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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,...

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No game today

October 03, 2010, 8:22pm

Orioles

When I was broadcasting Triple-A games back in the 80's and early 90's, my broadcast partner, Bob Black and I, had a running joke. We used to say the three saddest words in baseball were "no game today." In a way, it is sad. Yes it does feel strange today to not have a game to cover, watch or attend. I might have to watch Bull Durham to get my fix. Actually, to be honest, it will be nice to take a few days to slow down a bit and re-charge the batteries after the long season. The...

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Two noteworthy items

October 04, 2010, 7:20am

Orioles

When teams begin play in the Arizona Fall League a week from tomorrow, it turns out that Tyler Townsend will be playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions. The team's roster includes 8 O's minor leaguers. Townsend told me recently he would not play in Arizona, but rather Australia. The reasoning being that he is a "taxi squad" player on the Scorpions and said player can only start once or twice a week. He needed more at bats than that and playing in Australia would provide that. Now, word is...

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O's players talk about the club's strong finish

October 03, 2010, 9:50am

Orioles

O's players talk about the club's strong finish

Over the last few days, the O's players have been asked a lot about the team's strong finish under Buck Showalter and what it could mean for the club's future. Here are some player opinions. Nick Markakis: "It shows you what we have and what we're capable of doing. I've said all along we've got a great group of guys and we have great talent. It's just a matter of putting it together. When we put it together, we can play with anybody." Markakis on the 14-13 record vs. the AL East...

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Too soon to look to Spring Training?

October 04, 2010, 5:19am

Orioles

Here we are on the first day of the offseason, with today the first of many days without Orioles baseball. On one hand, it's a bit of a relief to the players, coaches, managers, and front office members who have put in long hours over a long season. On the other hand, it won't take more than a few days before things already start to feel empty around Oriole Park. When the team departs, so does a certain energy from the Warehouse, and the overcast feeling of winter days without baseball...

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The 2010 season comes to an end as Tigers top O's, 4-2

October 03, 2010, 12:22pm

Orioles

The 2010 season comes to an end as Tigers top O's, 4-2

It began April 6th with a one-run loss on the road vs. Tampa and ended this afternoon with a two-run, home loss vs. Detroit. In between, the Orioles did have some fun this season, especially since August 3rd. The Tigers beat the Orioles 4-2 in the regular season finale as the Orioles finish the 2010 season with a record of 66 and 96. Even in pitching well today and giving his team a quality start, Brad Bergesen gave up three runs, one more than the O's starters had given up in the first...

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Bergy and Nick talk about the regular season finale

October 03, 2010, 1:26pm

Orioles

Bergy and Nick talk about the regular season finale

Try as they might, the Orioles just could not put together a five-game win streak in 2010. Not even under Buck Showalter. They lost 4-2 today to the Tigers to see a four-game win streak snapped and post a final record of 66-96. The O's had six, four-game win streaks this year. Here are some post-game comments from Nick Markakis and Brad Bergesen. Markakis went 3 for 5. Did he know he could finish with a .300 average with a 5 for 5 day?: "Yeah, I knew. It was a longshot, but it is...

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With a win today...

October 02, 2010, 6:13pm

Orioles

...The O's will: *Finish with a record of 67-95, topping last year's win total by three. *End the second-half of the season as they ended the first, with a four-game sweep. The O's won four straight at Texas from July 8-11 right before the All-Star game. *Have their seventh series sweep of the year of three or more games. *Finish the year with a .500 record combined at 36-36 in games vs. AL Central and Western division foes. *Finish the second-half with a winning record of 38-36. *End...

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Matusz and Gonzo talk about another night of stellar O's pitching

October 02, 2010, 6:03pm

Orioles

Matusz and Gonzo talk about another night of stellar O's pitching

On a night when he had some of his best stuff of the season and produced a career-high nine strikeouts, Brian Matusz continued the O's starting pitching roll tonight in a 2-1 win over Detroit. He gave up just two hits and one run over six innings, throwing 100 pitches to finish his year at 10-12, 4.30. Over his final eight starts, the 23-year-old lefty went 6-0, 1.57 and tied his career-high with a six-game win streak. "All my pitches were working today. I was using them all in different...

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Matusz on the mound: Lefty latest starter to shine as O's top Tigers

October 02, 2010, 5:08pm

Orioles

Matusz on the mound: Lefty latest starter to shine as O's top Tigers

For the Orioles it was a case of another night and another outstanding performance from a starting pitcher. Brian Matusz had the honors on Saturday night, allowing just one run over six innings as the Orioles tamed the Tigers 2-1, in front of 35,332 at Camden Yards to take the first three games of this series. Matusz gave up just two hits and one was a solo homer by Brandon Inge in the 2nd. He improved to 10-12, 4.30 and won for the sixth time over his last eight starts. The O's three...

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Luke Scott talks about his MVO award

October 02, 2010, 2:16pm

Orioles

At the end of April, Luke Scott was batting just .194 with only two homers. Who knew then he would end the year being named winner of the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole award. "For me, it's a tremendous honor. It has been a year of a lot of adversity but it's been a year of a lot of victory for myself and us as a group. We had the opportunity to cash it in and go through the motions the rest of the year. It says a lot about this group of guys in this clubhouse. The character that...

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Thinking about Ernie Tyler

October 02, 2010, 1:58pm

Orioles

We are sending along best wishes tonight for Orioles long time umpires attendant Ernie Tyler, who became ill earlier today at the ballpark and was hospitalized. Ernie, who celebrated his 86th birthday in April, is currently stable and staying overnight at University of Maryland Medical Center for observation. His sons Jimmy and Freddy are with him. An O's official said doctors have not determined yet what caused Ernie to feel ill. Tyler began his 50 years of service to the Orioles in 1960...

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MacPhail on possibly dealing young pitching & O's attendance

October 02, 2010, 1:33pm

Orioles

MacPhail on possibly dealing young pitching & O's attendance

As Andy MacPhail spoke to reporters at Camden Yards today he again mentioned the club's interest in acquiring a middle of the lineup bat. I asked him if now that some of the young pitchers have made the Major Leagues and had some success, if the club is more open to trading some of its young pitching to get a bat. "We always have to be open to whatever we think makes us better and we have to look at it on an individual basis. No grand pronouncements about whose not available, who is...

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Guthrie on his outing vs. Detroit

October 01, 2010, 6:39pm

Orioles

After watching Chris Tillman hold the Tigers to one run on three hits over seven innings in game one, the O's had to be hoping Jeremy Guthrie could duplicate that outing in game two vs. Detroit. He did even better. Guthrie gave up just two singles over eight shutout innings in the Orioles 2-1 win as they swept a doubleheader. Guthrie and Tillman combined to give up just five hits and one run over 15 innings tonight. "It feels real good to go out there and give this kind of effort as a...