Camdencast: A Baltimore Orioles podcast.

The Orioles unveiled a new slogan for 2026: Fly different. (Never mind that it should be fly differentLY.) Mark recaps the first few days of the season - games and Baz extension - while trying to believe that this year will be different. Too early to say. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Opening Day, even Mark can summon up some optimism about the Orioles. How long it lasts depends on them. In this episode, he tries with varying degrees of success to find something to be excited about with every player who's on a roster that looks quite different from last year's Opening Day roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Orioles signed Chris Bassitt, the idea that Dean Kremer might be sent to the minors was both obvious and unbelievable. Now that it's done, Mark still can't believe they did it. Also in this episode, dipping into the mailbag for a Blaze vs. Jackson question and thoughts on the defense generally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opening Day is now just nine days away and the Orioles haven't answered many of their lingering questions other than who's starting on Opening Day. Mark thinks about the state of the infield before dipping into the mailbag to try to assess potential O's free agents who could be worth getting the qualifying offer from the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With about two and a half weeks to go until Opening Day, the Orioles could still go a number of different ways with their roster. Mark looks at the open questions to be settled before March 26, all of which is assuming no trade or injury comes along to change the picture before then. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've made it to March, where there will be real Orioles baseball later this month. Yay! In the meantime, Mark is continuing to ponder the case of Heston Kjerstad and lately even wondering about this "three homers" business from Vance Honeycutt. Plus, in the mailbag, a question about some front office movement and what it might mean for future Orioles drafts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there's spring training news, it's usually not good, as we learned last week with the surprise (to us) injury to Jordan Westburg's elbow. Mark talks through the possibilities for Westburg's recovery timeline and his likely replacement. Also in this episode, thoughts on big early spring narratives, particularly Pete Alonso's leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were no surprise starting pitching injuries as the Orioles reported to camp. Even without that, we got a surprise pitching signing of Chris Bassitt. For position players, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg are each dealing with something. Mark contemplates the impact of each of these on the roster in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Framber Valdez signing last week, it's official: The Orioles came up empty-handed in the high end of the starting pitching free agent market. Mark wonders whether there will be regret about this in the years to come. Plus, thoughts on the out-of-nowhere trade of Kade Strowd plus prospects for utility infielder Blaze Alexander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's cold in Maryland and the hot stove has gone cold too while seemingly everyone waits to see where Framber Valdez ends up. Since Mark is on Framber Valdez or bust for the Orioles rotation, he's getting impatient about it. Also, chatter on top 100 prospects and what the O's need to see from the farm this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everybody in Birdland, hope you're staying warm and safe! In this week's episode, Mark looks at a couple of the recent starting pitching trades and how they mostly just further confirm that the Orioles will either end up getting Framber Valdez or nobody else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the way the free agent market has shaken out, the Orioles are down to Framber Valdez or bust when it comes to possible high-end additions. Mark is on team "sign someone who was good last year" and not on team "sign someone who is older than Mark" (Justin Verlander). Plus, a look at the rest of the AL East and what they've done this offseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark is still wondering about the big question of the offseason: Will the Orioles make a big addition at the top of the rotation? For now, there's other business, like this week's start of the international amateur signing period. This episode goes over reports of a shift in strategy for the Orioles and looks at what has gone right with the O's overseas efforts so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between Christmas and New Years, the Orioles brought back one of their disappointing 2025 starting pitchers, Zach Eflin. Even so, a lot has turned over since last Opening Day and there's enough for someone to maybe feel optimistic about the group, even Mark, though he'll regret writing this later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if you were imagining the Orioles trading for a pitcher, it probably wasn't Shane Baz. Mike Elias surrendered four prospects, including two of his recent high draft picks, to bring in the one-time top pitching prospect who's never been both healthy and good in MLB. Mark tries to get his head around this surprise and what it means for the rotation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles signed a big-time free agent! Mark is still in disbelief about landing Pete Alonso, and still impressed about Alonso's introductory press conference. This episode is all Polar Bear, all the time, breaking down why he was an essential addition, what it probably means for the roster, and what it hopefully shows about Elias's commitment to adding to the rotation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The baseball world is gathered for the winter meetings over the next few days. Mark cautions everyone not to flip out over thin rumors before moving on into a preview of the state of affairs heading into the meetings. Plus, in the mailbag, some questions about the back of the starting rotation and whether the Orioles can address it with familiar faces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles capped a busy November with Mike Elias signing (pending a physical) Ryan Helsley to be the team's closer next year. The 2022-24 version of Helsley was exciting. Mark, being who he is, doesn't feel the unbridled optimism, but it could work out. He goes on to assess the rest of the bullpen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big baseball deals don't usually happen in November, but Mike Elias showed that sometimes they can when he dropped in the surprise trade of Grayson Rodriguez for Angels outfielder Taylor Ward. Days later, Mark is still full of contradictory thoughts about the trade, which he tries to hammer into something like sense in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If it was entirely up to Mark, the Orioles would get a big-ticket free agent (or trade) pitcher this offseason and a back-end guy as well. In this episode, he goes through some of the likely candidates for the #4 or #5 addition they also need to make. Also, in the mailbag, a question about the season ticket changes gets Mark ranting again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles shuffled a lot on the roster fringes, on the coaching staff, and in the front office since last time. Mark runs down all of the changes before looking to the essential goals of this coming offseason, particularly the need to get a top starting pitcher. In short, it's scary to have to count on this year's free agent crop to produce an ace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is getting introduced today and Mark is feeling good about the vibes, though of course what ends up happening is what really matters. Can he and his new staff correct what went wrong this year? In the mailbag, a listener has his eyes on Twins starter Pablo López. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOTE FROM MARK: This episode was recorded prior to the breaking news of the Orioles choosing their next manager. We'll talk about it next time. Sorry! The Orioles did not have any Gold Glove or Silver Slugger finalists in the 2025 season. That's not all because of the infield, but the group certainly didn't help, with Gunnar Henderson's power outage, Adley Rutschman's multiple injuries, Jackson Holliday's baserunning problems, and more. Mark runs through the grim details as he wraps the position review series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles still don't have a new manager. Podcast Spouse asked when is it time to panic if there's no hire, so Mark starts off with thoughts on that before moving into the rundown of what happened in the Orioles outfield in 2025. There was a lot of disappointment but towards the end, some excitement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Elias made a number of mistakes last offseason, many of which were concentrated in who to keep from his bullpen and how much he might need to ad to it. The Orioles "Plan A" bullpen could have been worse, but Plan A didn't survive long thanks to injuries, and Plans B and beyond were a whole lot worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2025 Orioles were dragged into oblivion early on by the failure of their starting rotation, which was a nasty combination of Mike Elias making bad decisions last offseason and having bad luck piled on top of that. Mark sifts through the wreckage to try to figure out what went wrong and what has to be done for better things next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The good news is that the 2025 Orioles season is over and they can never lose again. The bad news is that most of their problems will follow them into next season unless some big changes are made in the rotation and bullpen and unless their hitters get their acts together. Mark, as you can probably guess, is not excited. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles offense is limping through September and it's not stopping them from a good record. Now the final weekend of the season remains, and the only question left is: Can the Orioles spoil the Yankees postseason seeding? Mark also dips into the mailbag to start thinking about big-ticket free agents coming this offseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles offense is missing again, averaging just over 3 runs per game for September even with the team having a solid record in that time. What is Mike Elias going to do about all of this mess next season? That's what is on Mark's mind as the season winds down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a good month of September for the Orioles so far, but that wasn't enough to stop them from getting eliminated from the postseason. Mark goes through what's been working and what hasn't this month with an eye towards next year, then tries to will himself into believing they might be able to knock the Yankees down a peg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles September momentum screeched to a halt with a weekend sweep by the Blue Jays. Mark is particularly irked at some pitching decisions made by interim manager Tony Mansolino, and in this episode surveys a recent article mentioning possible future not-Mansolino Orioles managers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles are having a fun September, adding a sweep of the Pirates onto what they've already done. In this episode, Mark is interested in Thursday's report that Mike Elias secretly got promoted this past offseason. Why is that dude so weird? Plus, looking ahead to O's who might get off the IL before season's end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The weekend's news that former Orioles manager Davey Johnson passed away has got Mark thinking back to more innocent days of Orioles fandom from his childhood. Turning back towards 2025, this episode discusses another round of (hopefully) minor injuries and how they might impact the last few weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles started their September with a nice rebound series by sweeping the Padres - a definite playoff team - in San Diego. Good work! More tough teams are coming, with 16/22 remaining games against contenders. Also in this episode, Mark foolishly looks at some free agent pitching targets as if the O's might spend real money on someone good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A dismal month of August, capped by two messy blowouts in San Francisco, has got Mark feeling glum about the prospect of things getting better for the Orioles next year. Can they do anything to turn this feeling around over the season's final month? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The offense has disappeared again and the Orioles just got mopped in a four-game series against the Red Sox and they've now lost seven of eight overall. What is there even to feel good about? Mark grasps for what he can find but mostly it's another disappointing set of games to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark was starting to wonder if the Orioles would ever give out a contract extension to anyone and they finally did it, going for young catcher Samuel Basallo. In this episode, considering the cases for some other Orioles who are or might have once been good candidates, plus Mark's current minimum goal for this team's win total. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark went on vacation for a few days and that's when Mike Elias struck with the Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo call-ups. Some things have gone better with the Orioles in August, particularly in the rotation. Will all of this be enough to build some excitement for 2026? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you get down to it, a team that disappoints as hard as the Orioles have done in 2025 should be bending over backwards to keep fans in the fold. Instead, the Orioles are implementing aggressive season ticket plan changes that may act to drive away a lot of old 13-game holders. Mark is quite unhappy about the decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a weekend series in which the Orioles scored eight runs and got twelve hits across three games, with the brutal hitting (and sometimes fielding) outfield situation still present, Mark is feeling like it's a real grim march to follow the team right now. Good chance to check in on the teams the Orioles traded guys to in July. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watching a bunch of guys who have no business being near an MLB mound get blown out in Philadelphia has not filled Mark with excitement for next season. The Orioles have chosen this time to send out season ticket info where it seems like they're squeezing fans yet again. It's not great! In the mailbag, another lament about a lack of Orioles contract extensions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Orioles traded two outfielders away at the trade deadline, so you'd think that means they're calling up their hot-hitting AAA outfielder Dylan Beavers. Instead, Mike Elias has Jordyn Adams and Dylan Carlson on the roster and had Jeremiah Jackson playing OF in Chicago. Mark is grumpy about this. In the mailbag, assessing pitching depth and Elias's 2026 outlook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Elias was a busy, busy man ahead of the trade deadline, which made for a busy, busy week for your Orioles podcaster/blogger. Mark breaks down each of the many individual trades and tries to look at all of them as a group to see what the O's outlook is for the rest of the season and hopefully for the future with this group. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are three days to go until the trade deadline and unless Mike Elias made late night trades after this recording, the Orioles have only dealt two guys in July. Mark is anxious to get the dealing over with so everyone can start to look towards building the best possible 2026 O's team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices