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Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore Orioles

Rangers-Orioles: Odds and Picks for April 24

Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles
Free Pick: Baltimore Orioles (-128)
Friday, April 24, 2009, 7:05 p.m. ET—MLB Odds
Visit Touthouse.com for more MLB Picks and MLB Betting Predictions from Alex Smart.

Why I Have a Man Crush on Nick Markakis

Rumor has it that Orioles owner Peter Angelos has an insane man crush on outfielder Nick Markakis. So much so that he would have mortgaged the farm, so to speak, to get him in the 2003 Major League draft. Nick the Stick can do that to a guy, whether he's an 80 something attorney or a 20 something retail superfan. His list of skills and intangibles is off the chart: hitting power and acumen, plate discipline, excellent fielding ability, speed and baseball knowledge. Here's why you should be a believer too.

Breaking News: Alfredo Simon Out For Season

On April 22, the Baltimore Orioles have announced that pitcher Simon is out for season and will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery in his elbow.

This is a big blow at an already thin rotation meaning that rookie pitcher Brad Bergesen will permanently stay in this starting rotation.

An Early Look In Boston Red Sox's OBS Statistics

I may have trust issues, so excuse my hesitance to put any real meaning into early individual numbers.

But they are all we have up to this point...

The team, and by team I mean the Boston Red Sox, is 7-6. 

Not great, not bad, slightly better than mediocre, etc.

Some have struggled, some have been great, and some have been okay. 

Let us dive into a quick take on each hitter in the everyday lineup...

Jacoby Ellsbury:  OPS+ 55

Boston Red Sox 10-Baltimore Orioles 8: An Offensive Slump Broken

Down seven runs to begin the bottom of the second inning, Boston never changed their approach at the plate. The Red Sox knew they were given too many innings to catch up.

J.D. Drew lead off the inning with a walk and Jason Bay followed crushing his third home run of the season into Baltimore's bullpen cutting the lead to 7-2.

Boston's comeback was just getting started.

The Thin Line Of Baltimore's Rebuilding Process

Andy MacPhail has made no secret of his strategy to rebuild the Baltimore Orioles.

The future isn't now. This season, while not a throwaway year, is a work in progress. A .500 record has been considered a dream for this bunch, while a second straight last-place finish is far more reasonable.

The future, instead, is a couple of years from now. Three years, two years, perhaps next year, if all goes absolutely according to plan, and star pitching prospects mature quickly.

Faces In the Crowd: Foul Ball Edition

When you’re lucky enough to grab front row seats at Busch Stadium along the first base line, it means you’ll be only a few feet from what is likely the best player to wear the Birds on the Bat since Stan Musial. 

While it can be exciting just being within shouting distance of a Cardinal legend, when that same legend comes charging toward your seat chasing a foul ball, things get taken up a notch.  And when things get taken up a notch in the stands, it’s "Faces In the Crowd time…"

Is the American League East Better Than Advertised?

Toronto Blue Jays:

Don't look now but the Toronto Blue Jays are 6-2 and leading the revamped American League Eastern division. My first Bleacher Report article outlined this possibility when upon the re-hiring of former manager Cito Gaston on June 20, 2008 the team proceeded to finish last season on a 51-37 clip.

Adam Jones: The Reason the Mariners Can't Win the Erik Bedard Trade

"His pitch selection is so much better. His knowledge of the strike zone is so much better. That is very difficult to improve for a young player, but he has great hand-eye coordination. And he is a great athlete. He is also a very, very smart young man," said O's manager Dave Trembley of star Orioles center fielder Adam Jones. Jones is 23, but is one of the rising stars in baseball. For any Baltimore fan, it's been truly amazing watching how much Adam Jones has improved.

Baltimore Orioles on the Verge of Sweep: What We Learned From Day Two

After the Orioles opening day thumping of the Yankees, most expected the Birds to be violently brought back down to earth. Instead, the Yanks bats were quieted for five masterful innings by the O's #2 pitcher, import Koji Uehara. Just as the Orioles learned many valuable lessons on Opening Day, they learned a few more things about how their 2009 season might turn out, on Day Two.

Poll

Best of the American League
Tampa Bay
19%
Boston
19%
Chicago
7%
Minnesota
10%
Los Angeles
17%
Texas
27%
Total votes: 270

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