Twelve Orioles Thoughts as World Baseball Classic competition begins
Adley Rutschman enters a pivotal 2026 after enduring struggles and injuries over the last season and a half.
pete alonso
Author John Eisenberg returns to school Nestor on Orioles history and future Bird Tapes of the past
He came to Baltimore 40 years ago and became the venerable columnist at The Sun and then an insider with the Baltimore Ravens but his present passion was rooted in a late 21st century book on the history of Orioles baseball. Author John Eisenberg returns to school Nestor on Birdland lore and the future Bird Tapes of past glories. From Jesse Minter to Craig Albernaz, our mentor is always on point and separating fact from opinion.
A Baltimore “birds” past and present with John Eisenberg
He came to Baltimore 40 years ago and became the venerable columnist at The Sun and then an insider with the Baltimore Ravens but his present passion was rooted in a late 21st century book on the history of Orioles baseball. Author John Eisenberg returns to school Nestor on Birdland lore and the future Bird Tapes of past glories. From Jesse Minter to Craig Albernaz, our mentor is always on point and separating fact from opinion.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Jordan Westburg injury and hopes for Coby Mayo at third base
It’s less than ideal so far in Sarasota that two emerging, young Orioles stars in Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg are already lost for the start of the MLB season. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss what it means for Coby Mayo and newly-acquired Blaze Alexander now that grapefruit baseball has begun and jobs are available in Baltimore.
With Westburg down, Orioles renew high hopes for Coby Mayo at third base
It’s less than ideal so far in Sarasota that two emerging, young Orioles stars in Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg are already lost for the start of the MLB season. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss what it means for Coby Mayo and newly-acquired Blaze Alexander now that grapefruit baseball has begun and jobs are available in Baltimore.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the complicated complications of MLB labor situation and Orioles role
We’re all excited about the possibilities of the 2026 MLB season but the clouds of labor war are percolating even in spring training. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the complicated complications of six decades of Major League Baseball labor history and the bubbling situation for a salary cap. And what will the role of the new Baltimore Orioles ownership be in the looming dogfight?
Allen McCallum returns for a spring training thaw and Orioles prospectus with perspective for long MLB season ahead
It’s early and the Orioles already have big injuries to Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg that will affect the Opening Day roster. Allen McCallum returns for a spring training thaw and Birdland prospectus with perspective for the long MLB season ahead and the pitching it will take to contend in the American League East.
As MLB moves toward inevitable labor war, where do Orioles fit into the battle?
We’re all excited about the possibilities of the 2026 MLB season but the clouds of labor war are percolating even in spring training. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the complicated complications of six decades of Major League Baseball labor history and the bubbling situation for a salary cap. And what will the role of the new Baltimore Orioles ownership be in the looming dogfight?
Trying to reason with long Orioles season ahead
It’s early and the Orioles already have big injuries to Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg that will affect the Opening Day roster. Allen McCallum returns for a spring training thaw and Birdland prospectus with perspective for the long MLB season ahead and the pitching it will take to contend in the American League East.
Luke Jones and Nestor take another swing at Orioles spring with Westburg and Holliday injured
There are certainly reasons to be optimistic that the Baltimore Orioles won’t repeat a last-place performance in the American League East but losing two blue-chip, emerging players before March doesn’t lift hope. Luke Jones and Nestor take another swing at spring in Birdland with Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday injured before the team takes the field in Sarasota.
Taking another swing at spring training without Holliday and Westburg
There are certainly reasons to be optimistic that the Baltimore Orioles won’t repeat a last-place performance in the American League East but losing two blue-chip, emerging players before March doesn’t lift hope. Luke Jones and Nestor take another swing at spring in Birdland with Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday injured before the team takes the field in Sarasota.
Projecting 2026 Orioles’ Opening Day roster ahead of Grapefruit League opener
Will Colton Cowser be able to handle center field every day?
Westburg’s health one of more pivotal factors for Orioles entering 2026
An oblique injury for the 2024 All-Star infielder wasn’t what you wanted to hear at the start of spring training.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Orioles addition of Bassitt and Holliday injury along with pitching strategy of Elias
It’s already been a short week of additions and subtractions as the Baltimore Orioles sign veteran starting pitcher Chris Bassitt on a $18.5 million one-year deal and lost Jackson Holliday to a broken hamate bone, which changes the Opening Day lineup. Luke Jones and Nestor reset the Birdland expectations as Mike Elias still has some work to do on the bullpen and there’s action gearing up in Sarasota as spring training baseball begins next week in Florida.
Luke Jones and Nestor preview Orioles new look at spring training and talk MASN money and watching Pete Alonso swing for fences
As the Birds descend upon Sarasota and daily news leaks into the conversation, we’ll be covering the Baltimore Orioles better than ever. Luke Jones and Nestor preview the Orioles new look at spring training and talk MASN money and Bird watching as Mike Elias seeks to add pitching and Pete Alonso brings a captain ready to swing for the fence.
Adding Bassitt for real money and losing Holliday for real time
It’s already been a short week of additions and subtractions as the Baltimore Orioles sign veteran starting pitcher Chris Bassitt on a $18.5 million one-year deal and lost Jackson Holliday to a broken hamate bone, which changes the Opening Day lineup. Luke Jones and Nestor reset the Birdland expectations as Mike Elias still has some work to do on the bullpen and there’s action gearing up in Sarasota as spring training baseball begins next week in Florida.
Downloading into Sarasota and swinging for the fences
As the Birds descend upon Sarasota and daily news leaks into the conversation, we’ll be covering the Baltimore Orioles better than ever. Luke Jones and Nestor preview the Orioles new look at spring training and talk MASN money and Bird watching as Mike Elias seeks to add pitching and Pete Alonso brings a captain ready to swing for the fence.
Sports cartoonist Ricig joins Nestor with offseason realities for Baltimore Orioles and Ravens fans to reset
It’s always time well spent with our oldest sports newspaper pal and lifer cartoonist Mike Ricigliano, who resumed his Ko-host role at Koco’s Pub for “A Cup of Soup Or Bowl” talking about the Orioles and Ravens fortunes this year. But, more importantly, Ricig told Nestor the story about his wife’s family heading to Kenya to help families and children in need in Africa via Future In Our Hands charity mission.
Twelve Orioles Thoughts at start of 2026 spring training
Luke Jones offers his latest orange musings as pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota.
Sports cartoonist Ricig discusses family mission in Africa and Orioles and Ravens new directives in Baltimore
It’s always time well spent with our oldest sports newspaper pal and lifer cartoonist Mike Ricigliano, who resumed his Ko-host role at Koco’s Pub for “A Cup of Soup Or Bowl” talking about the Orioles and Ravens fortunes this year. But, more importantly, Ricig told Nestor the story about his wife’s family heading to Kenya to help families and children in need in Africa via Future In Our Hands charity mission.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss that one more arm Orioles need before Sarasota to compete in AL East
The new ownership group reached deep into the monetary reserve to sign slugger Pete Alonso in Baltimore but what’s up with the pitching? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss that one more arm the Orioles need in the rotation – not to mention a too-thin bullpen – in preparation for pitchers and catchers to report to the refurbished facility in Sarasota.
With spring nearly upon us, time running short for Orioles to punctuate encouraging offseason
Is another notable move coming before pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota next week?
Are the Orioles really “armed” for April?
The new ownership group reached deep into the monetary reserve to sign slugger Pete Alonso in Baltimore but what’s up with the pitching? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss that one more arm the Orioles need in the rotation – not to mention a too-thin bullpen – in preparation for pitchers and catchers to report to the refurbished facility in Sarasota.
Longtime MLB insider Ken Davidoff tells Nestor about his baseball book on life lessons through the sport
Longtime MLB insider Ken Davidoff tells Nestor about his new baseball book on 101 life lessons to teach and learn through the sport’s wisdom and joy on – and off – the field. And what makes the Orioles better with Pete Alonso, too!
Bringing baseball lessons from press box and dugout to the field of life
Longtime MLB insider Ken Davidoff tells Nestor about his new baseball book on 101 life lessons to teach and learn through the sport’s wisdom and joy on – and off – the field. And what makes the Orioles better with Pete Alonso, too!
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss final weeks before spring training and Orioles pitching needs
As the Baltimore Orioles move back into the local news with the Birdland Caravan ahead, Luke Jones and Nestor wonder what moves general manager Mike Elias will have left before pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota to continue to augment the never-ending need for more arms and innings.
Still up in arms for more pitching before Orioles arrive in Sarasota?
As the Baltimore Orioles move back into the local news with the Birdland Caravan ahead, Luke Jones and Nestor wonder what moves general manager Mike Elias will have left before pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota to continue to augment the never-ending need for more arms and innings.
Baseball author Barry Bloom joins Nestor to discuss MLB revenue and Orioles offseason with Alonso deal
Longtime MLB insider and baseball author Barry Bloom joins Nestor with an offseason primer with Nestor in discussing payrolls, 50 years of labor beefs and what the Orioles new ownership has done to wash away the ghost of Angelos by signing Pete Alonso to a big contract this winter restoring some hope in Baltimore. Now, about the pitching…
Bloom: Adding Alonso brings credibility and playoff push power for Orioles
Longtime MLB insider and baseball author Barry Bloom joins Nestor with an offseason primer with Nestor in discussing payrolls, 50 years of labor beefs and what the Orioles new ownership has done to wash away the ghost of Angelos by signing Pete Alonso to a big contract this winter restoring some hope in Baltimore. Now, about the pitching…
Have the Orioles improved enough this offseason?
As the Birdland Caravan heats up and the Ravens keep the purple drama in the news, we quietly await baseball season and spring training with a long catch-up with our longtime Orioles historian Allen McCallum, who joins Nestor to discuss the offseason acquisitions of Mike Elias, the improvement of Pete Alonso and the pitching that Craig Albernaz will need to compete in a stacked AL East.
Allen McCallum and Nestor discuss Orioles offseason acquisitions, money and pitching needs of Mike Elias
As the Birdland Caravan heats up and the Ravens keep the purple drama in the news, we quietly await baseball season and spring training with a long catch-up with our longtime Orioles historian Allen McCallum, who joins Nestor to discuss the offseason acquisitions of Mike Elias, the improvement of Pete Alonso and the pitching that Craig Albernaz will need to compete in a stacked AL East.
Fish, family and fastballs at Gertrude’s with Casper Wells
In the spirit of the holiday season, we bring friends and family together. Chesapeake chef extraordinaire and proprietor of Gertrude’s at The BMA John Shields hosts Nestor once again for a Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebration (at an hour we can all appreciate) along with former MLB outfielder Casper Wells for chat about seven fishes, sauerkraut and Pete Alonso.
John Shields hosts former MLBer Casper Wells for chat about Christmas, sauerkraut and baseball
In the spirit of the holiday season, we bring friends and family together. Chesapeake chef extraordinaire and proprietor of Gertrude’s at The BMA John Shields hosts Nestor once again for a Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebration (at an hour we can all appreciate) along with former MLB outfielder Casper Wells for chat about seven fishes, sauerkraut and Pete Alonso.
Max Weiss of Baltimore Magazine talks sports and holiday eats with Nestor at DiPasquale’s
Did you know that Tom Davis was once in a movie scene in Baltimore with the legendary Al Pacino? We did and Max Weiss has promised Nestor a full treatment of all memorable local movie history in the next edition of Baltimore Magazine. They continue their holiday chat about bad referees, big money Orioles signings and what’s on the table at Di Pasquale’s in Canton on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss Alonso emergence at Camden Yards and what Orioles must do next
The newest and shiniest Baltimore Orioles addition arrived for a bizarrely timed Friday afternoon press conference at Camden Yards and won the day. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the Pete Alonso emergence at The Warehouse alongside David Rubenstein, Mike Elias and Scott Boras and what the future holds for the slugger, whom the owner compared to Frank Robinson coming the Charm City.
Maxing out on local sports and lousy officiating
Did you know that Tom Davis was once in a movie scene in Baltimore with the legendary Al Pacino? We did and Max Weiss has promised Nestor a full treatment of all memorable local movie history in the next edition of Baltimore Magazine. They continue their holiday chat about bad referees, big money Orioles signings and what’s on the table at Di Pasquale’s in Canton on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour.
Pete Alonso looked the part and won The Warehouse press conference
The newest and shiniest Baltimore Orioles addition arrived for a bizarrely timed Friday afternoon press conference at Camden Yards and won the day. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the Pete Alonso emergence at The Warehouse alongside David Rubenstein, Mike Elias and Scott Boras and what the future holds for the slugger, whom the owner compared to Frank Robinson coming the Charm City.
Alonso’s arrival makes Orioles look and feel different after years of waiting
Friday’s press conference was fun and exciting, which aren’t adjectives we’ve used to describe the Orioles at this point in the offseason in a very long time.
Pete Alonso and Orioles brass meet with media after signing five-year, $155 million contract
Pete Alonso and Orioles brass meet with media after signing five-year, $155 million contract
Pete Alonso on joining Orioles: “I feel like I’m going to help this team achieve greatness”
The five-time All-Star first baseman was introduced to the Baltimore media on Friday afternoon.
