Steve Wilkerson's hitting help, AL East odds, Eastern League change

Steve Wilkerson's hitting help, AL East odds, Eastern League change
When he began to prepare for the 2019 season, Orioles infielder and utility candidate Steve Wilkerson went beyond just working out and getting in some swings and throws. He went to a swing coach who has a strong reputation. Wilkerson spent some time in Santa Clarita, Calif., with Craig Wallenbrock, who has worked with several major leaguers. A coach some feel turned around the career of J.D. Martinez. Wilkerson, an eighth-round draft pick in 2014 out of Clemson, was not looking for anything...
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Can Cobb, Cashner and Bundy lead the rotation to better days?

Can Cobb, Cashner and Bundy lead the rotation to better days?
Among many areas where the Orioles can show improvement in 2019 is their starting rotation. Their 2017 rotation ranked last in the American League with a 5.70 ERA and .837 OPS against. Their 2018 starters ranked last with a 5.48 ERA and .850 OPS against. Plenty of room to get better. The Orioles did produce 64 quality starts to rank seventh in the AL and 18th in the majors. Also, O's starters received 352 runs of support, which ranked second-fewest in the majors. Overall, O's pitchers...
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Machado gets his money and moves west, Mountcastle adds a position

Machado gets his money and moves west, Mountcastle adds a position
In the end, Manny Machado got what he likely wanted most - a massive contract in length and dollars. He's expected to sign with the San Diego Padres for 10 years and $300 million. Pending what happens with Bryce Harper, it's the richest contract ever signed by a baseball free agent. Giancarlo Stanton signed a 13-year deal for $325 million, but that was an extension with the Marlins and not a free agent signing. Machado got his money even when it looked like he might not get a deal this big,...
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A look at an O's top 30 list and some minor league pitchers

A look at an O's top 30 list and some minor league pitchers
MLBPipeline.com released its new list of top 30 Orioles prospects yesterday, featuring outfielder Yusniel Díaz ranked No. 1 and six pitchers among their top 10. There are 16 pitchers listed in the top 30. Click here for that list. The top 10 features Díaz followed in order by infielder Ryan Mountcastle, pitcher DL Hall, outfielder Austin Hays, pitchers Grayson Rodriguez and Keegan Akin, outfielder Ryan McKenna, and pitchers Zac Lowther, Dean Kremer and Blaine Knight. Let's take a look at...
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Some middle infield and Adley Rutschman talk

Some middle infield and Adley Rutschman talk
If the goal was to create competition for playing time and jobs, the Orioles have more than done that in their infield, especially up the middle. Over the weekend, the club signed 32-year-old Alcides Escobar to a minor league deal. He's an 11-year major league veteran who played in the 2015 All-Star Game and also won a Gold Glove that year with Kansas City. Escobar was exclusively a shortstop in his big league career until adding to that last season with the Royals. He made 104 starts at...
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Trying to figure out the measure of success for this season

Trying to figure out the measure of success for this season
It is a topic that has come up a few times over the winter, and it's a question I've been asked a few times in the last week or so: What will make for a successful season for the Orioles? As always, I'm going to seek your input on this one as well. Well, since the won-loss record is expected to be poor again, and since most fans seem accepting of that as the rebuild truly begins, what are we looking for here? For one, the building of what Mike Elias has called the "elite talent pipeline."...
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This spring Davis will battle his critics and opposing pitchers

This spring Davis will battle his critics and opposing pitchers
So Chris Davis reported to the Orioles spring training camp yesterday. He had arrived in town earlier, but an illness kept him from the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Davis yet again granted Orioles reporters an interview, taking time to answer many questions. You can read some of his quotes here. He reiterated that he spent some time this winter working with people from his baseball past who may have provided him some new thoughts. He said again he's willing to make some batting changes. He's...
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After 19 years in the booth, Joe Angel had a classy goodbye for O's fans

After 19 years in the booth, Joe Angel had a classy goodbye for O's fans
After a 42-year broadcasting career and 19 seasons in the Orioles radio booth, Joe Angel announced his retirement last night. He appeared on the "Orioles Hot Stove" radio show on flagship station 105.7 FM The Fan. He had a quite a career broadcasting Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Florida Marlins in addition to the Orioles. He was at the mic for seven no-hitters and 44 postseason games, including the Marlins'...
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Would occasional use of an opener work for the Orioles?

Would occasional use of an opener work for the Orioles?
There are some who see use of the opener in baseball as at least intriguing and maybe even innovative. Others push back against such a pitching plan and don't like it or don't see it working well for teams much moving forward. An opener is a pitcher who starts a game but faces only a few batters or stays in for only an inning or two. The tactic allows a team to bring in the scheduled starter in the second or third inning and potentially begin his outing versus the bottom of the order. If that...
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A few more questions for spring training

A few more questions for spring training
We recently looked at a few questions that we should get answers for during spring training in this space. It included a look at the catcher position, the leadoff spot in the order and the rotation among other topics. Clear here for a look back at that entry. Today let's throw a few more questions and topics out there. Who will emerge from the glut of middle infielders?: No doubt Jonathan Villar will be starting at either second base or shortstop on opening day, but who will be playing with...
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Farmhand Yastrzemski invited to take his shot

Farmhand Yastrzemski invited to take his shot
Playing in a major league spring training game is going to be nothing new for Orioles outfield prospect Mike Yastrzemski. He's played in 30 such games in four different seasons. The difference is that he previously came over from minor league camp. This spring - for the first time in his pro career - he's in major league camp as a non-roster invitee. He's got a locker at Ed Smith Stadium. "Very excited," Yastrzemski said last week from Nashville, where he trained at his alma mater,...
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In Sarasota, Yefry Ramírez will make his case for a rotation spot

In Sarasota, Yefry Ramírez will make his case for a rotation spot
For a player who began his pro career at 17 playing third base in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, right-hander Yefry Ramírez did OK as a pitcher in 2018. Dealt by the Yankees to the Orioles at the trade deadline in 2017 for international bonus money, Ramírez pitched well at Triple-A Norfolk and made his major league debut June 13 for the Orioles versus the Red Sox. Ramírez went 3-5 with a 3.88 ERA on the farm for the Tides. With Baltimore, he was 1-8 with a 5.92 ERA in 17...
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Would a three-batter minimum for pitchers be good for baseball?

Would a three-batter minimum for pitchers be good for baseball?
Baseball officials are reportedly suggesting several changes in the game to the Major League Baseball Players Association in a continuing attempt to streamline and improve the game and pace of play. One change would require any pitcher to face at least three batters before he could be replaced by another hurler. At first glance, this seems like a positive. Fewer bullpen moves would speed up the game and make for less late-game tedium when managers can overdo the matchup thing. No more pitchers...
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O's Gary Kendall talks about managing Norfolk in 2019

O's Gary Kendall talks about managing Norfolk in 2019
In the 2005 and 2006 seasons, Brandon Hyde and Gary Kendall managed against each other in the South Atlantic League. Hyde was at Greensboro and Kendall managed Single-A Delmarva. They were in opposite dugouts then, and they won't be in the same dugout when this season starts, but they will be on the same team. They'll surely talk often, with Hyde the manager in Baltimore and Kendall his Triple-A skipper. For the last eight seasons, Kendall was the manager at Double-A Bowie, but this year he...
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What they are saying about Frank Robinson, remembering '89 and O's add a pitcher

What they are saying about Frank Robinson, remembering '89 and O's add a pitcher
You talk about a man who had a massive impact on a sport - and his country, really - it was Frank Robinson, who died yesterday at 83. The tributes has been flooding in from so many. He made his mark on the Orioles, leading the club to four World Series, winning two, during his six years as an O's player from 1966-1971. He was later a coach, manager and executive for the Orioles, the only person in team history to play for the club and serve in those roles as well. On April 28, 2012,...
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Frank Robinson made a good Orioles team great

Frank Robinson made a good Orioles team great
Here is all you need to know about Frank Robinson's massive impact on the Orioles: They have won three World Series since moving to Baltimore in 1954, and two of those three came during Robinson's six seasons with the club between 1966 and 1971. So, two World Series titles in six seasons with Robinson and one in the other 59 seasons he was not on the club as a player. Taking that further, they played in four World Series in his six seasons and twice in the other 59 years. They won 100 or more...
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One year after O's debut, Steve Wilkerson hoping for return trip

One year after O's debut, Steve Wilkerson hoping for return trip
For the Orioles' versatile Steve Wilkerson, the 2017 season was a very solid one. He was hoping 2018 would find him competing for a job as the club's utility infielder who can also play some outfield. That didn't happen and 2018 was a real challenge for him, even though he will always remember it as the year he made his major league debut and checked off a few firsts. The Orioles selected Wilkerson in the eighth round in 2014 out of Clemson. Mostly a second baseman for his first three years...
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Can a former overslot Houston draft pick make it with the Orioles?

Can a former overslot Houston draft pick make it with the Orioles?
In June 2012, current Orioles general manager Mike Elias was a key contributor to what was a strong draft for the Houston Astros. It was one that got them shortstop Carlos Correa and pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. for their first two picks. Houston's fifth pick in that 2012 draft was a California high school infielder named Rio Ruiz. He played for the Astros until they traded him to Atlanta in January 2015. During the Winter Meetings this December, the Orioles claimed Ruiz on waivers from...
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O's Keegan Akin on Michigan winter workouts, 2019 outlook

O's Keegan Akin on Michigan winter workouts, 2019 outlook
Give Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin credit for being smart enough to know that while he had a strong 2018 season, hitters won't care about that when they face him in 2019. And Akin did have one impressive 2018 season. For Double-A Bowie, he went 14-7 with an ERA of 3.27 in 25 starts. Over 137 2/3 innings, he allowed 114 hits with 58 walks, 142 strikeouts and a .225 batting average against. Akin was named co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Orioles, winning the Jim Palmer...
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After brief shot in majors, Cedric Mullins looks for more this season

After brief shot in majors, Cedric Mullins looks for more this season
As Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins gets set for the new season - one where he could be the everyday center fielder - he said the major league experience he gained late last year is very valuable to him now. "I think it was pretty important," said Mullins, who made his major league debut Aug. 10. "You get the nerves out. You get to see a lot of the guys that you will be facing in the future already. And get to study them." Mullins had a remarkable debut, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two...
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