Rich Dubroff

Orioles lift seating capacity limits at Camden Yards; Santander ready for return

BALTIMORE—Beginning June 1st, Oriole Park at Camden Yards will open for full capacity. For the first two months of the season, capacity has been limited to 25 percent.

Social distancing will no longer be required between groups or ticket-holders.

Masks still will be required, and Oriole Park will remain cashless for the rest of the season.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

“That’s great news for everybody,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Slowly, but surely, we’re getting back to normal, which is a great feeling. I’m excited to see more fans in the ballpark.”

Tickets for games from June 1st through the rest of the season will go on sale on May 26 at 12 p.m.

Santender’s return: Outfielder Anthony Santander, who has been on the 10-day injured list because of a sprained left ankle since April 21st, is expected to return on Friday when the Orioles begin a three-game series with the Nationals in Washington.

“He’s been a big part of our offense for the last few years,” Hyde said. “He’s a guy that lengthens out the lineup. He’s a switch-hitter. He can handle left and right-handers. He’s a really good hitter in this ballpark. I can’t wait to see back in there. It was great seeing him today.”

Right-handers Dillon Tate (hamstring) and Mac Sceroler (shoulder) remain on the 10-day injured list.

Tate will pitch in some rehab games, and Hyde said that he’ll return in a week or two. Sceroler is in Sarasota, Florida, and Hyde said he should be ready to pitch soon.

Coming up: Jorge López (1-4, 6.35 ERA) will face the Nationals on Friday night. The Nationals have yet to name a starter.

Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

View Comments

  • Full capacity at last. Great news for the fans of Baltimore! Look what it's done for those poor Braves fans after Manfred screwed them. An "Us against the world" civic/team pride. Something Charm City could use I'm sure.

    And this isn't even to mention Tony's return. I feel it turning around...

    Go Os ... Drink Pepsi

  • How come Severino is catching this early start when he caught last nights game? We’ve been chastised & told when Sisco did that they wouldn’t catch a night game & come back to an early start, unless it’s part of the “plan”, since this game is off to such a great start...go O’s...

    • And, as I've often told you, Ray, Sisco doesn't start against left-handers because he's batting .123 (7-for-57) against them, and the Rays started left-handers last night and today.

    • It has to be because the Rats are going with Ruch Hill, a lefty and I might add the oldest active pitcher in MLB now. Clearly he’s too much to take a “chance” on.

    • As you’ve often told me they won’t start back to back games like this, just asked a question, again how do you get better at hitting without batting? Asking for a friend...go O’s...

    • how come Severino has been batting cleanup- for. God's sakes he has----4---! ribs and he hasn't missed any appreciable time-EMBARESSING! And it's not just this year last year he had ----1---! Bri in Sept even though he played regularly!!!!!

      • Ray, you continually use the term "Mikeys guys." Do you know how to become a favorite of your boss, or your general manager? By playing well. John Means, Austin Hays, Trey Mancini and Cedric Mullins weren't drafted by Elias, but they're playing well, so they become a favorite of the GM. Elias would be thrilled if Chance Sisco performed well, thrilled, but he hasn't. Unfortunately, as I pointed out the other day, their catching has performed poorly offensively. Severino is making more than Sisco, and Adley Rutschman won't be playing here this season, and the team was in a tough spot in the offseason, as I detailed a while ago. Seasoned catchers wouldn't want to come here with the specter of Rutschman looming. Perhaps they'll eventually call up Austin Wynns or Brett Cumberland. Perhaps they'll become a favorite of the GM-and if they do, it's because they play well.

    • Hi Rich, do you know what player (or club) holds the record for most pitching appearances by a position player in a season ?

      • Stevie Wilkerson with four two years ago. For many years, using position players to pitch was a rarity.

  • Requiring masks makes no sense if it's safe for tens of thousands of people to cram together cheek-by-jowl, not to mention that thousands will be eating or drinking.

    • I agree WillM ...... but nothing about the rules of Covid have ever really made sense have they?

    • We all know that COVID cannot spread when you’re eating & drinking/s...lol...go O’s...

  • So where/how does Santander fit in here? I mean happy he’s back, But who’s getting demoted, riding the taxi squad or spending a night riding the pine?

    McKenna and Stewart are prime suspects, right?
    What a jigsaw puzzle.

    I’m loving the combo of Hays and Mullins!

    I like our guys

  • All yucks and guffaws on the bench watching Stevie toss moon balls. If this were a normal team ... a non-basement dwelling type of team ... I'd have no problem with putting Stevie in there and having a bit of fun in a game that is out of hand. But in our case I have a problem with it. This team looks worse every time they take the field. This is supposed to be a professional major league team. How about trying to at least look like one. How about looking a little PO'ed instead of yucking it up right along with the other team's players. A team that I might add, is currently eating your lunch for the 2nd straight day. How about showing a bit of pride? It's embarrassing to be a Orioles fan right now. It SHOULD be even more embarrassing to be an Oriole. Show some sand boys, let's bean somebody tomorrow! (not really) But you know what I mean don't you?

    This one is on Hyde. and don't give me that he's saving the bullpen an inning worked. How many pitchers are on this team? One freakin' inning isn't going to break anyone. Stop acting the fool Mr. Hyde. And while we're at it .. that goes for the whole team.

    • You nailed it! I learned a helluva lesson I NEVER forgot while playing HS baseball. We scored a run in the top of the 1st, went on to lose 15-1. On the bus ride home one of the players said “we had ‘em on the ropes” to which we all started laughing. The next day we practiced and coach made us run longer than I’d ever run before then gave us 5 minutes and made us run sprints for the next half hour. We never even used our gloves or bats that day. He then asked everybody if they enjoyed that as much as the joke on the bus ride home. We all learned our lesson that day. When you get your asses handed to you there’s NOTHING funny about it. Show some damn pride!

    • Totally agree dL, it seems more than not these guys think this is a joke, while it has the appearance of one they surely wouldn’t be playing long for me, I feel bad for Trey, he’s busted his ass like no one in the history of the game just to do what he’s doing, hopefully they keep him as he is exactly the role model these guys need, you cannot become complacent, ever, it’s contagious...go O’s...

      • To be honest CPs... and out of respect for what he's gone through ... I didn't want to single him out .... but it was the sight of Trey Mancini laughing and smiling from ear to ear on the bench that set me off. He's just as guilty as any of them in my eye.

    • Could thoughts. First there was no reason to put Wilkerson in the game in the 9th. Scott only threw 6 pitches yesterday. Armstrong was rested. It would have actually done Armstrong some good to come in and get some work in in a blowout. No reason for laughing and guffawing in the dugout when you’re losing 10-1. No need to wear sackcloth, but some professionalism would be nice. Yes it’s a rebuild, but show some pride. At least pretend to care

    • Then he needs included, kinda glad I missed it, the entire climate is outta line...go O’s...

  • Gotta hand it to Hyde for his ability to slide right into the biggest "cushy" job in all of professional sports--managing the Baltimore Orioles. No matter how bad,how lack-luster this team looks/performs his job is not even close to being in jeopardy. Call it organizational complacency or just plain old "don't give a damn" but he's there with no pressure. Talk about going through the motions.

Share
Published by
Rich Dubroff

Recent Posts

  • Rich Dubroff

Orioles to bring in left-field wall; Elias: ‘We overcorrected’

After three seasons of a heightened and lengthened left-field wall, the Orioles have decided to…

November 15, 2024
  • Midday Mailbag

Could Orioles sign Trey Mancini to minor league contract? | MAILBAG

Question: Rich, any chance Trey Mancini gets a minor league contract and a chance to…

November 15, 2024
  • Rich Dubroff

Orioles’ 2025 coaching staff taking shape

The Orioles' coaching staff for 2025 is close to being finalized. According to an industry…

November 15, 2024
  • Rich Dubroff

What factors would Corbin Burnes consider in choosing a team? | MAILBAG

Question: With all the interest and hype surrounding signing either players already on the team…

November 14, 2024
  • Rich Dubroff

Checking in on some Orioles’ free-agent starting pitching options

Corbin Burnes is the top free agent starter available this offseason, and the Orioles should…

November 14, 2024
  • The Bird Tapes

Inside the New Earl Weaver Biography

BaltimoreBaseball.com is delighted to be partnering with John Eisenberg, the author and longtime Baltimore sports…

November 13, 2024