Another weekend is passing without sports, unless we're counting the NFL draft. I'm on the clock again, challenging myself to come up a few more Orioles who were misunderstood or unfairly labeled. Who didn't completely earn their reputations. For example: * Albert Belle wasn't always a menace to the media and actually was a popular teammate. Let's start with the second part. I'm not saying that Belle was loved by everyone who wore the uniform during his two seasons in Baltimore, but...

A world that no longer simulates normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic keeps tossing pitcher Wade LeBlanc in directions he couldn't imagine. From a professional standpoint, he settled for a minor league deal with the Orioles on Feb. 3 after the Mariners declined his $5 million option. He made $2.5 million in 2019 and is supposed to earn $800,000 this summer if he's on the club. The bonding process with teammates was interrupted in spring training with the March 12 shutdown. He participates...

Mike Rizzo spends his life in motion. If he's not in his office at Nationals Park, he's in the clubhouse meeting with the coaching staff. Or he's on the field watching batting practice from right behind the cage. Or he's on the team charter flying to nearly every road game during a season. Or on the rare occasions he's not with the big league club, he's somewhere else in America watching a top college or high school prospect who's on the Nats' radar for the upcoming draft. What, though,...

You could argue for hours which Oriole is the best of them all since the team arrived in Baltimore in 1954. Several players should get legit consideration. But for me, and today's blog, I asked myself this question: Who is the most important and significant player in Orioles history? Again, several worthy candidates. But my choice is Frank Robinson. All teams want to be able to make that trade that provides the final piece of the puzzle. To acquire the player that puts them over the...

The Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals will be hosting a virtual version of their opening day today. This was supposed to be opening day at their new, state-of-the-art facility, but all of baseball is currently in a shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The broadcast will be available on the Fredericksburg Nationals Facebook page. The page will be live at 9 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m. will show a tour of the new ballpark, ceremonies honoring local health care workers, and presentations from...

It was one of the big trades of the 2016 winter meetings at National Harbor, Md. The Nationals sent three pitchers to the White Sox for outfielder Adam Eaton. In exchange, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Dane Dunning were traded to Chicago. Fast-forward to April 2020. Here is a quick look at how this trade in late 2016 affected both teams. The Nationals were in dire need of a starting outfielder who could be a workhorse at the top of the lineup. Eaton fit that bill. But a major injury to...

How well do you know your Nationals history? If you tried our two previous trivia quizzes (the first highlighting opening days, the second all about the postseason), you may already have an idea just how proficient you are at these things. But whether you aced those quizzes or failed them spectacularly, it's time to get back on the horse and give it another try. Today we present the latest edition of Nats trivia, this time looking at some of the most notable highs and lows for the franchise...

If questions about the 2020 baseball season could be used as currency, I'd be able to afford all the toilet paper in the land. I'd also make donations to the Maryland Food Bank and assorted charities, but there would be lots and lots of toilet paper. I'm wondering exactly how a late start is going to impact the trade deadline. Does it still exist? Does the date get pushed back? The Orioles traded veteran pitcher Andrew Cashner to the Red Sox on July 13, 2019 for two Rookie-level Dominican...

A lot of Orioles fans may not know Brian Shallcross' name. He is the general manager of the Double-A Bowie Baysox. This former William and Mary kicker has been with Bowie since 2003. He's one of the good guys that works hard, most of the time behind the scenes, to keep his organization humming. The Baysox have a first-rate staff and they love their fans and community. I recently chatted via Zoom video with Brian about several topics. At the of the end of this blog, you can click to watch the...

Back in the days before I smartened up, the notion of a tripleheader was quite intriguing. Doubleheaders of my youth meant glorious Sundays spent at Memorial Stadium, figuring how best to stretch five bucks so that it lasted two games. And if the nightcap went more than the regulation nine innings? No worries, since Dad was listening on the radio and knew exactly when to head to the bus stop on Wilkens Avenue to pick us up for the return trip home. Speaking strictly as a baseball professional,...