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Let’s Not Expect Too Much Too Soon from Trey Mancini

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Adam Mann

Expectation management has become a bit of a buzzword surrounding the O’s these days. No one expects the O’s to win more games than they lose this year. I don’t think anyone even expects them to squeak their way into fourth place in the division. In fact, if you’re planning on watching the games for the wins alone – it’s going to be a long season. So instead, we focus on the game within the game, and individual player performance is chief among them. Maybe this is the year DJ […]

Give That Fan a Podcast Ep 13 – Kevin Brown

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Ryan Blake

One of the voices of the Orioles, MASN play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown, joins me on the podcast this week as the O’s begin their Spring Training games. We discuss his plans for this season, his relationships with MASN personalities past and present, his back-and-forth with Red Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley, how he prepares for his broadcasts, and much more including thoughts on the current team. Thanks for listening!

When Will Adley Rutschman Debut in Baltimore?

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Rob Shields

Yesterday, Adley Rutschman made his 2021 Spring Training debut. The question on the mind of all Orioles fans is, when will he debut in Baltimore? 2020 was a tough year for a lot of people but, in the baseball world, 2020 really hurt the development and promotions of young minor league players. Sure, some of them were able to play and develop in their organization’s camps and that has some value to it but obviously not as much value as real game action would’ve had. This year, the minor leagues have […]

Clock’s Tickin’

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Chris Brittingham

With the rebuild underway, Baltimore fans have mostly settled in and begun to “trust the process.” They know that patience is going to be a theme in the coming seasons, as nobody is going to PowerPlay Sports Betting to lay any money on the O’s to win it all any time soon. However, there are a few clocks in Birdland ticking louder than the rest. DJ Stewart The signs of life for former first-rounder DJ Stewart can best be described as, “conflicting.” Stewart posted a 124 wRC+ in 2020. His […]

John Means to the Moon!

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Josh Linn

Supporting your favorite baseball team in the midst of a rebuilding phase can be a grind, especially when the team does so in the unapologetic, scorched-earth fashion the Orioles have over the course of the past three seasons. It can do funny things to your brain; I recently reminisced about the 2007 summer of Erik Bedard, romanticizing a season during which the Orioles record was *checks notes*…69-93! Yeah, it’s been a little rough; however, one of the best parts of a rebuild, along with the proliferation of the top prospects […]

Give That Fan a Podcast Ep 12 – Matt Blood

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Ryan Blake

The Orioles’ Director of Player Development, Matt Blood, joins this week’s podcast to talk about the progress being made down on the farm. We touch on just about everything, from organizational philosophy to data and analytics to the difficulties associated with returning to a full baseball schedule. Blood drops a few names of prospects that he believes deserve some more love in an episode that will surely get you excited for the future of the O’s.

Give that Fan a Podcast Ep 11 – Keith Law

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Ryan Blake

The Athletic’s Keith Law joins me this week to take me through the thought process that led him to ranking the much-improved Orioles farm system just 18th in baseball, much to the chagrin of many O’s fans. We discuss several current Orioles prospects ranked in Law’s top 20, the importance of trusting your own evaluations, the value in the international scouting market, and much more.

Awaiting Beards & Bellies

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Andrew Stetka

**Taps mic** Is this thing on? Can you hear me? Okay, good. Let’s try this. It’s been a while. In looking back at the archives of my musings on this website, I realized I hadn’t written anything since July of last year. That’s right before the abbreviated 60-game season began right in the midst of a pandemic that is still raging throughout the world. And now here we are again, with baseball, like the seasons, coming back into our lives. My absence in writing since then can only be chalked […]

Give that Fan a Podcast Ep. 10 – Danny & Dillon

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Ryan Blake

After the holiday break turned into a life-induced hiatus, I’m back and I brought a couple friends along for this episode. You might know Dillon Atkinson and Danny Majerowicz from their days on the O’s Uncensored podcast; I know them as OK slow-pitch softball players. In episode 10, we discuss some recent transactions, dive into some prospect talk, and share our thoughts on the Orioles’ activity in the international market. I also tease a few of the big guests I’ll have on the show over the next month.

Orioles Sign Felix Hernandez to MiLB Deal

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Derek Arnold

In a bit of a surprise move, the Orioles are reportedly signing former Seattle Mariners Ace “King” Felix Hernandez to a minor league deal. It’s a minor-league deal that will pay King $1 million if he is on the club, according to Roch. Hernandez was a shell of his former self the last time we saw him on an MLB mound, when he went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in 15 starts for the 2018 M’s. Last year, after signing a similar deal with Atlanta, Hernandez opted out due to […]

O’s Deal Alex Cobb to Angels

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Derek Arnold

Alex Cobb’s disappointing time in Baltimore appears to have come to an end, as Dan Connolly of The Athletic first reported that the Orioles and Angels were in talks to deal the righty out west. Things have crystallized a bit since this morning, as Ken Rosenthal reports that the O’s are getting second baseman Jahmai Jones, LAA’s 2015 second-round pick. The Birds are also on the hook for half of Cobb’s $15M 2021 salary. Cobb almost seems like a relic from another time, for so many reasons. Dan Duquette signed […]

MD Sports Betting – Next to Legalize?

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Michael O'Nair

On November 3, 2020, around 67% of Maryland voters said ‘Yes’ to the legalization of sports wagering. However, the bill had to pass in the Senate and House. In theory, sports wagering is legal in the state, but we still need to wait for some time before its final launch. Let’s take a closer look. What’s the Current Situation With Sports Betting in Maryland? Even though Maryland residents voted to legalize sports wagering, bettors will have to wait until the state legislature defines the tax rate and licensing regulations. Knowing […]

Give That Fan a Podcast Ep 9 – Todd Fitz-Gerald

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Ryan Blake

In the third and final episode featuring interviews with the former coaches of recent Orioles’ draft picks, Stoneman Douglas High School’s Todd Fitz-Gerald joins me to discuss 2020 4th round pick, Coby Mayo. We talk about the strengths and weaknesses in Coby’s game and what makes him a special talent. In the preceding minutes, I reminisce on the Frederick Keys and discuss how the Orioles were impacted by last week’s Rule 5 Draft. Thanks for listening!

Give that Fan a Podcast Ep 8 – Mark Roering

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Ryan Blake

Coach Mark Roering of Dowling Catholic High School joins this week’s podcast to discuss Orioles 2020 5th round draft pick, RHP Carter Baumler. We discuss his progress from freshman to senior year of high school and what he should bring to the table in the future, as well as his recent Tommy John surgery and how that will impact him moving forward. But first, I give my thoughts on the Rule 5 draft and throw out some names I’d like to see the Orioles consider. Fanimal Radio · Give that […]

O’s Trade Iglesias to Angels for 2 Young Pitchers

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Michael O'Nair

Only a month after Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias called him a “perfect fit for the team”, José Iglesias was traded by the Orioles to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Barely a month before they picked up his $3.5 million option for 2021, he was traded for right-handed pitchers Jean Pinto and Garrett Stallings. Pinto, 19, pitched three games in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. Stallings, 23, was the Angels’ fifth-round pick in 2019 and has yet to pitch professionally. On this occasion, Elias […]

Give That Fan a Podcast Episode 7 – Nate Thompson

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Ryan Blake

University of Arkansas Hitting Coach Nate Thompson joins me on the first of three December episodes centered around recent Orioles draft picks. Thompson coached Orioles 2020 first round draft pick and #3 overall prospect, Heston Kjerstad, from 2018-2020. We chat about what O’s fans can expect from Kjerstad and why he has had such a successful amateur career, preceded by some of my own thoughts on recent Orioles transactions. Fanimal Radio · Give That Fan a Podcast Episode 7 – Nate Thompson Thanks for listening! Fanimal Radio · Give […]

Give that Fan a Podcast Ep 6 – Eric Arditti

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Ryan Blake

Barstool Sports’ Eric Arditti joins this week’s podcast to talk Trey Mancini, Adley Rutschman, Mo Gaba, and much more. If you’re not into snakes or Breaking Bad, the O’s chatter begins around the 16-minute mark. We both love Mike Elias and Jim Palmer, and we’re going to walk from Baltimore to Nashville if the Orioles move there. Thanks for listening! Fanimal Radio · Give that Fan a Podcast Ep 6 – Eric Arditti

Give that Fan a Podcast Ep. 5 – Jake Mintz

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Ryan Blake

The Orioles fan half of Cespedes Family BBQ, Jake Mintz, joins me in the fifth episode of the show. We each provide a list of our top 20 favorite O’s prospect names in the system, but first, we dive into why it’s disappointing that the Winter Meetings were cancelled as an in-person event as well as the ongoing reconfiguration of the minor leagues. Reliving some of our favorite Orioles memories is always fun, too. Thanks for listening! Fanimal Radio · Give That Fan a Podcast Ep 5 – Jake Mintz

Give That Fan a Podcast Ep 4: Jason La Canfora

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Ryan Blake

CBS Sports NFL Insider and co-host of Inside Access on 105.7 The Fan, Jason La Canfora, joins me for the fourth episode of the podcast. We dive into the reasons behind switching team allegiances, the importance of Minor League Baseball, and the identity of the Orioles moving forward. Fanimal Radio · Give That Fan a Podcast Ep 4 – Jason La Canfora Spoiler alert: Jason doesn’t care if you don’t think he’s a true O’s fan.

Give That Fan a Podcast – Episode 3: Olivia!

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Ryan Blake

In Episode 03, I’m joined by Olivia Witherite, who spent 8 years working in different social media and marketing roles at MASN until she moved on to a job with The Athletic in 2019. We re-lived Clinchmas 2014 and discussed working in social media and being a woman in sports. You won’t want to miss Olivia’s story about talking on the phone with Jim Palmer and my story about accidentally stealing an AL East Champion t-shirt. Fanimal Radio · Give That Fan a Podcast Episode 3: Olivia Witherite Thanks for […]