Josh Land

Talking hitting with the King

April 07, 2010, 6:10am

Orioles

As The Orioles returned home to Camden Yards to open a seven-game homestand, I caught up with hitting coach Terry Crowley to talk about the O's 1-4 road trip and overall team hitting. Talking with "The Crow" on the field during batting practice, I asked Crowley about the numbers his hitters are judged by in the public and how he judges his hitters from his perspective as their coach. The Orioles as a team hit just .223 on the five-game road trip to Toronto and Tampa Bay. Those are the...

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Chris Ray working hard to recapture his form

April 07, 2010, 6:05am

Orioles

Chris Ray working hard to recapture his form

During an appearance at the ESPN Zone in the inner harbor Wednesday, Chris Ray reflected on the lonely time spent in Sarasota last season while rehabbing from reconstructive elbow surgery which cost him the 2008 season. Before signing autographs, Ray spoke to fans, recalling how tedious, and at times downright boring, the rehab process can be. Also because of the isolation of a long, slow rehab program, he said he tended to feel like he was no longer part of the team. But every morning...

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Chris Ray Jim Hunter Orioles

Bergesen will learn from Yankee Stadium start

April 07, 2010, 5:55am

Orioles

Bergesen will learn from Yankee Stadium start

Every young pitcher coming to the big leagues for the first time has to go through the adjustment process of facing experienced and patient major league hitters. Big league hitters know what they want to hit and they are patient enough to wait out a pitcher, especially an inexperienced one. Brad Bergesen has held his own in his first six starts for the Orioles, and his loss in New York against the Yankees will go a long way toward his continuing education, especially his battle in the...

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Brad Bergesen Jim Hunter Orioles

Snapshots from Washington, DC

April 07, 2010, 5:52am

Orioles

For the first weekend of interleague baseball, the Orioles were scheduled in Washington D.C. for the first of their home and home series against the Nationals. It was a coincidence of the schedule but it was wonderful to be in the nation's capital over Memorial Day weekend. MASN combined its game crews and Jim Palmer and I got to share the booth with Nats announcers Bob Carpenter and Rob Dibble. It was interesting and a lot of fun to hear the Nats' perspective from Bob and Rob while...

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Jim Hunter Orioles

Orioles covering the nation for 2009 Draft

April 07, 2010, 5:50am

Orioles

Even with the Orioles on a west coast road trip, the Warehouse at Camden Yards has been a buzz of activity as Joe Jordan and his staff go through the final preparations for the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. This will be Jordan's fifth draft as the Orioles director of scouting. In a third floor conference room, reports on hundreds and hundreds of players fill the large table. A draft board goes through updates and changes. Empty food containers fill waste baskets. And the scouts on...

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First-Year Player Draft Jim Hunter Orioles Orioles Draft

Interleague play has lost its luster

April 07, 2010, 5:48am

Orioles

When Major League Baseball made interleague play part of the schedule in 1997, there was genuine excitement and interest in the games between American and National league teams. But now, in its 13th season, interleague games just don't have the flair they once had. I remember how highly anticipated the Orioles' first interleague series was in 1997. The O's went to Atlanta to take on the Braves in a three-game weekend series. The O's were in first place in the AL East and the Braves...

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Interleague Play Jim Hunter Orioles

New season, new site

April 07, 2010, 5:03am

Orioles

I'm sure you've noticed by now that MASNsports.com has received a face lift in the wake of the new baseball season. We've made a lot of changes - but hopefully ones that will make things easier and more enjoyable for you, the readers. Along with the new look, we've updated the system we use to publish entries, which won't mean a lot of changes to the articles from your side, but if you're looking for your answer in the comments section of this week's 'Where in the Yard?' you won't...

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kate wheeler orioles orioles buzz

Two birds with one stone

April 06, 2010, 6:25pm

Orioles

Never has that clichÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â© seemed as gruesome as it does when you say it in Birdland.... But in any case, you can take care of two O's items in one swoop with the new exclusive T-shirts from the Right Side Foundation. Nick and Christina Markakis's Right Side Foundation has announced a limited edition T-shirt sale to raise money for the right fielder's charitable foundation and the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation. The orange Under Armour Tech T-shirts sport the Right Side...

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kate wheeler nick markakis orioles orioles buzz

Food and Beverage Guidelines at Oriole Park

April 06, 2010, 6:23pm

The Orioles have one of the most liberal food policies in professional sports. Outside food and beverages may be brought into Camden Yards, subject to the following guidelines: Soft-sided and paper bags are permitted at Oriole Park, as long as they fit into a 16" x 16" x 8" container. Hard-sided coolers, thermoses, glass bottles, cans or alcoholic beverages are not permitted into the ballpark. Non-alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles are permitted into the park. All items will be...

New on the menu

April 06, 2010, 6:21pm

Orioles

This year when you head to Oriole Park, you'll still have the old stand-by options, like Boog's BBQ, Italian sausages, hot dogs, pizza, French fries, soft pretzels, ice cream, peanuts and popcorn. But now you'll also be able to enjoy the food from several local restaurants inside Camden Yards. Look for the following food items from these local restaurants: Greene Turtle: Turtle bites and sliders (lower concourse) Attman's Deli: First floor of the Warehouse in what used to be...

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Kate Wheeler Orioles Orioles Buzz featured_top

What's new at Oriole Park

April 06, 2010, 6:20pm

Orioles

You might remember this Orioles Buzz post filling you in on some maintenance going on at Camden Yards this offseason. Well, phase one of the Maryland Stadium Authority's deferred maintenance program is finished, and all the concrete and seats between the foul poles on the lower level have been replaced. The new seats have high backs and cup holders, and seats between the bases are cushioned. The other change connected to the maintenance plan involved numbering of the seats throughout...

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Kate Wheeler Orioles Orioles Buzz

Before the first pitch of the O's home opener (Updated)

April 06, 2010, 6:18pm

Orioles

Before the first pitch of the O's home opener (Updated)

For their 57th season and 19th year at Oriole Park at Camden Yards (yep, 19 years have already flown by since the Yard opened in 1992), the Orioles have a full schedule of Opening Day activities planned. First, to give fans plenty of time to enjoy the ballpark before the O's take on the Toronto Blue Jays, the stadium will open at noon on Friday, and you'll be greeted with a free 2010 schedule and car magnet upon entering the gates. And before pre-game ceremonies even begin, fans will be...

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Kate Wheeler Orioles Orioles Buzz

Where at Nats Park (Updated)

April 06, 2010, 12:51pm

Nationals

Happy Opening Day! Kicking off a new chapter of Where at Nats Park, can you figure out where this photo was taken? Good luck! Answers will be posted on Wednesday. Answer: Good work, folks. This is a Curly W on top of the Capitol dome hanging in the Stars and Stripes Club.

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Kristen Hudak Nationals Buzz

Nats React to President Obama's Visit

April 06, 2010, 12:50pm

Nationals

In a bright red Nationals jacket with a White Sox cap tucked inside his glove, President Barack Obama made his first appearance at a Nationals game to honor the 100 year anniversary of the ceremonial first pitch by an American president. Before the game, he met with the team to wish them luck. He also threw five to six warm up pitches to Pudge Rodriguez. "He was afraid to throw the ball on the ground, but I told him just grab the four seams and just throw it as hard as he [could],"...

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Kristen Hudak Nationals Buzz Pudge Rodriguez Ryan Zimmerman

Okay, I guess I was wrong

April 06, 2010, 12:30pm

Orioles

In my last entry I talked about why I feel Interleague games have lost their luster and are not as appealing to fans. I received more responses on the Interleague topic than any other, and the consensus is that fans and players do still like the concept and want to see Interleague play continue. The fans at Camden Yards seemed to enjoy the Braves, Mets and Nationals coming in for three-game series. The crowds that came out over the weekend for the Battle of the Beltways were large and...

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Jim Hunter Orioles

The prospect is exciting...

April 06, 2010, 12:19pm

Orioles

During spring training in Ft. Lauderdale, Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail made it clear that he expected to see progress on the field and in the won-loss record as the 2009 season progressed. MacPhail stated the Opening Day roster would look different by Memorial Day, still different in July, and probably more changes would be made down the stretch. And the bulk of the players moving to Baltimore would come from the Orioles minor league system. An immediate goal for...

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Jim Hunter Orioles

Growing pains frustrating but necessary

April 06, 2010, 12:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles' rebuilding plan has been well documented, and it's working. The progress is subtle but noticeable and better times are ahead. It is understandable that O's fans are frustrated the team isn't winning more now, but even while turning over the roster and getting younger the O's have become more competitive. Going into Wednesday's game in New York, the O's had played in 42 games decided by 2 runs or less. They are competing. But we all need to be reminded that this is...

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Jim Hunter Orioles

The backbone of the organization

April 06, 2010, 12:17pm

Orioles

Here's a quiz for this week's entry: How many Orioles fans know who David Jennings is? How about Lamar North? Does the name Ed Sprague Sr. or Mark Ralston ring a bell? If not, its understandable but O's fans should get to know them or at least be aware of who they are and what they do. They work in obscurity and their success is directly related to any future success for the Orioles. They are baseball scouts, and they beat the bushes looking for talented players. They are in large...

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Jim Hunter Orioles

The magic number is 5

April 06, 2010, 12:16pm

Orioles

Baseball is a game of numbers. Most are obvious - 4 balls for a walk, 3 strikes for a strikeout, 3 outs in an inning, 9 innings in a game. But for some major league teams, a significant number can be more subtle. And for the 2009 Orioles their significant number is 5. When the Orioles have scored 5 or more runs in a game this season, they have put up playoff-caliber numbers. But when scoring 4 runs or less, the O's have been overmatched. Going into Friday night's home game against the...

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Jim Hunter Orioles

Matusz and Tillman taking every opportunity

April 06, 2010, 12:15pm

Orioles

Matusz and Tillman taking every opportunity

Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz are the youngest players on the Orioles. Matusz is 22, and Tillman is 21. But despite their youth and inexperience, their passion reminds me of what baseball is all about: Having fun while playing the game and enjoying the moment. Tillman is the veteran of the duo. He's in his fourth pro season and has 11 major league starts. Matusz has just completed his first professional season and says he's learned more in his eight starts for the Orioles than he did...