Updating the Orioles' spring training schedule

Updating the Orioles' spring training schedule
The Red Sox released their 2013 Grapefruit League schedule today, and it includes five games against the Orioles. Two of those games will start at 7:05 p.m. The Orioles host the Red Sox on Feb. 27 at Ed Smith Stadium, and they travel to Fort Myers on March 9. Those are the prime time games. The two teams also have 1:05 p.m. games slated for March 15 and 25 in Sarasota and March 19 in Fort Myers. As always, plan accordingly. Here's the Orioles' updated schedule. The full one will be...

This and that (updated)

This and that (updated)
The Orioles' coaching staff could be completed this week, though the holidays always complicate matters. As you've heard, the Orioles want to retain all six of their coaches and are expected to reach agreement with the two remaining unsigned members of the staff - hitting coach Jim Presley and third base coach DeMarlo Hale. Pitching coach Rick Adair signed last week. I've heard that the Marlins and Blue Jays were interested in Adair. Presley also has attracted interest from another club....

More scouting reports from AFL

More scouting reports from AFL
The same rival scout who critiqued infielder Jonathan Schoop in yesterday's blog entry talks about six more Orioles minor leaguers who played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Pitcher Mike Belfiore, 24 - 12 starts, 12 1/3 innings, 1-1, 4.38 ERA, 14 hits, four walks, 13 strikeouts: "Between him and (Chris) Petrini, he's the one I like better, and lots of people I talked to kind of have the same impression. He looked pretty good for the most part while I was out there. He...

A rival scout talks about Jonathan Schoop

A rival scout talks about Jonathan Schoop
Scouts who had been watching infielder Jonathan Schoop at Double-A Bowie and the Arizona Fall League seem convinced that he will become an everyday player in the majors. But like the Orioles' rotation this season, his position is TBA. Is he a third baseman, shortstop or second baseman? Yes. Schoop, 21, has been moving around, which seems like a wise plan by the Orioles. Shortstop J.J. Hardy just won his first Gold Glove and he's signed through 2014. Manny Machado is the starting third...

Showalter, Johnson and Jones honored with Legacy Awards

Showalter, Johnson and Jones honored with Legacy Awards
Three members of the Orioles organization have been selected to receive Legacy Awards, established in 2000 by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to honor the best major league players, managers and executives. The awards are presented in the name and spirit of the Negro Leagues legends. Buck Showalter will receive the Charles Isham "C.I." Taylor Award, presented to the top America League manager. Closer Jim Johnson will receive the Hilton Smith Award, given to the AL's top...

Adair under contract; Lee MacPhail IV leaves organization

Adair under contract; Lee MacPhail IV leaves organization
Four of the Orioles' six coaches are under contract for 2013. Pitching coach Rick Adair has agreed to a new deal, leaving hitting coach Jim Presley and third base coach DeMarlo Hale as the only members of manager Buck Showalter's staff without contracts. Presley and Hale have been offered new contracts, and the Orioles are waiting to hear back from them. They're expected to remain in the organization, though I've heard that Presley has attracted interest from another club. Hale...

Reimold: "I plan on playing left field unless somebody tells me differently"

Reimold: "I plan on playing left field unless somebody tells me differently"
Nolan Reimold doesn't check the blogs and scroll the tweets. He relies on friends and family for Orioles updates. Many times, the information is unsolicited. Occasionally, it's unwanted. Reimold has been made aware that the Orioles are trying to acquire a left fielder, which is out of his control. All he can do is get ready for spring training, and he's supremely confident that he'll be a full-go when he reports to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. There have been no complications...

Jones places sixth in AL MVP voting; Johnson and Wieters also receive votes

Jones places sixth in AL MVP voting; Johnson and Wieters also receive votes
Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera did more than win the Triple Crown this season. He also was named American League's Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, finishing ahead of Angels rookie outfielder Mike Trout, 362-281, in one of the most hotly debated competitions in recent memory. Cabrera received 22 first-place votes, compared to six for Trout. Not as close as the experts predicted. The Orioles were well-represented in the voting, with Adam Jones...

Orioles FanFest set for Jan. 19

Orioles FanFest set for Jan. 19
The Orioles will hold their annual FanFest on Jan. 19 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Plan accordingly. The event will run from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. However, season ticket holders will be treated to a special preview from 10-11 a.m. More details will be released at a later date, including which players are scheduled to appear and the times that they will sign autographs. I just wanted to pass along the confirmed date. I'm sure the Orioles will arrange another media forum. In the past, I've...

Showalter: "I think you'll see us do some things"

Showalter: "I think you'll see us do some things"
Orioles manager Buck Showalter called into "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" yesterday on MASN in his latest round of interviews. The guy had more privacy while his team was still playing, but he's in demand after being a finalist for American League Manager of the Year. Showalter addressed a topic that came up here immediately after news broke that the Toronto Blue Jays were acquiring half of the Miami Marlins. Do the Orioles need to make a big move to counter it? "They took on a lot...

Jim Johnson places seventh in AL Cy Young voting

Jim Johnson places seventh in AL Cy Young voting
Orioles closer Jim Johnson received four votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America to finish in seventh place for the American League's Cy Young Award. Tampa Bay's David Price edged out Detroit's Justin Verlander, with only four points separating them. Price was named first on 14 of the 28 ballots, second on 13 and third on one for 153 points. Verlander received 13 first-place votes, 13 seconds and two thirds for 149 points. The other first-place vote went to Tampa Bay...

For now, Orioles showing no interest in McClellan

For now, Orioles showing no interest in McClellan
What a difference one offseason can make. Last winter, the Orioles were engaged in trade talks with the Cardinals involving pitcher Kyle McClellan, who was viewed as a candidate for the rotation or the bullpen. As I wrote here on Jan. 29, the Orioles balked at the Cardinals' asking price and gave up. Their interest also waned because of concerns that he wasn't healthy, which proved to be accurate. St. Louis released McClellan yesterday, making him free to sign with any team. Could the...

Chris Davis talks about his role, his season and his slogan

Chris Davis talks about his role, his season and his slogan
If there's anyone in the Orioles' organization who should pay particularly close attention to the off-season roster moves orchestrated by executive vice president Dan Duquette, it's designated hitter/first baseman/outfielder/emergency reliever Chris Davis. Davis could be impacted in so many ways. The Orioles are looking for another bat, which could fit in the DH slot, at first base or in left field, depending on whether Mark Reynolds is back in 2013. Davis did most of his work this season...

Tolleson signs with White Sox, Showalter talks about Manager of the Year voting

Tolleson signs with White Sox, Showalter talks about Manager of the Year voting
Infielder Steve Tolleson has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox that includes an invitation to spring training. The Orioles attempted to re-sign Tolleson, who is out of options, but the White Sox view him as a potential super-utility player, which seems to provide a wider path to the majors. The Orioles recently signed infielder Alexi Casilla off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and currently have Ryan Flaherty, Robert Andino and Omar Quintanilla on their...

Showalter finishes second in AL Manager of the Year voting

Showalter finishes second in AL Manager of the Year voting
The accolades for Buck Showalter stopped here. Showalter finished second behind Oakland's Bob Melvin in the American League's Manager of the Year voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Melvin received 16 first-place votes and 12 second-place votes. Showalter collected 12 first-place votes and 16 second-place votes. Chicago's Robin Ventura was third with 12 third-place votes. Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon was fourth and New York's Joe Girardi was fifth. Detroit's Jim Leyland...

Showalter entertains viewers on MLB Network

Showalter entertains viewers on MLB Network
Orioles manager Buck Showalter gave an award-worthy interview this morning on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" show. Showalter will find out tonight whether he's been named American League Manager of the Year in voting by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He's a finalist along with Oakland's Bob Melvin and Chicago's Robin Ventura. In the meantime, here are a few comments from his appearance on MLB Network: "The goal is to have (success) long-term." he said. "Our...

Will Showalter take home the hardware tonight?

Will Showalter take home the hardware tonight?
The Orioles' last chance to win a significant postseason award comes tonight with Buck Showalter being among the three finalists for American League Manager of the Year. The Baseball Writers' Association of America voting came down to Showalter, the Athletics' Bob Melvin and the White Sox's Robin Ventura. Showalter edged out Melvin for The Sporting News award, with their peers turning in the ballots. Showalter has won the award twice previously, with the Rangers in 2004 and the Yankees in...

Chen receives two third-place votes for AL Rookie of the Year (with minor league signings)

Chen receives two third-place votes for AL Rookie of the Year (with minor league signings)
There was little drama surrounding tonight's announcement of the American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. The Angels' Mike Trout was the eighth unanimous AL winner in the award's history, receiving all 28 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes finished second and the Rangers' Yu Darvish was third, which is how my ballot looked when I submitted it shortly before the conclusion of the regular season. Cespedes...

Chen adds parenthood to major league resume

Chen adds parenthood to major league resume
Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen and his wife, Yi-Wen, are the proud parents of a baby boy. Karsten was born this morning at 8:07 a.m. No word on whether translator Tim Lin joined the couple in the delivery room. Chen is a father for the first time. And there's no angst brewing over how long his paternity leave will last and whether he'll miss any games. Good timing. Chen didn't return to his native Taiwan after the season. He's been working out in California in preparation for his...
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Rookies rate highly in Baltimore

Rookies rate highly in Baltimore
The Baseball Writers' Association of America will reveal its Rookies of the Year tonight, and the Orioles are merely spectators for this award. The Angels' Mike Trout will be the runaway winner in the American League, followed by the Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes and the Rangers' Yu Darvish. There's no drama. The National League finalists are the Reds' Todd Frazier, the Nationals' Bryce Harper and the Diamondbacks' Wade Miley. The guess here is Harper wins the award. The Orioles don't...