Draft math: O's to top 2019 total pool in just five rounds this year

Draft math: O's to top 2019 total pool in just five rounds this year
If the 2020 First-Year Player Draft is going to consist of just five rounds, the Orioles would make six draft picks this summer, sometime in June or July. The draft date is to be announced later. It was originally going to be a draft of 40 rounds from June 10-12. Since we also know that Major League Baseball is going to freeze the bonuses from the 2019 amounts, we know what the slot values will be for the Orioles for 2020. Here are their selections and the bonus amount from that spot from last...
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How it might look in 2020: O's infield

How it might look in 2020: O's infield
Over the next few weeks, let's take a look at some aspects of the Orioles and how they were shaping up at the time that spring training was halted. Today, a look at the infield. Earlier, I made my projection for the five-man rotation in this entry. While we may see rosters larger than 26 players when baseball does start this year, we are going with a roster of 26 for this exercise. Under that roster size, I'm going with seven infielders, one of which can also play in the outfield, where later...
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A few more questions for O's fans

A few more questions for O's fans
At this strange time in baseball and throughout the country really, it is nice to have normal things in our lives. I'd like to think this blog is one. It represents someplace we can go to discuss baseball. Baseball talk is understandably taking a back seat now, but there is still room and hopefully time to discuss the game and the players and get away from the world for a few minutes. One day, hopefully soon, all will be well and normal again. And baseball will become something important again...
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Another look at what could be coming in a 2020 MLB season

Another look at what could be coming in a 2020 MLB season
The agreement between Major League Baseball owners and players this week ensures that players will get service time in 2020, even if there is not a season. While both sides seem very committed to playing this year and playing the most games possible, they did account for this scenario in their latest talks. Players on the roster all year in 2020, no matter how many games are scheduled, will also get a full year of service time. That makes sense as they would have played a full year, even if...
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The comeback that rocked the Yard, plus draft notes

The comeback that rocked the Yard, plus draft notes
Camden Yards was full and loud. Orange shirts were everywhere. Spirits were high and Orioles fans were probably convinced their team was heading to the World Series. That is how it felt in early October 2014 and yesterday, during "opening day at home," we saw a replay of the Orioles' eighth-inning comeback win over Detroit in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. It was a nice way to spend a few hours and a nice diversion from the virus that has put the game on hold for now. The...
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Some things that could be part of a reduced baseball schedule

Some things that could be part of a reduced baseball schedule
Who would have ever thought we'd have an "opening day at home." But today, on the day that the Major League Baseball season was set to open, here we are. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic we are getting ready to watch previous great games. And not watch, attend or report on new ones. Major League Baseball yesterday made an announcement with a spoiler alert: Every team wins on this opening day. MLB will be showing a rebroadcast of one game for each team. For the Orioles it's the...
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Remembering bus rides to, BP homers at Memorial Stadium

Remembering bus rides to, BP homers at Memorial Stadium
For love of the game. We're not talking about a Kevin Costner movie here, but rather the love of baseball that probably all of us have, to some extent. For some, maybe love is too strong a word. For me, it's not. I fell in love with baseball as a kid and I still love the sport. Almost everything about it. From a well-executed relay that gets the runner at the plate to that line drive double in the gap to that great play in the hole at short. I love big swings leading to dramatic big hits and...
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Big Mike had a big year in 2019

Big Mike had a big year in 2019
In 2019, Orioles pitching prospect Michael Baumann had a special year. The right-hander threw well for both Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie and ended the season as the organization's co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He shared the Jim Palmer Award with Single-A Delmarva's Grayson Rodriguez. For an encore, Baumann will try to build on his gains from last season, continue to smooth out his delivery and take the next steps toward the majors. During his big season, no night was more...
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Where O's could look with the No. 2 pick in the draft

Where O's could look with the No. 2 pick in the draft
The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is scheduled for June 10-12. The Orioles will hold the No. 2 overall pick for the first time. They've now picked No. 1 overall twice, but never had the second pick. While there has been talk that the draft could be delayed, that is only speculation right now. At some point they will almost certainly hold a draft and it may just be beginning June 10 as scheduled. When I interviewed Baseball America national writer Carlos Collazo, who specializes...
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A few questions for O's fans

A few questions for O's fans
Why not 10? No reason. Or maybe a shortened spring training, so a shortened amount of questions. No, not really. Just no reason. Major League Baseball will not start as planned on March 26. The Orioles were scheduled to open at home with a three-game series with the Yankees followed by a three-game series with Boston. I won't be covering the team during a scheduled first road series in St. Louis. I have never been to St. Louis and was looking forward to it. Maybe I still get to go there later...
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The ramp-up back to baseball could be quick

The ramp-up back to baseball could be quick
If and when we get back to a point where baseball players can take the field, how long will it take before regular season games can be played? That's a good question that can only be answered when we know the start date. But a shortened second spring training of at least two weeks seems likely. Would two weeks be enough? Probably not, but the clock will be ticking fast once the game returns and I would not expect Major League Baseball officials to tell us they need four weeks to get ready. The...
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How it might look in 2020: The O's rotation

How it might look in 2020: The O's rotation
Over the next few weeks, let's take a look at some aspects of the Orioles and how they were shaping up at the time that spring training was halted. Today, a look at the rotation. To me the rotation was setting up this way: No. 1 - John Means: He was slated to be the opening day starter if the opener was going to be on March 26. Everything was pointing to that and Means was on schedule for that start. It just had not been announced yet. Means had a solid spring and looked confident and ready to...
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A look at Orioles off the field during shutdown

A look at Orioles off the field during shutdown
The Orioles held a conference call today with both executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and senior vice president of community development and communications Jennifer Grondahl to discuss the current shutdown of baseball. Check Roch Kubatko's blog for Elias' updates on baseball operations and I will post Grondahl's comments on the business side for the club here. Grondahl's opening comments to reporters: "We're taking this situation one day at a time. As Mike (Elias)...
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Season is delayed, but what about the amateur draft?

Season is delayed, but what about the amateur draft?
The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is scheduled for June 10-12. The Orioles will hold the No. 2 overall pick for the first time. They've now picked No. 1 overall twice, but never have had the second pick. The Detroit Tigers, who went 47-114 in 2019, have the No. 1 pick for the second time in three years. They selected Auburn right-hander Casey Mize 1/1 overall in 2018. The Orioles, who went 54-108, will select after Detroit. But with opening day on hold and the season canceled...
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For me No. 5 is No. 1 - how about you?

For me No. 5 is No. 1 - how about you?
Keeping an ongoing dialogue with fans and readers during the shutdown of baseball is important to me. Along those lines, today I have a few questions for you. We shall start with a pretty simple one but I look forward to getting the responses. Which player is your favorite all-time Oriole and why? Mine is Brooks Robinson. He was a star player for the Orioles in their great run from 1966 through 1971, when they played in four World Series over a six-year period. He was a star longer than that,...
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Right-hander Zach Pop on his recovery from Tommy John surgery

Right-hander Zach Pop on his recovery from Tommy John surgery
He was a key player the Orioles acquired in mid-2018 in the trade of Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now Orioles minor league right-hander Zach Pop is going through the process of getting back to pitching after Tommy John surgery of last May. He is progressing well, but finding out some of the challenges of a process that can take a pitcher 12 to 18 months to get back to the mound in a game. "Definitely the mental battle is tough," he said recently during an interview at Twin Lakes...
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Monday morning Orioles Q&A

Monday morning Orioles Q&A
No Sarasota dateline on this story. No spring competitions to track. No games to be played. The baseball industry is shut down for now and we all wait to find out when it will be back. Yes, it's possible, I guess, that the season could be shut down. I see no reason to be too concerned about that just yet. For now, as we await the next move and/or news, let's do another Orioles Q&A. Per usual, in the comments section, ask a question or make any comment on the team. Anything about the...
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We're waiting and wondering: What comes next for MLB?

We're waiting and wondering: What comes next for MLB?
So now what do we do? Everyone in baseball is asking that question today. From team officials and players, coaches and managers to fans and reporters. How do we go forward and what will we be writing about, wonder writers, reporters and columnists that cover the game. Here at this website, the offseason is actually pretty active for us. Roch Kubatko and I write stories pretty much every day and readers keep the blogs active with comments and questions. Will the next few weeks be just like an...
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Shortened spring training schedule had noteworthy moments

Shortened spring training schedule had noteworthy moments
SARASOTA, Fla. - So the Orioles' spring training schedule came to an end when Major League Baseball made its announcements on Thursday afternoon. They finished with a Grapefruit League record of 9-7-3. They got in 19 games and had 15 more remaining, including the now canceled game at the Naval Academy. The Orioles produced a winning spring training record for the third time in the last four years and fifth time in the past eight. In 2019, they were 12-17-3 in the spring. Here is a look back at...
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Hanhold clicks with new coaches, makes run at bullpen spot

Hanhold clicks with new coaches, makes run at bullpen spot
SARASOTA, Fla. - His spring training run of scoreless innings ended on an 0-2 changeup against a career minor leaguer with six big league at-bats in 2016. But Toronto's Andy Burns hit it good in the sixth inning Wednesday at Dunedin, and O's right-hander Eric Hanhold was finally scored on. He was an out away from six appearances and six scoreless innings when Burns hit one out to left. "I would have liked to bury that one. But it was one pitch. Get it out now (rather) than during the...
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