Following a weekend sweep at the hands of the second-worst team in baseball, the Orioles remain the worst team in the game at 40-97. They are barreling toward one of the worst campaigns in team history and are starting a rebuilding process that is expected to be measured in trips around the sun rather than mere months.
I'm going to bet many Orioles fans chose not to watch much of this weekend's series against the Royals in Kansas City. College football got underway, the U.S. Open tennis...
Every season in Birdland concludes with Fan Appreciation Weekend. The Orioles organization thanks the fans for their support with video tributes, experiences and giveaways. This season is no different. From Sept. 27-30, the O's host the defending World Series champion Astros for a four-game series that includes an alumni autograph series, as well as giveaways for a coaster set, puffy vest and duffle bag. While I am sure people will be lined up along the gates at Eutaw Street for their duffle...
Manager: Ned Yost (9th season)
Record: 42-91
Last 10 games: 4-6
Who to watch: 2B Whit Merrifield (.307, 28 SB) C Salvador Pérez (23 HR, 65 RBIs), DH Ryan O'Hearn (.554 slugging), RHP Brad Keller (6-5, 3.33 ERA), RHP Wily Peralta (8 saves),
Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2
Pitching probables:
Aug. 31: RHP Andrew Cashner (4-12) vs. RHP Brad Keller (6-5)Sept. 1: RHP Dylan Bundy (7-13) vs. RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-1)Sept. 2: RHP David Hess (3-8) vs. RHP Jorge López (0-4)
Inside the Royals:
The...
There may be a little over a month left in the 2018 season for the big leaguers, but minor league affiliates are nearing the end of the campaign, and for some, the season has already concluded. The Orioles' Rookie-level affiliate, the Gulf Coast League Orioles, wrapped up their season Saturday and despite their record, there were some standouts worth mentioning.
The GCL Orioles did not do so well this season record-wise, as they finished the year 13-42, the worst record in the GCL. They...
Manager: John Gibbons (11th season)
Record: 60-70
Last 10 games: 5-5
Who to watch: DH Kendrys Morales (21 HR, 53 RBIs), 1B Justin Smoak (19 HR, 61 RBIs), RF Randall Grichuk (18 HR, 45 RBIs), RHP Ken Giles (6 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 12-1
Pitching probables:
Aug. 27: RHP Sam Gaviglio (3-6) vs. RHP David Hess (2-8), 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 28: LHP Thomas Pannone (1-0) vs. TBA, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 29: RHP Ryan Borucki (3-3) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (4-15), 7:05 p.m., MASN
Inside the Blue...
Later this week, baseball's rules will change as the season draws to a close. With a month to go before the playoffs, Major League Baseball will allow teams to expand their rosters from 25 players to 40 players. Is there another sport where the rules are not only different depending on which league you play in, but also where they change the rules with a month left in the season? It will completely alter the dynamics of postseason races, as it does every season. For the Orioles, it could...
The 2018 campaign is a lost season for the Orioles that resulted in the front office disassembling the team at the trade deadline and planning for their long-term future. Fan favorites like Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop and Zach Britton were shipped off the Dodgers, Brewers and Yankees for prospects. Left in Baltimore was the team's leader and current longest-tenured Oriole, Adam Jones, who is in the final year of his contract. The veteran center fielder watched as his team was stripped for...
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season)
Record: 79-47
Last 10 games: 6-4
Who to watch: DH Giancarlo Stanton (.286 with 32 HR, 81 RBIs); 3B Miguel Andújar (.295, 130 hits); 2B Gleyber Torres (.264, 18 HR); LF Brett Gardner (104 hits, 13 SB); LHP J.A. Happ (14-6, 3.84 ERA); RHP Luis Severino (16-6, 3.28 ERA); RHP David Robertson (3.11 ERA, 3 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: 6-6
Pitching probables:
Aug. 24: LHP CC Sabathia (7-4) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (4-15); 7:05 p.m., MASNAug. 25: LHP J.A. Happ (14-6)...
Attention Orioles fans: Your last chance to become the MD Lottery Contestant of the Game is coming up on August 27th!
On August 27th, the Orioles begin their series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards, where the Orioles have hit 84 home runs so far this season. The Orioles have also hit 11 homers against the Blue Jays. August 27th is also the last chance to enter to become a 2018 Maryland Lottery "Contestant of the Game"!
Stop by a Maryland Lottery retailer and purchase Home Run...
I have written about a lot of different prospects here this season, with pitching prospects being more frequent. Today, I want to talk about another pitching prospect that has not gotten a whole lot of attention this season due to several factors, but right-hander Brenan Hanifee is very impressive and deserves some recognition.
Hanifee, 20, was the Orioles' fourth-round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Va. At 6-foot-5, 180 lbs., Hanifee...
The Orioles have an offensive identity that they've worn like a heavy backpack for a few years now. Because it's a heavy one, it slows them down. It makes them less versatile and only allows them to do so much. They've been an offense that relied on free swingers and the three-run homer, or the "Earl Weaver special," if you will. In recent memory, it has served them fairly well. From 2012-2017, the Orioles ranked second, first, first, third, first and fifth in home runs in the major...
Orioles employees will spend next week pitching in at various nonprofits around Baltimore. The organization's first OriolesREACH Week will conclude with its annual collection at Camden Yards to benefit the Maryland Food Bank.
The Orioles On Deck Employee Volunteer Program, presented by Bank of America, will send helpers to a different local organization each day next week.
On Monday, the volunteers will be painting hallways and dormitories at The Baltimore Station, a residential theraputic...
Throughout winter, I was hoping that the Orioles would be the winners of the Alex Cobb sweepstakes. It's no secret that the Birds needed to improve upon their starting rotation. Orioles starters had the highest ERA in 2017 (5.70), pitched the fewest innings of any American League team (846.0) and had the AL's second-highest walks per nine (3.74). I felt that adding Cobb, a proven starter who had faced the challenges of the AL East and was able to have a 3.50 ERA over six seasons with the...
Manager: Terry Francona (6th season)
Record: 69-51
Last 10 games: 8-2
Who to watch: 3B José RamÃrez (36 HR, 89 RBIs, 27 SB), SS Francisco Lindor (29 HR, 75 RBIs, 19 SB), LF Michael Brantley (29 2B), 1B Yonder Alonso (20 HR, 70 RBIs), RHP Mike Clevinger (3.38 ERA), RHP Cody Allen (23 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: 3-1
Pitching probables:
Aug. 17: RHP David Hess (2-6) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (14-6), 7:10 p.m., MASNAug. 18: RHP Alex Cobb (3-15) vs. RHP Adam Plutko (4-2), 4:05 p.m.,...
Manager: Mickey Calloway (1st season)
Record: 49-66
Last 10 games: 6-4
Who to watch: 1B Wilmer Flores (.273 with 10 HR, 39 RBIs), CF Brandon Nimmo (15 HR, 36 RBIs), LF Michael Conforto (16 HR, 42 RBIs), 3B Todd Frazier (11 HR, 37 RBIs), RHP Zack Wheeler (7-6, 3.82 ERA) RHP Robert Gsellman (7 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-2
Pitching probables:
Aug. 14: LHP Jason Vargas (2-8) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (3-10), 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 15: RHP Zack Wheeler (7-6) vs. TBD, 7:05 p.m., MASN
Inside the...
In an historically awful season and in the so-called dog days of summer, the Orioles had an important moment this weekend. Their rookie center fielder dubbed it a "pass-the-torch situation" when he took the field for his debut Friday night. Then Cedric Mullins delivered at the plate, too, becoming the first player in Orioles history to collect three hits in his major league debut. It's easy to tamp down expectations for the 23-year-old, who was called up from Triple-A. It's also easy to not...
Manager: Alex Cora (1st season)
Record: 81-35
Last 10 games: 8-2
Who to watch: DH J.D. Martinez (34 HR, .332/.399/.654), RF Mookie Betts (26 HR, .340/.428/.649, 22 SB), LF Andrew Benintendi (.305/.388/.512, 20 SB), SS Xander Bogaerts (32 2B), LHP David Price (3.93 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (33 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: 10-2
Pitching probables:
Aug. 10: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-4) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (7-10), 7:05 p.m., MASN2Aug. 11: LHP David Price (11-6) vs. RHP Yefry RamÃrez (1-4), 1:05...
Tim Beckham took the Orioles by storm last season. The shortstop was acquired at the 2017 trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays for 18-year-old right hander Tobias Myers, who was pitching in Aberdeen at that time. In his first 20 games in Baltimore, Beckham slashed a ridiculous .424/.443/.741 with eight doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs. A change of scenery seemed to be exactly what Beckham needed.
Quite possibly the best part about acquiring Beckham was that he wasn't just a rental for Dan...
The Orioles are in the midst of a rebuild and gained an influx of prospects that drastically overhauled their top 30 prospects list per MLBPipeline.com. Despite the newcomers, left-handed pitcher DL Hall could still be the cream of the crop and his 2018 performance is proving it.
Hall, 19, was the Orioles' first-round selection in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Valdosta High School (GA). Many felt it was a bit of a steal to fall to No. 21 in that draft, and after they signed him to a...
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season)
Record: 56-56
Last 10 games: 4-6
Who to watch: DH C.J. Cron (22 HR), 2B Joey Wendle (.292/.345/.416), 3B Matt Duffy (.301/.353/.383), RF Mallex Smith (23 SB, eight 3B), RHP Tyler Glasnow (4.27 ERA), RHP Sergio Romo (13 saves)
Season series vs. Orioles: 6-7
Pitching probables:
Aug. 7: RHP Alex Cobb (3-14) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-2), 7:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 8: RHP Andrew Cashner (3-10) vs. TBA, 7:10 p.m., MASN2Aug. 9: RHP David Hess (2-6) vs. TBA, 7:10 p.m.,...