greg holland
- A prominent baseball agent says players should consider boycotting spring training because of the slow free-agent market.
- Non-closer relievers are getting big money in free agency. Is that good for the Orioles, who have several cost-effective bullpen pieces?
- The Orioles' relievers are drawing interest, and they can be picky before dealing one of their top bullpen arms.
- Who has the best bullpen in the AL East? And who has the best late-inning combo in the division?
- The Royals shaved half a run off their bullpen ERA in the past two seasons; the Orioles were pretty good, too.
- As Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez retraced the Royals' seven-run sixth inning in Monday night's 8-3 loss at Kauffman Stadium, one pitch stood out.
- The fact that the Orioles and Royals each will send two relief pitchers to Cincinnati next week is emblematic of the outsized role that their bullpens have played in the dramatic resurgence of both franchises. Sure, there have been some pundits grumbling about the presence of setup man Darren O'Day on the AL team, but the best seventh-inning and eighth-inning relievers have been getting more All-Star love in recent years and it's about time.
- After being selected by player vote to play in next Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati, both Adam Jones and Manny Machado made it clear they were honored to be picked by their peers.
- Orioles closer Zach Britton just missed winning the first-ever Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award, finishing tied for second place behind Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland.
- The Orioles' "We Won't Stop" season finally came to a screeching halt Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium when the won't-be-beat Kansas City Royals won another nailbiter, 2-1, in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
- It was windy and cool Tuesday night for Game 3 as the Kansas City Royals handed the Orioles a devastating 2-1 loss to take a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.
- For the second consecutive evening, it took more than four hours to determine an outcome in the biggest games at Camden Yards in 17 years. And for the second straight night, it ended poorly for the Orioles, who again saw a formidable bullpen crack in a 6-4 loss to the Royals.
- With three home runs, including two in the 10th inning, the Kansas City Royals handed the Orioles a devastating 8-6 loss to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.
- The Kansas City Royals, much like the Orioles, have long pumped the potential in their minor league system as the major league team struggled. And a lot of those prospects were biding their time in Wilmington, Del., home of the High-A Blue Rocks.
- The power of the Kansas City Royals' bullpen against the versatility of the Orioles' should make for an American League Championship Series that could be decided early in each game since the relievers don't often break.
- Adam Jones makes a strong case to join Nelson Cruz as an All Star. Others seem unlikely
- Royals left fielder Alex Gordon hit two three-run homers, including one off Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez in the fifth inning, to give Kansas City an 8-6 victory and a split in the four-game series.
- The Orioles offense continues to struggle.
- Three Orioles players -- first baseman Chris Davis, center fielder Adam Jones and shortstop J.J. Hardy -- have been named to this year¿s The Sporting News American League All-Star team.
- On Tuesday night, the Orioles¿ ninth-inning rally fell short as they stranded the tying run on third base in a 3-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals that snapped their season-high five-game winning in front of an announced crowd of 19,072.