Orioles announce four additional 2019 promotions

Orioles announce four additional 2019 promotions
The Orioles today released additions to the 2019 promotional schedule featuring three more gate giveaway items and a new week-long Theme Night ticket package. On Memorial Day, May 27, the first 20,000 fans 21 and over will receive a set of two Orioles Outdoor Pint Glasses presented by Sam Adams. On June 1, the first 20,000 fans 15 and over will receive a pair of Orioles Retro Sunglasses. On July 21, all fans who attend the game will receive an Exclusive Baseball Card Pack, presented by...
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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Beethoven in Love; Opus 1139"

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Beethoven in Love; Opus 1139"
Howard Jay Smith is an acquaintance of mine, not through literature, but our shared love of wine. Sampling vino with a group of regular imbibers at a luncheon, we got to talking about this book. He sent me a copy, and thank goodness for that. Smith is an award-winning writer and "Beethoven in Love; Opus 139" is his third book, published in 2015. He has taught at UCLA, published numerous short stories and articles, and been an executive with national television outlets working on films, radio...
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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Monuments Men"

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Monuments Men"
Welcome back to the 2019 edition of "Hitting the Books"! With the support of producer Olivia Witherite, editor Pete Kerzel and you as readers, let's try another trip into the stacks. As from the beginning, the idea is a look at books I've enjoyed and would like to pass along. We will be joined at times by guests-managers, players, coaches, and broadcasters-who'll tell us their favorite reads. Your comments are always welcome. Onward. Preservation of art in a time of war. That was the work...
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Nashville artists join Orioles in Sarasota to benefit Music & Arts Education Scholarships

Nashville artists join Orioles in Sarasota to benefit Music & Arts Education Scholarships
Award-winning Nashville songwriters and musicians joined with Orioles athletes March 1-3 in Sarasota, Fla., to support arts education and girls empowerment during the fourth annual "Athletes & Artists Play for Kids" weekend. Held at Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles' Florida training complex, the weekend featured a "Nashville's Music Row Comes to the Ballpark" charity benefit, two Orioles Spring Training games, an artist workshop for local youth, and an on-field performance from Country...
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"MASN All Access" bringing exclusive live Winter Meetings shows to fans

"MASN All Access" bringing exclusive live Winter Meetings shows to fans
LAS VEGAS - Season's greetings from the Winter Meetings! The "MASN All Access" crew touched down in Vegas this weekend and is gearing up to bring you our biggest and best live shows yet. Where will Manny Machado and Bryce Harper sign? Will the O's name their next manager? How the heck do we find the exit to this casino? We're looking to bring all of these answers to you this week with twice-daily live shows on MASN All Access. Be sure to follow along on Facebook Live from 3-5 p.m. Eastern...
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"MASN All Access" bringing exclusive live Winter Meetings shows to fans

"MASN All Access" bringing exclusive live Winter Meetings shows to fans
LAS VEGAS - Season's greetings from the Winter Meetings! The "MASN All Access" crew touched down in Vegas this weekend and is gearing up to bring you our biggest and best live shows yet. Where will Bryce Harper sign? Which team will make the biggest splash this week? How the heck do we find the exit to this casino? We're looking to bring all of these answers to you this week with twice-daily live shows on MASN All Access. Be sure to follow along on Facebook Live from 3-5 p.m. Eastern time...
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Chris Davis and Mike Wright Jr. play cornhole for charity

Chris Davis and Mike Wright Jr. play cornhole for charity
Chris Davis and Mike Wright Jr. traded in baseballs for beanbags and joined Ravens, Redskins and other local sports celebrities for the second annual Players Philanthropy Fund Beltway Boards & Brews Celebrity Cornhole Tournament at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. The tournament benefited a variety of charities, all through the Players Philanthropy Fund, which was founded by former Ravens kicker and two-time Super Bowl champion Matt Stover, enables athletes and other philanthropists by...
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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Every Thing On It"

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Every Thing On It"
So one more for the year. First, my sincerest thanks to Olivia Witherite, our videographer and digital editor, and Pete Kerzel, our content editor. They are the best. Their earnest interest in Hitting the Books is deeply appreciated. To all who have looked in, thanks. May we always love to read. We end this season of Hitting the Books with a treasure for all ages, "Every Thing On It" by Shel Silverstein. Silverstein is largely known for his book of poetry for kids (read that 1 through 101...
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Ryan Sullivan: Nationals could face a painful choice this offseason

Ryan Sullivan: Nationals could face a painful choice this offseason
The last few games of this past week's homestand put a spotlight on the main storyline of the Nationals' offseason and one of the biggest in all of baseball: Which team will upcoming free agent Bryce Harper sign with this winter? The almost 26-year-old Harper will have, for the first time in his professional career, the opportunity to choose which team he plays for and he can potentially decide this for the duration of his career. Critics knock his mediocre defensive skills, but by any...
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Zach Wilt: A few words of appreciation for Buck Showalter

Zach Wilt: A few words of appreciation for Buck Showalter
I was 9 in 1997, when the Orioles won 98 games and the American League East title. Davey Johnson's club fell in the AL Championship Series to the Indians and then the Birds had losing seasons for the next 14 years. Between that time I graduated high school and college at Towson University, got married to a lovely bride who endured by baseball obsession, and began my career. All the while I kept rooting for the Birds. It wasn't until 2012 that things finally started looking up for my favorite...
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Josh Michael: Some bold prospect predictions for 2019

Josh Michael: Some bold prospect predictions for 2019
This week marks the final week for guest bloggers on MASNsports.com and I could not think of a better way to wrap up the year than to look forward to next year. Today I present my bold Orioles prospect predictions for the 2019 season. Remember, these are bold predictions, so some of them may seem far-fetched, but if they all come true next year, please don't call me asking what your future holds or for the winning lottery numbers (I'd keep that info anyway). Breakout Offensive Prospect - SS...
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Liz Barr: Anthony Rendon still has a lot to play for

Liz Barr: Anthony Rendon still has a lot to play for
On a team with stars such as Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Juan Soto, sometimes it can be easy to forget about Anthony Rendon. And while it's probably what he wants, as the man famously will go to excessive lengths to avoid talking about himself and his accomplishments, we would be doing the world a great injustice if we let what he's done this season go away quietly without mention. Even as everyone has been ignoring him, Rendon has put together a stellar season. And even...
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Andrew Stetka: Showing appreciation for two Orioles icons

Andrew Stetka: Showing appreciation for two Orioles icons
As the Orioles enter the final week of their worst season in team history, they are likely closing the chapter on a much larger story. It's likely the end of two eras in Baltimore that include two of the franchise's most important figures. Buck Showalter and Adam Jones probably aren't returning to the team in 2019, and that brings up a lot of emotions for fans and the organization alike. I hate to even use the word "bittersweet," because it sounds so much like a tired, old cliché. For...
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Opposite dugout: Marlins arrive in D.C. on rare winning streak

Opposite dugout: Marlins arrive in D.C. on rare winning streak
Manager: Don Mattingly (3rd season) Record: 62-93 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C J.T. Realmuto (21 HR, 73 RBIs), RF Brian Anderson (60 RBIs), SS JT Riddle (9 HR, 36 RBIs), LF Derek Dietrich (16 HR, 45 RBIs), RHP Kyle Barraclough (10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 6-10 Pitching probables: Sept. 24: RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-1) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (9-7); 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 25: RHP Jeff Brigham (0-3) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (17-7); 7:05 p.m., MASN2Sept. 26: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-11)...
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Ryan Sullivan: End of 2018 season looms large for Joe Ross, Nationals

Ryan Sullivan: End of 2018 season looms large for Joe Ross, Nationals
One of several reasons the 2018 Nationals have underachieved this season has been their lack of starting pitching depth. Washington suffered lengthy injuries to starters Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson this season, and replacements Erick Fedde, Tommy Milone and Jefry Rodriguez could not adequately replace their performance. However, one could argue the Nationals' pitching depth began to feel strained in July 2017, when Joe Ross tore his ulnar collateral ligament and was forced to...
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Zach Wilt: Will 100-loss season be a turning point for the Orioles?

Zach Wilt: Will 100-loss season be a turning point for the Orioles?
At 44-108, 2018 has officially become the worst season in franchise history for the Orioles. In 65 years of Orioles baseball, 2018 marks just the third 100-loss season. The Birds lost 107 games in 1988, when they began the year 0-21, and 100 games in their inaugural season in 1954. Their .289 winning percentage this season is their lowest in franchise history. With 10 games remaining this season, the Orioles sit 59 games out of first place in the American League East. The last team to finish...
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Opposite dugout: Disappointing season draws to a close for the Mets

Opposite dugout: Disappointing season draws to a close for the Mets
Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 70-82 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Michael Conforto (26 HR, 121 hits); SS Amed Rosario (.260 with 133 hits, 21 SB); 1B Wilmer Flores (.267 with 11 HR, 51 RBIs); 3B Todd Frazier (84 hits, 58 RBIs); RHP Jacob deGrom (8-9, 1.78 ERA); LHP Steven Matz (5-11, 4.03 ERA); RHP Robert Gsellman (3.97 ERA, 11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 8-7 Pitching probables: Sept. 20: LHP Jason Vargas (6-9) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (17-7); 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 21:...
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Liz Barr: Bryce Harper finishing season on a strong note

Liz Barr: Bryce Harper finishing season on a strong note
Bryce Harper's 2018 season has been a roller coaster, to say the least. In a year many predicted to be off the charts due to his upcoming free agency, Harper has underperformed in the eyes of many. His numbers are not fantastic; they're nowhere near what he hit last season (.319/.413/.595) or what he hit in his 2015 MVP campaign (.330/.460/.649). But his season has not been all bad, and it's actually come around quite nicely, especially on the production end. Harper started the year...
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Josh Michael: Three Orioles prospects whose stock fell this season

Josh Michael: Three Orioles prospects whose stock fell this season
Last week, I highlighted three Orioles prospects that saw their stock rise the most in 2018. This week, I will flip the script and highlight three prospects that saw their stock drop the most. As I did last week, I want to remind you that this is not a list of three prospects that had the worst seasons or the three worst prospects in the system. It's three guys who performed well below expectations and saw their stock drop. I will begin with a guy that was on the Orioles' top-five prospects...
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Orioles Braille jersey auction open through September 25

Orioles Braille jersey auction open through September 25
Proceeds to benefit the National Federation of the Blind Tonight, the Orioles hosted National Federation of the Blind Night at Oriole Park, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the organization moving its headquarters to Baltimore. Orioles players and coaches wore specially-designed jerseys with Braille lettering, becoming the first American professional sports team to wear Braille-lettered jerseys. The game-worn, authenticated, and autographed jerseys are available at...
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