Paddy Holden
@pfholden.bsky.social
I used to write about the Caps. And write and podcast about the O's. Now I don't.
Sometimes I do stuff here: http://thecaridrive.bandcamp.com/
Sometimes I do stuff here: http://thecaridrive.bandcamp.com/
a headline straight out of #ootp
Jack Hughes to miss next eight weeks for Devils after undergoing surgery to repair finger cut suffered at team dinner
Jack Hughes to miss next eight weeks for Devils after undergoing surgery to repair finger cut suffered at team dinner
The New Jersey Devils will be without Jack Hughes for the next eight weeks. Hughes underwent surgery to address an injury to…
russianmachineneverbreaks.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:47 PM
a headline straight out of #ootp
Reposted by Paddy Holden
In Vlad's defense, we have no idea how the Maple Leafs would do in this round of the playoffs
A wild choice from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he arrives at the Rogers Centre in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey.
Clearly some thinking behind it — but not exactly the Game 7 history you want to be replicating tonight.
Just four hours away now.
Clearly some thinking behind it — but not exactly the Game 7 history you want to be replicating tonight.
Just four hours away now.
October 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
In Vlad's defense, we have no idea how the Maple Leafs would do in this round of the playoffs
on a scale of 1-to-Chris Bourque, how's the internet handling Iorio being claimed on waivers?
October 17, 2025 at 12:32 AM
on a scale of 1-to-Chris Bourque, how's the internet handling Iorio being claimed on waivers?
what exactly are we doing with these blue helmets
October 12, 2025 at 12:59 AM
what exactly are we doing with these blue helmets
til that ryan holiday is still a thing
Spencer Carbery takes reading inspiration from outside of sports: "I’m more of a business book person" russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2025/10/10/s...
Spencer Carbery takes reading inspiration from outside of sports: ‘I’m more of a business book person’
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery is still learning new tricks in his third season as an NHL head coach. During an appearance…
russianmachineneverbreaks.com
October 10, 2025 at 11:56 PM
til that ryan holiday is still a thing
Injuries and the lack of adding enough pitching get a lot of the blame for the O's season. But what Tony's talking about will have a huge impact on the next 3-5 years: was this a down year for a bunch of core guys, or is the core just not as good as they were projected to be?
Tony Mansolino on the Orioles' offense this season: "We need our key guys to turn it around this winter and into next year. And there’s probably a variety of things that need to get turned around with some of those guys. And they will."
September 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Injuries and the lack of adding enough pitching get a lot of the blame for the O's season. But what Tony's talking about will have a huge impact on the next 3-5 years: was this a down year for a bunch of core guys, or is the core just not as good as they were projected to be?
wow this lineup is well capitalized
Leadoff man Ryan Mountcastle in game 153 for the Orioles:
Mountcastle DH
Westburg 3B
Henderson SS
O’Neill LF
J. Jackson RF
Mayo 1B
Basallo C
Mateo CF
Vazquez 2B
Povich LHP
Mountcastle DH
Westburg 3B
Henderson SS
O’Neill LF
J. Jackson RF
Mayo 1B
Basallo C
Mateo CF
Vazquez 2B
Povich LHP
September 19, 2025 at 12:13 AM
wow this lineup is well capitalized
10/10
Kachina Lives! The AHL's Tucson Roadrunners quietly changed their primary logo to their Arizona Coyotes kachina-inspired design for the 25-26 season. How do you feel about this new version of the retired 'Yotes logo?
Our Tucson Roadrunners logos page 👇 www.sportslogos.net/logos/list_b...
Our Tucson Roadrunners logos page 👇 www.sportslogos.net/logos/list_b...
September 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
10/10
It's easy to dunk on this but the reality is that a healthy and productive O'Neill would be a huge boost for the 2026 O's, especially because he's a righty bat. Getting him back to potentially close the season with some positive momentum sounds great to me.
There’s a good chance outfielder Tyler O’Neill returns to the Orioles in Toronto on Friday, Tony Mansolino said.
Catcher Gary Sanchez will begin a rehab assignment tonight that will last an estimated two weeks
Catcher Gary Sanchez will begin a rehab assignment tonight that will last an estimated two weeks
September 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
It's easy to dunk on this but the reality is that a healthy and productive O'Neill would be a huge boost for the 2026 O's, especially because he's a righty bat. Getting him back to potentially close the season with some positive momentum sounds great to me.
Since 2015, a SP has thrown 70+ innings in a season 1534 times. Trevor Rogers ranks:
HR/FB 2.7% 1st (of 1534)
LOB% 84.5% 34th
BABIP .214 7th
HR/FB 2.7% 1st (of 1534)
LOB% 84.5% 34th
BABIP .214 7th
August 25, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Since 2015, a SP has thrown 70+ innings in a season 1534 times. Trevor Rogers ranks:
HR/FB 2.7% 1st (of 1534)
LOB% 84.5% 34th
BABIP .214 7th
HR/FB 2.7% 1st (of 1534)
LOB% 84.5% 34th
BABIP .214 7th
In other words, "back up the truck of money it'll take to keep me here and I'll take a look, but ownership acting like the players are the reason more extensions haven't happened ain't it, man"
Gunnar Henderson declined to speak in specifics regarding his contract situation, but he said if the Orioles approach him, “I will definitely look at it with my team and be happy to look over it.”
August 23, 2025 at 10:06 PM
In other words, "back up the truck of money it'll take to keep me here and I'll take a look, but ownership acting like the players are the reason more extensions haven't happened ain't it, man"
Signing Basallo is a great move by ownership and they deserve credit for doing this. But for Rubenstein to say it symbolically proves he'll pay the $500m+ it'll take to keep Gunnar, and to imply Gunnar is the reason an extension hasn't been signed, feels disingenuous.
David Rubenstein had a firm message today at Samuel Basallo’s press conference: The Orioles want to do more of these long-term extensions and have the money.
It was surreal hearing this while I was sitting next to Gunnar Henderson, an obvious candidate: www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
It was surreal hearing this while I was sitting next to Gunnar Henderson, an obvious candidate: www.thebanner.com/sports/oriol...
August 23, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Signing Basallo is a great move by ownership and they deserve credit for doing this. But for Rubenstein to say it symbolically proves he'll pay the $500m+ it'll take to keep Gunnar, and to imply Gunnar is the reason an extension hasn't been signed, feels disingenuous.
Mike Elias finally did the thing!
There's still a lot of work to make the 2026 team a contender. And a lot of bad will from the fans from 2025 performance and Birdland membership changes. But this extension is a huge deal both because Basallo rules, and the O's were willing make this type of move
There's still a lot of work to make the 2026 team a contender. And a lot of bad will from the fans from 2025 performance and Birdland membership changes. But this extension is a huge deal both because Basallo rules, and the O's were willing make this type of move
The Orioles and catcher Samuel Basallo are closing in on an eight-year contract extension worth $67 million with an option for 2034, per source.
Escalators based on awards and playing time at catcher max out at $88.5 million, source said
Escalators based on awards and playing time at catcher max out at $88.5 million, source said
August 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Mike Elias finally did the thing!
There's still a lot of work to make the 2026 team a contender. And a lot of bad will from the fans from 2025 performance and Birdland membership changes. But this extension is a huge deal both because Basallo rules, and the O's were willing make this type of move
There's still a lot of work to make the 2026 team a contender. And a lot of bad will from the fans from 2025 performance and Birdland membership changes. But this extension is a huge deal both because Basallo rules, and the O's were willing make this type of move
The O's are gonna play tremendous baseball the rest of the way and give the FO the excuse they need to just sign, like, Miles Mikolas and call it a day, eh?
Gunnar Henderson pulls an RBI triple down the right-field line to score Jackson Holliday. The Orioles take a 3-0 lead on the Red Sox in the seventh, and they are playing some tremendous baseball of late
August 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM
The O's are gonna play tremendous baseball the rest of the way and give the FO the excuse they need to just sign, like, Miles Mikolas and call it a day, eh?
ah yes, that familiar excitement as an o's fan to see another top hitting prospect debut, knowing he will spend his years of team control with the 27th best pitching staff in baseball
August 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
ah yes, that familiar excitement as an o's fan to see another top hitting prospect debut, knowing he will spend his years of team control with the 27th best pitching staff in baseball
My guess is Jackson and Mounty see decreases in playing time, but they find steady enough time for everyone while keeping Basallo (and Beavers) under 130 at bats to preserve their rookie eligibility
Very interested to see how Mansolino plans to manage playing time between Adley/Mounty/Mayo/Basallo/Jackson and where Basallo gets most of his time.
August 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
My guess is Jackson and Mounty see decreases in playing time, but they find steady enough time for everyone while keeping Basallo (and Beavers) under 130 at bats to preserve their rookie eligibility
he has earned precisely 130 at bats, no more
Dylan Beavers said by “controlling my forward move” better, he has unlocked greater success, and power, in the minors.
He ripped through Triple-A, with a .304 average and .934 OPS.
"He’s knocked the door down and he’s earned it,” Tony Mansolino said.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/oriol...
He ripped through Triple-A, with a .304 average and .934 OPS.
"He’s knocked the door down and he’s earned it,” Tony Mansolino said.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/oriol...
Orioles promote outfield prospect Dylan Beavers
Beavers will wear No. 12. To make room, the Orioles designated outfielder Greg Allen for assignment.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
August 16, 2025 at 11:29 PM
he has earned precisely 130 at bats, no more
rip gone too soon at the age of 4
August 9, 2025 at 11:53 PM
rip gone too soon at the age of 4
At least when the Caps priced me out of attending games regularly, they had a competitive team + long-term commitments to star players. The O's suck, are only MLB team to not have a player signed to a long-term deal, and then significantly downgrade the fan experience and affordability.
el-oh-el
el-oh-el
I asked. You answered. A lot of you answered.
I’ve spent the last few days hearing from Birdland members about the Orioles’ changes to their season packages. As one person wrote me: “Figure out how to nicely print, ‘It’s bullshit.’”
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/oriol...
I’ve spent the last few days hearing from Birdland members about the Orioles’ changes to their season packages. As one person wrote me: “Figure out how to nicely print, ‘It’s bullshit.’”
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/oriol...
August 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
At least when the Caps priced me out of attending games regularly, they had a competitive team + long-term commitments to star players. The O's suck, are only MLB team to not have a player signed to a long-term deal, and then significantly downgrade the fan experience and affordability.
el-oh-el
el-oh-el
the elite talent pipeline
The Orioles open their series against the Athletics with a new-look outfield:
Holliday 2B
Westburg 3B
Henderson SS
Rutschman C
Mountcastle DH
Noda RF
Mayo 1B
Allen CF
Carlson LF
Sugano RHP
Holliday 2B
Westburg 3B
Henderson SS
Rutschman C
Mountcastle DH
Noda RF
Mayo 1B
Allen CF
Carlson LF
Sugano RHP
August 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
the elite talent pipeline
the number of seats i am renewing next year as a birdland member is equal to the number of long-term extensions the orioles have handed out
The Orioles are rolling out modified season ticket packages for Birdland Members beginning with the 2026 campaign, and with them comes the introduction of 20-game and 40-game ticket packages in place of the former 13-game and 29-game plans. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/oriol...
Orioles modify season ticket packages for 2026 season
Baltimore has contemplated a change of this sort for almost a decade, before a change in ownership groups led David Rubenstein to the helm and Catie Griggs to the role of president of business operati...
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
August 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
the number of seats i am renewing next year as a birdland member is equal to the number of long-term extensions the orioles have handed out
I agree with this. My concern is, given how many holes the 2026 roster has + this FOs lack of aggression when it comes to buying, I think there's a decent chance that 2 or more of these guys or similar players are part of Plan A for the pen in 2026. I hope Mike proves me wrong!
Kade Strowd, Corbin Martin, Grant Wolfram, Yaramil Hiraldo, Elvin Rogriguez ... each one of them has one or two interesting qualities, but on the whole I'm just not optimistic about any of them sticking as above average relievers, and any pen that has several of them in it is likely to be awful.
August 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I agree with this. My concern is, given how many holes the 2026 roster has + this FOs lack of aggression when it comes to buying, I think there's a decent chance that 2 or more of these guys or similar players are part of Plan A for the pen in 2026. I hope Mike proves me wrong!
And once called up, they'll also have to be kept under 130 at-bats in order to remain eligible for rookie of the year
Expect to see Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers called up to the Orioles on or after August 15th - Prospects called up for the first time on Aug. 15 or later cannot exceed 45 days of MLB service this season which keeps them eligible for Rookie of the Year next season.
August 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
And once called up, they'll also have to be kept under 130 at-bats in order to remain eligible for rookie of the year