orioles buzz

Horse named after Markakis triumphs at Laurel Park

September 11, 2014, 6:42am

Orioles

Horse named after Markakis triumphs at Laurel Park

We all know Nick Markakis has some kind of glove. What about yesterday's diving grab at Fenway Park that kept Wei-Yin Chen's perfect game intact, or the game-saving grab at the wall at U.S. Cellular Field last month? Yep, Markakis can flash the leather. But Markakis also has some pretty impressive closing speed. What's that? You say Markakis has only stolen four bases this season, six in the last three seasons and has only reached double digits in swipes twice in his nine-year career? Or...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_orioles3 laurel park markakis nick markakis orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: Dominance of Red Sox erases memories of flops in Fenway

September 11, 2014, 5:09am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Dominance of Red Sox erases memories of flops in Fenway

I don't have the greatest of memories, but I vividly remember exactly what I did on June 30, 2009. It was another difficult season for my beloved Orioles, who were already seven games under .500 and losing 9-1 to the Boston Red Sox when a rain delay paused the game in the top of the fifth inning. My girlfriend, now wife, convinced me to stop watching and go out to dinner with her as the summer storm rolled through the city. We opted to pick crabs in Towson on that Tuesday evening, and out of...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

Daniel Clark: Untimely errors may cost Orioles AL's top seed

September 10, 2014, 4:48am

Orioles

Holding onto a 10-game division lead with a postseason berth looking more likely each day, the focus for many Orioles fans is now shifting toward whether or not their team can claim the American League's No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs. Currently, the Angels hold possession of this, four games ahead of the 85-59 Orioles. While there are many variables within each game that ultimately decide the result, the number of errors committed in the field and the impact they have is a variable,...

Comments

Tags:

daniel clark guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Jon Shepherd: Does Chris Tillman qualify as an ace?

September 09, 2014, 6:05am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: Does Chris Tillman qualify as an ace?

Should we now be referring to Chris Tillman as an ace? Well, it depends on what you mean. In the past, I have found that the most contentious part of the discussion is trying to define what it means to be an ace. Some like to think an ace is the best pitcher on a team, but that definition has some trouble. For example, think about the Diamondbacks with Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. They certainly were both aces. Others like to think of an ace as being one of the best 30 pitchers in...

Comments

Tags:

chris tillman guest blogger guestblogger jon shepherd orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: Will homers help O's sink or swim?

September 08, 2014, 5:06am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Will homers help O's sink or swim?

We've all heard the saying "chicks dig the longball," and if that's the case, the Orioles must have a ton of female fans. Frankly, I think guys dig the longball just as much. It's exciting, and we men enjoy excitement, too. The Orioles have finished in baseball's top five in home runs every year since 2011. They led MLB last season with 212 bombs and are out in front this year with 188. There's another saying that says you live and die by the home run. When things are going well and...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: Savoring the main course, and maybe O's just desserts

September 05, 2014, 7:34am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Savoring the main course, and maybe O's just desserts

What is the proper recompense that Orioles fans deserve for enduring 14 consecutive seasons of losing baseball? The honest answer is nothing. If you're a longtime sports fan, you know the hard truth is that the game doesn't owe us as fans anything. The joys are few, the frustrations many. Nevertheless, I cling to my sometimes naive belief that loyalty will be rewarded in time. It wasn't so long ago, during a period when the sufferings were plentiful and often substantial (think 30-3), that...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: Happily eating crow on preseason prediction about Schoop

September 04, 2014, 5:21am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Happily eating crow on preseason prediction about Schoop

Every once in a while, I make awesomely accurate predictions. Back in June, I boldly (and annoyingly) proclaimed to everyone I know that "Guardians of the Galaxy" would be the best movie of the summer. It's grossed nearly $300 million at the box office, partially due to the fact that I've seen it three times and would gladly go again if I could just convince someone to join me. It's arguably Marvel's best movie to date. Told you guys. Other times, I make horribly inaccurate (and equally...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger jonathan schoop orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

#IChallengeAJ: Take on Jones in burger-building Fan Challenge, presented by CareFirst (updated)

August 07, 2014, 12:12pm

Orioles

#IChallengeAJ: Take on Jones in burger-building Fan Challenge, presented by CareFirst (updated)

If you follow Orioles center fielder Adam Jones on Twitter or watch his postgame interviews, you've probably seen or heard his famous "Stay Hungry" slogan. While known for his stellar play on the field, when you hear "Adam Jones," you also think of his love of food. He even created his own signature burger, the @SimplyAJ10 at The Abbey Burger Bistro in Baltimore. Check out the delicious-looking burger below. (Author's note: I've had the @SimplyAJ10 burger, and it was...

Comments

Tags:

adam jones fan challenge i challenge aj ichallengeaj olivia witherite orioles orioles buzz

Daniel Clark: As magic number shrinks, confidence grows

September 03, 2014, 4:53am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: As magic number shrinks, confidence grows

As each week passes by, I can't help but feel increasingly excited and more confident about what awaits this magical Orioles team. As is so often the case when your team has held a division lead for a significant period of time, the pessimist inside can't help but worry that they could slip up down the stretch and allow the unthinkable to occur. At the conclusion of play last Wednesday night, the Orioles held a six-game division lead over the Yankees - a figure that had shrunk from a...

Comments

Tags:

daniel clark guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Jon Shepherd: It will take history for the O's to lose the AL East

September 02, 2014, 5:41am

Orioles

Jon Shepherd: It will take history for the O's to lose the AL East

When it comes to data scientists trying to mainstream the thoughts they have, there can be some misunderstandings. A major topic is how exactly to treat uncertainty or a relatively minimal probability. Three years ago, the Boston Red Sox led a journey starting on Sept. 3 when they reached a 99.6 percent chance of making the playoffs when Carl Crawford mashed a home run and a double, notching four RBIs, to when Carl Crawford feebly dove for a duck snort off of the bat of Oriole Robert Andino and...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger jon shepherd orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: Appreciating what we're seeing with the Orioles

September 01, 2014, 5:07am

Orioles

We've finally reached that point in the season. It's the first day of September and there's only four more weeks of regular season baseball left. It's been a long road to get to this point and the finish line is in sight. Baseball players, managers and coaches all view the season as a marathon. The fans hanging on to every pitch during the season mostly do the same, though overreactions happen. Take the Orioles' trip to Wrigley Field two weekends ago as an example. Some fans would have...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Last chance to enter to win a trip to the 2014 World Series is Sept. 1

August 28, 2014, 7:57am

Orioles

Last chance to enter to win a trip to the 2014 World Series is Sept. 1

Orioles fans: Time is running out for your chance to enter to win a trip to the 2014 World Series from the Maryland Lottery. Pick up the Orioles scratch-off tickets at your favorite Lottery retailer. You could win cash instantly. Or enter any non-winning Orioles scratch-offs for your chance to win a trip to Game 4 of the World Series. One lucky fan will win this ultimate baseball experience that includes: a trip for two for three days and two nights; lower bowl game seats for Game 4; airfare...

Comments

Tags:

maryland lottery olivia witherite orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: Quantifying Steve Pearce's value to O's

August 28, 2014, 5:24am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Quantifying Steve Pearce's value to O's

I think it's safe to say that most of Baltimore is in agreement: Adam Jones is the club's Most Valuable Oriole. In fact, I believe that Jones will seriously compete for the American League's Most Valuable Player honor. He's the pulse of the AL East-leading Orioles, a guy who defends his position at a Gold Glove-caliber level and he's on pace for another 30-home run season. There aren't many players in the game that are more valuable to their clubs than Jones is to the O's. Now that...

Comments

Tags:

adam jones guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz steve pearce zach wilt

Umpires visit Johns Hopkins Children's Center

August 27, 2014, 3:57pm

Orioles

Umpires visit Johns Hopkins Children's Center

You've no doubt heard the old expression, "Nobody loves the umps." (Check out this clip from "I Love Lucy" with Bob Hope.) Well, that's not necessarily true. After a visit from the men in blue earlier today, a bunch of kids at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center think the oft-criticized arbiters are some of their favorite people. Scott Barry, Laz Diaz, Pat Holberg and Jeff Nelson - the crew assigned to tonight's Rays-Orioles game at Camden Yards - spent part of Wednesday at the hospital...

Comments

Tags:

johns hopkins children's center orioles orioles buzz pete kerzel umpires

Daniel Clark: Checking in with the Tides before the September call-ups

August 27, 2014, 4:50am

Orioles

Daniel Clark: Checking in with the Tides before the September call-ups

As the end of August approaches and the Orioles continue to hold onto a seven-game division lead, the September call-ups this year will be of increased importance. When September arrives, the Orioles' roster can expand from the current 25-man group to the entire 40-man roster, with additions providing reinforcements down the stretch. Some of these key additions are having strong seasons with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, who are currently sitting in second place in the International League...

Comments

Tags:

daniel clark guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Oriole Advocates to hold Cardboard to Leather collection Saturday at Camden Yards

August 25, 2014, 8:55am

Orioles

Oriole Advocates to hold Cardboard to Leather collection Saturday at Camden Yards

On Saturday, Aug. 30, the Oriole Advocates will conduct their 2014 Cardboard to Leather collection at Camden Yards, presented by Legg Mason. The Oriole Advocates created the program in 1992 to provide new and used baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Since the program started, the Oriole Advocates have distributed tons of equipment to youth baseball players throughout the world in places such as Afghanistan, Aruba, Belgrade, Belize, Cuba, the...

Comments

Tags:

cardboard to leather oriole advocates orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: Machado's injury creates a ripple effect for Orioles

August 25, 2014, 5:46am

Orioles

For a moment last week in Chicago, it looked like the Orioles were going to be able to salvage a nice road trip despite dropping a series in Cleveland to start the swing. The White Sox had just been swept and the lowly Cubs were on the horizon. Then it all came crashing down - hard. One sweep (in part because of Jake Arrieta and Tsuyoshi Wada) later, no one feels quite as confident in the O's as they did a week ago. The division lead has shrunk from nine to six games, and there's still plenty...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger manny machado orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: Orioles' road attendance and why it matters

August 22, 2014, 4:54am

Orioles

I'm jealous of Orioles fans who are visiting Wrigley Field this weekend. I love Wrigley and wish that I had been able to make the trip out there. If the Baltimore chatter amounts to anything, there will be a lot of orange in them thar stands as fans take advantage of a golden opportunity to experience one of baseball's historic gems. The draw of Wrigley Field is obvious; you can understand why fans would make a weekend of it. Perhaps it's not only about the ballpark, though. O's fans seem...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: O's have ignored adversity and still thrived

August 20, 2014, 8:12pm

Orioles

Zach Wilt: O's have ignored adversity and still thrived

Let's be honest, the Orioles are running away with the American League East. A few years ago, I never thought I would get to say those words, but here in 2014, it's totally true. The O's are 21 games over .500 and have a nine-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays. Their postseason odds have now soared as high at 97.1 percent, according to Baseball Prospectus, with a 96 percent chance of winning the division. Baseball in October is almost a certainty in Baltimore this year. There's even a...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

Daniel Clark: What stands between the Orioles and playoff success?

August 20, 2014, 4:30am

Orioles

Barring a complete meltdown in the remaining six weeks of the season, the Orioles look certain to make a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and will hope to do so by winning the American League East title for the first time since 1997. With just 38 games now remaining in the regular season, the O's hold an 8 1/2 game division lead and look forward to a favorable schedule over the next few weeks, which includes the completion of the current series against the White Sox, a...