Mel Antonen

Do the Orioles or Nationals have a better chance of returning to playoffs?

Nationals Orioles
Do the Orioles or Nationals have a better chance of returning to playoffs?
As the season's final month arrives, the looming question remains: Who has a better chance of returning to the postseason, the Orioles or the Nationals? The Orioles are chasing two pitching-rich teams - the Red Sox and Rays - in their own division and another, Cleveland, that can't hit. The Nationals are at point where they need a winning streak and a collapse from one of the three contenders in the National League Central. We will know more soon about who the Nationals will be chasing....
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Mel Antonen

Should Nats let Davey Johnson manage last month if they don't turn it around?

Nationals
Should Nats let Davey Johnson manage last month if they don't turn it around?
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo hasn't given up on the season, but at a time when the Phillies fired a legend, Charlie Manuel, there is a similar question for the Nationals: If there is no hope for the team by Sept. 1, is it best for manager Davey Johnson to work the final month? Johnson, who said before the season that this would be his last, deserves to go out on his own terms, but the final month could give Rizzo a chance to see how Randy Knorr looks as a manager and how he handles...
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Mel Antonen

Taking a look at the AL teams jockeying for the postseason

Orioles
Taking a look at the AL teams jockeying for the postseason
The Orioles start the week 4 ½ games behind the Red Sox in the American League East, and they are bunched with teams in the race for two wild cards. Here's a snapshot of what's going on with the other contenders: * The Red Sox are coming off a tough series loss, losing three of four in Kansas City, but it is difficult to deny their rotation with Jake Peavy joining Jon Lester and John Lackey. ... How much Clay Buchholz (neck) will contribute remains a question. ... But the offense is...
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Mel Antonen

Nationals even facing tough road to earning an NL wild card berth

Nationals
Nationals even facing tough road to earning an NL wild card berth
Now that the Braves have finished off their second series sweep in D.C. and kept the Nationals from being relevant in the National League East, the Nationals have to turn their attention to making the playoffs as a wild card. And that avenue to October doesn't look good. After getting swept for a second time in D.C. by the Braves this season, the Nationals are nine games behind the Reds for the second wild card spot in the NL. The Diamondbacks are also ahead of the Nationals, who won 98...
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Mel Antonen

Examining the deals on an anti-climactic non-waiver deadline day

Nationals Orioles
Examining the deals on an anti-climactic non-waiver deadline day
Overall, the trades leading up to Wednesday's non-waiver deadline can be described in one word: anti-climactic. Cliff Lee and Michael Young stayed put in Philadelphia. Former National Michael Morse stayed in Seattle, even though Texas and Pittsburgh were looking for right-handed power. It turns out there was no market for the Twins' Justin Morneau. It's strange that Bud Norris, traded from Houston to the Orioles Tuesday, will be pitching against his former Astros team in his first...
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Mel Antonen

With trade deadline nearing, who's buying and who's selling?

Nationals Orioles
With trade deadline nearing, who's buying and who's selling?
The non-waiver trade deadline is Wednesday, and so far, general managers are saying that there are more buyers than sellers and that's driving up the price for contenders wanting to add players. "It looks like now our help is going to have to come from within the organization," says Pirates general manager Neal Huntington. "The market is tough right now." Trade speculation is tough to nail, here's how it is taking shape: * The Pirates, trying to break 20 consecutive seasons of losing,...
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Mel Antonen

Ryan Braun's punishment far from enough

Nationals Orioles
Ryan Braun's punishment far from enough
Outfielder Ryan Braun has been suspended for the rest of the Brewers' hopeless season for his involvement with an anti-aging clinic in Florida. That's bad enough for baseball, but what really makes everyone mad is how Braun tried to lie his way through it all. I can't believe he said he wanted to apologize to anyone he "may have disappointed." Really? Braun is arrogant and deceitful. He has not apologized in a sincere manner. He's still looking for a way to beat the rap. He still...
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Mel Antonen

All Nationals need to do to get back in NL East race is put together a winning streak

Nationals Orioles
All Nationals need to do to get back in NL East race is put together a winning streak
The Nationals are battling to stay in the National League East race. Their All-Star pitcher, Jordan Zimmermann, was done after two innings Sunday. They continue to struggle hitting with runners in scoring position and will try to rebound after getting swept at home by the Dodgers. But even though four months of the season are nearly complete, there's still time. And, they can learn from the Dodgers and Rays about what a winning streak can do to change a season. The Dodgers and Rays were...
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Mel Antonen

As the second half kicks off, a look at the Nats and other National League contenders

Nationals
As the second half kicks off, a look at the Nats and other National League contenders
The Nationals won 98 games last year. They aren't going to cruise to the National League East title this year, and it's going to be a grind just to make October. This time, they have to improve their hitting and get consistent pitching from No. 4 and No. 5 in the rotation. Dan Haren has pitched well in his return from the disabled list, and Ross Detwiler should be back next week. They need to pitch well. The depth is not there. The Nats offense is perplexing. At times, they surge....
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Mel Antonen

Breaking down the O's second-half chances, contenders for division crowns, wild card spots

Orioles
Breaking down the O's second-half chances, contenders for division crowns, wild card spots
If the Orioles are going to play in October for the second consecutive season, the formula is simple: They need a rotation to consistently pitch into the sixth and seventh innings. If that happens, the Orioles have plenty of offense, defense and a good enough bullpen to win the American League East. But as the season resumes Friday in Texas, the Orioles rotation ranks 13th in the AL with a 4.79 ERA, while their bullpen has pitched 306 innings, fourth-most in the league. And the Orioles can't...
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Mel Antonen

If Desmond doesn't make NL All-Star team, it's an unforgivable snub

Nationals
If Desmond doesn't make NL All-Star team, it's an unforgivable snub
When it comes to All-Star Games, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond hasn't had good luck. Last season, he was selected as a reserve for the National League team, but couldn't make the trip to Kansas City because of injury. This season, he deserves a spot on the NL's 34-man squad, but he has to go up against Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig, 24, in the fans' voting for the final roster spot. Puig is a five-tool player who has developed into a rock star sensation since coming to the big leagues a...
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Mel Antonen

All-Star Game needs some changes to restore its luster

Nationals Orioles
All-Star Game needs some changes to restore its luster
Fan balloting for the All-Star Game lineups ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Thursday. Perhaps it should end altogether. The balloting has become a sponsor-driven event where Major League Baseball encourages teams to encourage their fans to spend endless hours on the computer voting for the hometown players. Some teams have even constructed areas in their ballparks where fans can spend time voting for their favorite players. That is not the right way to select players for a game that...
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Mel Antonen

Nationals need to improve clutch hitting, Orioles' ascent to top of AL East won't be easy

Nationals Orioles
Nationals need to improve clutch hitting, Orioles' ascent to top of AL East won't be easy
As baseball moves into the third month of the season, here are some things to think about as burgers go on the grill: * If you think the Nationals' first half has been marked by a lack of clutch hitting, check out the Braves: Going into Monday, they have the National League's worst average (.221) with runners in scoring position. The Nats are at .247. Both teams are running on parallel tracks: Each has a strong rotation and bullpen, but no ability to sustain rallies. * It is obvious that...
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Mel Antonen

Deserving O's Machado could be squeezed out of All-Star Game, Zimmermann likely to represent Nats

Nationals Orioles
Deserving O's Machado could be squeezed out of All-Star Game, Zimmermann likely to represent Nats
The Orioles' Adam Jones, Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis are leading the All-Star voting at their respective positions, but third baseman Manny Machado's chances to make the team present interesting twists. Machado, who turns 21 on July 6, deserves to be at New York's Citi Field on July 16. At this point, he is more than a million votes behind Detroit's Miguel Cabrera to start at third base. Unless he overcomes Cabrera in the fan voting, Machado's being an All-Star depends on...
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Mel Antonen

Injury-plagued Nats have struggled, while other teams battling DL have flourished

Nationals Orioles
Injury-plagued Nats have struggled, while other teams battling DL have flourished
The Nationals have injuries, but several teams have made the injury excuse obsolete this season. The Cardinals have the best record in baseball, even though they have four starters - Jake Westbrook, Chris Carpenter, John Gast and Jamie Garcia - on their disabled list, as well closer Jason Motte and shortstop/leadoff batter Rafael Furcal. The Yankees are contending the American League East even though they have two shortstops - Derek Jeter and Eduardo Nunez - on the disabled list. Their DL...
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Mel Antonen

Davis, Cabrera took different routes to top of AL; Puig arrives with a bang

Nationals Orioles
Davis, Cabrera took different routes to top of AL; Puig arrives with a bang
The Orioles' Chris Davis and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera are the two most dangerous hitters in the American League, but each took a different route to the top of the AL statistics. In 2003, at 20, Cabrera, who is now 30, was hitting four home runs in the postseason as the Marlins beat the Yankees in the World Series. Davis, 27, took a longer route to the bigs. Davis was a fifth-round draft pick for the Rangers in 2005. He hit home runs on his way up the minor league ladder including 23 in 2008...
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Mel Antonen

O's and Nats weigh in on interleague play as natural rivals face off this week

Nationals Orioles
O's and Nats weigh in on interleague play as natural rivals face off this week
For the first time in its brief history, interleague play is a year-round occurrence. It used to be a novelty, but now it is a regular ho-hum thing, much like watching games on your telephone. But when interleague play came to be in 1997, this week's schedule is what had the baseball world excited: The unofficial "Natural Rivals" week, when the series were Angels-Dodgers, Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox and Nationals-Orioles. This year, with the leagues realigned into two 15-team leagues,...
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Mel Antonen

Bit by injury bug, Braves bullpen has gone from a strength to a question (other notes)

Nationals Orioles
Bit by injury bug, Braves bullpen has gone from a strength to a question (other notes)
The Nationals don't have a lefty reliever in their bullpen, and the division-rival Braves are running out of bullpen lefties as well. The Braves will be without lefties Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty, their main setup guys for All-Star Craig Kimbrel. In addition, the Braves are without Jordan Walden, the right-handed reliever they acquired in a trade with the Angels, and ex-Oriole Luis Ayala, who is on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder. Walden should be back next week, but...
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Mel Antonen

Umpires need to admit mistakes to restore their credibility

Nationals Orioles
Umpires need to admit mistakes to restore their credibility
As the umpiring issues involving Fielden Culbreth and Angel Hernandez continue to rage, and as Major League Baseball continues to look into expanded replay, it would be nice if the umpires would stand up and admit mistakes after controversial calls. That would go a long way in restoring their credibility with the players and fans. Instead, after missing a home-run call in Cleveland, and then refusing to change it after watching it on replay, Hernandez basically blew off the pool reporter...
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Mel Antonen

Anonymous but hardworking scouts finally get due in Cooperstown

Nationals Orioles
Anonymous but hardworking scouts finally get due in Cooperstown
The most anonymous and yet most important people in baseball have made the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The hall is recognizing the work of scouts in a two-year display that opened last week. In an age when advanced statistics such as BABIP and WAR take center stage in player evaluation, the old-time scout, the guy that puts 50,000 miles a year on a car looking for potential big-league talent, is being recognized. "It's about time,'' says Dan Jennings, vice president of player...
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