Orioles outright right-hander Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk

Orioles outright right-hander Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk
The Orioles today announced that they have outrighted right-hander Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk. Johnson, 26, was 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA (47.2IP, 33ER) in 17 starts between Norfolk (13 starts), Aberdeen (three starts), and the Gulf Coast Orioles (one start). Johnson had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right shoulder on September 24. The Orioles now have 39 players on their 40-man major league roster.
Continue reading

Zach Wilt: Final thoughts on Orioles' 2014 campaign

Zach Wilt: Final thoughts on Orioles' 2014 campaign
How could I possibly be disappointed in the Orioles' season? Ninety-six regular season wins, an American League East title for the first time since 1997 and a trip to the American League Championship Series. Oh, and the Orioles accomplished all of those feats without Matt Wieters, Manny Machado and even Chris Davis at the end of the season. If you told me way back when pitchers and catchers reported on Feb. 13 that the O's year would run through mid-October, I would have been thrilled. I...
Continue reading

Operation October: All or nothing

Operation October: All or nothing
KANSAS CITY - Good morning from a very sunny Kauffman Stadium. Olivia and Lindsay here with you for this win-or-go-home Game 4. Wherever you are watching the game today, it's time for you to back your Birds! If you're not at The K, we're bringing the ballpark to you through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (masnOrioles). So be sure to follow along for behind-the-scenes looks. We'll be updating this blog all day long, so keep following along with us! We're back at The K and...
Continue reading

Daniel Clark: The good and bad of the ALCS

Daniel Clark: The good and bad of the ALCS
After three games of the American League Championship Series, there's been a number of key things that haven't gone according to plan for the Orioles, who trail the series 3-0 and require four straight wins in order to progress to their first World Series since 1983. In light of these disappointing results, let's explore the good and bad of the series thus far... The Good Shut down the Royals' speed Much had been made of the Royals' speed on the basepaths prior to the series commencing,...
Continue reading

Operation October: Sunny skies for Game 3 in Kansas City

Operation October: Sunny skies for Game 3 in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY - It's true: The sun is out and shining for Game 3 of the American League Championship Series! After the postponement due to rain yesterday, we - Lindsay and Olivia - are back with you for Game 3 of the ALCS, which starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time. We're about ready to head to the ballpark on this beautiful but windy afternoon. If you can't make it out to Kauffman Stadium, no worries! We're bringing the ballpark to you through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat...
Continue reading

Matt Kremnitzer: Looking ahead to Game 3 of ALCS

Matt Kremnitzer: Looking ahead to Game 3 of ALCS
Thanks to a heavy dose of rain, Game 3 of the American League Championship Series was postponed last night. So the series will get back up and running tonight. There are a number of ways the Orioles could get back in this series; they certainly have not played their best. And even though Kansas City leads two games to none, the O's could have pilfered one or both of those games with a key hit or two. Each game has been closely contested throughout. One simple way for the Orioles to turn things...
Continue reading

Operation October: From Camden Yards to Kauffman Stadium

Operation October: From Camden Yards to Kauffman Stadium
KANSAS CITY - Rain, rain, go away! It's raining here, which seems to be sort of a theme during this American League Championship Series. The chance of rain during the start time tonight is 100 percent, but we'll see if we can get in Game 3 tonight. (So you're saying there's a chance...) The rain, clouds and gloominess in Kansas City today. pic.twitter.com/RDRMPTh8Ay— Steve Melewski (@masnSteve) October 13, 2014 Regardless of whether or not the teams make it to the field today,...
Continue reading

Andrew Stetka: Probability suggests tide will eventually tilt O's way in ALCS

Andrew Stetka: Probability suggests tide will eventually tilt O's way in ALCS
While the doom and gloom set in, and the dirt continues to be piled on the Orioles as the American League Championship Series shifts to Kansas City, a lot of reason and sense goes out the window. The chances of the O's coming from behind to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1983 have dropped drastically since the start of the ALCS. Those are just the numbers; it's simple probability and statistics of prior history. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I think the Orioles...
Continue reading

Yost, Cain on Royals taking 2-0 lead in ALCS

Yost, Cain on Royals taking 2-0 lead in ALCS
While the Royals didn't predict it, they didn't rule out the notion of leaving Camden Yards with a two games to none lead in the American League Championship Series with three games in front of their home fans waiting. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain had a ton to do with the latest victory, going 4-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and two spectacular catches - one of which robbed J.J. Hardy of extra bases to start the sixth. Along with showing his impressive range and glove, Cain is batting .750 with two...
Continue reading

Operation October: Let's play Game 2!

Operation October: Let's play Game 2!
Like Buck Showalter always says, we slept fast and we - Lindsay and Olivia - are back at Camden Yards for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Royals and Orioles. We're all settled in and ready to see this place packed with orange once again. If you're coming to the Yard, prove it! Tweet and Instagram your pictures, tagging them with #IBackTheBirds. If you can't make it to the Yard, we're bringing the stadium to you through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and...
Continue reading

Gordon, Yost on Royals' big night in ALCS Game 1 win

Gordon, Yost on Royals' big night in ALCS Game 1 win
Alex Gordon did it all to help the Royals get an upper hand in the American League Championship Series. The 30-year-old outfielder put together a monster performance in his first career ALCS contest, using both his bat and his glove to lead the Royals to an 8-6 Game 1 win over the Orioles in 10 innings. Gordon went 3-for-4 with a bases-loaded double, a 10th-inning homer and four RBIs, while adding a diving catch in the third. Kansas City manager Ned Yost was thrilled to see Gordon come...
Continue reading

Operation October: Game 1 of the ALCS is here!

Operation October: Game 1 of the ALCS is here!
Rain, rain, go away! Game 1 of the American League Championship Series is just a few hours away, and we - Lindsay and Olivia - are here with you for another go-around! We're all settled in at Camden Yards for Royals-Orioles and ready to see this place packed with orange. If you're coming to the Yard, show us! Tweet and Instagram your pictures, tagging them with #IBackTheBirds. If you can't make it down to Eutaw Street, no worries! We're bringing all the postseason action and...
Continue reading

Opposite dugout: Royals ride pitching, speed, defense into ALCS

Opposite dugout: Royals ride pitching, speed, defense into ALCS
Manager: Ned Yost, fifth year Record: 89-73 ALDS result: 3-0 over Angels Postseason stats: 1B Eric Hosmer (.500/.632/1.143, 2 HR, 5 RBIs, 5 R); 3B Mike Moustakas (.286/.333/.714, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); LHP Jason Vargas (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP); RHP James Shields (1-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 4-3, 26 runs scored, 18 runs allowed Pitching probables Game 1, Oct. 10: James Shields vs. Chris Tillman, 8 p.m., TBS Game 2, Oct. 11: Yordano Ventura vs. Wei-Yin Chen/Bud Norris, 4 p.m.,...
Continue reading

Orioles welcome back Knothole Gang, giving 600 children opportunity to experience ALCS

Orioles welcome back Knothole Gang, giving 600 children opportunity to experience ALCS
Postseason baseball at Camden Yards is loud, and one of the loudest cheering sections for the American League Championship Series may just be Section 98. Following the success of the OriolesREACH Knothole Gang in the American League Division Series, the Orioles will once again bring hundreds of children from various groups around the state to Camden Yards, allowing them to experience postseason baseball from their seats in section 98. In its debut during the ALDS, the Knothole Gang allowed more...
Continue reading

Matthew Taylor: Everywhere you look, O's fandom endures

Matthew Taylor: Everywhere you look, O's fandom endures
I arrived for our family vacation in Florida this week with a suitcase stuffed to the feathers with five Orioles hats, seven Orioles T-shirts and an Orioles sweatshirt - and that was after whittling down my baseball clothing options. I'm not ashamed to say that I've become a billboard for Orioles pride of late; I'm absolutely basking in the reflected glory of this American League East title and this postseason run. My dedication won't carry me so far as to get an O's tattoo, although as a...
Continue reading

Orioles sign shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year contract extension with an option for 2018

Orioles sign shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year contract extension with an option for 2018
The Orioles today announced that they have signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year contract extension with an option for 2018. Hardy, 32, joined the Orioles in 2011 and has won two Gold Gloves and leads all major league shortstops with 86 home runs in that time. He was also voted the American League's starting shortstop in the 2013 All-Star Game and won the Silver Slugger Award that year. In 2014, Hardy ranked 7th among all AL players in Defensive bWAR (2.1) and led AL shortstops in...
Continue reading

Orioles welcome back "Knothole Gang" children's groups for American League Championship Series Games 1 and 2

Orioles welcome back "Knothole Gang" children's groups for American League Championship Series Games 1 and 2
Following the successful debut of the Knothole Gang during the American League Division Series, which saw nearly 1,400 children enjoy two Orioles Postseason victories and featured one participating child catch a Nelson Cruz home run in Game 1, the Orioles are again making the Postseason available to kids. 600 more children will be experiencing the excitement of Postseason baseball from Section 98 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, courtesy of the Orioles, who are also providing game tickets,...
Continue reading

Zach Wilt: Backs ends of bullpens present interesting ALCS matchup

Zach Wilt: Backs ends of bullpens present interesting ALCS matchup
For years, I preached about the importance of starting pitching in the postseason. In my mind, I firmly believed that the teams with the best rotations had the greatest chance of making a deep run into October. It was all about those four starters and no matter what a team did to hide its lack of starting pitching in the regular season, they would surely be exposed in the playoffs. Suddenly, I'm not so sure that's true anymore. At least not this year. The Tigers added a third Cy Young award...
Continue reading

Orioles announce updated list of "We Won't Stop" rallies

Orioles announce updated list of "We Won't Stop" rallies
The Orioles today announced an updated list of their series of "We Won't Stop" rallies to generate excitement for the team's postseason run. A "We Won't Stop" street team will travel throughout Baltimore and surrounding areas over the next few weeks, with several former Orioles players and the Oriole Bird also participating. The "We Won't Stop" team will give away promotional items, and fans will have the chance to win autographed memorabilia. The current list of rally dates and...
Continue reading

Rachel Levitin: Lackluster October offense shouldn't discredit a quality season

Rachel Levitin: Lackluster October offense shouldn't discredit a quality season
At the end of each baseball season, 29 teams go home without a ring. Unfortunately for baseball fans in Washington, the Nationals are one of those teams that went home without the ring in 2014. The team's playoff run lasted four games against the San Francisco Giants after Tuesday night's elimination match-up in which the Nats fell two games to one against their NLDS competitor. From what I could gather from casual fans I follow on Facebook and Twitter, the majority were discontent regarding...
Continue reading