Cleveland’s Terry Francona is probably the leading candidate for American League Manager of the Year after guiding the Indians to 94 regular-season wins and an AL Central crown despite the team’s myriad injuries. It’ll be the second time Francona’s captured the award – 2013 , also with the Indians – despite twice...
This year’s National League Championship Series is shaping up to be a classic. Even if you don’t have a dog in the fight, it’s compelling theater. For Orioles fans there are several familiar faces – or names anyway – that are playing a role in this series. I thought I’d share some...
With late-inning relievers at the forefront of discussion in the 2016 postseason – Cleveland’s Andrew Miller, Los Angeles’ Kenley Jansen and Chicago’s Aroldis Chapman — I was curious as to what Orioles’ closer Zach Britton thought about the relief trend in these playoffs. Britton, of course, was also a topic of discussion...
Shortly after Orioles closer Zach Britton inadvertently was embroiled in controversy when he didn’t pitch in the club’s loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card game October 4, he and his wife sat down to view an American League Division Series game. “I turned on the TV a...
I had a good question for the Tap Room today. Really good, if I can pat myself on the back a little. And then the Washington Nationals had to go and ruin it by losing in the NLDS. So I have to scrap my query as to whether Orioles fans were more...
Whenever I was upset about something as a kid, my mother would explain to me that there were many children less fortunate than I was. That no matter what I was upset about, others had it worse. Frankly, that rationale ticked me off. I didn’t really care about those other children. I...
I really didn’t think about it until I saw a comment on our website this week. A reader said the Orioles should mercifully trade away Ubaldo Jimenez this offseason so he doesn’t have to hear the boo birds on Opening Day at Camden Yards after giving up a home run to Edwin...
Sometimes baseball statistics make you scratch your head. There are times when you are absolutely, positively sure about something and then the statistics reveal another thing entirely. I can’t tell you how many times during the course of the 2016 season when fans asked me whether the Orioles were the worst in...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter met with the media Thursday to wrap up the 2016 season and look ahead to what may happen this offseason. A whole lot of ground was covered; some of the answers were illuminating, others were cryptic and some didn’t reveal a whole...
Dave Wallace, who stepped down Thursday as the Orioles’ pitching coach after three seasons, can’t pinpoint one moment or one accomplishment of which he is particularly proud during his tenure with the club. When asked, Wallace starts rattling off a list. He remembers meeting Chris Tillman, Zach Britton, Miguel Gonzalez and Brian...