Josh Land

Opposite dugout: Giants scuffling, but keeping pace in NL West

July 28, 2016, 3:55am

Manager: Bruce Bochy (10th season) Record: 59-42 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: C Buster Posey (.285 average, 12 HR, 47 RBIs); SS Brandon Crawford (94 hits, 63 RBIs); 1B Brandon Belt (.392 OBP, 92 hits, 11 HR); RHP Johnny Cueto (13-2, 2.53 ERA); LHP Madison Bumgarner (10-6, 2.09 ERA). Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-3 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 28: RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Johnny Cueto, 10:15 p.m., MASN2July 29: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Jeff Samardzija, 10:15 p.m.,...

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David Huzzard: Nationals shouldn't deal top prospects for bullpen help

July 28, 2016, 2:36am

Nationals

There is some irony in the demands that the Nationals cave in to the Yankees' high asking price for Andrew Miller. Not because Lucas Giolito is untouchable, but because Miller was once the 10th best prospect in baseball. It was also at this time he was traded to the Marlins, along with Cameron Maybin, for Miguel Cabrera. Maybin was listed as the sixth best prospect in all of baseball. If Miller and Maybin had lived up to even half their projected potential with the Marlins, the Cabrera trade...

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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind"

July 27, 2016, 3:57pm

Orioles

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind"

"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" has been on the to-do list for a year. It was penned last year by Yuval Noah Harari, a PhD in History from Oxford and professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The title is exactly what the book is about. This is far more than the laying out of dates and events. This is about what the events meant to the history of humans. Some of the conclusions are far from the conclusions so often found in history books. Let's begin with his chapter on why the...

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Nationals recall infielder Wilmer Difo

July 27, 2016, 6:44am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Wilmer Difo from Double-A Harrisburg and placed infielder Stephen Drew on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to July 24) with vertigo-like symptoms on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Difo, 24, joins Washington for his first Major League assignment of the season. In 96 games with Double-A Harrisburg, Difo is hitting .255 with 14 doubles, two triples, five home runs 33 RBI,...

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Charlie Fliegel: Nats may have found their answer in center field

July 27, 2016, 6:13am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Nats may have found their answer in center field

The Nationals have, over the past few weeks, inched closer to putting Trea Turner in center field, and last night they finally made the leap. Turner in center field makes too much sense to not at least try, and fans should be excited that the Nats are willing to do it. For starters, Turner appears to be an excellent hitter, and just the kind of table setter they are missing at the top of their lineup. He is making solid contact, and yesterday, on more than one occasion, his speed probably got...

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Dillon Atkinson: Chapman deal puts Britton's trade value into perspective

July 27, 2016, 6:03am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Chapman deal puts Britton's trade value into perspective

Who would have thought Orioles closer Zach Britton could continue to get better? In his age-28 season this year, Britton has converted all 32 of his save opportunities, recording 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings and an MLB-leading 0.63 ERA over 42.2 innings pitched. He's one of the best, if not the best, relievers in all of baseball. With 2016 being his first year of arbitration eligibility, Britton is earning $6.8 million. He has two more years of arbitration prior to reaching free agency,...

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Steve Mears: Aroldis Chapman would not have been worth the high price

July 26, 2016, 5:23am

Nationals

Steve Mears: Aroldis Chapman would not have been worth the high price

How many postseason saves does Aroldis Chapman have? Zero. Chapman does have a blown save and a loss. Wade Davis has four postseason saves with a perfect save record, and he also has three holds and four wins. Davis has 23 postseason games on his record and no blemishes. There is something called "incremental improvement" that sabermetricians look at to compare a 2.4 WAR player versus a 2.8 WAR player while using their advances stats to determine which player is better. Not so fast:...

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Ryan Romano: Should Gallardo keep Wright and Wilson out of the rotation?

July 26, 2016, 4:52am

Orioles

Ryan Romano: Should Gallardo keep Wright and Wilson out of the rotation?

What words come to mind when you think of the 2016 Orioles rotation? For me, the first few are ones that I can't print here. After that though, "fluid" arises as the most apt euphemism. Chris Tillman and Kevin Gausman have stuck around and pitched well, but beyond them the waters get murky. Dylan Bundy is currently a starter after beginning the campaign as a long reliever; the same applies to Vance Worley, for the most part. Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson have each had extended...

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O's fans host third annual School of Roch Night

July 25, 2016, 10:20am

Orioles

O's fans host third annual School of Roch Night

To say Roch Kubatko has a strong following is a bit of an understatement. Every day, Orioles fans visit the School of Roch on MASNsports.com, eager to find out the latest news and notes of the Birds. And just below each entry, in the comments section, those same fans come together to form one of the strongest and most loyal online gatherings of sports fans in baseball. It's a tightly knit community, rather than simply a group of random commenters. Fans talk baseball, of course, but often...

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Marty Niland: Three questions facing Nats as they begin road trip

July 25, 2016, 5:49am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Three questions facing Nats as they begin road trip

The Nationals seemed to have all the answers a week ago after starting their post All-Star break homestand with two wins in three games, but after a 2-4 finish, they hit the road to Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona with more questions. Who will be the Nats' fifth outfielder? Michael A. Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse following Sunday's 10-6 loss to San Diego. Since being recalled from Syracuse on July 10, he's gone 3-for-16 with six strikeouts, including one to end the eighth...

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Andrew Stetka: Experiment with Bundy, Worley could work for Orioles

July 24, 2016, 1:39pm

Orioles

As the Orioles continue to tinker with their pitching staff, more specifically their starting rotation, they are searching for a mixture that works. Over the last four days or so, they appear to have found something. The experiment of placing Vance Worley and Dylan Bundy into the rotation has paying off in the early going. I went on record last week in this space as against plucking Bundy out of the bullpen and making him a starter at this point. I won't go back on that just seven days later,...

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Orioles reinstate RHP Darren O'Day from the disabled list, option LHP Donnie Hart to Double-A Bowie

July 24, 2016, 9:29am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated RHP Darren O'Day from the 15-day disabled list and optioned LHP Donnie Hart to Double-A Bowie. O'Day, 33, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain on June 3. He has gone 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA (7 ER/20.0 IP), two saves, and 25 strikeouts in 22 games with the Orioles this season. Over 295 career games with the Orioles, O'Day has gone 25-9 with a 2.00 ERA (63 ER/283.0 IP) and 308 strikeouts. The 2015 American League...

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Yard Work podcast: Episode 9

July 22, 2016, 10:07am

Orioles

Hey, O's fans. Welcome to this week's edition of Yard Work. In today's episode.... The Orioles return home from their first road trip since the All-Star break. It wasn't the smoothest of journeys, however. After taking two of three from the Rays in Tampa Bay, the Orioles lost a four-game series against the Yankees in the Bronx, and were just a Chris Tillman gem shy of being swept by their divisional rival. Oddly enough, it was the team's offense that sputtered out of the gate. The Orioles...

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Patrick Reddington: Trea Turner's speed affects the whole game

July 22, 2016, 5:37am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Trea Turner's speed affects the whole game

Late in Sunday's 18-inning series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the game tied up at 1-1, Washington Nationals infielder Trea Turner hit a line drive leadoff single to left and tried to turn it into a double. Turner was thrown out at second by left fielder Starling Marte in spite of the fact that the Pirates outfielder made a fairly nonchalant play and throw into second. "Turner was cursed by his own speed," Dusty Baker told reporters after what ended up a 2-1 loss. "If he didn't...

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Matthew Taylor: Zach Britton closing in on history for O's

July 22, 2016, 4:50am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Zach Britton closing in on history for O's

Zach Britton is a perfect 30-for-30 in save situations in 2016 after closing things out in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon. He joins Gregg Olson as the only Orioles relievers with three seasons of 30 or more saves. The current O's closer is justifying the T-shirt worthy play on words, "Great Britton" (hat tip: OBP Apparel). This is the fifth consecutive year that the Orioles have had a closer with 30 or more saves, which marks the longest such run in team history. Britton is putting an...

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Opposite dugout: Balanced attack has Indians atop AL Central

July 21, 2016, 9:46am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Balanced attack has Indians atop AL Central

Manager: Terry Francona (4th season) Record: 56-38 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Mike Napoli (.249 with 22 HR, 67 RBIs), SS Francisco Lindor (.299 with 108 hits), CF Tyler Naquin (.324 with 5 triples), RHP Danny Salazar (11-3, 2.75 ERA), RHP Josh Tomlin (10-2, 3.34 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2 Pitching probables: July 22: RHP Trevor Bauer vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 7:05 p.m., MASN2July 23: RHP Josh Tomlin vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 7:05 p.m., MASN2July 24: RHP Corey Kluber vs. RHP Vance...

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David Huzzard: Would the Nationals trade for Mike Trout?

July 21, 2016, 6:17am

Nationals

There's a thin line between rumors and speculation. This is the time of year when everybody is trying to predict who will get moved where and for how much. The latest bit of speculation about the Nationals would be game-changing. While Reynaldo Lopez didn't get great results in his debut, his strikeout ability and velocity were on display and there were flashes of the promise. Trea Turner flashed his speed and stole home last night. Lucas Giolito had a good but abridged first outing with the...

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Zach Wilt: Looking at the O's offensive struggles since the All-Star break

July 21, 2016, 6:01am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Looking at the O's offensive struggles since the All-Star break

For the first time since June 4, the Baltimore Orioles find themselves out of first place in the American League East. Looking up in the standings is something this club hasn't been used to this year. In 2016, the O's have spent 91 days atop their division and saw their lead reach a season-high 5 1/2 games on June 29, but after the Birds got shut out in the Bronx last night, the Red Sox took a half-game lead in the East when they defeated the Giants 11-7. The second half hasn't been kind to...

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Charlie Fliegel: Trade deadline could spell out Lopez's future with Nats

July 20, 2016, 5:00am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Trade deadline could spell out Lopez's future with Nats

It wasn't a good start, but it is hard to call Reynaldo Lopez's debut last night awful, either. He started out poorly, giving up seven hits and four runs to the first 11 batters he faced. But he did settle down after that, getting the next eight consecutive hitters, before giving up two more runs in the fifth inning. Ten hits and six runs over 4 2/3 innings is bad, but he struck out nine hitters. That was the most in a MLB debut for any Nationals pitcher other than Stephen Strasburg, and that...

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Dillon Atkinson: Diving into some bullpen options as trade deadline nears

July 20, 2016, 4:48am

Orioles

Dillon Atkinson: Diving into some bullpen options as trade deadline nears

In an act of possible desperation, manager Buck Showalter has opted to use Dylan Bundy and Vance Worley in starter's roles this past week. These two - behind the trio of Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Yovani Gallardo - could stick in the rotation for a little while, despite possible pitch limits, since both are making the move from the bullpen. However, it's not a secret that the Orioles could use help in the starting rotation from outside the organization. And it would be hard to imagine...