On a seemingly different Marlins ballclub and rotation possibilities
On a seemingly different Marlins ballclub and rotation possibilities
Dan Kolko
Nationals
In recent years, the Marlins have served as the doormat of the National League East. They've lost at least 90 games each of the last three seasons - including a 100-loss campaign last year - and finished anywhere from 29 to 34 games out of first place in the division. Last year, the Nationals took 14 of their 19 games against Miami, outscoring the Marlins 86-52 in those contests. You saw the Marlins coming up on your schedule, you could typically pencil in at least a couple of wins. That...
After struggles and injuries in 2013, Chen looking for better results in 2014
After struggles and injuries in 2013, Chen looking for better results in 2014
Steve Melewski
Orioles
So the Orioles are 2-0 when Chris Tillman starts and he has an ERA of 1.35 in those two games. They are 0-5 when anyone else starts with an ERA of 8.76. So, yeah, that has to change and soon. We can talk about the Orioles' lack of hitting - and the team has scored just 22 runs with only three homers in seven games - but this club will go only as far as its rotation will take it. The offense should be good and the defense will likely be top shelf again. But the pitchers need to pull their...
Wieters doing it right from the left
Wieters doing it right from the left
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
NEW YORK - I'm writing quickly this morning because I left my power cord in the Yankee Stadium press box yesterday and my laptop battery is running low. You may read slowly, however. No pressure. J.J. Hardy has missed three of the last four games due to spasms and tightness in his lower back. If he's still on the shelf today, with little or no improvement, it's perfectly fine to express concern and speculate about a trip to the disabled list. Losing Hardy and Manny Machado on the left...
Hearing from Jimenez and Cruz (and Schoop)
Hearing from Jimenez and Cruz (and Schoop)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
NEW YORK - Ubaldo Jimenez couldn't locate his breaking ball today, couldn't get it down, and the Yankees made him pay. Jimenez didn't last through the fifth inning and was charged with four runs and eight hits, with five walks 109 pitches thrown. He's 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his first two starts with the Orioles. "It was all about getting the breaking ball down," he said. "It was kind of tough to throw inside and especially, I couldn't find any of them to put away hitters. I was able to...
Showalter speaks after 4-2 loss
Showalter speaks after 4-2 loss
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
NEW YORK - With shortstop J.J. Hardy unavailable today due to tightness in his lower back, Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't make moves in the late innings that normally would have been automatic for him. Showalter addressed that topic after a 4-2 loss to the Yankees, along with Ubaldo Jimenez's start and the decision to move outfielder Nolan Reimold to the 60-day disabled list. Here you go: On Jimenez: "He went through some really good sequences and then just got out of whack. He was...
Jon Shepherd: A primer on pitch framing (or how a ball is worth 0.17 runs)
Jon Shepherd: A primer on pitch framing (or how a ball is worth 0.17 runs)
Josh Land
Orioles
You may have heard the term "pitch framing" bandied about lately. In this guest blog, we hope to make the concept behind pitch framing and its implementation more familiar to you. How does one figure out how to measure how well a catcher frames pitches? Well, it is like any idea. Ideas go through several stages in order to be implemented. Typically, an idea for a design is created in order to address a desire. These ideas are then tested for their soundness against what we already know. From...
Stuart Wallace: The good and bad of an aggressive approach at the plate
Stuart Wallace: The good and bad of an aggressive approach at the plate
Josh Land
Nationals
In the infancy of the 2014 season, the Nationals have already had a pair of at-bats that sans a hit or run scored have resonated with the team and fans alike. Last week, it was Danny Espinosa's eight-pitch at-bat against New York Mets reliever Bobby Parnell, culminating in a walk and a new look for the oft-maligned second baseman - that of a patient, strike zone-savvy hitter. In Sunday's game against Atlanta Braves starter Alex Wood, it was Nate McLouth's 13-pitch duel that turned heads,...
Jimenez struggles, takes defeat as O's lose at New York
Jimenez struggles, takes defeat as O's lose at New York
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Ubaldo Jimenez became the latest O's starter not named Chris Tillman to struggle. The offense didn't provide much help, either, as the Orioles lost 4-2 in the Yankees' home opener at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles fall to 1-3 on this road trip and 2-5 on the season. Jimenez struggled with his control throughout his start. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs with five walks and four strikeouts. He threw 109 pitches, 65 for strikes. Jimenez is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA over his...
Win signed gear by using #masnOrioles
Win signed gear by using #masnOrioles
Josh Land
Orioles
Update: Tweet with #masnOrioles now to be entered to win a signed Buck Showalter jersey! When the Orioles are playing, one thing is certain: O's fans are sharing their opinions of their team on social media. Twitter is a perfect tool for a community of O's fans to come together and talk about their favorite players, awesome plays, thoughts on the game and more. We love seeing tweets from Birdland and want to reward you for getting social. All this week, you can enter to win signed O's...
Nationals have highest recent success rate employing Arizona Fall League participants
Nationals have highest recent success rate employing Arizona Fall League participants
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals' opening day roster is chock full of Arizona Fall League participants. According to an Arizona Fall League news release, 53 percent of MLB opening day rosters (including disabled lists) played in the AFL. That is, 452 of the 854 players listed on the the 30 Major League Baseball opening day rosters played in the AFL. The Nationals and Padres have the most, with 20 former AFL players on each of their rosters. The Orioles have 19 players on their team who spent time in the...