Leading Off

Spring Training is coming to a close. Sarasota, it’s been fun, but there are real games to be played. Sure, maybe not by the Orioles, but somewhere, there are real games to be played!

Join us for The Drink of the Week. Don’t forget to drink socially with us on Untappd.

This Week on the Twitters

Here is what is happening in the world of Orioles Baseball, in 280 characters, or fewer:

MLB suggested sweeping changes to the minor leagues, including a potentially significant increase in salaries, better living conditions and improved travel, during a bargaining session with the group that oversees the minors, sources tell ESPN.

News: https://t.co/dh7M1QgKqI

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 18, 2019

https://twitter.com/JoeTrezz/status/1107273489193582592

He got a piñata for his party, but they had to take it down after he kept swinging and missing.

— Brian Reid (@bshupresident) March 17, 2019

Brandon Hyde has announced 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐛 as our 2019 Opening Day starter! #Birdland pic.twitter.com/ar4VlHPj2E

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 13, 2019

I'm Gary Thorne, Orioles play-by-play announcer on MASN, AMA https://t.co/xbiwsvEE8s pic.twitter.com/5UPnKlvVhS

— Reddit Orioles (@r_orioles) March 14, 2019

Rules of Estrangement

Major League Baseball is shaking things up. The 2019 season will feature a number of rule changes, with more on the way in 2020. In addition, MLB is tinkering with the game further, using the independent Atlantic League as its laboratory.

IT’S ALIVE!!!!!!

Jake and Scott weigh in on the new rules, and suggest a few of their own – both for Major League Baseball (warning: they’re not as terrible as you expect), and a few to make the 2019 Orioles season more watchable (warning: they’re worse than you fear).

Overreaction

Sports fans overreact. It’s what we do. So, we scrape the news off the bottom of the Orioles Spring Training bucket, and overreact.

Except the last one. Jake is totally not overreacting about this one. This is a totally legit. Totally.

Blowing the Save

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Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, we’ll end on a weak note, blowing the save with an item that didn’t quite fit into the episode, or something they simply need to get off their chests. It’s our version of taking the ball and pulling a Kevin Gregg.