The Orioles today announced a multi-year partnership naming Hearst's 98 Rock FM & WBAL NewsRadio AM/FM the new flagship stations of the Orioles Radio Network. The six-year deal also includes unique cross-promotion on WBAL-TV. Beginning in 2022, fans can hear all 162 regular season games, select Spring Training contests, and extensive Orioles programming on Hearst platforms, including 98 Rock (97.9 FM), WBAL NewsRadio AM 1090 & FM 101.5 (& FM 97.9 HD 2), and across the seven-state,...

For the better part of a decade, the Nationals built a consistent contender around one critical part of their roster more than any other: the rotation. From 2012-19, the Nats rotation produced a 3.56 ERA. Only the Dodgers (3.32) were better across the majors during that extended span. Only once during those eight years did the rotation's ERA exceed 4.00 or rank worse than seventh in the big leagues (2018, when it checked in at 4.03). That's what made the last two seasons so jarring for anyone...

According to stats on FanGraphs.com, Orioles pitchers collectively averaged 93 mph with their fastball velocity in 2021. At one time, that number may have been among the best in the majors, but it only ranked tied for 20th last season. The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox tied for the major league lead, averaging 94.7 mph per fastball. Among O's pitchers throwing 20 innings or more last season, just four averaged 95 mph or more. 96.8 mph - Tanner Scott 95.9 mph - Connor Greene 95.5 mph -...

While we have taken some space here in recent days to begin to size up 2022 Orioles rotation candidates - and will continue to do some of that moving forward - let's take a look at the bigger picture today. That is, the rotation as a whole and how should team management approach it this coming season? Plan A: The club has reached an agreement with right-hander Jordan Lyles. At a minimum, they hope he can eat some innings allowing younger pitchers more time to get minor league seasoning...

We spend the majority of our time here talking about major leaguers, but with the lockout now preventing teams from making any transactions involving players on 40-man rosters, let's take an opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Nationals' top minor leaguers. We continue this weekly series with the organization's No. 7 prospect ... RHP COLE HENRY Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 215 lbs. Age on opening day 2022: 22 How acquired: Second-round pick, 2020 draft, LSU 2021 stats (High Single-A...

The proverb that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" states that even a tiny amount of it might fool people into believing they're an expert on a particular subject, which can lead to mistakes. So true. But we still won't let that deter us this morning. The more you know about Orioles hitters in 2021 ... * Third baseman Kelvin Gutiérrez's five outs above average led Orioles infielders and ranked second on the team behind Cedric Mullins (11). Gutiérrez registered a .327 on-base...

In recent years, there were not many players signed as international amateurs by the Orioles that made it all the way to the majors. But Aussie Alexander Wells pulled that off during the 2021 season, making his big league debut in late June. The soft-tosser had four stints on the roster, beginning with his initial recall from Triple-A Norfolk on June 25. Over 11 games (eight starts), he went 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA. Over 42 2/3 innings, he allowed 53 hits and 10 homers with 16 walks and 26...

Happy new year, everyone! And isn't it wonderful to put 2021 behind us, turn the page to 2022 and start gearing up for the start of spring training in six weeks ... er, hold the phone. The calendar may have changed, but the state of Major League Baseball remains just as it was last month, with a lockout still in place and no evidence it's about to end anytime soon. Not that any of this should surprise you. When the collective bargaining agreement expired Dec. 1 and the league enacted its...

Yesterday, Mark Zuckerman rang in the new year with hopes for the Nationals in 2022. Things the team would like to see come to fruition this season. Best-case scenarios for the players, coaches and front office staff. The fact of the matter is 2022 is going to be a year unlike we've seen on South Capitol Street in over a decade. Exactly 10 years ago, expectations were sky high for the Nationals. They ended the 2012 season with the club's first National League East division title, starting...

The new year arrives. We break out the new calendars. And it's also a good time to take a look ahead at what might be coming. As it relates to baseball, getting a new collective bargaining agreement worked out before the scheduled start of spring training would be a great start. So fingers crossed that we see that early during 2022. But once the season does begin, what could 2022 hold for the Orioles? Will the team begin to turn the corner?: This would be big for a suffering fan base that has...