Stacey Long: The tight-knit AL East

Stacey Long: The tight-knit AL East
The Orioles squandered their chance to return home a .500 ball club, but more than a month into the season, they are clinging to third place in the American League East, 2 1/2 games behind their weekend opponent, the Tampa Bay Rays. Having played nearly 20 percent of the games on the season, the AL East is tighter than it's been in some time. While it's unlikely the Orioles will be able to hang so close to the division leaders over the entire season, it's certainly a welcome change from...
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Stacey Long: Is Adam Jones finally breaking out?

Stacey Long: Is Adam Jones finally breaking out?
When the Orioles traded for Adam Jones in the winter of 2007, he was considered by many to be a future star. His potential to be a power-hitting center fielder with above-average defensive skills had Orioles fans drooling, but he hadn't put it all together up to this season and the frustration level among fans was raised to a critical level. Since the beginning of this season, it's been obvious that Jones has worked hard on his defense. He is consistently making plays both shallow and deep...
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Stacey Long: A frustrating loss still provides hope

Stacey Long: A frustrating loss still provides hope
Last night's game was one of the more frustrating losses of the year. The Orioles had baserunners in every inning, usually more than one. They had so many chances to score runs and just couldn't do it. It was a hard game to watch. But it's also the kind of game that, in retrospect, has a lot of positives to take from it. It's easy to say that the Orioles couldn't come through in the clutch, but the fact is that usually when a team gets 15 baserunners, they'll score more than two runs. So...
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Stacey Long: Volatile bullpen a case of dollars spent unwisely

Stacey Long: Volatile bullpen a case of dollars spent unwisely
It's no secret the that Orioles' bullpen hasn't been all that reliable through the first month of the season. Even when he gets the job done, closer Kevin Gregg raises the stress level in Birdland to epic proportions. Mike Gonzalez's last outing was fantastic, but given his other performances this year it was still a little hard to watch. Koji Uehara is walking people, Jim Johnson is giving up home runs, Josh Rupe has been a disaster. With the starting pitching having success, it's even...
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Happy anniversary: Recalling the end of the 21-game losing streak in 1988

Happy anniversary: Recalling the end of the 21-game losing streak in 1988
Where were you 23 years ago tonight? On April 29, 1988, shortly after 11 p.m. on the East Coast, the long nightmare that had become a season-opening 21-game losing streak by the Orioles ended (though it remains a record). Future Oriole and native Marylander Harold Baines rolled over on an offering from reliever Dave Schmidt, weakly grounding a ball to second base, where Pete Stanicek gobbled it up and tossed to Eddie Murray at first base. That completed a 9-0 Orioles victory over the White...
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Anthony Amobi: Gonzalez an example of risk not yielding reward

Anthony Amobi: Gonzalez an example of risk not yielding reward
It's no mystery to anyone that reliever Mike Gonzalez has had his share of struggles as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. When Gonzalez signed with the team before last season, I thought it was a decent signing at the time despite the money involved. Baltimore needed bullpen help after yet another lackluster season in 2009 and I thought that Gonzalez fit the bill. The southpaw reliever had a solid track record in the National League with Pittsburgh and Atlanta, so one would think he...
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Anthony Amobi: Put any worries about Wieters on hold

Anthony Amobi: Put any worries about Wieters on hold
Over the past few months, fans and sports pundits have wondered whether or not Matt Wieters is a bust - despite the Orioles catcher only having played in the major leagues for less than two full seasons. I remember the Friday night of his major league debut like it was yesterday. It was a warm one in June 2009 and 42,000 fans jammed Oriole Park at Camden Yards to get a glimpse of a man who could potentially become the next Baltimore legend. We all cheered wildly for the young man. The...
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Heath Bintliff: Statistically speaking, Derrek Lee just needs some luck

Heath Bintliff: Statistically speaking, Derrek Lee just needs some luck
Derrek Lee, one of the two old veterans that the Orioles signed this offseason to stabilize the lineup and inject the offense with some punch, is hitting an abysmal .222/.300/.284 thus far with only three extra-base hits. His .584 OPS is the worst among the regulars in the lineup. But fear not, I bring you good news about Lee and his apparent struggles: He's actually hitting much better than his stat line shows. Looking up his batted ball data on FanGraphs.com, Lee's Batting Average on...
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Anthony Amobi: Regardless of manager, players need to perform

Anthony Amobi: Regardless of manager, players need to perform
It's been a tough two weeks for the Baltimore Orioles and we all know it. After a promising start to the season, there's been a lot of losing thanks to inconsistent pitching and a lack of offense. After the sweep by the Yankees this weekend, a lot of fans either on sports talk radio and various places online started to question the decisions of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. It's hard to rationalize, but there's a difference in the perception of a manager when they are either losing or...
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Anthony Amobi: Remembering what made me a fan

Anthony Amobi: Remembering what made me a fan
It's been a tough stretch for Baltimore Orioles fans over the past decade. No matter where you reside - whether it's in Maryland, Florida, California or any part of the world - it's been startling to see what has happened to the Orioles. Sadly, they have not had a winning season since Bill Clinton was president of the United States of America. Yet, despite it all, I and most of my friends who rooted for the Orioles growing up still do so today. It's obvious that the Birds have lost more...
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Anthony Amobi: Amid struggles, O's still deserve fans' support

Anthony Amobi: Amid struggles, O's still deserve fans' support
Good morning everyone, I'm Anthony Amobi and this is my first entry as a guest blogger for MASNsports.com First and foremost, I'm a hardcore Orioles fan and have been through thick and thin. It's a been rough time for us fans over the past 13 years; however, I'm an eternal optimist and believe better days are head for Orioles fans. I'm a native of the Washington, D.C., area and currently reside in Maryland. Growing up, I was introduced the Orioles as a teen and I've been a fan ever...
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Monday Memory: Camden Yards enduring reminder of Schaefer's dedication to beloved Baltimore

Monday Memory: Camden Yards enduring reminder of Schaefer's dedication to beloved Baltimore
Whatever you called him - Mr. Mayor, Governor, Hizzoner, Willie Don, Don or Mr. Schaefer - William Donald Schaefer, who passed away at 89 last week, wasn't some egomaniacal politician who craved the spotlight at the expense of the people who voted him into office. Truth be told, Schaefer was never really comfortable in the spotlight and eschewed being the center of attention, though he often drew it. That well-publicized dip in the seal pool at the National Aquarium? Look carefully and you...
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Heath Bintliff: How Britton's start stacks up to other O's southpaws

Heath Bintliff: How Britton's start stacks up to other O's southpaws
Orioles rookie southpaw Zach Britton moved his record to 3-1 last night as the Orioles narrowly beat the Twins 5-4. Britton gave up three runs over his six innings, giving him three quality starts over his first four career starts. I was curious how Britton's hot start compared to other Oriole lefty starters throughout franchise history. Here's how Britton stacks up to their first four starts (or significant relief appearances, since some of these guys pitched under Earl Weaver, you...
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Heath Bintliff: Let's let Jake Fox sit against lefties

Heath Bintliff: Let's let Jake Fox sit against lefties
Hi, Buck. I'm a big fan. Truly, I am. But I have a bone to pick with you. It's about Jake Fox. I completely understand sacrificing defense for offense, especially when you are in a scoring drought like the Orioles were just slogging through before last night's 11-0 win. (Although, do you have to put him if left with Chris Tillman is on the mound? That kid needs all the help he can get.) And Fox can help with that. But Fox can't hit lefties. So stop letting him. I know he's a...
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Heath Bintliff: The longest game in pro ball, 30 years later

Heath Bintliff: The longest game in pro ball, 30 years later
Thirty years ago this morning, the longest game in professional baseball history was suspended. At 4:07 a.m., after 32 innings of play, umpires finally called the game, still tied at 2, between the Rochester Red Wings, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate, and the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League. Famously, future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs played the entire game, both manning third base for their respective teams. But there were other players of note on the field...
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Jones "truly blessed" to don Jackie Robinson's No. 42

Jones "truly blessed" to don Jackie Robinson's No. 42
Think Orioles center fielder Adam Jones doesn't take the responsibility of donning Jackie Robinson's legendary No. 42 once each season? Think again. Tonight is Major League Baseball's annual celebration of the brave and talented player who broke the game's color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Tonight, everyone in baseball will be wearing No. 42 (even Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who's allowed to continue wearing that jersey number because he was doing so before Commissioner...
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Matthew Taylor: Brooks Robinson's memorable final homer embodied Orioles magic

Matthew Taylor: Brooks Robinson's memorable final homer embodied Orioles magic
I figure it's appropriate to end my first week of guest blogging for MASNsports.com in the traditional manner I end each week on my blog. It's a nod to Orioles history that I call "Flashback Fridays." This week's Flashback Friday relates to the Orioles' next opponent, the Cleveland Indians, and Orioles legend Brooks Robinson, who has been released from Greater Baltimore Medical Center after recovering from an infection. Facing the Indians around this time of year, on April 19, 1977,...
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Matthew Taylor: Developing an appreciation for Rivera's talents

Matthew Taylor: Developing an appreciation for Rivera's talents
For an Orioles fan, deciding on your favorite Yankees player is like deciding on your favorite dental procedure. Nevertheless, I've come to acknowledge, appreciate, and admire - notice I never said like - the talents of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera during the 17 seasons he's been cutting up major league hitters. Rather than breeding contempt, familiarity with one of the game's greatest closers has produced respect. No team is more familiar with Rivera than the Orioles, and Buck Showalter...
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Matthew Taylor: Here's hoping Birds take wing in The Bronx

Matthew Taylor: Here's hoping Birds take wing in The Bronx
The Orioles begin their season series with the Yankees on Tuesday. The last time the teams met, the O's posted an improbable 4-3 victory in 11 innings at Camden Yards. Luke Scott homered off Mariano Rivera in the ninth, and the Birds used good fortune - and even better managing - to escape unscathed in the 11th inning after the Yankees put a runner on third with nobody out. It was a thrilling game, made more special for me by the fact that I was there with my dad and my wife. Dad and I still...
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Monday Memory: Welcome home, Natty Boh!

Monday Memory: Welcome home, Natty Boh!
Judging solely by the number of people clamoring to have their photo taken with Mr. Boh on opening day, I'd say the return of National Bohemian - Natty Boh for short - to Camden Yards for the first time since 1992 is a toast-worthy occasion. So hoist your frosty, cold mug o' brew (and, for a moment, conveniently ignore that the beer once brewed on the shores of the Chesapeake, well, isn't any longer) and enjoy this 1960s television ad for what was once the official frothy libation of the...
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