Behind the scenes of The Sun's Oriole Bird cartoon

Behind the scenes of The Sun's Oriole Bird cartoon
Whether you still get a paper on your doorstep every morning or you check websites like this one or baltimoresun.com to get your O's news, you might have come across The Sun's daily Oriole Bird cartoon, a tradition The Sun revived to honor (or lament) each O's game of the season. They usually put a quirky spin on the opponent or outcome, but have you ever wondered how they come up with 162 new, creative cartoons to match the match-ups or highlight the outcomes of O's games all season long?...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Happy Draft Day everyone - As the O's prepare to make their selections in this year's First-Year Player Draft, we're back for another 'Where in the Yard?' here in the Orioles Buzz. Though this week's image (unfortunately) isn't draft related, you've probably seen them as you've made your way around the ballpark for games here at Camden Yards. So take a look at the photo below and let us know what the item is and where it's located in or around Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Update:...

More with Joe Jordan as the draft heads into its final day

More with Joe Jordan as the draft heads into its final day
Scouting directors have turned the corner and are heading home in the First-Year Player Draft. There are thirty rounds now in the books and today the clubs select for rounds 31 through 50 when the draft resumes at Noon. O's scouting director Joe Jordan talks about his goals for today and those final 20 picks. "Obviously the (draft) board has been decimated, but we're going to look for whose got top end. Do we have the ability to chase another guy or two? "If there are rosters that need...

No problem with Arrieta facing the Yankees

No problem with Arrieta facing the Yankees
If the reports are true - and they likely are - that Jake Arrieta is Baltimore bound to start Thursday's game against the Yankees, I have no real problem with that. We reported in this space yesterday that Tim Bascom was going to join the Norfolk squad and that could lead to Arrieta in Baltimore and that is about to happen. It's about time really. Maybe the O's were holding Arrieta out to avoid Super Two status, although they'll never say that, but he sure has been pitching well. The...

Jordan sizes up day two of the draft

Jordan sizes up day two of the draft
On day two of the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles selected 28 players, completing rounds two through 30. Of the O's 29 picks to date, 15 are pitchers and 14 position players with 20 of the 29 selections being college products. A few moments ago, O's scouting director Joe Jordan talked about the second day of the draft with reporters here in the Camden Yards press box. "It was a good day. We got a lot of guys we targeted and, like every year, that's what you try to do. Had a couple...

Some notes and quotes after New York's 12-7 win

Some notes and quotes after New York's 12-7 win
Unlucky seven: The seven runs the Orioles scored was their most since a 13-7 loss to Texas on May 20. They had scored just 14 runs over their previous nine games. They are now 1-3 on a nine-game homestand, 4-18 over the last 22 games, 7-24 vs. the AL East and 16-42 on the season. Is this good?: The Orioles are 1-9 this year versus New York with nine losses in a row. The Yankees have won 20 of the last 23 and 29 of the last 35 games between the teams. New York is 10-4 over its last 14...

Should there be any mild concern about Millwood?

Should there be any mild concern about Millwood?
Kevin Millwood gave up a two-run homer in the first inning tonight to Nick Swisher. It's the fourth game in a row where Millwood has been scored on in the first inning after he pitched shutout ball in the opening inning of his first nine starts. Maybe it's time for some mild concern over Millwood. In his last two starts, he gave up 10 ER and 16 hits over 11 2/3, including four homers. Then some balls were hit very hard off him in that opening inning tonight. In six starts from April 21...

Wieters on his offense and days off

Wieters on his offense and days off
There has been a lot of talk about catcher Matt Wieters and his offensive numbers, or lack thereof. I asked Wieters about his offense today and also if carrying such a heavy load with catching and playing almost every day hurts his offense a bit. "I don't think so. I think you can look at my numbers last year and they are probably similar to this point in the same number of at bats. You have a good month or couple of weeks and you are right back where you need to be." You know what,...

Bascom joins Norfolk: Is Arrieta on the move?

Bascom joins Norfolk: Is Arrieta on the move?
In a move that potentially could lead to Jake Arrieta joining the Orioles, right-hander Tim Bascom has joined the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. Bascom has not yet been activated, but soon could be joining the Norfolk rotation. The 25-year-old right-hander is 3-4, 3.43 in 11 starts with Double-A Bowie. Over 63 innings, he gave up 71 hits with just ten walks to 41 strikeouts. He has allowed 2 ER or less in seven of his 11 Baysox starts. Bascom is a fourth-round pick from 2007. Bascom last started...

Quotes and comments from Manny Machado

Quotes and comments from Manny Machado
After he had about 25 people over to watch the draft, where he was selected with the third overall pick by the Orioles, shortstop Manny Machado took part in a telephone conference call interview with Orioles reporters tonight. Here are the questions he got and his answers: Q: What was today like for you and did you think you would be drafted by the O's? Machado: "I was just here, hanging out with my family, sitting around, waiting for my name to be pronounced over the TV. It was a great...

Frederick closes in on playoff berth

Frederick closes in on playoff berth
The first-half of the Carolina League season is nearing completion and the Frederick Keys are in the drivers seat to clinch their first playoff berth since 2007. With 13 games left, the Keys lead the Northern Division by eight games over Wilmington. They have a magic number of five to win the division first-half title. Frederick is 35-23, the first time since the end of the 2005 season that the Keys are 12 games over .500. After beating Potomac 3-1 last night, the Keys now have a...

Jordan expects some over-slot signings

Jordan expects some over-slot signings
Well, with all the stories I have written in the last week or so on the draft, believe it or not, in reviewing some of my notes, I actually found some comments from scouting director Joe Jordan that I have not yet published. So let's clean out this quote book once and for all. I asked Jordan if he expects to sign players to over-slot contracts as the O's did with a few picks in the 2009 draft? "I expect to have the ability to do whatever we feel like we need to do. There is a budget,...

Machado is no consolation prize

Machado is no consolation prize
Okay, I'll admit I was hoping the Orioles would get high school pitcher Jameson Taillon with the third pick in the draft. To me the numbers 99 (his top velocity) and 18 (his age) don't often go together. Now, I and all O's fans have to get over it. They didn't make a mistake here, unless winning two more games than the Pirates last year was a mistake. They got shortstop Manny Machado and Joe Jordan seemed very happy when I saw him earlier today and said, if they did wind up with...

Machado to O's almost definite now

Machado to O's almost definite now
Starting this afternoon at 3:30, I'll be hosting a live radio-type podcast here at MASNSports.com. You can call in then with your comments and questions on the draft at 914-338-0105. I hope to take a lot of your calls beginning today at 3:30pm. Here is the link to listen to the radio show. It now appears just about definite that the Orioles will wind up with high school shortstop Manny Machado with the third pick in tonight's draft. ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier today that the...

Chat live with Adam Jones at 1pm today

Chat live with Adam Jones at 1pm today
Well, draft day is finally here. It feels like I've been writing about the draft for weeks, but it's only been about the last week. It's an important three-day stretch for the Orioles. They seem certain to get a highly-touted prospect with their first-round pick tonight, but all of their picks will be important. The Tampa Bay Rays hit big on some draft picks over the years and that helped them climb to the top of the American League East. But while fans are excited about the Orioles...

Jordan looking for some toughness in this draft

Jordan looking for some toughness in this draft
A familiar criticism of the Orioles at times in recent years has been that there is a losing culture around the organization. They need more players that have toughness and just refuse to lose, some say. O's scouting director Joe Jordan said, in addition to talented players, he is looking for players just like that this year in the First-Year Player Draft, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Monday night. "I don't want to make a statement against anyone that's here, but what we've really tried to...

Will the O's be thinking offense in the draft?

Will the O's be thinking offense in the draft?
Many fans are wondering if the Orioles will make a concentrated effort to add some offense in the First-Year Player Draft that begins with the first round tonight at 7 p.m. With the third overall pick in round one tonight the O's could wind up with prep pitcher Jameson Taillon or high school shortstop Manny Machado. Most draft projections have the O's taking one of those young players, which ever the Pirates don't select with the second pick. After that, there are indications the O's...

The closer

The closer
Sorry to leave the comments unattended for so long. I ended up in Canton last night and...well, I ended up in Canton. I could use a little more sleep, but I'm playing tennis in about an hour and I wanted to get the blog cranked up before I dragged my tired body onto the court. The Orioles will make their selection in tonight's First-Year Player Draft no later than 7:15 p.m. Each team is on the clock for five minutes now that MLB Network has gotten involved and we have to milk this sucker...

Special draft day coverage

Special draft day coverage
Don't think I've written every draft story from my notebook yet. There is even more on the way. Later today or tonight, I'll post more thoughts on what the O's might do with the third overall pick in round one on Monday night. Check out my blog and MASNSports.com during the day Monday for updates and special coverage. Monday at 1 p.m. I'll host a special live video chat with the Orioles Adam Jones. We'll talk with Adam about many aspects of his game and his career and you will be...

Some thoughts on the O's draft

Some thoughts on the O's draft
Whether they get a player that can throw a fastball 99 miles per hour, or a shortstop that may be a five-tool talent, the Orioles figure to come out of the first round of Monday's First-Year Player Draft feeling pretty good about things. After the Nationals take Bryce Harper with the first pick as expected, the Pirates are up. Baseball America and ESPN are now projecting that Pittsburgh will select Texas prep pitcher Jameson Taillon with the second pick. Under that scenario the Orioles...