Twelve Orioles Thoughts at quarter mark of 2026 season
Luke Jones offers his latest orange musings with Baltimore on pace for a 91-loss season after 41 games.
colton cowser
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles homestand with Athletics and Yankees and current injury realities
As the Athletics of Sacramento arrive at Camden Yards and the Orioles put another starter on the IL, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss this home stand and current injury realities as Trevor Rogers readies to return against the Yankees early next week.
Ragged Orioles come home with more injured arms and concern for bats
As the Athletics of Sacramento arrive at Camden Yards and the Orioles put another starter on the IL, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss this home stand and current injury realities as Trevor Rogers readies to return against the Yankees early next week.
After being outclassed in Bronx, Orioles in need of shakeup at “crucial point”
With this year’s Orioles looking too much like last year, what is Mike Elias going to do about it?
Allen McCallum and Nestor discuss the Orioles spring one month into disappointing start to season
For those of us who thought the Baltimore Orioles could win 92 games this season based on emerging talent and the offseason “open for business” spend by new ownership and VP of Baseball Operations Mike Elias, we are suddenly doing a lot of revisionist history about the pitching, hitting and defense. Allen McCallum joins Nestor to discuss the realities of the first month of a disappointing start to a season that held a lot of hope in Sarasota for rookie skipper Craig Albernaz and what felt like more talent over the winter.
Can Orioles really improve enough to be a playoff contender?
For those of us who thought the Baltimore Orioles could win 92 games this season based on emerging talent and the offseason “open for business” spend by new ownership and VP of Baseball Operations Mike Elias, we are suddenly doing a lot of revisionist history about the pitching, hitting and defense. Allen McCallum joins Nestor to discuss the realities of the first month of a disappointing start to a season that held a lot of hope in Sarasota for rookie skipper Craig Albernaz and what felt like more talent over the winter.
Twelve Orioles Thoughts following series win in Kansas City
Coby Mayo’s long home run capped a six-run explosion in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s win over the Royals.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles woes and frozen bats heading to Kansas City
Sure, it’s not the lineup that manager Craig Albernaz envisioned back in Sarasota in February but the Orioles need to figure out how to stop striking out and start hitting with runners in scoring position. Nestor Aparicio and Luke Jones discussed the Birds’ struggles, including a five-game losing streak and scuffling through Kansas City waiting for the roster to get healthier and more productive.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss rotation and Orioles scraping by on any win possible in KC
Is there an “ace” in the starting rotation deck for the Baltimore Orioles? Sure, we all believed that Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish would make it look easy and that Shane Baz would pitch to his contract and Chris Bassitt would stabilize the staff and Zach Eflin…and then the season began. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the Birds’ pitching depth and scraping by on any win possible in Kansas City.
When will the frozen Orioles bats thaw this spring?
Sure, it’s not the lineup that manager Craig Albernaz envisioned back in Sarasota in February but the Orioles need to figure out how to stop striking out and start hitting with runners in scoring position. Nestor Aparicio and Luke Jones discussed the Birds’ struggles, including a five-game losing streak and scuffling through Kansas City waiting for the roster to get healthier and more productive.
Who can Orioles really count on to “pitch” in as innings add up?
Is there an “ace” in the starting rotation deck for the Baltimore Orioles? Sure, we all believed that Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish would make it look easy and that Shane Baz would pitch to his contract and Chris Bassitt would stabilize the staff and Zach Eflin…and then the season began. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the Birds’ pitching depth and scraping by on any win possible in Kansas City.
Persistent concerns for Orioles’ offense go beyond their injuries
Coming off an injury-plagued 2025, Colton Cowser entered Monday slashing .174/.264/.196 through his first 54 plate appearances this season.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles slugging woes and bad beat in Cleveland
As the Orioles continue to play .500 ball through the first month of the season, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the slugging woes, lack of offensive productivity and a near no-hitter to begin a road trip through Cleveland and Kansas City.
The lack of slug in the battered Orioles lineup
As the Orioles continue to play .500 ball through the first month of the season, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the slugging woes, lack of offensive productivity and a near no-hitter to begin a road trip through Cleveland and Kansas City.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles outfield defense and injury problems as Cleveland is next up
It was Nestor who took to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday afternoon with some observations about the new “look” of the ballpark and a day when all of the 42s of Jackie Robinson needed a scorecard to see who was making the errors that cost them the game. Luke Jones discusses the outfield defense and injury problems as Cleveland is next up for the Birds as .500 feels about right.
Injuries and outfield defense start to create bigger problems for Orioles
It was Nestor who took to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday afternoon with some observations about the new “look” of the ballpark and a day when all of the 42s of Jackie Robinson needed a scorecard to see who was making the errors that cost them the game. Luke Jones discusses the outfield defense and injury problems as Cleveland is next up for the Birds as .500 feels about right.
Twelve Orioles Thoughts following series loss to Arizona
While we continue waiting for most of the young core to produce or get healthy, Jeremiah Jackson keeps doing the job.
Twelve Orioles Thoughts following series win over San Francisco
Baltimore lost as many players to injury as games played over the weekend, but Craig Albernaz’s club recovering to win two of three was encouraging.
Scar tissue from 2025 doing Orioles no favors navigating underwhelming start
Nine games shouldn’t change one’s expectations for 2026, but you’d like to see a few more encouraging signs in the midst of a 3-6 start.
Luke Jones and Nestor recap a successful Opening Day in Baltimore as Orioles beat Twins behind strong effort from Rogers
Seven strong innings from Trevor Rogers and a packed Oriole Park at Camden Yards kicked off the 2026 campaign in grand style with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. Luke Jones and Nestor recap a successful Opening Day in Baltimore and opine about how true quality starting pitching can take the Birds to new heights with a soft schedule and lots to recommend the squad in the early going.
For starters, it was a great start to season for Orioles
Seven strong innings from Trevor Rogers and a packed Oriole Park at Camden Yards kicked off the 2026 campaign in grand style with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. Luke Jones and Nestor recap a successful Opening Day in Baltimore and opine about how true quality starting pitching can take the Birds to new heights with a soft schedule and lots to recommend the squad in the early going.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss bad defense and many hopeful bats of Orioles as Opening Day awaits
We believe the Baltimore Orioles will hit the ball this year but will they catch it? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss last year’s bad defense, poor start and how the many hopeful bats of the Birds should pound their into a playoff caliber team as Opening Day awaits.
Sizing up Opening Day roster for 2026 Orioles
Luke Jones takes a look at the initial 26-man roster for new manager Craig Albernaz.
Swinging for the fences and a shot at October magic
We believe the Baltimore Orioles will hit the ball this year but will they catch it? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss last year’s bad defense, poor start and how the many hopeful bats of the Birds should pound their into a playoff caliber team as Opening Day awaits.
Dear Alby: Welcome to Birdland and the low bar of high expectations
Before Grondahl and Bader and Griggs and Fine grab you and tell you all about me and my decades of orange civic mind crimes of baseball passion, let me make this clear: I am a true believer. I think the 2026 Orioles can win.
Four players pivotal to success of 2026 Orioles
With questions all over the bullpen, Baltimore needs Tyler Wells to be the reliever many have envisioned for years.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss expectations of new Orioles manager Craig Albernaz this season
With changes made in leadership with both professional sports franchises in Baltimore this winter, it’ll be Craig Albernaz leading off for the Orioles with an early-season testing ground that already include key injuries and a suspect bullpen. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the expectations of the new Birds skipper and the vital signs of life for a team with high hopes in a crowded AL East Division.
The “Alby Effect” and how it will affect and infect Orioles youthful energy
With changes made in leadership with both professional sports franchises in Baltimore this winter, it’ll be Craig Albernaz leading off for the Orioles with an early-season testing ground that already include key injuries and a suspect bullpen. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the expectations of the new Birds skipper and the vital signs of life for a team with high hopes in a crowded AL East Division.
Projecting 2026 Orioles’ Opening Day roster ahead of Grapefruit League opener
Will Colton Cowser be able to handle center field every day?
Twelve Orioles Thoughts at start of 2026 spring training
Luke Jones offers his latest orange musings as pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles trade of Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward
It’s pretty clear that Orioles fans thought more of the future of one-time ace pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez than Mike Elias did after dealing the 26-year with four years of MLB control to Anaheim for slugging outfielder Taylor Ward. Why did the Birds quit on GrayRod? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the philosophy and offseason strategy of new ownership with free agency looming.
Dear Catie Griggs: When Orioles fans ask why I don’t have an Orioles media credential, I’m sending them to you for answers
I’m pulling for you to fix the Orioles on-and-off the field, even if you continue the bizarrely petty Angelos family tradition of willfully, purposely and strategically mistreating me and restricting a legitimate professional working local media member from asking you serious questions in the David Rubenstein “Next Chapter” era.
“We all want the same things here.”
Orioles trade oft-injured pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward
Once one of baseball’s top prospects, Rodriguez hadn’t pitched for Baltimore since July 31, 2024 because of injuries.
Wishing and hoping for a better brand of Orioles baseball next summer
We are loving these offseason baseball conversations but will the Hot Stove heat up enough to energize the Baltimore Orioles fan base for the first time in a generation? Time will tell. Ron Cassie of Baltimore Magazine joins Luke Jones and Nestor for a Baltimore baseball offseason primer of hopes and possibilities for David Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti to step up and into the big leagues of MLB payroll.
Ron Cassie of Baltimore Magazine joins Luke Jones and Nestor for a Baltimore baseball offseason primer of hopes and possibilities
We are loving these offseason baseball conversations but will the Hot Stove heat up enough to energize the Baltimore Orioles fan base for the first time in a generation? Time will tell. Ron Cassie of Baltimore Magazine joins Luke Jones and Nestor for a Baltimore baseball offseason primer of hopes and possibilities for David Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti to step up and into the big leagues of MLB payroll.
Luke Jones and Allen McCallum join Nestor at State Fare for Orioles offseason primer and Albernaz insights
When it’s time to put a baseball round table together, we gather at least a hundred years worth of media and institutional insights about the Baltimore Orioles like no other group. Longtime MLB media analysts Luke Jones and Allen McCallum join Nestor at State Fare in Catonsville on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour for an Orioles offseason primer and plenty of insights on the hiring of new Birds manager Craig Albernaz and everything that needs to be on the checklist of Mike Elias in the coming weeks at Camden Yards.
Welcoming new Orioles skipper Albernaz to Camden Yaaaahdds
When it’s time to put a baseball round table together, we gather at least a hundred years worth of media and institutional insights about the Baltimore Orioles like no other group. Longtime MLB media analysts Luke Jones and Allen McCallum join Nestor at State Fare in Catonsville on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour for an Orioles offseason primer and plenty of insights on the hiring of new Birds manager Craig Albernaz and everything that needs to be on the checklist of Mike Elias in the coming weeks at Camden Yards.
One, Two and Who? The promise of Rogers and Bradish for Orioles in ’26
There hasn’t been much to provide offseason hope for a last place baseball team but Luke Jones and Nestor agree that the emergence of Trevor Rogers and encouraging return of Kyle Bradish to the top of the Orioles rotation helps ease some pressure on a Birdland offseason of unrest for Mike Elias and a franchise in search of better pitching and awakened, youthful bats next spring.
Orioles’ young position core needs to get more arrows pointing up over final month
General manager Mike Elias leaning so hard on the young position core was a mistake, but the group still needs to shoulder its share of the blame.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles promotion of Basallo and Beavers and Young near perfection in Houston
With the promotion of key prospects Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers and the young group of high-ceiling position talent now completely in The Show, the last place Baltimore Orioles’ showing on the field these next six weeks should prove to be more than just a bunch of meaningless baseball games. Luke Jones and Nestor use a Birdland history lesson to discuss what a success would even look like for Mike Elias and this era of stars who haven’t really shined…
