orioles buzz

Domenic Vadala: Last hurrah for Roberts?

September 23, 2013, 6:19am

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Last hurrah for Roberts?

While the Orioles are still mathematically in contention, I think it's fair to say that their postseason chances have taken a serious hit this past weekend against Tampa Bay. On a side note - and this is something on which I'll spend some time this off season on Birds Watcher - I don't feel that the 2013 Orioles were any worse off than the 2012 team. But I think that a lot of the competition around the Orioles - such as Boston, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay - simply got better. If, in fact, this...

Comments

Tags:

brian roberts domenic vadala guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: Memories made in Boston and beyond

September 19, 2013, 7:07pm

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Memories made in Boston and beyond

The Orioles' final trip to Fenway Park is in the history books. Those history books already contain several big moments with ties to the current season that occurred on this day. Sept. 20, 2011: The 63-90 Orioles defeat the 88-67 Red Sox by a score of 7-5 as part of a four-game series at Fenway Park. Starter and former Oriole Erik Bedard goes 2 2/3 innings for Boston. Fellow former Oriole Matt Albers provides an inning of scoreless relief with two strikeouts. Robert Andino's eighth-inning,...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: A look ahead to the O's 2014 rotation

September 19, 2013, 5:09am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: A look ahead to the O's 2014 rotation

Even though the 2013 regular season is still a little over a week away from its conclusion, it's not too early to start looking forward to the 2014 campaign and what lies ahead. There's always lots of speculation about the construction of a team's 25-man roster and the Orioles will be no different. The difference for the Birds going into next season is that most of their roster will likely be set. Starting position players are mostly under contract aside from second base and left field....

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka bud norris chris tillman dylan bundy guest blogger guestblogger jason hammel josh stinson kevin gausman miguel gonzalez orioles orioles buzz scott feldman steve johnson tsuyoshi wada wei-yin chen

Orioles schedule fan appreciation celebration activities

September 18, 2013, 10:26am

Orioles

It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the Chris Davis grand slam that capped off an opening day victory for the Orioles at Camden Yards against the Twins. How quickly almost six months can pass when you're busy charting victories and significant milestones. But the end of the 2013 regular season is near, and the six-game homestand that begins Sept. 24 against the Blue Jays will be the Orioles' final one of the season. Which means it's a perfect time to celebrate what's...

Comments

Tags:

orioles orioles buzz pete kerzel

Neal Shaffer: Correcting the course

September 18, 2013, 5:13am

Orioles

The Orioles beat the Red Sox last night and it's worth noting. The win raises the 2013 record against their hated rivals to 8-6, meaning they've got a good shot at winning the season series. Given that the Sox are running away with the division, that counts for something. The win also leaves the O's just two games back of both Tampa Bay and Cleveland for a wild card berth. That, I suppose, also counts for something. Nothing's decided yet. I remain, despite this, mostly (and...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger neal shaffer orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: O's playoff fortunes are in their own hands

September 17, 2013, 6:24am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: O's playoff fortunes are in their own hands

Could there possibly be a better slogan for the Orioles right now than "Buckle Back Up"? If there is, I can't think of one. The O's are in the driver's seat with 13 games remaining in the 2013 season. They're currently two games back of the second wild card spot and tonight they open up a seven game road trip with three in Fenway Park against the firs- place Red Sox and four in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the wild card hopeful Rays. Yeah, "Buckle Back Up." Hopefully, you're strapped...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

Domenic Vadala: Defining success and failure

September 15, 2013, 1:39pm

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Defining success and failure

I live tweet every Orioles game for Birds Watcher, and I monitor Twitter for all things Orioles on a daily basis. (If you're not into Twitter, I highly recommend it.) One thing I gather from seeing the opinions of some Orioles fans is that this season is a complete and utter failure if the team doesn't qualify for the postseason. In a way, I can understand those sentiments on the part of fans, as Baltimore got a reminder of what meaningful late-season and postseason games were like last...

Comments

Tags:

domenic vadala guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: After excruciating loss, remembering better times

September 12, 2013, 7:54pm

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: After excruciating loss, remembering better times

The Orioles won't win the division this year, but on this day in 1969, they clinched the first American League East title. After a loss to Washington by the defending World Series champion Detroit Tigers gave them the division, the O's went out and beat Cleveland 10-5 for good measure, their seventh win in what would become a season-best eight-game winning streak. The win extended the O's division lead to 18 1/2 with 17 games remaining. Baseball had no divisions - only a 10-team AL and a...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: It's time to burn baseball's unwritten rule book

September 12, 2013, 4:35am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: It's time to burn baseball's unwritten rule book

You hear about it all the time. Baseball's list of unwritten rules is the most discussed thing in the game that doesn't even exist. Most know what rules are on the list. What most don't know is that there is a reason that these rules aren't real. It's because these rules are pointless. Joe Girardi's little tirade on Monday night at Camden Yards brought this issue to the forefront. The Yankees manager accused Orioles third base coach Bobby Dickerson of stealing signs, which is one of...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: Matt Wieters and the stats that matter

September 10, 2013, 5:57am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Matt Wieters and the stats that matter

OK, I'll admit it - I'm a bit of a stat nerd. As much as I'd like to, I don't have a scout's eye for the baseball. The numbers help to tell me who's performing well and who isn't and my love of statistics is a big part of the reason I'm obsessed with this game. For instance, Adam Jones' 31-homer, 102-RBI season tells me he's one of the game's best center fielders. No one at his position has more home runs or RBIs by a longshot. Somehow, Jones' offensive outburst in 2013 has been...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matt wieters orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

Neal Shaffer: Thinking about Cal Ripken Jr. as O's return to prominence

September 11, 2013, 4:39am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: Thinking about Cal Ripken Jr. as O's return to prominence

The other day I got to thinking about Cal Ripken. I've got this old baseball. In great shape, still in the Rawlings box. Model RO-A. "Official American League Baseball" from back when the American and National Leagues were separate entities. "Cushioned Cork Center," it says. Emblazoned with the script signature mark of then-AL president Bobby Brown. I'm not actually sure when or how I got the ball. It must have arrived shortly after my family moved to Maryland in '88, right around the...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger neal shaffer orioles orioles buzz

Things get heated in the race for the playoffs

September 09, 2013, 5:20pm

Orioles

Things get heated in the race for the playoffs

At the start of Monday night's game, the Orioles were two games back in the wild card race with the Yankees on their tail, 2 1/2 games back. With the playoff race coming down to the wire, emotions were bound to spark. We saw that happen as Buck Showalter had to be retrained by the umpire while arguing with Joe Girardi before the second inning began. It is still unclear as to what exactly the altercation was about. Because we needed another reason to keep our eyes peeled to this series...

Comments

Tags:

ally bittner buck showalter orioles orioles buzz

Domenic Vadala: Do the Orioles embrace winning?

September 09, 2013, 4:50am

Orioles

I read an article in USA Today last week about the Pittsburgh Pirates and how they clinched their first non-losing season in 20 years. For beginners, hats off to them. That's a feeling with which Orioles fans can certainly identify after last year, although the Orioles' streak was halted before it reached 20 - or 15 for that matter. For the most part, I feel that the players and coaches have taken this somewhat in stride. However there was one quote in the article that stood out to...

Comments

Tags:

domenic vadala guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz

Carefirst Adam Jones Fan Challenge

September 05, 2013, 7:01pm

Orioles

Each year, MASN gives fans the opportunity to challenge Adam Jones to a competition of their choice. After receiving all of the submissions, Jones hand picks three challenges for fans to vote on. This year, fans voted for 7-year old Parker Duke, as he challenged the O's outfielder to a donut-eating contest. The stage was set. With a dozen donuts in hand, Adam greeted Parker in the Orioles dugout. When it was all said and done, it was less about the competition and more about the experience...

Comments

Tags:

adam jones ally bittner orioles orioles buzz

Matthew Taylor: A history lesson of hope and uncertainty

September 06, 2013, 5:19am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: A history lesson of hope and uncertainty

Call it a baseball revival. Long-suffering franchises are seeing the light after extended periods of darkness. But after the emotion of the moment passes, will fans keep the faith? The Orioles entered the winning tent last year after 14 consecutive losing seasons. The Pittsburgh Pirates followed suit this week, ending their worst-in-any-sport streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons when they won their 81st game. Baseball is fun again in both cities. Or at least I think it is. The Orioles'...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

"Hakuna Machado" - what a wonderful phrase!

September 05, 2013, 8:26am

Orioles

"Hakuna Machado" - what a wonderful phrase!

It's the latest craze! Since Manny Machado has reached the majors, we've seen "Hakuna Machado" signs and shirts in the stands at Camden Yards. Now, thanks to the MLB Fan Cave, Manny's nickname was made official with its own music video. With appearances from J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, Tommy Hunter, Boog Powell, Jim Hunter, Mike Bordick, Orioles fans and even Machado himself, MLB Fan Cave's video proves that "Hakuna Machado" is a wonderful phrase. Your browser does not support iframes.

Comments

Tags:

ally bittner manny machado orioles orioles buzz

Andrew Stetka: Baltimore's inferiority complex is showing again

September 05, 2013, 5:11am

Orioles

Andrew Stetka: Baltimore's inferiority complex is showing again

It's no secret that Baltimore sports fans have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Whether you root for the Orioles, or both the O's and the Super Bowl champion Ravens, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The national media doesn't seem to respect the Orioles in the same way as it does some other teams. Part of it could be understood after a long string of consecutive losing seasons. Then again, I've seen the Pittsburgh Pirates glorified in the media over the past few days as they end...

Comments

Tags:

andrew stetka guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz ravens

Neal Shaffer: A resolution to embrace city's sports success

September 04, 2013, 5:34am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: A resolution to embrace city's sports success

It's September again. And Baltimore, let's agree, is a great autumn city. It's harsh in the depths of summer and winter, but fall is our reward for enduring both. This is a place for when things get just cold enough for a sweater at night. That's when we're at our best. In terms of sports, "at our best" in fall also meant, for many years, "the Ravens are back." But we're in year two now of the September experiment, when the Orioles remain relevant even as the NFL settles in to...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger neal shaffer orioles orioles buzz

Zach Wilt: Focusing on September, and September only

September 03, 2013, 6:13am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Focusing on September, and September only

"September's an eternity." - Buck Showalter In a lot of ways, September feels like it lasts forever. As August concludes, so too does my favorite time of year as those seemingly long summer days grow shorter and shorter. Kids are back in school, the Baltimore humidity begins to subside (it will soon, I promise) and I start to brace myself for the cold winter that will greet us in what seems like a matter of days. I don't think Buck Showalter was talking about my animosity towards the...

Comments

Tags:

adam jones buck showalter chris davis guest blogger guestblogger matt wieters nate mclouth orioles orioles buzz zach wilt

September brings new prizes from MASN's "Touch 'Em All" Orioles Rewards

September 02, 2013, 10:48am

Orioles

Launched in July, MASN has been rewarding its top fans on social media with exclusive Orioles prizes. By sharing Facebook posts, retweeting our writers, tagging Instagram pictures with #masnOrioles and more, fans have earned points, which at the end of the month, accumulated and earned them signed gear from their favorite Orioles. Well, this month is no different. Signed Adam Jones baseballs and a bat autographed by the center fielder are on deck for September. Be sure to sign up for "Touch...