Darren O'Day is excited about his T-shirt night

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day is pretty fired up about tonight - and not just for the chance for the Orioles to win another game and get closer to their goal of making the playoffs.

It's Darren O'Day T-shirt night at the Yard and all fans that come through the turnstiles will get one.

Several Orioles were wearing theirs in the clubhouse before tonight's game.

"Pretty excited, I never expected to have a T-shirt night," O'Day said this afternoon. "I'm more excited about this little sidearm logo that I never even fathomed. Name looks cool, the song is pretty awesome when everyone gets to singing it."

O'Day appreciates the fact he gets his own T-shirt night when he's not a regular player, a starting pitcher or a closer. But he's a key member of one of the best bullpens in baseball and he thinks the fans have noticed that.

"I hope they appreciate the bullpen guys," he said. "Not just the closer but the guys that get the closer into the game. Middle relievers don't get shirts much. I understand the significance of it. The investment from the team. Hope the fans show up to get them.

"Everybody can tell when I'm warming up and that kind of sets me apart. Then I have this song. My last name kind of rolls off the tongue. I have of couple of different things going for me that maybe sets me apart and now I get a shirt."

He's also selling himself a little short and being modest when saying he's a middle reliever. He's one of the best late-inning relievers in the game.

He ranks second in the American League in relief ERA at 0.96. Over his last 25 games, O'Day has given up one earned run in 28 innings for an ERA of 0.32 with eight walks and 34 strikeouts.

O'Day was part of a very strong O's bullpen in 2012, how does this one stack up to that?

"I think it's more complete. Think, top to bottom, just the skills everybody brings. We have guys that are stretched out and it's just a more complete pen."

All those great stats and now a T-shirt as well.