Where in the Yard? (Updated)

Where in the Yard? (Updated)
How many times do you think you've seen Camden Yards? I'd bet I've seen Oriole Park at least a thousand times - but my appreciation for it never seems to lessen. Sometimes I take in the same old places; sometimes I notice something new; but I'd be so bold as to say I could recognize quite a few of the details in my back Yard. Can you? Think of this entry as a trial run for a new weekly feature line in the Orioles Buzz. Take a peek at the picture below, and see if you can figure out...

Meet the newest Oriole: Garrett Atkins

Meet the newest Oriole: Garrett Atkins
Garrett Atkins has officially joined the list of new Orioles who will head to the O's new spring training home in Sarasota this spring. Here's your chance to get to know Atkins a little better off the field before you get to know him on the diamond in the near future as well. Full Name: Garrett Bernard Atkins Born: December 12, 1979 - I'll save you the math: that makes him 30 years old. From: Orange, California High School: Graduated from University High School in Irvine, Calif. in...

Is Sano saga finally nearing end stages?

Is Sano saga finally nearing end stages?
There was a time when it seemed like the Orioles were one of the favorites to sign Dominican shortstop Miguel Angel Sano. That no longer seems to be the case, but the O's aren't out of it yet, either. John Stockstill, the O's director of international scouting said, "We have had talks with Sano in the past few days." While the signing of Sano by any team doesn't seem imminent, Stockstill added, "Things have stepped up in recent weeks." Baseball sources indicate something that has...

Tuesday night baseball: O's at Tampa

Tuesday night baseball:  O's at Tampa
Game Preview Orioles (60-96) at Tampa (80-76) You need to get 27 outs to win a baseball game. The way the O's bullpen is performing recently, those final few outs have been hard to pick up. The O's pen blew a 7th-inning, 6-3 lead Monday night and Tampa beat the Orioles 7-6 extending the season's longest losing streak to 11 games. That's no where near the club record 21-game streak set in 1988, but it is the 6th losing streak of 11 or more games in franchise history. The last time the...

Here's the pitch...

Here's the pitch...
The Orioles are looking to add pitching. Any kind of pitching. It doesn't have to be a starter, though adjusting the rotation again remains a possibility. "I would say right now we'd like to add a corner infielder, but we don't really have to because we can go internally if we need to. But we're still looking at that," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "And we're still looking at any pitching where we think it would be an improvement." The club remains open to...

Orioles this, Orioles that

Orioles this, Orioles that
While wondering how Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson failed to receive a single MVP vote... The Orioles aren't going to sign a full-time designated hitter as long as Luke Scott remains on the roster. And while he's a trade chip who has generated interest among a few teams - including the Mariners before they acquired Casey Kotchman - the Orioles aren't actively shopping him. They want to add another corner infielder, but they don't have much interest in Mike Lowell. He's been...

Happy H-O-lidays

Happy H-O-lidays
Whether you're frantic for a last minute gift or looking for the best thing to spend your new Christmas cash on, there really is no end to the Orioles paraphernalia you can buy. You've likely been to the Orioles MLB Shop. One of my favorite "new arrivals" in the online shop is the iPhone/iPod touch case. If I had an iPhone, I'd be all over that one. You can also visit the Official Team Store in York, Pa. if waiting for shipping isn't an option. Or you might consider the array of...

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/ Answer)

Where in the Yard? (Updated w/ Answer)
Last week, for the first Where in the Yard, we took a look at the right-handed glove on the Babe Ruth Statue that shares the space between the Sports Legends Museum and Gate H of Camden Yards with the retired numbers of Oriole greats. Check out the image for round two below and let me know where you think I've taken you this week. There's no bonus this time around and we'll see how you do before considering any clues. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to send in a guess last week...

Tonight's pitchers: Guthrie vs. Davis

Tonight's pitchers:  Guthrie vs. Davis
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-16, 5.10) tonight will make his 32nd start of this season, his 16th on the road and the 9th of his career vs. Tampa. Guthrie is 0-3, 6.38 over his past three starts. This follows a four-start stretch where he went 3-1, 1.33. Guthrie is the AL leader in losses, earned runs and homers allowed with 32. Guthrie, 2009 season: First half: 6-8, 5.35, 18 starts Second half: 4-8, 4.80, 13 starts Guthrie needs to work 5 2/3 tonight to reach a career high 191 innings. He has...

Around the O's

Around the O's
The holidays and the New Year that inevitably follows are usually a time when the average person has to attempt to be in 10 places at once. Even if we manage to accomplish this feat, there's usually some catching up to do in other areas when we're done - say O's offseason news, for instance. So if you've been away from the fray, check out these O's extras you may have missed. As close to an "off"season as she gets... Gain a little insight into the offseason of one of the few people...

Montanez and Pie

Montanez and Pie
Lou Montanez apparently has completed his stay in the Puerto Rican Winter League after 28 games. Montanez batted .324 with 10 doubles, one triple, three homers and 13 RBIs for Criollos de Caguas. His last at-bats came on Dec. 29. "I think he played to the extent that he wanted to play. He did what he was supposed to do," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "Now he's going to work out and get ready for spring training." Montanez's spot on the 40-man roster appears to be...

Adam Jones on the New Year

Adam Jones on the New Year
The list of professional athletes with Twitter accounts continues to grow as fast as ESPN can quote them; but still only one Oriole has ventured down the Twitter road, and who might you expect more than the young, outgoing Adam Jones. On the verge of a new year, the approachable Adam Jones took a few minutes to answer a quick handful of questions via, you guessed it, Twitter. Here's what he had to say in 140 characters or less... First, how has the offseason been treating...

Chapman off the board? (updated)

Chapman off the board? (updated)
If you predicted that Ray Rice would average 83 yards per carry today, you're looking pretty smart right now. Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has agreed to a $30 million deal with a National League club, according to a tweet from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. That's an impressive sum for a pitcher who brings such mixed reviews. Some teams love him, others question his character and whether he can be a starter in the majors. Some teams think he's ready right now, others think he isn't...

Rays beat O's as the losing streak reaches 12

Rays beat O's as the losing streak reaches 12
Looking like a team on an inevitable march toward 100 losses, the O's lost 3-1 Tuesday night at Tampa. The O's have now lost 12 in a row, matching their losing streak of 12 in a row from August 16-28, 2004. At least they couldn't blame the bullpen this time. Tampa got a pair of clutch, two-out hits in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Ben Zobrist had an RBI double and Willy Aybar added an RBI single. Gary and Jim ask Dave Trembley about the O's 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay Luke Scott's single...

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
Did Randy Moss play yesterday? The guy looked so bored, I was waiting for him to send a text message while running a route. Does it make anyone else feel old that Otis Nixon celebrated his 51st birthday over the weekend? Then again, he looked 51 during his rookie season. Aubrey Huff reportedly has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, further reducing the number of possible destinations for Adam LaRoche. LaRoche turned down the Giants' two-year, $17 million...

Post-game Notes: Davis pitches Tampa to victory

Post-game Notes:  Davis pitches Tampa to victory
That's a Dozen - The O's suffered their 12th straight loss with Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Tampa. It's the most consecutive losses since the Birds lost 12 in a row from August 16-28 in 2004. The losing streak is the longest in the Majors this year. No beef - The O's offense was held to one run on nine hits tonight. The O's went 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base. The Birds have scored just 36 runs during the 12-game losing streak and have left 95 on base...

Selig's response to McGwire

Selig's response to McGwire
Commissioner Bud Selig has issued a statement regarding Mark McGwire's admission today that the former slugger used steroids. The statement doesn't begin with, "It's about time." "I am pleased that Mark McGwire has confronted his use of performance-enhancing substances as a player. Being truthful is always the correct course of action, which is why I had commissioned Senator George Mitchell to conduct his investigation. This statement of contrition, I believe, will make Mark's reentry...

Trying to end a streak: O's at Tampa

Trying to end a streak:  O's at Tampa
Game Preview Orioles (60-97) at Tampa Bay (81-76) Heading into tonight's game at Tampa, the O's need a win to end a 12-game losing streak and three wins in the next five games to avoid a 100-loss season. Tonight, in game three of a four-game series, David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) pitches vs. Tampa's James Shields (10-12, 4.17). The O's losing streak is the longest in the Majors this year. Tampa (September 3-13) and Cleveland (September 13-24) both lost 11 in a row earlier this...

Bordick school

Bordick school
As the Orioles' new minor league offensive coordinator, former shortstop Mike Bordick won't be wearing a headset and implementing the shotgun. And I won't be making any Gilbert Arenas jokes. Bordick will teach the small-ball approach to some impressionable youngsters, while also being available to assist in other areas, such as defense and baserunning. His methods will meld with those belonging to roving hitting instructor Denny Walling. Bordick addressed this topic, among others, during...

Tonight's starters: Hernandez vs. Shields

Tonight's starters:  Hernandez vs. Shields
RHP David Hernandez (4-9, 5.20) tonight makes his 19th start of this season, his 10th on the road and the 2nd of this year vs. Tampa. Even though he is winless over his last eight starts, Hernandez has pitched better in his last two starts, going 0-1, 3.75 vs. Boston and Cleveland. His last win was August 11th vs. Oakland. Hernandez has recorded eight quality starts on the season. Hernandez, 2009 season: First 10 starts: 4-4, 3.81 Last 8 starts: 0-5, 7.34 The Orioles are 5-13 when...