When he is playing well, Orioles outfielder Adam Jones can fill up the stat sheet. When he is on top of his interview game, he can fill up reporter's notebooks. While O's fans wait for Jones to get his postseason offense in high gear, he had the interview game going strong on Thursday. During the Orioles 45-minute team media availability, a steady stream of local and national reporters gathered around the O's center fielder. Here are some topics Jones addressed: On the Erik Bedard trade...

In the first 17 years there was a Championship Series in each league, starting in 1969, there were only three years (1975, 1981 and 1982) when neither the Orioles nor Royals played for the pennant. They just never played against each other. That changes tonight when the Orioles host the Royals in Game 1 of the 2014 American League Championship Series. The Orioles host the first two games before the scene shifts to Kansas City. The Orioles won 96 games to take the AL East and then swept...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter made a small adjustment to his roster for the American League Championship Series. Showalter is keeping 11 pitchers. The only change is the addition of left-hander Brian Matusz and the removal of right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Left-hander T.J. McFarland has been excluded again, with Showalter choosing to add only one southpaw to his bullpen. The position players remain the same. Jimmy Paredes and Kelly Johnson stay on the roster. Infielders/Outfielders (12) Cruz,...

The Orioles have announced their roster for the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals. INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS (12) Nelson Cruz Alejandro De Aza Ryan Flaherty J.J. Hardy Kelly Johnson Adam Jones David Lough Nick Markakis Jimmy Paredes Steve Pearce Jonathan Schoop Delmon Young CATCHERS (2) Nick Hundley Caleb Joseph PITCHERS (11) Brad Brach Zach Britton Wei-Yin Chen Kevin Gausman Miguel Gonzalez Tommy Hunter Brian Matusz Andrew Miller Bud Norris Darren...

This trading deadline, we saw Cy Young award winner David Price get dealt to the Tigers. The Red Sox shipped stud left-hander Jon Lester to the A's for slugger Yoenis Cespedes. Martin Prado, John Lackey, Allen Craig, Gerardo Parra and Andrew Miller were also part of deals this July 31. It was a busy trade deadline, one in which the Nationals' acquisition of infielder Asdrubal Cabrera didn't draw much attention. Cabrera ended up being a key piece of the Nats' run to the National League...

At the beginning of the postseason, there was a chance for a Bay Bridge Series between Oakland and San Francisco, an Interstate 70 Series between St. Louis and Kansas City, and a Beltways Series between Baltimore and Washington. Now the only possibility is the I-70 Series, but it's not going to happen. The Orioles will beat the Royals in five games and play in the World Series against the Giants, who will win the National League pennant in six games. It will be a black-and-orange World Series...

I arrived for our family vacation in Florida this week with a suitcase stuffed to the feathers with five Orioles hats, seven Orioles T-shirts and an Orioles sweatshirt - and that was after whittling down my baseball clothing options. I'm not ashamed to say that I've become a billboard for Orioles pride of late; I'm absolutely basking in the reflected glory of this American League East title and this postseason run. My dedication won't carry me so far as to get an O's tattoo, although as a...

So it is finally here. The day of the first game of the American League Championship Series between the Orioles and the Kansas City Royals. This felt just like another All-Star break. The last game was Sunday. Just like the four-day break in July. "We're ready. It's been a long wait. It's going to be a wild atmosphere here and we're ready for it," O's first baseman Steve Pearce said before the Orioles workout on Thursday at Camden Yards. Here are some other notes and quotes with the...

The Orioles are encouraging fans to continue wearing orange to tonight's Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. It's not a blackout Friday at Camden Yards. Maybe you can bring a black umbrella to go with your orange jersey. Cover all the bases, as well as yourself. The umpires for the ALCS are crew chief Joe West, Brian Gorman, Marvin Hudson, Dan Iassogna, Ron Kulpa, Tim Timmons and Mark Wegner. Manager Buck Showalter must turn in his roster by 10 a.m. Here we go again. I...

There are a lot of leftovers from today's interviews with current and former players at Camden Yards. Anyone object to leftovers for dinner? The Royals lead the majors in stolen bases, and their ability to be disruptive on the basepaths has become a popular storyline leading into Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. The Orioles must find a way to control their running game. Is the defense forced into making adjustments? "A lot," said shortstop J.J. Hardy, owner of a new...