Beyond their coaches, big league hitters sometimes have someone else close to them they trust to help with their swing. It can be a friend, family member or even a player on another team. Orioles infielder Pat Valaika has his own hitting coach in his family. Valaika, 27, is one of five children, and his oldest brother, Chris, played four seasons in the majors with three clubs. Now he's the minor league hitting coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. "During the quarantine he lived in Arizona and...

The Orioles closed yesterday's workout by again simulating an extra-inning situation. A runner on second base and no outs. Pressure applied to the hitters and the defense. Be satisfied with an RBI or a putout, depending on your point of view. John Means wasn't subjected to the same treatment during Tuesday's night's intrasquad game - it was reserved for the four relievers - but the Orioles demonstrated one technique for scoring in a similar situation. Chance Sisco led off the fifth inning...

The Orioles didn't play an intrasquad game today, devoting the hours on the field to live batting practice and workout drills. Alex Cobb threw live BP after John Means started last night. Wade LeBlanc is expected to pitch Thursday night to stay in line for the opening series in Boston. Anthony Santander stood in the box against Cobb and appeared to be tracking pitches rather than hunting for something to hit. He did the same from the right side against Rob Zastryzny. Also throwing today during...

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, is a baseball nut. His voice fills with excitement talking about the Nationals' World Series title. His coronavirus mask is covered with Nationals logos. An autographed Patrick Corbin jersey hangs in his D.C. home. And even though a deadly coronavirus outbreak has hammered the United States and caused Major League Baseball to reduce this season's schedule to 60 games played in stadiums with no fans, hope springs eternal with...

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander, made available earlier today to the media, confirmed that he tested positive to COVID-19 after arriving in Baltimore for the intake process and was quarantined for two weeks. Santander said he had "mild" symptoms, which included a low fever, and considers himself lucky. "Now I'm healthy, I'm not contagious, happy to be back on the field with my teammates and ready to work out," Santander said during a Zoom conference call, answering most questions...

We are 12 days into summer training at Nationals Park, and we're now only eight days from opening night against the Yankees. (Wow, that happened quick, didn't it?) Though they've accomplished a lot over these last 12 days, the Nationals still have a lot to straighten out before they're playing for real. That includes getting Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Howie Kendrick in camp for the first time. It includes lineup decisions, rotation decisions and 30-man roster decisions. I know it's been...

Major League Baseball is attempting to start up a season. That much we can agree on. Is it a legitimate season? Don't get me started. I respect most opinions. You won't sell me on Caddyshack II or Gary Cherone fronting Van Halen. You won't convince me that a plant-based burger is a burger and zoodles replicate a bowl of pasta. Or that pickleball is equal to or better than tennis. But I'll accept most opinions because you're entitled to them. Baseball in 2020 is a shell of its former self,...

If rules are going to change in the 2020 season, the Orioles must keep up by implementing special drills in workouts and intrasquad games. This is a matter of baseball survival beyond staying safe in a pandemic. Beginning with Hunter Harvey in the bottom of the first inning, the Orioles sent a succession of relievers to the mound for the "visitors" and placed a runner on second base to simulate extra innings. Because this team has been known to stretch games beyond regulation. Mason Williams...

Tonight's workout at Nationals Park featured a parade of relief pitchers, a trial run of baseball's new extra-inning rule and the return of a key member of the coaching staff. Rather than put two separate teams on the field that switched sides every half-inning like they did Monday, the Nationals mixed and matched their defensive players and batters throughout the hour-long intrasquad game. No starting pitchers participated because they need to build in a day between Max Scherzer (who starts...

Orioles catcher Austin Wynns doesn't duck the question. He was asked if the 2020 season represents a big year for him. "Every year is huge," he said during an interview Tuesday afternoon. "Every year, for everyone. You can't take anything for granted. Each year, you have to take in strides. You have to improve, you have to be better and make adjustments. This game is built on adjustments. And physically, mentally you have to be there. To answer your question, it's huge. Every year,...