orioles buzz

Domenic Vadala: Why do some teams get the calls?

August 19, 2012, 1:59pm

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Why do some teams get the calls?

We all saw what happened Friday night in Detroit, so I'll spare you another testimonial or play-by-play account. However, while we don't know what type of internal training or reporting that Major League Baseball requires of its umpires, I think we can all agree with Mark Reynolds in that there's very little outward accountability for the umps. There are a couple of different ways to look at this. First off, it's the natural inclination of an employer to protect his/her employee when...

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Guest list grows for "Cal & Eddie: A Legendary Evening"

August 18, 2012, 12:42pm

Orioles

Guest list grows for "Cal & Eddie: A Legendary Evening"

If you're the kind of person who likes rubbing elbows with the movers and shakers, take note: The guest list is growing for the Sept. 5 event honoring Hall of Fame Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray. Hall of Fame O's manager Earl Weaver and former University of Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams have been added to the list of luminaries who will participate in the inductions of Ripken and Murray into the Sports Legends Museum Hall of Legends. Williams is already a Hall of Legends...

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Matthew Taylor: Machado surpasses Powell for youngest Oriole to have multi-homer game

August 17, 2012, 5:10am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Machado surpasses Powell for youngest Oriole to have multi-homer game

Manny Machado hit his first two major league home runs against the Kansas City Royals' Luke Hochevar on Aug. 10, becoming the youngest Orioles player to record a multi-homer game. That honor previously belonged to one John Wesley "Boog" Powell who, like Machado, got his first two major league home runs in the same game. Powell's first four career home runs came as part of multi-homer games, and they were all two-run shots. Powell homered twice against the Twins on May 2, 1962. He followed...

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James Baker: O captain, my captain!

August 16, 2012, 5:20am

Orioles

Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Nick Markakis, Jim Johnson, Pedro Strop, Jason Hammel, Wei Yin Chen - all have been essential to the Orioles' success this year, but as of right now, to this blogger, the most important Oriole is one William Nathaniel Showalter. Honestly, has there been one person that is more responsible for the Orioles' year? Showalter has been the rock, the steady-handed captain of this improbable team. He is calm, cool and clearly in charge. When you look at the team the...

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Neal Shaffer: Don't look now, but O's are redefining what's possible

August 15, 2012, 5:20am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: Don't look now, but O's are redefining what's possible

If you've read me over the course of the season either here or at The Loss Column, you've probably noticed a pattern: I'm excited by the results, but hesitant to draw big conclusions. Baseball's a superstitious game and I'm somewhat the same myself. I wouldn't want a selfish declaration to jinx things for everyone. Nobody ever said "fan" and "logic" always went together. So today I'm still hesitant to say anything like "the Orioles have finally turned a corner" or "this group is...

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Zach Wilt: Comparing the call-ups of Wieters, Machado

August 14, 2012, 5:23am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Comparing the call-ups of Wieters, Machado

In many ways, 2009 seems like so long ago. Then, in others, it seems like just yesterday. In watching every pitch of every at-bat of Manny Machado's fantastic young major league career, I can't help but think back to Matt Wieters' call-up on May 29, 2009. I will never forget Andy MacPhail telling viewers on MASN, "It's time," after the Orioles' 7-2 win on May 26, 2009 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The two games in between the news and Wieters' actual debut were an absolute frenzy. It...

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Domenic Vadala: Are Orioles getting hot at the right time?

August 13, 2012, 5:32am

Orioles

Despite only splitting this weekend's series against the Kansas City Royals, the Orioles seem to have turned it up a tick in the past few weeks. This is not in the least bit surprising to me; in fact, I expected it. The Birds have always finished strong under Buck Showalter. In 2010, he had them take the competition to the opponents who figured that they'd walk all over the O's due to their record. And who could forget last September, which I believe was the launching point for 2011?...

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Flashback: Even before bronze likeness, "Steady Eddie" was larger than life

July 29, 2012, 11:54am

Orioles

Flashback: Even before bronze likeness, "Steady Eddie" was larger than life

Of all the Orioles I've covered over the years, few of them spoke as little as Eddie Murray. You can debate the reasons - run-ins with and distrust of the media, the fact that he didn't crave the spotlight, the fact that there were other players willing to take center stage. But the fact remains that Murray wasn't talkative when the media approached. The routine was, well, routine. Reporter: "Hey, Eddie - got a minute?" Murray: "No, thank you." And that was that. That's not to say...

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James Baker: Beating Pythagoras

August 08, 2012, 5:49am

Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have been confounding sabermetricians and national pundits all year. The Orioles currently sit eight games over .500 and are tied for the second wild card spot, even though they have been outscored this year. And not just outscored, but outscored badly. The Orioles' current run differential is currently -55 (447-502), which is awful. It is one of the worst run differentials in baseball and should not belong to a team in a legitimate playoff hunt. Bill James developed...

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Zach Wilt: Miguel Gonzalez has become one of the Orioles' best stories

August 07, 2012, 5:02am

Orioles

This Orioles team has been chocked full of surprises. From Chris Davis earning the win after a wild 17 innings at Fenway Park to scoring 11 unanswered runs in the Bronx and climbing out of a five-run hole to beat the Bombers. Recently in Baltimore, a new pleasant surprise has emerged and he goes by the name, "Miguel Gonzalez." As Orioles fans, we are so used to spot starters burning out our beloved bullpen and costing our favorite team wins. We became accustomed to the likes of Chris...

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Zach Wilt: Seven years later, Markakis has finally found his niche

July 31, 2012, 5:30am

Orioles

Zach Wilt: Seven years later, Markakis has finally found his niche

I certainly can't predict what Dan Duquette will do to improve the Orioles today by the 4 p.m. trade deadline, but I'm confident enough to guarantee you that Nick Markakis will still be playing right field for Baltimore in tonight's match-up against the Yankees. There haven't been any legitimate trade rumors reported with Markakis' name on them, but in the Twitterverse, message boards and sports talk radio world, there are always fans wondering why the Orioles wouldn't try to move their...

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Domenic Vadala: Tying together the past and present

August 06, 2012, 4:54am

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Tying together the past and present

I've liked a lot of movies in my life; as an Italian-American, "The Godfather Trilogy" and "Rocky" are both up there. I'd also throw in "Back to the Future," as well as a few others. However, by far my favorite movie of all time will always be "Field of Dreams." That movie uses baseball to tell a story about a father and son righting old wrongs. It also ties together the past and present in an unparalleled manner. This coming weekend, the O's will pay homage to one of the most...

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Matthew Taylor: Feeling the plight of the low-budget little man

August 03, 2012, 4:25am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Feeling the plight of the low-budget little man

Think about big-budget baseball teams that have been a disappointment this season. Which teams come to mind, and how do you feel about them? The Philadelphia Phillies stand out to me. The Phillies have baseball's second-largest payroll at $175 million and are in last place in the NL East with a 47-58 record. I'd also have the Miami Marlins in the conversation. They're just ahead of the Phillies in the standings, and five slots below them in payroll. The Marlins own a 48-56 record despite...

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James Baker: Making a statement

August 02, 2012, 8:41am

Orioles

Chris Tillman stepped to the mound in the bottom of the first inning after watching his counterpart, Ivan Nova, retire the Orioles on six pitches. Tillman proceeded to give up five runs, including a Robinson Cano two-run job, before the Orioles' seats were even warm. It appeared it would be another long night. As the second inning started, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters both got on board with singles. Wilson Betemit and Lew Ford were set down by strikeouts and Nova quickly put two strikes on...

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Neal Shaffer: Dan Duquette's non-move and what comes next

August 01, 2012, 5:16am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: Dan Duquette's non-move and what comes next

Of course Dan Duquette stood pat at the non-waiver trade deadline. Of course. What, after all, did you expect him to do? I'm on record saying the Orioles should be buyers. I still think that's true, and grooves like the current one against the Yankees are a big reason why. This group just doesn't fold, and I find the prospect of what they might do with a little more talent tantalizing. That said, I'm not the least bit surprised that Duquette didn't pull a trigger. If he's shown us...

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Domenic Vadala: Does lady luck smile on daring ones?

July 30, 2012, 5:42am

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Does lady luck smile on daring ones?

For the record, let me say unequivocally that I'm not in favor of the Orioles trading Dylan Bundy or Manny Machado. I firmly believe that part of the reason the Orioles have lost for so many years in a row is due to mismanagement of prospects in the minor leagues. I'm not sure that in the past the O's wouldn't have been willing to move one of their top prospects for a rental, thus jeapordizing the future. Look no further than former Seattle Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi if you want...

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Matthew Taylor: A look (way) back at the O's first deal at the deadline

July 26, 2012, 6:38pm

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: A look (way) back at the O's first deal at the deadline

The trade deadline is approaching. You know the names floating around the rumor mill in 2012, but do you know which players were involved in the first trade-deadline deal in Orioles history? The O's dealt Vic Wertz, a right fielder and first baseman, to the Cleveland Indians on June 1, 1954, for Bob Chakales. The deal came two weeks before the June 15 trade deadline that was in place until 1986, when it moved to July 31. Neither player spent a full season in Baltimore, but Wertz became part...

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James Baker: The emotional roller coaster of (near) contention

July 26, 2012, 5:15am

Orioles

James Baker: The emotional roller coaster of (near) contention

Put very simply, we are not used to this. Orioles fans are in no way emotionally prepared to be over .500 and in the playoff hunt this late in the season. The Orioles have spent 109 days over .500 this year. For the sake of context, last year the Orioles spent a grand total of 14 days over .500. This level of play has completely frayed the nerves of some Orioles fans, and if you don't believe me then you haven't been paying attention. Before last week's five game win-streak, there were...

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Flashback: When The Bird went searching for paranormal activity

July 25, 2012, 6:46am

Orioles

Flashback: When The Bird went searching for paranormal activity

Music is an important part of any baseball game, from the playing of the national anthem before the first pitch to the array of songs that accompany the important moments at each game. Think about it - could you imagine a rally without the bugled "Charge" call, a pump-up-the-crowd moment without "YMCA" by The Village People or the individualized snippets that accompany each hitter to the batter's box and each pitcher to the mound? Sometimes, it seems, the melodies fade into the landscape...

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Neal Shaffer: Hope for 2012, but the future's still the thing

July 25, 2012, 5:04am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: Hope for 2012, but the future's still the thing

Let's be clear: There's still no reason to abandon hope for the Orioles to post a plus-.500 season in 2012. They have a knack for righting the ship when things look bad and every game that passes puts them that much closer to the endgame. Each day that ends with a cushion is a surplus banked against a bad streak. They're getting there. Regardless, we all basically know that this team isn't ready for the playoffs just yet. There's too much strength in the competition, both from the Yankees...