Ripken goes public with news of prostate cancer and full recovery

Ripken goes public with news of prostate cancer and full recovery
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. is approaching the 25th anniversary of his historic 2,131st consecutive game, a record that wasn't supposed to be broken. A night he's going to keep reliving as he gets closer to the date. It's certain to be one of the most important moments of the year for Ripken, but health scares bring a perspective that never fails to resonate. Cancer comes before baseball. Learning you have it and then beating it. Ripken, who turns 60 on Monday, has gone public for the first...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles shouldn't go streaking while José Iglesias has a sore quad. (A failed attempt to reference "Old School") This team has played eight series. Six have resulted in sweeps - the Orioles on the good side of three and the bad side of three. And now their losing streak has reached four games to lower their record to 12-12. The alternate cap should have a broom on the front. Players that live by the clichéd "one game at a time" motto are handling the losses in the same manner as...
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Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)

Orioles can't get Grichuk or avoid sweep (updated)
Randal Grichuk keeps homering against the Orioles as if his contract provides incentives for it. Just one team. No one else. Grichuk hit two more today off left-hander Tommy Milone, raising his total to four in the series and 16 in 33 career games versus the Orioles. His leadoff shot in the second inning gave Toronto an early lead. His two-run shot in the sixth gave them a new one. One ball cleared the center field fence, the other bounced off an orange awning in the home bullpen. The Orioles...
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Notes on Sisco setup, Scott's dominance and Hays healing

Notes on Sisco setup, Scott's dominance and Hays healing
The Orioles could be poised to revert back to a leadoff platoon. Manager Brandon Hyde elevated Hanser Alberto to first in the order against left-handed starters in 2019, with Jonathan Villar leading off versus right-handers. But Villar was traded to the Marlins over the winter and a new plan seems to be taking shape. Chance Sisco remains in the lineup today against Blue Jays right-hander Tanner Roark and he's batting first for only the second time in his career. The debut came last night...
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Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Chance Sisco remains in the leadoff spot today for the Orioles, and he's also behind the plate. Sisco is the first Orioles catcher to bat first since Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Curt Blefary is the only other Orioles catcher to do it back in April 1968. Sisco walked and homered last night as the designated hitter. Hanser Alberto moves down to fifth in the order. Chris Davis is in the lineup today, as the Orioles try to avoid the sweep. Pat Valaika is the shortstop and Cedric Mullins is in...
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Could Sisco get more chances to bat leadoff?

Could Sisco get more chances to bat leadoff?
Chance Sisco led off for the Orioles last night, but as the designated hitter. Not the starting catcher, where he'd normally be assigned. We won't let it ruin our fun. Who was the last Orioles catcher to bat first? Floyd Rayford on June 26, 1985. Rayford, mainly a third baseman, was behind the plate for Scott McGregor's start in New York. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 4-3 loss. Rickey Henderson swiped second and third base. Henderson was so eager to run, which is like saying water...
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Santander's two homers still leave Orioles short in 8-7 loss (updated)

Santander's two homers still leave Orioles short in 8-7 loss (updated)
The pose has become familiar. He just needs paparazzi to capture the moment. Anthony Santander unloads on another ball and admires its flight, tosses his bat and beings a slow trot to first base. He'll glance at the dugout and gesture to teammates. A pointed finger, a few words. A celebration after crossing home plate with fists and elbows sometimes touching only air. The hard contact's already been made. Santander extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games tonight with a two-run...
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Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, Urías, Davis and Harvey

Hyde on Alberto, Iglesias, Urías, Davis and Harvey
Catcher Chance Sisco has hit in every spot in the order except first during his major league career. There's a first time for everything. Sisco is leading off tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Manager Brandon Hyde needed a replacement for Hanser Alberto, who's healthy but getting a breather. Sisco has a .474 on-base percentage and the team doesn't carry a prototypical leadoff hitter on the active roster. Makes sense to try it. Cedric Mullins...
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Orioles place Iglesias on injured list (plus Orioles lineup)

Orioles place Iglesias on injured list (plus Orioles lineup)
The Orioles have placed shortstop José Iglesias on the 10-day injured list today and recalled infielder Ramón Urías from the alternate camp site in Bowie. Iglesias is dealing with a left quadriceps strain and has been limited to sporadic appearances in the lineup and in the field due to his injury. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested yesterday that the IL had become a consideration, though the Orioles hate to lose a bat that's been extremely productive. They're left with no choice. Signed...
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Orioles traveling tough division road, Davis sits again

Orioles traveling tough division road, Davis sits again
The dog days of August can clamp down on a team under normal circumstances or in a season that's been shortened and manipulated and undergone changes on the fly. The Orioles began a stretch last night of 14 straight games against division opponents. They knew it was coming. The restrictions on travel set them up for it. They won two of three games in Boston to start the season, lost twice to the Yankees and swept the Rays. Now they get the Blue Jays for three, followed by four against the Red...
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Infield hits and one big swing doom Cobb in 7-2 loss (updated)

Infield hits and one big swing doom Cobb in 7-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles can no longer hide, even on the nights they'd like to do it. They've been ignored by the national media over the past few years because rebuilds don't have much curb appeal, but recognition is increasing beyond the local coverage. They've become the talk of Twitter, MLB Network and other outlets. This is the good kind of attention. No accusations of "tanking" or being "historically bad." But none of it really matters to them. They've done a pretty good job of tuning out the...
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Iglesias becoming a consideration for injured list

Iglesias becoming a consideration for injured list
The inability to keep shortstop José Iglesias in the lineup due to a sore left quadriceps muscle has the Orioles at least pondering the benefits of a stint on the 10-day injured list. Iglesias is on the bench again tonight and has been the designated hitter on three occasions to lessen the strain on his leg. He's appeared in 16 games, making 10 starts at shortstop, and slashed .400/.414/.564 with nine doubles and 10 RBIs. "That's a possibility," manager Brandon Hyde said during today's...
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Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays
Chris Davis stays on the bench tonight while the Orioles open a three-game series at home against the Blue Jays. Davis pinch-hit in the ninth inning yesterday and struck out with the count full. He's 6-for-45 (.133) with a .388 OPS, three doubles, an RBI, three walks and 13 strikeouts. His last home run was hit Sept. 23 in Toronto, where the Blue Jays are prohibited from playing this summer. They've relocated to Buffalo. Davis' last start came in Friday's 15-3 loss to the Nationals. He has...
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Orioles add Tate to active roster

Orioles add Tate to active roster
The Orioles have made another bullpen move heading into tonight's series opener against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Dillon Tate has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list. In a corresponding move, the Orioles optioned reliever Evan Phillips to the alternate camp site in Bowie. Manager Brandon Hyde told the media yesterday in his Zoom conference call that Tate was facing hitters and nearing a return. "Couple days ago, threw an inning-plus down there," Hyde said, "so he's getting...
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Orioles praising 'pen while also searching for more substantial starts

Orioles praising 'pen while also searching for more substantial starts
The glass is half full or half empty. The viewpoint is up for debate. An Orioles bullpen providing outstanding coverage in games and a rotation unable to work beyond the middle innings. One is lauded, the other lectured. Relievers tossed four scoreless innings Saturday night against the Nationals to seal a 7-3 win, after Asher Wojciechowski threw one pitch in the sixth and watched the ball sail over the left field fence. Jorge López made his Orioles debut yesterday and walked off the mound...
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Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)

Means makes short return start in 6-5 Orioles loss (updated)
John Means threw his last warm-up pitch this afternoon, waited for the ball to return to him and fired a 94 mph heater that missed his target. Baseball was back in his life. The question was how long he'd stay in his first game since leaving the bereavement and injured lists. On the mound for the first time in 12 days, Means issued an 11-pitch leadoff walk to Trea Turner and was victimized by three soft singles before retiring a batter. The first out came on his 29th pitch, a line drive to...
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Hyde on Means, Tate, Eshelman and contending

Hyde on Means, Tate, Eshelman and contending
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde usually knows what to expect from starter John Means. There's a certain comfort in the reliability, the innings that are consumed and the chance given to produce a win. Today is different. Means hasn't pitched since Aug. 4. He rejoined the team yesterday after his father, Alan, passed away following a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. "He's been going through a rough time and his in between starts routine obviously has been interrupted. We just don't...
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Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals
Chris Davis remains on the bench today for the series finale against the Nationals. The presence of a right-handed starter didn't influence Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. Renato Núñez is playing first base instead of Davis, who's 10-for-32 (.313) with a double, a home run and 10 strikeouts against Max Scherzer. Pedro Severino is the designated hitter and Chance Sisco is behind the plate. Cedric Mullins is in center field with Austin Hays on the injured list. Pat Valaika is the shortstop...
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Wondering how Means responds to today's start (updated)

Wondering how Means responds to today's start (updated)
No one should attempt to get inside John Means' head and his heart. Certainly not today. Means is back with the Orioles and starting this afternoon against the Nationals to close out the series. He's been transferred from the bereavement list to the injured list to the 28-man roster. To an area that pulls him away from his privacy and from a family that's been huddled together for the last week. Propping up each other. Baseball has been known to provide a distraction, even if it lasts only...
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Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)

Orioles use unconventional lineup to beat Nats (updated)
The Orioles broke out their Sunday lineup a little early. Or maybe it was too late. They should have tried it last night. An injury to his starting center fielder and an opposing left-handed starter had manager Brandon Hyde digging into his bench and providing opportunities that eluded a few players. Chris Davis and Dwight Smith Jr. sat against Nationals southpaw Patrick Corbin. Bryan Holaday served as the designated hitter for the first time in his career. Pat Valaika made his third start in...
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