Forever the voice of sports in Baltimore

Forever the voice of sports in Baltimore
The day began amid sunshine, warm temperatures and blue skies. But most days in Hawaii are like that. On March 6, 2005 I was just weeks into my first season as baseball play-by-play broadcaster for one of college baseball's all-time great programs at Florida State. Lucky for me the Seminoles had planned a ten-day trip to the islands for that March and that day found us in Hilo for a doubleheader vs. Hawaii-Hilo. As the day went on, my cell phone started to ring off the hook. Soon I found...

Joe Jordan sizes up more O's draft picks

Joe Jordan sizes up more O's draft picks
Today we continue a series of articles on the Orioles' 2009 draft picks. To get more information on the players, we are going to the man that drafted them, O's scouting director Joe Jordan. Earlier, Joe provided his thoughts and analysis on the O's selections in the top ten rounds. In this article he discusses players taken from Rounds 11 through 16. In a follow up next week, he'll talk about some later round picks. All the quotes in the article are from Jordan. Round 11 - Catcher...

Is it too early to worry?

Is it too early to worry?
Let's survey the issues. Brian Roberts returns to Baltimore for further examination of his back. Kevin Millwood's ERA is 29.70. Nolan Reimold is just getting into games. Mike Gonzalez left an outing due to back stiffness. Matt Wieters is 1 for 13 at bat and the O's record is 3 and 8. Am I wrong or is spring training not going so well? Suddenly, how Miguel Tejada fields his next ground ball doesn't seem so important. I hope on opening night, April 6th, I get to write this sentence: ...

Still making his pitch for the Birds

Still making his pitch for the Birds
Andy Mitchell admits he was open to leaving the Orioles organization, where he has pitched since 2001. For the third winter in a row, he was a minor league free agent. But after nine years and nearly 800 innings, all in the minors, he is back with the organization for another go around. He re-signed in late January. "I was ready to listen to any offers I might get," the 31-year-old Mitchell said. "I didn't get as many as I wanted and definitely not one as good as the Orioles offer. It...

Is the game trending toward defense?

Is the game trending toward defense?
Last year, the Seattle Mariners finished 85-77 and recorded 24 more wins than they had in 2008. They made such a dramatic improvement and actually scored 31 fewer runs than the season before. But after giving up 811 runs in 2008, the Mariners gave up just 692 last year. That's 119 fewer runs allowed and 24 more victories. The Mariners pitching had a hand in that, of course, but many are crediting a big upgrade in defense with the increased win total. The Mariners had some of the best...

Did you know...

Did you know...
An Orioles and NCAA tourney hoops version. Did you know........ *The Orioles will not play back-to-back series vs. teams with 2009 losing records until May 14th when they begin series vs. Cleveland and Kansas City. *The Orioles will play 12 consecutive games vs. the Red Sox and Yankees from April 23 to May 5. From June 1-10, the O's play nine in a row vs. the duo. That's 21 of the first 60 games vs. NY or Boston. *As of June 10, Toronto will have played just nine games vs. NY and...

One more time: Joe Jordan talks O's draft picks

One more time:  Joe Jordan talks O's draft picks
Today we present the fourth and final article in a series of interviews with Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan. Once again, Jordan sizes up some of the players he selected in last June's draft. He provides insight and analysis today on a few players the Orioles selected in the 18th round and later last year. At the end of the interview there is a link to the previous stories with Jordan on the 2009 selections. All the quotes in this article are from Jordan. Round 18 - LHP Jarret...

Anxious times for O's fans

Anxious times for O's fans
Oriole nation is concerned. Some are more than concerned. If you talk to fans lately, their first comment on the team usually goes something like, "should I worry about (fill in the blank)." The concerns include: *Brian Roberts' back *Koji's hamstring *Nolan Reimold's return from Achilles surgery *Nolan Reimold's batting average *Mike Gonzalez's back *Mike Gonzalez's velocity *Jim Johnson's struggles *Felix Pie's shoulder *Jeremy Guthrie's ERA *Kevin Millwood's ERA *Matt...

Monday morning musings

Monday morning musings
It was a good weekend for O's starting pitching. Four starters worked a combined 20 innings and pitched to an ERA of 2.25. Brian Matusz got it started with 5 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings Friday vs. Philly. Tillman and Bergesen pitched well in split-squad games Saturday and Kevin Millwood gave up just one run Sunday vs. Philly. Don't the O's seem to pitch well vs. the NL Champs? A switch to the NL East anyone? The four combined: 20IP, 10h, 5er, 7bb, 17K. Let's not talk about...

Minnesota's gain, New York's loss

Minnesota's gain, New York's loss
There were likely many fans and front office people around baseball delighted to see catcher Joe Mauer sign his megabucks contract with the Twins. Mauer's eight-year, $184 million deal tops even Mark Teixeira's eight-year, $180-million package. By the way, Mauer's OPS last year was 1.031 to Tex's .948. Jason Stark of ESPN wrote that if Mauer had made it to free agency, the Yankees and Red Sox may have upped the bidding to 30 million per year for Mauer. Only A-Rod and Derek Jeter have...

After setback, Flacco looks forward to the 2010 season

After setback, Flacco looks forward to the 2010 season
When Mike Flacco reported to Bluefield last summer, many Orioles fans were following his progress closer than they might with most 31st-round draft picks. That had a lot to do with the fact that Mike is the younger brother of Joe Flacco, the Ravens quarterback. But if you look into Mike's baseball past, you find a player with his own story to tell, someone that is working to make his own name for himself. Mike Flacco was a 2005 high school grad. But over the next three years his baseball...

B-Rob comments

B-Rob comments
Brian Roberts said he is making solid progress as he attempts to get in some exhibition games soon and be ready for Opening Day. Roberts was a guest today on the phone on the Scott Garceau show on MASN and 105.7FM the Fan during MASN's Brian Roberts report. "I've taken batting practice three times now with no ill effects of that. The swing is starting to feel better and I've taken ground balls and run around. I'm very close to getting into game action and preparing for April...

David Stockstill will oversee the setup of O's minor league rosters

David Stockstill will oversee the setup of O's minor league rosters
We've learned a few more nuggets of info today and tonight about the front office changes coming with the O's organization. It's been reported that David Stockstill is expected to move into international scouting while his brother John moves into a role leading the farm system operations. While the announcement may come Friday, their official new positions will not take effect until at least opening day. David Stockstill will stay on in his current role to help set the season opening...

Brian Matusz questions and answers

Brian Matusz questions and answers
So Brian Matusz gave up three runs. That matched the total runs he had given up in his three previous outings. They said he didn't have his best stuff, yet Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday went a combined 0-for-6 against him. All pitchers should struggle so. With a 3.10 spring ERA and 19 strikeouts to three walks in 20 1/3 exhibition innings, the kid is playing to rave reviews throughout Florida. Will fans get carried away with their expectations for the lefty? Am I Polish? Yes and yes. ...

Saturday baseball: O's at Chicago

Saturday baseball:  O's at Chicago
Game Preview Orioles (50-72) at Chicago White Sox (62-60) Led by a Brian Roberts home run binge, the Orioles have now won back-to-back games on their current road trip and could win their first series since the All-Star break with a victory tonight. Roberts hit his 4th career Grand Slam, leading the O's past Tampa on Thursday. Last night he homered twice as the O's beat Chicago 5-1 in the opener of a three-game series. Over the last three games, Roberts is 6 for 14 with four homers and 8...

Next for Hobgood: Delmarva

Next for Hobgood:  Delmarva
Right-hander Matt Hobgood reported to the O's minor league camp several weeks early this year and his goal was to make the Delmarva starting rotation this season. Mission accomplished. The 19-year-old that the O's selected with the fifth pick in round one of the draft last June, will head north this weekend with the rest of the Shorebirds. "I'm really excited about my first year of long season ball," Hobgood said. "We should have a really young team and I'd like to think a lot of us...

Will there be another change for Rowell?

Will there be another change for Rowell?
The Orioles are not confirming anything yet, but it appears there have been internal discussions about moving Billy Rowell from outfield back to the infield. Rowell, who played third base his first three seasons in the organization, played right field last year for the Class-A Frederick Keys. The 21-year-old Rowell struggled at bat the last two years with Frederick, but also had a tough time last season adjusting to right field. The O's 2006 first-round draft pick, he made 15 errors with a...

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations

Taking a guess at the minor league rotations
The Orioles have not yet announced their pitching rotations for three of their four full-season minor league clubs. But at this point, it's worth taking an educated guess at what we might see on the mound starting next Thursday. A few days ago, O's skipper Dave Trembley told reporters that Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton and Alfredo Simon would begin the year in the Norfolk Triple-A rotation. The order of the rotation has not been announced. Here are some guesses at...

Where do you stand on "the plan"?

Where do you stand on "the plan"?
Fans have asked about the Orioles moving forward - what is "the plan"? It's not something that is written on paper. The O's don't have a mission statement like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire (remember, that was not a memo). The proof is in their actions. They have drafted pitchers. And then drafted more pitchers in recent years. They are trying to acquire young position player talent that can stick around awhile. They are not chasing big-money free agents right now, much...

If you are watching or listening to today's game......

If you are watching or listening to today's game......
.......why not send in a comment or question to me while you are tuned in. I'll be watching today's game from home here in beautiful Harford County. While you are tuned in and also keeping up with all of Roch's great reporting from the game itself, feel free to send me a comment as well. We've gotten a lot of interesting comments today on my blog about Guthrie & Tillman. Feel free to keep the comments coming there or you can write them here now as well. (No need to repeat what you...