Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
The Orioles were fairly busy yesterday. They signed second baseman Alexi Casilla off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, outrighted outfielder Lew Ford, infielder Steve Tolleson and left-hander Zach Phillips to Triple-A Norfolk, and reinstated second baseman Brian Roberts, pitchers Oliver Drake, Stu Pomeranz and Tsuyoshi Wada, and outfielder Nolan Reimold from the 60-day disabled list. I've been asked for my take on the Casilla signing. It's pretty simple. Executive vice president Dan Duquette...

Ryan Adams handed 25-game suspension for positive drug test

Ryan Adams handed 25-game suspension for positive drug test
The commissioner's office has suspended infielder Ryan Adams for 25 games after he tested positive for an amphetamine in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, according to a press release. Adams is currently on the roster of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. His suspension is effective at the start of the 2013 season. The positive test occurred when Adams was on the Orioles' 40-man roster. The 25-year-old Adams batted .224 with four home runs and 20...

Orioles claim Alexi Casilla off waivers (updated)

Orioles claim Alexi Casilla off waivers (updated)
Looking to improve their depth at second base and present manager Buck Showalter with more options, the Orioles have claimed Alexi Casilla off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. The switch-hitting Casilla, 28, is a career .250/.305/.334 hitter in parts of seven seasons with the Twins. He's amassed 72 doubles, 14 triples, 11 home runs and 147 RBIs in 1,580 at-bats, and he's stolen 71 bases in 80 attempts. Casilla has played 399 games at second base, 77 at shortstop and 10 at third base. The...

Because You Asked - Revenge of the Fallen

Because You Asked - Revenge of the Fallen
It's time to release another sequel to "Because You Asked," where I post the most repeated questions sent to my blog and Twitter account. You ask, I answer. You ask again, I answer again. It's our own little SOR dance, only without the decorations and punch bowl. And it's OK if the boys stand on one side of the gym and the girls on the other side. Slow dancing to Journey is optional. Wow, I'm old. Anyway, let's get started. Do you think that Jonathan Schoop will play second base for...

Schoop, Belfiore chosen to play in Rising Stars Game

Schoop, Belfiore chosen to play in Rising Stars Game
Though they may seem hidden in the Arizona Fall League, which doesn't generate a tremendous amount of coverage, Orioles farmhands Jonathan Schoop and Mike Belfiore haven't gone unnoticed. Schoop and Belfiore have been chosen to play in Saturday's Rising Stars Game that will air live at 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Schoop, a middle infielder and the third-ranked prospect in the Orioles' system according to Baseball America, is batting .310/.453/.548 with four doubles, two homers, seven RBIs,...

Another round of free agent predictions

Another round of free agent predictions
I always look forward to MLBTradeRumors.com's list of the Top 50 Free Agents and where they may end up. The Orioles are projected to sign three of them, including left-hander Joe Saunders, who started seven games after being acquired from the Diamondbacks, and two more in the playoffs. I'll agree with that prediction. He's the kind of reasonably priced veteran starter that executive vice president Dan Duquette is seeking, and Saunders would like to return. Plus, he's kinda/sorta local as...

Reynolds hoping to stay with Orioles

Reynolds hoping to stay with Orioles
Mark Reynolds wasn't surprised by today's news that the Orioles declined to pick up his $11 million option for next season. He expected this outcome based on his diminished production this season. "Obviously, I didn't have the year I wanted," Reynolds said in a phone conversation. "I didn't play to my standards and obviously the Orioles' standards. But I've still got an arbitration year to go and we'll see what happens. Nov. 30 is the date, right?" Correct. And the Orioles could...

Orioles decline Reynolds' option, add Clark to 40-man roster

Orioles decline Reynolds' option, add Clark to 40-man roster
The Orioles have declined to pick up first baseman Mark Reynolds' $11 million option for 2013. They exercised the $1 million option on reliever Luis Ayala's contract. Both of these moves were anticipated for months. Reynolds, 29, is arbitration-eligible, which leaves the Orioles with another decision. He made $7.5 million this season and a raise could increase his salary to around $9 million. The Orioles may non-tender Reynolds and attempt to re-sign him, but they'd risk losing him as a...

Hearing from the three Gold Glove winners and their manager

Hearing from the three Gold Glove winners and their manager
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones joked tonight that manager Buck Showalter sees everything from the dugout, including subtle plays in the field that may go unnoticed by casual observers of the game. "He probably sees what I'm doing in California," Jones said. "No," Showalter said, laughing, "I'm glad I don't." The mood was jovial, to say the least, during a conference call with Showalter and the Orioles' three Gold Glove winners: Jones, shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt...

Orioles living in the past defensively

Orioles living in the past defensively
Now that the Orioles have three Gold Glove winners in 2012, all that's left is for Buck Showalter to be named the American League's Manager of the Year and Chris Davis to take home the Rolaids Relief Man Award. Showalter already won The Sporting News award by edging out Oakland's Bob Melvin in voting by his peers. The Baseball Writers' Association of America award, the biggie, will be announced on Nov. 13, with another thin margin expected to separate Showalter and Melvin. The Orioles...

Orioles complete sweep: Wieters, Jones and Hardy win Gold Gloves

Orioles complete sweep: Wieters, Jones and Hardy win Gold Gloves
Orioles catcher Matt Wieters has won his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove, with the announcement coming tonight on ESPN2. Wieters beat out the Tigers' Alex Avila, the Yankees' Russell Martin and the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski. Wieters led the American League in defensive games (134) and putouts (994), ranked second in runners caught stealing (32) and range factor per game (7.81), and was third in caught stealing percentage (38.6 percent). His 994 putouts were the third-most in AL...

Opposing scout sizes up Orioles' Gold Glove candidates

Opposing scout sizes up Orioles' Gold Glove candidates
Rawlings will announce its Gold Glove winners beginning at 9:30 p.m. tonight on ESPN2. As I recall, the program was delayed in 2011 because a college football game lasted six hours. Tonight, the network is airing the "Global Rallycross Championship" live from Las Vegas. No chance for overtime, right? Matt Wieters is a finalist among the American League catchers. The same is true for J.J. Hardy at shortstop and Adam Jones in center field. The Orioles will attempt to have three winners in the...

This and that

This and that
I'm drying off my pumpkins this morning, and I really wish that were a euphemism. The local news outlets continue to remind us to stay indoors. Amazing that anyone needs to be told. I'll pass along my own suggestions. Don't stick a fork in a light socket - once your power is restored, of course - and never kiss a rabid dog on the mouth. Common sense, folks. Seriously, though, I hope everyone made it through the worst of Hurricane Sandy. Continue to be safe. The sun has to come out...

Seven Orioles declare for free agency (World Series odds for 2013)

Seven Orioles declare for free agency (World Series odds for 2013)
With the World Series ending late last night, seven Orioles joined the list of major league players declaring for free agency today: Outfielders Nate McLouth and Endy Chavez, pitchers Joe Saunders and Randy Wolf, designated hitter Jim Thome, first baseman Nick Johnson and infielder/outfielder Bill Hall. Stop me if you've heard this one: The Orioles are likely to pursue McLouth and Saunders, and they could hold some interest in Thome if he doesn't retire. That's it. They have a five-day...

Orioles have three finalists for Gold Glove awards

Orioles have three finalists for Gold Glove awards
The Rawlings Gold Glove winners for 2012 will be announced Tuesday night on ESPN2, and the list of finalists in the American League includes Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, shortstop J.J. Hardy and center fielder Adam Jones. Wieters and right fielder Nick Markakis won their first Gold Gloves last year. Jones was honored in 2009. Wieters is competing against the Tigers' Alex Avila, the Yankees' Russell Martin and the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski. Hardy is competing against the Rangers' Elvis...

Bundy, Gausman top Baseball America's list of top 10 Orioles prospects

Bundy, Gausman top Baseball America's list of top 10 Orioles prospects
The Orioles' first-round selections in the last two First-Year Player Drafts head Baseball America's list of Top 10 prospects in the organization. The publication's list reads as follows: 1. Dylan Bundy, RHP 2. Kevin Gausman, RHP 3. Jonathan Schoop, 2B/SS 4. Nicky Delmonico, 1B/2B 5. Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP 6. LJ Hoes, OF 7. Xavier Avery, OF 8. Mike Wright, RHP 9. Branden Kline, RHP 10. Adrian Marin, SS Kline was chosen in the second round of the 2012 draft out of the University of...

Talking about Jim Johnson

Talking about Jim Johnson
Taking the advice of family and friends, I bought 12 cases of bottled waters in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. Meanwhile, I spent a large part of my childhood drinking out of a garden hose. I'm a survivor. I'll be brief this morning, as I continue to charge the batteries on my laptop and iPhone and stack my canned goods. I'm afraid that I'll run low on Beefaroni. I may need to make another grocery store run before the weather really turns bad. Folks laughed when I threw away my...

Where the Orioles need to direct their attention

Where the Orioles need to direct their attention
Did anyone think the Giants would jump out to a 3-0 lead on the Tigers in the World Series? Tim Lincecum has been a beast out of the bullpen. Another starter-turned-reliever success story. I've been asked who would replace Rick Peterson as the Orioles' director of pitching development if he's hired as the Red Sox's pitching coach. I don't know whether the club would fill that role. It's unique. It's been created for Peterson and his unique talents. Not everyone carries around the...

Tillman's time is now

Tillman's time is now
As we attempt to piece together the Orioles rotation for 2013, we must keep in mind that Chris Tillman is out of minor league options. Tillman can't be sent down if he isn't deemed worthy of a starting job, and he's never pitched in relief. Fifty-one major league appearances, 51 starts. The Orioles have placed other starters in the bullpen, including Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz, but they've always resisted changing Tillman's role, even if only temporarily. Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen...

Willis released, Steve Johnson honored (Peterson update)

Willis released, Steve Johnson honored (Peterson update)
The Orioles have officially released left-hander Dontrelle Willis, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy. My first reaction was, "Dontrelle Willis was still in the organization?" The Orioles must have taken the hint when he retired July 2. They sent out a tweet to confirm it. But I guess releasing him after the season was some kind of a procedural move. Willis was 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA in four appearances for Triple-A Norfolk, with six earned runs (eight total) and 10 hits in 6 1/3...