"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Reliving some sweet Birdland memories

"Orioles Classics" #TBT:  Reliving some sweet Birdland memories
Camden Yards is quiet now, except for the occasional grounds crew member doing some scheduled offseason upkeep. Seems strange, considering it was only a couple of weekends ago that the ballpark was buzzing with activity during the regular season's final series against the Astros. Maybe you still have the coasters, puffy vests and duffle bags that were given away to fans. Giveaways are nice, of course, but they don't replace the crack of the bat or the sound of a fastball meeting a mitt. Lucky...

Zach Wilt: A few words of appreciation for Buck Showalter

Zach Wilt: A few words of appreciation for Buck Showalter
I was 9 in 1997, when the Orioles won 98 games and the American League East title. Davey Johnson's club fell in the AL Championship Series to the Indians and then the Birds had losing seasons for the next 14 years. Between that time I graduated high school and college at Towson University, got married to a lovely bride who endured by baseball obsession, and began my career. All the while I kept rooting for the Birds. It wasn't until 2012 that things finally started looking up for my favorite...

Opposite dugout: Astros come to Camden Yards for playoff tune-up

Opposite dugout: Astros come to Camden Yards for playoff tune-up
Manager: AJ Hinch (4th season) Record: 100-58 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 2B Jose Altuve (.318/385/.451, 17 SB), 3B Alex Bregman (51 2B, 31HR, 103 RBIs), 1B Yuli Gurriel (.291/.323/.430), CF George Springer (62 BB), RHP Justin Verlander (2.60 ERA), RHP Roberto Osuna (20 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: Sept. 27: RHP Gerrit Cole (15-5) vs. RHP David Hess (3-10), 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 28: RHP Justin Verlander (16-9) RHP Yefry Ramírez (1-7), 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 29:...

Josh Michael: Some bold prospect predictions for 2019

Josh Michael: Some bold prospect predictions for 2019
This week marks the final week for guest bloggers on MASNsports.com and I could not think of a better way to wrap up the year than to look forward to next year. Today I present my bold Orioles prospect predictions for the 2019 season. Remember, these are bold predictions, so some of them may seem far-fetched, but if they all come true next year, please don't call me asking what your future holds or for the winning lottery numbers (I'd keep that info anyway). Breakout Offensive Prospect - SS...

Registration underway for KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot on Oct. 27 at Camden Yards

Registration underway for KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot on Oct. 27 at Camden Yards
Registration is now underway for the ninth annual KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K run and one-mile walk, which will be held at Camden Yards on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 a.m. KidsPeace, in partnership with the Orioles, O's manager Buck Showalter and his wife, Angela Showalter, invite you to run or walk to support kids in foster care. Entrants can dress in their favorite Halloween costumer - or as their favorite Orioles player - and maneuver through a chip-timed course around the Baltimore Harbor,...

Opposite dugout: Red Sox readying themselves for postseason

Opposite dugout: Red Sox readying themselves for postseason
Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 105-51 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: DH J.D. Martinez (41 HR, 124 RBIs, .329/.401/.624), RF Mookie Betts (.343/.434/.636, 28 SB), LF Andrew Benintendi (.283/.361/.460, 20 SB), 1B Steve Pearce (.282/.397/.500), LHP Chris Sale (2.00 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (42 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 14-2 Pitching probables: Sept. 24: RHP Dylan Bundy (8-15) vs RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-7), 7:10 p.m., MASNSept. 25: TBA vs. LHP David Price (15-7), 7:10 p.m.,...

Andrew Stetka: Showing appreciation for two Orioles icons

Andrew Stetka: Showing appreciation for two Orioles icons
As the Orioles enter the final week of their worst season in team history, they are likely closing the chapter on a much larger story. It's likely the end of two eras in Baltimore that include two of the franchise's most important figures. Buck Showalter and Adam Jones probably aren't returning to the team in 2019, and that brings up a lot of emotions for fans and the organization alike. I hate to even use the word "bittersweet," because it sounds so much like a tired, old cliché. For...

Celebrate 35th anniversary of World Series title with "An Evening with the '83 Orioles" on Nov. 14

Celebrate 35th anniversary of World Series title with "An Evening with the '83 Orioles" on Nov. 14
Whatever your best memory of the 1983 Orioles World Series season - Tippy Martinez picking off three runners in an extra-inning game before emergency catcher Lenn Sakata won it with a walk-off homer, Tito Landrum's sudden death blast in the American League playoffs, Rick Dempsey's MVP performance in the Fall Classic or Cal Ripken Jr. catching the last out in the clincher against the Phillies - it's hard to believe 35 years have passed since the Birds celebrated a championship in...

Opposite dugout: Yanks look to nail down home field in wild card game

Opposite dugout: Yanks look to nail down home field in wild card game
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season Record: 93-59 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: DH Giancarlo Stanton (35 HR, 93 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (.279/.391/.534 with 26 HR), 3B Miguel Andújar (.295/.329/.520 with 84 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (84 RBIs, 10 SB), LHP CC Sabathia (3.80 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (31 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 10-6 Pitching probables: Sept. 21: RHP Yefry Ramírez (1-6) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (7-7), 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 22: RHP David Hess (3-10) vs. TBA, 4:05 p.m.,...

Zach Wilt: Will 100-loss season be a turning point for the Orioles?

Zach Wilt: Will 100-loss season be a turning point for the Orioles?
At 44-108, 2018 has officially become the worst season in franchise history for the Orioles. In 65 years of Orioles baseball, 2018 marks just the third 100-loss season. The Birds lost 107 games in 1988, when they began the year 0-21, and 100 games in their inaugural season in 1954. Their .289 winning percentage this season is their lowest in franchise history. With 10 games remaining this season, the Orioles sit 59 games out of first place in the American League East. The last team to finish...

Josh Michael: Three Orioles prospects whose stock fell this season

Josh Michael: Three Orioles prospects whose stock fell this season
Last week, I highlighted three Orioles prospects that saw their stock rise the most in 2018. This week, I will flip the script and highlight three prospects that saw their stock drop the most. As I did last week, I want to remind you that this is not a list of three prospects that had the worst seasons or the three worst prospects in the system. It's three guys who performed well below expectations and saw their stock drop. I will begin with a guy that was on the Orioles' top-five prospects...

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays travel south for final series against Orioles this season

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays travel south for final series against Orioles this season
Manager: John Gibbons (11th season) Record: 67-82 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Justin Smoak (24 HR, 75 RBIs), OF Randall Grichuk (23 HR, 54 RBIs), DH Kendrys Morales (21 HR, 57 RBIs), RHP Ken Giles (22 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 12-4 Pitching probables: Sept. 17: LHP Ryan Borucki (3-4) vs. TBA; 7:05 p.m., MASN2Sept. 18: RHP Aaron Sanchez (4-6) vs. RHP Dylan Bundy (8-14); 7:05 p.m., MASN2Sept. 19: RHP Sam Gaviglio (3-8) vs. TBA (0-1); 7:05 p.m., MASN Inside the Blue Jays: Toronto...

Zach Wilt: Wondering about Buck Showalter's future

Zach Wilt: Wondering about Buck Showalter's future
One of the biggest pieces of the Orioles rebuild didn't come to Baltimore in a trade or free agent signing, but actually in a hiring from ESPN. Buck Showalter hung up his suits and put on a uniform again back on July 29, 2010. Showalter chose No. 26, to honor the late great Johnny Oates, and took over as the O's skipper on Aug. 3. He inherited a club with a 32-73 record, worst in the big leagues. The Birds responded to the hiring by defeating the Angels at Camden Yards 6-3, then winning the...

Opposite dugout: Youthful White Sox have sights set on the future

Opposite dugout: Youthful White Sox have sights set on the future
Manager: Rick Renteria (2nd season) Record: 57-89 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 1B José Abreu (.270 with 22 HR, 78 RBIs); SS Tim Anderson (130 hits, 26 SB); 3B Yolmer Sánchez (133 hits, 30 2B); DH Matt Davidson (20 HR, 58 RBIs); RHP Lucas Giolito (10-10, 5.76 ERA); RHP Reynaldo López (5-9, 4.22 ERA); RHP Jeanmar Gómez (4.82 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 2-2 Pitching probables: Sept. 14: RHP James Shields (6-16) vs. RHP Luis Ortiz (0-0); 7:05 p.m., MASNSept. 15: RHP Reynaldo...

Josh Michael: Three O's prospects whose stock rose the most in 2018

Josh Michael: Three O's prospects whose stock rose the most in 2018
The 2018 season for the Orioles is mercifully getting close to being over, and with the rebuild in process, there is not much hope in Birdland for a drastically improved 2019. With that being said, the rebuild puts added focus on the prospects, and today I am going to highlight three O's prospects that saw their stock rise the most in 2018. Before I present the players, I want to make something clear: This isn't a list of three prospects who had the best seasons, or the three best prospects...

Opposite dugout: Power-packed A's in hunt for AL West crown, wild card

Opposite dugout: Power-packed A's in hunt for AL West crown, wild card
Manager: Bob Melvin (8th season) Record: 87-57 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 3B Matt Chapman (.280 with 22 HR, 53 RBIs), 2B Jed Lowrie (.274 with 21 HR, 89 RBIs), RF Stephen Piscotty (23 HR, 74 RBIs), DH Khris Davis (41 HR, 108 RBIs), 1B Matt Olson (25 HR), RHP Mike Fiers (11-6, 3.36 ERA), RHP Blake Treinen (37 saves, 0.93 ERA). Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: Sept. 11: RHP Mike Fiers (11-6) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (5-15), 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 12: TBA vs. RHP Andrew Cashner...

Andrew Stetka: Orioles need to make room in lineup for Adam Jones

Andrew Stetka: Orioles need to make room in lineup for Adam Jones
Adam Jones hasn't seen the field for the Orioles since Wednesday in Seattle. Following an off-day Thursday and three straight games on the bench over the weekend against the Rays, the longtime outfielder is expected to return to action tomorrow when the Birds open a three-game series against the Athletics. It was pretty obvious to many when Jones nixed any trade back in July that he wanted to be around to see his contract through in Baltimore. What was unclear, however, was how much playing...

Zach Wilt: Breaking down Dylan Bundy's longball issues

Zach Wilt: Breaking down Dylan Bundy's longball issues
No pitcher in baseball has surrendered more home runs this season than Dylan Bundy. In 146 innings, Bundy has allowed 35 longballs, seven more than the next closest starting pitcher. That's 2.16 homers per nine innings, making Bundy the only starter in baseball with more than two. It's probably hard to remember way back to April, but I'll try my best to refresh your memory. At the end of baseball's first month, Bundy was sporting a 2.97 ERA and seemed to be on track to being the Orioles'...

Opposite dugout: Winning season for Rays lost in top-heavy AL East

Opposite dugout: Winning season for Rays lost in top-heavy AL East
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 75-64 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 2B Joey Wendle (.297/.346/.425), 3B Matt Duffy (.296/.354/.371), RF Mallex Smith (.302/.373/.424, SB), DH/1B C.J. Cron (26 HR, 61RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (2.02 ERA), RHP Sergio Romo (19 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 8-8 Pitching probables: Sept. 7: RHP Dylan Bundy (7-13) vs. LHP Blake Snell (17-5), 7:10 p.m., MASN2Sept. 8: RHP David Hess (3-9) vs. TBD, 6:10 p.m., MASN2Sept. 9: RHP Alex Cobb (5-15) vs. TBD, 1:10...

Josh Michael: Zac Lowther deserves consideration for Jim Palmer Award

Josh Michael: Zac Lowther deserves consideration for Jim Palmer Award
Last season, there was little to no doubt who was going to earn both the Orioles' minor league Pitcher of the Year (Alex Wells) and Player of the Year (Austin Hays) awards. This year, the races are much tighter, and despite many people giving left-hander Keegan Akin the award, I am here to tell you not to do that just yet. First, let me state that I am in no way saying that Akin isn't deserving of the Jim Palmer Award. Akin had a phenomenal season where he went 14-7 with a 3.27 ERA, 1.25 WHIP...