Roch Kubatko

Dwight Smith Jr. designated for assignment

August 22, 2020, 11:28am

Orioles

Dwight Smith Jr. designated for assignment

The Orioles made more changes to their outfield prior to tonight's game. Dwight Smith Jr. has been designated for assignment and the club has selected Mason Williams' contract from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Smith was batting .222/.306/.365 with three doubles and two home runs in 21 games and he experienced a few more lapses in left field. He got a late start in summer training camp based on a positive test for COVID-19 and rushed to make the opening day roster. Smith was 2-for-18 in...

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Hyde and staff getting positive reviews through good and bad times

August 21, 2020, 7:27pm

Orioles

Hyde and staff getting positive reviews through good and bad times

Major League Baseball keeps trying to proceed through the 2020 season as if there's been the slightest tweaks to it rather than a complete overhaul. The number of games, the restrictions in travel, the roster sizes, the taxi squads, the alternate camp sites, the rule change in extra innings, the expanded playoff field. But other than that ... The Baseball Writers' Association of America is going to hand out its annual awards. As if it's any other season, except with statistics attached to...

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Mountcastle debuts with two walks in O's 8-5 loss (updated)

August 21, 2020, 6:39pm

Orioles

Mountcastle debuts with two walks in O's 8-5 loss (updated)

Ryan Mountcastle was introduced tonight as making his major league debut, stepped to the plate at Camden Yards to lead off the bottom of the second inning and heard the roar of the fake crowd. What a story to tell his grandchildren someday. Mountcastle didn't tip his helmet or leave the box to gather his emotions. He dug in, took a few big swings that produced foul balls and a 1-2 count, and watched the next three pitches to draw a walk. The arrival of the No. 5 prospect in the system provided...

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Hyde on Mountcastle: "I'm going to play him a lot"

August 21, 2020, 1:34pm

Orioles

Hyde on Mountcastle: "I'm going to play him a lot"

Ryan Mountcastle isn't here to sit. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde inserted Mountcastle into tonight's lineup, giving one of the organization's top prospects the start in left field and batting him sixth. And Mountcastle is going to stay busy, including the possibility of making some starts at first base with Chris Davis on the injured list. "I'm going to play him a lot," Hyde said today in his Zoom conference call with the media. "He's playing left field tonight. We're going to give him...

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Mountcastle in left field for tonight's debut

August 21, 2020, 11:51am

Orioles

Mountcastle in left field for tonight's debut

Ryan Mountcastle is starting in left field tonight and making his major league debut. He's batting sixth. Pedro Severino is the designated hitter and batting fourth. Chance Sisco is behind the plate. Mountcastle's first act as a major league player was to spend almost nine minutes on a Zoom conference call with the media. Here's a sampling: On his reaction to the promotion: "I was just chilling in bed and Gary Kendall gave me a call around 10 o'clock in the morning and let me know that I...

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Orioles place Chris Davis on injured list while recalling Mountcastle

August 21, 2020, 11:08am

Orioles

The Orioles placed first baseman Chris Davis on the 10-day injured list this afternoon to make room for Ryan Mountcastle on the active roster. Davis is bothered by left knee patellar tendinitis, according to the team's press release. Mountcastle is wearing uniform No. 6 and waiting to make his major league debut. The lineup hasn't been posted for tonight's game against the Red Sox. Davis didn't play again last night and is slashing .122/.173/.184 with three doubles, three walks and 16...

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Orioles promoting Mountcastle for tonight's game

August 21, 2020, 9:11am

Orioles

The long-awaited arrival of prospect Ryan Mountcastle to the majors is happening tonight. The Orioles are recalling Mountcastle from the alternate camp site in Bowie, according to an industry source. He's going to be in uniform for tonight's game against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. The team hasn't announced the move or offered confirmation. Mountcastle is the organization's No. 5 prospect per Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com and the most recent Most Valuable Player of the International...

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Wojciechowski loses handle on Red Sox in 7-1 loss (updated)

August 20, 2020, 7:02pm

Orioles

Wojciechowski loses handle on Red Sox in 7-1 loss (updated)

The Orioles finally got away from a Blue Jays player who feasts on their pitching like he's breaking a fast. Was it their turn tonight to pick on the opponent? To do it with their starting pitcher? Asher Wojciechowski made three starts against the Red Sox last season and allowed two runs in 17 2/3 innings. He registered a 5.98 ERA in his other 14 appearances. A no-hitter was carried into the seventh inning on July 21 before Rafael Devers stroked a leadoff double. Wojciechowski reached his...

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Some Ripken reflections on 2,131 and more on his cancer diagnosis

August 20, 2020, 5:23pm

Orioles

Some Ripken reflections on 2,131 and more on his cancer diagnosis

As the latest anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-setting night approaches, he spun a popular question usually directed at himself while speaking with a group of local beat writers yesterday on a Zoom conference call. The proverbial shoe placed on the other foot. Does it really seem like it's been 25 years since he surpassed Lou Gehrig for most consecutive games played at 2,131? Since he took that glorious lap around the warning track while bathed in an ovation that lasted more than 22...

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Hyde meets with team to review fundamentals

August 20, 2020, 1:42pm

Orioles

Hyde meets with team to review fundamentals

The Orioles won't jog onto the field for the start of tonight's game until manager Brandon Hyde holds a meeting that's intended to review some basic fundamentals that were neglected earlier this week. Breakdowns on defense and the bases made it much harder for Hyde to accept the Blue Jays' three-game sweep and his team's tumble to the .500 mark. Play properly and move on to the next opponent. Hyde didn't see it happening against the Jays. One sequence lingered for him, when Renato...

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Shepherd outrighted, Alberto leading off

August 20, 2020, 11:41am

Orioles

Shepherd outrighted, Alberto leading off

Reliever Chandler Shepherd has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to the alternate camp site in Bowie. The 60-man pool is holding 59 players. The Orioles designated Shepherd for assignment on Sunday to create a roster spot for John Means, who was reinstated from the bereavement list. Shepherd could have declined the assignment and become a free agent based on a previous designation. Hanser Alberto returns to the leadoff spot for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox at Camden...

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Ripken goes public with news of prostate cancer and full recovery

August 20, 2020, 6:41am

Orioles

Ripken goes public with news of prostate cancer and full recovery

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. is approaching the 25th anniversary of his historic 2,131st consecutive game, a record that wasn't supposed to be broken. A night he's going to keep reliving as he gets closer to the date. It's certain to be one of the most important moments of the year for Ripken, but health scares bring a perspective that never fails to resonate. Cancer comes before baseball. Learning you have it and then beating it. Ripken, who turns 60 on Monday, has gone public for the first...

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This, that and the other

August 19, 2020, 1:39pm

Orioles

The Orioles shouldn't go streaking while JosÃ© Iglesias has a sore quad. (A failed attempt to reference "Old School") This team has played eight series. Six have resulted in sweeps - the Orioles on the good side of three and the bad side of three. And now their losing streak has reached four games to lower their record to 12-12. The alternate cap should have a broom on the front. Players that live by the clichÃ©d "one game at a time" motto are handling the losses in the same manner as...

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Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)

August 19, 2020, 12:06pm

Orioles

Randal Grichuk keeps homering against the Orioles as if his contract provides incentives for it. Just one team. No one else. Grichuk hit two more today off left-hander Tommy Milone, raising his total to four in the series and 16 in 33 career games versus the Orioles. His leadoff shot in the second inning gave Toronto an early lead. His two-run shot in the sixth gave them a new one. One ball cleared the center field fence, the other bounced off an orange awning in the home bullpen. The Orioles...

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Notes on Sisco setup, Scott's dominance and Hays healing

August 19, 2020, 8:32am

Orioles

Notes on Sisco setup, Scott's dominance and Hays healing

The Orioles could be poised to revert back to a leadoff platoon. Manager Brandon Hyde elevated Hanser Alberto to first in the order against left-handed starters in 2019, with Jonathan Villar leading off versus right-handers. But Villar was traded to the Marlins over the winter and a new plan seems to be taking shape. Chance Sisco remains in the lineup today against Blue Jays right-hander Tanner Roark and he's batting first for only the second time in his career. The debut came last night...

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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

August 19, 2020, 7:08am

Orioles

Chance Sisco remains in the leadoff spot today for the Orioles, and he's also behind the plate. Sisco is the first Orioles catcher to bat first since Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Curt Blefary is the only other Orioles catcher to do it back in April 1968. Sisco walked and homered last night as the designated hitter. Hanser Alberto moves down to fifth in the order. Chris Davis is in the lineup today, as the Orioles try to avoid the sweep. Pat Valaika is the shortstop and Cedric Mullins is in...

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Could Sisco get more chances to bat leadoff?

August 18, 2020, 8:06pm

Orioles

Could Sisco get more chances to bat leadoff?

Chance Sisco led off for the Orioles last night, but as the designated hitter. Not the starting catcher, where he'd normally be assigned. We won't let it ruin our fun. Who was the last Orioles catcher to bat first? Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Rayford, mainly a third baseman, was behind the plate for Scott McGregor's start in New York. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 4-3 loss. Rickey Henderson swiped second and third base. Henderson was so eager to run, which is like saying water...

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Santander's two homers still leave Orioles short in 8-7 loss (updated)

August 18, 2020, 7:34pm

Orioles

The pose has become familiar. He just needs paparazzi to capture the moment. Anthony Santander unloads on another ball and admires its flight, tosses his bat and beings a slow trot to first base. He'll glance at the dugout and gesture to teammates. A pointed finger, a few words. A celebration after crossing home plate with fists and elbows sometimes touching only air. The hard contact's already been made. Santander extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games tonight with a two-run...

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Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, UrÃas, Davis and Harvey

August 18, 2020, 1:30pm

Orioles

Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, UrÃas, Davis and Harvey

Catcher Chance Sisco has hit in every spot in the order except first during his major league career. There's a first time for everything. Sisco is leading off tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Manager Brandon Hyde needed a replacement for Hanser Alberto, who's healthy but getting a breather. Sisco has a .474 on-base percentage and the team doesn't carry a prototypical leadoff hitter on the active roster. Makes sense to try it. Cedric Mullins...

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Orioles place Iglesias on injured list (plus Orioles lineup)

August 18, 2020, 11:51am

Orioles

The Orioles have placed shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias on the 10-day injured list today and recalled infielder RamÃ³n UrÃas from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Iglesias is dealing with a left quadriceps strain and has been limited to sporadic appearances in the lineup and in the field due to his injury. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested yesterday that the IL had become a consideration, though the Orioles hate to lose a bat that's been extremely productive. They're left with no choice. Signed...