Appreciating Buck Showalter: He turned a losing team into a winner (updated)

Appreciating Buck Showalter: He turned a losing team into a winner (updated)
As the news came out this afternoon that Buck Showalter would not continue as the Orioles' manager, it was not unexpected. And, as of this writing, we still have not heard official word from the team. But as reported here, Showalter met twice with ownership representatives in the last few days and this morning was told he would not be back as manager. He will not return in any role with the Orioles. Showalter's legacy is simply this: He was a key person, maybe the key person, in turning a...
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Orioles' DL Hall is No. 1 prospect in South Atlantic League

Orioles' DL Hall is No. 1 prospect in South Atlantic League
At a time when the Orioles were last among all teams this year in Major League Baseball, they can at least say that one of their young pitchers ranked as the best in his league in 2018. Baseball America released its list of the top 20 prospects in the Single-A South Atlantic League this season on Tuesday. Delmarva Shorebirds pitcher DL Hall was ranked No. 1. Hall was the Orioles' first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in the 2017 draft out of a Georgia high school. The 19-year-old lefty went 2-7...
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After dealing with his own struggles, Mancini wants to lead O's back to respectability

After dealing with his own struggles, Mancini wants to lead O's back to respectability
Among all the interviews I had with Orioles players this year, probably the most compelling to me was one that occurred in the Baltimore clubhouse on July 12. Just days ahead of the All-Star break, Trey Mancini poured his heart out about the rough season he was having - and he didn't hold back. At the time, Mancini was 1-for-21 over his previous nine games and that dropped his slash line over 88 games to .220/.296/.362. It was well off his 2017 season, when he finished third in the American...
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Mancini and Mullins on Jones, plus a few final notes

Mancini and Mullins on Jones, plus a few final notes
It was a season where not a lot went right for the Orioles, but on the final day, almost nothing went wrong. The Orioles pitched well, they got clutch hits, they made some plays in the field. And most importantly, they sent Adam Jones off in impressive fashion. Before the game, Jones gave bats and balls to fans. During the game they returned the love. From Jones running to center field all by himself before first pitch, to his exit from right field for a sendoff in the ninth inning, the fans...
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Adam Jones: "Very appreciative and humbled that people care"

Adam Jones: "Very appreciative and humbled that people care"
After what was likely his final game as an Oriole, outfielder Adam Jones talked about the unique experience of taking the field today on his own. He was in the lineup in center field and charged out for the national anthem. His teammates stayed behind so Jones could take in cheers that came both from fans and teammates alike. "That was weird because I'm never on the field all by myself," Jones said. "Kind of weird but very appreciative of my teammates for acknowledging my hard work and...
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Orioles blank Astros to win season finale

Orioles blank Astros to win season finale
The Orioles lost a lot of games during the 2018 season. But they didn't lose their last one. They used a four-run fourth and got a combined three-pitcher shutout today as they blanked Houston 4-0 in front of 24,916 at Oriole Park. On the final day, Jimmy Yacabonis, Paul Fry and Mychal Givens threw a combined one-hitter. The Orioles recorded their seventh shutout. Fry picked up his first major league win. The Orioles end the 2018 season with a record of 47-115. The year produced the fewest wins...
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O's game blog: The season finale arrives

O's game blog: The season finale arrives
The worst season in Orioles history comes to an end today with Game 162. The Orioles host the Houston Astros in the season finale. The Orioles (46-115) have lost three in a row, 11 of 15, 17 of 22 and 29 of the last 38 games. They are 6-20 in September, their third month with at least 20 losses, after they went 6-20 in June and 8-20 in August. The Orioles are 0-6 versus Houston and 6-26 against American League West teams. Houston (103-58) has won the first three games in the series by scores of...
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A few notes and thoughts ahead of the season finale

A few notes and thoughts ahead of the season finale
The Orioles began this series versus Houston desperate for innings and quality starts from their rotation. They've gotten both the last two days and three games, but they still lost three in a row to the Astros. When this series began Friday night, O's starters had thrown just two quality starts the last 19 games. Now they've gotten three in three games from David Hess, Dylan Bundy and Yefry Ramírez. That trio allowed seven runs in 19 innings in a series in which the Orioles offense has...
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O's game blog: Dylan Bundy, Yefry Ramírez pitch in the DH

O's game blog: Dylan Bundy, Yefry Ramírez pitch in the DH
After Friday's 2-1 loss, the Orioles host Houston for two games today. The clubs play a single admission doubleheader beginning at 4:05 p.m. Right-hander Dylan Bundy (8-16, 5.49 ERA) will make his 31st start of the season in Game 1. Bundy gave up four runs over three innings and threw 90 pitches on Monday at Boston. In his previous two starts, Bundy had allowed four earned runs over 12 2/3 innings, recording back-to-back quality starts. But Bundy has struggled often since the calender turned...
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David Hess states his case for 2019 rotation job

David Hess states his case for 2019 rotation job
Barring offseason trades and/or something else unforseen, the Orioles are likely set with three starting pitchers for the 2019 season: Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Dylan Bundy. With his performance in the final two months, right-hander David Hess has established himself in the hunt for one of the two remaining spots in next year's rotation. For a rotation desperate for innings, Hess delivered last night. Against a 100-win defending World Series champion Houston team, Hess went seven last...
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O's fall 2-1 to Houston to post 113th loss (with postgame quotes)

O's fall 2-1 to Houston to post 113th loss (with postgame quotes)
The Orioles got a strong start from right-hander David Hess, but their inconsistent offense produced little to back him tonight as they lost 2-1 to Houston to start the final series of the 2018 season. With the loss, the Orioles (46-113) tie the 1904 Washington Senators for the fifth-most losses in modern baseball history, dating to 1901. The Boston Braves are fourth with 115 in 1935. Baltimore has lost nine of 13 and 15 of its last 20 games. The Orioles have scored two runs or less in 10 of...
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With solid finish, is Renato Núñez making a case for a 2019 roster spot?

With solid finish, is Renato Núñez making a case for a 2019 roster spot?
Orioles third baseman Renato Núñez has been given the chance to play every day by the rebuilding Orioles. and he's taken advantage of the best opportunity of his young career. The 24-year-old from Venezuela got 15 plate appearances with Oakland in 2016 and 16 last year. Earlier this season, he got 41 plate appearances with Texas before he was designated for assignment and claimed on waivers by the Orioles. This year with Baltimore, he's gotten 206 plate appearances. With the final...
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Notes on the Houston series, future team leadership and more

Notes on the Houston series, future team leadership and more
A few quick thoughts and notes now that the 2018 season is down to three days and four games remaining: Houston hello: On April 2, the Orioles began their 2018 road schedule by playing at Houston. Tonight they close their home schedule in starting a four-game series versus Houston. In between they played 152 games. That's a long time between seeing an opponent that you play twice in one season. The Orioles have lost a lot of games since they were swept in that series at Houston by scores of...
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O's game blog: The final series of the year begins

O's game blog: The final series of the year begins
The Orioles begin their final series of the year tonight hosting four games over three days against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros. The scheduled series opener was rained out last night. Houston (100-58) lost at Toronto on Wednesday, but has clinched its second straight American League West championship. This is the third time in franchise history with 100 wins, topped only by teams in 2017 (101 wins) and 1998 (102 wins). Houston is the first team with back-to-back 100-win...
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If rebuilding O's look to Trey Mancini for leadership, he's ready to provide it

If rebuilding O's look to Trey Mancini for leadership, he's ready to provide it
After the July trades where some veteran leaders exited the Orioles clubhouse, a much younger and less experienced team emerged. There were fewer veteran leaders and there may be fewer yet in 2019. Outfielder/first baseman Trey Mancini looks around the clubhouse and sees that he has become a veteran on this team almost overnight. This time last year, he was wrapping up a strong rookie season, one that led him to a third-place finish for the American League Rookie of the Year Award. A year...
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The road schedule ends, league top 20s and a Victor Victor Mesa note

The road schedule ends, league top 20s and a Victor Victor Mesa note
And then there were four. The Orioles are down to the final series and final four games of the 2018 season, which will end up as their worst in team history. They host the Houston Astros the next four days at Oriole Park. They got blown out in the day portion of Wednesday's doubleheader at Boston, but posted a 10-3 win last night. That continued a crazy run of seemingly all-or-nothing offense for the club. In the last 19 games, the Orioles have scored six runs or more five times, but two runs...
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O's game blog: O's looking for a doubleheader split

O's game blog: O's looking for a doubleheader split
After getting blown out 19-3 earlier today, the Orioles play at Boston again tonight. It will conclude this three-game series, a day-night doubleheader and the Orioles road schedule for 2018. The Red Sox had nine doubles by nine different players and five homers from four players in winning the opener, scoring five runs in the first, three in the fourth, two each in the fifth and sixth, three runs in the seventh and four in the last of the eighth. Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and J.D....
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O's game blog: Ryan Meisinger gets the start in Game 1

O's game blog: Ryan Meisinger gets the start in Game 1
The Orioles end their 2018 road schedule with today's day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park, with games at 1:05 and 7:10 p.m. Boston won the series opener 6-2 Monday night before Tuesday's rainout. The Orioles are 18-61 on the road and have lost seven of eight and 15 of their last 17 away from Baltimore. They've lost eight straight road series and are 3-20-2 in road series for the year, winning series on the road versus the Yankees, Mets and Braves. The Red Sox are 7-1 at home and 15-2...
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Once again, DJ Stewart is overcoming struggles to swing hot bat

Once again, DJ Stewart is overcoming struggles to swing hot bat
Watching outfielder DJ Stewart get on a roll the last six games and go 7-for-14 for the Orioles with five extra-base hits, it can be easy to forget that Stewart struggled at times this year and at times during his career since the Orioles selected him No. 25 overall in round one of the 2015 draft. He joined the organization amid the hype and with the high expectations that any first round draft pick faces. But in 2015 at short season Single-A Aberdeen, Stewart hit .218/.288/.345. He started the...
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One of the best relievers in the Carolina League is now headed to the AFL

One of the best relievers in the Carolina League is now headed to the AFL
If you were to ask an Orioles fan which lefty reliever had the best season of any of the southpaws on the O's farm this season, that fan could make a very strong case for Tyler Erwin, who had an outstanding year for Single-A Frederick. The Orioles are sending Erwin to the Arizona Fall League, which begins next month. He'll play for the Glendale Desert Dogs. In 50 games for the Keys, Erwin, who turned 24 in August, went 4-4 with 18 saves and a 1.58 ERA. Over 68 1/3 innings, he allowed 45 hits...
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