It's no secret the bonds of a major league baseball team can closely resemble those of a fraternity. Twenty-five guys, living in and out of suitcases, spending virtually every minute together for an entire season. Ah yes, the brotherhood of baseball. So what would the spirit of a fraternity be without a little good ole' fashioned hazing, right? As it so happens, pictures, like the one seen below, recently made their way onto Nationals catcher Jesus Flores' Twitter account, showing the...

FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Frederick Keys didn't have long to celebrate their Game 5 win in the playoffs last night against Potomac. Tonight, they host the Kinston Indians in Game 1 of the Mills Cup championship series, looking for their first title since 2007. Frederick will start left-hander Nick Haughian tonight in game one. A ninth-round pick in 2008, the 24-year-old Haughian went 8-7 with a 3.67 ERA this year. He didn't pitch in the series with Potomac and will be pitching on nine...

Kyle Hudson is starting in center field tonight. Adam Jones is out of the lineup for the fourth straight game. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Kyle Hudson CF Alfredo Simon RHP Update: The X-rays taken on Jones' right thumb came back negative. It's still painful to grip a bat because of the swelling and stiffness, so he remains day-to-day.

Major League Baseball announced today that center fielder Adam Jones is the Orioles' nominee for the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award. Jones is one of 30 finalists for the award, which recognizes a player who "best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement," according to the press release. Here's more from the release. I'm in cut-and-paste mode: Jones has been very active in the Baltimore community...

Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, the official vehicle of Major League Baseball, today announced that Adam Jones was named the Orioles' 2011 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Jones is one of the 30 Club finalists for the annual award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement. Tomorrow will mark the...

Root around in your closet, poke down to the bottom of the equipment bag, check out the trunk of your family car. Think of anywhere where you might have some wayward baseball equipment - bats, balls, gloves, uniforms, etc - because some kid far away might be able to use the gear that you no longer need. Saturday marks the annual Cardboard to Leather collection at Camden Yards, when the Orioles and Oriole Advocates accept donations of new or gently used baseball and softball equipment. The...

On this day in 1945, a large crowd of more than 24,000 fans turned out to Griffith Stadium to watch the visiting Cleveland Indians play the red-hot Washington Senators. The Senators went into the game having won eight of 10 games and found themselves only one game behind the American League-leading Detroit Tigers. With such a big game in the nation's capital, it would only be fitting that both teams would be starting pitchers who were World War II veterans. The Cleveland Indians' started...

This is a very rare and difficult blog for me to write. I had a discussion with some friends today asking what in the world I should write about. I've discussed the endless pitching problems in many articles, as well as my problems with the management and entire front office, coaching, and training staff. What's next to complain about? As James Baker discussed in his recent guest blog, why do we even watch anymore? I've never thought of that question, just like many of the people he...

Perhaps there's going to be more drama that expected in baseball's final month - and the Orioles have a chance to determine the American League's wild card. It's likely, and not unexpected, that the American League West will be decided on the final three games when the Texas Rangers play the Los Angeles Angels. But, now, there's a possible wild card race brewing in the AL. Even though time is against them, the Tampa Bay Rays came to Baltimore Monday night trailing the Boston Red Sox by...

The 2011 Frederick Keys are a team the Orioles of yesteryear would like. They win thanks to pitching and defense and the occasional clutch homer. Single-A Frederick used that formula to post the best record in the Carolina League this year at 80-59 and used it again to beat Potomac in a five-game first-round playoff series, winning Game 5 last night. The Keys have reached the Mills Cup championship series, which opens tonight in Frederick when they host the Kinston Indians. Frederick led...