Friday, February 10, 2017
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World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966 American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966 American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969 American League Wild Card 2016, 2012, 1996 Friday, February 10, 2017 Columns: As he nears his prime, what more can the Orioles expect from Manny Machado? The Sun 2/10 Orioles add young right-hander Gabriel Ynoa from New York Mets The Sun 2/10 Nevada sportsbook expects Orioles to win fewer games in 2017 The Sun 2/10 Q&A with MLB Network host and Orioles fan Lauren Shehadi The Sun 2/10 O's acquire righty Ynoa from Mets for cash MLB.com 2/10 Orioles' 2017 vision is to stay the course MLB.com 2/9 Orioles acquire Ynoa from Mets MASNsports.com 2/10 MASN to air seven Orioles spring training games MASNsports.com 2/10 Machado on playing shortstop in the WBC and more MASNsports.com 2/10 After RBI-less season, Caleb Joseph welcomes a fresh start MASNsports.com 2/10 Orioles acquire RHP Gabriel Ynoa from Mets ESPN.com 2/10 Orioles' Five Biggest Offseason Highlights PressBoxOnline.com 2/10 Is Dan Duquette's 2017 Orioles Roster Short One Important Piece? PressBoxOnline.com 2/10 Orioles Acquire RHP Gabriel Ynoa From The Mets CBS Baltimore 2/10 Orioles add Gabriel Ynoa and designate Pena — what these moves mean BaltimoreBaseball.com 2/10 Tap-In Question: What are the best and worst promotional giveaways in Orioles’ history? BaltimoreBaseball.com 2/10 Baseball: Gardner reliever Oliver Drake has plenty to build on for Orioles telegram.com 2/8 http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-as-he-nears-his-prime-what-more-can-the- orioles-expect-from-manny-machado-20170210-story.html As he nears his prime, what more can the Orioles expect from Manny Machado? By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun February 10, 2017 In an offseason when he was coming off another career year and showing that no set of expectations was too high, the most conversation around Orioles third baseman Manny Machado seemed to be about whether the team should trade him. It’s a bit incongruous from a here-and-now standpoint, given how much he’s meant to the team now and the likelihood that he could reach unfathomable heights in the two years of club control remaining. But such is the Orioles’ situation, where assuring the future to some is better than fortifying the present, and Machado’s present got some short shrift. But entering spring training, it’s worth looking at just what he’s accomplished so far and what that could mean for the ensuing season. After batting .294 with 37 home runs and an .876 OPS last season, Machado has now compiled 23 wins above replacement (WAR), according to FanGraphs, in his five seasons, though it’s important to note that his 50-game debut in 2012 and his 82-game season in 2014 depress that total a bit. It used to be accepted that players hit their prime around age 27 and carry it just into their early 30s, but with major league debuts coming so early, the adjustment periods are happening earlier in careers and a player’s best years arrive earlier. As such, hopes are high for Machado in his age-24 season this year. According to FanGraphs’ Steamer projection, Machado is projected to be worth 6.5 WAR this year, second among position players only to Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system is lower on Machado, projecting him for 4.8 WAR by their own methodology, though some of that comes from their placing him at shortstop instead of third base for part of the season, where his defense isn’t as impactful. They also project him for just 25 home runs. And yet, they went through the entire league and picked the best player at every age, and the age- 24 selection was Machado over the likes of Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts. So even when there are reasons for the numbers not to look favorably on him — like the rest of the Orioles, a free swinging approach doesn’t translate well into many algorithms, no matter how hard or far you hit it when you do connect. Machado’s parallels with his buddy and idol Alex Rodriguez may never completely prove true on the baseball field, but as long as he stays in the same stratosphere, these next couple years of club control for the Orioles could be special. Through his own age-23 season, Rodriguez had 25.5 wins above replacement — which averages out to a half-win per season better than Machado. And this stage of his career is when Rodriguez did some of his best work, posting WARs of 9.5, 7.8 and 10 in his ages 24-26 seasons, respectively. A season or two like that would not only help Machado break into the next level of MVP voting, but be a huge boon for an Orioles team who needs that type of production and then some to get near a championship with a team that’s built to win one now. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-add-young-right-hander-gabriel- ynoa-from-new-york-mets-20170210-story.html Orioles add young right-hander Gabriel Ynoa from New York Mets The Orioles added a young pitcher to their stocks on Friday, purchasing New York Mets right- hander Gabriel Ynoa for cash on the eve of spring training. “Gabriel Ynoa is young, strong, durable and talented,” executive vice president Dan Duquette said in a statement. “Our scouts feel he can develop into a major league starting pitcher by developing a consistent breaking pitch. We look forward to his contributions to the Orioles this season and beyond.” Ynoa, 23, made his major league debut with the Mets last season and compiled a 6.38 ERA in 10 appearances (three starts) over 18 1/3 innings. Ynoa struck out 17 batters but walked seven and allowed 26 hits in his first stint in the big leagues. Ynoa, at age 20, went 15-4 with a 2.72 ERA in his full-season debut at Class-A Savannah in 2013 to put himself on the map, and was added to the Mets’ 40-man roster after a 2014 season that saw him post a 4.07 ERA in 25 starts between High-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton. After posting a 3.90 ERA for Binghamton in 2015, Ynoa spent most of 2016 at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he went 12-5 with a 3.97 ERA before being summoned to the majors on Aug. 13. His purchase adds to the Orioles cast of pitchers they hope can make the next step and establish themselves as major league starters in the coming years. With five starters returning from the rotation that ended the season well in 2016, Ynoa joins the likes of Tyler Wilson, Logan Verrett, Mike Wright, and Jayson Aquino as a starter with major league history who the club will hope grows into a bigger role in 2017. Ynoa will have one minor league option available to the Orioles, and took the place of catcher Francisco Pena on the 40-man roster. Pena was designated for assignment on the eve of spring training in a move that all but ends any conjecture that Pena, who has no remaining minor league options, could have beaten out incumbent Caleb Joseph for the backup catcher job behind starter Welington Castillo. The Orioles have a week to trade Pena or place him on waivers before he can be assigned to the minors. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-nevada-sportsbook-expects- orioles-to-win-fewer-games-in-2017-20170210-story.html Nevada sportsbook expects Orioles to win fewer games in 2017 By Jonas Shaffer / The Baltimore Sun February 10, 2017 Stop me if you've heard this before: The Orioles are not expected to live up to last season's heights. One year after the club flouted predictions of a last-place finish in the American League East and came achingly close to the AL Division Series, a Nevada sportsbook has the Orioles falling short of their 89-win mark in 2016. Reno's Atlantis Casino released projected win totals for this baseball season, the first sportsbook to do so, and there's no "Orioles Magic" expected in Baltimore this year. The over-under for wins is 84.5 — behind the Boston Red Sox's 90.5 and Toronto Blue Jays' 86.5, and ahead of the New York Yankees' 83.5 and Tampa Bay Rays' 75.5. The World Series champion Chicago Cubs lead the way with 95.5, while the Washington Nationals are fourth overall (90.5). http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-q-a-with-mlb-network-host-and-orioles- fan-lauren-shehadi-20170210-story.html Q&A with MLB Network host and Orioles fan Lauren Shehadi By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun February 10, 2017 Every weekday morning during the baseball season, MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi co-hosts “MLB Central” and, along with the rest of the cast, brings a bit of fun and levity to what can be a long and tiresome baseball season. And she does it, hide it as she must, with a special interest in the Orioles, the team she grew up adoring. A native of McLean, Va., who came of age in the heyday of the late-'90s Orioles, kept her allegiances in Baltimore when the Nationals moved into Washington and still views the game with an eye toward what’s happening with the Orioles.