Roch Kubatko

This, that and the other

August 31, 2019, 11:58am

Orioles

Exactly how much has Jonathan Villar increased his trade value in the offseason? The Orioles couldn't move Villar at the deadline, failing in attempts to work out a deal with the Cubs. He slashed .225/.320/.382 with three home runs in 26 games in June. Contenders had to be leery of a player with a reputation for being reckless on the basepaths and not always exhibiting, shall we say, the best judgment. How was their judgment in passing on him? Villar slashed .298/.336/.442 with three home runs...

Tags:

Orioles and Royals lineups

August 31, 2019, 11:15am

Orioles

Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight in Kansas City and is batting sixth for the 12th time this season. Trey Mancini is in right field and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. DJ Stewart is in left field and batting cleanup. Hanser Alberto, playing second base tonight, is leading the majors with a .417 average against left-handers. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last Orioles player with a .400 average versus lefties was shortstop Mike Bordick (.402) in...

Tags:

chris davis dj stewart hanser alberto john means jonathan villar orioles pedro severino trey mancini

Ortiz, Carroll, Bundy and Dorian

August 30, 2019, 5:00pm

Orioles

The list of Orioles who are going to join the expanded September roster is bound to include some pitchers who have spent the summer on the shuttle. Extra arms are coveted over the final month. We can speculate about guys like David Hess, Evan Phillips, Branden Kline, Chandler Shepherd, Tom Eshelman, Tanner Scott and Tayler Scott. We'll wonder about Keegan Akin. We'll assume that it's not happening for Dean Kremer, who's assigned to the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Luis...

Tags:

branden kline chander shepherd cody carroll david hess dean kremer dylan bundy evan phillips keegan akin luis ortiz mark trumbo orioles tanner scott tayler scott tom eshelman anthony santander hanser alberto renato nunez ryan eades frontstory_orioles2

Orioles and Royals lineups

August 30, 2019, 11:20am

Orioles

Hanser Alberto is leading off tonight for the Orioles, bringing a .407 average against left-handers to Kansas City that leads the majors. The 72 hits off left-handed pitching this season are tied with Rafael Palmeiro in 1996 for second-most in Orioles history. Palmeiro holds the club record with 73 hits in 1998. The last player to exceed 80 hits off southpaws was the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki (84) in 2004. Alberto hasn't struck out in his last 44 plate appearances since Aug. 14, the longest...

Tags:

aaron brooks anthony santander chris davis dj stewart dylan bundy hanser alberto john means orioles stevie wilkerson trey mancini frontstory_orioles1

Means starting tonight in Kansas City

August 30, 2019, 8:38am

Orioles

John Means has been reinstated from the family medical emergency list and is starting tonight in Kansas City, where he attended games as a kid. The native of Olathe, Kan., left the team Sunday after holding the Rays to one run over seven innings the previous night. The Orioles kept the matter private out of respect for Means and his family. Reliever Tayler Scott was optioned yesterday to Triple-A Norfolk, opening a spot on the active roster that Means is filling. Means has allowed three earned...

Tags:

chris davis john means orioles tayler scott featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Thoughts on NÃºÃ±ez, series at The Trop and Bleier/Flores

August 29, 2019, 1:36pm

Orioles

Thoughts on NÃºÃ±ez, series at The Trop and Bleier/Flores

Leaving D.C. behind has allowed the Orioles to get back to a normal lineup. They can use a designated hitter again in Kansas City, which more easily puts Renato NÃºÃ±ez into play. NÃºÃ±ez started at first base Tuesday night against Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin, sending Chris Davis to the bench, and the arrangement could be repeated tonight with the Royals sending lefty Eric Skogland to the mound. Otherwise, NÃºÃ±ez is the DH as he tries to reach 30 home runs for the...

Tags:

brandon hyde chris davis jose flores mark trumbo orioles renato nunez richard bleier featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Scott optioned to Norfolk (updated)

August 29, 2019, 10:56am

Orioles

Less than 24 hours after registering his first scoreless appearance with the Orioles, right-hander Tayler Scott has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The move likely has been made in order to reinstate left-hander John Means from the family medical emergency list and allow him to start Friday night's series opener in Kansas City. Manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that Means could start one of the first two games. Dylan Bundy would start the other game. Means left the club on Sunday,...

Tags:

brandon hyde buck britton john means orioles tayler scott featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Long on Villar: "He's really under control"

August 28, 2019, 7:12pm

Orioles

Long on Villar: "He's really under control"

Jonathan Villar's daring on the basepaths, an aggressive approach that allows him to collect stolen bases and criticisms for running into ill-timed outs, isn't the same mindset that he's bringing into the batter's box. Not since the All-Star break. Not since the calendar turned to August. There's an element of restraint that's working for him. Villar began last night slashing .308/.381/.547 in 43 games in the second half, compared to .259/.326/.421 over 89 games in the first. He drew 16...

Tags:

don long jonathan villar orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

First inning dooms Orioles in 8-4 loss to Nationals (updated)

August 28, 2019, 6:17pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - Asher Wojciechowski struck out the first and last batter he faced tonight in the first inning. The stuff in between eventually would decide the outcome. All of it bad for the Orioles. The Nationals hit for the cycle in the span of four batters, scored five runs and made the Orioles settle for another split of a two-game series with an 8-4 victory in D.C. Juan Soto delivered a two-run triple, Kurt Suzuki launched a two-run homer and the Orioles' winning streak ended at three games....

Tags:

anthony santander asher wojciecowski chance sisco chris davis dillon tate dj stewart jonathan villar jose flores mark trumbo orioles ricard bleier shawn armstrong stevie wilkerson trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Hyde updates Means (and other notes, O's down 8-4)

August 28, 2019, 2:01pm

Orioles

Hyde updates Means (and other notes, O's down 8-4)

WASHINGTON - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he's expecting left-hander John Means to start Friday or Saturday night in Kansas City. Means left the team Sunday and was placed on the family medical emergency list. He's been gone for the required minimum of three days. "We're hoping first or second day in Kansas City," Hyde said. "Still got a couple things to figure out, but if all goes well, first or second game." The club is listing Friday and Saturday as TBD, with Aaron Brooks closing...

Tags:

aaron brooks brandon hyde dylan bundy hunter harvey john means mark trumbo miguel castro mychal givens orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Five Orioles confirmed for Arizona Fall League

August 28, 2019, 12:47pm

Orioles

WASHINGTON - The Orioles have five confirmed representatives playing in the Arizona Fall League, with room for more additions. The Surprise Saguaros roster includes pitchers Dean Kremer, Alex Wells and David Lebron and infielders Rylan Bannon and Mason McCoy. Single-A Delmarva manager Kyle Moore is serving as one of the coaches. The Orioles also have spots reserved for one more pitcher and an outfielder. It's possible that Double-A Bowie's Yusniel Diaz fills the latter spot after missing...

Tags:

alex wells david lebron dean kremer kyle moore mason mccoy rylan bannon orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3

Orioles and Nationals lineups

August 28, 2019, 11:26am

Orioles

WASHINGTON - The Orioles are coming off their fifth shutout of the season and trying to piece together their first four-game winning streak since March 30-April 2. Jonathan Villar is leading off and playing shortstop and Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Hanser Alberto is on the bench. Anthony Santander is in center field, DJ Stewart is in left and Trey Mancini is in right. Chris Davis is playing first base. Jace Peterson is batting fifth and playing second base. Asher Wojciechowski has made...

Tags:

aaron brooks adley rutschman anthony santander asher wojciechowski chris davis dj stewart hanser alberto jace peterson jonathan villar mark trumbo orioles trey mancini lineups frontstory_orioles3

Thoughts on Mountcastle and Diaz

August 27, 2019, 3:53pm

Orioles

The month of August is down to three days after today and it used to serve as a countdown to the final trade deadline. The one where players first had to pass through waivers before changing teams. And the media kept posting names that surfaced on the waiver wire as if it meant something. Pretty much every player was put on waivers to give teams a truer sense of interest within the industry. And perhaps to move a bad contract like Randy Myers' in 1998. The Padres were burned like a campfire...

Tags:

anthony santander brandon hyde buck britton chris davis dj stewart orioles ryan mountcastle trey mancini yusniel diaz orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals (Mountcastle honored)

August 27, 2019, 10:52am

Orioles

Hanser Alberto has been cleared to play tonight and is starting at third base in D.C. Alberto left Sunday's game with a head contusion and cervical neck strain. Renato NÃºÃ±ez was removed from the same game with discomfort behind his left knee. In the hamstring "area." But he's starting at first base tonight. The off-day worked wonders. Anthony Santander is left field and Stevie Wilkerson is in center. Jonathan Villar, who just joined the 20/20 club, is playing second base. Aaron Brooks...

Tags:

adam hall anthony santander chris davis grayson rodriguez hanser alberto jonathan villar justin ramsey kyle moore orioles renato nunez stevie wilkerson trey mancini

Orioles will try to avoid hard fall on trip to D.C.

August 26, 2019, 10:33am

Orioles

Now that the Orioles have completed their first winning homestand of the season, going 4-3 against the Royals and Rays, they're rewarded with a trip to D.C. to play a red-hot team with two aces showing. The Nationals have won five in a row, coming off a sweep of the Cubs, but that doesn't put a dent in their story. They've gone 54-26 since hitting bottom with a 19-31 record, the best 80-game stretch in club history. They're sending Patrick Corbin and Max Scherzer to the mound against the...

Tags:

aaron brooks anthony santander asher wojciechowski brandon hyde hanser alberto hunter harvey john means orioles renato nunez tayler scott featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Alberto gaining appeal on trade market

August 25, 2019, 6:05pm

Orioles

Hanser Alberto as a trade chip seemed like an outrageous concept prior to the 2019 season. Hanser Alberto as a guy who avoided the waiver wire seemed like an outrageous concept. The Orioles are full of surprises this season. Residency at the bottom of the division and being within reach of the first overall pick in next year's First-Year Player Draft aren't among them. It's more about individual success stories. There's competition for the top honor, with John Means as an All-Star, Renato...

Tags:

brandon hyde hanser alberto john means orioles renato nunez trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Villar joins 20/20 club and Alberto is injured in 8-3 win (updated)

August 25, 2019, 12:01pm

Orioles

Villar joins 20/20 club and Alberto is injured in 8-3 win (updated)

Jonathan Villar walked up the first base line in the fourth inning and chucked his bat as if disgusted by what he had done with it. The truth sat on the opposite side. Guys who join the 20/20 club have no complaints. Villar hit his 20th home run to go with his 28 steals, becoming the sixth Orioles player to achieve the milestone in an 8-3 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 13,287 at Camden Yards. The second of two changeups thrown by Rays left-hander Jalen Beeks landed in the...

Tags:

anthony santander brandon hyde dj stewart doug brocail dylan bundy hanser alberto jonathan villar miguel castro orioles paul fry renato nunez rio ruiz stevie wilkerson trey mancini featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Hyde on Means' departure from the Orioles (O's lead 8-3)

August 25, 2019, 8:15am

Orioles

The Orioles aren't releasing much information regarding pitcher John Means, who left the team and has been placed on the family medical emergency list. Means started last night and worked seven innings in a 7-1 victory over the Rays, easily his finest outing since the All-Star break. Because of the delicate nature of the situation, the Orioles are allowing Means to address it upon his return to the club. Manager Brandon Hyde responded with "not much" when asked what information he could...

Tags:

brandon hyde john means orioles tayler scott featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Means removed from active roster (plus Orioles lineup)

August 25, 2019, 6:27am

Orioles

The Orioles made an unexpected roster move this morning, placing left-hander John Means on the family medical emergency list and recalling right-hander Tayler Scott from Triple-A Norfolk. Means started last night and held the Rays to one run in seven innings. A player must remain inactive for a minimum of three days and no more than seven. No details have been provided. The Orioles have two off-days this week and Means will start again next weekend in Kansas City. He attended high school in...

Tags:

aaron brooks asher wojciechowski chris davis hanser alberto john means jonathan villar orioles tayler scott trey mancini frontstory_orioles2

Mancini sits, Villar swings and steals, Severino sets target

August 24, 2019, 6:45pm

Orioles

Mancini sits, Villar swings and steals, Severino sets target

The Orioles are wrapping up their series against the Rays today, and trying to win it, with Trey Mancini returning to the lineup. Could be first base, right field or as the designated hitter. But he's going to play. Manager Brandon Hyde has been wanting to sit Mancini, but he needed to find the right moment. Mancini is such an integral part of the lineup and Hyde is trying to win games. Mancini stayed on the bench against Rays opener JosÃ© Alvarado, who retired only one batter, and the three...