Leading Off



After some time away to deal with COVID (everybody’s fine), and a complete lack of baseball, much less baseball news… we’re back!







Drink of the Week







Join us for the Drink of the Week, and let us know how you’re consoling yourself as you watch the O’s. Find us on Untappd



* magn8606* jakee4025







This Week on the Twitters








The NFL’s playoff expansion made for some boring wild card games that weren’t competitive. Too many teams were blown out because they didn’t belong in the playoffs in the first place.— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) January 17, 2022





Travis Snider has retired, according to his Instagram page. He played for the Blue Jays, Pirates and Orioles in the majors and spent 2021 with the Braves Triple-A team before he was released in September. pic.twitter.com/knDk4MRTKs— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) January 13, 2022





After 17 years, I'm leaving the Baltimore Sun this month to join the new Baltimore Banner and help create a new non profit model for local news here— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) January 5, 2022





If you woke up wondering where the O’s bridge pitchers are in their development down to the day, hi friend. How about 2022 expectations w/these changes? Subscribe to @JonMeoli and it can be emailed to you too. Detailed read as always👊🏻 https://t.co/5Od1IUUTYc— Eric_Birdland (@Eric_Birdland) January 7, 2022








Around the Bases







For the first time in 2022, we go around the bases:



First Base: Will we ever baseball again?



CBA negotiations got pretty quiet between the lockout taking effect in early December (12/2), and the two sides’ next contact on January 13th. MLB made a proposal, and now the players will counter. The question for fans is how long this will go on, and whether Spring Training (or the season?!) might be impacted.



Second Base: Roster Thoughts



The Orioles made big splash in the international signing period, which as interesting in the fact that the team picked up some intriguing talent, as it is that the Orioles have made significant investments in the kind of infrastructure that sustains winning. Additionally, we look at some of the FA moves that took place before Baseball went dark.



Third Base: Mr. Angelos, tear down this wall



The Orioles are moving the LF wall at Camden Yards back, and making it taller. It will now be harder to hit home runs at Camden Yards. Something tells us the guys we’ve had pitching for us since 2018 would still have found a way…



We talk through the fan reaction and possible on-field impact.



Home Plate: Expectations