Anthony Amobi: Remembering what made me a fan

Anthony Amobi: Remembering what made me a fan
It's been a tough stretch for Baltimore Orioles fans over the past decade. No matter where you reside - whether it's in Maryland, Florida, California or any part of the world - it's been startling to see what has happened to the Orioles. Sadly, they have not had a winning season since Bill Clinton was president of the United States of America. Yet, despite it all, I and most of my friends who rooted for the Orioles growing up still do so today. It's obvious that the Birds have lost more...
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Trying to change these Sox (with Mahoney update)

Trying to change these Sox (with Mahoney update)
If you need some good news to perk you up, the Yankee fans left Baltimore after Sunday's game. They had to make room for all the Red Sox fans. Didn't perk you up? Sorry. The Orioles have lost 11 of 13. The Red Sox have won five in a row and eight of nine. I'm really doing a lousy job of improving your moods. Again, sorry. As I mentioned yesterday, the Orioles have been outscored 10-2 in the first inning this season. Boston has pitched back-to-back shutouts. Probably not a good idea...
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Machado hits second professional home run

Machado hits second professional home run
I can't let you go to bed without a Manny Machado update. I'd never forgive myself if you tossed and turned all night. Machado hit his first home run in the South Atlantic League, and his second as a professional, in Single-A Delmarva's 7-3 victory over Savannah. Machado, who hit one home run in the Gulf Coast League last year, in his first at-bat on Aug. 28 after being the third-overall pick in the draft, went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to leave his average at .290. All three RBIs came on...
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Derrek Lee and slow starts in April

Derrek Lee and slow starts in April
It won't make any fans that are down on Derrek Lee feel any better, but Lee has had slow starts in April before. His start this April is worse than his start last April but better, in some stat categories, than his start in April 2009. In 2009, by the way, he finished with an average of .306 and hit 35 homers with 111 RBIs and an OPS of .972. He finished ninth in the National League Most Valuable Player vote that year. None of this means he will have a season like that this year, but it...
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Feeling left out so far (updated)

Feeling left out so far (updated)
The Orioles' shifted much of their winter focus to finding right-handed bats that would improve their record against left-handed pitching. Derrek Lee, Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy were added to the 25-man roster via free-agent signings or trades. What could go wrong? Well, we're dealing with an extremely small sample size less than a full month into the season, but the Orioles are 1-4 against left-handed starters. They beat David Price in the season-opener at Tropicana...
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Minor league notes on Hoes, Atkins, Mummey and more

Minor league notes on Hoes, Atkins, Mummey and more
A couple of fans have written to ask me about LJ Hoes and why he played left field Sunday for Single-A Frederick. This is not a position change and Hoes is still considered a second baseman. But as I have written many times now, the Orioles plan to have many of the minor leaguers play other positions from time to time. It just makes sense to do it while they are in the minors as they take a look at them there and see if the players can add to their respective resumes. It's why we will see,...
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The Red Sox get their act together

The Red Sox get their act together
When the Orioles started 6-1 while Boston was going 0-6, it was quite a reversal of fortunes for the two teams. After the additions of players like Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, Boston was a popular pick to win the American League East, the AL and even the World Series. Then came their worst start since 1945. But predictably, the Red Sox have gotten their act together and they are 10-5 since then, while the Orioles are 2-11. In winning five in a row and eight of nine, Boston's starting...
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Anthony Amobi: Amid struggles, O's still deserve fans' support

Anthony Amobi: Amid struggles, O's still deserve fans' support
Good morning everyone, I'm Anthony Amobi and this is my first entry as a guest blogger for MASNsports.com First and foremost, I'm a hardcore Orioles fan and have been through thick and thin. It's a been rough time for us fans over the past 13 years; however, I'm an eternal optimist and believe better days are head for Orioles fans. I'm a native of the Washington, D.C., area and currently reside in Maryland. Growing up, I was introduced the Orioles as a teen and I've been a fan ever...
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Summing it up in three words

Summing it up in three words
I tried to find a succinct way to sum up yesterday's 11-inning loss to the Yankees, but I decided to let catcher Matt Wieters do it. "It definitely stinks." Thanks, Matt. Wieters also could have been talking about the weather or this 2-11 stretch that is starting to look a lot like the 2-16 start last season, except it's been sugarcoated a bit because it's following a 6-1 start. Make sense? If the Orioles began this season 2-11, the anger and frustration would be dialed up even more....
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Not a completely lost weekend

Not a completely lost weekend
While the Orioles were outscored 21-6 by the Yankees the last two days, is was not all bad. Yesterday's game seemed to featured big play after big play in the final innings. The O's matched the Yankees and looked like they would pull out a huge comeback win that was much needed. After 11 losses in 13 games, fans are predictably down. There were a few things to take from the weekend, however. * Jake Arrieta battled well again versus the Yankees. He has made four career starts against New...
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Clubhouse quotes after the O's loss to New York

Clubhouse quotes after the O's loss to New York
Some postgame comments from the Orioles after their extra-innings loss to New York. Jake Arrieta on settling down after giving up two runs in the first: "Just made good pitches. Even the slider to Granderson (that he homered on) wasn't a bad pitch, he's swinging the bat well now. Had to bear down and make pitches when I needed to. I kept us in the game. The walks in the first was really the only thing I was upset about." Arrieta on the pitch to Granderson in the first: "It was a slider,...
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Postgame Showalter

Postgame Showalter
Orioles manager Buck Showalter couldn't fault Matt Wieters' pickoff attempt on Robinson Cano at second base in the top of the 11th inning. Wieters had the right idea, but the wrong execution. Cano was credited with a steal of third base after Wieters' made a wide throw, and the Yankees scored three times in a 6-3 victory over the Orioles that completed a sweep of this abbreviated series. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's 11-inning loss to the Yankees "It was a good...
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The rally comes up short: O's fall to Yankees in 11 innings

The rally comes up short: O's fall to Yankees in 11 innings
On a day the Orioles rallied from three runs down to tie the Yankees when they were down to their last out, they still lost the game, falling 6-3 in 11 innings. New York wins both games here in the rain-shortened series. The Orioles fall to 8-12 and are just 2-11 over the last 13 games. Robinson Cano, who had been 0-for-4, doubled to lead off the 11th off Jason Berken and then stole third base when catcher Matt Wieters tried to gun him down straying off the bag at second. After a strikeout...
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Rain stops, along with Orioles' momentum

Rain stops, along with Orioles' momentum
The Yankees have taken a 6-3 lead over the Orioles in the 11th inning after a 40-minute rain delay and another pitching change. Jason Berken replaced Jeremy Accardo with no outs and a full count on Robinson Cano, who lined a double to right field to extend his hitting streak to 16 games against the Orioles. With Nick Swisher batting, catcher Matt Wieters tried to pick off Cano at second base. Not a bad idea, except Cano broke for third as Wieters' throw to shortstop Robert Andino tailed to...
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Down on the farm

Down on the farm
The game is expected to resume at 5:35 p.m. following a major downpour. We're in the top of the 11th with the score tied, 3-3. It's nice to see the tarp off the field. Down on the farm, Triple-A Norfolk rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 11th to defeat Durham, 6-5. Nick Green led off the inning with a single and took third on Brendan Harris' double. Blake Davis lifted a sacrifice fly with one out, and Matt Angle followed with the game-winning single. Angle returned to the Tides'...
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Taking rain-delay questions & comments (play will resume at 5:35p)

Taking rain-delay questions & comments (play will resume at 5:35p)
This game is now in a rain delay as of 4:56 with the O's and Yankees tied 3-3 in the top of the 11th. The Orioles rallied from 3-0 down to tie it on a Mark Reynolds' two-run homer in the 7th and a Brian Roberts' two-out RBI double off Mariano Rivera in the last of the ninth. While we wait out the raindrops, feel free to drop a question and/or Orioles comment right here right now.
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Matt Wieters: Brick wall in shin guards

Matt Wieters: Brick wall in shin guards
The Yankees thought they had the lead in the top of the 10th inning. So did just about everyone in the ballpark. Alex Rodriguez lifted a fly ball to medium center field against Orioles reliever Jeremy Accardo with one out and Derek Jeter tagging at third base. Jones unleashed the throw to the plate, where Matt Wieters reached up for it and slapped the tag on Jeter, who slide into the catcher's foot. Once again, Wieters demonstrated that he's a physical presence behind the plate, and when...
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Scott comes within inches of big hit (Roberts gets it)

Scott comes within inches of big hit (Roberts gets it)
Luke Scott was 2-for-13 with one home run lifetime against Mariano Rivera when the Yankees closer entered today's game with runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Scott drove the ball to left field, which the Yankees weren't expecting with speedster Brett Gardner playing so shallow. Gardner went into a full sprint, reached over his head and somehow made the catch for the final out. The game is definitely tied if the ball eludes Gardner's glove, and I like...
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Reynolds ends skid

Reynolds ends skid
Mark Reynolds was hitless in his last 22 at-bats before launching an opposite-field, two-run homer off Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain in the seventh inning. Adam Jones singled with one out and Reynolds followed with a shot to right, his first homer since April 9 against the Rangers' Colby Lewis. Matt Wieters struck out, and manager Buck Showalter let Cesar Izturis bat, creating a spirited debate in the press box. One reporter agreed that Izturis should bat, which would allow Brian...
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Arrieta gives Orioles a chance

Arrieta gives Orioles a chance
Too bad the Orioles forgot again to unpack their bats. You'd think the anthem or the opposing pitcher's warmup tosses would provide a reminder. Jake Arrieta has allowed three runs and five hits, with three walks and a career-high nine strikeouts in six innings. He's thrown 97 pitches, and it appears that Koji Uehara will replace him in the seventh. Give Arrieta credit for holding the Yankees to one run after the first, but again, an Orioles starter put the team in an early hole. And...
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