Tough weekend for the Orioles? Actually, quite the opposite

Tough weekend for the Orioles? Actually, quite the opposite
In looking back on this past weekend, we saw the Orioles lose two of three against Kansas City. On the field, they've had better weekends, but if you look at what happened off the field at Camden Yards, the club had a pretty good few days. I was lucky to be on hand for two events within a span of about 16 hours that may prove to have been a glimpse into a bright future for the Orioles. I'm talking about Dylan Bundy taking a major step forward on a career path that will surely lead him to...

Matusz on Francoeur's homer and his outing today

Matusz on Francoeur's homer and his outing today
It was a key moment in today's game. The score was tied 2-2 with the Royals batting in the top of the sixth. Jeff Francoeur, who was having a big series, came to the plate and delivered a go-ahead solo homer off Brian Matusz to propel the Royals to a 4-2 win over the Orioles. Matusz fired to the plate, hoping to get the pitch low and in on Francoeur, but it didn't end up there. Moments later, it did end up in the left field seats. "He's swinging the bat really well right now, and I had...

Pomeranz talks about his injury

Pomeranz talks about his injury
Orioles relief pitcher Stu Pomeranz had just returned from the minor leagues on Friday for his second stint with the Birds this year. Now, it appears he is headed for his first stint on the disabled list after coming up with an injury in his left side while warming up in the bullpen in the late innings of today's game. "Yeah, I was warming up," Pomeranz said. "Threw my first breaking ball and something popped from my ribs. We don't what it is yet. I'll get an MRI tomorrow and find out...

Homestand ends with a loss as Royals top Matusz, O's 4-2

Homestand ends with a loss as Royals top Matusz, O's 4-2
Brian Matusz provided the Orioles with a decent outing and a quality start today, but this time it didn't lead to a win. Kansas City scored twice off Matusz in the top of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie this afternoon on its way to a 4-2 win over the Orioles in front of 33,919 at Camden Yards. The Orioles lost the rubber game of this series to the Royals and have now lost back-to-back series' for the first time all year. In 2011, the Orioles had lost back-to-back series by their fourth series...

Matt Wieters is trying to hit his way out of a slump

Matt Wieters is trying to hit his way out of a slump
Matt Wieters' name was not in the original lineup that was posted today, but he was later added. We haven't heard yet exactly what changed that, but Wieters is out there for today's game with Kansas City. Backup catcher Ronny Paulino told reporters he was not hurt, so Wieters playing had nothing to do with Paulino or his status apparently. Right now, maybe Wieters just wants to get out there, realizing you can't get any hits on the bench. He is mired in quite a slump coming into today's...

Dan Duquette on Jones: "A leader in our community and a winner"

Dan Duquette on Jones: "A leader in our community and a winner"
If today's Orioles game goes as well as the Adam Jones press conference, the O's have a great chance to get a win today. There were some very sincere and heartfelt comments made by Jones, O's vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. "This commitment by the Orioles reflects that Adam Jones is more than a fine player. He's a leader in our community, and he's a winner. He has heart and his work in the community makes clear that his heart is always in the right place....

Dylan Bundy talks about his outing tonight at Frederick

Dylan Bundy talks about his outing tonight at Frederick
FREDERICK, Md - Frederick manager Orlando Gomez has been around baseball for many, many years but he admits that tonight's game was special as

Bundy allows a homer, leaves with the lead in Frederick

Bundy allows a homer, leaves with the lead in Frederick
FREDERICK, Md - Life in the Carolina League could prove tSo be more challenging for Orioles 2011 top draft pick Dylan Bundy. It was tonight as the 19-year-old right-hander made his debut for the Frederick Keys and gave up a homer and earned runs for the first time as a pro, but he did leave tonight's game at Harry Grove Stadium with a 4-2 lead as Jason Gurka came on to pitch in the top of the sixth. The final line on Bundy: 5IP, 6H, 2R-ER, 0BB, 6K. Of the six hits he allowed tonight, five...

Tonight's live blog from Frederick

Tonight's live blog from Frederick
FREDERICK, Md - Welcome to Harry Grove Stadium where a huge crowd is filing in to watch tonight's game and see

The plan for Bundy tonight in Frederick

The plan for Bundy tonight in Frederick
FREDERICK, Md. - When the Keys' website and if you are coming out tonight, you are encouraged to arrive early. The Keys are no longer taking any phone orders for tonight's game. Frederick enters tonight at 16-27 and in last place. Their opponent, the Salem Red Sox, is 26-18 and in first place. Gomez said the Salem lineup should provide a test for Bundy tonight. "He's facing a pretty good team. They can hit, they can run and they are aggressive. There are a lot of fastball hitters on that...

Dylan Bundy debuts tonight in Frederick

Dylan Bundy debuts tonight in Frederick
After 30 innings without allowing an earned run in the South Atlantic League, beginning tonight Carolina League hitters will take their shot at Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy. Bundy will make his debut at Single-A Frederick when the Keys host the Salem Red Sox at 6 p.m. at Harry Grove Stadium. The Keys say an over-capacity crowd is expected and fans are encouraged to arrive early. Earlier this week, O's director of pitching development Rick Peterson talked about Bundy's promotion...

Jones drives in two to back Hammel as O's take series opener

Jones drives in two to back Hammel as O's take series opener
There was a festive mood at Camden Yards today with the news that the Orioles are close to signing Adam Jones to a contract extension. Then the game started, and the O's kept the good feelings going. Jason Hammel pitched out of a few jams, Jones knocked in two runs and the O's scored five in the last of the fifth. Chris Davis added a two-run home run in the last of the seventh, and the O's beat Kansas City 8-2 tonight in Game 1 of a three-game series. The Orioles moved to 29-17 and won for...

Is the O's rotation becoming a concern?

Is the O's rotation becoming a concern?
If you are the worrying sort, the current state of the Orioles' rotation could be some cause for concern for you. Over the last five games, the Orioles have just one quality start, and the starters' ERA is 6.51 with 20 earned runs allowed over 27 2/3 innings in that stretch. The Orioles are 21-1 on the year when their starting pitcher gives them a quality start of six innings or more, allowing three earned runs or fewer. Early in the season the O's rotation's ERA ranked among the best in...

Matt Wieters on potential new deal for Adam Jones

Matt Wieters on potential new deal for Adam Jones
Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said that Adam Jones getting a contract extension would be well-received throughout the Orioles' clubhouse. "I think everybody would be very happy for Adam and very happy for the Orioles," Wieters said. "It would mean a great deal for both parties. You know, Adam is a great player, and it's moving in the right direction when you can get players like him to be here for a long time. Adam's been a big part of this team for some years now, so it's nice to keep...

Adam Jones: The deal is not done yet

Adam Jones: The deal is not done yet
Adam Jones said his agent is in town, but Jones told reporters a few minutes ago that, as of this hour, he has not agreed to a new contract with the Orioles. "I wish I could tell you more. But there is nothing to tell you because there is nothing being done right now. I wish I had bells and whistles to tell you, trust me I do. My agent is in town. He has a flight out of here in a couple of hours. Hopefully, I will have some good news for you, but right now I don't," Jones said. He...

A Jones contract extension would be great news for the fans

A Jones contract extension would be great news for the fans
Well, Dan Duquette did say repeatedly last year at the Winter Meetings, not long after taking the job here in Baltimore, that Adam Jones was a player to build around. Now the Orioles reportedly are doing just that. This morning's reports from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOX Sports that the Orioles are close to signing Jones to a contract extension should come as great news to a fan base that is still getting used to the giddy development of being in first place. I guess this also puts...

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian: "The Orioles are for real in every way"

ESPN's Tim Kurkjian: "The Orioles are for real in every way"
Let's face it, some Orioles fans really get excited when they see or hear national reporters speaking well about their team. This year, they are finally getting to see and read some of that. Earlier this week, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian was a guest with Bob Haynie and Mark Zinno on 105.7 FM the Fan in Baltimore and had some glowing things to say about the Orioles. Kurkjian on Buck Showalter: "He has rescued this franchise in a lot of ways and made them relevant. He has changed the culture in a...

Three O's minor league clubs going with six-man rotations

Three O's minor league clubs going with six-man rotations
As it turns out, not only will Dylan Bundy stay pitching in a six-man rotation when he makes his first start for Single-A Frederick on Saturday night, but starting this weekend, three Orioles farm teams will be using six-man rotations. As Bundy moves to Frederick, right-hander Mike Wright moves from Frederick to Double-A Bowie to start tomorrow night and Zach Britton makes his first outing for the Baysox on Saturday, three O's farm clubs - Delmarva, Frederick and Bowie - will be going with...

Brian Roberts: "A good first step tonight"

Brian Roberts: "A good first step tonight"
BOWIE, Md. - Even though he batted twice without once swinging at a single pitch, Brian Roberts was pleased with his first game back tonight at Double-A Bowie as he began a 20-day rehab assignment that he hopes leads him back to the major leagues. "Exciting. Fun," Roberts said of getting back in the batter's box for the first time since May 16, 2011. "You realize how much you enjoy playing the game and how fortunate and blessed I have been to play this long to begin with. Hoping to have...

Roberts' first plate appearance is rather uneventful (second one also)

Roberts' first plate appearance is rather uneventful (second one also)
BOWIE, Md - In his first at-bat since May 16, 2011, Brian Roberts drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the bottom of the first for the Double-A Bowie Baysox tonight. You might have been looking for something more dramatic than that, but Roberts watched five consecutive pitches from Richmond Flying Squirrels lefty Mike Kickham and then ran down the line to take first base. Yes, this is a blog entry about a walk. But, heck, we've come all this way. After Buck Britton struck out, Roberts...