Nationals with ties to Expos glad to see franchise celebrated

Nationals with ties to Expos glad to see franchise celebrated
Mike Wallace opened up his closet this morning and instead of grabbing one of his standard-issue Nationals polo shirts instead dug deep to locate one in a different shade of blue. Across the left chest it said "Expos." On the right sleeve was a logo for the 2004 MLB Japan All-Star Series. Wallace hadn't worn the shirt since that day in November 2004 when he became the last person to wear Expos gear in an official capacity. He noted that outfielder Brad Wilkerson, who played for the MLB...

Villar gets off to fast start and Adam Jones on Vlad Guerrero

Villar gets off to fast start and Adam Jones on Vlad Guerrero
ARLINGTON, Texas - New Orioles infielder Jonathan Villar, acquired Tuesday from Milwaukee, is making a nice first impression. He's batted leadoff and played second base in both games here at Texas to begin his O's career and will again tonight. Thursday he singled on the second pitch he saw his first time up and had two hits. Last night he went 3-for-5 and drove in his first run. He's 5-for-10 with five singles over his first two Orioles games. Last night his three hits matched his...

Nats may not have to wait as long as Angels for first Hall of Famer

Nats may not have to wait as long as Angels for first Hall of Famer
Vladimir Guerrero surprised some people this week when he (with the Hall of Fame's consent) decided his soon-to-be-made plaque for Cooperstown will feature him wearing an Angels cap. Guerrero actually spent more time during his career playing in Montreal (eight seasons) than he did playing in Anaheim (six), with one season apiece spent at the very end with the Rangers and Orioles. But the outfielder noted that he won his lone MVP award and made five of his six career postseason appearances...

Notes on the newest Hall of Fame class and voting

Notes on the newest Hall of Fame class and voting
The Baseball Writers' Association of America did a pretty good job with their latest Hall of Fame ballot. They elected Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman and Chipper Jones, and held off Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. They could have done better by electing Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Omar Vizquel - and even long shot Fred McGriff - but maybe those guys will make it on another ballot. Mussina is on the ballot another five years. Before we get too far into the Hall of Fame analysis,...

A class of four elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown

A class of four elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown
For just the fourth time - and second time in four years - a class of four has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., by the Baseball Writers' Association of America The class, announced tonight on a live broadcast on MLB Network, is headed up by third baseman Chipper Jones and first baseman/DH Jim Thome, both elected on their first ballots. They are joined by outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, who makes it in his second year of eligibility, and reliever Trevor...

My 2018 Hall of Fame ballot

My 2018 Hall of Fame ballot
You can call the system flawed, you can argue whether steroids users should be in or out, you can debate whether it's more important to have been a consistent performer for 15 years or an elite performer for eight years, you can complain about who gets a vote and who doesn't get a vote. Here's what you can't argue, though: The Baseball Hall of Fame matters. It matters to so many people, from the players themselves to those who work in the game to those who are entrusted to submit ballots to...

What to watch for on Hall of Fame election night

What to watch for on Hall of Fame election night
It's Hall of Fame announcement day, which means two things: Several of the greatest players in baseball history are about to become immortalized forever, and far more attention will be paid to those very good-to-great players who aren't elected this year, for a variety of reasons. Personally, I think it's a real shame that we spend way more time and energy arguing over who didn't get in than celebrating who did get in. But that's the world we live in today. Why celebrate positives when we...

With pair of homers, Zimmerman etches name into franchise lore

With pair of homers, Zimmerman etches name into franchise lore
It's an odd existence this franchise has lived, what with 36 years spent north of the border in Montreal followed by the last 13 years in Washington, but by Major League Baseball's definition the Expos and Nationals count as one franchise. Whether fans in either city want to embrace that definition or not, there's no denying the talent that has worn this franchise's various uniforms, from Andre Dawson to Tim Raines to Gary Carter to Larry Walker to Vladimir Guerrero to Alfonso Soriano to...

A few thoughts on the Hall of Fame balloting

A few thoughts on the Hall of Fame balloting
The Hall of Fame inductions are fuel for discussion and debate. The ballots from the Baseball Writers' Association were due on Dec. 31. The new inductees will be announced Jan. 18. Early vote totals say that Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are going to make huge jumps in voter percentage this year, and each could finish with more than 70 percent of the vote. It takes 75 percent to get into Cooperstown. Both Clemens and Bonds are connected to steroids, so I don't see the logic in a huge upturn...

Guerrero, Mora among newcomers on Hall of Fame ballot

Guerrero, Mora among newcomers on Hall of Fame ballot
Ten former Orioles are included on the latest Hall of Fame ballot released today by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The most prestigious newcomers are Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez. Guerrero concluded his 16-year career with the Orioles in 2011, batting .290/.317/.416 with 30 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBIs in 145 games. The 13 home runs were his lowest total since he hit 11 in 90 games with the Expos in 1997. Other former Orioles include first-timers...

Duquette confirms meeting with Cuza

Duquette confirms meeting with Cuza
Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette - man, we really need to shorten that title - confirmed this morning that he met last night with agent Fernando Cuza. When I brought up David Ortiz's name and the assumption that the veteran designated hitter was the focus of that meeting, Duquette paused before replying, "He represents Vladimir Guerrero, too, by the way." Duquette said the Orioles need to decide "what we're doing with him." That also could mean...

Wieters wields big bat again in clutch (update)

Wieters wields big bat again in clutch (update)
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI double, quickly fell behind, 2-1, and reclaimed the lead, 3-2, in the third. The second rally started with an infield hit by Robert Andino, the spark plug atop the order. Andino eventually scored on Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly, and J.J. Hardy crossed the plate as the go-ahead run on a single by Matt Wieters. Wieters is a monster with runners in scoring position. If Luke Scott lost MVO votes last year...

Guerrero and bullpen coming up big (Gregg does not)

Guerrero and bullpen coming up big (Gregg does not)
Vladimir Guerrero's third hit of the day, a double to center field, scored Robert Andino with one out in the top of the eighth inning and gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Andino doubled off reliever Jesse Litsch to start the inning and the rally. He moved to third on Nick Markakis' grounder to the right side. Guerrero also had three hits Thursday against the Yankees. He's got 12 hits in his last 23 at-bats. The Orioles' bullpen has turned in 4 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings today. The...

Heath Bintliff: Orioles not cleaning up

Heath Bintliff: Orioles not cleaning up
Everywhere I turn, it seems the Orioles are setting some new standard for futility. Today, it is on the offensive side and a spot in the order that a couple of offseason signings were supposed to upgrade: cleanup hitter. Designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was signed because he was a proven cleanup hitter, a run producer with a long track record. Guerrero, along with first baseman Derrek Lee, were to provide lineup protection, protection that was (at least according to many fans) to allow...

Worrell optioned to Norfolk, Britton will start Saturday

Worrell optioned to Norfolk, Britton will start Saturday
The Orioles finally made it official. Vladimir Guerrero has been activated from the disabled list after completing batting practice today at Rogers Centre. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Orioles optioned right-hander Mark Worrell to Triple-A Norfolk. Guerrero is batting cleanup as the designated hitter. He had been on the disabled list since suffering a fractured bone in his right hand on July 10 in Boston. Guerrero is hitting .279 with seven homers and 31 RBIs in 83...

In Bowie, Guerrero and Izturis both say they are ready to return to the Orioles

In Bowie, Guerrero and Izturis both say they are ready to return to the Orioles
BOWIE, Md. - Both Vlad Guerrero and Cesar Izturis got four at-bats with one hit each and left the game in the seventh inning tonight at Double-A Bowie. Both later said they felt good and they are hoping the Orioles decide to activate them in time to play Tuesday at Toronto. Izturis had several duties here tonight: player, postgame interview subject, then interpreter for Guerrero's interview. "(Guerrero) feels great," Izturis said in the Baysox clubhouse during the eighth inning of the...

Guerrero taking swings today (updated)

Guerrero taking swings today (updated)
Vladimir Guerrero, on the disabled list with a fractured bone in his right wrist, will take some swings against soft toss in the indoor cage. He also hopes to take batting practice on the field. Guerrero could report to Double-A Bowie and play in at least one rehab game before coming off the disabled list. Guerrero is eligible to return Tuesday. Update: The plan calls for Guerrero to take batting practice today and serve as the designated hitter tomorrow at Bowie. Cesar Izturis is the...

Heath Bintliff: Addition by subtraction for Orioles offense?

Heath Bintliff: Addition by subtraction for Orioles offense?
Yesterday's shutout included, the Orioles have scored more runs over the past seven games than they have over any seven-game stretch this season. (OK, that's not completely true. During interleague play, the O's also scored 39 runs over the seven games from June 21-26. But four of those games came in National League parks with Vladimir Guerrero relegated to the bench.) Sure, seven games seems like an arbitrary number and, yes, it is clearly can be described with the phrase "small sample...

Pregame notes and Red Sox lineup

Pregame notes and Red Sox lineup
I'll admit that they're scarce today. There wasn't much news coming out of manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media. Showalter indicated that reliever Jim Johnson could get a few starts late in the season, depending on the composition of the rotation past the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline and the Aug. 31 deadline for teams to set their playoff rosters. Johnson hasn't thrown enough pitches and innings in his relief appearances to immediately take on a starter's...

Orioles put Guerrero on DL, option Viola

Orioles put Guerrero on DL, option Viola
Why wait until tomorrow when you can announce your roster moves tonight? The Orioles placed Vladimir Guerrero on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 11, and optioned left-hander Pedro Viola to Double-A Bowie. Outfielder Matt Angle and left-hander Troy Patton have been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and will be in uniform tomorrow afternoon. Patton will be used in long and middle relief. There are no current plans to place him in the rotation.