Who's to blame for Nats' extra-long games this season?
Who's to blame for Nats' extra-long games this season?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Juan Soto went 0-for-4 without reaching base Tuesday night, and that still didn't qualify as the most surprising fact about the Nationals' 3-1 loss to the Rockies. No, that honor went not to any one individual but to the clock at Coors Field. The game started at 6:40 p.m. local time, and it ended at 9:40 p.m. local time. Yes, a three-hour ballgame. At the best hitter's park in baseball, with two of the worst pitching staffs in baseball competing against each other. For the Nats, this was an...
O's top-rated farm honored its top players at the Yard
O's top-rated farm honored its top players at the Yard
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After a season in which the Orioles farm system was ranked No. 1 in the majors by MLBPipeline.com and No. 2 by Baseball America - reaching heights they had never before seen - some of the players responsible for such a lofty ranking took home some hardware at Oriole Park on Tuesday night. In a pregame ceremony, the O's honored catcher Adley Rutschman and outfielder Kyle Stowers as co-winners of the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year Award, and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who...
Another encouraging start for Corbin, but Nats lose (updated)
Another encouraging start for Corbin, but Nats lose (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
We don't know at this point if Patrick Corbin will pitch again this season. Davey Martinez is still contemplating whether to send him back to the mound for Sunday's finale against the Red Sox, or whether to let tonight's outing in Colorado serve as his closing act on a dismal 2021. If, however, this was it for Corbin this season, he can head home for the winter with at least some reason to feel better about things. His final numbers were unsalvageable, but the left-hander did put together...
Speedster Mullins runaway winner of MVO award (updated)
Speedster Mullins runaway winner of MVO award (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Each year that the Most Valuable Oriole is announced, I harken back to one of the best quotes ever delivered on this beat. Outfielder B.J. Surhoff played 162 games in 1999, amassed 207 hits to go along with a .308 average, .347 on-base percentage, 38 doubles, 28 home runs and 107 RBIs on a sub-.500 team and earned the award. The media approached the dour Surhoff at his locker to seek his reaction, as it normally did in pre-Zoom times. He turned to us and said, "I know why you guys picked me....
Zimmermann stingy in return and O's rally past Red Sox (updated)
Zimmermann stingy in return and O's rally past Red Sox (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Bruce Zimmermann was worth the long wait for the Orioles. The multiple injuries and more than three months between starts. The unexpected delay in his return and further rehab. This is what September is about in Baltimore. The presentation of another prospect to evaluate, and the hopes of squeezing out a few more wins and perhaps influence a pennant race. The Orioles took a poke at the Red Sox's balloon, winning 4-2 before an announced crowd of 8,098 at Camden Yards in the last home series in...
Martinez plans to start Zimmerman at least once in final series
Martinez plans to start Zimmerman at least once in final series
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Ryan Zimmerman is in the Nationals lineup tonight for the 47th time this season, the 44th time at first base. It appears he'll make at least one more start this weekend during the final series of 2021, but manager Davey Martinez still doesn't know exactly how the potentially retiring Face of the Franchise wants to handle his playing time down the stretch. "We're just taking it day by day," Martinez said during his Zoom session with reporters before tonight's game in Colorado. "I'd like...
Hyde on Santander, Nevin, Ellis and more
Hyde on Santander, Nevin, Ellis and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander was removed from Sunday afternoon's game against the Rangers after struggling to reach first base on a ground ball in the bottom of the eighth inning. However, it wasn't the sore left hamstring that forced a change. A third injury did the trick. Santander went on the 10-day injured list this afternoon with a sprained right knee, ending a season that also included a sprained left ankle on April 20 in Miami. Staying healthy was more challenging to Santander...
O's game blog: The final home series begins
O's game blog: The final home series begins
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles have reached the final week of the 2021 regular season, which has six games remaining. Tonight the Orioles host Boston in the opening game of a three-game series. It's the last home series of the year. The Orioles (50-106) can play spoiler in the final week as they play wild card contenders Boston and Toronto to wrap up their schedule. The O's just split four games with Texas. Overall they have lost seven of 10 and 12 of the past 16 games. The Orioles have played a lot of close...
Rutschman, Stowers and Rodriguez at Camden Yards for awards tonight
Rutschman, Stowers and Rodriguez at Camden Yards for awards tonight
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles announced their minor league award winners on Sunday. Tonight they will be honored before the game at Camden Yards. Catcher Adley Rutschman and outfielder Kyle Stowers were named co-winners of the Brooks Robinson Player of the Year Award. Rutschman has hit .286/.399/.513/.912 between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk with 25 doubles, two triples, 23 homers and 75 RBIs. Stowers hit .283/.387/.526/.914 with 23 doubles, a triple, 27 homers and 84 RBIs between three teams, starting at...
Game 158 lineups: Nats at Rockies
Game 158 lineups: Nats at Rockies
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
By any measure, it's been a miserable season for Patrick Corbin. The left-hander enters tonight's start at Coors Field with a 9-15 record and 5.92 ERA. A bad outing in this one, and he might just complete one of the worst seasons by any big league starter in a long time. The last pitcher to lose 16 games while posting an ERA over 6.00: Jason Marquis of the 2006 Cardinals (a team that actually won the World Series). So, Corbin would certainly like to avoid reaching both of those thresholds...