Anthony Amobi: The next few weeks may make or break the Orioles

Anthony Amobi: The next few weeks may make or break the Orioles
On Sundays, I usually have lunch with some friends before the game at one of the fine Baltimore establishments across the street from Camden Yards. Before this season, the topic of conversation would have centered on what the Ravens and the other teams in the NFL would be doing considering the Hall of Fame game (a preseason contest) was on yesterday. The topic only came up only once that day. This has been a huge change since last season. However, we are worried about one Baltimore team: the...

Anthony Amobi: Davis, chatter about PEDs and fairness

Anthony Amobi: Davis, chatter about PEDs and fairness
We all as fans know that Chris Davis is having a season for the ages. This weekend, while driving around the Baltimore area in my SUV and driving to the Washington area, I flipped one of the prominent sports talk radio stations in the area. The talk on that station centered on the Orioles' poor road trip to Chicago and New York, plus Davis. However, the talk on the muscular first baseman was not all positive. Almost every other call I heard on the station centered on whether or not Davis...

Anthony Amobi: The acquisition of Scott Feldman will help the Orioles

Anthony Amobi: The acquisition of Scott Feldman will help the Orioles
This week, the Baltimore Orioles got an early start on the trade deadline period and did not wait until late July to make a deal. Despite their 48-37 record as of this morning, the Orioles - as most know - have a need for starting pitching, like most teams. They rank 29th in the majors with a 4.41 ERA and obviously if the Orioles want to make a run for the postseason, the pitching situation must improve. The Orioles got some much-needed pitching help as they acquired right-hander Scott...

Anthony Amobi: Orioles flying high and in control of their destiny

Anthony Amobi: Orioles flying high and in control of their destiny
The Baltimore Orioles have been on quite a run this week, taking two of three from the Detroit Tigers and before that, taking three of four from the rival Boston Red Sox. In the offseason, a lot of experts doubted that the Orioles could repeat what they did in 2012 this season. So far, they have proven the naysayers wrong. As of this morning, 73 games into the 2013 season, the Orioles are 11 games over .500 and their record stands at 42-31. Baltimore trails Boston in the American League East...

Anthony Amobi: Can Strop figure it out?

Anthony Amobi: Can Strop figure it out?
Wednesday afternoon was a case study in frustration if you are an Orioles fan. The Orioles faced the Los Angeles Angels and were hoping a series sweep. Despite their talent level, the Angels have been lackluster this season, but they took advantage a Baltimore pitcher during the top of the seventh inning. The pitcher on the mound for the Orioles: Pedro Strop. That name has caused fans to react with occasional outbursts of anger all season long. When Strop came into the game, the Orioles...

Anthony Amobi: O's will need a consistent Chris Tillman if they're going to win

Anthony Amobi: O's will need a consistent Chris Tillman if they're going to win
For the past several seasons, Chris Tillman has been a very promising young arm for the Baltimore Orioles. However, from time to time, he is inconsistent, confounding and frustrating to watch on the mound. On Tuesday night, the Orioles defeated the Houston Astros 4-1, and Tillman was excellent, only allowing one run in seven innings of work. The Astros - universally predicted to be awful this season - were flying high and had won six straight games before facing Tillman and the Orioles. I...

Anthony Amobi: Is Chris Davis for real?

Anthony Amobi: Is Chris Davis for real?
At this point in my life, as a sports fan, I'm not often surprised by much. So far this season, Chris Davis has me wondering if what I am seeing from him is for real, based on his track record. I was not sure if he could replicate what he did last season, especially toward the end, coming into 2013. However, he is exceeding that - and a whole lot more. His nickname among fans and the media is "Crush", based on his power at the plate, size and physique. Since opening day, he has been doing...

Anthony Amobi: Gausman to the rescue?

Anthony Amobi: Gausman to the rescue?
Tonight will be quite an event for the Orioles and their fans as Kevin Gausman - one of the organization's top pitching prospects - takes the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays. The fans have wanted him called up for a while, and they have gotten their wish. As of early last week, executive vice president Dan Duquette noted to the media that Gausman would not be in line for a promotion to the majors soon; however, considering the precarious state of the starting rotation, the Orioles may...

Anthony Amobi: O's took a chance and gamble with Machado has paid off

Anthony Amobi: O's took a chance and gamble with Machado has paid off
In August 2012, the Orioles were in the wild card hunt and desperate to solve a problem - third base. Former Oriole Mark Reynolds, despite his power, was struggling at the hot corner, and executive vice president Dan Duquette, the front office, along with manager Buck Showalter were looking for a solution. In the middle of that month, the Orioles did something bold and head-scratching at the same time. They promoted Manny Machado from Double-A Bowie to the majors. At first, I was bewildered...

Anthony Amobi: Davis repays Orioles' patience with power surge

Anthony Amobi: Davis repays Orioles' patience with power surge
As we all know by now, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is enjoying a torrid - as well as historic - start to the 2013 season. Over the past few seasons, he has become not only a star, but an endearing presence to the Orioles fan base - not only because of his freakish power and 6-foot-3physique, but his ever-improving ability at the plate. The baseball world saw that during the first four games of the season and that brought Davis and the Orioles a lot of positive attention. It seemed that...

Anthony Amobi: Roberts off to good start, but can it continue?

Anthony Amobi: Roberts off to good start, but can it continue?
It has been quite a journey for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts for the past several seasons. Roberts is the longest-tenured member of the Orioles, having played his entire 12-year career with the team. However, he has spent more time as a bystander than on the field in recent years. Now the question for Orioles fans is this: Can Roberts still be a productive player, or is he no longer viable for the organization? So far, in a two-game sample, it looks like he can still play in the...

MASNsports.com sets O's guest blogger lineup for first half of 2013

MASNsports.com sets O's guest blogger lineup for first half of 2013
We've created quite the interesting discussion space here at MASNsports.com, a place where you come for news but also to share your thoughts and opinions with other Orioles fans. Baltimore is also home to some of the most dedicated bloggers in all of baseball. So it's only natural that these two camps would eventually intersect. In 2011, MASNsports.com introduced guest bloggers to its site, reasoning that the distinct voices of the Orioles-centric blogosphere would be a good addition to our...

Anthony Amobi: Can Brian Matusz ever regain what made him so special?

Anthony Amobi: Can Brian Matusz ever regain what made him so special?
Right now, despite the Orioles doing relatively well so far this season, it has been apparent that there's been an issue with the starting pitching outside of Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen. On Tuesday night, southpaw Brian Matusz struggled on the mound again in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up five runs in five innings, plus gave up a career-high 13 hits. Matusz's season has been filled with some ups and downs, but fans have to start wondering if the bright young pitcher we...

Anthony Amobi: O's young arms need to step up - again

Anthony Amobi: O's young arms need to step up - again
It has not been a very good week for the Orioles up in the Big Apple. They did not get beat by the rival Yankees; however, the surprising Mets swept the Birds over a three-game set. Baltimore's offense got stifled by the phenomenal knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and the veteran Johan Santana in the first two games. They made it close in the final contest. As much as the offense struggled, I'm not too worried about that and ready to push the red alert button on that front. Sadly, as fans, we...

Anthony Amobi: Can the Orioles sustain their success in 2012?

Anthony Amobi: Can the Orioles sustain their success in 2012?
It has been an extraordinarily good week for the Orioles, as they have shone in interleague play, taking two out of three games from the Phillies and taking the first two in their series against the Pirates. The Orioles had struggled until the middle last week during a brutal stretch, but found a way to turn it on against Boston. As of now, they are 36-26 and trail the New York Yankees by a game in the American League East standings. The Orioles are off to their best start in many years, and...

Anthony Amobi: For O's, a rough patch or time to panic?

Anthony Amobi: For O's, a rough patch or time to panic?
Last night, the Orioles got swept by the Toronto Blue Jays in their three-game series up north in Canada and lost their fifth straight game. We all know that the Birds have had quite an remarkable run during the first two months of the season. To say that they have surprised everyone - fans, the local and national media alike - is an understatement. However, at this point, are the Orioles collapsing, or is this just an extraordinarily lousy stretch? They have gone 2-8 in their last 10...

Anthony Amobi: O's are winning, but where are the fans?

Anthony Amobi: O's are winning, but where are the fans?
The Orioles are fast approaching the quarter-pole of the 2012 season, and I'm sure many fans are asking themselves these questions: Are the Orioles for real? Can they keep this up? Or are they pulling the wool over our eyes, and will the team that we've seen for the last 14 years make an appearance? Right now, I'd say they are for real. I am still having a hard time believing it. The Orioles are winning games that would not have won in the past, plus they are getting excellent starting...

Anthony Amobi: Are we seeing the real Nick Markakis?

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...

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

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...

Anthony Amobi: Wieters' emergence silences his critics

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...