I think the DH should be universal), but on...

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Experiencing the press box for the first time

September 07, 2011, 5:10am

Nationals

Experiencing the press box for the first time

I can certainly remember my first time in a major league press box. It was back on May 25, 2009, my first assignment as an intern with MLB.com. I was assigned to cover the Orioles for the rest of the season (or until I found a full-time gig somewhere) and had the rare privilege of spending my summer among the fans at Camden Yards. A sweet gig, it was. It's been more than two years since my first experience, and meanwhile I've spent countless days and eaten too many luke warm hot dogs to...

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Orioles announce a series of roster moves

September 06, 2011, 7:12pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled infielder Josh Bell from Triple-A Norfolk and infielder Pedro Florimon from Double-A Bowie, selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Jeremy Accardo and left-handed Clay Rapada from the Tides and activated infielder/outfielder Chris Davis from the disabled list. To make room for Accardo and Rapada on the 40-man roster, infielder Blake Davis and left-handed pitcher Mark Hendrickson have been designated for assignment. Bell, 24, batted...

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Nationals reinstate Stephen Strasburg from disabled list, add six others to roster

September 06, 2011, 1:45pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 60-day disabled list, recalled right-handed pitchers Yunesky Maya and Craig Stammen, left-handed pitcher Atahualpa Severino and outfielder Corey Brown from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and selected right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock and infielder Steve Lombardozzi from Syracuse. Additionally, the club transferred right-handed pitcher Cole Kimball to the 60-Day DL,...

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Lauren Tilley: Brian Matusz is no longer Brian Matusz

September 06, 2011, 8:25am

Orioles

Lauren Tilley: Brian Matusz is no longer Brian Matusz

For those of you who know how yesterday's game went, it was an offensive shootout that unfortunately ended badly for the Orioles (yet again). It all started with Brian Matusz who lasted only 1 1/3 innings or, to put it better, four outs. In that short outing, he gave up five hits, five earned runs and two walks. So far this season, he is 1-7 with a 9.84 ERA. His longest outing of the season was 6 2/3 innings in which he gave up eight hits and six runs in the loss. In his 10 starts this...

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Mark Hornbaker: Slow and steady with Strasburg

September 06, 2011, 1:43am

Nationals

Mark Hornbaker: Slow and steady with Strasburg

With Stephen Strasburg scheduled to make his 2011 debut with the Nationals this evening, I think it is important we remember Strasburg will be on a pitch count limit of 60 pitches. I think the Nationals will follow the same path the team took with Jordan Zimmermann's comeback last season. The Nationals kept Zimmermann on a pitch count between 70 to 86 pitches in his seven starts last season. As it looks now, Strasburg will make four starts before the season ends - if his arm is feeling well....

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Matthew Taylor: Some historical perspective on triple-digit losses

September 05, 2011, 5:19am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Some historical perspective on triple-digit losses

The Orioles are in the home stretch of their 14th consecutive losing season. That's a lot of bad baseball. However, one thing the Birds have never done during that run is lose 100 games. In fact, the O's have lost 100 games in a season only twice since the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore, going 54-100 in 1954 and 54-107 in 1988. Here are some facts and figures about 100-loss seasons in Baltimore and beyond: * The Orioles have more than twice as many 100-win seasons as they do 100-loss...

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Nationals select contract of Tom Milone; reinstate Ivan Rodriguez from disabled list, transfer Adam LaRoche to 60-day DL

September 03, 2011, 1:13pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today selected left-handed pitcher Tom Milone from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the 15-day disabled list and transferred first baseman Adam LaRoche to the 60-day DL. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Milone went 12-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 24 starts this season with Syracuse. With an...

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Jenn Jenson: Welcome back, Stephen Strasburg

September 02, 2011, 5:23am

Nationals

Jenn Jenson: Welcome back, Stephen Strasburg

I assume everyone's going to the ballpark Tuesday to see Stephen Strasburg pitch, right? I've got my ticket. Reports indicate Strasburg will be limited to five innings or 80 pitches, which means we're unlikely to see any 14-strikeout, no-walks craziness on the second coming. But hey, you never know. If he keeps his pitch count low enough, five innings provides 15 outs to work with. If Strasburg strikes out just a handful of batters, it will be OK with me. Even a no strikeout game would...

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James Baker: Where do we go from here?

September 02, 2011, 2:20am

Orioles

Does anyone really have an answer to that question? Everyone has a theory, but can anyone really say that any one of them will make the Orioles a competitive team in 2012? Yu Darvish is the latest Japanese superstar rumored to be on his way to America. The half-Iranian, half-Japanese Darvish will likely command a ridiculous posting fee to even begin negotiations. I don't see the Orioles doing that, so put it out of your minds. The Orioles are more likely to be involved with a free agent like...

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Nationals reinstate Doug Slaten from disabled list

September 01, 2011, 11:32am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated left-handed pitcher Doug Slaten from the 15-day disabled list. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Slaten missed the last 77 games after being placed on the DL on June 4 with left elbow ulnar neuritis. The 32-year-old is 0-1 with two holds and a 2.19 ERA in 23 games this season with Washington. In nine games (four starts) during his rehab assignment,...

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Orioles claim Pedro Strop off waivers from Rangers

September 01, 2011, 10:28am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop on waivers from the Texas Rangers. Strop is expected to join the team during their series in Tampa Bay this weekend. Strop, 26, is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA (9.2IP, 4 ER) in 11 games for the Texas Rangers this season. He pitched to a 3.59 ERA (47.2IP, 19 ER) in 39 games with Triple-A Round Rock in 2011. Strop is 19-15 with a 3.79 ERA (242.0IP, 102 ER) in 202 career minor league games with the Colorado Rockies and...

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Orioles select contracts of pitcher Rick VandenHurk and outfielder Kyle Hudson

September 01, 2011, 10:26am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Rick VandenHurk and outfielder Kyle Hudson from Triple-A Norfolk. VandenHurk was 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA (154.1IP, 76 ER) in 26 starts for Norfolk this season. In 42 career major league games (33 starts) VandenHurk is 8-10 with a 5.86 ERA (172.0IP, 112 ER) with Florida and Baltimore. In 2010 he appeared in seven games for the Orioles going 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA (16.1IP, 9 ER). Hudson played for the Single-A...

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Heath Bintliff: Future of Orioles rotation murkier than ever

September 01, 2011, 4:58am

Orioles

With the arrival of "The Calvary," there was to be an influx of young arms in the Orioles rotation and it was thought that some would seize starting jobs and not let them go. I thought that the starting rotation for the 2012 Orioles would be in much sharper focus by the end of this season. I was wrong. Due to injuries, general ineffectiveness and the rise of some unlikely candidates, figuring out who will be in the 2012 Baltimore rotation has gotten much harder to figure. Jeremy Guthrie:...

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Ted Youngling: Strasburg's return creates late-season buzz in D.C.

August 31, 2011, 8:03pm

Nationals

Ted Youngling: Strasburg's return creates late-season buzz in D.C.

He's baaack! Stephen Strasburg will be making his 2011 debut Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This will mark his first major league appearance since last Aug. 21. I can't say I'm surprised by the announcement, but a part of me was convinced he would sit out the remainder of the season. All of a sudden, we find ourselves in a situation similar to June 8, 2010, with a week of anticipation that sees ticket sales jump and Nationals baseball dominate D.C. sports talk radio. Whether you...

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Orioles trade Gonzalez to Rangers for player to be named later; recall Zach Phillips

August 31, 2011, 12:37pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have traded left-handed pitcher Michael Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later. The club has also recalled left-handed pitcher Zach Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk. Gonzalez, 33, went 2-2 with one save and a 4.27 ERA (46.1 IP, 22 ER) in 49 appearances for the Orioles this season. He has not allowed a run in his last 13 appearances, surrendering five hits and one walk with 15 strikeouts over 12.1 innings. Gonzalez went 1-3...

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Rachel Levitin: Inflated expectations on home team's new mascot?

August 31, 2011, 6:56am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Inflated expectations on home team's new mascot?

These days, there appears to be a solid distinction in the way baseball fans - in Washington, D.C., especially - view the game. They watch the game and pick its intricacies apart with either a conservative, progressive or moderate lens. Nation's capital puns aside, it's a dichotomy that gets the Nationals' fan base riled up inside the ballpark, via Twitter or in the blogosphere. The baseball conservatives are traditionalists who tend to abide by the unwritten rule book. They say that fans...

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Daniel Moroz: Longball at center of Hardy's renaissance

August 31, 2011, 6:46am

Orioles

Daniel Moroz: Longball at center of Hardy's renaissance

J.J. Hardy is having a very good offensive season. He is, in fact, having the best offensive season of his career. And that's coming entirely from one factor. Not more walks (he's doing worse than his career numbers) or fewer strike-outs (he's doing worse than his career numbers) or more hits when he puts the ball into play (he's doing worse than his career numbers). It's the longball. Hardy's 26 home runs already tie a career high (in only 102 games, no less), and there's a good...