What's coming in 2021?

What's coming in 2021?
A new year always conjures up old memories of poor judgement while waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square. A second countdown pertaining to how long a stomach is going to cooperate before beginning to reject everything inside it. The ball is lowered and your dinner comes up. Here's hoping that none of you are experiencing such misery. Like the time decades ago when I thought tequila was the perfect nightcap. And the morning of Jan. 1, 2012, when my friend stood at his front door as I...

Ford listed among minor league free agents (and note)

Ford listed among minor league free agents (and note)
Outfielder Lew Ford, outrighted by the Orioles on Friday, has elected to become a minor league free agent, according to this list provided by Baseball America. The Orioles signed Ford, 35, out of the independent Atlantic League this summer and he batted .183/.256/.352 with three home runs in 25 games, his first major league action since 2007 with the Minnesota Twins. Left-hander Zach Phillips and infielder Steve Tolleson also refused their outright assignments. You can read more here and...

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...

Gregg released, Adams outrighted

Gregg released, Adams outrighted
The Orioles announced today that they released veteran reliever Kevin Gregg and outrighted minor league second baseman Ryan Adams to Triple-A Norfolk after he cleared waivers. No surprises here. Gregg is hoping to catch on with another team and the Orioles couldn't come up with a trade partner over the winter or during the season. He figured to be cut loose after they designated him for assignment Tuesday. Gregg went 3-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 40 appearances for the Orioles this season. He...

Chavez and Hoes join Orioles, Gregg and Adams DFA'd

Chavez and Hoes join Orioles, Gregg and Adams DFA'd
The Orioles made a series of roster moves today, selecting the contracts of outfielders Endy Chavez and LJ Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk and designating reliever Kevin Gregg and second baseman Ryan Adams for assignment. Chavez was expected here today, and Adams was my guess to be removed from the 40-man roster. However, the Orioles changed their plans with Hoes after Nick Markakis suffered a broken left thumb. Chavez batted .190/.222/.281 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 47 games with the...

Orioles exploring trade options with Pearce (and Urrutia note)

Orioles exploring trade options with Pearce (and Urrutia note)
Believe it or not, there isn't much news to report here today. I've talked to a few people in the organization who are seriously downplaying the possibility of the Orioles trading for Marlins third baseman Hanley Ramirez. I'm not saying it definitely won't happen, but I'm not rearranging my schedule for his introductory press conference. I've heard that the Orioles still haven't placed outfielder Steve Pearce on waivers. They're exploring trade possibilities first, so his situation...

Updating some of the minor league injured

Updating some of the minor league injured
Here are a couple of updates on some currently injured minor league players: * Triple-A Norfolk's Ryan Adams has been out since mid-May with a fractured right thumb. He could begin a minor league rehab injury assignment on June 25 with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. * Norfolk catcher Luis Exposito, who has been out with a hamate bone injury, should return around July 15. * Double-A outfielder Ronnie Welty, who last played on May 10, could return around July 1. Welty has been out with a...

The Orioles' weekend: Some players moving out, some moving up

The Orioles' weekend: Some players moving out, some moving up
I think we started to see where Ryan Adams stood with the Orioles last year. He was called up twice from Triple-A Norfolk, but didn't get to start much at second base either time. During yet another losing season, the Orioles called up their own 2006 second-round draft pick but didn't give him much of a chance to show what he could do. Yesterday, Adams was among the first players cut this year by the Orioles and he'll now head to Triple-A Norfolk. Adams is not considered a candidate to be a...

Orioles option three players and reassign five

Orioles option three players and reassign five
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made their first round of cuts today, reducing their camp roster by eight players and leaving them with 49. The Orioles optioned infielders Ryan Adams and Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk, and pitcher Dylan Bundy to Single-A Delmarva. Also, outfielders Xavier Avery and LJ Hoes, catchers Michael Ohlman and Brian Ward, and pitcher Steve Johnson were reassigned to minor league camp because they're not on the 40-man roster. You're optioned if you're on the 40-man,...

More FanFest notes and quotes

More FanFest notes and quotes
Another FanFest has come and gone. It was a fun day with around 9,000 fans, slightly fewer than last year, attending at the Baltimore Convention Center. FanFest always gets you ready for another season after a day of talking baseball and talking with Orioles players, coaches and front office staff. Over the next week or two, I'l continue to post some interviews, quotes and stories from the day. For today, here are some quotes from FanFest. Dan Duquette on his fan forum and meeting fans: ...

Quick hits from Showalter (and confirming note)

Quick hits from Showalter (and confirming note)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter called into "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" earlier today on MASN, and I wanted to pass along a few items before taping "Wall to Wall Baseball," which airs tomorrow from 11 a.m.- noon. We can't go live with that show because of FanFest. Showalter counted 11 candidates for the starting rotation, and he didn't dismiss the idea that executive vice president Dan Duquette could add another one. Showalter said he's still deciding "which way to go" with...

What about Ryan Adams?

What about Ryan Adams?
I woke up with a headache, so I'm asking that everyone please blink a little softer today. Thanks much. Each time that I've written about the lineup and how second base could shape up, I'm inevitably asked about Ryan Adams. I've been excluding him because his name hasn't come up in discussions with executive vice president Dan Duquette. It could be a simple matter of Duquette focusing on Brian Roberts, Robert Andino and the players who have been acquired over the last few months - Matt...

It's time to find out if Ryan Adams can play at the major league level

It's time to find out if Ryan Adams can play at the major league level
The reporters with the Orioles in Anaheim, Calif., are indicating that Ryan Adams is expected to return to the club for the series in Minnesota. If Adams does rejoin the Orioles, I hope they plan to use him more this time. From May 20 to June 17, Adams was with the club for his first stay in the majors. He had just six starts in the 25 games he was with the club and only 23 at-bats. He went 5-for-23 with one RBI. It has become more than clear that Buck Showalter is a real Robert Andino fan...

Showalter talks about playing time for Reimold

Showalter talks about playing time for Reimold
Orioles manager Buck Showalter talked today about the recent lack of playing time for outfielder Nolan Reimold. He did not play in the series with Cincinnati and had just eight at-bats during the recent nine-game road trip. "It's been a challenge. We keep hoping that Luke (Scott) can get it going and we went through a period where there were a lot of left-handed pitchers, so it was pretty easy (to play him). We are going through the opposite now," Showalter said. "On my list of things that...

Pregame Showalter

Pregame Showalter
WASHINGTON - The sun is out, the game has started and Adam Jones has launched his 10th home run deep into the left field seats, but I wanted to pass along a few comments from manager Buck Showalter. On Jeremy Accardo: "He was trying to make some adjustments to get a little more movement, get guys off him. I mean, he had a lot of balls squared up off him that were at people, too. His numbers were actually, going into last night, a little better than he actually pitched. We keep a thing about...

O's overcome miscues and Guthrie's early exit to beat Toronto

O's overcome miscues and Guthrie's early exit to beat Toronto
A day that featured another Orioles' base-running mistake and a key error in the last of the sixth inning, along with Jeremy Guthrie leaving his start with an injury, still ended in a win for the Orioles today at Toronto. The Orioles scored twice in the top of the ninth to snap a 2-2 tie and beat the Blue Jays 4-3 this afternoon. That ended their 16-game Toronto losing streak. It's the longest road losing streak versus one club in team history. Today marks the first O's win at Rogers Centre...

Lee in the clutch (Adams, too, but Lind homers)

Lee in the clutch (Adams, too, but Lind homers)
Derrek Lee was hitting .132 with runners in scoring position before stepping to the plate with no outs in the ninth inning and the potential go-ahead run 90 feet away. Lee hit a slow chopper to third, and Nolan Reimold beat the throw home. Credit Lee with an RBI on a fielder's choice that gives the Orioles a 3-2 lead. OK, so it wasn't the most dramatic at-bat in history. It wasn't the shot heard 'round the world. But the Orioles needed Lee to do something besides strike out or ground into...

Trying to understand Ryan Adams' lack of playing time

Trying to understand Ryan Adams' lack of playing time
Here is something that is confusing to me: If the Orioles were not planning to play Ryan Adams much at all, why did they call him up from Triple-A? He has played some, but Adams has been on the team for 22 games now and has made just five starts at second base. A caller to my radio show last night said his theory was that Buck Showalter had major concerns about Adams on defense. To me, if that was the case, and I am not saying it is at all, why not just leave him in the minors until his...

Despite not playing every day, Adams is enjoying his first big league chance

Despite not playing every day, Adams is enjoying his first big league chance
For Ryan Adams, the last few weeks have been a bit of a mixed bag. He's been through the excitement of getting his first call to the major leagues. But also, for the first time in his life, he has not played much. "It's just kind of part of it when you get called up," Adams said in the Orioles' clubhouse. "(Robert) Andino's been playing really well and it's most about the experience and learning for me right now anyway. I've been here trying to work hard and enjoy every moment and...

Showalter on Adams

Showalter on Adams
Robert Andino is making another start at second base, which keeps Ryan Adams glued to the bench Adams has made three starts since the Orioles purchased his contract, and he's 2-for-12 after batting .303 with Triple-A Norfolk. Andino is the leadoff hitter when Felix Pie isn't in the lineup, and Showalter is going with the better defensive player at second. Showalter is hoping that Adams is learning a thing or two from the dugout. "As much as you tell him, it's kind of up to him just a...