orioles buzz

Anthony Amobi: Are we seeing the real Nick Markakis?

May 10, 2012, 4:53am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Are we seeing the real Nick Markakis?

As we are seven weeks into the 2012 season, the Orioles are flying high with a 19-11 record, and are a half-game out of first in the American League East. Baltimore's fast start has given players like Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Chris Davis some national attention. However, one name that I don't see mentioned a lot happens to be right-fielder Nick Markakis. It's almost like he has become an afterthought at this point. Now, Markakis did win a Gold Glove last season, and has always been...

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O's unveil Birdland Passport Program

May 09, 2012, 9:53am

Orioles

If you're one of those fans who enjoys seeing the Orioles of the future as much as you do heading to Camden Yards for the O's of the present, you'll be interested in the new Birdland Passport Program. The program, unveiled today, rewards fans who visit Camden Yards and the O's minor league affiliates - Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, Single-A Frederick, Single-A Delmarva and short-season Single-A Aberdeen. "The program is designed to encourage our fans to frequent not only Oriole Park...

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Neal Shaffer: The top five players of the losing era

May 09, 2012, 6:07am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: The top five players of the losing era

If there's one thing the Internet loves, it's a list. So, what the hell, I'm game. I got to thinking, after the recent unveiling of the Frank Robinson statue at Camden Yards, about great Orioles of the past and how cool it is to be able to look back on their legacies and claim them for our city. That, naturally enough, led to thinking about the modern Orioles. History looks more kindly on success than on failure, which tends to obscure the achievements of players who toil on losing teams....

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Kestler chosen as O's Honorary Bat Girl

May 07, 2012, 3:20pm

Orioles

Sunday will be a big day for Tammy Kestler, a mother of three from Glen Burnie. And not just because it's Mother's Day. The Orioles, Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have announced Kestler as the O's winner of the Honorary Bat Girl contest, a campaign to recognize incredible MLB fans who are going to bat against breast cancer in their daily lives. Kestler, a one-year survivor of breast cancer, has served as team captain for her Young Survivors Group for Komen's Race...

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Olivia Witherite: In case you missed it ...

May 07, 2012, 5:40am

Orioles

Olivia Witherite: In case you missed it ...

In case missed the game from 1:35 p.m. to 7:42 p.m. Sunday, let me tell you that you missed history. If you did watch, thank you for viewing one of the most exciting Orioles games that I have ever witnessed. Keeping my attention most of Sunday, the game featured a five-run catch-up by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth and fifth innings and terrible outings by the Orioles starter and designated hitter, who looked a like National League pitcher trying to hit. Certainly one of the most bizarre...

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Matthew Taylor: A closer look at some historical tidbits

May 03, 2012, 6:12pm

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: A closer look at some historical tidbits

I love the historical tidbits that regularly work their way into baseball game stories. Two such tidbits came out of the Orioles' series win this week against the Yankees in the Bronx, and both had to do with strong pitching performances. First, on Wednesday, Jake Arrieta became the most recent Orioles pitcher to toss eight or more shutout innings against the Yankees since September 2004, when Sidney Ponson recorded a complete-game shutout. Specifically, Ponson shut out the Yankees on Sept....

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Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant now open on non-game days

May 03, 2012, 1:17pm

Orioles

Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant now open on non-game days

If you live or work near Camden Yards, you now have a new dining option for days when the Orioles aren't playing at home. Beginning today, Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant is now open for both lunch and dinner. You can eat, drink and be merry on the first floor of the B&O Warehouse beginning at 11 a.m. Slide into Dempsey's - the namesake of former O's catcher, 1983 World Series MVP and current MASN broadcaster Rick Dempsey - for a midday meal, then stop back after work for another of the...

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Anthony Amobi: It's been a fun - and surprising - run so far for O's

May 03, 2012, 7:36am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: It's been a fun - and surprising - run so far for O's

Well, for fans of the Orioles, the calendar has flipped from April to May and it has been a surprising season so far. As of this morning, the Orioles are flying high with a 16-9 record, and sit one game behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East standings. There are some very compelling and unexpected storylines in the game today, and the Orioles definitely qualify as of one them. Seriously, I do not think many fans, media or so-called experts thought that this team...

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Anthony Amobi: Wieters' emergence silences his critics

April 26, 2012, 5:20am

Orioles

Anthony Amobi: Wieters' emergence silences his critics

Heading into the 2012 season, Matt Wieters has emerged as a leader for the Orioles. Many have argued whether or not he is a bust - despite only having played in the major leagues for less than three full seasons. That being said, he is far from that. So Wieters has not turned into the next Johnny Bench or a Joe Mauer with power. The promise of the night when he debuted is still there, but it has taken a while to come to the surface. Various television shows, Web sites, sports talk radio...

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Brooks Robinson sculpture unveiling, promotional giveaway postponed until Sept. 29

May 01, 2012, 11:06am

Orioles

If you were planning to attend the scheduled May 12 unveiling of the Brooks Robinson sculpture as part of the Orioles Legends Celebration Series at Camden Yards, you're going to have to rework your calendar. Because of health issues, Robinson will not be able to participate in the originally scheduled May 12 event. To allow him to participate in the festivities, the Orioles are moving the statue unveiling to Sept. 30, a Saturday home game against the Red Sox on the regular season's final...

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Heath Bintliff: The Orioles' power surge

April 30, 2012, 7:37pm

Orioles

Power makes the offense go 'round and the Orioles received it in large doses from a quartet of sluggers over a terrific April that left them five games over .500. I thought I would take a closer look at their performances so far in terms of their Isolate Power (ISO), a stat that measures power independent of batting average. Matt Wieters - We'll start with Wieters, who just 14 months after being labeled one of the 50 biggest busts in baseball history, is building on his breakout 2011 season...

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Olivia Witherite: Was it OK to say goodbye to Guthrie?

April 30, 2012, 5:31am

Orioles

Olivia Witherite: Was it OK to say goodbye to Guthrie?

It has been almost three months since the trade heard around Baltimore occurred when starter Jeremy Guthrie was dealt to the Rockies for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom. While there were strong reactions, many of which were extremely negative, Hammel and Lindstrom have now settled in nicely into their respective roles. But are they comparable to the Orioles' old ace? Hammel began the season in the No. 3 starter's role, a few short days after Guthrie settled in as the new ace in Colorado....

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Flashback: Frank Robinson and the Orioles' transformation into a contender

April 27, 2012, 11:10am

Orioles

There's no way around it: Frank Robinson's arrival via trade in December 1965 transformed the Orioles, pushing a club on the precipice of contention into the postseason - immediately. Considered an old 30 and expendable by the Reds, Robinson flourished in Baltimore. He won the Triple Crown in 1966 - leading the American League with a .316 average, 49 homers and 122 RBIs - and sent the Orioles into the World Series, where they shockingly swept the vaunted Dodgers. More accolades followed, as...

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All-Star voting begins tonight at Camden Yards

April 27, 2012, 7:47am

Orioles

All-Star voting begins tonight at Camden Yards

Ready to make sure the first-place Orioles are well-represented at the All-Star Game in Kansas City on July 10? Beginning tonight, you can take matters - and ballots - into your own hands during home games at Camden Yards. Tonight's A's-O's game marks the beginning of in-game voting for the annual Midsummer Classic. During home games through June 13, fans at Camden Yards can vote for their favorite Orioles by visiting multiple locations throughout the ballpark, including Fan Assistance...

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Matthew Taylor: Bullish on the bullpen

April 27, 2012, 5:36am

Orioles

The Orioles currently have one of the game's best relief corps. The bullpen's 1.96 ERA and 10 saves are tops in baseball. Take a moment to let that sink in. The team that for the past decade or more has been synonymous with late-inning meltdowns (think Mother's Day Massacre) and historic failings (think 30-3) has one of the game's finest late-inning outfits. Earlier in the week, fellow guest blogger Heath Bintliff of Dempsey's Army proclaimed, "For the first time in years, I am loving...

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Sports Legends Museum presents Jon Miller, Camden Yards memories May 22

April 25, 2012, 7:03am

Orioles

Sports Legends Museum presents Jon Miller, Camden Yards memories May 22

For many Orioles fans, Jon Miller will be the voice most associated with Camden Yards. He was the lead play-by-play radio broadcaster when the team moved downtown from 33rd Street, and his call of Cal Ripken's 2,131st game is nothing short of iconic. It's little wonder Miller was presented the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence in 2010 by the Nationals Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., joining legendary O's voice Chuck Thompson (1993) on the roll of winners. If...

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Do cartoon bird, The Oriole Bird need real names?

April 26, 2012, 7:04am

Orioles

Do cartoon bird, The Oriole Bird need real names?

Late last night - or earlier today, if you're one of those who works the morning shift - ex-Oriole Eric Byrnes offered an interesting opinion while recapping the highlights of Wednesday's games on MLB Network's "Quick Pitch." "The cartoon bird," Byrnes said, referring to the logo that adorns the O's new retro-style caps, "I think he needs a name." Byrnes was an Oriole for only 52 games in 2005, a season which also saw him patrol the outfield for the A's and Rockies, who swapped him...

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Neal Shaffer: What draws you to Camden Yards?

April 25, 2012, 5:32am

Orioles

Neal Shaffer: What draws you to Camden Yards?

One thing we know for certain: Fourteen years of poor performance has taken a toll on the fan base. It has thinned the ranks of casual fans, of course; that much is obvious. But I believe it has thinned the ranks of die-hards as well. Across the board, there just aren't as many Orioles fans as there used to be. The evidence is anecdotal but extant. That the O's are off to a decent start and the NFL draft still dominates sports talk radio says quite a bit. That online comment forums are often...

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Join Adam Jones for live video chat Wednesday at 1 p.m.

April 24, 2012, 5:52am

Orioles

Join Adam Jones for live video chat Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Adam Jones has yet to meet a conversation he didn't like. He'll engage reporters in the clubhouse and fans on Twitter. While some players like to insulate themselves from everything outside the ballpark, Jones seems to relish the opportunity to connect with anyone interested in Orioles baseball. Tomorrow, you'll have a chance to pepper the O's center fielder and cleanup hitter with questions during a special MASNsports.com live video chat featuring Jones. Starting at 1 p.m. and lasting for...

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Heath Bintliff: What a relief it is

April 23, 2012, 7:28pm

Orioles

For the first time in years, I am loving the Orioles bullpen. I loved them when they broke camp. I thought it was almost perfectly constructed, given the personnel on hand and they are performing admirably. Over the past 14 years of losing, the bullpen has ranked among the worst in baseball, year in and year out. Sure, there were a couple of exceptions, but Orioles bullpens of the aughts and beyond have generally provided the proverbial gasoline on the starting staff's fires. Not in 2012....