Josh Land

Opposite dugout: Red Sox take three-game lead into crucial series

September 19, 2016, 3:32am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Red Sox take three-game lead into crucial series

Manager: John Farrell (4th season) Record: 85-64 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 2B Dustin Pedroia (.324 average with 189 hits); DH David Ortiz (.317 average with 34 HR, 116 RBIs); RF Mookie Betts (.314 average with 30 HR, 106 RBIs); SS Hanley Ramirez (28 HR with 150 hits); RHP Rick Porcello (20-4, 3.12 ERA); RHP David Price (16-8, 3.91 ERA). Season series vs. Orioles: 7-8 Pitching probables: September 19: RHP Rick Porcello vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 7:05 p.m., MASNSeptember 20: LHP Eduardo...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Bully Pulpit"

September 16, 2016, 7:31pm

Orioles

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Bully Pulpit"

As a presidential historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin is at the top of the list. Her works have that magical quality of readability and substance. "The Bully Pulpit" is of a different age, but much of the substance is of today. The book looks at Teddy Roosevelt and his leadership of the progressive movement and party. Until a rancorous split, there was William Howard Taft at Roosevelt's side. Both sought to address big business's domination over individuals and the need for equality of income....

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Patrick Reddington: Long season taking a toll on Wilson Ramos

September 16, 2016, 5:55am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Long season taking a toll on Wilson Ramos

Dusty Baker spent quite a bit of time before and after the first two games of the now-completed three-game set with the visiting Mets talking about the offensive struggles of Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos. Ramos, 29, was 4-for-28 (.143/.200/.179) over the first eight games in September, with a double, two runs batted in, two walks and nine strikeouts in 30 plate appearances. The rough stretch left the soon-to-be-free agent with a .259/.299/.414 line, six doubles, seven home runs, 25 RBIs, 10...

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Matthew Taylor: On the tortuous nature of September baseball

September 16, 2016, 5:15am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: On the tortuous nature of September baseball

My wife and I discussed pennant races Thursday night shortly after the Orioles dropped a disappointing 7-6 decision to the Rays. She concluded our brief conversation with this simple truth: "So they're fun when you're winning, but they stink when you're losing." Truer words were never spoken. Moments later, the Red Sox completed a ninth-inning comeback versus the Yankees with a three-run walk-off home run, and I commenced an unmitigated assault on our defenseless bedroom pillows. Grown men...

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Orioles make three roster moves

September 15, 2016, 12:12pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of INF Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk and recalled RHP Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk. In a corresponding move, the Orioles have recalled LHP Chris Lee from Double-A Bowie and placed him on the 60-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain. Janish, 33, batted .248/.333/.280 (61-for-246) with eight doubles, 26 runs scored, and 18 RBI in 76 games with the Tides this season. He posted a .993 fielding percentage in 76 games...

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Zach Wilt: As weather cools, O's starting pitching heats up

September 15, 2016, 5:16am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: As weather cools, O's starting pitching heats up

Like most people across the country, I updated my phone's firmware to its fancy new version yesterday evening. I've gotta have those updated emojis and goofy message effects that all my friends are talking about. After it completed, I was sure that something went wrong because the calendar app read "September 14," but according to the Orioles' matchup against the Red Sox that I was watching, it was surely October. The road crowd at Fenway Park was raucous and every pitch seemed to have...

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David Huzzard: Zimmerman aging, but deserves a championship finish

September 15, 2016, 5:02am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Zimmerman aging, but deserves a championship finish

When I think of the Nationals - not the current squad, but the franchise as a whole - the two players I view as the heart and soul of the team are Livan Hernandez and Ryan Zimmerman. The part that is sad to me is Zimmerman had the best years of his career before the Nationals were good. Shoulder injuries and age have caught up to Zimmerman much too quickly and the twilight of his career is upon him. He is a shell of his former self and the Nationals should make finding a new first baseman a...

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Opposite dugout: Rays hoping to buck recent trend vs. O's

September 15, 2016, 2:55am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Rays hoping to buck recent trend vs. O's

Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 62-83 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Logan Forsythe (.279 average with 19 HR, 50 RBIs); 3B Evan Longoria (32 HR, 155 hits); SS Brad Miller (72 RBIs, 122 hits); RHP Jake Odorizzi (9-6, 3.81 ERA); RHP Chris Archer (8-18 with 217 strikeouts); RHP Alex Colome (2.01 ERA with 32 saves). Season series vs. Orioles: 4-11 Pitching probables: September 15: LHP Blake Snell vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 7:05 p.m., MASNSeptember 16: RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Ubaldo...

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Nationals announce 2017 schedule

September 14, 2016, 12:07pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals announced their 2017 schedule on Wednesday, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, revealing an 81-game home slate that will begin on Opening Day, April 3, at Nationals Park vs. the Miami Marlins. The 84th home opener in D.C. since 1901 will mark the sixth Opening Day hosted by the Nationals since baseball returned to D.C. in 2005. Nationals Park will open its gates for 13 homestands, two of which will span 10 days or more, and include 13 weekend series. The home...

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Orioles announce 2017 schedule

September 14, 2016, 12:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they will open the 2017 season at Oriole Park against the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a five-game homestand beginning with Opening Day on Monday, April 3. The Orioles will continue the first homestand of the season with a three-game series against the New York Yankees, April 7-9. The Orioles will again host each American League East divisional opponent for three series throughout the season. The Boston Red Sox will play a total of 10 games in Baltimore, April...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Road Not Taken"

September 14, 2016, 6:51am

Orioles

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Road Not Taken"

For years, there is a book that has come and gone from the nightstand, but is never very far gone. It is a collection of Robert Frost's lectures at colleges. They fascinate me to no end and I never tire of rereading them. Nor do I ever tire of reading this masterpiece of verse. "The Road Not Taken, A Selection of Robert Frost Poems" is a classic and framed in my office, as I'm sure so many others have done. This book is one of so many featuring his poems, treasures for the ages. Where...

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Dillon Atkinson: Could O's use four-man rotation in playoffs?

September 14, 2016, 5:59am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Could O's use four-man rotation in playoffs?

Following Tuesday night's 6-3 win over the Red Sox, the Orioles are tied for the first wild card spot and second place in the American League East - being just two games back - with the Blue Jays. The Birds, 79-66, face the Red Sox again tonight in the rubber match of a three-game set at Fenway. O's young right-hander Kevin Gausman will counter Boston's Cy Young candidate Rick Porcello. With the Orioles winning the series in Detroit and winning last night's ball game, a win in Boston...

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Charlie Fliegel: Against Dodgers, Gonzalez should get nod over Ross

September 13, 2016, 7:42pm

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Against Dodgers, Gonzalez should get nod over Ross

The latest news on the Nationals pitching staff hopefully heralds the return of Joe Ross. It remains to be seen whether Ross will start in the playoffs, and whether he can. If Ross does indeed come back healthy and his endurance is there, it seems like a no-brainer to start him after Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark (and, if Stephen Strasburg can make it back, after him as well). And his overall numbers do suggest putting him ahead of Gio Gonzalez. In 16 games started this season, Ross has a 3.49...

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Steve Mears: Is it time for the Nationals to tweak their lineup?

September 13, 2016, 9:33am

Nationals

Is it time to rearrange the lineup to thwart the competition? The Nationals have been stacking left-handed hitters Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper for months. Both players hit left-handed pitchers well. Harper actually has a higher slugging percentage (eight points) against left-handed pitchers versus the right-handed pitchers, but his on-base-percentage is 53 points lower against left-handers. Would the lineup do better putting Anthony Rendon between Murphy and Harper to take advantage of the...

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Ryan Romano: What's missing in Britton's dominating campaign?

September 13, 2016, 5:24am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: What's missing in Britton's dominating campaign?

Even though Orioles fans get to watch him take the hill constantly, sometimes I think we still don't truly appreciate how great Zach Britton is. The organization developed him as a starting pitcher, but after flopping in that role, he looked like another bust. Nowadays, he never starts anything - he just finishes things. Since his move to the bullpen in 2014, he's put up an ERA of 1.45, which trails only Wade Davis among qualified relievers. Now that he leads the majors in 2016 ERA at 0.63,...

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Orioles attract prestigious Wilson Premier Classic Tournament to Sarasota

September 12, 2016, 12:19pm

Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles will host one of the nation's top amateur baseball tournaments, the Wilson Premier Classic, in Sarasota from September 15-18 at Ed Smith Stadium and the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park. "The Wilson Premier Classic showcases young amateur players for dozens of professional and college scouts," said David Rovine, Vice President of Orioles-Sarasota. "We expect approximately 1,000 players and coaches from across the nation who are eager to play at a Major...

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Marty Niland: Nats fans can celebrate some recent milestones

September 12, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Nats fans can celebrate some recent milestones

This past week produced a couple of milestones for the Nationals in the 2016 season, as they continued their hopeful march toward the National League East title. Their sweep of the Atlanta Braves guaranteed the Nats their fifth consecutive winning season. Does that seem pretty ho-hum for a team that's seems bound for a third postseason in that span? Ask the most experienced baseball fan you know if they can recall the last time that happened in this town. They won't be able to, because it...

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Andrew Stetka: O's giving fans something to cheer about in September

September 12, 2016, 4:40am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: O's giving fans something to cheer about in September

It's the middle of September and you are still watching and enjoying baseball. OK, so maybe you didn't watch much baseball yesterday with the return of the NFL to your television set. But in general, you are still watching baseball in mid-September, and you're doing it with a purpose. That's something that Orioles fans have taken for granted over the last half decade or so. It's hard to believe, but this is the fifth straight season the O's are giving fans really meaningful baseball down...

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Opposite dugout: Mets surging at right time for return to postseason

September 12, 2016, 2:52am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Mets surging at right time for return to postseason

Manager: Terry Collins (6th season) Record: 76-67 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.293 average with 30 HR, 78 RBIs); SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.277 average with 125 hits); RF Curtis Granderson (26 HR, 108 hits); RHP Noah Syndergaard (13-8 with 2.48 ERA); RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1 with 3.92 ERA). Season series vs. Nationals: 6-10 Pitching probables: September 12: RHP Rafael Montero vs. RHP Mat Latos, 7:05 p.m., MASNSeptember 13: RHP Noah Syndergaard vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 7:05...

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Yard Work: Episode 13

September 09, 2016, 9:48am

Orioles

Hey, O's fans. We're back with another episode of Yard Work. On this week's edition.... Steve Melewski is in Detroit, ready to follow the Orioles as they get set for a pivotal three-game series against the Tigers. Both teams are fighting for the playoffs and wins and losses during September can make or break the season. Needless to say, this is the biggest series of the year for the Birds, at least until the next one. Melewski checks in from the Motor City. In injury news, fans are...