World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966

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Friday, May 15, 2015

Columns:

Chris Davis provides added insight into Manny Machado's defense The Sun 5/15

Manny Machado's early errors not yet a major concern to O's The Sun 5/14

Hunter Harvey to see Dr. James Andrews for second opinion The Sun 5/14

For O's prospect Dosch, simplicity brings results MLB.com 5/14

This, that and the other MASNsports.com 5/15

Hunter Harvey to visit Dr. James Andrews for second opinion MASNsports.com 5/14

Talking strikeouts with Chris Davis MASNsports.com 5/15

Minor league notes on Triple-A Norfolk's strong pitching and more MASNsports.com

5/14

Matthew Taylor: Taking aim at Eutaw Street MASNsports.com 5/15

Angels-Orioles Preview STATS LLC 5/15

Orioles begin play outside AL East with Angels series CSN Baltimore 5/15

Together, Orioles' Dave Wallace, Dom Chiti Form A Pitching Partnership

PressBoxOnline.com 5/15

Former Top Prospect Travis Snider Aims To Fulfill His Potential In Baltimore

PressBoxOnline.com 5/15

Caleb Joseph Making The Most Out Of His Opportunity With The Orioles

PressBoxOnline.com 5/15

'Baltimore Sun' Orioles Beat Writer Dan Connolly Authors First Book

PressBoxOnline.com 5/15

New Memorial Stadium Allows Youth To Form Memories At Historic Spot

PressBoxOnline.com 5/15

Orioles bestow Bat Girl honors on Jefferson woman with breast cancer Frederick News

Post 5/15

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-chris-davis-provides-added-insight-into-

manny-machados-defense-20150514-story.html

Chris Davis provides added insight into Manny Machado's

defense

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

May 15, 2015

One of the great things about having a blog is that it is a fantastic spot to put extra quotes or

thoughts when you don’t have space in the newspaper.

Because I’m, well, an experienced journalist (read: old), I remember back in the dark ages when

we’d conduct a bunch of interviews on a subject, and then, due to space constraints, waste

several. So score one for progress and the Internet.

For Friday's paper, I wrote about Orioles third baseman Manny Machado’s high error totals so

far this season. You can find that story here.

During the preparation for that story, I talked to first baseman Chris Davis, who has an

interesting perspective. He has played third base in the majors, but he also has had to deal with

unbelievable expectations that he created with his own performance (hitting 53 homers in 2013).

I didn’t get Davis’ voice into the piece on Machado, but I wanted to share some of the things he

said about his 22-year-old teammate, who has committed eight errors in 32 games – less than

two years removed from winning the Platinum Glove as the American League’s best defender at

any position.

Davis is always one for thoughtful, introspective interviews, and I wanted to share what he said.

Davis on Machado attempting to meet such lofty defensive expectations:

“I do think that there’s a lot to be said about one, his age, and two, the fact he has not played

consistent baseball in a while with the exception of the last month and a half. He was rehabbing,

doing a lot of things that he really needed to do to get the strength back in his knees and the

things he needed to do to get himself ready to play. But you can’t substitute game experience.

You can’t try to recreate it. It’s not something you can really simulate. Manny is a great

defender, there is no doubt about it. Has he made some mistakes early this season that we don’t

expect him to make? Absolutely. But I think that you do have to remember he is still just a kid,

even though he has been here for a number of years, and third base is hard, especially when you

have as much range as he does.”

Davis on why Machado’s range may work against him when it comes to making errors:

“Everybody knows about him being at shortstop in the minor leagues and coming up as a

shortstop. He has a shortstop’s range and he has the ability to go get a lot of balls at third base

that a lot of guys don’t. And with that comes more challenging throws and the opportunity to

make a play that may not be created if you don’t have that range.”

Davis on how seriously Machado’s takes playing defense:

“I think it’s extremely important to Manny that he is a good defender. He takes a lot of pride in

that. I think you have to look at the full body of work and not just the last couple months. … You

don’t do the things he’s done just because you are extremely talented and you just happen to get

lucky. He puts in the work. And it should mean a lot to him. It means a lot to everybody. Not just

him, but everybody on the infield. Same thing with me at first.”

Davis on the theory that different personnel in the infield could be a contributing factor

to the amount of errors by Machado:

“I think it is an excuse. I really do. The guys who are here -- Steve Pearce, J.J. Hardy, Everth

(Cabrera), Rey (Navarro) -- were here in spring training. We have had plenty of time to get

acclimated. When you place as much importance on defense as we do, and you put in as much

time as we do, you have to go out there and make the plays. That’s not to say you’re not going to

make some mistakes. But the mistakes, you want them to be made going 100 percent and doing

things the right way. I don’t think that, because there is a different shortstop or different second

baseman or different third baseman, that it would give me any reason to say, ‘Oh well, I don’t

know this guy’s arm slot. I wasn’t able to stay on the bag.’ That’s an excuse and I think he gets

that, too. I really do.”

Davis on not allowing a slump, offensively or defensively, affect the rest of a player’s game:

“He is having a great year offensively. Obviously, every everyday player wants to go out there

and swing the bat. You want to put runs on the board. You want to support your pitching staff.

But there is always two sides of the ball.”

Davis on whether the bar is set too high for Machado:

“I think once you see what a guy is capable of and what he can do over the full course of a

season, you know that that’s in the tank, so you expect it. Does that mean it is going to happen

all the time? Absolutely not. The game is changing in a number of ways -- shifts, defensive

alignments. But I just think once you set the bar up there, that you have the responsibility to put

in the work, to put in the effort to do everything you can to stay up there. I feel like he has done

that. I do. I feel like Manny has taken his groundball work seriously. I feel like he has put in the

time, there’s no doubt. (Infield coach Bobby Dickerson) is in my opinion one of the best, if not

the best in the business at getting us work and really making sure we get quality reps in. And I

think Manny has done that. It’s just that there have been a few mental lapses on his part that he

hasn’t made in the past. And those are just adjustments he’s going to have to make as a young

player.”

Davis on Machado’s defense going forward:

“Fielding is a lot like hitting. There are times when you can just get into a groove defensively

where you feel like your rhythm is good, your timing is good, your footwork is good. Everything

that is hit to you, the play is going to be made. And there are times when you get into a funk and

you are not necessarily in the right place at the right time, your tempo is off. And I think he is

going through a little bit of that right now. But he is going to get back to what makes him a great

defender and he is going to continue to be a good defender for us.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-offday-0515-20150514-

story.html#page=1

Manny Machado's early errors not yet a major concern to

O's

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

May 14, 2015

There's no such thing as automatic in pro sports, especially in baseball, especially for an athlete

who is barely old enough to order an alcoholic drink.

So why is Baltimore's collective thumb on the panic button over eight errors in six weeks by a

22-year-old who has played only one full season in the majors?

Because it's Manny Machado, the Orioles' Platinum Glove third baseman who could retire

tomorrow and still market a full DVD of defensive highlights.

"He has set a very high bar. And some of those (errant) throws are from places and angles where

most people aren't even catching the ball," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "People expect

him to be perfect. But I wouldn't trade him for any third baseman in baseball defensively."

Machado, who had nine errors in 82 games in an injury-riddled 2014 campaign and 13 in 156

games during his Platinum Glove season in 2013, entered Thursday leading all major league

third basemen with eight in 32 games so far this year, including six throwing errors. Only four

big leaguers had more miscues — all shortstops — and Machado's .930 fielding percentage

ranked 23rd of 28 qualifiers at third base.

Dig a little deeper, though, and perhaps the situation isn't so bleak. Machado led all third

basemen in chances, assists and double plays turned. He also fares well when advanced

defensive metrics are used. He was tops in range factor with a 3.50 and fourth in defensive WAR

(wins above replacement) with a 0.5, trailing only Colorado's Nolan Arenado, Kansas City's

Mike Moustakas and Cleveland's Lonnie Chisenhall.

"If you look at most of the stats that matter, not including fielding percentage, he is still top three

in the game," Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said. "Maybe [his number of errors] doesn't look good,

but there are a lot of things that factor into that."

When first approached about discussing his 2015 defense, Machado flashed a broad grin and

downplayed the early hiccups.

"I'm good. I'm where I need to be," Machado said smiling. "No, I'm not worried about the errors.

If you're worried about errors, you shouldn't be in the game. They are all gonna come eventually,

so you just have to play your game, and keep playing your game. There is a lot of season ahead

of us. A lot more ground balls to be caught. A lot more throws to be made. So (errors) are the last

thing on my mind."

His infield coach, Bobby Dickerson, for the most part shares that sentiment. Dickerson hasn't

harped on the errors, saying that approach often negatively affects the mindset of players.

Instead, he's challenged Machado to be mentally ready for each pitch.

That, Dickerson said, is probably his biggest concern with his star pupil this year. Because of

separate knee surgeries in consecutive years, Machado was shut down in September 2013, didn't

return until May 1 last season and didn't play after Aug. 11, 2014.

So, Dickerson said, it has been a while since Machado had to be on alert on every pitch. And

with someone who can rely on extraordinary talent, sharpening that focus is challenging.

"As a young player, that is a tough thing. And that's what we're seeing sometimes," Dickerson

said. "I think when Manny first got here, he was wanting to prove himself a little bit. And he had

no pressure on him (defensively), no expectations other than to play. We saw the ability level for

sure. And that's still in him. … It's just the focus part — the ability to play every single pitch

after being off a year — and that's what we have to pick back up on."

There are some mechanical or technical tweaks that can be made to potentially eliminate future

miscues. Dickerson said the two grounders Machado missed likely could have been caught if he

had waited a little longer to field the hop. At times, Machado could set his feet better or position

his right hand to prevent his throws from naturally sinking.

But the loose-limbed manner in which Machado approaches a play and some of the unorthodox

arm slots from which he throws shouldn't be tweaked because those things have helped him

become an elite defender at a position he began playing in 2012.

"The same throws that he makes accurately that make him Manny, that allow him to make plays

that not too many people can make, when they are errant it looks really bad," Dickerson said. "I

just want to get him locked in on every pitch. That's it. That's the No. 1 thing that we're focused

on."

Orioles vice president Brady Anderson said he believes Machado looks better in the field this

year than he did at any point in 2014 — even if Machado's errors have increased dramatically.

"He is just moving like a guy that has complete confidence in his health and last year I didn't say

that," Anderson said. "Whether the numbers dictate that or not, at this point, that doesn't mean a

ton to me, because he is capable of going three months without an error."

Machado didn't make an error in his first 12 games this season. He then committed six in his next

nine starts. He has just two in his last 11 games, but that includes a throw in the seventh inning

Tuesday that bounced off pitcher Chris Tillman's glove and led to a four-run inning.

"There are 162 games, there are 700-some balls you're gonna get," Machado said. "When you

play as much as we play and you put as much effort and time into it, there's gonna be sometimes

you are going to struggle and some plays where you're like, 'Wow, I should have made that play.

I should have made that throw.'"

Tuesday's error was emblematic of Machado's 2015 miscues. The majority have come in the late

innings of close games, so there has been more of a spotlight on them. And several could have

been saved by teammates, but the plays weren't quite made.

Tillman, for instance, blamed himself for getting to first base too quickly, causing Machado's

bullet from second base to sail behind the pitcher. Machado, however, said it's his responsibility

to make sure his throws are chest-high.

That's one of several things that have impressed Machado's teammates during this stretch. He

hasn't made excuses — though there are plenty available. Hardy, the club's infield glue, missed

the first five weeks of the season, while second baseman Jonathan Schoop and utility infielder

Ryan Flaherty also have been on the disabled list. So Machado has been playing primarily with a

new cast of infielders. But he dismisses that and his own injury layoff as factors.

Instead, he's trying to focus on positives, like the way he has been swinging the bat. He's hitting

.284 with a .348 on-base percentage, six homers and five stolen bases. He's on pace for career

highs in most offensive categories. And that has helped take pressure off his fielding.

"Definitely it does. People say as long as you drive them in as much or more as you let them in,

you're going to be fine," Machado said. "I think you have to find a happy medium and try to be

in the middle. At the end of the day, you've just got to get better. I've got to get better at what I

do and I think that's what I am working on here."

Dickerson, Showalter, Hardy and others have said Machado continues to work at his craft — and

their sense is that the errors are a blip and not something that will follow him all season.

"At the end of the year, we may be talking about him winning another Gold Glove or Platinum

Glove. It's just the way things kind of work out," Hardy said. "Historically, he had one of the best

defensive years a third baseman has ever had [in 2013]. To expect that every single year is

ridiculous. Can he do that again? Yeah, he sure can, but it doesn't mean he is going to do it every

single year.

"If he did, it would be Brooks Robinson, 16 Gold Gloves later."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-hunter-harvey-to-see-dr-andrews-for-

second-opinion-20150514-story.html

Hunter Harvey to see Dr. James Andrews for second opinion

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

May 14, 2015

Right-hander Hunter Harvey, the Orioles’ second-ranked prospect, will get a second opinion on

his injured right elbow next week from renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

At this point, the Orioles believe Andrews will concur with the team doctors’ evaluation after

reading an MRI on Wednesday, that Harvey will have to undergo a period of rest but should be

able to pitch at some point later this year.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said the team is considering the injury a flexor

mass strain in the right forearm and it will not need surgery. However, flexor muscle and tendon

issues often are precursors to -- or are in concert with -- elbow ligament tears that require

Tommy John surgery. The increasingly frequent ligament-replacement procedure normally

shelves professional pitchers for at least one year. Andrews is considered a leading authority in

Tommy John surgeries.

“It’s always a concern with any pitcher,” Duquette said. “But in this case, I think Hunter can

respond to this with sufficient rest and then can resume pitching.”

Harvey, 20, was selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2013 draft and owns a 2.87 ERA

in 113 pro innings. While with low Single-A Delmarva last year, he was shut down July 31 with

a flexor mass strain, which Duquette said is “a different issue” than what he is dealing with now.

Harvey was ticketed for high Single-A Frederick this season, but his start was delayed after he

suffered a slight fracture in his right shin during a minor league spring training game in March.

He has been recovering in Sarasota, Fla., and seemed like he was on his way back to an affiliate

before leaving Sunday’s extended spring game after two innings because of tightness in the

elbow/forearm area.

The Orioles’ top pitching prospect, Dylan Bundy, is recovering from Tommy John surgery as is

All-Star catcher Matt Wieters.

Duquette said Harvey will return to his North Carolina home this weekend and then see Andrews

in Florida at some point next week.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/124346420/simplicity-brings-results-for-orioles-third-

base-prospect-drew-dosch

For O's prospect Dosch, simplicity brings results Lob-toss drill has helped third baseman unleash torrid hitting stretch

By Andrew Simon / MLB.com

May 14, 2015

When Drew Dosch, the Orioles' No. 14-ranked prospect, began this season in a slump for Class

A Advanced Frederick, he knew he needed to slow things down.

Dosch felt himself jumping at the ball and chasing pitches instead of staying back and letting

them travel, so he turned to a drill that gave him no choice in the matter. In lob toss, a coach

floats soft pitches to a hitter, who concentrates on getting into the proper position and seeing the

ball before finally uncorking his swing. That way, he establishes good habits he can repeat

against 95-mph heat. Dosch "fell in love" with the drill and made it part of his daily routine.

"It helps me stay calm and keep everything simple," Dosch said before a recent game at

Potomac.

That work has gotten the 22-year-old third baseman back to doing what he has done throughout

his baseball career -- hit.

On April 16, Dosch struck out in all four of his at-bats to fall to 4-for-32 on the year. The next

day, he busted out, going 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. That ignited a 26-game stretch,

through Wednesday, in which Dosch has hit .351/.411/.485 with nine extra-base hits and 21

RBIs, raising his season average near the .300 mark. In the process, he was named the O's Minor

League Player of the Month for April.

The Ohio native's last serious struggles with the bat came when he was a freshman at

Youngstown State. Since then, Dosch produced averages of .353 and .338 in his final two

collegiate seasons, .326 in the prestigious Cape Cod League (where he made the All-Star team)

and .314 in his professional debut last year for Class A Delmarva. In both 2014 and '15, the left-

handed hitter has topped .300 against southpaws.

"He has a very consistent swing and a very simple approach," said Frederick hitting coach Paco

Figueroa, who held the same position at Delmarva last season. "His swing is kind of like Joe

Mauer's swing. There's not a lot of movement, and he stays in the zone and through the baseball

very well."

The Orioles got Dosch in the seventh round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, taking a chance

on a player who recently had torn the ACL in his right knee, undergoing surgery two days

earlier. Some interested teams backed away, but not Baltimore.

"It was kind of a crazy couple of days for me," Dosch said. "The low of getting hurt, getting

surgery, but then also the high of getting drafted and seeing your name on the screen is pretty

cool."

The injury prevented Dosch from beginning his professional career right away, but he was 100

percent by the following Spring Training. And with the knee now no longer a concern, he can

work on solidifying his future at third base by adding power and refining his defense.

For all of Dosch's production, he has hit six home runs in nearly 700 pro plate appearances,

though he also has collected 29 doubles and six triples. But Figueroa sees more pop in his future

as he adds strength to his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame and makes adjustments.

"He's going to get the power," Figueroa said. "He's going to start driving the ball. He's got the

pop in that bat."

Dosch began playing third base in college but never gave the defensive part of his game his full

attention until he went to the instructional league last fall, after making 21 errors in 120 games

for Delmarva. Because he had hurt his wrist near the end of the 2014 season, Dosch was not

allowed to pick up a bat, leaving him to play only in the field.

An offense-first player, Dosch compared the experience to a "timeout," but he learned a lot in the

process. The biggest lesson had to do with getting himself in the proper position, a requirement

at the hot corner, which demands lightning-quick reactions. Figueroa, who believes Dosch has

the glove and arm to play third, has noticed the difference this season, though the process is

ongoing.

"I think I'm making big strides at third base, but I know I have a long way to go," Dosch said.

"That's going to be my biggest thing I have to improve on in this game as I go forward and move

up, and it'll never stop."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/05/this-that-and-the-other-83.html

This, that and the other

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

May 15, 2015

If the recent past is any indication, the Orioles' three-game series against the Angels that begins

tonight at Camden Yards will be hotly contested. The margin for error will be paper thin.

The Orioles won the series last year, 4-2, and every game was decided by two runs or fewer.

Wei-Yin Chen has allowed six runs and 10 hits in 10 1/3 innings over two starts against the

Angels. He's walked six, struck out 10 and served up three home runs.

Angels starter Jered Weaver is 1-4 with a 4.98 ERA in seven starts this season. He's walked five

batters in 43 1/3 innings.

In his last start, Weaver tossed a complete-game shutout against the Astros. He's 7-4 with a 3.46

ERA in 12 career starts against the Orioles and 2-2 with a 7.09 ERA in five starts at Camden

Yards.

Adam Jones is 7-for-23 (.304) with a double, triple, two home runs and six RBIs against Weaver.

Delmon Young is 7-for-18 (.389) with a double and home run, and Alejandro De Aza is 4-for-9

(.444) with a double and home run.

J.J. Hardy is 3-for-23 (.130), Travis Snider is 2-for-11 (.182) and Chris Davis is 7-for-34 (.206)

with seven strikeouts.

* If Manny Machado reaches base tonight, he'll extend his streak to a career-high 20 games.

Machado has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, batting .359/.405/.615 in that span.

* Darren O'Day hasn't allowed an earned run over his last 11 appearances covering 10 innings.

It's his longest streak since going 14 games in a row from June 17-July 25, 2014.

Erick Aybar is 3-for-7 against O'Day and Mike Trout is 2-for-5 with a home run. They're the

only Angels with a hit off him.

* I won't lie, I'm still a little irritated by fans who jumped Tommy Hunter during Tuesday night's

game against the Blue Jays and complained that he gives up home runs every time he takes the

mound. I heard a lot of "Tommy goes boom" and how he's the worst pitcher in baseball.

I know the longball reputation. I know the past struggles. But don't be afraid of a little research.

Hunter has allowed two home runs in 13 appearances this season. He hadn't been charged with

an earned run in eight consecutive appearances.

Falling back on past failures is just lazy. And that includes ignoring how he posted a 1.77 ERA

in his last 43 appearances in 2014 after being replaced as closer.

* I wrote yesterday that pitcher Hunter Harvey will get a second opinion on his right elbow next

week from renown orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews. Fans instantly braced for the worst.

Andrews and second opinions often lead to surgeries.

Well, the Orioles expect Andrews to recommend an extended period of rest for Harvey.

However, surgery remains a possibility. We're not being naive here. It's just a last resort.

For all the people saying that Harvey should just have the surgery now and get it over with, he's

only 20 years old. If a ligament-reconstructive procedure comes later in the year, it won't be a

huge setback. A disappointment, for sure, since the Orioles thought he might be an option for

their bullpen later this season when rosters expanded, but there's no reason to rush into surgery.

* Matt Wieters played 8 1/2 innings yesterday in an extended spring training game in Fort

Myers, Fla. He caught eight and felt as though he got in a solid day's work.

Wieters is scheduled to catch nine innings on Saturday. The Orioles need him to catch back-to-

back games before they can consider an injury rehab assignment.

Manager Buck Showalter expects Wieters to be ready to come off the 60-day disabled list when

eligible on June 4. He says so with fingers crossed.

* Few minor leaguers have improved their stock as much as Triple-A Norfolk reliever Oliver

Drake.

Drake (Navy) has a 1.15 ERA and seven saves, with two runs, three walks and 26 strikeouts in

15 2/3 innings. He's throwing about 75 percent splitters and his stuff is downright nasty,

according to people in the organization who have seen him.

Left-handers are 1-for-13 against Drake. Right-handers are 7-for-42. He leads the International

League with 14.94 strikeouts per nine innings.

Drake's numbers really pop when you consider that he came into the year as perhaps the most

vulnerable member of the 40-man roster. He was considered by some to be the first to go if the

Orioles needed a spot. That's certainly not the case anymore.

* While we're down at Norfolk, left-hander Cesar Cabral hasn't allowed a run in 13 appearances.

Left-handers are 1-for-18 with eight strikeouts against him. But will his stuff play at the major

league level? Not everyone is convinced, but he's definitely worth monitoring.

* Norfolk's Pedro Beato threw two more scoreless innings last night to lower his ERA to 0.90.

He hasn't allowed an earned run in his last eight appearances over 13 2/3 innings.

* I remember seeing Tanner Scott at the January minicamp with his left hand in a cast after

breaking his pinky finger. I had to ask around to learn his identity.

The Orioles selected Scott, a southpaw, in the sixth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out

of Howard College in Texas. He went 1-5 with a 6.26 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) with the

Gulf Coast League team.

Why am I mentioning him this morning? Because I've heard that his fastball has been clocked at

97 mph at extended spring training. He's been noticed.

* The Blue Jays signed Luke Scott to a Triple-A contract. The Orioles had no interest in bringing

him back to the organization, in case that thought crossed your mind.

Scott will forever rank as one of my favorites on the beat, but there's no way that reunion was

going to happen.

* The Blue Jays released Jake Fox so he could play in Korea.

See above.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/05/hunter-harvey-to-visit-dr-james-andrews-

for-second-opinion.html

Hunter Harvey to visit Dr. James Andrews for second

opinion

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

May 14, 2015

The Orioles are in the process of setting up an appointment for pitcher Hunter Harvey to receive

a second opinion on his right elbow.

Harvey underwent an MRI yesterday in Baltimore after being examined by team orthopedist Dr.

Michael Jacobs. The Orioles have determined that Harvey has a strained flexor mass and shut

him down indefinitely.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette said the club will arrange an appointment next week with

Dr. James Andrews in his Pensacola, Fla. office. The Orioles want to keep Harvey close to the

minor league complex in Sarasota.

"We discussed it last night," Duquette said. "We're trying to set up something next week. We're

still in the process."

Harvey, recovering from a slight fracture of his right shin, left Sunday's start at extended spring

training after two innings due to stiffness in the elbow.

The Orioles expect Andrews to agree with their diagnosis and prescribe rest for Harvey.

"It's a muscle strain, a strained elbow," Duquette said. "We're going to let him rest and see if we

can resolve it and he can start throwing again.

"I think he'll be able to pitch (this season)."

Harvey, 20, will return to his North Carolina home before heading to Florida next week. The

Orioles planned on assigning him to Single-A Frederick, his highest level as a professional,

before the latest setback.

Dylan Bundy, the organization's top pitching prospect, also was diagnosed with a strained flexor

mass before undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his elbow in 2013. Hence, the

concern surrounding Harvey.

Meanwhile, Matt Wieters is catching an extended spring training game today in Fort Myers. He's

scheduled to go nine innings again, as he did on Tuesday.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/05/talking-strikeouts-with-chris-davis.html

Talking strikeouts with Chris Davis

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

May 15, 2015

Chris Davis led the American League in strikeout rate in 2014, and he leads the league again in

2015, with the whiffs coming even more frequently. But along with his 50 strikeouts, he is

batting .246 with eight homers and 21 RBIs. He is slugging .509 with an .821 OPS. Through

Wednesday's games, he was tied for sixth in the league in homers and tied for 12th in RBIs.

I asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter if the strikeouts were more acceptable because they are

coming with a decent level of power production from Davis.

"No, it's not," he said. "We're aware of it. He's more aware of it than I am, trust me. He may not

look like it, but it bothers him. It does. Depends how you look at statistics. Everybody can make

them look one way."

In a clubhouse conversation Wednesday afternoon, Davis talked about his high strikeouts total.

"I think I was on pace for 285 strikeouts the other day, which would obliterate the record," he

said. "You know a lot of people ask me about strikeouts. 'Do I like striking out?' which is a

ridiculous question. 'Does it bother me?' Of course it does.

"I've struck out my whole career. In 2013, I hit .286 and struck out 199 times. Do I continue to

make adjustments? Absolutely.

"Early on, there have been some good at-bats, but for the most part, I'm still trying to find it. Just

a little bit in between, whether it is timing or something mechanically, still trying to find that

feel. So it's been nice to have a little bit of production, but at the same time I will continue to

work to get myself in better counts to produce every at-bat."

AL strikeout rate leaders: 39.1 - Chris Davis, Baltimore

38.6 - Chris Carter, Houston

37.7 - Mike Zunino, Seattle and Steven Souza Jr. Tampa Bay

The strikeout rate is the percentage of plate appearances that end in a strikeout for a player.

Strikeouts have been on the rise in recent years in the majors, and so it is with Davis, whose

strikeout rate was 33.0 last year.

"We have to look at all the factors right now," Davis said. "Averages are going down around the

league, just like last year. Everybody is shifting everybody. I think the biggest thing for me. ...

Am I going to bunt a lot? Honestly I haven't had a lot of situations where the game has called for

a bunt. But it is something I am willing to do and I practice it every day.

"But the biggest thing for me is run production and the strikeouts. Getting on base, driving in

runs when I have the chance. The average I hope will be reasonable."

Does Davis ever consider cutting down on his swing to limit strikeouts? Or would that mean less

chances to hit home runs?

"At one point, my average on balls put in play was around .500. It was pretty ridiculous the

amount of damage I could do when I was putting the ball in play. The biggest thing for me is

staying competitive in the strikezone. And swinging at pitches that are good pitches to hit," he

said.

While Showalter said he was definitely aware of Davis' strikeout total, Davis said the skipper has

not talked with him much about it.

"Honestly, nothing (has been said). I think Buck has bigger things to worry about," Davis said.

We've talked about strikeouts as a team. Buck knows I will swing and miss some. But I will still

go out there looking for adjustments. Still looking for that feel and to get the rhythm and timing

I've been looking for."

After Davis, O's strikeout-rate leaders: 30.6 - Alejandro De Aza

25.6 - Travis Snider

23.2 - Caleb Joseph

21.4 - Steve Pearce

20.7 - Jimmy Paredes

AL team leaders in strikeout rate: 24.6 - Houston

22.3 - Tampa Bay

22.1 - Orioles

21.1 - Minnesota and Texas

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/05/minor-league-notes-on-norfolks-strong-

pitching-and-more.html

Minor league notes on Triple-A Norfolk's strong pitching

and more

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

May 14, 2015

The Triple-A Norfolk squad has the best record of the Orioles' full-season minor league affiliates

at 19-14. The Tides beat Scranton 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon when Dariel Alvarez hit a two-

run homer in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie.

Norfolk completed a 5-1 homestand with that win, and has won three straight series.

The Tides' pitching has been outstanding this year, and Norfolk's 2.48 team ERA ranks second in

the 14-team International League behind Buffalo at 2.37.

Right-hander Mike Wright, who is 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in six Tides starts, was recalled to the

Orioles yesterday, making a big league roster for the first time.

Wright said the Tides pitching has just been stellar all year long.

"That staff is incredible," Wright said. "It is almost to a point where you got nervous out there

because everyone top to bottom was pitching so good. We didn't have a bad pitcher on the staff.

We have more shutouts this year than we had all of last year already. That says a lot about our

staff.

"We have great defense down there. It's incredible defense and it was good to pitch to that. I

know it will be even better up here. But that staff down there is really, really good."

As for that defense, Paul Janish leads International League shortstops in fielding percentage, and

the 32-year-old has yet to make an error in 136 total chances. Janish also leads IL shortstops with

91 assists and 21 double plays. Christian Walker leads IL first baseman in fielding percentage, as

he's yet to make an error in 247 total chances. He has registered 236 putouts at first, tops in the

league.

Norfolk's catchers also lead the league in throwing out baserunners (19-for-48, 39.6 percent).

Zach Davies, who gets the start for Norfolk tonight, is 1-1 with an ERA of 2.30, which is eighth-

best in the league. Other starters have thrown well too, with Eddie Gamboa's ERA at 3.19 and

Tyler Wilson's at 3.43. Chris Jones has made 10 appearances, two starts, with an ERA of 2.38.

In the Tides bullpen: * Oliver Drake has an ERA of 1.15, has fanned 26 batters in 15 2/3 innings and is second in the

league with seven saves.

* Lefty Cesar Cabral has pitched 13 scoreless innings with two walks and 16 strikeouts.

* Steve Johnson has an ERA of 1.53 with 27 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings.

* Pedro Beato has pitched to an ERA of 1.00, with Pat McCoy at 1.93, Chaz Roe at 2.45 and

Michael Bowden at 2.91

Norfolk's bullpen is 10-5 with 12 saves and a 1.70 ERA.

All four O's minor league teams have winning records right now with Double-A Bowie at 18-15,

Single-A Frederick at 18-16 and Single-A Delmarva at 16-15.

Right-hander Branden Kline (3-2, 3.66) pitches for the Baysox at home tonight against

Richmond. Dylan Bundy (0-2, 2.25 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Friday night, and after making

starts of three innings or less so far, he is scheduled to go four innings on Friday.

The Frederick Keys will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of professional baseball as well as

the 100-year anniversary of the city's first professional championship as part of "Frederick

Hustler's Night" on Saturday night at Nymeo Field. Gates open at five and first pitch is slated for

6:00 p.m. as the Keys look back at some of the great moments in the city's professional baseball

history.

Much of Saturday night will be spent looking back at the Frederick Hustlers, the city's first

professional baseball team. Originally a member of the Class-D Blue Ridge League, the Hustlers

won the league's first title in 1915, finishing the season with a record of 53-23-1.

On Saturday, the oldest-living member of the Frederick Hustlers, Elwood Hummer, will throw

out the ceremonial first pitch and recount some of his favorite memories with the Hustlers during

a pregame video. A utility player on the Hustlers, Hummer, 96, currently lives in Frederick and

was inducted into Frederick County's Alvin G. Quinn Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Delmarva plays at doubleheader today at 5:30 p.m. at Greensboro. Brian Gonzalez (1-1, 5.60

ERA) and Dariel Delgado (3-0, 1.38 ERA) are the scheduled Shorebirds starters.

Catcher Alex Murphy and outfielder Conor Bierfeldt are first and second respectively in the

South Atlantic League in RBIs. Murphy has driven in 27 runs while Bierfeldt has 26. The two

account for 43.4 percent of the entire team's RBIs.

Delmarva's Jay Gonzalez is tied for first in the league with 25 runs scored. Pitcher Sebastian

Vader is 1-1 with an ERA of 2.23, ranking 10th in the league, and reliever Donnie Hart has

seven saves to tie for first in the league.

http://www.masnsports.com/orioles-buzz/2015/05/matthew-taylor-taking-aim-at-eutaw-

street.html

Matthew Taylor: Taking aim at Eutaw Street

By Matthew Taylor / MASNsports.com

May 15, 2015

I have long home runs on the mind. First, there was the anniversary last Friday of Frank

Robinson becoming the only batter to hit a ball out of Memorial Stadium. Then the Miami

Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton put a ball out of Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. Let's talk longball in

this week's guest blog.

The longest Orioles home run so far this season belongs to ... Jonathan Schoop. Schoop's 432-

foot home run on April 10 against the Blue Jays tops Chris Davis' 423-foot shot to center field on

April 26 versus the Red Sox. Both home runs came at Camden Yards. Manny Machado has the

longest road home run for the O's at 422 feet on April 23 at Toronto.

Schoop's homer is the fourth-longest overall at Camden Yards this season. The top three belong

to Hanley Ramirez (441 feet on April 26), Josh Donaldson (435 feet on April 12) and Alex

Rodriguez (433 feet on April 15). All four batters are right-handed. However, if you're talking

long home runs in Baltimore, you have to remember the lefties, Eutaw Street and, of course, the

B&O Warehouse.

So in the ballpark's more than two decades as the Orioles' home, which batter has come closest to

hitting the Warehouse in a game? If you answered Jay Gibbons, please claim your Long Island

Ducks t-shirt prize. Gibbons doesn't have the longest Eutaw Street home run, but the placement

of his hit on June 28, 2003, behind the right-field stands, close to the foul pole, put it nearest the

Warehouse.

After 80 Eutaw Street home runs, the current popular pick as to who will hit the Warehouse is

Davis, who shares the throne as the king of Eutaw Street. Davis' April 29 home run onto the

walkway tied him with Luke Scott for the most Eutaw Street homers with six. It went 414 feet.

Davis also extended the current streak of April Eutaw Street home runs to five years.

For each of the past five years, there has been at least one April Eutaw Street homer: Luke Scott

(April 27, 2011), Eric Thames (April 24, 2012), Davis (April 28, 2012), Andre Ethier (April 20,

2013) and Colby Rasmus (April 13, 2014). April is the month that Mickey Tettleton got things

started with the first-ever Eutaw Street home run on April 20, 1992.

Two seasons ago, a Washington, D.C., columnist predicted that a banged-up Bryce Harper would

be the first batter to hit the Warehouse. Two seasons later, Harper is healthy and pasting the ball.

His longest homers this season are 452 feet to center, 441 feet to right, and 431 feet to right.

Harper and the Nationals come to town for a three-game set starting on July 10.

You can read more about Eutaw Street home runs on Roar from 34 in the Eutaw Street

Chronicles.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/28/ap-bba-angels-orioles-preview

Angels-Orioles Preview

STATS LCC / SI.com

May 15, 2015

Following a sweep of MLB's worst team to cap a promising homestand, the resilient Los

Angeles Angels have moved past their slow start behind a string of strong performances on the

mound.

Coming off his first shutout in three seasons, Jered Weaver hopes to continue the trend Friday

night against the host Baltimore Orioles in a matchup between defending division champs

looking to regain last season's form.

Los Angeles starters ranked sixth in the AL with a 3.62 ERA en route to the West title in 2014,

but they struggled early on this season in posting a 5.25 mark while the Angels (17-17) started 5-

8.

The rotation has turned things around with an MLB-best 2.86 ERA over its past 21 games. Los

Angeles starters allowed two runs or fewer in seven of eight starts while the club went 6-2 to

close out a nine-game homestand.

Hector Santiago and five relievers struck out a combined 14 batters in Wednesday's 2-1 win that

dealt Colorado its 11th consecutive defeat. Albert Pujols' walk-off sacrifice fly scored pinch-

runner Taylor Featherston in the 11th inning.

Now the Angels hope to move above .500 for the first time since April 8 as they give the ball to

Weaver (1-4, 4.98 ERA) in the opener of a 10-game trip. The veteran allowed six hits in last

Friday's 2-0 win over visiting Houston - his first shutout since Aug. 6, 2012.

"This is going to give him confidence. When you try and try so hard and don't get results, it's

hard," shortstop Erick Aybar told MLB's official website. "Hopefully that means he takes the ball

next time with more confidence."

Weaver, whose fastball topped out at 88 mph, will try to end his recent troubles on the road. He's

yielded 11 runs and 16 hits - four home runs - in his last two away starts, falling to 0-4 with a

6.30 ERA in his past five there.

The right-hander had been 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA in a seven-start stretch versus Baltimore before

surrendering six runs and issuing four walks over five innings in a 7-6, 12-inning road loss July

29.

Adam Jones took Weaver deep in that contest and is 3 for 9 with two homers in their matchups

since 2013. J.J. Hardy, though, has gone just 3 for 23 lifetime versus Weaver.

The defending East champion Orioles (15-17), averaging 3.3 runs over their past 12 games, are

trying to dig their way out of last place after taking two of three from visiting Toronto.

Jimmy Paredes stayed hot by going 2 for 4 with a double in Wednesday's 6-1 victory. The

infielder is batting .347 during a career-best 12-game hitting streak and has hit in 19 of 21

overall.

Baltimore's Wei-Yin Chen (1-1, 2.52) has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his six

outings. He earned his first victory Saturday, allowing one run and fanning seven over seven

innings in a 6-2 win at Yankee Stadium.

The left-hander is 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts versus Los Angeles, with both coming on

the road in 2012.

Pujols, Aybar and Mike Trout each have homered over a combined 12 at-bats when facing Chen.

Aybar also has been swinging a hot stick of late, going 7 for 10 over his last three games.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-begin-play-outside-al-east-angels-series

Orioles begin play outside AL East with Angels series

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

May 15, 2015

Tonight’s Game:

Los Angeles Angels (17-17) vs. Baltimore Orioles (15-17), Oriole Park at Camden Yards,

Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Starting pitchers:

Jered Weaver (1-4, 4.98) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (1-1, 2.52)

Keys to the Game:

How will the Orioles fare against a non-AL East opponent? Twenty-nine of their first 32 games

have come against the AL East.

Can Chen deliver his fourth straight quality start?

News and Notes:

Weaver is 7-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 12 starts against the Orioles, but just 2-2 with a 7.09 in five

Oriole Park starts.

Delmon Young is 7-for-18 (.389) against Weaver.

This is only Chen's third start against the Angels. He's 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in the first two.

Hunter Harvey, the Orioles' first round pick in 2013, who had an MRI on his right elbow

Wednesday, will see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/05/13/together-orioles-dave-wallace-dom-chiti-form-a-

pitching-partnership

Together, Orioles' Dave Wallace, Dom Chiti Form A Pitching

Partnership

By David Ginsburg /PressBoxOnline.com

May 15, 2015

Dave Wallace and Dom Chiti go together like pancakes and syrup.

Not only do they complement each other perfectly, but rarely do you see one without the other.

Wallace is the Orioles' pitching coach. Chiti is the bullpen coach. Those are merely titles. In

reality, they are a 50-50 partnership whose sole responsibility is to ensure Baltimore's arms are

operating at peak efficiency.

"It's like having two pitching coaches," Orioles reliever Darren O'Day said. "Usually, a bullpen

coach just answers the phone and has some behind-the-scenes input. But Dom's done everything

in baseball, so he's transcended that role."

On a typical afternoon at the ballpark, Wallace and Chiti meet five hours before game time to

discuss the pitching staff. Then, they walk in tandem to the bullpen, where they stand shoulder-

to-shoulder (well, not exactly, because Chiti is significantly taller) while offering instruction to a

variety of Baltimore hurlers.

"A lot of people strive to have that relationship, yet somehow get separated. You can't separate

them," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

"It's like a shadow," O'Day said. "When you see Dom, you know Dave's nearby and vice versa.

They spend a lot of time with each other, and I'm guessing they mostly talk about pitching."

That's always been the case. But there once was a time when Wallace and Chiti didn't quite see

eye to eye.

Chiti was the special assistant to then-Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren in 2009,

when Wallace signed on to be the organization's minor league pitching coordinator. In Atlanta,

Chiti worked with Roger McDowell.

"I asked Roger, ‘Who can I talk to, to get an honest evaluation of the system?" Wallace said. "He

told me Dom Chiti."

That's where the trouble started.

"The beginning was not real happy," Chiti said.

Wallace agreed.

"I found out Dom is honest and straightforward, and I got some answers, answers that weren't

particularly well received," Wallace said. "Over the course of those couple years, we butted

heads a few times."

In the end, though, the two men realized that a little give-and-take goes a long way toward

getting the proper results.

"The intention was always to try to make the players better," Wallace said, "and it eventually

evolved into a pretty good relationship."

By the time he got to Atlanta, Wallace had already just about done it all. In 1981, he started as a

minor league pitching coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers and spent eight years as the

organization's minor league pitching instructor. He was then promoted to pitching coach of the

big league team in 1995.

Wallace took the job as the assistant to the general manager of the New York Mets in 1998 and

served as the team's pitching coach in 1999-2000, helping the team capture a National League

pennant. Then, after spending time in the front office with the Dodgers, Wallace assumed the

role of Boston's pitching coach in 2003. During his four-year stay, the Red Sox won the 2004

World Series.

Chiti's father, Harry, played major league ball for more than eight years. Dom, a left-hander, was

picked in the second round of the 1976 amateur draft by the Braves. He spent six years in the

minors, going 30-42, before serving as pitching coach in the Orioles' minor league system from

1982-88.

Before meeting up with Wallace in Atlanta, Chiti worked with Cleveland, Texas and the Braves

at the minor and major league level as an advance scout, bullpen coach, assistant general

manager and director of player development.

And now, not at all by accident, they're together in Baltimore.

REUNITING IN BALTIMORE

Wallace, 67, arrived first. He survived a life-threatening hip condition that stemmed from

salmonella poisoning in 2006. And after the 2007 season with the Houston Astros, Wallace

decided he didn't want to dedicate the time and exhaustive effort it took to be a pitching coach.

He spent two years as special assistant to the general manager with the Seattle Mariners before

landing with the Braves. Wallace had just finished his fourth season with Atlanta when he got a

call from Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, who was looking

for a replacement for pitching coach Rick Adair.

"When Buck Showalter's name comes up and you have a chance to spend some time with him,

you have to at least listen," Wallace said. "That was my approach. When Dan called and asked if

I would be interested, I said, ‘If it's serious, yeah. If it's not, I'm fine. I enjoy what I'm doing,

having time at home.'

"Then, I went in and talked to Buck and Dan, and obviously things worked out. It's intriguing to

be around a guy like Buck. I've known him from across the field, but never personally. I think we

always want to get better in whatever we do, and this was a chance to learn. My wife was on

board. She said, ‘You know, you're finally healthy enough. You're finally OK to do it again.'"

After coming aboard in October 2013, Wallace was asked by Showalter who he would like to be

his bullpen coach. Wallace mulled the decision for about as long as it takes for a Tommy Hunter

fastball to reach the plate.

It didn't hurt that Showalter and Chiti worked together with the Texas Rangers from 2003-06,

and that Chiti was the Rangers' bullpen coach in 2006.

"Buck and Dom had a relationship," Wallace said. "I'm sure he had Dominic in mind."

Wallace wanted Chiti by his side for a variety of reasons, beginning with the fact that Chiti, now

56, had been absorbed in the fine art of pitching for nearly four decades.

"I've had experience in the past when you have a bullpen coach who wasn't a pitching guy, and

other experiences where the bullpen coach wanted to be the pitching coach," Wallace said. "I

knew well enough at that time that he didn't want that. I knew we were both honest in our

assessment of the players. The last year or two that we were together, nothing ever happened that

we didn't run by each other. He was my number one choice."

Showalter signed off on the decision without a second thought.

"It worked out great," Showalter said, "because I knew Dom before and thought a lot of him."

The results were profound. During their first season with Baltimore, Wallace and Chiti put

together a staff that had a collective 3.43 ERA and carried the Orioles to their first American

League East title since 1997. The starting rotation had four pitchers with at least 10 wins and

first-year closer Zach Britton converted 37-of-41 save opportunities.

CROCK-POT AND MICROWAVE

Wallace and Chiti didn't know much about the pitching staff when they arrived in Baltimore.

Instead of foisting their knowledge and opinions onto the unit as a whole, they carefully assessed

each player before getting down to work.

"More than anything, I think it's important to take the time to learn the players' personalities, how

to approach them," Wallace said. "That bodes well. And from a teaching standpoint, we ask their

input. ‘Hey, what did you learn last year from whoever you had? What did you learn in the minor

leagues?' I think players appreciate the chance to give their input. It's an open dialogue."

Relief pitcher O'Day attested to that.

"They really impressed me when they first came in. They just watched guys and tried to learn

what makes them tick, what their strengths and weaknesses are. They didn't try to change

anybody just for the sake of saying, ‘I changed that guy. Now, he's great.' They take the time to

evaluate a guy, then try and figure out what's best for him."

Probably the biggest difference between Wallace and Chiti is the fashion in which they deliver

their message to the players. Wallace once called himself a Crock-Pot and labeled Chiti a

microwave because of their contrasting styles. The assessment goes back to their days in Atlanta,

when Chiti -- in the role of assistant general manager and major league scout -- spent more time

on the road than around a pitching mound.

"I would be in town for three days, and then I would be in Japan for two weeks, and then I would

be in Spain for a week," Chiti said. "Going back and forth, I always felt rushed to do something

with a player, where the right approach is take your time, do it right and try not to ruffle any

feathers. I think I've become a lot more of a Crock-Pot in the last year-and-a-half."

But he's still quicker with a quip or blurting out an observation than his counterpart.

"I am probably less loquacious with the players than Dominic is, for a lot of reasons," Wallace

said. "There's a lot going on. I do a little more thinking before I talk."

Because Chiti spends the entire game in the bullpen and the relievers usually spend the majority

of the time watching the action from beyond the outfield, he's got more time to shoot the breeze

with the pitchers than Wallace.

"Probably just because of the fact that I sit in the bullpen for three hours with the guys, it's a little

bit more of an easy-going situation," Chiti said. "I guess I joke around more."

Wallace interjected with his thoughts.

"He's got more energy. He's younger," Wallace said.

Concluding his thought, Chiti said, "There's a time to be serious in this game, but guys also need

to relax and do what they do. Still, I've never really looked at it that way, the two of us being

different."

Oh, but others do.

"We spend a lot of time with Dom in the bullpen, and we get to know him. He screws around a

little more than Dave does," O'Day said. "Dave's a funny guy; it's just a different approach. You

don't want to make either one of them mad, I can say that."

Britton echoed O'Day's sentiments.

"They're opposites when it comes to the way they present themselves," Britton said. "It's the

same message, but they have different ways of communicating it. Wally is pretty quiet, but if

you rub him the wrong way, he'll snap at you. That's the thing with Wally; he's a nice guy, but

don't take his kindness for weakness. Dom is more vocal. He's a perfect bullpen guy. He likes to

have fun, but he's also good at making sure everyone is focused and taking things seriously."

Wallace and Chiti have worked out a system in which two heads are better than one, and with

this collaboration, neither individual is more important than the other. They've done just about

everything there is do in baseball, and now their goal is to pool their knowledge for the good of

the Orioles.

"They're both old pros. They've been through the battles," Duquette said. "If you look at the body

of their work, it's been very good over the years. It's always good when you can work with

people that you know and trust and can depend on. If you talk to our pitchers, they'll tell you how

they benefit from that relationship."

Britton has been one of the pitchers who has benefited greatly from that relationship.

"On a lot of teams, a guy like Wally would have the starters, and Dom would have the bullpen.

But here, they're on the same page with what the starters are doing and what the relievers are

doing," Britton said. "I think that's good for the team, good for the pitching staff. It's also better

for the player. You like that more so than the other way."

The arrangement worked especially well for Showalter. Because Wallace and Chiti are so

engulfed in every aspect of the pitching staff, the manager has the option of turning his focus to

other aspects of the club.

"I've never had a better combo. I just get out of their way," Showalter said. "Dave and Dom both

work off each other's strengths and weaknesses. They both have great ideas, and there's no ego.

They don't care about who gets the credit at this stage in their life. They just enjoy what they do,

and they love winning."

If Wallace and Chiti worked for different teams, each would almost certainly be successful. But

what really makes them happy is bouncing ideas off each other while drawing from a stunning

wealth of pitching knowledge.

"I'll say this," Chiti said, "and we both probably feel the same way: We enjoy the players, and we

have a great group of guys, but it wouldn't be as much fun without Wally."

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/05/13/former-top-prospect-travis-snider-aims-to-fulfill-

his-potential-in-baltimore

Former Top Prospect Travis Snider Aims To Fulfill His

Potential In Baltimore

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

May 15, 2015

When the Orioles took the field for their 2015 regular-season opener April 6, there was a new

face in right field for the first time in nearly a decade.

Gone was popular longtime Oriole Nick Markakis, who had started in right field every Opening

Day from 2007-14 before signing with the Atlanta Braves Dec. 3, 2014. In his place was

newcomer Travis Snider.

If Snider was nervous about filling the big shoes of Markakis, you wouldn't know it from his

performance during the opener. Snider was an all-around star that afternoon, going 3-for-4 with a

double and two RBIs while making a diving catch and throwing out a runner at home plate.

Not a bad way to make a first impression.

Snider joined the Orioles Jan. 27 in a trade that sent minor league lefties Stephen Tarpley and

Steven Brault to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though only 27 years old, Snider came to the Orioles

with seven years and 543 games of major league experience.

The Toronto Blue Jays made Snider their first-round draft pick (No. 14 overall) out of Henry M.

Jackson High School in Washington during the 2006 amateur draft. He wasted no time tearing

through the minor leagues, posting a .979 OPS in rookie league ball in 2006, then batting

.313/.377/.525/.902 with 16 home runs and 93 RBIs during 118 games at Single-A Lansing in

2007.

Snider became one of baseball's most highly touted prospects. Both Baseball America and

Baseball Prospectus ranked him in their top 100 prospects lists for three consecutive years from

2007-09. In 2009, he placed No. 6 in Baseball America's rankings and No. 5 in Baseball

Prospectus'. Still a teenager, Snider was an all-around offensive threat. In 2007 and 2008, he was

rated both the best power hitter and the best hitter for average in the Blue Jays' system, according

to Baseball America.

Snider's accelerated rise through the Blue Jays' system rocketed him through three minor league

levels in 2008, capped by his first call-up to the major leagues on Aug. 29 of that year. He was

20 years old. Snider came out swinging, batting .301/.338/.466/.803 during 24 games.

For the next four years, though, the Blue Jays didn't seem to know what to do with Snider,

continually bouncing him between the majors and minors. The same pattern repeated itself over

and over: Snider would win a spot as an everyday starter to begin the season, only to get

demoted to the minors after early struggles.

Snider started 2009 as the Blue Jays' primary left fielder against right-handed pitchers, but after

posting a well-below average .686 OPS during 32 games, he was banished to the minors for three

months. The following season, Toronto gave Snider another crack at a starting spot in the

outfield, but he batted .155 in April and was sent back to the minors in mid-May. Given another

starting opportunity to open 2011, Snider hit .184 in April and returned to Triple-A Las Vegas

for more seasoning. Snider was limited to 49 games in the majors that year.

Snider hadn't developed as the middle-of-the-order slugger the Blue Jays expected, and their

patience ran out. He didn't crack the Opening Day roster in 2012, and on July 30, Toronto traded

him to the Pirates for right-handed reliever Brad Lincoln. Once considered a future part of the

Blue Jays' core, Snider's career in Toronto was finished, his potential unfulfilled.

But at 24 years old, Snider had a lot of baseball left in him. And he found a much more

comfortable home in Pittsburgh.

With the Pirates, Snider served as a part-time outfielder and a pinch-hitting weapon off the

bench. His constant rides on the minor league shuttle became a thing of the past. And after

spending five years on non-contending Blue Jays teams, Snider experienced October baseball for

the first time, making the postseason in both 2013 and 2014 on wild card-winning Pirates clubs.

Snider became a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, not only for his quirky personality -- he was given the

nickname "Lunchbox Hero" for his love of food -- but also because of his knack for delivering a

big hit. In 2014, he posted an .821 OPS with runners in scoring position, collecting 25 RBIs in 72

at bats. He also tied for fifth in the majors with 13 pinch hits.

But with the Pirates unable to give Snider a starting spot in their young, homegrown outfield,

they shipped him to the Orioles. The deal was a bittersweet one for Snider, taking him away

from the team that revitalized his career, but bringing him to a club that could give him a better

chance for everyday at bats.

"[It's] a new opportunity," Snider said. "It was a lot of fun in Pittsburgh, playing in the playoffs,

getting that experience. But being here, understanding you're in a highly competitive division in

the American League, and [having] the opportunity to continue the winning ways [and] to be on

a winner, that's what it's all about."

The O's had a number of reasons to think 2015 could be a breakout season for Snider. At 27, he's

at an age when many players reach their prime, and in 2014, he hit the ball with more authority

than usual. He had his highest line-drive rate (19.4 percent) and lowest ground-ball rate (49.4

percent) since 2010. He also showed the potential for a power surge, hitting his fly balls an

average 302 feet in 2014, a 29-foot improvement from his 2013 average. The right-field flag

court at Oriole Park at Camden Yards could prove to be an enticing target for the lefty-swinging

Snider.

In addition, Snider brings a solid batting eye to the Birds. He tied his career-high .338 OBP last

year, which would've ranked third on the 2014 Orioles, four points below Markakis. Snider's

disciplined plate approach could help an O's lineup that has been full of free swingers during

recent years.

"It's a matter of getting a good pitch to hit and being ready when that pitch comes," Snider said.

"And if they're not going to give it to me, I'm going to try not to swing at it."

All in all, the O's think Snider could give them similar production to Markakis at a fraction of the

cost. Markakis' free-agent deal with the Braves will pay him $44 million for the next four years.

Snider, by contrast, is making $2.1 million in 2015 and has two years of arbitration remaining.

So far in 2015, Snider has made himself at home with the Orioles, both on the field and in the

clubhouse.

"It's a great group of guys who come here to have fun and play hard," Snider said. "And the more

we win, the better we'll be."

Snider's career has run the gamut so far -- from a top prospect to an organizational shuttle guy to

a role player and possibly back to an everyday starter. Along the way, he's picked up valuable

experience he hopes will help him find a long-term home in Baltimore.

"I've kind of experienced the ups and downs that this game has to bring," Snider said. "And

going into my eighth season, it's something that allows me to stay focused in the present and do

what I've got to do to get better every day."

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/05/13/caleb-joseph-making-the-most-out-of-his-

opportunity-with-the-orioles

Caleb Joseph Making The Most Out Of His Opportunity

With The Orioles

By Stan Charles / PressBoxOnline.com

May 15, 2015

As preparations for the Orioles' season unfolded in Sarasota, Fla., in mid-February, I realized

there would be no new reinforcements brought in to replace the free-agent losses of designated

hitter/outfielder Nelson Cruz, right fielder Nick Markakis and left-handed reliever Andrew

Miller.

There was a frequent and constant refrain. The Orioles won the American League East last

season, and entering 2015, first baseman Chris Davis, third baseman Manny Machado and

catcher Matt Wieters were expected to return from injuries and suspensions to anchor the middle

of the batting order.

Davis and Machado have bounced back and been regular contributors, but Wieters has yet to

play in a regular-season game. I arrived in Sarasota March 13, four days before Wieters was

scheduled to return from season-ending Tommy John surgery that limited him to 26 games in

2014. Wieters returned as scheduled for the team's March 17 Grapefruit League game against the

Minnesota Twins.

After that game, though, the club reexamined Wieters and placed him on the 15-day disabled list.

On April 14, Wieters began to play in extended games in Sarasota. However, MASN's Roch

Kubatko reported May 3 that there was no exact date for Wieters' return since he couldn't play in

back-to-back games. One week later, the Orioles transferred Wieters to the 60-day disabled list,

meaning he isn't eligible to be activated until May 26, at the earliest.

When Wieters was initially placed on the disabled list, my best guess was that he wouldn't be

back in a big league uniform until mid-June. And while the Orioles continue to wait for Wieters

to return, his replacement, Caleb Joseph, has taken a lot of the pressure off the club.

But despite the Orioles' sub-.500 record through mid-May, Joseph has been nothing short of

remarkable in Wieters' place. Joseph, who spent parts of seven seasons in the Orioles' minor

league system from 2008-14, has established himself as a possible long-term replacement during

the last two seasons. Wieters, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 draft, can become a free agent

following this season.

As of May 12, Joseph has played in 24 of the Orioles' first 30 games this season, batting .295

with one triple, three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 78 at bats. His on-base percentage

is a respectable .391 and his slugging percentage is .474.

Nobody can say for sure how Wieters' comeback and eventual contract situation will work itself

out. One thing is clear, though. Joseph's five minutes of fame have now been extended

indefinitely.

SMALLER MARGIN FOR ERROR

One thing that has become abundantly clear in the aftermath of not re-signing Cruz, Miller and

Markakis is that the Orioles have a much smaller margin for error. That's why bad base running,

poor fielding and inconsistent pitching have appeared to hurt the Birds more this season than the

previous three seasons, when they finished better than .500 each year.

One of the areas I thought the money the team didn't spend on Cruz and Markakis would go

toward was the re-signing of Miller, the dominant setup man. With left-hander Zach Britton

having emerged as a superstar closer, one can probably understand the O's reluctance to give

Miller a four-year, $36 million contract for the same type of pitcher as Britton.

Perhaps the most devastating part of Miller's departure for fans was that he ended up with the

Orioles' division rival New York Yankees. It never should have happened. Miller was such an

exceptional talent, and the Orioles should have found a creative and strategic way to keep him.

It's one of the few disagreements I have had with O's executive vice president of baseball

operations Dan Duquette during his 3.5-year tenure. Since we can't go back in time and have a

do-over, I'll just have to let it go.

But while I am nitpicking Duquette, let me address some key points I have with the roster he put

together for this season. If the Orioles could not afford a couple of premium difference-makers in

Cruz and Miller, so be it. But they could not compound that by hamstringing manager Buck

Showalter with two questionable decisions in the team's 12-man pitching staff.

The issue of right-hander Kevin Gausman's role in this staff will now be put off, as he was

placed on the 15-day disabled list May 8 with shoulder inflammation.

Meanwhile, the other decision has to do with Duquette's attachment to Rule 5 draft selection

Jason Garcia. The O's have been effective at improving the roster through Rule 5 additions since

Duquette's arrival. The Orioles have been creative in their use of four Rule 5 selections, infielder

Ryan Flaherty, left-hander T.J. McFarland, third baseman Michael Almanzar and Garcia, in the

expectation that they'll help the team during the long haul.

When Duquette took over the reins, there was no question he was wise in his attempts to use the

Rule 5 draft to help build the team. But now, it appears Duquette's pipeline should have in-house

options ready to contribute to the big league club.

There is a time for franchise building, and there is a time when a team tries to do everything it

can to win a division and make a World Series run.

The reality is that if the Orioles can't afford to spend the money to retain players like Cruz and

Miller, then they also can't afford the luxury of clogging their 12-man staff with a pitcher who

has an undefined role.

Remember Steve Johnson? Well, he is dominating at Triple-A Norfolk. During 15.2 innings this

season, Johnson has posted a 0.57 ERA and 1.149 WHIP, as of May 12. Johnson has proven he

is fully healthy, compiling a 25-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Now is not the time for the Orioles to try and stash a good pitching prospect. The organization

has quite a few good arms, including Johnson. He belongs up in the big leagues, and if that

happens, it would make Duquette look as smart as I know he is.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/05/13/baltimore-sun-orioles-beat-writer-dan-connolly-

authors-first-book

'Baltimore Sun' Orioles Beat Writer Dan Connolly Authors

First Book

By Justin Silberman / PressBoxOnline.com

May 15, 2015

The Baltimore Sun's Dan Connolly has spent much of his two decades in print journalism

covering the Orioles, starting on the beat with the York Daily Record in 2001.

Connolly, who joined The Sun 10 years ago, has penned hundreds, if not thousands, of profiles,

features and breaking news stories under tight deadlines on everything surrounding the Birds

during that time.

But the Baltimore native added to his busy workload and embarked on another project during the

2014 season, as he authored his first book. The book, "100 Things Every Orioles Fan Should

Know and Do Before They Die," was published by Triumph Books and released in April.

Connolly, the 2013 Maryland Co-Sportswriter of the Year, said the opportunity to write the book

was something he couldn't pass up following his initial conversation with Triumph Books in

February 2014.

"I've always wanted to do a book," Connolly said. "I thought about it, and the thing that intrigued

me about the process was that because this book is 100 chapters, [I] could write a chapter in a

night or before I went to the park. So [I] could kind of start and stop, and I thought that might

work by doing it all through the baseball season."

The book highlights nearly every major storyline of the Orioles' first 60 years in Charm City

after relocating from St. Louis following the 1953 season.

"For the most part, it's really a history book," Connolly said. "I tried to concentrate on the

Orioles players and teams fans know about, so it's been really cool sharing that with people."

For the older fans, a number of chapters focus on the Orioles' glory years in the 1960s, 1970s and

1980s, during which the franchise won all three of its World Series. And for the younger

generation, there are chapters about the team's recent return to prominence under manager Buck

Showalter and executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.

"When I've done book signings, I've really just been sitting there and having conversations with

Orioles fans about the book and their favorite parts," Connolly said. "Orioles fans love to talk

about their favorite players. … And if they've read the book before, they'll tell me some of their

favorite things in it -- like how they remember the old teams and how the current team is starting

to remind them of those older teams again."

Connolly also touches on the traditions that started at Memorial Stadium and have since carried

over to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Among those include the origins of how "Thank God I'm a

Country Boy" became the team's seventh-inning stretch song and the yelling of "O" during the

national anthem.

And with a franchise as rich in history as the Orioles, Connolly said he thought long and hard

about which former O's player he wanted to write the foreword. He ultimately tabbed the most

successful pitcher in team history, right-hander Jim Palmer, who has been with the organization

in some capacity for the last 50 years.

"Honestly, I thought about it, and to me, Jim was the perfect guy for the foreword," Connolly

said. "He pitched in all six of the team's World Series, and he's still around the team. Basically,

we sat down and talked for a while, and then we put it together."

Connolly said the book took about seven months to complete, with the deadline for the final

manuscript due two weeks after the Orioles' season ended Oct. 15, 2014. To ensure he didn't

omit anything and stayed on schedule, Connolly acknowledged he interviewed about 45-50

former Orioles and consulted with colleagues throughout the season to get their thoughts about

inclusions.

"It was a lot of work and time," Connolly said. "It was a process that I started last April, and now

I'm looking forward to being able to spend time with my three children and be a dad again."

Since the book's release, Connolly said the response has been overwhelming and more than

anything he anticipated.

"[Triumph Books] feels like the book has gotten great reviews, so that's been really cool,"

Connolly said. "People seem to have been really intrigued by the book and interested in it. The

whole thing has just been fantastic."

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/05/13/new-memorial-stadium-allows-youth-to-form-

memories-at-historic-spot

New Memorial Stadium Allows Youth To Form Memories At

Historic Spot

By Jeff Seidel / PressBoxOnline.com

May 15, 2015

So much of Baltimore sports history took place at Memorial Stadium.

Johnny Unitas became one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks while helping to put the Baltimore

Colts on the map.

Brooks Robinson displayed the fielding brilliance that defined him as one of the best defensive

third basemen of all time while helping the Orioles to two World Series titles in five years.

The building on 33rd Street featured unusual charm in so many ways. During the Colts' glory

days, it was called the "The World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum" due to the craziness and

volume of the building's noise. Memorial Stadium is long gone now, but younger children are

playing on the spot where so many famous athletes made history.

A beautiful baseball/sports field sits where the Orioles and Colts -- and later Ravens -- played so

many times and is officially located at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y at

Stadium Place. The field opened in 2010, and The Baltimore Sun reported it as a $1.5 million

project that had funds raised by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, started by Bill and Cal Ripken

Jr., "in honor of their late father and dedicated to bringing baseball to disadvantaged youths."

The Sun also reported the state of Maryland's Program Open Space contributed $400,000.

The field there can be used in several ways. It's a baseball field that can also be converted and is

being used for softball, soccer, lacrosse, football and other special events. Ripken's youth leagues

play there as does Putty Hill Baseball, the Baltimore Broncos semi-pro football team and various

schools from the area.

Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School and City College's lacrosse teams will practice

on the field. Waverly Elementary uses it for gym class at times. The Friends School also began

using it recently, and the Quakers are happy with what they've found.

Friends School athletic director Greg Whitley said the school was facing some decisions about

space. But the school found the location almost by accident. A staff member happened to drive

by the field, saw it and thought that might be the answer to Friends' upcoming questions. The

school entered into an agreement with the facility to use the field, one that started this spring and

will likely go on for a while.

"What got us really thinking about it was that we use the baseball and softball diamonds at

Medfield Elementary, and they're going to be building a new school there on that site," Whitley

said. "So we had to be thinking about new options. It's a multi-functional facility. It's a great

facility. We'll be using it for the next couple of years."

Pete Karsos is the president of Putty Hill Baseball and spent many days and nights at the old

ballpark. He remembers what it was like to park on the back lot or on the many nearby side

streets and walk to the ballpark.

He also used to play games that often took place on the back lots of Memorial Stadium. Karsos

appreciates the history, but these kids now need a chance to play baseball in a good facility. This

place provides them with that.

"It's a positive to introduce the game down there and bring it back," Karsos said. "The message is

to get the kids to play baseball, just to have something where they can play ball. It's really in a

great spot, and we'll see how it grows."

Putty Hill places different age groups down at the field, often the 11- and 12-year olds. Karsos

said they also try to get the kids on the field for practice and games.

In terms of baseball, the last game played at Memorial Stadium was Oct. 6, 1991, long before

any of the youngsters who run the bases there now were even born. But some kids do understand

the history of the spot, even though the stadium is no more.

There's one piece of history that does remain in place, though. Home plate has been placed back

where it used to be on 33rd Street. Now, there are children playing on the same spot where Hall

of Famers competed. That should be enough to make any kid who understands Baltimore sports

history smile a bit.

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/diseases/orioles-bestow-bat-girl-honors-on-

jefferson-woman-with-breast/article_3da7e05b-8523-5142-9f97-0d7352f63d29.html

Orioles bestow Bat Girl honors on Jefferson woman with

breast cancer

By Patti Borda Mullins / Frederick News Post

May 15, 2015

Sara Tresselt's fighting spirit in a battle against breast cancer earned her the Baltimore Orioles'

designation as honorary Bat Girl.

That will give the 36-year-old Jefferson resident special access and a featured place at today's

game. The exciting news of that honor was tempered by the sobering discovery at about the same

time that the cancer had spread to Tresselt's brain. When her friends nominated her for the

Orioles designation earlier this year, she was already getting treatments to deal with a recurrence

of cancer that had spread to her liver and spine.

In October 2011, she was found — with no warning or family history — to have stage III

invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. Suspicious mammogram images raised red flags.

“It was pretty scary. I think I just knew it was going to be cancer,” said Tresselt, who was a

sergeant with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia.

In November 2011, she started rigorous treatments: 18 weeks of chemotherapy, a bilateral

mastectomy, six weeks of daily radiation treatments, breast reconstruction and a year of

Herceptin treatment.

By July 13, 2012 — a date she had tattooed on her arm — the cancer seemed to be gone.

“I thought I was cancer-free,” she said.

It came back, though, and she started nine more months of chemotherapy. Her liver and her

bones have become involved. Treatments have been containing that spread, she said. Then,

March 16, the same day that her friends submitted her name for the Bat Girl honors, she found

out she had lesions on her brain.

In April, she started cyberknife radiation treatments at Frederick Memorial Hospital, where she

said she has been getting excellent state-of-the-art treatment and personal care from her

oncologist. The treatment will involve several procedures, the most recent of which was a week

ago.

Recovery is quick from the procedure, although she said the radiation has made her feel truly

sick for the first time.

“In the last month is the first time in three-and-a-half years that I felt like I had cancer,” she said

Wednesday. “I really hadn't felt sick [before].”

She has continued to work at the sheriff’s office, except for seven weeks she was out for the

mastectomy, she said.

The Orioles commended her ongoing volunteerism: She has continued to volunteer at the

Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs' cold-weather shelter and soup kitchen almost

every week, and participated in a mission trip to Ecuador to take school supplies to an

orphanage.

Over the weekend, she went to walk in a Relay for Life cancer fundraising event. That reflects

the attitude she has had since the start: Her first reaction to the cancer diagnosis was

determination to get better.

“All right, I want to do what I have to do,” she said.

Tresselt, a former outfielder, was on Gov. Thomas Johnson High School's 1994 state

championship softball team. After high school, she went on to play at the University of Maryland

and Shepherd University.

Her affection for the sport endures, and she had planned to take it up again this year until “stupid

cancer,” as she calls it, returned. Still, she has been practicing for her appearance with the

Orioles, when she will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

She also has a season pass this year for O's home games.

“I am an adamant fan,” she said.

Major League Baseball’s annual Bat Girl honor invites fans from across the country and Canada

to share inspirational stories that provide hope and motivation in the fight against breast cancer,

as well as the reasons they or their nominees should represent their favorite team.

The honorary Bat Girl winners were selected by fan votes on HonoraryBatGirl.com, along with

feedback from a panel of judges of MLB players who are personally committed to the fight

against breast cancer. The panel helped select the winning submissions based on originality,

quality of writing, demonstration of commitment to breast cancer awareness, and online fan

votes.

In addition to making the pitch today, Tresselt will be honored during an on-field ceremony and

will get to visit batting practice.

“It's probably going to be the coolest thing I've ever done,” she said.

She accepts that she will not be cured of cancer, but will be managing it from now on. She has

wisdom to offer, as someone who thought she had only a bruised breast.

“If something doesn't feel right, go in [for a checkup],” she said. “I think it’s important to do

your checks and know your body.”