orioles buzz

Josh Michael: Lefty Lowther continues to improve his stock

April 24, 2018, 11:30am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Lefty Lowther continues to improve his stock

Before the season began, I was extremely excited about the starting rotation that the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds were going to have due to the vast amount of talent it contained. So far, that excitement has been justified and the standout of the group has been left-hander Zac Lowther. The Shorebirds have one of the top three pitching staffs in the entire South Atlantic League and Lowther has been the ace of the staff in the early going. Lowther, who turns 22 next week, was drafted by the...

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Opposite dugout: Indians offense still trying to find its rhythm

April 19, 2018, 6:48pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Indians offense still trying to find its rhythm

Manager: Terry Francona (6th season) Record: 9-7 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: SS Francisco Lindor (15 hits, 7 RBIs); LF Michael Brantley (.333 with 1 HR, 6 RBIs); 3B JosÃ© Ramirez (4 HR, 8 RBIs); RHP Corey Kluber (2-1, 1.52 ERA); RHP Trevor Bauer (1-1, 2.25 ERA), RHP Cody Allen (0.00 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (6-1 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 20: RHP Trevor Bauer (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (0-2); 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 21: RHP Mike Clevinger (1-0) vs. RHP...

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Zach Wilt: Strikeouts are sapping early Orioles offense

April 20, 2018, 5:33am

Orioles

The Orioles are in a rut and are watching the losses pile up as they slide down the standings in the American League East. You can only keep telling yourself, "It's early," for so long. Here on April 20, it is still true, but the hole keeps getting deeper and deeper and digging out of it only gets more difficult as time goes on. There have been some gut-wrenching losses, like Wednesday's 6-5 defeat in Detroit, and other times the Orioles just have been outplayed by their opponents, like...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Birds continue to struggle in cold weather

April 19, 2018, 8:25am

Orioles

"MASN All Access" podcast: Birds continue to struggle in cold weather

As we continue to wait for spring to arrive, Orioles fans are waiting for the O's offense to heat up as well. What you don't have to wait any longer for is a new episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. Paul and I discuss the possible effect the recent cold weather has had on the Orioles' bats. Did you know that out of 18 games played so far, only six have been played in temperatures of 60 degrees or warmer? And three of those six were in Houston, where cold doesn't exist and they have a...

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Opposite dugout: Sleepy bats a factor in Tigers' slow start

April 16, 2018, 12:20pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Sleepy bats a factor in Tigers' slow start

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (1st year) Record: 4-9 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.245/.309/.367, 3 doubles), 2B Dixon Machado (7 doubles, 8 RBIs), 3B Jeimer Candelario (4 doubles, 1 HR), RF Nicholas Castellanos (.302/.362/.415, 2 triples), RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 8.18 ERA), RHP Shane Greene (3.86 ERA, 2 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (4-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 17: RHP Andrew Cashner (1-1) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (1-1), 6:40 p.m., MASN2April...

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Josh Michael: Alex Wells succeeds by going against the grain

April 18, 2018, 5:47am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Alex Wells succeeds by going against the grain

When it comes to pitching prospects, both before they are even drafted and after, all of the talk tends to be about how hard they throw their fastball. While I won't argue that it's nice when a guy can throw a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, I'll take a guy who gets outs, pounds the zone and makes a hitter earn his way on base. Orioles prospect Alex Wells, a left-hander, falls into that latter category, and I'm glad he's in the O's system. Wells, 21, is one of the rare International free agent...

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Opposite dugout: It's World Series or bust for the Red Sox

April 12, 2018, 7:32pm

Orioles

Opposite dugout: It's World Series or bust for the Red Sox

Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 10-2 Last 10 games: 9-1 Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.370 with 2 HR, 9 RBIs); 1B Hanley Ramirez (.357 with 2 HR, 12 RBIs); LF Andrew Benintendi (.231 with 5 RBIs, 11 BB); LHP Chris Sale (1-0, 1.06 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (0.00 ERA, 4 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 1st meeting (9-10 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 13: RHP Chris Tillman (0-2) vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (0-0), 7:10 p.m., MASNApril 14: RHP Alex Cobb (0-0) vs. TBD, 1:05 p.m., MASNApril...

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Zach Wilt: Cobb's arrival will benefit both offense and mound staff

April 12, 2018, 3:54pm

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Cobb's arrival will benefit both offense and mound staff

After enjoying a much-needed off-day, their first since March 30, the Orioles are headed north to square off against the first-place Red Sox for a four-game weekend series that includes the annual 11 a.m. Patriot's Day game on Monday. It feels like the Orioles always play that game. The Birds took just one of three in their quick home series against the Blue Jays. Baltimore's offense scored only two runs in the first two games of that series before finally breaking out in the finale with five...

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Josh Michael: Undefeated Shorebirds are worth the price of admission

April 11, 2018, 5:48am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Undefeated Shorebirds are worth the price of admission

The 2018 minor league season is in full swing now for the Orioles' four full-season affiliates, and while there is plenty of talent throughout the affiliates' rosters, the low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are the standouts thus far. I knew the Shorebirds were going to have a good pitching staff thanks in large part to having seven pitchers currently in the Top 30 Orioles' prospects list per MLBPipeline.com. Their offense was anticipated to be solid, but had some unknowns in it, as well. Thus...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Steve Melewski recaps O's-Yankees series and looks ahead

April 09, 2018, 11:34am

Orioles

"MASN All Access" podcast: Steve Melewski recaps O's-Yankees series and looks ahead

MASNsports.com's very own Steve Melewski was kind enough to join Paul Mancano and myself for this week's Orioles episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. After a five-game losing streak that included a sweep at the hands of the Astros in Houston, the Orioles started the season 1-5 and looked at a daunting four-game series against the Yankees in New York. While some fans may have already been crying for mercy to start the season, wouldn't you know it, the Orioles went out and won three of...

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Andrew Stetka: Machado's move to short still puzzles

April 09, 2018, 5:29am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Machado's move to short still puzzles

When Buck Showalter announced at Orioles FanFest in late January that Manny Machado would be moving to shortstop full-time, pushing Tim Beckham to third base, I didn't really blink at the move. It seemed inevitable, really, despite my own personal apprehensions. Machado is, as everyone knows, in his walk year. The move to short was conceivably to increase his value to potential trade suitors. From a personal standpoint for Machado, it would also increase his value as a free agent. Despite the...

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Opposite dugout: Blue Jays trying to remain relevant in AL East race

April 08, 2018, 6:58am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays trying to remain relevant in AL East race

Manager: John Gibbons (11th year) Record: 6-4 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Justin Smoak (.352 with 2 HR, 10 RBIs), LF Curtis Granderson (.364/.417/.545), 2B Yangervis Solarte (.308 with 2 HR), 3B Josh Donaldson (2 HR, 5 RBIs), RHP Marco Estrada (1-0, 2.77 ERA), RHP Roberto Osuna (4 saves, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (7-12 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 9: LHP J.A. Happ (1-1) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (0-0), 7:05 p.m., MASN2 April 10: RHP Aaron Sanchez (0-1) vs. RHP...

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Opposite dugout: With high expectations, Yankees stars off to sluggish start

April 04, 2018, 9:54am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: With high expectations, Yankees stars off to sluggish start

Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 4-2 Last 10 games: 4-2 Who to watch (2017 stats): OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (59 HR, 132 RBIs with 1.007 OPS), RF Aaron Judge (52 HR, 114 RBIs with 1.049 OPS), C Gary SÃ¡nchez (33 HR, 90 RBIs), LHP CC Sabathia (14-5, 3.69 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (3.22 ERA, 22 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (12-7 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 5: RHP Andrew Cashner vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka, 6:35 p.m., MASN April 6: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP CC...

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Zach Wilt: O's patient approach starting to pay dividends

April 06, 2018, 5:19am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: O's patient approach starting to pay dividends

It was hard to stay positive after a 1-5 start to the season. Our outlook after opening day was so promising, with Adam Jones walking it off in the 11th inning in front of a sold-out crowd at Camden Yards. But after the Gatorade shower and celebration at home plate, the Orioles went the next week without another win and came to the Bronx looking for their second victory of the 2018 season. Despite their their struggles entering the series against the Yankees, there were some encouraging signs...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Chance The Bunter, bats vs. pitching and schedule

April 03, 2018, 10:56am

Orioles

"MASN All Access" podcast: Chance The Bunter, bats vs. pitching and schedule

What's the first weekend of the season without a little controversy? As if it hadn't been talked about enough, Paul and I discuss Chance Sisco's now infamous bunt in the ninth inning against the Twins on Sunday to start off this week's Orioles episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast. Was Sisco in the wrong, or did he do the right thing when he bunted during JosÃ© BerrÃos' one-hit shutout? We'll weigh in with our thoughts and hear from MASN analyst and Orioles Hall of Famer Rick...

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Josh Michael: Breaking down a pair of promising pitching prospects

April 04, 2018, 4:59am

Orioles

Josh Michael: Breaking down a pair of promising pitching prospects

The 2018 minor league season will kick off Thursday, and I for one am extremely excited because the state of the Orioles' farm system has vastly improved over the past few years. Today, I want to highlight two pitchers that most O's fans are not very familiar with, but are prospects that I am very excited about. First up is a lefty who almost wasn't even an Oriole. Cameron Bishop, 22, was selected by the Orioles in the 26th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal-Irvine. His...

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Andrew Stetka: How Orioles could extend recent positivity

April 01, 2018, 10:12am

Orioles

There's no question it's been a positive few weeks for the Orioles. After an offseason that looked bleak and disconcerting, the team made a few moves on and off the field that helped spring things to life. There was the announcement of the "Kids Cheer Free" program, which allows adults to bring children 9 and under to a game for free. Then the team backed up its signing of pitcher Andrew Cashner by bringing in another free agent starter, Alex Cobb. The O's also announced new pricing...

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"MASN All Access" podcast: Opening day, the rotation and expectations

March 29, 2018, 6:18am

Orioles

"MASN All Access" podcast: Opening day, the rotation and expectations

A new baseball season means a new podcast! If you've been following along with MASNsports.com's previous Orioles podcast "Yard Work," we hope you continue to follow along with the new "MASN All Access" podcast. This new podcast will be all-encompassing under the umbrella of the "MASN All Access" Facebook Live show. "All Access" co-host and producer Paul Mancano will join me, "All Access" and social producer Bobby Blanco, twice a week for brand-new episodes all season long. Orioles...

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Zach Wilt: Arms will dictate Orioles' success in 2018

March 30, 2018, 5:24am

Orioles

In 2018, the Orioles will go as far as their starting pitching will take them. I think I've been writing that same sentence for the last seven years. It's basic, but it's true. The O's offense is strong and should be even better this season. Last year, the team fell out of contention because its starting pitching struggled. The Birds' rotation ranked last in ERA (5.70), 27th in walks per nine innings (3.74) and gave up more hard contact (35 percent) than 26 of the 30 teams in baseball. The...

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Opposite dugout: Twins out to prove 2017 wasn't an anomaly

March 28, 2018, 6:41am

Orioles

Opposite dugout: Twins out to prove 2017 wasn't an anomaly

Manager: Paul Molitor (4th season) Record: 85-77 (2nd in AL Central in 2017; captured 2nd AL wild card) Last 10 games: Season opener Who to watch: 2B Brian Dozier (.271 average, 34 HR, 93 RBIs); 3B Miguel SanÃ³ (.264 average, 28 HR, 77 RBIs); CF Byron Buxton (.253 average, 29 SB); RHP JosÃ© BerrÃos (14-8, 3.89 ERA); RHP Lance Lynn (11-8, 3.43 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (5-2 in 2017) Pitching probables: March 29: RHP Jake Odorizzi (10-8, 4.14 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy...