Roch Kubatko

Putting Hays in corner an appealing move for Orioles

October 05, 2021, 10:49am

Orioles

Among the important developments for the Orioles in 2021, and it requires looking past the record, run differential, negative WARs and the rest, is the ability of Austin Hays to stay in the lineup after his return from a strained left hamstring on June 11 and play in a career-high 131 games. A mark that wasn't hard to surpass considering the previous best was 33 last summer. Hays accumulated 529 plate appearances, and he built on a reputation for finishing strong while others tend to whither....

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Leftovers for breakfast

October 04, 2021, 5:04pm

Orioles

The removal of Don Long as hitting coach yesterday will lead the Orioles to their latest set of offseason interviews. With candidates tabbed inside and outside the organization. The first step was informing Long of the decision, followed by the compiling of a list of names that won't be rushed. Tim Gibbons could get consideration after completing his first season as Triple-A Norfolk hitting coach. The Orioles aren't afraid to venture outside the box and Gibbons has performed these duties for...

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Orioles replacing Don Long as hitting coach

October 04, 2021, 12:48pm

Orioles

The first day of the Orioles' offseason is bringing changes to the major league coaching staff. Hitting coach Don Long will not return in 2022 and assistant hitting coach JosÃ© HernÃ¡ndez will switch to a different role on the staff, according to a source. The club will open a hiring process for both jobs that likely is going to consider both internal and external candidates, which has been the case in past years. The other coaches serving under manager Brandon Hyde are expected to return...

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Kendall, Steenstra and Mills won't return in 2022

October 04, 2021, 11:09am

Orioles

Kendall, Steenstra and Mills won't return in 2022

The changes on the minor league side of the Orioles' operation continued today at the highest and lower levels. Triple-A Norfolk manager Gary Kendall and pitching coach Kennie Steenstra, and Rookie-level Florida Complex League manager Alan Mills won't be returning in 2022, according to multiple sources. They were informed of the club's decision this morning. The Orioles haven't announced the moves. Kendall spent eight seasons as manager with Double-A Bowie before joining the Tides in 2019....

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Orioles can begin easing into offseason

October 03, 2021, 5:24pm

Orioles

The offseason business can commence with the Orioles completing their final regular season game yesterday in Toronto and finishing at 52-110, and with a club-record 62 players used, - catcher Nick Ciuffo being the last - and 16 making their debuts. Major League Baseball prefers that teams remain relatively quiet this month while the playoffs are ongoing. No major announcements. But the 40-man roster can be adjusted, for example, while the Orioles sweat the small stuff. They also can evaluate...

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Orioles finish 2021 season with 12-4 loss to Blue Jays (updated)

October 03, 2021, 2:29pm

Orioles

Pat Valaika grounded into a force against Adam Cimber this afternoon and the Orioles' 2021 season was a wrap. The fifth in a row below .500. A final record of 52-110, with two fewer wins than the last full season in 2019. With 56 road losses that are third-most in team history. And with a minus-297 run differential. The Blue Jays did their part to stay alive in the wild card race by winning 12-4 at Rogers Centre, a game that included George Springer's leadoff home run against Orioles rookie...

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Hyde "excited about some of the young talent" on team

October 03, 2021, 10:31am

Orioles

Hyde "excited about some of the young talent" on team

As the Orioles wait for Game 162 to begin in Toronto, manager Brandon Hyde reflected on the season today and marveled at how briskly it passed. "We're talking about it in the clubhouse, it seems like a lifetime ago we were in Boston and got rained out of opening day and the next day in Fenway we're still being tested, still having masks, no fans," he said. "It seems like we've come a long way since then and we got back to somewhat as normal a season as could possibly happen. "There's...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups in Game 162

October 03, 2021, 9:12am

Orioles

The Orioles end the 2021 season today in Toronto with the opportunity to play spoilers, keeping the Blue Jays out of the playoffs with a victory. It's that simple. Rookie Bruce Zimmermann is making his 13th major league start and 14th appearance, and his second since coming off the 60-day injured list. He held the Red Sox to one run and two hits over four innings on Tuesday. Zimmermann has never faced the Blue Jays. The Baltimore native hasn't allowed a hit in 36 consecutive two-strike...

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Final game gives Zimmermann last chance to impress

October 02, 2021, 2:36pm

Orioles

Final game gives Zimmermann last chance to impress

The final game of the 2021 season is sneaking up on the Orioles today and tapping them on the shoulder, perhaps leery of a harsh reaction. Tip-toeing around this team probably is a wise strategy. Whispered apologies. Keeping its guard up, just in case. The Orioles went 54-108 in 2019, the most recent full season. They're 52-109 heading into today's finale in Toronto. They're also 20-55 against the American League East. The 55 losses are their second-most in a season in franchise history...

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Jays power past Means and Orioles in 10-1 win (updated)

October 02, 2021, 1:54pm

Orioles

Nothing about today's start in Toronto was capable of lowering manager Brandon Hyde's opinion of John Means. The left-hander's status as the Orioles' ace of a young pitching staff. The expectation that he'll hold the ball on opening day 2022. Hyde just hoped to get a sharper outing, for the left-hander's frame of mind heading into the offseason and his club as it tried to rattle the Blue Jays' cage. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Teoscar HernÃ¡ndez homered off Means in a three-run first...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

October 02, 2021, 9:29am

Orioles

Ryan McKenna is in left field and Nick Ciuffo is behind the plate this afternoon for the Orioles' penultimate game of the 2021 season. Pat Valaika is starting at second base again. His home run last night was his first since July 23. Austin Hays has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games against the Blue Jays, going 18-for-58 (.310) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, eight RBIs and a .834 OPS. Hays has reached base safely in 18 straight games since Sept. 12, the longest active streak...

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This, that and the other

October 01, 2021, 6:54pm

Orioles

The Orioles would much prefer to be hosting games late in the season that dictate whether they make the playoffs. Somewhere down the rebuild road, it's supposed to happen for them. In the meantime, while the last few games determine whether they pick first or second in next year's draft, they get a chance to see how the other half lives on its home turf. In a raucous environment. They can't catch postseason fever, which certainly would present complications during COVID-19, but they're...

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Orioles' late rally falls short in 6-4 loss in Toronto (updated)

October 01, 2021, 6:02pm

Orioles

The Orioles tried to stay in spoiler mode tonight while going with a bullpen game rather than a starter equipped to provide actual length. Teams wanting the Blue Jays to implode in the weekend series and influence the wild card race could be heard cringing. Their eyes were bulging while checking the late score. Injuries have tampered with the Orioles rotation, which becomes more settled in the last two games with John Means and Bruce Zimmermann. So, manager Brandon Hyde lined up his available...

Hyde on Fry, Kremer, Hays and Baby Birds

October 01, 2021, 1:56pm

Orioles

Hyde on Fry, Kremer, Hays and Baby Birds

The Orioles appear to be done with roster moves for 2021 after recalling reliever Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning left-hander Alexander Wells. Mattson, who joined the team in Baltimore and hopped on the charter flight to Toronto, provides an extra arm in a bullpen game. Manager Brandon Hyde doesn't know how much length he'll get from Thomas Eshelman. "To be able to add a pitcher who's available was important," Hyde said. Dean Kremer and Paul Fry weren't added to the...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

October 01, 2021, 1:01pm

Orioles

Reliever Isaac Mattson has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and heads to the Orioles bullpen as they begin their final series of the year tonight in Toronto. Mattson, acquired from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade, has made three appearances with the Orioles and allowed three runs and three hits in three innings, with four walks and three strikeouts. Left-hander Alexander Wells, who held the Red Sox to one run in six innings last night, was optioned to Norfolk. He wasn't going to pitch...

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Wells rolls, Mountcastle homers again in O's 6-2 win (updated)

September 30, 2021, 5:45pm

Orioles

Wells rolls, Mountcastle homers again in O's 6-2 win (updated)

One pitch tonight from Orioles rookie Alexander Wells, and the last home game of the 2021 season felt like too many others. Wells fed leadoff hitter KikÃ© HernÃ¡ndez a fastball and it landed in the left field seats. An immediate deficit against a team in the thick of the wild card race. One bad fastball didn't spoil the whole start. Wells worked a career-high six innings, and retired 10 of 11 batters and 16 of 18. Ryan Mountcastle hit his 33rd home run of the season, a three-run shot in...

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Noting a few changes on Orioles' minor league side

September 30, 2021, 5:42pm

Orioles

The Orioles aren't going to make any determinations on their coaching staff until after the last out on Oct. 3. They'll do the usual evaluating and decide whether the unit remains intact under manager Brandon Hyde or requires one or more replacements. Movement already has started on the minor league side. Single-A Aberdeen hitting coach Tom Eller and low Single-A Delmarva hitting coach Patrick Jones won't return in 2022, according to multiple sources. Eller was head baseball coach at Harford...

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Elias on coaching staff, starting pitching, free agents and more

September 30, 2021, 2:42pm

Orioles

Elias on coaching staff, starting pitching, free agents and more

Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias spent 20 minutes in the dugout today fielding questions from the media. The typical season-ender with the club down to its last home game, followed by three in Toronto. Elias believes the organization is in "a very healthy spot right now" with "a ton of young talent" in the system, plus the advances made in analytics and international scouting. But he also knows the on-field product must be upgraded without compromising the rebuild...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups (plus notes)

September 30, 2021, 12:23pm

Orioles

The Orioles' final home game of the 2021 season will begin with rookie Alexander Wells making his 11th major league appearance and eighth start. Wells has a 7.61 ERA and 1.745 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings. He's averaging 12.3 hits, 3.4 walks, 5.9 strikeouts and 2.2 home runs per nine innings. Wells has completed five innings in his last two starts, allowing eight runs and 11 hits. He faced the Red Sox on Sept. 19 and surrendered five runs and six hits, with J.D. Martinez hitting a solo...

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Krehbiel keeps impressing since joining Orioles

September 29, 2021, 6:48pm

Orioles

Reliever Joey Krehbiel is looking at a postseason race from both sides now. With the Rays, winners of the American League East. With the Orioles, who claimed him off waivers and are cast as spoilers, beginning last night with the second-worst record in the majors. Only one team valued him down the stretch. Krehbiel, 28, was designated for assignment after tossing a scoreless inning and striking out two batters for the Rays on Sept. 18. He's made three appearances with the Orioles and...