All the ways to catch the O's if you're not in Sarasota

All the ways to catch the O's if you're not in Sarasota
Many of you have already beamed about your plans to head south for Orioles spring training in Sarasota. You've got the front row seats - enjoy 'em! But fans who can't make it to the Sunshine State won't be left out in the cold (except literally, that is), as there are now a handful of ways that you can catch sight of the O's before they fly north for the regular season. Four Games on MASN: Sunday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m. vs. Red Sox in Sarasota Thursday, March 25 at 1:00 p.m. vs. Yankees...

In the Sarasota community and the first T-Shirt Tuesday

In the Sarasota community and the first T-Shirt Tuesday
A week or so ago, more details were promised on community events to take place at Ed Smith Stadium at the bottom of this entry in the Orioles Buzz. And, as promised, here they are... On Friday, February 26, O's pitcher Chris Tillman will appear at the Opening Day festivities for the Cal Ripken Baseball League in Sarasota. Tillman will be accompanied by the Oriole Bird, and the pair will greet Ripken League players and fans at 6:00 p.m. until Tillman throws out the first pitch at 6:45 to...

Join O's on Opening Day at "First Pitch Party" in Baltimore

Join O's on Opening Day at "First Pitch Party" in Baltimore
With Opening Day of the Orioles' 2010 season only days away, a few lucky O's fans are looking forward to getting their first glimpse of the Birds in person at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. But most Orioles fans will be here in Baltimore, or watching the game on MASN from their homes. You might have friends, family or neighbors who are big Orioles fans; you might even watch the 2010 opener with them, but it won't be quite the same as experiencing the excitement with all of Charm City...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Welcome back O's fans. As spring training continues, so does your favorite segment in the O's Buzz. This week's 'Where in the Yard?' is hiding in plain sight all over the ballpark, but let's see if you can identify it without its surroundings. You know how to play - Take a look at the photo below and tell us what we're looking at and where it's located in or around Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Update: Steve, Chris in Baltimore, Glassman, John W., and Tim Morris have it already....

Bobbleheads past and present

Bobbleheads past and present
The Orioles 2010 Promotions Schedule lists four different bobblehead nights during the upcoming season: Nolan Reimold, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis mini bobbleheads, with a Matt Wieters standard bobblehead thrown in the mix mid-season. Unlike the wide open debate for five of the six T-Shirt Tuesdays on the promotions schedule (a Matt Wieters T-shirt will kick things off, but we'll get to the remaining five at a later date here in the Orioles Buzz), these four bobblehead nights have...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Today is one of those beautiful winter days at Camden Yards. The sun is shining; the snow has melted; the grass on the field has been mowed; and the sprinklers are doing the early work of bringing the Yard back to life. There were even a few people milling around Eutaw Street today on my way in, and Opening Day finally feels as near as it looks on the calendar. So with your best memory of Camden Yards in the back of your mind, check out this week's 'Where in the Yard?' and tell us what's...

Flanny in the booth

Flanny in the booth
MASN announced today that former Oriole Mike Flanagan will fill Buck Martinez's place as color analyst in the broadcast booth for the 2010 season. Fans will hear Flanagan from the booth for the first time this season on April 15, as the O's take on the Athletics in Oakland at 10:05 p.m. Flanagan will split games with Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who will continue to provide color commentary for half of this season's O's games on MASN. The 59-year-old former Orioles player, coach, front...

Wieters joins list of Orioles greats on the cover of SI

Wieters joins list of Orioles greats on the cover of SI
If you haven't seen Matt Wieters on the cover of the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated, make sure you don't miss it. Tom Verducci's feature makes Wieters the first Oriole to grace an SI cover since the IronMan himself, Cal Ripken Jr., who was certainly no stranger to the pages of Sports Illustrated. Cal's image made the cover nine times over the years, including four times in 1995 alone! (May, August, September and December) Billy Ripken and Cal Ripken Sr. also had covers all to...

More on the voice of Baltimore sports

More on the voice of Baltimore sports
If you haven't read Steve Melewski's article on former O's and Colts broadcaster Chuck Thompson, it's a nice tribute to a man (whom I think it's fair to say) Charm City has missed since his passing now five years ago. I'm a little too young to remember summer nights spent under the spell of Chuck Thompson's voice over the radio, but my father certainly isn't and I know he shares Steve's sentiments toward the voice of Baltimore sports. And I remember one summer when I was interning...

Orioles stay with Aramark for 2010

Orioles stay with Aramark for 2010
After opening the floor for other food vendors following the 2009 season, it appears that Aramark will be returning as the Orioles' concessionaire for the 2010 season, according to a recent article in the Baltimore Business Journal. The Orioles entertained interest from Centerplate, Deleware North, Levy Restaurants, and Legends Hospitality Management before deciding to stick with Aramark for the 2010 season. This offseason was the first time the Orioles had considered a change to their...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
When we checked in last week for 'Where in the Yard?' the sun was shining on Oriole Park, and Opening Day felt closer than ever. This week, puddles are rippling on the edge of the infield, and the clouds seem to imply more rain is on the way. But there's always an air of Orioles baseball here in the Orioles Buzz, and this week's photo challenge even comes complete with the potential for extra bonus points. So take a look at the photo below and let us know what the item is and where it's...

The O's between innings

The O's between innings
During my recent search for a clip of Chuck Thompson calling an O's game, I eventually found myself on YouTube, watching various Orioles commercials. There are plenty to keep you busy, from the Brad Bergesen commercial that we all heard about recently to videos of Jim Palmer pitching for Brylecream or the Money Store. Since there are so many, I thought we'd feature one of these each week - at least until we run out of interesting O's videos. So this week I thought we'd start with a...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Welcome back for another week of 'Where in the Yard?' here in the Orioles Buzz. We only have a few weeks left before the Yard will be open to O's fans, but we'll keep posting photos here to make sure you're really paying attention when you visit Oriole Park. But in the meantime, you know the rules: Take a look at the photo below and see if you can tell us what's in the picture and where its located in or around Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Update: Nice work by Dom, Eddie S, Ryan S,...

Around the O's

Around the O's
As the O's news continues to heat up as we get closer and closer to Opening Day, here's a collection of unrelated O's items you might be interested in. Also, if reading this makes you think of something else you want to know about the O's, as always, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to find out for you, maybe in another Around the O's here in the Orioles Buzz. 2110 Eutaw Street will return in 2010 The popular promo, which honors the jersey numbers of talented young O's Nick...

Fantasy Baseball w/ MASN & the Orioles Buzz

Fantasy Baseball w/ MASN & the Orioles Buzz
Camden Yards is buzzing with the finishing touches of offseason maintenance; Nicole Sherry's grounds crew are busy on the field, where the red clay has returned to the infield and crisp lines are visible in the Kentucky Blue Grass again; O's Productions has been testing the sound system throughout the ballpark; spring training is already five weeks old; and the Opening Day countdown has broken the two-week barrier. If all of that doesn't tell you baseball season is practically here, MASN...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/Answer)
Even the marathon dentist appointment that delayed my posting of this week's 'Where in the Yard?' couldn't dampen an admittedly wet and gloomy day at Camden Yards - not when they're setting up food, drink and merchandise booths on Eutaw Street in preparation for Opening Day. The renewal process around here is always refreshing after a long winter without ballgames or the buzz they create around the Yard, and the energy around the Warehouse steadily picks up with every day nearer to the...

Hit one out of the park

Hit one out of the park
If it wasn't obvious already, O's Buzz readers are the best. I checked out MASN's Fantasy Baseball game, and so far, if I'm not mistaken, the Orioles Buzz League is one of the most popular. Was it the prizes I hinted at, or were you just happy to show your support of the O's Buzz? (It's totally okay if you're thinking, "Hmm, yea...it might have been the prizes..." In any case, thanks to those of you who joined the Orioles Buzz League; and for those of you already signed up for...

The O's between innings: Palmer Edition

The O's between innings: Palmer Edition

Back on St. Patrick's Day, I posted two of the many Orioles commercials I came across on YouTube. The first was a look back to 1994, and the second involved a look ahead with the "This is Where" commercial highlighting the promise of the O's cache of young talent. This time around, I'll point you to a pair of endorsements from former Oriole, Hall of Famer and current MASN broadcaster Jim Palmer. I'll never forget my dad asking me once when I was a kid, "You know who Jim Palmer is, right?" Of course I did, but for fun, I replied, "The Money Store guy, right?" My dad looked mildly crushed and launched into an account of Palmer's accomplishments on the mound for the Orioles, flatly refusing to let me get away with fruitless attempts to tell him it was only a lame joke. But maybe you remember Palmer's Money Store endorsement as well...

And since we're looking back at Palmer's days on TV outside of MASN and the O's, check out this Brylcream ad he starred in as well...