Baltimore Orioles nab 3 gold gloves!

The Baltimore Orioles started the 2012 as one of the worse defensive teams in MLB but down the stretch the defense got better behind strong play of J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. All three of those guys got Rawlings Gold Gloves to back it up to start the awards for the O's!

Now the defensive improved when Buck Showalter moved Mark Reynolds to first base full time and called up Nate McLouth in slotted him in full time in left field as well. The team also called up the young super star Manny Machado to anchor down a third base position that lacked a true fielder.

Congrats to J.J. Hardy on his first Gold Glove while Jones & Wieters both got their second. Wieters anchors down a very young staff and does a great job calling a game!

Manny Machado called up as Steve Johnson gets his first win!

The Baltimore Orioles had a lot of things to be happy about at the end of the day on August 8th. The team just swept the Seattle Mariners with a strong outing from Steve Johnson and big production from Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters. After the game O's nation found out that O's have called up Manny Machado the organizations top prospect to make his Major League Debut on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. We also learned that Dylan Bundy will be moved up to double A Bowie Baysox. Steve Johnson's first win in his first Major League start is the big news around Baltimore as 23 years ago on August 8th, 1989 his father Dave Johnson won his first big league game for the same Baltimore Orioles. Steve was brilliant in the Win while striking out 9 batters in 6 innings. The O's would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first and add 2 more in the third inning and 3 in the fourth. That would be plenty of run support for Johnson to pick up his first Win. O's got home-runs off the bat of Nick Markakis and Mark Reynolds while Matt Wieters collected 5 Rbi's in the win. Adam Jones also added 3 of the 14 hits for the Birds who have won 5 straight games. After the game we learn that the O's top prospect Manny Machado was being called up to start at the third base for the O's in the opening game of a 4 game series against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night. Machado was batting .266 for the Bowie Baysox but has been hot since the all-star break. The O's are hoping Machado can get off to a hot start while helping the team such as other big name rookies Mike Trout and Bryce Harper has done for the teams they are playing for. The O's nation will be all eyes on the T.V. set with many more fans deciding to head down to Camden Yards to watch the game live! Wait so fast that is not all the O's did on Wednesday as the O's decided to move Dylan Bundy up to the Baysox where he will make his debut August 14th. As a O's fan we all have a lot of things to be happy for! Let's Go O's!

Baltimores trio of allstars looking to shine!

The first half of the 2012 season has come and gone now the mid season classic is upon us. The Baltimore Orioles for the first time since 2005 have multiple all-star selections heading to the game. Matt Wieters, Adam Jones & Jim Johnson. For Wieters and Jones this will be there second appearance with it being Jim Johnson's first.

Jones has batted .289 with 20 home-runs in the first half and will look to continue those numbers over the next couple months to put up career highs. Wieters who has been praised with the work he does with pitchers and his defense is also looking to put up career highs offensively this year. The last player Johnson has pitched to a 1.21 e.r.a with a league leading 26 saves.

These 3 players are a big part of the O's first half success that has them in second place in the American League East at the break. Look for all 3 to help the American League win against the National League squad tonight on Fox.

My prediction is Jones will go 1-2 with a 2-run homer and Johnson will pick up the save!

O's do it again after trailing by 5!

The Baltimore Orioles are on a 3 game winning streak after back to back games wins over the Nationals in which they were down by 6 runs and 5 runs today. Baltimore's starter Brad Bergesen went 4 innings while allowing 5 runs before leaving with the team behind 5-1. The next inning the O's would put 4 runs on the board all coming off 4 hits and a single to tie the game at 5. The O's would take the lead in the bottom of the 7th as Washington's relief pitcher threw a wild pitch that let Luke Scott score the go ahead run. Alfredo Simon would work the 9th for his 8 save of the season.

The O's at the plate were lead by Matt Wieters went 3 for 4 with 2 rbi's, Miguel Tejada went 3 for 5 with a rbi, Nick Markakis went 2 for 4 with 1 rbi and Adam Jones added his 7th home-run of the month of June. While the O's bullpen threw another 5 solid innings of relief to allow the Orioles to stay in the game!

The O's will look for the sweep on sunday verse the Washington Nationals!

A glimpse back at the 08-04 first round picks!

The draft is approaching and all talk is around 3 players. Those three players are Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Jameson Taillon all three expect to be gone within the first 3 picks with Harper going number 1 to the Nationals. The Orioles select third and will choose what ever player out of the other two are left. So I decided to take a look at the first round picks of the O's for the 5 drafts prior to last year as many of the players have not made it to the big leagues from last years draft.

2008 Draft: Brian Matusz
Outlook: Brian Matusz has the making to be a very solid pitcher and has showed in spurts that he can pitch at the major league level. The problem with him is he has been inconsistent in his starts but still has great command. My outlook he will be a top of rotation starter more likely a solid number 2 starter.
Players we could have drafted: Gordon Beckham & Justin Smoak
My Pick: Justin Smoak as the team was looking for a power bat and needed young corner infielder to go along with Nick Markakis, Adam Jones & Matt Wieters. Matusz adds to our pitching depth but either of these picks would have helped round out are infield this year as the O's needed a shortstop and first baseman.
Win Or Loss: Undecided

2007 Draft: Matt Wieters
Outlook: Matt Wieters still has a learning curve in the majors but is a solid catcher who will only get better as the Orioles eventually get better. So far with out the Orioles having that one big bat the young stars over trying to hard to succeed. He will develop into a great star in the coming seasons.
Players we could have drafted: Jason Heyward, Ricky Porcello & Ross Detwiler
My Pick: Matt Wieters would have been my pick also as you can build a team a around a great catcher take a look at the Twins.
Win Or Loss: Undecided

2006 Draft: Bill Rowell & Pedro Beato
Outlook: Bill Rowell has yet to shown he can make it up through the organization and the team has moved in different directions with Josh Bell & Brandon Snyder. Pedro Beato who? As of now we haven't heard much of him.
Players we could have drafted: Tim Lincecum, Ian Kennedy & Max Scherzer
My Pick: Tim Lincecum as the hype surrounding him was much higher than Bill Rowell and if we had the front office we do now that pick might have happened.
Win Or Loss: Loss

2005 Draft: Brandon Snyder & Garrett Olson
Outlook: Brandon Snyder drafted as catcher but after injuries he moved to first base. A solid season last year had high hopes of him joining the big club this season. He could be a solid first baseman but still needs to prove it in the majors. Garrett Olson showed promise in a few starts but after a few season we traded him away.
Players we could have drafted: Cliff Pennington, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza, Colby Rasmus & Joey Devine.
My Pick: Than would have been Snyder but now no sense Matt Garza.
Win Or Loss: Loss at this point

2004 Draft: Wade Townsend
Outlook: Wade had a huge upside as a starter but never developed.
Players we could have drafted: Jered Weaver, Stephen Drew, Phil Hughes, Blake Dewitt
My Pick: Stephen Drew
Win Or Loss: Loss

Though we did get Matt Wieters & Brian Matusz we could have a roster that looked like this:

1. Brian Roberts 2b-(when he returns)
2. Stephen Drew SS
3. Nick Markakis RF
4. Justin Smoak 1b
5. Matt Wieters C
6. Miguel Tejada 3b
7. Adam Jones CF
8. Ty Wigginton DH
9. Felix Pie Lf-(when he returns)

Start Rotation:

1. Tim Lincecum
2. Kevin Millwood
3. Matt Garza
4. Jeremy Guthrie
5. Brad Bergesen

Only if drafts went a little different!

O's find ways to score runs, beat A's 5-1!

The Baltimore Orioles have struggled this season scoring runs but Tuesday was a different pattern. The Orioles scored there first 3 runs with out recording a hit to get it done. The first run came on a throwing error while the second and third runs came on sac flys in the 6th inning. The O's would also get a solo shot off Nick Markakis bat and a rbi double from Matt Wieters to move the score to 5-1. Thats all Guthrie and the bullpen would need to hold of the A's.

A's would lose Dallas Braden left after the fourth due to an ankle injury he has been dealing with. In the 4 innings he allowed only the 1 unearned run while striking out 4 and walking 2.

Up next in the Series tonight is Brian Matusz taking on Trevor Cahill.