Former Orioles knew where Mateo belonged

Former Orioles knew where Mateo belonged
The comments were made in jest and thousands of miles away from Baltimore. By former members of the Orioles organization who saw a perfect marriage between one of their players and the rebuilding team they left behind. Never did they imagine that it would actually come true. The Orioles claimed Jorge Mateo on waivers a month ago and he's reached base in 24 of his 25 starts, with a walk and his 10th stolen base last night. His name keeps appearing in the lineup, which the Padres couldn't do...

Considering challenges of constructing a coaching staff

Considering challenges of constructing a coaching staff
The Orioles haven't laid out a time frame for hiring a new manager, with Mike Elias offering confirmation last week during his introduction as executive vice president and general manager. A process too important to be rushed. A list too long to be chopped in hasty fashion. To quote Elias: "It's not something to rush for the sake of meeting artificial dates in the wintertime." Meanwhile, contracts for the entire coaching staff expired on Oct. 31. No one has landed a new job, from what I can...

Jones assisting Orioles in right field

Jones assisting Orioles in right field
NEW YORK - Adam Jones didn't play yesterday in the series finale at Yankee Stadium, but he contributed by bringing out the lineup card. The idea hit him and he reached out to manager Buck Showalter, who shared the same thought. "He can have it any day he wants, trust me," Showalter said after a 6-3 win. "It just enhances my relationship with umpires. "No, he texted me about it (yesterday) and I said I already had it planned. He stole my thunder. He enjoyed it. He's 1-0." It was a fairly...

Kirby and Showalter share messages behind "thank you" patches

Kirby and Showalter share messages behind "thank you" patches
Hall of Famer Eddie Murray participated in the Players' Weekend last night by appearing at Camden Yards, which should be a more common occurrence with his new role as special advisor, and holding up a bright orange jersey when shown on the video board with "Steady Eddie" across the back. The fans ate it up, of course. First base coach Wayne Kirby chose Murray's name for his "thank you" patch on the sleeve of his jersey. Kirby was a longtime fan who later became a teammate with the...

Villar and Mullins homer, Cobb tosses complete game

Villar and Mullins homer, Cobb tosses complete game
CLEVELAND - Cedric Mullins has heard in the past that he's the prototypical leadoff hitter, probably because there aren't prototypical cleanup hitters who are measured at 5-foot-8. It's more than his size, however, as Mullins demonstrated this afternoon while pushing a bunt past the mound in the third inning. Austin Wynns drew a one-out walk against Indians rookie Adam Plutko and Mullins reached on his bunt single. Plutko scrambled to field it and no one was covering first base - perhaps...

Showalter on Thome: "I could talk about him for hours" (O's up 4-2)

Showalter on Thome: "I could talk about him for hours" (O's up 4-2)
CLEVELAND - The addition of outfielder John Andreoli earlier today on a waiver claim has filled the Orioles' 40-man roster. They optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Andreoli's father, also named John, played linebacker for the NFL's New England Patriots and USFL's Boston Breakers in the 1980s. The younger Andreoli is cousins with former major league pitcher Daniel Bard. Today's game will begin after the Indians conclude their ceremony for Jim Thome that includes the retiring of his No. 25....

Mullins meets Lofton, Gentry and Meisinger return (O's down 2-1)

Mullins meets Lofton, Gentry and Meisinger return (O's down 2-1)
CLEVELAND - Though the timing is coincidental, according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter, Cedric Mullins will bat leadoff in the majors for the first time tonight after meeting Indians outfielder Kenny Lofton, who's in town for Saturday's ceremony honoring Hall of Famer Jim Thome. Mullins is slotted first in the lineup against Indians starter Carlos Carrasco. He's batted seventh, eighth and ninth since the Orioles selected his contract. "I just thought it was a good matchup," Showalter...

Bumbry on Mullins: "He can run, he can field, he can throw"

Bumbry on Mullins: "He can run, he can field, he can throw"
The two biggest foolers in baseball tend to be spring training and September stats. What you see isn't necessarily what you get outside the confines of a small sample size. Manager Buck Showalter has issued the warning on multiple occasions. Not to keep picking on Jake Fox, but he was Babe Ruth in exhibition games. The media created an imaginary award in his honor. The plays that Cedric Mullins kept making in center field were real and didn't come with any warnings. The diving catches on...

Mancini won't take spot on roster for granted

Mancini won't take spot on roster for granted
The left fielder with a .293/.338/.488 slash line, 24 home runs and a third-place finish in American League Rookie of the Year voting isn't convinced that he's got a full-time job in 2018. Trey Mancini is sincere when he says that he needs to compete in spring training to preserve his spot in the Orioles lineup, that nothing will be handed to him and there's room for improvement. He isn't being modest. He's being Mancini. Shouldn't he be able to put himself in left field and Adam Jones in...

Mancini places third in AL Rookie of the Year voting

Mancini places third in AL Rookie of the Year voting
Never in the true running to win this year's American League Rookie of the Year Award due to the historic bashing in the Bronx, the Orioles' Trey Mancini settled for a third-place finish tonight in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. It's an honor just to be nominated. And to be a finalist, which was confirmed last week. The Yankees' Aaron Judge was a unanimous winner, of course, garnering all 30 first-place votes for 150 points. The Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi was...

Orioles extend offers to entire coaching staff

Orioles extend offers to entire coaching staff
The entire Orioles coaching staff has been invited to return for the 2018 season. Contracts were being sent out tonight, according to multiple sources. The deals are for one year. Orioles manager Buck Showalter had expressed a desire to keep the staff intact and the process unfolded today. The coaches have the freedom to decline the offers extended to them, but everyone is expected to come back. They just need to sign and return the contracts. Bench coach John Russell, hitting coach Scott...

Notes on Britton, Hardy, Rickard and roster (O's lead 2-1)

Notes on Britton, Hardy, Rickard and roster (O's lead 2-1)
BOSTON - Today marks the final game of Players Weekend and the unique uniforms and equipment. The Orioles are 2-0 since the switch. "Is this the last day we're wearing the orange, the fluorescent?" said manager Buck Showalter. "If we win today, you may see these again." Zach Britton threw in the bullpen earlier today and Showalter wants to get his closer into a game. Save situations always preferred, but not required. Britton hasn't pitched since Wednesday afternoon, when his streak of...

Kirby on Santander: "He shouldn't be nervous playing the outfield"

Kirby on Santander: "He shouldn't be nervous playing the outfield"
Orioles first base coach Wayne Kirby sat down next to Anthony Santander this afternoon to talk about playing the outfield at Camden Yards, which the Rule 5 pick will do tonight in his major league debut. Santander was limited to hitting in spring training because of a sore elbow. He's been on the disabled list all season with a strained right forearm, finally able to don the outfielder's glove during his injury rehab assignment. "I'm just worrying about basically him playing straight-up,...

Castillo set for rehab assignment at Bowie (O's lose 7-6)

Castillo set for rehab assignment at Bowie (O's lose 7-6)
WASHINGTON - Orioles catcher Welington Castillo won't get his wish to skip a minor league rehab assignment. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Castillo will throw to bases on Saturday and report to Double-A Bowie the following day. Castillo is likely to play in one game before the Orioles activate him from the 10-day disabled list. The Baysox have a 2 p.m. game Sunday versus Richmond at Prince George's Stadium. "We're not going to take him all the way to Kansas City and fly him...

Rickard pointing to quick return from finger injury

Rickard pointing to quick return from finger injury
BOSTON - Outfielder Joey Rickard, who injured the middle finger on his left hand while trying to steal a base on Saturday, is optimistic that he'll be ready to come off the 10-day disabled list when eligible on April 19 in Cincinnati. "That's what we're shooting for," he said. "Things as of right now are looking pretty good. I've already noticed a drastic loss of swelling and all that, so, yeah, I'm feeling pretty confident about it. "We've made pretty good progress in a short amount...

Kirby updates Álvarez's transition to right field

Kirby updates Álvarez's transition to right field
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Álvarez played right field Saturday and Monday and served as the designated hitter yesterday. He's being tossed into the deep end of the pool, but also thrown the occasional life preserver. Álvarez isn't a Swimmies kind of guy. Trust me on this one. The Orioles aren't leaving him out to dry. Álvarez gets lots of reps on the back fields as he learns a new position, alternating each day between first base coach Wayne Kirby and vice president of baseball...

Mancini working to feel right at home in right field

Mancini working to feel right at home in right field
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Trey Mancini outfield experiment continues today with another start in right in the Orioles' game against the Rays. Mancini chased down two doubles yesterday, but didn't get a fly ball. He seemed to be comfortable at the position, which he hadn't played since August 2011 in college summer ball. "Every day I go out and shag BP, but it's not in a game. It had been a while," he said. "I've been working with Brady (Anderson) and (Wayne) Kirby prior to the game...

Pedro Álvarez "looking forward" to playing the outfield

Pedro Álvarez "looking forward" to playing the outfield
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Álvarez passed his physical this morning with the Orioles, signed his minor league deal that pays a base salary of $2 million and is loaded with incentives, grabbed his outfielder's glove and headed to the back fields. He also carried a bag of bats. He's still a hitter, too. The Orioles announced the signing earlier today and referred to Álvarez as an infielder/outfielder. However, he's going to work out in right field with the chance to slide over to left. He...

Dickerson taking another swing at the majors

Dickerson taking another swing at the majors
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Dickerson remembers sitting on the MLB Network set as an analyst, checking the monitors for game updates and wondering how he got there. A shoulder injury kept him off the field and moved him into a studio, but he wasn't ready to make the transition. Not when he truly believed that he still could play, no matter how much his body fought him. The Orioles put Dickerson back on the field, signing him to a minor league deal on Aug. 20 and re-signing him four months later....

Schoop punctuates last game before WBC with homer (O's fall 4-1)

Schoop punctuates last game before WBC with homer (O's fall 4-1)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Yankees 4, Orioles 1 Recap: Ubaldo Jiménez allowed one run and three hits in two innings, and he threw 17 of 29 pitches for strikes. ... Jonathan Schoop, playing his last game before leaving for the WBC, led off the third with a long home run to left field. ... Vidal Nuño tossed two scoreless innings. Left-handers Donnie Hart and Tanner Scott each struck out two in a scoreless inning. ... Oliver Drake surrendered a tie-breaking three-run homer to Thairo Estrada...