There was a catch phrase, a Dodgers uniform and so much wiffle ball. As Jackson Holliday prepares for his major league debut, here are the stories of his childhood growing up in major league clubhouses, as told by his father’s teammates:
NEWS:
#Rockies
closer Daniel Bard is starting the season on the injured list with anxiety. He’s decided to be open and honest about what he’s going through instead of trying to hide it.
He had the yips earlier in his career and spent seven years out of the majors.
Shintaro Fujinami on joining the first place Orioles: "I'm a little nervous, there's a lot more people watching the games. Obviously some situations in Oakland had some fans watching but there's going to be more fans. There's a little bit of pressure."
Kyle Stowers, Connor Norby, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo have a group chat.
The message they sent after Holliday got called up? “One down, four to go”
Anthony Santander is walking around the clubhouse, embracing in long hugs with everyone.
One player said he hopes to see him back next spring. He just responded by nodding his head, lips pursed
Daniel Bard: “It’s a hard thing to admit. But I’ve been through this before. I have enough going on outside the game to realize what’s important … I’m extremely grateful to be in an organization that understands these things and Is accepting.”
The Stanley Cup Champions will be making their way to Coors Field tomorrow night. The Avalanche will be honored on the field prior to the game and throw out the first pitch
Gregory Soto said he and his agent told the Phillies that if the opportunity came up to go to another team he would want to. He was looking for a new environment and that he’s happy he’s getting that chance with the Orioles
On his birthday, Colton Cowser is the last player on the field. He’s stopped at every single kid, talking with all of them and signing everything they hand him
When Shintaro Fujinami was traded to the Orioles, his interpreter, who also has a contract with the team, had to be part of the deal. But Kamada does more than just translate, he's also Fujinami's trainer, throwing partner and guide to living in the U.S.
"They are going to carry on their own tradition and their own legacy," Trevor Story, fighting back tears as he talks about Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers
Jackson Holliday has a phone full of unread messages congratulating him.
But the coolest person he’s heard from? That’d be Baltimore native Michael Phelps
(we love a baseball swimming crossover)
Grayson Rodriguez: "It felt like a playoff game. It was a pretty hostile environment. Having a lot of Phillies fans there, that helped me a lot. Obviously you want to see the stadium packed out in orange but there was some animosity there and man it made pitching fun today."
The Orioles announced that all weeknight games will begin at 6:35 next season, Friday night games at 7:05 and most Saturdays at 4:05 p.m.
Opening Day on Thursday, March 28 will be at 3:05 p.m
To recap today in Orioles land:
-Bradish sent out on a rehab assignment
-Cowser led the way with two doubles in a 7-1 win
-Burnes pitched seven innings allowing just 1 run, 2 hits, then added to the discourse on the pitch clock
-The sprinkler is back
-Holliday called up
Colton Cowser wanted them to bring an iPad so they could turn it around after giving Henderson Gatorade to ask for a tip. Looks like they settled on just this towel to cheer him on instead
#Rockies
are expected to call up Wynton Bernard tomorrow, multiple sources said. Bernard, 31, has spent a decade playing in the minor leagues but has never debuted.
Kris Bryant’s message for Russell Wilson, who is throwing out the first pitch tomorrow: “Get me a signed Jersey.” Then he smacked his face into the door trying to leave, proving once again that athletes are just like us
At Camden Yards, Orioles owner David Rubenstein just sprayed a section that includes Jesus sitting front and center.
Imagine saying that statement a year ago
Cedric Mullins on the Ravens: “I’m definitely on the bandwagon…I saw a statement from Grayson saying that they elevevated and raised the bar for us. I agree with him. The city is definitely in a good spot. It’s a matter of continuing that success.”
How did
#Marlins
left-hander Trevor Rogers take his mind off not being able to pitch most of last season? He built 11 LEGO sets!
Read more in today’s newsletter.
@MLBLife
Haven’t seen this in a while: Santander is taking reps at first base. With Mountcastle not progressing and Kjerstad on his way back, there could be a situation where Santander can play first and Kjerstad plays RF
One last time from 20th and Blake…
Today is my last game covering the Rockies for the Gazette. Thank you so much to everyone who’s read and interacted with my work over the past 2+ years
“You had one job, you literally had one job, and you couldn’t protect us,” Biles said. “Did you guys really not like us that much that you couldn’t just do your job?”
An emotional Simone Biles said she still does not trust U.S.A. Gymnastics:
Gunnar Henderson, who has 4 homers in 4 days, said he’s been in the cage because “something didn’t feel right”
Me: but you have 16 homers, so it couldn’t have felt that off right?
Henderson: “I’m a perfectionist. I like it to feel a certain way”
Connor Norby said he got the news last night, 5 minutes after his brother finished pitching for ECU. Norby said he couldn’t stop shaking and only got two hours of sleep. He woke up at 4 am to drive to DC to fly to Toronto.
Brandon Hyde said he can't wait for the Ravens game on Sunday, he'll be there with his son.
"Me and John (Harbaugh) texted throughout both of our seasons ... I told him I love how tough they are, the toughness that team has. They are just really fun to watch."
The Orioles handling of delays this year has not been great — and the zero updates given during these delays is pretty disrespectful to people spending their money to come cheer on the team
Hi Maryland, I'm back!!! Today's my first day covering the Orioles for
@BaltimoreBanner
. I'm thrilled to be joining this fantastic organization and I could not be more excited to be back home.
Some news — Saturday is my last day at
@theadvertiser
. I'm moving to Denver soon to cover the Rockies for
@csgazette
and
@DenverGazette
. I can't wait to get started later this month!
James McCann said he told MLB a few years ago that pitchers should have access to sunscreen or rosin on the mound so that players are safer. He thinks it’s needed even more now after he and Westburg got hit
Colton Cowser: "I'll tell you what, I've never felt more American during a baseball game. ... just having both fanbases come together and start chanting USA gave me a little bit of chills."
Mountcastle: "It was pretty funny looking. We just went on Amazon and did some shopping ... they were super comfortable, I wouldn't mind doing it again."
Mike Elias sits in the stands almost every night. I sat down with him to ask why:
“I can’t watch the team the way I want to watch it without sitting back there, and I can’t experience the Camden Yards experience without being down in the seating bowl.”
Anthony Santander, Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays survived the rebuild. On Sunday, in the middle of the celebration, they took a moment just the three of them to reflect on how far they’ve come.
“We did it”
Six weeks ago I read the Sunday New York Times in Ithaca as I got ready for graduation. Now I have an article in the Sunday paper and I just really can’t believe this is my life now
Austin Hays knows the Orioles haven’t signed extensions. He wants to break the trend.
“I think I’ve been a big part in turning the organization around ... They know that I’d love to continue to be a part of it.”
Kjerstad on Norby and Stowers being traded: “It’s a transaction. It’s like when you go to dinner and you buy a steak, you are trading the steakhouse a $100 bill for the steak. You feel like you are getting a good value, steakhouse says they are getting a good value.”
This got lost in the flurry of moves, but Irvin has been a tremendous addition to the Orioles and the community over the past year and a half. A great clubhouse guy who made major donations to BARCS and truly cared about this city
Some other Orioles moves:
- Designated LHP Cole Irvin for assignment.
- C Blake Hunt recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 81 and his first appearance will be his MLB debut.
Cole Irvin said he plans to give Cedric Mullins a bottle of whiskey for that phenomenal catch.
"I owe him a little party favor after that one. A hell of a play."
Yonathan Daza's brother was murdered. His father died. Most of the friends he grew up with were killed. But Daza made it out. Baseball, he says, saved him.
His journey from Venezuela to the
#Rockies
: via
@csgazette
This is the last week Charlie Blackmon's signature walk-up song will be able to play through like fans are used to. Next year, stadiums are only allowed to play songs for 10 seconds
Chad Kuhl was just in the halfway, on a very emotional FaceTime call with his parents back home in Delaware. A complete game has been Kuhl’s goal for as long as he can remember, he said.
Bud Black: "I'm not superstitious"
Also Bud Black: Doesn't allow his pitchers to get a haircut on the day they start because he did it once and had a bad outing
Kris Bryant on the support of
#Rockies
fans so far: "I love it. Obviously going to Colorado over the years, I always really enjoyed playing there. .... Just seeing the Rockies fans, I've heard people in Denver are awesome. It feels great."
Eloy Jiménez is motivated again. He's working on getting his body right, taking pieces from Santander's routine. He's playing to win again, for his teammates and for two coaches who are like father figures to him.
And he's doing it all while having fun:
18 hours ago, Ryan Vilade was getting ready to eat a cheeseburger at a Cheesecake Factory in Sugar Land, Texas. Now he’s in DC with the
#Rockies
for his major league debut