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Matthew Taylor: A reminder of the past and, hopefully, a hint of the future

August 15, 2014, 5:39am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: A reminder of the past and, hopefully, a hint of the future

Old is a relative term, and growing old is a relative experience. Nevertheless, there are certain mile markers for this baseball fan that indicate I have accumulated some wear on the tires. First, it was being older than most of the players I root for. Next, it was bringing my son to a baseball game. Now it's watching one of the game's legends retire at age 40 and realizing that I've watched his entire career as an adult. I may feel like a kid again when I am at the Yard, but I am not in...

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David Huzzard: On Strasburg, Harper and expectations

August 14, 2014, 7:15am

Nationals

David Huzzard: On Strasburg, Harper and expectations

If there was a 25-year-old pitcher making just under $4 million with an ERA of 3.68 compared to the major league average of 3.87 and who couldn't be a free agent until after the 2016 season, this would be a pitcher you'd want on your team. On the other hand, mention the name of Stephen Strasburg attached to those stats and you get a much different response. The expectations are higher. You'll hear how first overall picks are supposed to be better, and anything less than a Cy Young is a...

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Zach Wilt: Forget random variation and disrespect, real or imagined

August 14, 2014, 6:30am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Forget random variation and disrespect, real or imagined

My fellow Orioles fans continuously remind me that Baltimore is a blue-collar town. At heart, we're a lunch pail-carrying, hard hat-wearing diehard fan base that loves our O's. Our admiration for the hometown Birds is so deep that our fan base often takes offense when it feels the team isn't receiving their due credit from the national media. Admittedly, I'm in the Charm City bubble, but it certainly feels to me that Orioles fans care an awful lot about meaningless power rankings or the...

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Rachel Levitin: How about Doug Fister, right?

August 13, 2014, 5:04am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: How about Doug Fister, right?

How about Doug Fister, right?!? Despite a delayed start to the 2014 season due to a strained lat muscle, the right-handed starting pitcher has made his mark on the National League. Fister made his major league debut in 2009 with the Seattle Mariners and became a solid back-of-the-rotation guy. Since then, Fister has made his mark on three variations of Tigers playoff teams before coming to Washington in exchange for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and Robbie Ray in December 2013. And while this...

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Daniel Clark: Joseph continues to lessen the pain of being without Wieters

August 13, 2014, 4:50am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: Joseph continues to lessen the pain of being without Wieters

When Matt Wieters was lost to a season-ending elbow injury in the second week of May this year, it appeared to be a crushing blow for the Orioles, who had relied heavily upon the skilful catcher both with the bat and behind the plate for the previous five seasons. A three-time All-Star, Wieters was a fan favorite in Baltimore and had started 2014 on a tear, hitting .308/.339/.839 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in just 26 games. His injury dampened the spirits of Birdland and there was a...

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Jon Shepherd: O's forged on contributions of unwanted and overlooked

August 12, 2014, 5:04am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: O's forged on contributions of unwanted and overlooked

A friend of mine lived in Montana for most of his life and came to Baltimore to attend law school. Before driving into town the night before classes began, he had never set foot here. He was recruited for the school from afar and he signed his rental agreement on a row home from afar. As his old pickup limped across the country and into town around 3 a.m. that morning, he saw something that was forever etched in his memory. Parking in the alley behind the row home, he saw something in his...

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Dave Nichols: Harper, everybody's favorite target, is slowly rounding into shape

August 12, 2014, 5:20am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Harper, everybody's favorite target, is slowly rounding into shape

Bryce Harper is slumping. Bryce Harper should be sent to the minors to get his timing back. Bryce Harper isn't living up to the hype. Bryce Harper is more trouble than he's worth. Bryce Harper is still a punk. If you read social media, listen to sports talk radio, watch ESPN or listen to opposing team's broadcasters, you've probably heard all of the above ideas floated. His name is click-bait for anyone with an IP address and a blog. But here's a fact for you: Harper is still just barely...

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Andrew Stetka: O's hit a home run with 60th anniversary celebration

August 11, 2014, 5:31am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: O's hit a home run with 60th anniversary celebration

As an out-of-town fan living in Arizona, I always make it a point to come back into Baltimore for an Orioles game at least once a year. The opportunity to come to Camden Yards, where I saw so many games growing up and spent a great deal of my childhood, is always a treat and a chance I don't pass up. There was little debate as to when I'd be coming back for a game this season once I saw what was planned for the O's 60th anniversary celebration. Getting back in August, when the heat in the...

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David Huzzard: Nats excelling with baserunning

August 07, 2014, 4:34am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats excelling with baserunning

The Washington Nationals have scored 4.19 runs per game, which ranks them fourth in the National League and above the NL average of 3.97 runs a game. They've done this with a below average slugging of .382 and while hitting the seventh fewest home runs in the NL. The perception still exists that the Nationals are a team perpetually waiting for the three-run homer and with hand injuries to Wilson Ramos and Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth's power diminishing with age, Ian Desmond and Adam LaRoche...

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Rachel Levitin: Not Nationals Stadium, not Nationals Field; it's called Nationals Park

August 06, 2014, 5:04am

Nationals

So I have a pet peeve that I've stayed quiet about for too long now. It's gotten to the point where I nearly boiled over with irritation while discussing said pet peeve with my friend last night. What is it? Well, clearly it's baseball related, since it's being posted on this blog. Even now, in its seventh year of operation, there are people who live in the D.C. metropolitan area and suburbs who call Nationals Park anything except its namesake and it's driving me crazy. I've heard a...

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Daniel Clark: O's winning despite struggling offense

August 06, 2014, 4:53am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: O's winning despite struggling offense

As the first week of August nears its end, the Orioles have found themselves in a position that hasn't been seen all that often since returning to their winning ways in 2012. During the successful seasons of 2012 and 2013, the O's offense was rarely the No. 1 cause for concern, as that worry typically focused on inconsistent starting pitching. Powerful lineups in each of those two seasons - led by the likes of Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Manny Machado and J.J. Hardy - ensured O's...

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Dave Nichols: Souza has taken an interesting path to the majors

August 05, 2014, 4:47am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Souza has taken an interesting path to the majors

The Nationals recalled Steven Souza Jr. from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday to replace Nate McLouth on the active roster, as the struggling veteran outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. Souza's return to the bigs was met with giddy anticipation from a segment of the Nationals' fanbase that scours the minor leagues to boast about seeing the "next big thing" before they reach the big leagues. Souza has completely torn up the International League this...

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Jon Shepherd: How to review the Miller deal

August 05, 2014, 4:43am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: How to review the Miller deal

As a writer for a fairly large blog, we do tend to get a decent amount of criticism regarding our analysis. Criticism is good because it challenges our process. We are fairly confident that we have a decent handle on these deals based on a couple of our review pieces on our thoughts on the trades from 2012 and 2013. When the Andrew Miller was traded Eduardo Rodriguez, we discussed it in length at Camden Depot, which faintly mirrored our thoughts on the Francisco Rodriguez deal from the previous...

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Marty Niland: Resilience, luck have Nats in good position

August 04, 2014, 5:03am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Resilience, luck have Nats in good position

We've all heard that it's better to be lucky than good, but a resilient Nationals team has offered proof over the past week that it's best to be both. The Nats were clinging to a 1 1/2 game lead over Atlanta in the National League East just a week ago. Since then, they have lost four of seven games, some in spectacular spirit-crushing fashion. Yet, they have added two games to their lead over the Braves, who may be flatlining at an opportune time. Is that luck, grit or a little bit of...

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Andrew Stetka: O's trade activity shows perception of franchise

August 04, 2014, 4:53am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: O's trade activity shows perception of franchise

Over the next two months, you are going to hear a lot about the playoff races throughout baseball. There will be talk of who can win the National League pennant. Will the Dodgers pull it off through high expectations? Can the Cardinals make a return trip to the World Series? There's plenty of intrigue to go around on the Senior Circuit. There's a big difference when you look at the American League, at least in the eyes of most of the population. Most of the country will view the next two...

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Matthew Taylor: Excited for August and everything after

August 01, 2014, 9:18am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Excited for August and everything after

The Orioles lost 1-0 in extra innings to the Angels on Thursday. They mustered a measly five hits in 13 innings. Their division lead is down to 1 1/2 games with the Blue Jays having won six straight and nine of their last 10. And yet I went to bed with a smile on my face last night. Are we having fun yet? I don't know about you, but I sure am. It's August and the Orioles are in first place in the American League East. This hasn't happened since 1997 when the O's went wire to wire. What's...

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Zach Wilt: Is Adam Jones an MVP?

July 31, 2014, 4:19am

Orioles

Adam Jones went yard in back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Angels. Opposing pitchers would be wise to just pitch around him in the first inning, as 11 of his 21 homers have come in that first frame. He's Major League Baseball's leader in first-inning homers. Jones shows up to the Yard hungry and ready to grind. He has cooled off a bit after slashing .348/.383/.643 in June, but no one can argue his importance to the Orioles this season. He leads the club in WAR at 4.1 via...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals at the deadline and the other deadline

July 31, 2014, 4:32am

Nationals

When it comes to the Nationals front office as run by Mike Rizzo, there are no leaks. Any rumors about the Nationals leading up to this trade deadline have been mere speculation. Danny Espinosa doesn't have an major league-quality bat and with Ryan Zimmerman out for perhaps the rest of the season, the Nats lineup could use an upgrade. That is only marginally true. The Nationals have a record of 39-33 in games Espinosa starts and his 2014 OPS of .624 is right in line with the National League...

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Rachel Levitin: Nats need to pay extra attention to NL East games down the stretch

July 30, 2014, 5:27am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats need to pay extra attention to NL East games down the stretch

It hasn't been an easy road trip for the Nationals. They're 4-4 against the Rockies, Reds and Marlins with one more game to be played before heading home on Thursday. The Nats have dropped two of three in Miami with their final game of that series this afternoon. Once they return to Washington, the next homestand - if played well - could help bolster their hopes for a slightly longer season, as long as they make a strong strike against their National League East division foes. The Phillies...

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Daniel Clark: Pitching now the key to Orioles' winning ways

July 30, 2014, 4:25am

Orioles

As August approaches and the Orioles hold on to the outright lead in first place, there is a growing expectation among the fan base that 2014 will be the year in which the American League East title finally returns to Baltimore for the first time since 1997. When the Orioles went close to breaking the pennant drought in 2012, it was the strength of the bullpen (3.00 ERA) and offensive power (214 home runs) that covered up for an inconsistent starting rotation. That rotation, which saw an...