Baltimore Orioles: Where does Chris Davis fit?

We heard a lot about Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles this off season. Some reports had him changing his workout regiment, and some had him keeping it the same. I would argue that he should change something up given his results the past few years.

But that aside, what are the Orioles’ plans for Davis in 2020? I’ll throw in the fact that there’s always the chance that he could be traded (including this year he has three seasons left on his contract). I think that’s really a long shot at best, but anything’s possible. He’s still a reliable glove at first base; if a team loses it’s first baseman to injury or something along those lines…as I said, anything’s possible.

But assuming he remains an Oriole, they have to have an idea of how they’re going to use him. Last year he didn’t play everyday, however needless to say he was still a “regular” player. Again, he’s a good defensive first baseman. That does mean something.

However the O’s would like to see more production at the plate. And keep in mind, if Davis does get hold of a pitch, it can still travel a long way. However I think at this point the Orioles would take him just hitting over the Mendoza Line. But it’ll be interesting to see how often he’s in the lineup during Spring Training, and at which position.

Baltimore Orioles: Reactions to the Mookie Betts trade

As I said yesterday, Baltimore Orioles’ fans should be thrilled that the likes of Mookie Betts and David Price are out of the AL East. However up I-95 in Boston, the reaction has been significantly different. And that’s to be expected.

I’m a little intrigued to see that a lot of Boston fans are shocked and appalled at the fact that Betts was traded. The guy’s in the final year of his contract, and they had obviously reached an impasse on a new deal. So they wanted to get something for him, and get under the luxury tax at the same time. Not to mention the potential loss of draft picks that are coming. This gives them some young talent.

But the reaction from Boston fans has been very negative. And that surprises me in a sense. This is a franchise that for years has bought other teams’ talent in the same manner that they just sold off Mookie Betts. People have no problem pointing out that it’s a business decision when it’s Miami, Milwaukee, or even the Orioles selling off their assets. But when the shoe’s on the other foot…things appear a bit different.

Again, from the Orioles perspective this is a good thing. Boston’s still a good team, but Betts himself carried them over the Orioles over a long period of time. It leaves a hole in their lineup, that will have reverberations up and down. Does this mean the Orioles are headed to the post season this year because of this? Let’s not get crazy. But maybe they’re good for one or two more wins over a division rival this season.

Baltimore Orioles: The road gets slightly easier

Mookie Betts hit .297 against the Baltimore Orioles (for Boston) last year. Now the Birds won’t have to worry about him again for the most part. Betts and starting pitcher David Price were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers late last night. It was a three-way trade, also involving Minnesota – who sent a top pitching prospect to Boston.

There’s irony in the fact that Boston appears to be unloading salary. This trade gets them under the luxury tax. For years they’ve feasted off of teams who couldn’t afford to keep their talent. Now things are different.

Having said that, I suspect this has more to do with the potential punishments the franchise might face due to the cheating scandal. They probably recognize this, and are proactively re-stocking their farm system. Which to be frank is probably a smart thing.

However having these two players out of the AL East will benefit everyone – including the Orioles. Betts has traditionally played some of his best games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. And Price has been an ace. Nobody mourns their loss across the division.

Baltimore Orioles set 2020 promotional schedule

You know we’re taking a turn towards home in terms of the offseason when the Baltimore Orioles release their promotional schedule for the upcoming season. That happened yesterday, and the Birds have once again stockpiled lots of different promotions for fans of all ages. And that’s a good thing.

The fun begins on Opening Day, March 26th against the New York Yankees. All fans in attendance will receive a 2020 season magnet schedule. Overall, the Orioles will have six Friday Fireworks games. Those games will also be featuring “women of country music.” There will also be 26 gate giveaways, 5 bobbleheads, six rooftop sessions (pregame), four t-shirt giveaways, two post-game concerts, 12 “kids run the bases” (Sundays), and two jersey giveaways.

All promotions and giveaways can be found by clicking here. I tell people all the time that baseball has the best giveaways. Occasionally other sports will do similar things, but not as often as baseball teams. And that’s due in part to the fact that there are so many games in all. It draws people to the ballpark.

No word yet on whether the O’s will be re-upping the promotion where you can bring two kids under nine for free, however I would hope it’s something that continues. While I don’t think it’s gotten the amount of play the past two years that it could have, I think it’s an important element to the current rebuild. It gives parents more incentive to bring their kids to the ballpark. You really can’t go wrong.

Baltimore Orioles: From the sandlot to a Super Bowl MVP

The Baltimore Orioles could have just as easily been facing Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes, son of former major leaguer Pat Mahomes, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers. Being the son of a big league baseball player, he grew up around the game, played it, and loved it.

However luckily for football fans, he loved football more. Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs of course won Super Bowl 54 last night in Miami. However again, he just as easily could have been playing major league baseball.

Mahomes is also the Godson of former Oriole LaTroy Hawkins, who played with his father Pat. However that aside, congratulations to Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs – and their fans. It’s a well-deserved honor to a great team. And…pitchers and catchers report a week from tomorrow.

Baltimore Orioles: Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

In a long-standing tradition on this column, there isn’t much to say about the Baltimore Orioles today. That because it’s Super Bowl Sunday! Many O’s fans were hoping that the Baltimore a Ravens would have been playing today, but that’s obviously not the case. Maybe next year.

Obviously the city of Baltimore does have a rich Super a bowl tradition, however. Obviously the Ravens have won it twice, and the Baltimore Colts won once. For the record, I’ll take the 49ers, 34-31. But whomever has the last possession of consequence will win the game. We’ll see how well that ages tomorrow!

Baltimore Orioles DFA Stevie Wilkerson

The Baltimore Orioles yesterday claimed Travis Lakins off of waivers from the Chicago Cubs. Larkins is a right-handed relief pitcher. I would expect him to compete for a bullpen job this spring.

Unfortunately for the O’s, this move came at a price. They had to designate utilityman Stevie Wilkerson for assignment. Now with that said, he could certainly remain with the organization if he clears waivers. He would need to do that, and then accept a minor league assignment.

And that’s exactly what happened last season. Whether it would happen again in 2020 is another story. Wilkerson happily did everything and anything that was asked of him last year. He played almost every position, including spot reliever. And on the final day of the season he made a dramatic catch in the grandstand at Fenway Park that made a late case for catch of the year.

Notice I said in the grandstand at Fenway Park. He threw his body all out to make the play. He’s a good guy to have on your roster, and one I’m sure that the Orioles would welcome back with open arms if they have the opportunity. But first thing’s first – he has to clear waivers.

As for Lakins, as I said I suspect he’ll have the opportunity to compete for a bullpen role. You can never have too much pitching for sure, however this comes at a price, as I said. Hopefully it works out.

Baltimore Orioles: Ten years in Sarasota

Baltimore Orioles’ pitchers and catchers are set to report to Sarasota in just over two weeks. I can feel the excitement out there. In fact, pitchers and catchers report is one of the finest phrases in the English language.

That aside, this will be the tenth year that pitchers and catchers (and eventually position players) will be reporting to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. The Orioles first moved there from Fort Lauderdale in 2010. When they first arrived the stadium and complex was showing it’s age, although it was light years better than their former facility in Fort Lauderdale. But how quickly things progressed…

…the Orioles almost immediately (after that first season at Ed Smith) started pumping money into the ballpark and the complex. They also invested big time in the Sarasota community. And that’s something that’s truly paid dividends for the Orioles, as Sarasota’s really embraced them. Sarasota’s as much a part of Birdland as downtown Baltimore.

Once the team breaks camp and vacates the park after spring training, the Gulf Coast Orioles move in and make Ed Smith Stadium their home during the Gulf Coast season. As I said, the Birds invested in Sarasota big time ten years ago. And that’s continued. Furthermore as a result, Ed Smith Stadium is considered one of the premier spring training facilities in baseball.

Put it this way – when the O’s trained in Fort Lauderdale, it was getting to the point to where it was hard for them to get a schedule together because teams didn’t want to come to play them. The facilities were antiquated, and the ballpark was falling apart. Then in 2010 they made the move to Fort Lauderdale, and once they began renovating the facilities and making it into the great place it is today, they had teams lining up to come and play them. It’s been an incredible transformation.

So hats off to both the Orioles, and the Sarasota community. Both are equally invested in one another, and it shows. And they’ll celebrate the ten-year anniversary of their union this spring.

Baltimore Orioles: Did the Birds win DESPITE Buck Showalter?

Former Baltimore Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter was not hired by the Houston Astros this week. That distinction instead went to Dusty Baker. This off season Showalter interviewed with Philadelphia, the NY Mets, and now Houston. None of which offered him the managerial job.

Admittedly I’m surprised and disappointed in that development. I fully expected Buck to have a job this year if he wanted one – which the act of him interviewing says that he did. There are two “knocks” on Buck however as a manager. The first is that his insistence upon attention to detail can grow cumbersome.

And that may well have occurred in Baltimore. I know that it did in other places – such as Arizona, where he apparently threw a fit about the colors of the carpet in the clubhouse not matching up perfectly with the team colors. Speaking for myself, I’m somewhat detail-oriented myself. So I don’t have an issue with a manager who’s going to cover all of his bases to a T. That’s how it should be.

The other “knock” on Buck is that he doesn’t embrace analytics. Now not having been a player, I can’t tell you how analytically-driven Buck was or was not. However everyone has to use some sort of analytical approach in baseball. It’s part of the game. Buck’s point however is that you have to still have a feel for the game. And a lot of that is being lost with analytics.

So while I personally may be on board with Buck Showalter’s old school approach as stated above, did that potentially cost him a job? Furthermore, did the Orioles of the 2010’s win DESPITE Buck not embracing new age ways of operating? My personal view is that they won partly BECAUSE of Buck. And that opinion won’t change. But what do you think?

Baltimore Orioles sign Wade LeBlanc, knuckleballer

The Baltimore Orioles yesterday signed veteran knuckleballer Wade LeBlanc to a minor league contract. He’s expected to compete for a starting job, and will be in camp in a few weeks once it starts. If he makes the Orioles, his contract would allow him to make up to $800,000.

LeBlanc made 27 starts for Seattle last year, going 9-5. He also pitched to a 5.71 ERA, which has a lot to be desired. However this is a low risk move by the Orioles, given that it’s a minor league contract. Another interesting aspect of this is that LeBlanc had other teams interested and picked the Orioles. Might that be a nod to the positive culture that’s being created?

It very well could be. I personally noticed that the O’s came together a bit during the final two months of last year. That doesn’t mean that they won more games, but they looked more like a team. So I might believe that wanting to be a part of what’s going on in Baltimore played a role. However I suspect that LeBlanc also saw an opportunity to start in the big leagues.

The real interesting thing is that he’s a knuckleballer. I think that’s something that could truly be an asset for an Orioles’ rotation that lacked depth last year. Teams will have to be wary of the fact that he’s a knuckler, and prepare for it. This of course assuming that he makes the team and the rotation in spring training.