Does Schoop stay on second base?

Does Schoop stay on second base?
I was going to start this entry by giving my Gold Glove predictions, but I honestly have no idea whether the Orioles will take home any hardware. I'm constantly surprised by the results. Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain wasn't nominated and I'm pretty sure he catches every ball hit in every ballpark. Maybe he's being punished for moving to right. It's a tribute to his defensive skills, but perhaps it hurt his chances in the balloting. I don't know. All three Orioles - J.J. Hardy, Adam...

Three Orioles named Gold Glove finalists (updated)

Three Orioles named Gold Glove finalists (updated)
Shortstop J.J. Hardy, center fielder Adam Jones and right fielder Nick Markakis have been nominated for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. The winners will be announced on Nov. 4 on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. The ceremonies will be held on Nov. 7 in New York. The Orioles had six nominees last year, but they have to settle for half that total in 2014. The selection process is approximately 75 percent votes submitted by managers and coaches - up to seven total votes per team - and 25 percent...

Stinson signs with Pirates

Stinson signs with Pirates
Former Orioles reliever Josh Stinson has signed a minor league deal with the Pirates that includes an invitation to spring training. Stinson became a minor league free agent earlier this month after going 5-5 with a 5.48 ERA in 22 games (13 starts) at Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson made the Orioles' opening day roster after allowing two unearned runs and striking out 13 in nine exhibition innings. However, he surrendered nine runs and 16 hits in 13 innings over eight appearances for a 6.23 ERA...

Showalter on Duquette hiring: "The timing was right with everybody"

Showalter on Duquette hiring: "The timing was right with everybody"
The Orioles aren't feeling the love from opposing managers and executives in the American League. Buck Showalter finished second in Manager of the Year voting in the Sporting News and none of the Orioles were chosen as All-Stars. Don't shoot the messenger. The Sporting News staff isn't doing the voting, just tabulating the results and passing them along. Besides, the Orioles honestly don't care about that stuff. Given the choice, they prefer to fly so far under the radar that their...

Angelos: "It's been a long time coming and thankfully I believe it's here"

Angelos: "It's been a long time coming and thankfully I believe it's here"
Now that the Orioles have strung together three consecutive winning seasons and won their first division title in 17 years, they're determined to bring the city it's first championship since 1983. Owner Peter Angelos likes the direction that the club is headed and believes that it can reach its goal. The Orioles signed shortstop J.J. Hardy to a three-year extension during the playoffs and seem determined to get a deal done with right fielder Nick Markakis. Nelson Cruz won't receive a...

Orioles excluded from Sporting News All-Star team

Orioles excluded from Sporting News All-Star team
The Orioles aren't playing in the World Series and they still haven't received a Sporting News postseason award. Tough week. Baseball executives excluded the Orioles while choosing the American League All-Star team, which was announced this morning. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, outfielder Adam Jones and designated hitter Nelson Cruz received votes. Cruz batted .271/333/.525 with 32 doubles and 108 RBIs and he led the majors with 40 home runs, but executives selected the Tigers' Victor Martinez,...

World Series thoughts and the next award

World Series thoughts and the next award
At what point is James Shields required to hand over his nickname of "Big Game?" At what point will sportswriters refer to it only in jest? Shields was charged with five runs in three-plus innings last night in Game 1 of the World Series, leaving his career postseason ERA at 5.74 in 10 starts. "Big Game" may work if he's hunting in Africa. Otherwise ... Shields reportedly passed a kidney stone after the American League Championship Series. I wonder what was more painful. Shields is...

Showalter runner-up for Sporting News award

Showalter runner-up for Sporting News award
Orioles manager Buck Showalter finished second in voting for the Sporting News American League Manager of the Year award. The Angels' Mike Scioscia received six votes to edge out Showalter, who was runner-up with five. The Mariners' Lloyd McClendon placed third with three votes. The Nationals' Matt Williams was named National League Manager of the Year after receiving four votes. The Cardinals' Mike Matheny received two votes and the Marlins' Mike Redmond one. Ballots were submitted by...

Notes on Cruz, Roberts, Davis and more

Notes on Cruz, Roberts, Davis and more
I've decided to begin the morning by addressing one rumor and squelching speculation about a former Oriole. I received a tweet about a Facebook status - yeah, so far it's rock solid - claiming that Nelson Cruz was buying a television in Baltimore for his mother because he received a new contract from the Orioles. Stop laughing. I have no idea whether Cruz purchased a TV, but I've been told by three people in the industry that he doesn't have a contract with the Orioles. He can become a free...

Will Showalter be award winner?

Will Showalter be award winner?
The Sporting News will announce its American League and National League Managers of the Year on Tuesday. It could be the first honor for Buck Showalter in 2014. And probably not the last. Showalter is the favorite to be named AL Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Keep in mind that ballots were submitted before the playoffs. Showalter isn't losing sleep over it. He actually seems uncomfortable with the attention. He talks about how the players allow him to...

Finding a place for Pearce

Finding a place for Pearce
Steve Pearce's list of transactions on Baseball-Reference.com includes the following oddity at the bottom: April 27, 2014: Released by the Baltimore Orioles. April 29, 2014: Signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles. Two days of free agency and he's back with the same team. It turned out to be one of the most important moves made by the Orioles this season. They never wanted to lose Pearce, but they needed to clear space for left-hander T.J. McFarland and temporarily go with a 13-man...

Orioles still conducting business as World Series approaches

Orioles still conducting business as World Series approaches
Most teams lay low during the World Series. They're not really supposed to make news and distract from the big event. I'm not sure that there's an actual law against it. I don't believe that executive vice president Dan Duquette would be led out in handcuffs. Duquette and manager Buck Showalter already met since the Game 4 loss in Kansas City and will huddle again on Monday and Tuesday. It's never too soon to check on potential minor league free agents and non-tenders. This is right up...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was succinct yesterday when asked about pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. "The only thing, his walk total was up this year," Duquette said, "so obviously we'd like to see him throw a few more strikes." Or a lot more, since his 77 walks ranked second in the American League behind C.J. Wilson's 85. Wilson threw 175 2/3 innings. Jimenez threw 125 1/3, spent time on the disabled list and was moved to the bullpen. Jimenez went 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 25...

Duquette on playoff loss, roster decisions and more

Duquette on playoff loss, roster decisions and more
Dan Duquette, the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations, delivered a message to fans this afternoon while standing in front of the home dugout at Camden Yards. The gates were closed, but he wanted them to hear it. "I think what I want our fans to know is that we took a big step forward this year," he said. "We won the division. We won 99 games and we aim to be competitive year in and year out." Duquette was just getting started. "We had several players that we didn't...

Showalter: "This is a real overwhelmingly sad time of the year for me"

Showalter: "This is a real overwhelmingly sad time of the year for me"
The Twins haven't contacted Orioles bench coach John Russell about interviewing for their managerial position, which was vacated with the firing of Ron Gardenhire. However, they're expected to reach out to him. "If they don't call," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter, "then they must have some really good candidates." It's believed that the job belongs to Hall of Famer Paul Molitor if he wants it. Stay tuned. Immediately following the Game 4 loss in Kansas City, I asked Showalter...

A few afternoon notes from Camden Yards

A few afternoon notes from Camden Yards
I've got plenty of quotes to pass along later from today's interviews with Orioles manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette at Camden Yards, where workers are removing the red, white and blue bunting from the fences. There's nothing newsy. Duquette didn't map out his plans for the offseason. Left-hander T.J. McFarland was the only player in the clubhouse while the media hung out for almost an hour. He grabbed a flight home to Chicago this afternoon. Duquette said he...

Decisions looming on key contributors

Decisions looming on key contributors
The Orioles are opening their clubhouse to the media today at 12:30 p.m. A few players may wander inside to pack up their belongings before flying home. Most of them probably took care of it last night or made arrangements to have a clubhouse attendant ship boxes to them. Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette will conduct interviews in the dugout. Showalter will try to come up with some fresh responses. The wounds are probably fresh, as well. This is the saddest day...

Answering a popular question about Chris Davis

Answering a popular question about Chris Davis
What was he thinking? That's not the question. Sorry. Some fans were wondering if Chris Davis could play in exhibition games next spring while still serving his suspension. I checked with a team official who reminded me that left-hander Troy Patton pitched last spring before serving his 25-game suspension. It totally slipped my mind. I'm going to blame fatigue. Davis has one game left on his suspension after testing positive for Adderall, which he took without a therapeutic use exemption....

The first day of the offseason

The first day of the offseason
KANSAS CITY - This should be my last dateline for a while. Maybe until the Winter Meetings in San Diego. But there's plenty of time for me to whine and complain about that putrid assignment. I'm still plotting ways to avoid it despite the wonderful location. Faking my own death never works. The folks at MASN and MASNsports.com are too wise. So who are you rooting for in the World Series? Does it matter which team represents the National League? I had every intention of pulling for the Royals,...

Showalter: "If you care like our people care, it hurts"

Showalter: "If you care like our people care, it hurts"
KANSAS CITY - It's never easy to say goodbye. To teammates, coaches and especially a season. Players hugged each other in the Orioles clubhouse following a 2-1 loss in Game 4 that completed the Royals' sweep of the American League Championship Series. Pitching coach Dave Wallace made sure to approach everyone on his staff, shaking hands and embracing guys who needed it. Executive vice president Dan Duquette also worked the room, approaching every player at his locker. Manager Buck...