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In pursuit of homers: Should Markakis pull the ball more?

October 14, 2010, 4:35pm

Orioles

In pursuit of homers: Should Markakis pull the ball more?

It's been said and asked before about Nick Markakis by those with the Orioles and some others from outside the organization. Why doesn't he pull the ball more and hit a bunch of homers over that right-field scoreboard? Some think that short right-field porch should become a regular landing place for Markakis homers. That is, if he would turn on the ball more and drive the inside pitch to right. We know Markakis loves to hit to left and left center and has gap-to-gap power. But he can...

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The O's vs. the East & Avery's breakout AFL game

October 16, 2010, 7:54am

Orioles

The O's vs. the East & Avery's breakout AFL game

There were so many ways to statistically quantify how dramatic the turnaround was for the Orioles under Buck Showalter. You can look at the starting pitching stats or the hitting with runners in scoring position stats. You could also look at how the O's did when playing the Beasts of the AL East. Before Showalter took over, the club won just one of 15 series vs. the East. Then, under Buck, they won five of nine. They were 10-35 before Buck and 14-13 vs. the East with Buck. Here is what...

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Gary Thorne named play-by-play announcer for international broadcasts of ALCS and WS

October 15, 2010, 5:22am

Orioles

Gary Thorne named play-by-play announcer for international broadcasts of ALCS and WS

The O's may not be battling their way through postseason play this October, but for O's fans abroad this time of year, the voice of the postseason might start to feel familiar. Gary Thorne, your very own O's play-by-play announcer on MASN, was recently given the same role to play in the international broadcasts of the 2010 ALCS and World Series. Starting today, Thorne will work together with Cy Young Award-winner Rick Sutcliffe to bring baseball fans from 219 countries and territories and...

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One final thought: My take on the top prospects' lists

October 13, 2010, 6:36pm

Orioles

One final thought: My take on the top prospects' lists

There is no spin or excuses that can explain the fact the Orioles had just four players listed on the Baseball America minor league top 20 prospects lists while the rest of the AL East had 56 combined. The O's come up lacking big time here and got blown away by the rest of the division. To me it raises a red flag or two and is cause for concern, but certainly not wide spread panic. It doesn't mean everything the O's are doing is wrong or that they can't produce talent. They do have a...

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MacPhail's take on the Baseball America lists

October 13, 2010, 6:19pm

Orioles

MacPhail's take on the Baseball America lists

I checked in with Andy MacPhail to get his thoughts on why the Orioles had so few prospects on the Baseball America minor league top 20 prospects lists. He can see, like we all can, that the O's had just four players listed and it tied Oakland for last in baseball. "The last two drafts, for whatever reason, we've had an inordinate amount of our players hurt, just didn't play a lot. Givens, Townsend. Then you add to the fact that no one is signing until August 15th these days. "But...

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Jim Callis on Machado, Mahoney and more

October 13, 2010, 6:27am

Orioles

Earlier today, I ran a story with quotes from Jim Callis of Baseball America discussing the O's lack of players on the publication's top 20 prospects lists in minor league baseball. Only four players from the O's farm - Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta, Xavier Avery and Wynn Pelzer - were listed in the top 20 of any league. In Baseball America online chats about each league, several O's prospects were referenced. Manny Machado would have likely been the top prospect in both leagues in played...

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A look at the O's lack of prospects listed by Baseball America

October 12, 2010, 4:08pm

Orioles

A look at the O's lack of prospects listed by Baseball America

This is not a good statistic for the Orioles farm system. Just four players from the O's organization were listed among the Baseball America top 20 prospects lists for each league in minor league baseball. One of the four came in a trade. That tied Oakland for last in all of baseball. Pitcher Zach Britton was ranked 2nd in the Eastern League and 6th in the International League. Outfielder Xavier Avery was rated 12th best prospect in the Carolina League and pitcher Jake Arrieta was 14th in...

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Talking with Buck about the minor leagues

October 11, 2010, 11:34am

Orioles

Talking with Buck about the minor leagues

As new O's manager Buck Showalter continues to put his stamp, if you will, on this organization, what about the minor leagues? During his brief time as O's skipper, Showalter already has made trips to Bowie and Aberdeen and saw some of the O's younger prospects workout during the instructional league camp at Camden Yards. How much impact and input does Showalter want to have on the minors? In a recent meeting in his Camden Yards office, Showalter talked on that topic. "I trust John...

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For O's Erbe, the comeback begins

October 10, 2010, 1:16pm

Orioles

In 2009, with Bowie, Brandon Erbe was limited to 14 starts due to shoulder problems. This year he had to deal with more shoulder issues. He made 14 starts for Triple-A Norfolk. He would pitch just once after June 20th, throwing a couple of innings on July 24 in an injury-rehab outing with Aberdeen. This time, the problem led him to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum on August 13th. Angels' physician Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the procedure. "It was the same injury (this season),...

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A couple of notes

October 10, 2010, 5:44am

Orioles

There seemed to be some confusion among fans as to whether Xavier Avery will be playing in the Arizona Fall League. He will be and is indeed on the Scottsdale Scorpions' roster. The AFL season starts on Tuesday. It should be an interesting challenge for the 20-year-old Avery. "It means a lot. It's an opportunity and I'm going to take it, a chance to get better and see better pitchers. Some of the best talent in the minor leagues will be there," Avery said of playing in the AFL. Avery...

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Vote for Luuuuke!

October 11, 2010, 7:01am

Orioles

Today is your last chance to cast your vote for Luke Scott for the Hank Aaron Award, which is given annually to the top offensive player in each league. This year, fan votes will be counted alongside the votes from a panel of Hall of Famers hand-selected by Hank Aaron himself. So toss your vote in with Tony Gwynn, Harmon Killebrew, Paul Molitor, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, and Robin Yount to help Scott secure the honor of this year's award. Check out Luke Scott's batting stats here...

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The O's need to keep Izzy at short

October 08, 2010, 7:33am

Orioles

When it comes to quantifying defense, we just don't have many stats that really provide the value of a player that offensive stats can provide. It is easy to see which player drives in a lot of runs and gets on base a lot, but which players keep runs from scoring? Which players create confidence and a real peace of mind for a young pitcher when they are playing behind him? Hard to put a stat on that. Despite the obvious offensive shortcomings, I think the O's should resign Cesar Izturis...

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Analyzing Markakis

October 07, 2010, 1:55pm

Orioles

Here's a question for you. If Nick Markakis hit .338 this year with runners in scoring position and .299 last year, how come last year he drove in 101 runs and this year he had just 60 RBI? Twice in his previous four full seasons with the Orioles, Markakis knocked in 100 runs and he averaged 91 RBI per year from 2006 to 2009. Clearly this was a season where Markakis' batting average and on base were around what he has done before, but the power numbers were down. If you analyze some...

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The five biggest developments of Buck Ball

October 06, 2010, 7:44pm

Orioles

The five biggest developments of Buck Ball

Well, a lot of good things happened in the last two months for the Orioles. Here is one man's take, ranking them from five to one, on the biggest developments with the club under Buck Showalter. 5 - Matt Wieters was empowered to become a leader. Under Buck, you get the impression that Matt Wieters knew he had to, at some point, become a leader on the Orioles. He was at the center of the core group of young talent on the team and plays a position that demands a certain level of...

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Aramark appears to be out at Oriole Park

October 07, 2010, 10:12am

Orioles

Aramark appears to be out at Oriole Park

Aramark has served as the Orioles' food vendor since Camden Yards opened in 1992, and they've popped up in the news and here in the Orioles Buzz a handful of times in the last year or two. But heading into the 2011 season, the Orioles have decided to part ways with their long-time concessions vendor. It wasn't that long ago that the O's announced the arrival of a new head chef and a slew of new menu items (Opening Day 2009), as well as the addition of food and beverage items from local...

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Solid first season for Arrieta ended on high note

October 05, 2010, 5:19pm

Orioles

Solid first season for Arrieta ended on high note

By the end of the 2010 season, Jake Arrieta was what we thought he was. One of the top pitching prospects in baseball. In his last three starts, which were against Boston, New York and Toronto, Arrieta went 2-0, 2.60. Over 17 1/3 innings, he walked just two and fanned 13. The reduced walk number was a key stat for Arrieta during his 18 Major League starts this season. Arrieta when he walked 2 or less: 5-0, 2.66 in 8 starts. Arrieta when walking 3 or more: 1-6, 6.70 in 10 starts. That,...

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Can the Twins go toe-to-toe with the Yankees in October?

October 06, 2010, 1:43pm

Orioles

Can the Twins go toe-to-toe with the Yankees in October?

I guess the Rays didn't call the Orioles for a scouting report on Cliff Lee. The Rangers lefty shut down the Rays today as Texas won game one of their playoff series, 5-1. In his two Rangers starts vs. the Orioles, Lee gave up 14 ER over 14 2/3 innings, allowing seven homers. Now tonight in the AL, it's the Yankees at Minnesota. While I have plenty of respect for the Twins and their entire organization, I wonder if they are just a little psyched out about playing New York in...

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Keep the O's spirit alive in October

October 06, 2010, 12:37pm

Orioles

One day the O's spirit will be alive in October during a playoff run that will have Baltimore buzzing. But for this year, Birdland will settle for a remarkably strong finish under new Orioles skipper Buck Showalter and the eternal hope of the offseason and eventually spring training. So if your O's enthusiasm is still running high and you're looking to ease the cold turkey feeling that comes with the end of the season, spice up your fall decorations with an Orioles carved pumpkin. Once...

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During a trying season, Reimold turned to Brady for help

October 05, 2010, 7:11am

Orioles

During a trying season, Reimold turned to Brady for help

Nolan Reimold admits he had reached a real low point in his season. Expecting to be an every day player in the Orioles lineup, instead he was the regular left fielder in Norfolk. And he was struggling badly at bat. His average was low and so were his spirits. He needed someone, anyone to reach out to for some advice, tips or anything that could get his bat going. He was given the phone number of former Orioles outfielder Brady Anderson. "I had his number for two weeks and then just...

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Reimold ready to regroup for next year

October 04, 2010, 5:29pm

Orioles

Coming off a 2009 season where he hit .279-15-45 in 358 at bats, Nolan Reimold looked poised to have a solid sophomore season in the Major Leagues. But it started with an injury and later it was his bat that wasn't well and he spent more time in the minors than the big leagues in 2010, playing 94 games with Norfolk and just 39 with the Orioles. Reimold said he can sum up his season in one word. "Brutal. If there is one word to describe it, it's probably that. It's been a tough year,...