The Maryland Sports Blog

The Baltimore Orioles make a trade sending infielder Robert Andino to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Trayvon Robinson.

The Orioles were expected to non-tender Andino by the November 30 deadline. With the Orioles signing second baseman Alexi Casilla this offseason, and hearing recent news of Brian Roberts’ good health, it makes sense to send Andino to a team where he is needed. Andino was out of minor league options, so he would have to pass through waivers before being sent to the minors.

Robert Andino made a name for himself around Baltimore and the baseball world as being the one that ended the Boston Red Sox 2011 season. September 28, 2011 is better known in Baltimore as “The Curse of the Andino” as his improbable game-winning single to left off Jonathan Papelbon sealed one the biggest collapses in baseball by the Boston Red Sox.

It was the end of the Red Sox season, but it was only the beginning for the Orioles.

Andino was traded to the Orioles in 2009 in exchange for Hayden Penn. He was used as a utility infielder, playing in just 94 games in his first two season with the Birds. Andino got his big shot in 2011 when Brian Roberts missed the majority of the season with a concussion. He wasn’t used to playing everyday, and people wondered if Andino was the answer, or if the Orioles should explore other options. Well, Andino stepped up.

In 2011: 139 games, .263 AVG, 5 home runs, 22 doubles, 36 RBI. While this may not be flattering, Andino wanted to prove that a utility infielder was capable of playing every day, and that second base was his job until Roberts came back.

Andino’s performance in 2011 helped him make his way back to second base in 2012. He got off to a great first month of the season, however, Andino was platooned at second base with Ryan Flaherty, and then put on the back burner with the return of Brian Roberts and the addition of Omar Quintanilla.

After 4 seasons with the Orioles Andino played in 360 games, batted .239 with 16 home runs and 80 RBI. He did earn himself a spot as fan favorite in Baltimore. He brought heart and character that was once missing from a squad that had 14 straight losing seasons.

As we’ve learned last season, the Orioles most important asset is depth in the organization. The 25-year-old switch-hitting Trayvon Robinson will give the Orioles the added depth needed in the outfield. Robinson spent his two seasons in the majors with Seattle, playing in 90 games, while batting .215 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI.

Over 8 seasons in the minors, Robinson batted .281 with 73 home runs and 344 RBI. He was part of a three team deal in 2011 that sent Robinson from the Dodgers to the Mariners, while shipping Erik Bedard to Boston.

Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter look to add even more depth to the organization as the Baltimore Orioles claimed 7-year veteran, Second Baseman Alexi Casilla off waivers this afternoon from the Minnesota Twins.

The switch-hitting Casilla has spent his entire career with Minnesota up to this point. In seven seasons with the Twins: 515 games, .250 Avg, 11 home runs, 72 doubles, 14 triples, and 147 RBI. But, perhaps his most impressive stat is stealing 71 bases in 80 attempts, including 21 of 22 in 2012.

This is part of what Alexi Casilla brings to the table, his speed.  According to Baltimore Sun beat writer, Eddie Encina, Alexi Casilla’s  88.75 stolen base percentage is 2nd all-time behind Phillies’ Chase Utley with 89.63%

The Orioles were dead last with 58 stolen bases last season. They only attempted 87 stolen bases, which is actually 5 more than the Detroit Tigers. The addition of Casilla, if he makes the starting roster, will provide more speed, not to mention defense.

Casilla has played the majority of his career at second base, but he also has played 77 games at shortstop and 10 at third base. This offers Buck Showalter another option to the infield as Brian Roberts, Ryan Flaherty, and Robert Andino are the other candidates waiting in line.

I think this is a great, under-the-radar move by Dan Duquette. Casilla may not be an every day player, but he has proved to be an above average defensive player with a serviceable bat at the bottom of the lineup, and can generate more runs with his ability to steal bases. It may not look like the greatest addition, but I do want to point out that he has a low strikeout rate as he has only struck out 225 times in 1,580 at-bats. For a team that ranked 3rd in strikeouts last season, this is a solid upgrade.

I wouldn’t question Dan Duquette’s methods of improving depth as he was the mastermind behind the crucial roles of Nate McLouth, Lew Ford, and Miguel Gonzalez.

The Baltimore Orioles came away with some gold tonight as three of their players won gold glove awards. JJ Hardy, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters all came away with the gold gloves.

Matt Wieters was the first Oriole to be awarded tonight for his outstanding defense, beating out Russell Martin (NYY), AJ Pierzynski (CWS), and Alex Avila (DET). Wieters is the only Orioles catcher to win the award, and now he owns two consecutive Gold Gloves. He led the league in defensive games played (134) and putouts (994), while ranking 2nd in runners caught stealing (32), and 3rd in caught stealing percentage (38.6). Not to mention he endured 1188.2 innings behind the plate, which is 117.1 innings more than 2nd ranked AJ Pierzynski. It goes unmentioned that Wieters also took a shaky starting rotation and guided them into the Orioles first playoff appearance since 1997.

For Adam Jones, this was also his second Gold Glove and first since 2009. Jones played in all 162 games this season, which seems nearly impossible with the extra-inning games and the sore wrist he battled through. He led AL Center fielders in putouts (439), 2nd in range factor per game (2.75) behind Denard Span, and 3rd in assists (7). This was one of the more controversial awards of the night as Jones beat out Austin Jackson (DET) and Mike Trout (LAA).

The third Orioles Gold Glove award went to shortstop JJ Hardy. This is Hardy’s first Gold Glove honor of his career, and first by an Orioles shortstop since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1992. The sure-handed infielder led AL shortstops in games (158), fielding percentage (.992), assists (529), putouts (244), range factor per game (4.89). Hardy committed only 6 errors all season. This is the second consecutive year Hardy has led AL shortstops in fielding percentage. He beat out Elvis Andrus (TEX) and Brendan Ryan (SEA).

This marks the first time since 1998 the Orioles have had three Gold Glove winners (Palmeiro, Mussina, Alomar). It says a lot about a team that is defensively strong up the middle. Well deserved for the trio.

The MLB Fan Cave contest is back in 2012 and voting has been narrowed down to 50 finalists.  After a successful first year in the Fan Cave, MLB has given their fans another opportunity to pitch themselves, no pun intended, on why they deserve to be in the 2012 Fan Cave.

Those unfamiliar with Fan Cave, it’s a once in a lifetime experience that allows two lucky fans to chill in a pimped out baseball pad and watch every single baseball game from every single team from April to October. During their stay they would write blogs, tweet/post to social media and share experiences through fan interaction. Not to mention bumping elbows with celebrities and Major League players who pop in for visits from time to time. Here is a little tour of Fan Cave 2011

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This season, Trevin Jaggars, 24, from Honesdale, PA is the only Orioles fan in the final 50 applicants for MLB Fan Cave 2012.  Jaggars could be the second Orioles fan in the cave as Ryan Wagner was the first in the inaugural season.  He may be from Pennsylvania but he grew up with the Baltimore Orioles in his blood as most of his family lives in Maryland.  Jaggars idolized Cal Ripken Jr. throughout the glory years and inspired him to play baseball at LaSalle University and Wilkes University.  As a diehard Oriole fan, Jaggars has stayed true to his team through the current 14 straight losing seasons.

Here is Trevin Jaggars’ video application

index.jsp?content=vote&fliqzid=8d35d82f398e4d8d9454e6b051c6bf5c

You can help Trevin’s dream come true by voting him into the 2012 MLB Fan Cave!!!

Former Oriole Luke Scott agrees to one-year deal with Tampa Bay Rays

The Luke Scott era in Baltimore is over as the former Oriole has agreed with the Tampa Bay Rays to a one-year contract that includes an option for 2013.

The 33-year-old  lefty slugger was a fan favorite amongst Oriole fans at Camden Yards for his long-ball power to Eutaw Street and the bright personality he brought to the team.  However, nagging injuries throughout his four seasons, and season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2011 led the Orioles to non-tender his contract, leaving Scott a free agent this off-season.

Scott has been known to be an extremely “streaky” hitter, often going on droughts followed up with a huge power streak.  In his four seasons in Baltimore, Scott’s line looks like this : .260/.342/.485, including 84 home runs and 236 RBI.

Scott will likely be the designated hitter or first baseman for the Rays with both Johnny Damon and Casey Kotchman free agents this offseason.  He has played left field fairly often the past few seasons, but with a young outfield in Desmond Jennings and Sam Fuld, Scott might be best placed at the DH spot.

Camden Yards won’t feel the same without the “LUUUUUUUKE!!!!” call on Opening Day.  O’s fans wish you the best!