List the best free agent pick-ups of this past offseason, and it will be difficult to leave off Hyun-jin Ryu or Yasiel Puig. Go back one season earlier and there is an argument to be made that the best free agent signings were once again of non-MLB players in Yoenis Cespedes and Yu Darvish. This offseason, that could be the case once again with rumors of Masahiro Tanaka being posted and Jose Abreu already a free agent.
And while the Nationals made a run at Aroldis Chapman, there was never any...
The other day I got to thinking about Cal Ripken.
I've got this old baseball. In great shape, still in the Rawlings box. Model RO-A. "Official American League Baseball" from back when the American and National Leagues were separate entities. "Cushioned Cork Center," it says. Emblazoned with the script signature mark of then-AL president Bobby Brown.
I'm not actually sure when or how I got the ball. It must have arrived shortly after my family moved to Maryland in '88, right around the...
The Washington Nationals today released their 2014 schedule, which includes 81 home dates, beginning with Washington's 81st home opener since 1901 on Friday, April 4 vs. Atlanta and is highlighted by an attractive slate of weekend visits from the Braves (twice), Phillies (twice), Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates. The Nationals start the 2014 season on the road on Monday, March 31 at Citi Field against the Mets.
Washington's 2014 slate both begins and concludes with a significant stretch of games...
The Orioles today announced they will open the 2014 season at home on March 31 against the Boston Red Sox. Next year will mark the 60th Anniversary Season since the club moved to Baltimore from St. Louis in 1954 to become the modern-day Orioles. It is the 61st overall season for the club and their 23rd at Oriole Park.
The Orioles will play a three-game series against the Red Sox at Oriole Park March 31-April 3 to open the season, the first of three trips Boston will make to Baltimore in 2014....
Five home runs in a 9-0 blowout, and still Gio Gonzalez completely stole the spotlight from Rick Schu's offense. He flirted with history for six innings, taking a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh. Then one got away. It was so close, so close to being corralled by Adam LaRoche, so close to being foul, but it was a hit. Gonzalez left the mound at the end of the inning muttering to himself, but he finished the game off as a one-hit complete-game shutout. Just that one cheap hit.
Gonzalez...
OK, I'll admit it - I'm a bit of a stat nerd. As much as I'd like to, I don't have a scout's eye for the baseball. The numbers help to tell me who's performing well and who isn't and my love of statistics is a big part of the reason I'm obsessed with this game.
For instance, Adam Jones' 31-homer, 102-RBI season tells me he's one of the game's best center fielders. No one at his position has more home runs or RBIs by a longshot. Somehow, Jones' offensive outburst in 2013 has been...
At the start of Monday night's game, the Orioles were two games back in the wild card race with the Yankees on their tail, 2 1/2 games back.
With the playoff race coming down to the wire, emotions were bound to spark. We saw that happen as Buck Showalter had to be retrained by the umpire while arguing with Joe Girardi before the second inning began. It is still unclear as to what exactly the altercation was about.
Because we needed another reason to keep our eyes peeled to this series...
The Baltimore Orioles will host the team's Fall Instructional League at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota with games that are free and open to the public from September 16 through October 8.
The Instructional League program focuses on specific individual development while providing additional playing time to accelerate a player's progress through the minor league system.
Games are played on the Main Field, with parking available in the East Lot at no charge. Spectators may enter the ballpark...
I read an article in USA Today last week about the Pittsburgh Pirates and how they clinched their first non-losing season in 20 years. For beginners, hats off to them. That's a feeling with which Orioles fans can certainly identify after last year, although the Orioles' streak was halted before it reached 20 - or 15 for that matter. For the most part, I feel that the players and coaches have taken this somewhat in stride.
However there was one quote in the article that stood out to...
Due to overwhelming fan response, the Orioles today announced an extension of the American Heart Association 50% off ticket discount offer to include their September 24-26 series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Fans may take advantage of the exclusive 50% off ticket discount simply by donating $10 to the American Heart Association for each ticket purchased. The offer is available exclusively at www.orioles.com/AHA and allows fans to contribute to the cause.
Last month, the Orioles announced a...
The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2013, including outfielder Henry Urrutia as the club's top minor league player and right-hander Mike Wright as the club's top minor league pitcher. The winners will be honored in an on-field ceremony before today's game against the Chicago White Sox, with awards presented by Brian Graham, director of player development, and Kent Qualls, director of minor league operations.
Urrutia, the Brooks...
Tanner Roark had a 2-0 lead before he even took the mound Saturday night and a 5-0 lead before the game was three innings old.
That had to ease any of the rookie pitcher's nerves as he made his first major league start following nine impressive relief appearances with the Nationals.
Roark looked about as in control as he possibly could, retiring his first nine batters on his way to an efficient six scoreless innings to improve to 5-0 with a 0.94 ERA in the majors this year. He threw just 71...
Tanner Roark's first major league start will go down as one to remember.
The rookie right-hander tossed six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out four while walking none tonight at Marlins Park. With that, he lowered his ERA from 1.19 to 0.94.
Is that good?
Roark departs after 71 pitches with the Nationals leading 7-0.
Ross Ohlendorf has taken over to start the seventh, looking to wrap up a lopsided victory and even the series in Miami.
The Nats need this one to keep pace...
One night after being clobbered 7-0 by the Marlins, the Nationals are off to a much better start at Marlins Park.
Denard Span opened the game with a leadoff single, extending his career-long hitting streak to 18 games, during which he is batting .414 (29-for-70). Ryan Zimmerman then stepped to the plate and mashed a two-run homer to center field, his 18th of the year.
Zimmeman's blast was initially ruled a double, but after a quick review, the umpires changed it to a home run. Replays on...
The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of outfielder Chris Dickerson from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, infielder Alex Liddi has been designated for assignment.
Dickerson, 31, batted .245/.274/.412 in 46 games with the Orioles earlier this season.
Liddi, 25, batted .222/.269/.378 in 49 games for the Tides after being acquired from Seattle on July 6.
Call it a baseball revival. Long-suffering franchises are seeing the light after extended periods of darkness. But after the emotion of the moment passes, will fans keep the faith?
The Orioles entered the winning tent last year after 14 consecutive losing seasons. The Pittsburgh Pirates followed suit this week, ending their worst-in-any-sport streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons when they won their 81st game. Baseball is fun again in both cities. Or at least I think it is.
The Orioles'...
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo described Denard Span as a "front line defensive center fielder" when he acquired the then-28-year-old outfielder from the Minnesota Twins last winter. Rizzo went on to say that he saw the 2002 Twins' first-round pick who turned 29 in February as, "a confident leadoff type of hitter (who) appeals greatly to us because of his skill set as an offensive player. You know, high average guy, .350 OBP-type of guy, doesn't strike out - one of the tougher guys...
Each year, MASN gives fans the opportunity to challenge Adam Jones to a competition of their choice. After receiving all of the submissions, Jones hand picks three challenges for fans to vote on.
This year, fans voted for 7-year old Parker Duke, as he challenged the O's outfielder to a donut-eating contest.
The stage was set. With a dozen donuts in hand, Adam greeted Parker in the Orioles dugout. When it was all said and done, it was less about the competition and more about the experience...
The Washington Nationals today claimed first baseman/third baseman Mauro Gomez off waivers (not to report) from the Toronto Blue Jays. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
The 28 year-old Gomez joins the Nationals organization after hitting .249 with 21 doubles, 29 home runs, 43 walks, 73 RBI and a .843 OPS in 110 games this season for Buffalo of the Triple-A International League.
The right-handed hitting Gomez, who is listed...
The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned left-hander Zach Britton to Short-Season Class-A Aberdeen. Additionally, right-hander Jason Hammel has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list.
Johnson, 26, is 1-1 with a 7.82 ERA (12.2IP, 11ER) in six games (one start) for the Orioles this season. He went 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA (46.0IP, 21ER) in 10 games (eight starts) for the Tides.
Britton, 25, is 2-3 with a 5.45 ERA...
