In my last entry I talked about why I feel Interleague games have lost their luster and are not as appealing to fans. I received more responses on the Interleague topic than any other, and the consensus is that fans and players do still like the concept and want to see Interleague play continue. The fans at Camden Yards seemed to enjoy the Braves, Mets and Nationals coming in for three-game series. The crowds that came out over the weekend for the Battle of the Beltways were large and...

During spring training in Ft. Lauderdale, Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail made it clear that he expected to see progress on the field and in the won-loss record as the 2009 season progressed. MacPhail stated the Opening Day roster would look different by Memorial Day, still different in July, and probably more changes would be made down the stretch. And the bulk of the players moving to Baltimore would come from the Orioles minor league system. An immediate goal for...

The Orioles' rebuilding plan has been well documented, and it's working. The progress is subtle but noticeable and better times are ahead. It is understandable that O's fans are frustrated the team isn't winning more now, but even while turning over the roster and getting younger the O's have become more competitive. Going into Wednesday's game in New York, the O's had played in 42 games decided by 2 runs or less. They are competing. But we all need to be reminded that this is...

Here's a quiz for this week's entry: How many Orioles fans know who David Jennings is? How about Lamar North? Does the name Ed Sprague Sr. or Mark Ralston ring a bell? If not, its understandable but O's fans should get to know them or at least be aware of who they are and what they do. They work in obscurity and their success is directly related to any future success for the Orioles. They are baseball scouts, and they beat the bushes looking for talented players. They are in large...

Baseball is a game of numbers. Most are obvious - 4 balls for a walk, 3 strikes for a strikeout, 3 outs in an inning, 9 innings in a game. But for some major league teams, a significant number can be more subtle. And for the 2009 Orioles their significant number is 5. When the Orioles have scored 5 or more runs in a game this season, they have put up playoff-caliber numbers. But when scoring 4 runs or less, the O's have been overmatched. Going into Friday night's home game against the...

Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz are the youngest players on the Orioles. Matusz is 22, and Tillman is 21. But despite their youth and inexperience, their passion reminds me of what baseball is all about: Having fun while playing the game and enjoying the moment. Tillman is the veteran of the duo. He's in his fourth pro season and has 11 major league starts. Matusz has just completed his first professional season and says he's learned more in his eight starts for the Orioles than he did...

Now that the 2009 season is complete, I wanted to take a moment to reflect and to thank the Orioles fans and the crew at O's Xtra. For the past 6 months O's Xtra set the scene and recapped the action of the Orioles games. We were able to really get to know the Orioles players and get a glimpse of what we all hope will be a positive future on the field. Dozens of hard working professionals allow us to push the envelope and strive to give the O's fans an entertaining product. Rick Dempsey...

Holiday Greetings everyone. My guess is, like us, you are busy trying to balance the remaining time and the "must get done list." As the Christmas decorations went up around the house, it dawned on me that the baseball offseason is more than half over, and before we know it we'll be getting excited for the first spring training in Sarasota. I've been keeping busy since the season ended. I've had the pleasure of taking part in several events for different charities around Baltimore,...

The big topic of debate with the many passionate Orioles fans this offseason has been the desire to add a "Power Bat" to the middle of the O's lineup for the 2010 season. While I agree with the benefits that type of hitter would bring to Baltimore, the Orioles lineup this season will bring something just as effective in winning games. And that is balance on the mound, in the field, and at the plate. Let's start with the lineup and agree a "bopper" is a player with at least 30 home...

I've put together some stats to see how the Orioles players have fared in their careers on Opening Day. Right-hander Kevin Millwood will make his 7th career Opening Day start tonight. He is 2-4, 3.34 in previous openers. Last year, Millwood and Texas whipped Cleveland and Cliff Lee 9-1 in the opener as Millwood allowed just one run over seven innings. Millwood's Opening Day starts: 2003 - Philly at Fla: 6IP, 4H, 3R, 2ER, 1BB, 4K 2004 - Philly at Pitt: 6IP, 7H, 2R-ER, 0BB, 4K 2006 - Tex...