Pick your own promotion

Pick your own promotion
The Orioles have released their 2010 schedule, but you might have noticed the absence of the familiar little white boxes with asterisks in them, which signify a promotion at Oriole Park during that day's game. So while the schedule might be out, next year's promotions are far from set in stone. The Orioles featured some pretty good promos this year. Remember the... -Six T-Shirt Tuesdays (Koji Uehara, Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, Nolan Reimold, Brad Bergesen, and Cesar Izturis -Orioles...

Fan Appreciation Weekend features some of the best promos of the season

Fan Appreciation Weekend features some of the best promos of the season
The last series of the 2009 season is filled with promos and giveaways for fans who come out to the Yard for the last three games of O's baseball this weekend. So no matter how many games you've already attended, no matter the weather (the forecast is 70s and sunny though!), and no matter how packed your schedule is this time of year, see if you can make it out for one more game at Oriole Park this season--With all these giveaways and promotions, you're not likely to leave the ballpark...

Let the Countdown Begin

Let the Countdown Begin
With the 2009 regular season officially over, baseball fans can take a deep breath after the intense 162-game marathon that is a spring, summer, and fall filled with regular season baseball. But for many fans, it won't take long to start missing it all over again. So for starters, keep these "MLB Important Dates" in mind and remember that there's plenty from the baseball realm to look forward to in the months ahead. Oct. 7, 2009: Division Series play begins Oct. 15, 2009: Championship...

Let's hear from the female fans

Let's hear from the female fans
Recently, the Orioles Buzz featured a call to fans for their best promotion ideas for the 2010 season. Not only did you O's fans respond with some great promos, but one fan mentioned how she'd like to see some events focused on bringing women to the ballpark. So, I figured I'd look into what some other clubs have already been doing in that department. Not all teams have a women's club, but a handful of them do. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays have the "Lady Jays"; the Los Angeles...

Miscellaneous Matusz (Updated with answers)

Miscellaneous Matusz (Updated with answers)
With a long offseason ahead, Brian Matusz's presence on the mound isn't a huge question mark after a pretty successful first season in the big leagues. But below are a few questions related to the O's young southpaw that might surprise or even stump you. See if you can figure out any of the following from Matusz's Q&A at the ESPN Zone back in September of the 2009 season. Matusz's favorite ballplayer growing up was...? The mascot at Matusz's University of San Diego is a Torero,...

Jack-O-lanterns, emphasis on the "O!"

Jack-O-lanterns, emphasis on the "O!"
It's likely inevitable that the weather will turn warm again for at least one more weekend before winter settles in, but the cold weather came on fast this year, didn't it? But with it comes that time of year when Starbucks puts out its Pumpkin Spice latte, the amazing cook in the office brings in delicious pumpkin bread, and you see the bright orange faces of carved pumpkins themselves smiling from the doorsteps of neighborhood houses. But this year, if you still have a pumpkin ripe for...

A little more MacPhail

A little more MacPhail
A recent article in Dickinson Magazine featured a particular alumnus of special interest to Orioles fans. If you didn't already know that O's President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail (along with many in his family) graduated from Dickinson College, the magazine feature touches on the MacPhail family's unshakable connections to the college, the game of baseball, and the Orioles. The article's author, Sherri Kimmel, adeptly likens the MacPhail name in baseball to the Kennedy...

Where is Birdland?

Where is Birdland?
Is it a place with an address - like 2110 Eutaw Street? Or is it an idea, an expression used to tell people that this (wherever you are) is Oriole fan territory? It's both in a way. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is certainly "Birdland." It's the city center of all that is Oriole fandom, but Birdland is bigger than merely the Yard. Birdland reaches to wherever you take your Oriole fan pride, and the "Where is Birdland?" photo galleries on Orioles.com encourage fans to share exactly where...

Be the first to greet the O's in Sarasota

Be the first to greet the O's in Sarasota
Can't wait for Spring Training? Catch an early showing of the O's in Sarasota at the Orioles Family FanFest at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday, November 14 from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Fans can expect to see Dave Trembley, Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold, Brad Bergesen, Jim Johnson, and Jim Palmer throughout the afternoon, which will feature autograph sessions, O's giveaways, fan forums, a variety of activities for kids - including Kids Run the Bases, and a free hot dog and soda for every fan who attends...

Celebrities at the World Series and an O's WS question

Celebrities at the World Series and an O's WS question
First things first - a fair warning: this post obviously isn't 100% focused on the Orioles. Although, we all probably enjoy the idea of one day tracking celebrities at an O's-(Insert opponent of choice here) World Series--if O's fans will even be able to think about anything else when that day arrives! So this might be a little bit of a non-Orioles Buzz entry, but it's still fun to see who from the realm of stardom has made an appearance so far at this year's World Series. Check out The...

Lunch with Trembley and tracking the O's online

Lunch with Trembley and tracking the O's online
MASN will reward their fantasy baseball winners next week, as five baseball-savvy fans will get to eat lunch with Orioles Manager Dave Trembley at the ESPN Zone on Monday, November 9. I'll be tagging along to recap the luncheon and relay any interesting info from the skipper, who will be flying in from his Florida home to spend a few hours with some dedicated O's fans. Check back next Monday afternoon for an update on the lunch with Trembley. In the meantime, if you're missing your...

A little O's atmosphere on your special day

A little O's atmosphere on your special day
A few days ago, I noticed a small crowd of people grouped around the Orioles' dugout. Since tours can be scheduled year-round, I figured this group must be doing just that, taking a guided ballpark tour. But as I glanced away, I noted the tell-tale tour guide uniform in the way of a black and orange jacket and ball cap was missing, and this group was pretty well dressed for a bunch of fans just walking around the Yard--Most fans don't opt for sparkling dresses or sharply cut suits, or a...

Fantasy winners enjoy the ultimate Orioles lunch hour

Fantasy winners enjoy the ultimate Orioles lunch hour
Orioles Manager Dave Trembley met a handful of fans in a private side room at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore's Inner Harbor today with a smile as warm as the weather. On an unseasonably nice day in November, the O's skipper got up at 3:00 a.m. to leave his sunny Daytona Beach home for a 5:00 a.m. flight to Baltimore; but he wasn't headed back to Charm City on business. Today, he traveled back to the home of the O's to have lunch with the winners of MASN's first fantasy baseball league on...

One liners from lunch with Trembley

One liners from lunch with Trembley
Over the two-hour lunch the MASN fantasy baseball winners were treated to with Orioles Manager Dave Trembley Monday, there seemed to be a handful of one-liners and little observations that didn't fit into my official piece on the event. So here they are, one at a time... -When looking at the photo in the post on the MASN fantasy baseball winners' lunch, did you notice anyone familiar in the group of winners? Yep, that's "Molly from Pikesville" from the MASN Defining Moments commercial. ...

'Phenomenal' welcome for the Orioles in Sarasota

'Phenomenal' welcome for the Orioles in Sarasota
Many more events will mark the occasion, including the first Orioles game in Sarasota this spring and the completion of the renovations to come later on that will transform the Reds' fomer complex into a warmer-weather Birdland; but O's fans put their initial mark on Ed Smith Stadium by turning out 2,500 strong last Saturday for the Orioles Family FanFest held in the team's new spring training home. More than twice as many fans than were expected at the event came out on Saturday to add...

Markakis family to make Turkey Day brighter for Maryland families

Markakis family to make Turkey Day brighter for Maryland families
The baseball season might be over, but the season for giving is quickly upon us; and in that spirit, the Markakis family will continue their charitable efforts throughout Maryland communities by helping to give area families full and happy Thanksgivings this season. Nick and Christinia Markakis will join the Maryland Food Bank this Saturday, November 21 from 11:00 a.m. to noon to help distribute frozen Thanksgiving turkeys to pre-registered families in need. While the Markakises will be the...

Offseasons, retirement don't stop these former Orioles

Offseasons, retirement don't stop these former Orioles
If you talk to a sports broadcaster or front office member, they'll likely laugh a little as they use the word "offseason." There's not a whole lot "off" about it, they'll say, as everyone from the grounds crew to the front office spend their winter months preparing for next season, while broadcasters often fill their "down time" with the equally non-stop schedule of another sport. In former Oriole turned MASN broadcaster Rick Dempsey's case, he's not providing color analysis for...

MSA performs maintenance on OPACY

MSA performs maintenance on OPACY
There are still well over 100 days until Orioles baseball officially begins in 2010, but Nicole Sherry and her grounds crew haven't been alone inside Oriole Park over the last few weeks of the baseball offseason. It's too early for FanFest, let alone ballgames at the Yard, but since I'm lucky enough to have a ballpark-facing office here in the MASNsports.com WebStudio, I couldn't help noticing the hum and I asked Director of Communications Greg Bader what the buzz was all about. Many of...

Quick Q&A's

Quick Q&A's
When you were little and you wrote a letter to Brooks or Cal, you probably didn't ask him which right-handed bat the Orioles might sign this offseason or where the Orioles might find a left-handed reliever. If you did, maybe you were ahead of the curve, and if those are the questions you're asking as an adult, you're at least in the middle of the class. But back then, things like "What's your favorite TV show?" or "What kind of junk food do you like?" were more likely to top your list...

Everything Orioles

Everything Orioles
The shopping season has officially begun. But if you're more excited about "Cyber Monday" than "Black Friday," you might also be interested in the Orioles' Holiday Gift Guide. Inside the guide, you'll find links to purchase Orioles season plans, ballpark tours, personalized jerseys, Orioles Yearbooks, 2010 O's pet calendars, gift certificates and more. Make a gift truly your own by uploading your own photo in the Orioles Photo Store, which offers anything from mouse pads to mugs to...