Neal Shaffer: On the Orioles and expectations

Neal Shaffer: On the Orioles and expectations
Quick show of hands: Who thought we'd be here? The Orioles' unexpected, unlikely and sublimely satisfying run to the postseason last year changed a lot of things in Birdland. It changed the relationship between the team and the city. It changed the way we thought of the people involved. It made Peter Angelos into less of a villain (or should have) and it made Adam Jones into the star we always knew he'd be. It made Camden Yards once again into a showpiece. And, yeah, it changed...

Zach Wilt: No reason to panic this early in season

Zach Wilt: No reason to panic this early in season
Get your finger off the panic button. The Orioles are only seven games into the 2013 season. You're not allowed to worry yet. The old cliche saying goes, "a baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint," and right now the Orioles just finished mile one of 26.2. If this were a movie, we'd be halfway through the opening credits. If it were a football season, we'd be in the third quarter of week one. Sure, three-game losing streaks are nothing to be happy about and Orioles fans haven't seen...

Domenic Vadala: Today, there's joy in Mudville

Domenic Vadala: Today, there's joy in Mudville
I think it's safe to say that we've all heard of Ernest Lawrence Thayer's poem, "Casey at the Bat." Published on June 3, 1888, the poem is considered a classic piece of American literature as much as it is a part of baseball lore. One might ask why I'm referencing a poem that, while propping up baseball as America's pastime, is also about a hero failing in his endeavor. Well, going into the 2013 season, the outlook wasn't brilliant for the Baltimore nine. Most national pundits expected...

Matthew Taylor: Knocking at the door of franchise's all-time marks

Matthew Taylor: Knocking at the door of franchise's all-time marks
Happy opening day, Baltimore fans. I'm sorry to report that I won't be at Camden Yards for the opener. Nevertheless, I have taken the day off from work to watch the game at home. It's not an official holiday, but it should be. Each new season brings the promise of the unknown, so we start the year with predictions and projections that typically focus on expected team and individual totals. Given my interest in Orioles history, I decided to look at where some current players might end up on...

Next year is finally here, but a dear friend is missing

Next year is finally here, but a dear friend is missing
Clichés, Crash Davis counseled Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh on a "Bull Durham" bus ride through baseball's bushes, are our friends. Learn them, know them, use them - and they'll return your faith in kind. Sportswriters know this, but try their best to avoid clichés, and the players that favor them. It's nothing personal, mind you., but someone who doesn't offer a pithy observation isn't much use to a scribe. I've been thinking a lot about clichés lately, trying to...

Anthony Amobi: Roberts off to good start, but can it continue?

Anthony Amobi: Roberts off to good start, but can it continue?
It has been quite a journey for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts for the past several seasons. Roberts is the longest-tenured member of the Orioles, having played his entire 12-year career with the team. However, he has spent more time as a bystander than on the field in recent years. Now the question for Orioles fans is this: Can Roberts still be a productive player, or is he no longer viable for the organization? So far, in a two-game sample, it looks like he can still play in the...

Zach Wilt: A few words about opening day

Zach Wilt: A few words about opening day
Opening day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Second only to Christmas, if we're being honest. Yes, I know that opening day technically isn't a holiday, but for me it's the day that not only indicates that warm weather is around the corner (whether you believe it or not), but also a time of hope for 30 different fan bases across North America. I celebrate its meaning this time every year. Each team takes the field tied for first place on opening day, full of optimism about the the...

Domenic Vadala: In Buck we trust

Domenic Vadala: In Buck we trust
Greetings, MASNsports.com readers. On behalf of the Fansided Network and our great staff of writers at Birds Watcher, it's an honor to be back with you for the 2013 season. With the season beginning in earnest tomorrow afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla., the big lingering question regarding the Orioles is whether or not they can repeat their successes from 2012. Before getting into that question, it's worth mentioning as a disclaimer that we have no clue what wild cards (is the use of that...

Spring Training Wrap: Orioles baseball is right around the corner

Spring Training Wrap: Orioles baseball is right around the corner
In case you missed it, it snowed last week in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. Yup, snow in late March. As I scraped the snow off my car windshield, trekked around in boots and worked to stay warm in the cold, only one thought kept me from being a complete Debbie Downer in the snowstorm: Baseball season is almost here. While you probably have been keeping your eye on the calendar, just in case you need a reminder, the Orioles open their season at Tampa Bay in four days. After their...

MASNsports.com sets O's guest blogger lineup for first half of 2013

MASNsports.com sets O's guest blogger lineup for first half of 2013
We've created quite the interesting discussion space here at MASNsports.com, a place where you come for news but also to share your thoughts and opinions with other Orioles fans. Baltimore is also home to some of the most dedicated bloggers in all of baseball. So it's only natural that these two camps would eventually intersect. In 2011, MASNsports.com introduced guest bloggers to its site, reasoning that the distinct voices of the Orioles-centric blogosphere would be a good addition to our...

"The BUCKle Up Birds" to air on MASN beginning March 27 at 10 p.m.

"The BUCKle Up Birds" to air on MASN beginning March 27 at 10 p.m.
Buckle up, Baltimore. Baseball's nearly back and, boy, do we have a way for you to get back into the mood for all things Orioles. The Orioles announced today that "The BUCKle Up Birds: An Underdog Story" will air on MASN on Wednesday, March 27 at 10 p.m. The 2012 season highlight video, which was one of the big hits of FanFest back in January, will be rebroadcast on Saturday, March 30 at 6 p.m. and on Friday, April 5 at 12:30 p.m. before the O's home opener against the Minnesota...

Weekly Wrap: O's trimming down roster

Weekly Wrap: O's trimming down roster
In a successful week of spring training, the Orioles have continued to trim down their roster, with opening day just 11 days away. On Saturday, before the O's went on to beat Toronto, the Birds optioned top prospect Dylan Bundy, and as expected, he was sent to Double-A Bowie. A day later, LJ Hoes was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. On that day, the Orioles played split-squad games, and our Roch Kubatko and Steve Melewski kept you updated on both games from Florida. The most recent cuts came...

Weekly Wrap: Which O's will make history books?

Weekly Wrap: Which O's will make history books?
This week, with a little more downtime in my schedule, I've been able to dig into "From 33rd Street to Camden Yards," a book by John Eisenberg. Using quotes of Orioles, from Boog Powell to Earl Weaver, Eisenberg has taught me Orioles history through first-hand accounts. While I have yet to finish the book, I have been reminded of the rich history of Baltimore baseball while simultaneously watching current Orioles in the World Baseball Classic and spring training this week. Talk about...

Weekly Wrap: O's posting huge positive run differential

Weekly Wrap: O's posting huge positive run differential
With players battling it out for a spot on the roster, the Orioles have posted huge offensive numbers this week. Since last Friday, the Birds have won four games and lost just one, with one game versus the Blue Jays ending in a tie. Over those six games, the Orioles have posted 55 runs. Is that a lot? On the flipside, opponents posted 35. On Friday, Brian Roberts got the offense going versus the Pirates, going 3-for-3 with a home run. Yesterday's win seemed like a win ripped out of the...

Weekly Wrap: O's atop Grapefruit League

Weekly Wrap: O's atop Grapefruit League
A week into spring training games, the Orioles have suffered just a single loss, which came to the Twins yesterday. Sitting on a 5-1 record, the Orioles are leading the Grapefruit League after beating the Twins, Red Sox and Blue Jays once and the Yankees twice. On Wednesday, Cuban defector Henry Urrutia arrived in Florida from Haiti after obtaining his work visa. He is set to report to camp by the weekend. Pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada is continuing his rehab, throwing 25 pitches off a regular mound...

Maryland Stadium Authority bans smoking at Camden Yards Sports Complex

Maryland Stadium Authority bans smoking at Camden Yards Sports Complex
Smoking will no longer be allowed at Camden Yards, as the Maryland Stadium Authority will enact a ban on all lighted tobacco products at its baseball and football stadiums, effective March 4. The measure, announced in a Feb. 25 press release, prohibits the "the burning of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or any other matter or substance that contains tobacco" within the Camden Yards Sports Complex, including M&T Bank Stadium. The ban includes spaces covered or uncovered, walled or exposed,...

Sleeve patch on O's uniforms in 2013 will honor legendary manager Weaver

Sleeve patch on O's uniforms in 2013 will honor legendary manager Weaver
The Orioles announced this afternoon that they will wear a patch honoring former manager Earl Weaver on their jersey sleeve during the 2013 season. Weaver, the fiery skipper known for managing the Orioles' pennant-winning teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s, died Jan. 19 at 82 on an Orioles fan cruise in the Caribbean. His passing turned FanFest at the Convention Center into a public wake, and O's fans placed memorials from an orange lei to a can of National Bohemian to an Orioles cap at...

Weekly Wrap

Weekly Wrap
The Orioles' first Grapefruit League game is just a day away. MASN will keeping you updated on all things spring training, so be sure to give Roch Kubatko a follow on Twitter and us a follow on Instagram. There was much news around the Sarasota, Fla., facility this week, including Jair Jurrjen's agreement to a minor league deal and the contract extension of reliever Darren O'Day. Former center fielder Brady Anderson was promoted to vice president of baseball operations Tuesday. Pitcher...

Weekly Wrap

Weekly Wrap
Four more days. Spring training is almost here, with pitchers and catchers set to report Tuesday. One player that will not be reporting to Sarasota is pitcher Joe Saunders, who reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Mariners last night. With Saunders now a Mariner, Jake Arrieta and Jair Jurrjens will be vying for a rotation spot. On Monday, the Orioles agreed to terms with Mark Hendrickson, who converted to a sidearm delivery this offseason. The Birds also signed Joel Pineiro to a...

Weekly Wrap

Weekly Wrap
Baseball's back. Spring training officially started Tuesday with pitchers and catchers reporting to Sarasota. With almost all players reported to camp, both coaches and the media have started to get their first looks at the roster. Nolan Reimold is healthy and working on regaining full strength. The outfielder is coming off last year's neck injury and surgery, which ended his season. Also, Nick Markakis is back from thumb surgery and pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada is long-tossing. His first bullpen...