The last K.C. trip, Roenicke's roll, Mathews' quote

The last K.C. trip, Roenicke's roll, Mathews' quote
The work put toward booking travel and hotels for the 2020 baseball season slipped into reverse. The coronavirus pandemic kept the media at home. I would have taken a train to New York for the four-game series earlier this month. I'm supposed to be in Kansas City this weekend for my first visit since the 2014 American League Championship Series. I'm not a huge barbeque guy. I like it, but don't treat it like a religion. Otherwise, yeah, I'd be wrestling Steve Melewski for the...

Memories of Mike Mussina as MASN airs more Orioles moments

Memories of Mike Mussina as MASN airs more Orioles moments
The classic coverage yesterday on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network included Game 1 of the 1997 American League Division Series between the Orioles and Mariners. A wire-to-wire team staying on its roll, and in unfriendly territory. Delmon Young's three-run double in the 2014 Division Series created the loudest moment at Camden Yards, but the '97 playoff game at the Kingdome, with 59,579 fans cranking up the volume, nearly burst my eardrums. The ringing noise didn't subside until pitchers and...

Memories of Melvin Mora as MASN airs more Orioles moments

Memories of Melvin Mora as MASN airs more Orioles moments
The sports shutdown is depriving us of live broadcasts - arm wrestling, for instance, is impossible at a six-foot distance - and networks are digging into their vaults for classic games to feed starving fans. The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network keeps airing Orioles wins from as far back as the 1970 World Series. You can count on an exciting finish rather than heartache. Nerves won't be frayed. Yesterday's menu included the four-run, eighth-inning rally to defeat the Yankees on Aug. 13, 2014 at...

Another series for Orioles that wasn't played

Another series for Orioles that wasn't played
The Orioles would have been finishing a two-game series against the Cubs tonight at Camden Yards if not for the pandemic and slamming of brakes on the baseball season. A screeching halt before it actually got started. Manager Brandon Hyde would have been able to reminisce about his years in the Cubs organization and visit with friends. No social distancing to keep them apart. The whole scene could have played out again on June 2-3 with the teams meeting at Wrigley Field. Only there would have...

Elias on importance of draft preparation while unsure of length

Elias on importance of draft preparation while unsure of length
The Orioles are stuck in a sports holding pattern during the coronavirus pandemic, unable to play games but staying busy on other fronts. Only the rosters are frozen. Not the members of the organization. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias pointed out in yesterday's Zoom video conference with local media that the Orioles are prepping for the First-Year Player Draft while unsure of the total number of rounds. Could be five, could be more. Won't be less. The bonus for players...

Elias on Mancini, draft preparations and more

Elias on Mancini, draft preparations and more
Mike Elias is preparing as if the 2020 season will begin at some point over the summer. He's preparing as if the First-Year Player Draft will last 40 rounds. He's proceeding as if baseball life will get back to normal while fully aware that it might stay on hold. There might not be a season. The draft might consist of only five rounds. The club's executive vice president and general manager couldn't offer many updates this afternoon in a Zoom video call with the local media. He's hoping...

Sports memories and many meals made by a loving mother

Sports memories and many meals made by a loving mother
I returned home from spring training 10 days early because of the coronavirus pandemic. I haven't seen my daughter or been able to hug her since I left for Sarasota, with news that I'm going to be a grandfather. And I haven't seen my mother and can't celebrate her 80th birthday today beyond another phone call and promises that we'll be together again. I've written about the many ways that sports influenced my relationship with my father, who passed away in January 2019, five months after...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Part of my spring training routine that disappeared after March 11 was receiving and passing along the list of Orioles extras brought over from the minor league complex. Some high draft picks and some minor league free agents. Pitcher Isaac Mattson fell into a different category. The Orioles didn't draft or sign him. They acquired him from the Angels as part of the four-pitcher package for Dylan Bundy. Mattson appeared in two exhibition games and totaled one inning, but he warranted our...

Memorabilia and memorable moments

Memorabilia and memorable moments
The absence of games during the sports shutdown has made it necessary for me to tap into my many years on the Orioles beat and my memories as a kid rooting for the team to keep the blog humming. There are only so many roster decisions and stalled competitions to dissect. Only so much speculation about the 2020 season to rekindle and douse. Let's find out a little more about you. With a heavy dose of me, of course. What is your most random or bizarre piece of sports memorabilia? I own a hockey...

Some unforgettable moments covering the Orioles in New York

Some unforgettable moments covering the Orioles in New York
A regular season allowed to play out as intended would have brought the Orioles back home tonight after a four-game series in the Bronx. Gary Sánchez probably would have hit five or six home runs. And Gleyber Torres would have said, "Hold my protein shake." The Orioles were supposed to host the Pirates in a three-game weekend series and we could have rehashed the 1971 and 1979 World Series. Better to reminisce about the 2017 regular season and a two-game sweep for the Orioles at Camden...

Because You Asked - The Island of Lost Dreams

Because You Asked - The Island of Lost Dreams
I'm wearing rubber gloves today while sorting through my mailbag. All of my clothes are made out of Glad trash bags. Safety first. Don't use the scented brand. They'll give you a headache. I'd keep a six-foot distance from the mail, but my vision is pretty bad. Also, my arms wouldn't reach it. You know what's also a reach? Trying to convince anyone that there's an actual bag. But treat it as you would "Rocky IV" and suspend disbelief. (The Soviet crowd chanting his name at the end?...

Leftovers from Ripken Q&A

Leftovers from Ripken Q&A
The Orioles intend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game. Their promotional schedule includes the distribution of bobbleheads on Sept. 6, and other plans to honor him were under discussion prior to the shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The schedule was released in early February. So much has changed. ESPN aired 2,131 last night and Ripken watched it for the first time from start to finish. He told me yesterday that he'd stumble...

Ripken on Twitter, Strike Out Hunger campaign and more

Ripken on Twitter, Strike Out Hunger campaign and more
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. has been intrigued with the idea of opening a Twitter account. He just needed a reason to do it beyond the interaction with fans, something he did tirelessly in person during a 21-year major league career. Most notably in 1995 as he closed in on Lou Gehrig's record for most consecutive games played. Ripken found his excuse and, as usual, it tied into his desire to help other people. Using his new account (@CalRipkenJr.), which already was approaching 3,000...

Remembering Orioles who started strong and didn't sustain

Remembering Orioles who started strong and didn't sustain
My mind keeps spinning back to past Orioles teams that I've covered as an adult or watched as a kid. Anything to limit my screen time during this shutdown. Let me pose a question this morning while we resist the urge to panic shop. (Don't be that person. You don't need 12 dozen eggs and all the toilet paper and liquid hand soap.) Which homegrown Orioles started out good, fooling you into thinking that they'd become future All-Stars or at least longtime contributors, and then fizzled? Got...

Armstrong's strong spring and a deeper dive into Orioles bullpen

Armstrong's strong spring and a deeper dive into Orioles bullpen
The magic of video is enabling the Orioles to stay connected while spread all over the country. I've heard that reliever Shawn Armstrong was able to share a bullpen session with one of his teammates that included a fastball clocked at 97 mph. Armstrong's fastball averaged 93.9 mph last season, per BrooksBaseball.net. There is no data available on his home workouts. An expansion of rosters from 26 to 29 players for the first month enables the Orioles to carry at least a few extra relievers to...

Baseball's shutdown impacting minor league preparation

Baseball's shutdown impacting minor league preparation
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic in professional baseball reaches down to the minor league level. To players with salary concerns and the managers and coaches who are trying to develop them and prepare for an abbreviated season. Triple-A Norfolk's Gary Kendall is back home in the Salisbury area, doing yardwork and engaging in video conference calls to collect and share information that no longer could be dispensed in Sarasota. The six-foot rule turned into complete isolation. The calls...

Orioles finding ways to cope and assist during pandemic

Orioles finding ways to cope and assist during pandemic
The Orioles aren't able to start their season due to the coronavirus and they have no idea whether it's going to unfold. In the meantime, players are working to stay in shape, just in case, and finding ways to assist people in need and to ease the strain on their lives. First baseman Chris Davis and his wife, Jill, donated breakfast to the staff at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital on the morning of March 26, which would have been opening day. The couple made a $3 million...

Can Phillips avoid the injured list?

Can Phillips avoid the injured list?
The medical update from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and a brief interview with the injured reliever at his spring training locker made for an easy jump to a roster conclusion. It felt like more of a hop. Evan Phillips wasn't able to pitch because of a sore elbow and headed to Los Angeles for a second opinion. A month or more could pass before he'd be allowed to pick up a ball. My headline on a March 6 article stated: "Phillips to start season on injured list" The third paragraph read:...

Phillips keeping his spring roommates and new routine

Phillips keeping his spring roommates and new routine
Baseball players are creatures of habit, a trait that seems to be part of their DNA. Or maybe it develops over time, creating a chicken or the egg parallel. What comes first? No matter the order, being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic has brought a major disruption in their routines - though also kept in its proper perspective given the loss of lives throughout the world. Being unable to complete spring training or start a season is much more of an inconvenience than a...

More questions coming while baseball remains on hold

More questions coming while baseball remains on hold
I haven't seen a ground ball hit in three weeks, but I've been fielding a bunch of questions from home. When will the season start? Will there actually be a season? How many games will be played? Are you still wearing that same T-shirt? (Sorry, that last one is from my fiancée.) There are legitimate curiosities and concerns about the impact of a prolonged interruption. What's missing are solid answers. Can Chris Davis pick up where he left off in spring training? Can anyone? Davis...