Davis could return to Orioles tonight

Davis could return to Orioles tonight
The Orioles might be back to a full roster for tonight's series opener against the Rays at Camden Yards after playing a man down for the past two games. Chris Davis could be cleared to rejoin the team after being kept at home for precautionary reasons, according to an industry source. Davis hasn't tested positive for COVID-19, but he ran a low fever Wednesday morning and the Orioles placed him in the protocol. From what I've heard, the fever was related to his sinuses and he's undergone...
Continue reading

Orioles down 5-4 in sixth with game in rain delay (O's lose 8-6)

Orioles down 5-4 in sixth with game in rain delay (O's lose 8-6)
Very little about the 2020 baseball season is going to approach normal, let alone fit the description like an oiled glove. Having John Means start for the Orioles tonight came pretty close. At least the moment that the bullpen gate swung open and he walked onto the field. The strict pitch count and expectations that he'd work three or four innings lent an unusual twist to the story, but the staff ace was back on the mound. Order restored to the rotation in the most literal sense. And then the...
Continue reading

Notes on Davis, Iglesias, rotation and more

Notes on Davis, Iglesias, rotation and more
First baseman Chris Davis remains away from the Orioles as they finish their two-game series against the Yankees at Camden Yards. He also was absent from the ballpark last night. Manager Brandon Hyde isn't allowed to provide specific information on Davis, who's likely under COVID-19 protocol. The Orioles haven't replaced him on the active roster. "C.D. is still unavailable today," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call. "I'm going to leave it at that." Davis worked out with the team...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
The Orioles reinstated John Means from the 10-day injured list this afternoon and optioned reliever Cody Carroll to the alternate camp. Carroll, who has faced nine batters and retired only one, left the ballpark shortly before 3 p.m. Chris Davis and José Iglesias are out of the lineup. The Orioles aren't explaining Davis' absence. Iglesias, who had an RBI double last night, is dealing with some tightness in his quadriceps muscle. Iglesias is a career .359 (42-for-117) hitter against the...
Continue reading

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Orioles reliever Hunter Harvey left the alternate camp site in Bowie yesterday and joined his teammates at Camden Yards for the home opener. He arrived at the ballpark around 3 p.m. and headed through the gate reserved for players. Harvey was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain and won't be activated today. However, left-hander John Means is coming off the IL and making the start against the Yankees. Manager Brandon Hyde already knew that Harvey and reliever Dillon...
Continue reading

Home runs hurt Orioles again in home opener (updated)

Home runs hurt Orioles again in home opener (updated)
The orange carpet wasn't unrolled tonight at Camden Yards. Players walked out of the dugouts and lined up sans the traditional introductions. The only bunting used was intended to advance a runner. The Orioles held their home opener in understated fashion, adapting to the new policies implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic. A video played at 7:12 p.m. celebrating baseball's return but also calling for an end to racial injustice and reminding everyone of the importance of wearing...
Continue reading

Orioles trying to feel normal in unusual home opener

Orioles trying to feel normal in unusual home opener
The Orioles took batting practice this afternoon on a field that looked as it did for intrasquad games and an exhibition. Nothing to indicate that they were going to hold their home opening day. No pomp due to the circumstances. They didn't need any frills. They just wanted to get settled in their own ballpark after the scare they received earlier in the week in Miami. "We're extremely excited for opening day here," manager Brandon Hyde said during his Zoom conference call. "It's...
Continue reading

Davis away from ballpark for tonight's home opener

Davis away from ballpark for tonight's home opener
Chris Davis admitted last night that his safety concerns increased after seeing reports of the positive COVID-19 tests among Marlins players. He also said he'd probably wear a mask at first base. Davis gave the impression that he'd be playing in tonight's home opener against the Yankees, but he's absent from the lineup and away from the team. Renato Núñez has replaced Davis in the field and the Orioles are short one player. "CD, he's not here today," manager Brandon Hyde said...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees

Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
Chris Davis is out of the Orioles' lineup tonight for their first home game of the 2020 season. Renato Núñez is playing first base and Dwight Smith Jr. is the designated hitter. Davis was 1-for-11 with an RBI double in Boston. José Iglesias continues to bat third. Anthony Santander is one spot ahead of him. DJ Stewart is in left field. Orioles pitchers haven't issued a walk in the last two games. The club record is three straight on July 1-3, 1980. For the Orioles Austin Hays CF...
Continue reading

Orioles trade Velázquez to Astros for PTBNL (plus other notes)

Orioles trade Velázquez to Astros for PTBNL (plus other notes)
Already outrighted off the 40-man roster and removed from the player pool, reliever Hector Velázquez is now leaving the Orioles organization. He never got to throw a pitch for them in a spring training, summer exhibition or regular season game. The Orioles traded Velázquez to the Astros this afternoon for a player to be named later. Claimed off waivers from the Red Sox on March 8, Velázquez managed to throw a bullpen session at the Ed Smith Stadium complex before baseball shut down due...
Continue reading

Orioles resuming season against team that tortured them in 2019

Orioles resuming season against team that tortured them in 2019
Momentum in baseball is the next day's starting pitcher. We must remind ourselves as the Orioles sit on their back-to-back wins in Boston. They could have rolled into Miami and been toppled by Pablo López, who registered a 3.39 ERA, 1.084 WHIP and .229 average against in 11 home starts last summer, compared to a 7.36 ERA, 1.448 WHIP and .299 average-against in 10 starts on the road. Of course, we'll never know because both games at Marlins Park were postponed. The softer part of the...
Continue reading

Davis: "I would say I'm definitely a little bit more concerned"

Davis: "I would say I'm definitely a little bit more concerned"
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was able to joke tonight about his experience Monday at the team hotel in Miami, how he ordered a delicious cheeseburger for lunch with a side of sweet potato fries. He definitely recommends the fries. Hyde was preparing for a game but instructed his players to stay near their phones. Don't leave their rooms. And take advantage of the 24-hour food service. Guys are trying to keep it light, but the last few days have been unsettling. The reports on the positive...
Continue reading

Orioles could be hosting Yankees this week (updated)

Orioles could be hosting Yankees this week (updated)
The 2020 season is about to get weirder. The Marlins have been shut down this week due to an increasing number of positive tests for COVID-19, which forced the postponement of both games against the Orioles in Miami. The teams are supposed to play Wednesday and Thursday night at Camden Yards, but more postponements are in the works. Rather than stay idle, the Orioles could be hosting the Yankees for the next two nights. The Yankees had their game against the Phillies postponed again today at...
Continue reading

Orioles left playing waiting game rather than Marlins

Orioles left playing waiting game rather than Marlins
Safety comes first. Before a winning series, before the standings, before anything relating to balls and strikes. The Orioles were stuck in their hotel in Miami yesterday unsure whether they'd play the following night or receive clearance to fly back to Baltimore. Less than a week into a truncated season that offers little flexibility, they had gone from summer training camp to the danger zone. The team boarded a charter flight last night and left the state of Florida, one of the pandemic hot...
Continue reading

Manfred says Orioles and Marlins won't play Tuesday night

Manfred says Orioles and Marlins won't play Tuesday night
The Orioles won't be the visiting team against the Marlins in their home ballpark. Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed tonight on MLB Network that Tuesday's game also has been postponed and won't be moved to Camden Yards. Manfred indicated that the next game could be played Wednesday night, which begins the Orioles' first home series of the truncated season, if COVID-19 testing on the Marlins produces favorable results. This is based on the assumption that government officials will allow the...
Continue reading

Orioles-Marlins game has been postponed (latest update)

Orioles-Marlins game has been postponed (latest update)
The Orioles made it through three games before COVID-19 impacted their schedule and perhaps a truncated season. Tonight's game with the Marlins in Miami has been canceled, with confirmation coming from a team official. The clubs were supposed to play twice in Miami before the home-and-home series shifted to Baltimore. But at least 14 Marlins have tested positive, including 12 players, according to an ESPN report. Major League Baseball's greatest fear is coming to fruition. An outbreak shortly...
Continue reading

More on Iglesias batting third and whether Cobb is a trade chip

More on Iglesias batting third and whether Cobb is a trade chip
José Iglesias might not have noticed the reaction on social media to the Orioles' opening day lineup. Impossible for me to miss it. Twitter had a field day with manager Brandon Hyde's decision to bat Iglesias third. Fans and media partied on it. The lineup should have been written on a cornhole board. What does it say about this team that Iglesias is the No. 3 hitter? A guy with a career .687 OPS who's valued for his glove? I'll ask again: Who's laughing now? Iglesias probably won't...
Continue reading

Orioles leave Boston with two wins (updated)

Orioles leave Boston with two wins (updated)
Maybe an expanded postseason field in 2020 doesn't impact the Orioles because they would have kept playing into October no matter the setup. They don't need any favors. Or maybe it's just a series win in Boston. Whatever. A team that posted the second-worst record in baseball last summer and is engaged in a lengthy and painful rebuild process is having a little fun and some early success. Wade LeBlanc dominated for most of his Orioles debut, Rio Ruiz and Anthony Santander homered and José...
Continue reading

Elias on player pool, alternate camp and Mountcastle (plus notes)

Elias on player pool, alternate camp and Mountcastle (plus notes)
The Orioles are discussing how they'll proceed with their 60-man player pool that currently has five open spots. The next meeting is going to be held on Monday, according to executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. The vacancies exist by design as the club determines how to fill them in order to provide insurance for the major league club and instruction for prospects. "We visit the topic regularly," Elias said during a Zoom conference call. "I think we wanted to see how...
Continue reading

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox

Orioles lineup vs. Red Sox
Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz moves up to the cleanup spot for today's rubber match in Boston. Ruiz is batting in the fourth slot for the 10th time in his career. Manager Brandon Hyde is going with his left-handed-hitting lineup against Red Sox right-hander Ryan Weber. Hanser Alberto moves down to fifth in the order, with Chris Davis sixth. Chance Sisco is behind the plate and DJ Stewart is in left field. José Iglesias, with two more hits yesterday, remains in the third slot. For the...
Continue reading