Here's a question for you. If Nick Markakis hit .338 this year with runners in scoring position and .299 last year, how come last year he drove in 101 runs and this year he had just 60 RBI? Twice in his previous four full seasons with the Orioles, Markakis knocked in 100 runs and he averaged 91 RBI per year from 2006 to 2009. Clearly this was a season where Markakis' batting average and on base were around what he has done before, but the power numbers were down. If you analyze some...

It's been another relatively slow day, and I'm not complaining. I'm fine with the current pace after finishing up spring training and a 162-game season. It's not dead around here, but you have to feel around for a pulse. I called a few of the coaches to gauge whether they have a handle on their fates, and the universal answer is "no." They remain in a holding pattern and are still waiting to hear back from manager Buck Showalter, who flew home earlier this week. Showalter wasn't...

Aramark has served as the Orioles' food vendor since Camden Yards opened in 1992, and they've popped up in the news and here in the Orioles Buzz a handful of times in the last year or two. But heading into the 2011 season, the Orioles have decided to part ways with their long-time concessions vendor. It wasn't that long ago that the O's announced the arrival of a new head chef and a slew of new menu items (Opening Day 2009), as well as the addition of food and beverage items from local...

Roy Halladay throws a no-hitter last night and I saw exactly four pitches - all of them from Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez in the second inning. I have regrets. Not every team is blessed with a true No. 1 starter. Go over all the rosters and pick out the pitchers who actually fit the description, and not simply because somebody had to take the ball on Opening Day (Rodrigo Lopez did it in Baltimore and nobody's calling him an ace.) The Phillies happen to own three of them, but that's an...

Well, a lot of good things happened in the last two months for the Orioles. Here is one man's take, ranking them from five to one, on the biggest developments with the club under Buck Showalter. 5 - Matt Wieters was empowered to become a leader. Under Buck, you get the impression that Matt Wieters knew he had to, at some point, become a leader on the Orioles. He was at the center of the core group of young talent on the team and plays a position that demands a certain level of...

I guess the Rays didn't call the Orioles for a scouting report on Cliff Lee. The Rangers lefty shut down the Rays today as Texas won game one of their playoff series, 5-1. In his two Rangers starts vs. the Orioles, Lee gave up 14 ER over 14 2/3 innings, allowing seven homers. Now tonight in the AL, it's the Yankees at Minnesota. While I have plenty of respect for the Twins and their entire organization, I wonder if they are just a little psyched out about playing New York in...

One day the O's spirit will be alive in October during a playoff run that will have Baltimore buzzing. But for this year, Birdland will settle for a remarkably strong finish under new Orioles skipper Buck Showalter and the eternal hope of the offseason and eventually spring training. So if your O's enthusiasm is still running high and you're looking to ease the cold turkey feeling that comes with the end of the season, spice up your fall decorations with an Orioles carved pumpkin. Once...

Ernie Tyler, the longtime umpires attendant who was rushed to University of Maryland Medical Center Saturday afternoon, underwent successful surgery this morning to remove a benign brain tumor. A team official said "everything went well" and Tyler is resting comfortably. No word on how long he'll remain hospitalized. Tyler, a member of the Orioles' Hall of Fame, worked 3,819 consecutive home games at Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards. It's not often that an umpires attendant achieves...

The D.C. Chaper of the Internet Baseball Writer's Association has announced award winners for the 2010 season. You can read more about the voting and see answers to a postseason poll among internet writers on the DC-IBWA website. This year's winners include: Goose Goslin Most Valuable Player (Player most valuable to the success of the Washington Nationals): 1st: Ryan Zimmerman (2nd consecutive year) 2nd: Adam Dunn 3rd: Livan Hernandez Walter Johnson Starting Pitcher of the...

The Nationals and Orioles saw dramatic audience growth in the 2010 baseball season in both Washington and Baltimore, as well as across MASN's seven-state television territory, according to year-over-year Nielsen television ratings. More than 21 million households watched the Orioles and Nationals on MASN in 2010. Nationals The biggest ratings growth occurred in Washington, D.C. where the Nationals doubled their television audience, growing to a 1.4 HH rating - or 33,000 households - from a...