Paul Folkemer
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April 21, 2017 at 11:52 pm
Bundy’s the young pitcher taking a big step forward for the Orioles so far in 2017
The Orioles’ best starting pitcher so far this season might not have been the guy everyone initially expected. Of the club’s two young starters entering the season, Kevin Gausman was supposed to be the surer thing, the hurler who would develop into an ace after his great second half in 2016. Dylan...
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April 17, 2017 at 7:00 am
Where are they now? Taking a look at the 2016 Orioles who have flown the nest
If you think the 2017 Orioles look a lot like the 2016 squad, that’s not a surprise — they’ve brought back nearly two-thirds of last year’s roster. With the Orioles re-signing outfielder Michael Bourn and outfielder-turned-pitcher Dariel Alvarez to minor league deals last week, 30 of the 47 players who appeared in...
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April 12, 2017 at 7:00 am
Stats All, Folks: WAR, what it is, what it’s good for and the absolute best WAR Orioles
Welcome to the first edition of Stats All, Folks. This season-long series will provide a primer into the statistical side of baseball, focusing especially on analytics and advanced stats. Think of it as a crash course in sabermetrics. If you’re a baseball fan who is fascinated by new ways of analyzing and...
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April 2, 2017 at 7:00 am
2017 AL East Positional Rankings: Rotations, bullpens and managers
It’s time for the grand finale: part three of my series comparing the AL East teams at every position. Parts One and Two covered the position players; now let’s look at the pitching staffs and managers.
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April 1, 2017 at 7:00 am
2017 AL East Positional Rankings: Outfielders, designated hitters and benches
Welcome to Part Two of my AL East position comparisons. If you’re just checking in, the premise is simple: I’m ranking the five teams in the division at every position. I started with the infield in Part One. Today, let’s move on to the outfielders, designated hitters, and bench players. Spoiler alert:...
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March 31, 2017 at 11:00 am
2017 AL East Positional Rankings: Infielders
Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is almost here, and the AL East — which sent three teams to the playoffs in 2016 — could be hotly contested once again. How do the Orioles stack up against their division opponents? In this three-part series, I’ll compare the five AL East teams by ranking...
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March 4, 2017 at 7:00 am
Has the World Baseball Classic negatively affected Orioles’ pitchers in the past?
The fourth edition of the World Baseball Classic gets underway Monday, and the Orioles will be well represented, sending six players to the tournament. Among them are two pitchers: righty Mychal Givens (USA roster) and lefty Vidal Nuno (Mexico). Some WBC critics have decried the tournament as a danger to pitchers. The...
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February 24, 2017 at 11:00 am
For the love of Jake Fox, the Orioles must be wary of great spring training performances
The Grapefruit League season begins this afternoon for the Orioles as they travel to Lakeland, Fla., to face the Detroit Tigers. And with that annual rite of spring comes the annual burning question: Who will be this year’s winner of the Jake Fox Award? Fox, as you may recall, was the journeyman...
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February 18, 2017 at 7:00 am
Orioles’ April schedule could help mitigate Chris Tillman’s potential absence from rotation
Let’s get the obvious statement out of the way first: There’s never a good time to lose your No. 1 starter. That said, the Orioles’ April schedule could work to their advantage when it comes to filling the shoes of sidelined ace Chris Tillman. The opening month is littered with off days,...
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February 9, 2017 at 7:00 am
Which leftover free agents fit with the Orioles?
While pitchers and catchers report to spring training next week, there are still dozens of MLB free agents that remain unsigned. That may bode well for the Orioles, who in recent years have signed last-minute additions during or after the break of camp. Here’s a deeper look at some potential fits:
