Locked On Orioles

Through his first two starts, Dylan Bundy has looked like the ace Orioles fans have envisioned since the righthander was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft. Can he keep it up?Craig Edwards of FanGraphs joins us to discuss Bundy's development and whether he would benefit from pitching on extra rest. Edwards examined that question in depth for a recent article and found some intriguing results.Plus, Josh Sroka of Section 336 returns to the podcast to discuss the Orioles' amazing weekend series against the Yankees in which the Birds won three of four games in the Bronx. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Double-A Bowie Baysox, who open their season tonight, have a roster full of  some of the Orioles' top prospects, including Hunter Harvey, Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle. Adam Pohl, the play-by-play broadcaster for the Baysox, joins us to preview the 2018 team and discuss what to expect out of Harvey, Hays, Mountcastle and other top prospects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does Orioles' slow start mean for 2018 and beyond?Let's not sugarcoat it: The Orioles are a bad baseball team right now. The O's are 1-4 and have struggled with both pitching and hitting so far in 2018.What does the slow start mean? Is Buck Showalter's job in danger? Will the Orioles we sellers at the deadline? Can the Birds survive a brutal April schedule? Luke Jones of WNST radio joins us to discuss that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2018 Orioles are off to a rough start, but they will not go 0-21. That was the fate of the 1988 Birds, who set a major league record for futility with their terrible start.Matt Taylor of Roar From 34 joins us to discuss that infamous season. How did a team with two future Hall of Famers play so poorly? What was the state of baseball in Baltimore at the time? And why did the city embrace such an awful team?It wasn't fun, but it was part of Baltimore's rich baseball history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming off a terrible series against the Twins, the Orioles head to Houston to face the defending World Series champion Astros. Eric Huysman of Climbing Tal's Hill joins host Justin McGuire to talk about the Astros and their many strengths, including Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and a Justin Verlander-led starting rotation.Also, McGuire looks back at the O's weekend woes against Minnesota. Was the pitching to blame? The hitting? Or both?And why exactly are the Twins mad at Chance Sisco? We talk about that as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back, baseball!Adam Jones sent the Opening Day crowd at Camden Yards home happy with an 11th-inning walkoff homer to lead the Orioles to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. It was the third straight walkoff Opening Day win for the Birds and the team's eight straight overall. Jake English of the Bird's Eye View podcast was among those happy fans, and he joins us to discuss Jones' heroics, plus Dylan Bundy, Chris Davis, Brad Bach, the atmosphere at the ballpark and much more.Let's do this 161 more times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We did it! We made it through another winter and have arrived at Opening Day 2018. The Orioles start the season today with the first of a three-game series vs. the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. Mike Berardino, who covers the Twins for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, joins us to preview the series. Coming off a wild-card appearance last season, Minnesota made several upgrades during the offseason. Among the news faces is starting pitcher Odorizzi, who takes the mound today vs. Dylan Bundy.Play ball!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Yankees and Red Sox are loaded. The Blue Jays look like they're ready to make another run at the postseason. And who knows what to make of the Rays?The Orioles once again find themselves competing in the strongest division in baseball. Emma Span of The Athletic MLB joins us to preview the division. Are the Yankees really as good as advertised? Can the Red Sox win a third straight division title? Will the Blue Jays' rotation carry them to the playoffs? And how about the Orioles? We address that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week marks the 26th anniversary of a key incident in Orioles history. In March 1992, New York book editor Elaine Benes, a native of Towson, Md., was asked to remove her Orioles hat at a Yankees game.Jason Foster and Jason Wheatley join host Justin McGuire to break down the shocking event -- and its ugly repercussions for Benes and her friends, Jerry Seinfeld, George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer. Truly this is an episode about nothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John McGee is a British Red Sox fan who is committed to watching all 162 Orioles games this year. How did this happen? Why did he agree to it?McGee, co-host of the Bat Flips and Nerds podcast, joins us to discuss his predicament, which involves ChristianVazquez, Jett Bandy and ... you know what, you probably should just listen to hear him explain it. McGee also gives his thoughts on Alex Cobb, the AL wild-card race and what it's like to be a baseball fan in Great Britain. Contact us at lockedonorioles@gmail.com to suggest guests and topics or to ask mailbag questions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fans and analysts have spent a lot of time talking about the Orioles' potential weaknesses in 2018. Today we're going to take a different approach and look at the club's strengths.R.J. Anderson of CBSSPorts.com joins us to talk about the things fans should be excited about this year, including Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop and Buck Showalter. Anderson and host Justin McGuire also talk about the team's rotation, bullpen and plans beyond 2018.To suggest guests or topics, please contact us at lockedonorioles@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Opening Day just over a week away, the Orioles finally made the big move many fans had hoped for, signing free-agent RHP Alex Cobb to a four-year deal.Was it a smart move for the Birds? Josh Sroka of the Section 336 podcast joins host Justin McGuire to break down the signing and assess whether the Orioles should now be considered a legitimate playoff contender. Also, they look at where Cobb slots into the starting rotation.Give us your thoughts on the Cobb signing at lockedonorioles@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Orioles need starting pitching. Free-agent RHP Alex Cobb needs a job. Seems like a perfect match, right?For some reason, though, the O's have showed little interest in the former Ray. Kyle Andrews of FOX Sports 1340 AM joins us to discuss that and the state of the Baltimore rotation. Is Chris Tillman a lock? How about Mike Wright?Andrews also talks about the Orioles' catching situation and who will make the Opening Day roster.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With several big contracts coming off the books, the Orioles looked primed to make a splash in the free agent market this offseason. Instead, the team has limited itself to uninspiring add-ons like Colby Rasmus and Andrew Cashner.Jon Shepherd, editor of Camden Depot, joins us to try to figure out why Dan Duquette & Co. have kept the payroll so low in a year in which the Birds ostensibly are trying to contend. The answer may not be too pleasing to O's fans.Other topics addressed include the MASN controversy, Anthony Santander and whether Brady Anderson is likely to take replace Duquette.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Top Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey has looked impressive so far in spring training, leading many to wonder whether the 23-year-old former first-round draft pick might break camp with the big club.But Luke Siler says that would be a foolish move for the O's considering Harvey's injury history and lack of minor league experience (he pitched in only 18 2/3 innings in 2017). Siler, a prospect writer for Orioles Hangout, joins us to discuss how Harvey has looked so far and what Baltimore's long-term plans might be.Siler and host Justin McGuire also talk about Chance Sisco, Austin Hays and other Orioles prospects.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Orioles didn't do much to improve their shaky starting rotation during the offseason. At this point, only Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman and Andrew Cashner look like locks to be starters -- and all come with questions.The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to move away from a five-man rotation, and Steve Caimano of Eutaw Street Report thinks the Orioles should take a similar step. He explains the benefits -- and possible drawbacks -- of his radical plan to use a three-man rotation.Also, we talk about Hunter Harvey's future and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Things look bleak for the Orioles over the next five seasons, according to ESPN's Future Power Rankings. The Birds rank 28th out of MLB's 30 teams. Ouch.Dan Szymborski, ESPN analyst and co-author of the rankings, joins us to discuss how Baltimore's outlook is hindered by a weak farm system, indecisive front office and ineffective offseason moves. The Orioles, he says, likely need to completely change their culture if they are going to compete in the mighty American League East.It's not all bad, however. Szymborski says Orioles have some reason to be optimistic about young pitchers like Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey and Tanner Scott.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Beckham? Colby Rasmus? Adam Jones? Who will be the Orioles' leadoff hitter for the 2018 season?The problem, as always, is that the O's lack high on-base percentage hitters to slot into the leadoff spot. Would Buck Showalter consider a rookie like Chance Sisco or Austin Hayes? What about a veteran like Alex Presley? Tyler Young of Camden Chat joins us to discuss Baltimore's less-than-inspiring choices to hold down the No. 1 spot in the lineup. Also, we discuss where Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado figure to bat.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Orioles superstar, who has been on fire so far this spring, will almost certainly leave the team via free agency after the season. So does Baltimore trade him now while his value is high or hope to ride his hot bat to contention in 2018? And when do they make that decision? How close do a playoff spot do they have to be to hold on to Machado?Ryan Fagan of Sporting News joins us to discuss that and more. Among topics addressed: Do the Orioles try to add Alex Cobb or another arm before the season starts and what will become of Adam Jones? Also, Justin McGuire bids farewell to former Orioles relief pitcher Sammy Stewart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An Oriole has been named American League MVP five times, from Brooks Robinson in 1964 to Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991.Author Jeremy Lehrman joins us to take an in-depth look at each selection and whether it was justified. Also, Lehrman answers whether any Oriole was ever robbed of the award.Plus, host Justin McGuire has the grisly details of Wednesday's Grapefruit League loss to the Cardinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices