I think this Adley guy might be pretty good. | Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images The O’s were equal parts amazing and frustrating in their first game of 2023, but a win is a win. 162-0 or bust! Good morning, Camden Chatters. Phew. It’s only been one game and the Orioles have already put their fans through the emotional wringer. In case you missed any of the wild Opening Day action, check out Mark Brown’s recap of the roller coaster of a contest. It was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, with the O’s looking like a World Series contender one minute and a struggling bottom-feeder the next. There was so much to like about the 2023 Orioles’ first impressions. The offense gave a thoroughly well-rounded effort, with eight of their nine starters reaching base at least twice apiece. They showed off their power (two homers), patience (nine walks), and blazing speed (a whopping five stolen bases, all uncontested). I’ll sign up for that performance any day of the week. There were also, unfortunately, some causes for concern. The bullpen struggled mightily, turning a once-comfortable six-run lead into a nail-biting one-run game, which perhaps wasn’t a total shock, considering that two primary setup men (Dillon Tate and Mychal Givens) are injured and Félix Bautista is shaking off the rust after a late start to spring training. The more unpleasant surprise was how shaky the Orioles’ defense looked, especially the outfielders, who misplayed several catchable balls into extra-base hits. Great fielding was one of the keys to the 2022 Orioles’ success, so any kind of defensive backslide would spell trouble for the 2023 Birds. When it comes down to it, though, Adley Rutschman might be capable of carrying this team on his back. The Orioles’ superstar in the making, playing his first Opening Day, made all sorts of history with a 5-for-5, four-RBI performance that included a first-inning home run. My goodness, this guy is otherworldly, and the Orioles seem like they’ll never be out of contention as long as he’s on the roster. Normally I get annoyed by the usual open date that follows Opening Day, but in this case it’s probably a good thing the O’s are off today. We still need time to recover from that game. The Orioles and Red Sox will be back in action tomorrow at 4:10 in Boston, with Dean Kremer making his season debut for the Birds. What could they possibly do for an encore? Links Adley Rutschman collects five hits and four RBIs on 2023 Opening Day - MLB.comRutschman was apparently a nervous wreck before his first Opening Day game. Ugh, yeah, it showed. Only six times on base? A more calm and collected player would’ve had seven. Rutschman’s first Opening Day is one for the record books in Orioles’ 10-9 win (updated) - School of RochBrandon Hyde continued his pregame routine of walking to the ballpark, despite the bitterly cold temperatures in Boston. Brandon, just call an Uber. Nobody will judge you. Orioles’ Kyle Gibson embracing new roles: Opening Day starter, leader, team dad - The AthleticKyle Gibson’s teammates say he’s become the new team dad. I don’t know, though. I read this whole article and Gibson didn’t make a single dad joke. Step up your pun game, Kyle! After volunteering to do so, Orioles CEO John Angelos indicates he will not be sharing club’s finances after all – Baltimore SunIf you thought we could get through even one game of the season without John Angelos calling into a radio show and saying befuddling things, you thought wrong. Orioles birthdays and history Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Just one person with a March 31 birthday has ever played for the Orioles: the late left-hander Dave Koslo (b. 1920, d. 1975), who pitched three games for the inaugural 1954 Birds. The Orioles have played six regular season games on this date in history, going 3-3. That included Opening Day wins in 2003 and 2014. The former was better known as the Snow Game, when an out-of-nowhere flurry wreaked havoc, causing Jay Gibbons to lose a fly ball in the sea of white and spark a three-run Cleveland rally. The O’s, though, eventually won in the 13th inning on a Gary Matthews Jr. walkoff single. And in the 2014 opener, Nelson Cruz homered in his first game as an Oriole to lead a 2-1 win over the Red Sox. It kicked off an eventual 40-homer season for perhaps the greatest one-season O’s hitter of all time, as well as an eventual AL East pennant for the Orioles that year.

By Michelle Larkin, Capital News Service Maryland voters will be asked to enshrine abortion rights into the state Constitution next year, after the Maryland House of Delegates’ passage of the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Act” on Thursday. SB 798 will place a referendum on ballots during the 2024 general election, allowing voters to decide whether […]

Prospective Pre-K families, join Friends School of Baltimore for First Look @ Friends on Thursday, April 6 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. At this open house event, you will have a special opportunity to see the beautiful campus, speak with Pre-Primary families, and meet the new Lower School Principal. Hear how the school’s Pre-K program […]

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports The Ravens are/were in the market for a veteran quarterback It’s been reported the Ravens have done their due diligence regarding the quarterback market this offseason as they avoid being pigeon-holed into the Lamar Jackson situation. According to a report by JoeBucsFan.com, they’ve even made offers to quarterback Baker Mayfield. “Last week, JoeBucsFan.com learned that new Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield got an offer in free agency from the Ravens but declined,” the report stated. “Joe was able to confirm that late yesterday at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix. Mayfield’s focus at the time of the Ravens’ offer was on a starting opportunity.” It’s interesting to see how the Ravens were wanting to add Mayfield to their depth chart, as the current starting situation is mirky. The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, but the quarterback stated he requested a trade on March 2. It’s worth wondering if the Ravens were adding Mayfield to be a backup for Jackson in a new Todd Monken offense or if they viewed Mayfield as a possible starting option. As of now, the Ravens have backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown on the roster. This offseason, the club placed a right of first refusal tender on Huntley that will cost $2.627 million for the Ravens. If any team attempts to sign Huntley, similar to Jackson, the Ravens can match the offer sheet first. However, if they decline and Huntley embarks elsewhere, the Ravens won’t receive compensation.