Daniel Clark: Four keys to Orioles having ALDS success
Daniel Clark: Four keys to Orioles having ALDS success
Josh Land
Orioles
With the regular season having come to a close, now is a good opportunity to reflect on expectations for the 2014 season and appreciate just how impressive this Orioles team has performed. Despite the numerous injuries and suspensions during the journey, a 96-66 record, a 12-game division lead and a ninth American League East title was probably more than what even the most optimistic Orioles fan expected. And now, as the postseason swings into gear, the city of Baltimore holds high hopes that...
Operation October: Preparing for the postseason
Operation October: Preparing for the postseason
Josh Land
Orioles
It's officially October, which means postseason baseball at Camden Yards is finally here! It's been two long weeks since the Orioles clinched the American League East title, and the city of Baltimore has been more than ready for the Birds to host the AL Division Series. As dedicated O's fans, we know you #StayHungry for more Orioles access, so we'll be giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of our social media journey each day of the Birds' playoff run. Be sure to check in to Operation...
Note to O's hurlers: Be wary of the first pitch against Detroit
Note to O's hurlers: Be wary of the first pitch against Detroit
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Over the years, when asked what is the best pitch, many pitching coaches have said "strike one." They mean it doesn't matter whether you throw a fastball, slider or changeup. As long you get ahead in the count, everything flows from there. Pitching ahead and getting strike one is big. It will be big for Orioles pitchers in this series against Detroit. But O's hurlers need to keep this fact in mind - Tigers batters thrive on hitting the first pitch. Of the top 20 hitters in batting...
Duquette: "I like our chances with this ballclub"
Duquette: "I like our chances with this ballclub"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
We're down to the final workout before Game 1 of the Division Series. One more day and Camden Yards comes alive again - dressed in orange, volume cranked to the maximum. The 5:37 p.m. starting time may not suit everyone, but why complain when the alternative is spending the postseason on your couch? As Orioles manager Buck Showalter says, you show up when they tell you and you play the games. Chris Tillman opposes Max Scherzer in Game 1. Showalter should clue us in on the rest of his...
Matt Kremnitzer: Can the Orioles rotation hold up?
Matt Kremnitzer: Can the Orioles rotation hold up?
Josh Land
Orioles
The offseason addition of Ubaldo Jimenez was supposed to bolster a decent group of Orioles starting pitchers that included Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez (along with Kevin Gausman waiting in the wings). Instead, Jimenez was terrible and was eventually demoted to the bullpen, Gausman joined the rotation full-time and every non-Jimenez starter finished the season with an ERA of 3.65 or lower. As a group, the O's rotation finished the season a respectable fifth in the...
Will playoff experience be important?
Will playoff experience be important?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
How critical will playoff experience be when the Orioles and Detroit Tigers meet beginning Thursday in the American League Division Series? Detroit has a lot of it. In fact, the four pitchers named to start today for Detroit - Max Scherzer in Game 1 followed by Justin Verlander, David Price and Rick Porcello - have made a combined 30 playoff starts. We don't yet know the O's order beyond Chris Tillman in Game 1, but Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris have combined for two...
Tigers announce starters for Division Series
Tigers announce starters for Division Series
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters today in Detroit that he's sending Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Price and Rick Porcello to the mound for the Division Series. Mickey Lolich must not be available. Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA in 33 starts) is 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles, with nine walks and 45 strikeouts in 39 innings, and 1-0 with a 4.95 ERA in three starts at Camden Yards. Scherzer is 11-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 starts at home and 7-4 with a 3.49...
Quick update on Davis
Quick update on Davis
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Chris Davis is making another start at third base today in the instructional league. He's scheduled to play five innings and receive a minimum of four at-bats in a game against the Red Sox in Sarasota. Davis also started at third base yesterday against the Rays in Port Charlotte. He flied out to right field, lifted a sacrifice fly to right-center, grounded a single into right and struck out. Davis made his instructional league debut on Friday in Sarasota, collecting an infield hit and a walk...
Rotation riding high
Rotation riding high
Dan Kolko
Nationals
Teams can win games any number of ways during the regular season. You can have a high-powered offense, one that lives by the home run. You can be aggressive on the basepaths, putting pressure on the opposing defense by taking extra bases. You can have a strong defensive club, one that makes all the routine plays and has a way of stealing a few outs, as well. The Nationals have shown that they have the ability to win games in any of those ways. But in the postseason, pitching is paramount. You...
Three reasons why Orioles can beat Tigers and three reasons why they may not
Three reasons why Orioles can beat Tigers and three reasons why they may not
Steve Melewski
Orioles
From the "Did you know?" department ... Nelson Cruz pretty much single-handedly destroyed the Detroit Tigers while with Texas in the 2011 American League Championship Series. As the Rangers won that series in six games, Cruz went 8-for-22 with two doubles, six homers, 13 RBIs, a 1.273 slugging percentage and 1.713 OPS. He hit the first postseason walk-off grand slam in Game 2 of that series. His six homers and 13 RBIs are the most by one player in one postseason series in baseball...