Josh Land

Matthew Taylor: It's time to play Steve Pearce trivia

August 05, 2016, 5:35am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: It's time to play Steve Pearce trivia

Baltimore's gritty, do-it-all workhorse has returned to town. The Orioles traded for Steve Pearce on Monday in a move that delighted many fans who appreciate having a familiar face back in the fold. Just how familiar are you with Pearce? Find out with this Steve Pearce trivia: 1. Steve Pearce has four career multi-homer games, three with the Orioles and one with the Tampa Bay Rays. Two of those multi-homer games have come against pitchers who have suited up for the O's. Who are they? The...

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Patrick Reddington: Baker and Rizzo on Melancon's role with Nats

August 05, 2016, 5:25am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Baker and Rizzo on Melancon's role with Nats

In his two relief appearances for the Washington Nationals since he was acquired last weekend, new closer Mark Melancon has taken the mound with 14-1 and 8-3 leads. Not exactly high-leverage situations, but he's thrown two scoreless innings in relief for the Nationals on 25 pitches, giving up one hit and striking out three. Dusty Baker was impressed with the right-hander's Nationals debut. "Same stuff we saw on the other side," Baker said. "We know he throws strikes and we know he's tough...

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Opposite dugout: White Sox scuffling along in dog days

August 04, 2016, 3:55pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: White Sox scuffling along in dog days

Manager: Robin Ventura (5th season) Record: 52-56 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: LF Melky Cabrera (.306 with 118 hits), 3B Todd Frazier (30 HR, 68 RBIs), 1B Jose Abreu (.269 with 12 HR, 24 doubles), LHP Chris Sale (14-5, 3.12 ERA), RHP David Robertson (4.06 ERA with 26 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 2-2 Pitching probables: August 5: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. RHP Miguel Gonzalez, 8:10 p.m., MASN2August 6: RHP Chris Tillman vs. LHP Carlos Rodon, 7:10 p.m., MASN2August 7: RHP Dylan Bundy vs....

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "The Age of Innocence"

August 04, 2016, 12:27pm

"It was the old New York way of taking a life 'without effusion of blood': the way of people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than 'scenes,' except the behavior of those who gave rise to them." This pretty well sums up the underpinning of all that transpires in one of the all time prized novels, "The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton. The time is the mid-1800s and the cast of characters is from...

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Zach Wilt: Britton a critical piece in Orioles' run at division crown

August 04, 2016, 4:46am

Orioles

Zach Britton locked it down again for the Orioles last night. The guy seems to be as much of a sure thing as traffic on the beltway at 5:45 p.m. It had been a little while since we've seen that "S" next to Britton's name in the box score. His last save came on July 23 against the Cleveland Indians. It was clear that Britton didn't have his best stuff; he threw 10 strikes of his 20 pitches and issued a walk to Rougned Odor. Jim Hunter commented on the MASN broadcast that Britton may...

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David Huzzard: Nationals aren't flashy, but keep on winning

August 04, 2016, 4:10am

Nationals

If you had asked me where the Nationals were in comparison to the rest of baseball, I'd have guessed they had the fourth or fifth best record in baseball. I knew they were behind the Cubs and figured there were a couple other teams ahead of them. So it surprised me when, leading up to the deadline, I kept hearing about how they had the second best record in baseball. The Nationals are a better team than we realize. I can't say exactly why that is, but I have some ideas. The first is no one...

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Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, RHP Stephen Strasburg take home monthly honors

August 03, 2016, 11:22am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals swept the monthly National League awards for July with second baseman Daniel Murphy earning the NL Player of the Month and right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg honored as the NL Pitcher of the Month. Major League Baseball made the announcements on MLB Network on Wednesday. Murphy, who also earned the NL Player of the Month award for the month of May, finished July hitting .346 with a .372 on-base percentage and a .744 slugging percentage. In a month that featured...

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Dillon Atkinson: O's moves weren't flashy, but team has improved

August 03, 2016, 5:30am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: O's moves weren't flashy, but team has improved

Dylan Bundy's masterful seven innings last night may have helped you forget that the Orioles acquired two players via trade prior to this past Monday's non-waiver trade deadline. In case you missed it, the Birds added left-handed starter Wade Miley and utility man Steve Pearce. While you may be disappointed because you wanted someone like Jeremy Hellickson instead, I think we can all agree that the Orioles' current roster is better than the roster from last week. These moves aren't flashy...

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Charlie Fliegel: Veteran Werth still holds great value in Nats lineup

August 03, 2016, 3:07am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Veteran Werth still holds great value in Nats lineup

At the beginning of this season, there were doubts that Jayson Werth could be an effective hitter anymore. He looked lost for much of the previous year, he was entering his age 37 season, and a repeat of his .685 OPS could've easily sunk the Nationals' playoff chances. As this season began, he seemed to fulfill those expectations. He appeared pretty lost at the plate in April and May - he hit a few home runs, but he wasn't getting on base much at all. He only managed to post a .225/.280/.410...

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Steve Mears: How can the Nats roster change after the non-waiver trade deadline?

August 02, 2016, 7:13am

Nationals

Steve Mears: How can the Nats roster change after the non-waiver trade deadline?

In-season trading hit a new high this year as teams made 48 trades from June 1 to the deadline yesterday. It broke last year's record of 43 trades. Trades are best judged in hindsight to analyze the real winners and losers in trades, and quality over quantity. For anyone wondering how MLB.com rated teams after the non-waiver trade deadline, their power rankings in the National League had the top five teams in this order: Cubs, Nationals, Giants, Dodgers and Cardinals. Yes, they ranked the...

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Ryan Romano: Three interesting things about new Oriole Wade Miley

August 02, 2016, 4:12am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: Three interesting things about new Oriole Wade Miley

For most of the 2016 season -- and a fair amount of the time before it -- the Orioles have needed a starting pitcher. On Sunday, they finally got one in the form of Wade Miley. Seattle shipped the 29-year-old lefty to Baltimore in exchange for Ariel Miranda; for more general information on Miley's background, check out my Camden Depot colleague Matt Perez's analysis. What I'd like to do in this space, as I've done for past Orioles transactions, is focus on a few esoteric observations about...

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Marty Niland: How does the Melancon trade affect the rest of the Nats bullpen?

August 01, 2016, 5:09am

Nationals

Marty Niland: How does the Melancon trade affect the rest of the Nats bullpen?

So the Nationals have finally landed a new closer, with Mark Melancon coming from Pittsburgh. General manager Mike Rizzo sent left-hander Felipe Rivero and prospect Taylor Hearn to the Pirates in hopes that he can solve the late-inning issues that have plagued the team in the past week. But what will become of the man he's supplanting, Jonathan Papelbon, and the rest of the bullpen? Papelbon is on record as saying he is OK with the move, despite the fact that his new role is undefined. When...

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dusty baker guest blogger guestblogger jonathan papelbon mark melancon marty niland mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz

Andrew Stetka: Missing playoffs won't ruin Orioles

August 01, 2016, 4:57am

Orioles

As the Orioles struggle to cling to their lead in the American League East, they are starting to show their true colors - and they aren't orange and black. The pitching staff has looked more like black and blue of late. I'd call the offense green at this point, not because it's new or fresh, but because it looks sick. It may be true that the Orioles battled to avoid a sixth straight loss in Toronto yesterday, but everything isn't rosy in Birdland right now. The O's have still lost nine of...

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Opposite dugout: Diamondbacks trying to salvage lost season

August 01, 2016, 4:31am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Diamondbacks trying to salvage lost season

Manager: Chip Hale (2nd season) Record: 43-62 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 2B Jean Segura (.311 with 129 hits), 3B Jake Lamb (.282 with 21 HR), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (.297 with 68 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (10-3, 3.62 ERA), RHP Jake Barrett (2.79 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2015) Pitching probables: August 1: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Archie Bradley, 9:40 p.m., MASNAugust 2: RHP Tanner Roark vs. LHP Robbie Ray, 9:40 p.m., MASN2August 3: RHP Max...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "A Drop of the Hard Stuff"

July 29, 2016, 6:11pm

The Grand Master recognition for mystery writing is a major achievement in the profession. Lawrence Block has been so recognized - and has about every other award a mystery writer could accumulate. He has been laying down the hard tracks of the wounded souls who weave in and out of light to the dark underworld of crime and troubled human beings. "A Drop of the Hard Stuff" is recognized as one of Block's best. It is the tale of a former cop with a drinking problem gone sober who takes on a...

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Nationals recall C Pedro Severino

July 29, 2016, 3:26pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled catcher Pedro Severino from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday and placed catcher Jose Lobaton on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 20) with left elbow tendonitis. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Severino, 23, joins Washington for his second Major League assignment of the season. Severino, who entered the season rated as the "Best Defensive Catcher" and the No. 11 prospect in Washington's...

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Matthew Taylor: RBI-less Joseph shouldn't be defined by statistical quirk

July 29, 2016, 5:26am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: RBI-less Joseph shouldn't be defined by statistical quirk

With his wife having given birth to the couple's first child during spring training last season, Caleb Joseph described his added motivation for making the team humorously using the phrase "Baby's gotta eat." Joseph appeared in 100 games for the Orioles in 2015 and acquitted himself well as Matt Wieters recovered from Tommy John surgery. His productive plate appearances often inspired tweets incorporating the hashtag #BabysGottaEat. Little Walker Everett Joseph did not go hungry. Given...

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Patrick Reddington: Exploring Nats' in-house bullpen options

July 29, 2016, 5:09am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Exploring Nats' in-house bullpen options

When the Nationals missed out on Aroldis Chapman this week, manager Dusty Baker told reporters that he was disappointed that he wouldn't be reunited with the hard-throwing lefty who debuted in the majors with the Reds while Baker was their manager. "Disappointing," Baker said. "Would've liked to have him." While Baker was interested in a reunion with Chapman, he said last week that generally speaking, he doesn't pay too much attention to the chatter that precedes the non-waiver trade...

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Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones to go head-to-head with local husband-and-wife team in ballpark food cook-off

July 28, 2016, 12:05pm

Orioles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Steph Senkewicz (Deisher) 410-504-8326 or 443-604-6274 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. BALTIMORE ORIOLES OUTFIELDER ADAM JONES TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH LOCAL HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM IN BALLPARK FOOD COOK-OFF CareFirst Fan Challenge winner to put Jones' culinary creation to the test on Wednesday, August 3 at Dempsey's Brew Pub BALTIMORE (July 28, 2016) - Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) today announced that Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones will face the winner...

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Zach Wilt: Bundy showing potential as a starter in O's rotation

July 28, 2016, 4:55am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Bundy showing potential as a starter in O's rotation

For just the second time this season, the Orioles lost a series in Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Let's be honest, the hometown fans have gotten a little spoiled by the O's this season. If you've purchased a ticket to watch the Birds at home in 2016, you've probably seen them win. They're winning 69 percent of the games they play in Charm City. Last night, however, they were simply outmatched by Rockies rookie Jon Gray and dropped two of three from Colorado. It wasn't all bad though. Chris...