Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wasn't ready last month to hand Austin Hays the center field job on opening day. No amount of prodding from the media was going to soften his stance. It was too soon to begin construction of a 26-man roster to be unveiled in late March. The story is the same regarding Renato Núñez. Hyde won't say that Núñez is going to be the primary designated hitter next season. But he speaks as if Núñez is on the team. "I think it's way too soon to think...

While it's been quiet on the baseball side this afternoon, with no news from the Orioles regarding players joining or leaving the 40-man roster, announcements were made on changes to the business side. T.J. Brightman has been hired as senior vice president and chief revenue officer. Jennifer Grondahl received a promotion to senior vice president of community development and communications, and Greg Bader has been promoted to senior vice president of administration and experience. They join...

After launching an organizational transformation in baseball operations nearly one year ago with the hiring of Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, the team now confirms the leadership vision off the field. The Orioles have hired T.J. Brightman as Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, and promoted Jennifer Grondahl to Senior Vice President of Community Development & Communications, and Greg Bader to Senior Vice President of Administration & Experience. The...

There was a point during Tuesday night's wild card game, around the third inning or so, when it looked like Davey Martinez's postseason managerial debut was going to be remembered for the wrong reason. With Max Scherzer digging the Nationals into a 3-0 hole after serving up a pair of quick homers and the Brewers all set up to use their pitching staff exactly as they planned, Martinez's decision not only to start Scherzer in this game but to then let him bat for himself and continue pitching...

Of all the ups and downs the Nationals bullpen has struggled through this season, the biggest challenge is waiting for them in Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers offense is loaded with left-handed batters. The Nationals bullpen, as was seen with the wild card roster, has only one lefty, Sean Doolittle. The Dodgers, who host the Nationals in the National League Division Series starting Thursday, have a versatile power-hitting lineup that hit 279 home runs during the regular season, most in the NL. Los...

Following a 4-3 win in the National League wild card game, the Nationals turn their focus to Los Angeles for Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Manager Davey Martinez confirmed that left-hander Patrick Corbin will start Game 1. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not announced his Game 1 starter. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg tossed three scoreless innings in Tuesday's comeback win over the Brewers, taxed for only 34 pitches. So that opens the door for...

The Nationals made a miraculous comeback Tuesday night to beat the Brewers 4-3 in the National League wild card game. Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg combined for eight innings, allowing only three runs. Then Daniel Hudson worked the ninth and found a way to record three outs for the save. But it did not start off well for Scherzer, who made the start. The right-hander allowed two early homers in the first two innings. Before he could get comfortable, the ace of the staff was down 3-0 after...

For seven innings Tuesday, the Brewers' bullpen game was working to near perfection. Then, the eighth inning arrived. Brewers closer Josh Hader couldn't find the strike zone and the Nationals scored three runs to beat Milwaukee 4-3 in the National League wild card game at frenzied Nats Park. With one out, Hader hit pinch-hitter Michael A. Taylor with a pitch. Then pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman hit a broken-bat single to center, with Taylor going to third. Anthony Rendon walked to load the...

One of these years, the Nationals had to catch a break in a winner-take-all game on South Capitol Street, right? They had suffered too much heartache, too many crazy moments that all went against them with their season on the line in October. Just once, it had to go the other way, right? It did. Finally. And because of it, they will get to keep playing in 2019. Down two runs to the Brewers with two outs in the bottom of the eighth of tonight's National League wild card game, the Nationals...

A major league manager can make an impact and change games with sound strategic moves. But perhaps their biggest impact is as a tone-setter and the daily public voice and face for their teams. In that regard, I believe that Brandon Hyde had a very solid first season with the Orioles. He and his staff seemed to quickly gain players' trust and confidence in spring training. The upbeat attitude and energy the club developed then carried through Game 162. And it was no given that would happen....