Roch Kubatko

Lots of positive developments in losing 2020 season

September 26, 2020, 5:36pm

Orioles

Lots of positive developments in losing 2020 season

The time for reflection begins today. The Orioles are playing their final game of a wacky season. Some would call it "truncated." Everyone would agree that it's so far from the norm that proper evaluations are complicated. A passing grade is earned by the promotions and successes of outfielder/first baseman Ryan Mountcastle - in that order - and pitchers Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer and Bruce Zimmermann. The rookies should comprise three-fifths of the rotation in spring training 2021, but...

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Elias conducts season-ending review on final weekend

September 26, 2020, 2:21pm

Orioles

Elias conducts season-ending review on final weekend

The standings can't be ignored, no matter how much Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is comforted and encouraged by prospect performance and the work done at the alternate camp site. How he judges a season includes production on the field. "It's very difficult for me to label any season a success where we have a losing record and don't make the playoffs," he said in today's Zoom conference call. "But I see enough positive things where we can a feel good that...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups (updated)

September 26, 2020, 11:12am

Orioles

JosÃ© Iglesias is starting at shortstop tonight in Buffalo after serving as the designated hitter and homering in the last two games. RamÃ³n UrÃas has moved to second base, with Hanser Alberto now the designated hitter. UrÃas hit his first career home run last night and is batting .381 (8-for-21) with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs in nine major league games. Austin Hays is leading off and playing left field. He's a career .296 hitter (50-for-169) in 52 September games, with...

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LÃ³pez ambushed early in Orioles' 10-5 loss (updated)

September 25, 2020, 5:20pm

Orioles

An abnormal 2020 season that began with serious doubts about its staying power naturally is ending for the Orioles in Buffalo. Because so little has felt right. So little has made actual sense. Manager Brandon Hyde joked again today about doing his Zoom conference call from "a tent." The ballpark's extreme makeover couldn't hide all the blemishes. Hyde also stressed again the importance of finishing strong. But here's where abnormal spins to back to uncomfortably normal. Randal Grichuk...

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Iglesias hasn't got time for the pain

September 25, 2020, 4:52pm

Orioles

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can read the statistics. He can stand in the dugout and watch the innings and at-bats. The stuff that's laid out for everybody. Sometimes, it's the little things that grab his attention. That don't directly impact a 13-1 win but stand out as much as the home runs and strikeouts. JosÃ© Iglesias convinced Hyde that he could play Thursday night in Boston. He took batting practice again and lobbied for his inclusion in the lineup as the designated hitter. For a...

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Hyde on Sunday starter, NÃºÃ±ez, Hays leading off and Santander

September 25, 2020, 12:59pm

Orioles

Hyde on Sunday starter, NÃºÃ±ez, Hays leading off and Santander

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has confirmed today that left-hander Keegan Akin will close out the season with Sunday's start against the Blue Jays in Buffalo. Akin will be making his sixth major league start and eighth appearance. The bullpen also could be active on Sunday. "It's going to be Keegan Akin," Hyde said. "And maybe Johnny Wholestaff after." Left-hander John Means gets the start Saturday night. Hyde said Renato NÃºÃ±ez, out of the lineup again tonight with a sore knee, is a...

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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

September 25, 2020, 11:30am

Orioles

Jorge LÃ³pez makes the start tonight for the Orioles as they begin a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Buffalo that closes out the 2020 season. LÃ³pez has registered back-to-back quality starts. The Orioles haven't announced their Sunday starter. John Means is on the mound Saturday. Austin Hays is leading off for the first time since Aug. 1 and playing left field, with Cedric Mullins batting ninth. DJ Stewart is the right fielder. Hanser Alberto moves down to sixth in the...

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Santander chosen as Most Valuable Oriole

September 25, 2020, 8:08am

Orioles

Santander chosen as Most Valuable Oriole

Anthony Santander demonstrated his value to the Orioles this summer during his appearances in the lineup and in right field. He also showed how much he's missed. Santander appeared in 37 games before the Orioles shut him down with a strained right oblique muscle, but his overall impact earned him the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole award for 2020. The award is voted upon by members of the media who cover the team on a regular or semi-regular basis. Outfielder Trey Mancini won it in...

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Rotation a possible remedy for defensive regression

September 24, 2020, 7:26pm

Orioles

Rotation a possible remedy for defensive regression

The defensive decline that's hurting the Orioles on the field and in the metrics again is going to be a point of emphasis in the offseason. Doesn't it seem that way every year since the days of Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy and pre-decline Adam Jones? The Orioles wanted an upgrade at shortstop, discussed Adeiny HechavarrÃa and signed plus-plus defender JosÃ© Iglesias to a one-year deal with an option for 2021. They wanted Richie Martin to play shortstop every day at Triple-A Norfolk and...

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Orioles' offense awakens in 13-1 win (updated)

September 24, 2020, 6:46pm

Orioles

On the day that Orioles manager Brandon Hyde summons Austin Hays into his office this weekend for the traditional exit interview - in a non-traditional major league city - he's going to talk again about the importance of staying healthy in order for the young outfielder to reach his full potential. The Orioles know what Hays can do when he's on the field. They just need to keep him on it. Exactly how does a team protect a player from a succession of freakish injuries? Hays hasn't slowed down...

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Notes on roster move, NÃºÃ±ez, Phillips and exit interviews

September 24, 2020, 1:52pm

Orioles

Notes on roster move, NÃºÃ±ez, Phillips and exit interviews

The Orioles recalled David Hess, who was on the taxi squad, to give them a fresh bullpen arm for tonight's series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. With Dean Kremer making his final start last night, the rookie has been optioned to the alternate camp site in Bowie. It's the type of move often made leading into the All-Star break. "We optioned Dean just because he wasn't going to make another start," manager Brandon Hyde said this afternoon in his Zoom conference call with the...

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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

September 24, 2020, 11:53am

Orioles

JosÃ© Iglesias has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight as the designated hitter after receiving treatment for a sore left wrist. Renato NÃºÃ±ez has been excluded after appearing to be in some discomfort last night while running the bases. Ryan Mountcastle is in left field and Pat Valaika is the first baseman. RamÃ³n UrÃas gets another start at shortstop. Austin Hays is in right field. The Orioles are one game ahead of the last-place Red Sox and trying to avoid sharing the division...

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Kremer has shortest outing and O's lengthen skid with 9-1 loss

September 23, 2020, 6:35pm

Orioles

Kremer has shortest outing and O's lengthen skid with 9-1 loss

Staying in the pennant race until the final week of the season is small consolation for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. A feeling of pride that doesn't overflow the cup. Hyde recounts the leads lost along the way. The games that should have been won. And it gnaws at him. A "pretty good accomplishment," Hyde says, considering the inexperience, injuries and daily challenges of living and working in a pandemic. But his competitive side reminds him of the offensive droughts and late-inning...

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Sifting through candidates for Most Valuable Oriole

September 23, 2020, 5:38pm

Orioles

Sifting through candidates for Most Valuable Oriole

The winner of the Most Valuable Oriole award, determined now that the media votes are calculated, is going to be deserving of the honor without the glowing statistics. They weren't going to illuminate in 2020. A shortened season has left us in the dark in so many ways. I'm not going to reveal my ballot until the victor is announced on Friday. However, it seems apparent that four players are under consideration, though the order and exclusion vary, according to an informal poll taken of the...

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Hyde on Iglesias, Phillips, Kremer, offense and defense

September 23, 2020, 1:54pm

Orioles

Hyde on Iglesias, Phillips, Kremer, offense and defense

Orioles shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias is receiving treatment again today on his sore left wrist and hasn't been shut down for the week. Manager Brandon Hyde still believes that Iglesias could return to the lineup before the Orioles play their final game on Sunday in Buffalo. "He feels better," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call with the media. "Hopefully the next couple days." Reliever Evan Phillips won't pitch again this season due to soreness in his right elbow. He's on the 10-day...

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Phillips on injured list (plus lineups and notes)

September 23, 2020, 11:51am

Orioles

Phillips on injured list (plus lineups and notes)

The Orioles placed reliever Evan Phillips on the 10-day injured list this afternoon with right elbow inflammation and recalled Branden Kline, who traveled with the team as part of the taxi squad. Phillips won't pitch again this season, but avoided a more serious injury. He walked off the mound in the sixth inning last night after surrendering a three-run homer to Christian VÃ¡zquez, and while facing Jackie Bradley Jr. Kline has made one relief appearance with the Orioles this summer and...

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This, that and the other

September 22, 2020, 7:40pm

Orioles

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate tossed a scoreless inning in Sunday's game at Camden Yards and showed no signs of an injury. Nothing happened at the ballpark that led to his placement on the injured list with a sprained finger on his pitching hand. A fall in his apartment the following day was responsible, the final blow in a 2020 season that brought pains and gains. Tate didn't have the best luck. He was struck on the right arm by a Pat Valaika comebacker during a July 10 intrasquad game at...

Sloppy play and Phillips' injury lowlight 8-3 loss (updated)

September 22, 2020, 6:38pm

Orioles

Sloppy play and Phillips' injury lowlight 8-3 loss (updated)

There are a few goals remaining for the Orioles as they fall out of the playoff race. Keep trying to win as many games as possible and have players and a couple of young starters leave on a high note. Keegan Akin opened the series tonight against the Red Sox in Boston. Dean Kremer will follow him on Wednesday. Bruce Zimmermann could resurface out of the bullpen. One more week of evaluations and providing opportunities to gain valuable experience. To get a bigger jump on spring training and the...

Hyde on Tate, Iglesias, Zimmermann, Fulmer and more

September 22, 2020, 2:06pm

Orioles

Hyde on Tate, Iglesias, Zimmermann, Fulmer and more

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate fell yesterday in his apartment and landed on the injured list. Tate "had an unfortunate accident where he tripped in his apartment yesterday," manager Brandon Hyde said during a Zoom conference call with the media. The accident occurred on the team's off-day. Tate came down on his hand and sprained his right pinky finger, and he's scheduled to undergo an MRI later today. The Orioles reinstated reliever Shawn Armstrong from the injured list as Tate's...

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Tate on injured list and Armstrong activated (plus lineup)

September 22, 2020, 11:50am

Orioles

Tate on injured list and Armstrong activated (plus lineup)

The Orioles have made an adjustment to their bullpen today by activating Shawn Armstrong from the injured list and putting Dillon Tate on the 10-day IL with a sprained right finger. Infielder RamÃ³n UrÃas has been recalled from the alternate camp site in Bowie to fill the vacant roster spot after the Pirates claimed pitcher Carson Fulmer off waivers yesterday. Armstrong hasn't pitched since Aug. 22 due to left SI joint inflammation in his lower back. He's 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.892...