Which free agents will re-sign with the Orioles?

Which free agents will re-sign with the Orioles?
While wondering if Orioles manager Buck Showalter can relate to the heat that John Harbaugh is catching from Ravens fans this season ... I'm heading back home this morning after a weekend filled with love, laughs and calories. Nothing beats family. The Orioles will begin interviewing candidates this week for the vacant pitching coach position. I'm not going to anoint a favorite because we don't have the complete list and there are so many factors in play, including the impression made...

Some of this, some of that

Some of this, some of that
As long as I'm making predictions in October, I may as well deliver one regarding third baseman Manny Machado following last night's update on his left knee surgery. The Orioles aren't conceding that Machado will begin the 2014 season on the disabled list, but that's my guess. The full six-month recovery period would take Machado into mid-April. If he's ready in five months, I'm still skeptical that Orioles manager Buck Showalter will feel comfortable putting him in the lineup on March...

On Roberts' birthday, Orioles still wish they could redo 1999 draft (updated)

On Roberts' birthday, Orioles still wish they could redo 1999 draft (updated)
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is celebrating his 36th birthday today, which probably includes changing diapers and grabbing naps while his baby boy sleeps. Veteran move. Roberts is a pending free agent, his four-year, $40 million contract running out in 2013. The Orioles will give serious consideration to re-signing him. Both sides are open to it. Roberts is really hoping for it. Roberts has been in the organization since the 1999 First-Year Player draft, when the Orioles chose him...

Morning musings

Morning musings
The Red Sox continue to win games by exhibiting tremendous patience at the plate and running the bases better than anyone in baseball. They steal bases. They take the extra base. They beat out ground balls. Jacoby Ellsbury went from first to third on a wild pitch in the seventh inning last night and scored the go-ahead run on Shane Victorino's infield hit. I understand that it's hard for Orioles fans to view the Red Sox in a positive light, but plenty of teams could learn from them. Just...

The morning after the 2013 season

The morning after the 2013 season
The Orioles currently hold the 17th pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Better to count down the days until pitchers and catchers report. Welcome to Day One of the offseason. It's going to be quiet for a while, with teams pretty much in shutdown mode during the playoffs. It seems like only yesterday that reporters were staking out Luis Ayala's locker in Sarasota, eagerly awaiting confirmation on whether he would pitch in the World...

If Roberts is leaving, he won't go quietly (O's down 5-4)

If Roberts is leaving, he won't go quietly (O's down 5-4)
Is Brian Roberts trying to make a statement here? If so, it may go something like, "You really should re-sign me." Roberts homered again tonight, leading off the bottom of the third with a shot to left field off Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester to increase the Orioles' lead to 2-0. Roberts has eight home runs on the season, and three in his last five games. In that span, he's 8-for-20 with five runs scored. Approached by reporters again today, Roberts repeated that his first choice is to...

Roberts said he could understand if Orioles choose to not sign him for next year

Roberts said he could understand if Orioles choose to not sign him for next year
Brian Roberts could be down to his last two days in an Orioles uniform. But then again he may not. It is a unique situation with a season ending, but we don't know if Roberts, who has been in the organization since 1999, will return next season. Roberts said today, if it turns that the Orioles move on without him, he would understand that. "Oh sure. It's business," he said. "It is going to come at some point, whether it is now or later. I'm sure they would have good reasons for both,...

O's playoff hopes officially end with loss to Toronto

O's playoff hopes officially end with loss to Toronto
The Orioles' losing streak is now six games to match a season high after they lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Toronto tonight to begin the final homestand of the 2013 season. Coupled with Cleveland's comeback win tonight, the loss officially eliminates the Orioles from playoff contention. Mark DeRosa singled in the go-ahead run off Francisco Rodriguez in the 10th. It scored Jose Reyes from third. Moments earlier, on a pickoff play at second, Reyes was ruled safe. Brian Roberts had the ball in...

Orioles get back-to-back at Jays (we're tied)

Orioles get back-to-back at Jays (we're tied)
For the fifth time this season, the Orioles have hit back-to-back home runs in an inning. Tonight, it allowed them to take a 2-1 lead over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Brian Roberts led off the bottom of the third inning with his seventh homer, and Nate McLouth followed with his 12th, depositing the ball onto the flag court in right field. Roberts also homered yesterday, creating his own back-to-back scenario. McLouth now has 100 career home runs, putting him only 662 behind Barry Bonds....

Brian Roberts on his future and Manny Machado

Brian Roberts on his future and Manny Machado
It certainly wasn't a speech about the end of his Orioles career, but when asked today if he has wondered if he does have a future with the club, Brian Roberts admitted he may not. His contract ends after this season and Roberts is embracing his time remaining with the team, even if that turns out to be just six more games. "Sure, we all think about our future and what that might hold, but I don't have any idea at this point," Roberts said. "I'm just trying to enjoy every day that I've...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - I don't think it's possible for rain to come down any harder than what I'm hearing at Tropicana Field. The roof is being severely tested right now. Let it pour buckets. First pitch will still happen at 3:10 p.m., give or take a few minutes. Dome sweet dome. Wei-Yin Chen has one win in his last nine starts. He's failed to complete the sixth inning in three of the last five. Brian Roberts is leading off as the designated hitter today, with Ryan Flaherty starting at...

Domenic Vadala: Last hurrah for Roberts?

Domenic Vadala: Last hurrah for Roberts?
While the Orioles are still mathematically in contention, I think it's fair to say that their postseason chances have taken a serious hit this past weekend against Tampa Bay. On a side note - and this is something on which I'll spend some time this off season on Birds Watcher - I don't feel that the 2013 Orioles were any worse off than the 2012 team. But I think that a lot of the competition around the Orioles - such as Boston, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay - simply got better. If, in fact, this...

Postgame comments following 3-1 loss

Postgame comments following 3-1 loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles never wanted to be dependent on other teams to make the playoffs. Their remaining schedule contained games only against division opponents. Their fate rested in their hands. Now, they need a helping hand or two. Today's 3-1 loss to the Rays left the Orioles 4 1/2 games back in the wild card chase. Three teams separate them from the Indians, who currently hold the second spot. "Basically, how it's going to turn out is we're going to have to win out and...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
BOSTON - One big series down, another one coming up. The Orioles took two of three games from the Red Sox, last night's defeat leaving them two back in the wild card race. They flew into Tampa early this morning and begin a four-game series tonight at Tropicana Field, with Jason Hammel opposing left-hander David Price. I'm booked on a 6:20 a.m. flight out of Boston that stops in Atlanta for a scheduled 1 hour, 10 minute layover. Once I arrive in Tampa, I'll make the drive to St....

Hearing from Jones, Roberts and Tillman after 3-1 loss

Hearing from Jones, Roberts and Tillman after 3-1 loss
BOSTON - The Orioles weren't satisfied tonight with winning another series. Taking two of three from the Red Sox left them cold. "Who cares about getting two out of three?" said center fielder Adam Jones following a 3-1 loss. "At this point and time, winning the series means nothing. We need wins is all. Good job getting the series if this was June, but it's September. We need wins." "At this point, you need Ws. Lots of them," said second baseman Brian Roberts. "Winning two is...

Orioles defense finally rests

Orioles defense finally rests
BOSTON - The Orioles will remain tied with the 2008 Astros for most errorless games in a season since 1900. The record still stands at 113 after two Orioles miscues in the bottom of the fourth inning tonight led to an unearned run off Scott Feldman. The Orioles now trail the Red Sox 2-1 after Brian Roberts' RBI grounder in the top of the fifth. Feldman is creating his own problems with a season-high five walks and 88 pitches in four innings. T.J. McFarland was warming in the bullpen. The...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Danny Valencia remains in the Orioles' lineup today against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center. Brian Roberts is playing second base and batting ninth, one spot below Valencia. Chris Davis hit his 50th home run last night to tie Brady Anderson's single-season club record. Davis' 47 homers as a first baseman are the most in the AL since Jim Thome had 48 for Cleveland in 2002. Davis leads the majors with 90 extra-base hits, 20 more than Miguel Cabrera and two shy of Anderson's club record set...

Jim Johnson on the ninth inning, Chris Davis and Brian Roberts on the loss

Jim Johnson on the ninth inning, Chris Davis and Brian Roberts on the loss
In the quiet of the Orioles clubhouse, Jim Johnson was asked what went wrong in the ninth inning tonight. "PFPs (pitcher's fielding practice). The bunt play back to me," Johnson said. "Being aggressive trying to get the lead out. The ball slips and it kind of started the whole inning." After Brendan Ryan singled leading off the ninth of the 5-5 tie, Johnson threw wildly to second on a bunt play to put two men on. Later, his wild pitch scored the go-ahead run in the 6-5 Yankees win. "I...

Brian Roberts: "The teams in front of us have definitely left us in it"

Brian Roberts: "The teams in front of us have definitely left us in it"
For the Orioles, a door is ajar. The Tampa Bay Rays have left it open. Losers of 13 of their last 17 games, the Rays have allowed other clubs, including the Orioles, to remain very much alive to gain the second American League wild card. Tampa Bay currently holds that spot, but is just one game ahead of New York, and 1 1/2 games up on Cleveland and the Orioles, and two games ahead of Kansas City. Brian Roberts today talked about the O's missing some chances, but still having some with 17...

Taking another look at Roberts

Taking another look at Roberts
When I spoke with Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts over the winter, he made it clear that he had no intention of retiring after the 2013 season. And he confirmed his desire to continue playing while meeting with reporters at his locker in spring training. It may not be with the Orioles, he said, but he wants to play. Roberts' contract runs out after this season. He can become a free agent. And his chances of returning to the Orioles seemed nonexistent before he came off the disabled...