Jason Hammel wasn’t the best we’ve ever seen him, but he worked through some jams without allowing a run in six innings, which was more than the Orioles needed by the time their offensive explosion was over. It at first looked like the Orioles would let Royals starter Bruce Chen off the hook, but that all came to an end in the fifth inning.

After an easy first inning by Hammel, the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs against Chen thanks to a walk (Robert Andino), a single (J.J. Hardy), and a HBP (Nick Markakis). Great start! Adam Jones came to the plate to a thunderous ovation (Birdland is excited about the impending extension, it seems) and knocked in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly. Not the best possible outcome, but good enough. Matt Wieters popped up for the second out, and a single by Wilson Betemit loaded the bases again. But Chris Davis did what Chris Davis does against left-handed pitchers and struck out to end the inning.

Chen threw 28 pitches in the first inning, and it looked like the Orioles had him on the ropes. But they came out hacking in the second inning and Chen only threw eight pitches. Really. The third and the fourth innings featured more of the same as the frustration grew among the Orioles fans. We know the Orioles are better than this! It’s Bruce Chen! Well, in the next inning, the Orioles remembered both of those things as well.

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Well, it's been quite a day around here, hasn't it? Possible Adam Jones extension looming (at what seems like a fair price for both sides), and a number of rehabbing stories to look forward to in Bowie over this Memorial Day Weekend: Brian Roberts is in Bowie tonight, leading off and playing at DH; we heard earlier in the week that Zach Britton would be starting in Bowie tomorrow. Today we found out that Mark Reynolds and Endy Chavez, too, would be heading to the Baysox tomorrow for some rehab. Although there's not much exciting about Chavez being closer to playing again, since at this point he's probably just going to take playing time from someone younger who sucks less than he does.

With all that going on, there's still baseball to be played tonight. The Royals are in town for a three-game series. It's another one of those signs of how deeply the Orioles have damaged me that the Jones extension reminds me of another recent time that the Orioles extended someone. There's a world of difference between those days and now, or so I keep trying to tell myself.

The Orioles will be up against former Camden Yards laughmeister Bruce Chen. Bruce, I'm sorry to say it, but Andino at the Movies is better than your Joke of the Day ever was, and as a bonus, Andino is better at baseball than you were at pitching when your Jumbotron segment aired. That same Andino will be leading off against Chen tonight, as he has led off against every lefty recently. Chen. Andino. The battle of the billboards. WHO WILL OWN IT?

In his first six starts of the year, Jason Hammel did not allow more than two earned runs. Since pitching after his turn was skipped due to right knee soreness, he's allowed four earned runs while failing to get through six innings in both starts. If that knee is still bothering him, he might run into difficulty at the same point in the game tonight. If he's starting to get well again, then hopefully he can return closer to the form we'd seen from him over the first month.

Though they have an abysmal home record, the Royals are 12-9 on the road so far in 2012. The O's took the two games they played in Kansas City, and if they want to keep showing to the world they belong up top, then beating the fourth-place team in what seems to be a weak division is something that they need to be doing.

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The Orioles today recalled RHP Stu Pomeranz and C Ronny Paulino for their second tours with the O's this season. Pomeranz only pitched in two games last time he was here but was impressive. And he's been fantastic in the minors, pitching a total of 23 1/3 innings between AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk without allowing a run and just three walks.

Paulino has only played in 12 games at AAA Norfolk since his demotion, but word was that he was working on his defense.

To make room for the two players, the Orioles have optioned Luis Exposito back to AAA and have designated Bill Hall for assignment. That leaves one less bench player on the roster but when the spot was being taking up by Bill Hall, does it really matter?

Paulino vs. Exposito doesn't mean much to me, but I'm happy to see Pomeranz back up for another try.

Update: Ken Rosenthal is reporting the deal will be six years and in the "$85 million range."

Sources tell me and @jonmorosi that Adam Jones deal with #Orioles will be six years in $85 million range.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 25, 2012

First-place O's Set to Extend Their Best Player

The Baltimore Orioles are nearing a long-term extension with center fielder Adam Jones, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports:

BREAKING: Sources tell me and @jonmorosi that #Orioles are close to signing Adam Jones to a long-term extension.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 25, 2012

Per several tweets from Rosenthal, Jones completed a physical yesterday and now the two sides are hammering out the final details of the contract. According to his sources, the deal is "well north" of Miguel Tejeda's six-year, $72 million free agent deal and Nick Markakis' six-year, $66 million extension.

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Happy Friday, folks. The Orioles host the unlikely road warrior Royals this weekend. How about you? Grilling plans? Beach plans? Favorite World War II movie?

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On this day in 1964, the National Brewing Co. purchased 64,000 shares in the Orioles, ushering in the Jerry Hoffberger era.

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When Adam Jones and Robert Andino visited the MLB fan cave a few weeks ago, some pictures surfaced of them walking the streets of New York in their jerseys and a giant cartoon bird. Well now we have video of them putting birds on things, Portlandia style. It's official: these guys are awesome. Check it out!