Author Archives: Domenic Vadala

Welcome to Birdland Crush! Yes folks, for the record it's a spin off of the popular summer beverage native to the Mid-Atlantic Region - "orange crush." Nevertheless, I've been covering Orioles' baseball since 2009 in some capacity, and it's basically the greatest gig of all time so far as I'm concerned! But for those who aren't familiar with my work or bio, I'm familiar with pretty much every sport out there. But baseball is king - we all know that. So my hope is that you come back and check in after every Orioles' game, and throughout the off-season. I'm always on duty!

Baltimore Orioles: Should the Birds keep Jonathan Villar?

As we know, Jonathan Villar has been placed on waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. The Birds had been trying to trade Villar, however have been unable to find a trade partner. Again, we know that Villar is an asset and that he had a decent season for the O’s last year. However I’m a bit surprised that there were no trade partners – it’s unclear if that was due to lack of interest or the O’s asking too much.

Is Villar better suited on the Orioles right now or not? Obviously you’d like to get someone back for him if in fact they aren’t going to keep him. But…again, is it better for him to stay or go. In general, I’d say they should keep him. But…should they?

I don’t believe that Villar is going to be a part of the solution when the team finally contends again. That’s why I say that it’s better for him not to be here. Some might say that it’s not worth cutting him loose unless they get something in return. However is there a benefit to the Orioles with him not being here?

And the answer to that is YES. They need to figure out what the long-term solution is going to be at second base. Not having Villar being a part of a log jam at that position means that they can try new guys at second base. And finding the second baseman of the long-term future should be the goal (at that position). And that appears to be where the Orioles are headed.

Baltimore Orioles waive Jonathan Villar

Here I thought the Baltimore Orioles wouldn’t be making any news this week, yet here we are. Late yesterday the Orioles placed infielder Jonathan Villar on waivers. The O’s had been trying to trade Villar prior to next week’s deadline to tender a contract to players (or non-tender them), but were unable to find a trade partner.

Villar is eligible for arbitration, and the Orioles didn’t want to absorb a dramatic increase in salary for a player who probably won’t be here when everything comes together. It’s a shame to be honest. Villar hit .274 with 24 homers last year. But ultimately baseball and all sports can come down to budgets, and that’s the driving force behind this move.

The Orioles will now look to replace Villar, primarily at second base. However he did at times play shortstop as well. And we’ll discuss where the O’s go from here in due course. Just not today. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Birdland, and know that I’m thankful and eternally grateful for each and every one of you who read this column daily. Have a wonderful day with your family and/or friends!

Baltimore Orioles announce first annual Winter Warm-up

Baltimore Orioles fans and media found out yesterday what was going to replace Orioles’ FanFest. The O’s will be hosting the first “annual” Orioles’ Winter Warm-Up on December 14th on Eutaw St at Camden Yards. Birdland Members (season ticket holders) will get free admission, with non-members getting in for $5 or for free with a coat donation.

Orioles’ executives will be on hand to chat with fans, complimentary hot chocolate and coffee will be handed out, and Orioles’ gift shops will be open on Eutaw St. The Orioles will also provide live holiday music, photos with “Santa Bird,” among other amenities. Food trucks will also be on hand for food purchases. All merchandise at the Orioles’ team store will also be 50% off during the Winter Warm-Up. The event lasts from 11 AM – 2 PM.

Many folks are still understandably upset that FanFest is no more. It was a treasured Baltimore tradition that meant a lot to a lot of people. However I’m not going to lie – I like this concept. Granted it’s going to be outside in the elements, but I think that’s probably part of the charm of it. And keep in mind what I said above about the 50% discount in the team store. Christmas is coming, folks!

At the end of the day, this is simply a new regime trying something new. And you can’t fault them for that. I’m sure that fans will miss FanFest, but this sounds like a wonderful event that’s probably worth attending. Parking will also be free in Parking Lot A.

Baltimore Orioles poised to hire Anthony Sanders as first base coach

While no official announcement has been announced, it’s being reported that the Baltimore Orioles have reached a deal with Anthony Sanders to be their new first base coach. Sanders would replace Arnie Beyeler, who was informed at the end of the 2019 season that he wouldn’t be retained. Again, no official announcement has been made. I wouldn’t expect one before Thanksgiving.

Sanders has done a lot of work with USA Baseball, and was a member of the 2000 Gold Medal winning team. He’s spent the past few years as a coach in the Colorado Rockies’ system. He’ll now apparently be joining a coaching staff responsible for one of the youngest teams in the big leagues. So his experience at the minor league level is invaluable. Sanders will also be responsible for coaching the outfielders, as Beyeler was before him.

Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Flaherty coaching in San Diego

Former Baltimore Orioles’ utility infielder Ryan Flaherty has been hired as a member of the San Diego Padres’ coaching staff. According to multiple reports Flaherty was hired as the Quality Control Coach. I can’t say I’m sure what exactly that is or what the duties involve, but good on Ryan Flaherty.

Flaherty had a solid career, after being drafted by the Orioles in the 2011 Rule 5 draft. By far, he’s one of the most successful Rule 5 players in recent MLB history. Over the course of his time in Baltimore Flaherty did whatever was asked of him. He played every infield position at various times, and always gave his all in games. He should be remembered as a solid Oriole in the years to come.

I wouldn’t expect much news out of the Warehouse or the entire league this week. Thanksgiving is a traditionally slow period for baseball. But whatever’s out there will get covered here – that I can promise you!

Baltimore Orioles: Could changes in the NBA lead to changes in MLB?

The Baltimore Orioles and the rest of MLB play 162 games a year. Traditionally, NBA teams play 82 games. But is that about to change, and should baseball fans take notice?

There’s a report out there which says that NBA commissioner Adam Silver is considering some radical changes to the NBA season in the future. In short, the regular season would be shortened to 78 games, and to compensate owners for the lack of revenue there would be a mid-season tournament involving the entire league. They also want to reseed the playoff field at a certain point, and and institute play-in games for the postseason.

Baseball’s broached the topic of shortening the regular season in the past, but they’ve never done it. However if the NBA pulls the trigger on these initiatives, expect the topic to come up again. These leagues all copy one another to a certain degree. As an example, doesn’t a play-in game sound an awful lot like an automatic elimination game? Where did they get that idea?

The part that worries me the most is the in-season tournament. While not explicitly said, I suspect that this would in essence be an exhibition. Do we really think that’s a good idea? What if someone gets hurt? A marketing gimmick could cost a team their season. Do we really want to go there?

Whether we would ever see something like that in baseball is another story. But as I said, leagues will often copy one another. My hope is that they decide against making these changes.

Baltimore Orioles: What was the highlight of 2019?

Baltimore Orioles’ fans knew that the season was going to be void of too many highlights going in. And sure enough, the prognosticators were right. At times the O’s struggled to stay out of elongated losing streaks, much less make highlights to remember. But again, we knew that going in.

But out of the few that we did see, is there one that stands above the rest? Is there one that we can tap as the highlight of the season? That’s a very relative question, the answer to which is certainly up for debate.

However if I had to pick one, it would be Rio Ruiz hitting the walk off home run against the eventual American League Champion Houston Astros on August 11th. It was an emotionally draining game, that saw the O’s chase Houston starter Verlander earlier than Houston would have liked. It was a game in which the Birds had the lead in the ninth, and then lost it in the ninth.

This after the Birds had surrendered 23 runs the night before. Fans at Camden Yards appeared ready to go home after yet another loss, and this one in dramatic fashion. But it wasn’t to be – for Houston, that is. Ruiz came to bat with two on and the O’s trailing by two in the last of the ninth…

…and he smacked a 2-2 changeup onto the flag court in right field. GAME. OVER.

To me, it’s the sum of the parts which makes that the highlight of the season. The 23 runs the night before, losing the lead late in the game that day, and then – redemption! I’m open to other suggestions, but in my opinion that was the highlight of the season.

Baltimore Orioles: President Kennedy comes to Birdland

The Baltimore Orioles organization including players and coaches indubitably joined the rest of the nation in mourning the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The President was assassinated on this date in 1963, 56 years ago. But how many of you were aware that one of Kennedy’s final appearances in public was in the Baltimore area?

On November 14th of that year, just prior to leaving for Texas, President Kennedy came to Elkton, MD to dedicate I-95. When what’s now known as the Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge was completed between Havre de Grace and Perryville, the highway was ready to open and be dedicated. At the dedication ceremony, the President remarked about route 95:

It symbolizes, I believe, first of all the partnership between the federal government and the states, which is essential to the progress of all our people and secondly, it symbolizes the effort we have made to achieve the most modern interstate highway system in the world… and third it symbolizes the effort, which we are giving and must be giving to organizing an effective communication system here in the United States of America.

Courtesy of Erika Quesenbery Sturgill, Cecil Whig

When President Kennedy was assassinated 95 was renamed John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. However it’s noteworthy for this region that one of his last public appearances before the Texas trip was in Maryland. My great-grandmother was apparently in the front row of spectators at the event and shook President Kennedy’s hand.

Incidentally, I have many fond memories of sitting under the aforementioned Tydings Bridge and eating lunch while fishing with my father and grandfather. And almost always in the background would be Chuck Thompson’s voice calling the O’s on the radio!

Baltimore Orioles hire Eve Rosenbaum

Earlier this week the Baltimore Orioles continued their “tradition” of poaching front office talent from the Houston Astros. While the O’s haven’t confirmed this, there’s a report out there saying that they hired former Houston Scouting Director Eve Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum worked under current Orioles’ VP of Operations Mike Elias in Houston, and is rumored to be heading into the newly-created position of Director of Baseball Development.

It’s unclear exactly what this position will do, however the team is still in the midst of restructuring it’s front office. Rosenbaum is a graduated of Harvard, but a native of Bethesda, MD. So in a sense this is a homecoming for her.

The only concern here is that you have to wonder if having too many Houston alumni might put the Orioles under the gun in terms of the investigation going on right now regarding stealing signs. Hopefully that’s not the case, however it could be a concern. More as we hear it.

Baltimore Orioles: Spring schedule update

Very quietly last week the Baltimore Orioles added a game to their spring training schedule in 2020. And a home game at Ed Smith Stadium at that. The O’s will take on the New York Mets at 1 PM on March 23, 2020 in Sarasota. Presumably, this will be the final game of the Grapefruit League season.

We’ve seen the O’s add games against local universities in the past at the tail end of spring training – games which incidentally didn’t count towards the “standings” for the Grapefruit League. Not that the standings matter, but just saying that for the sake of saying it. Nevertheless there’s an additional game that’s now on the schedule.

Why does this even matter? At the end of the day it certainly does matter to season ticket holders in Sarasota. But it’s also just an additional opportunity for guys to make an impression for the Orioles’ brass. And I suspect that most players would relish that chance.

For what it’s worth, the Orioles will also celebrate their 10th year at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota in 2020. It’s kind of hard to believe if you think about it. When the O’s arrived in town Ed Smith Stadium was a rag-tag facility with few creature comforts. Now that they’ve fully renovated the park, it’s the envy of almost every team in baseball.

The Orioles have also invested big time in the Sarasota community, and they have a year-around presence there. I’m not sure there’s another community (in either Florida or Arizona) which embraces a major league team in the manner that Sarasota does for the Orioles. When you invest in the community, the community pays you back in a big way. Needless to say, it’s truly been a mutually beneficial relationship for the Orioles and Sarasota.