More memories from days covering Orioles spring training

More memories from days covering Orioles spring training
Because major league spring training remains delayed and I'm stuck at home for an indefinite period - I'd definitely like to know for how long - I must live vicariously through myself. Oh, the memories. I loved the city of Fort Lauderdale and the proximity to South Beach. I had my favorite spots to eat and drink and made lots of friends. I didn't care for the small complex, the flooded dugouts and clubhouse after heavy rains, the limited space, the ballpark lights that didn't work, the...

Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories

Springing ahead with more Orioles camp memories
Until the lockout ends and major league spring training camps finally open, I'm left to reminisce about past stays in Florida. The many stories that unfolded, some of which never made it into print. The many mornings spent inside the clubhouse and on the back fields. The road trips, more grueling when the home site was down in Fort Lauderdale. The unexpected arrivals and departures. I'll share a few more today: Betemit's knee injury Media wanting to interview the starting pitcher or a...

More memories from past Orioles spring trainings

More memories from past Orioles spring trainings
Orioles pitchers and catchers would be stretching later this morning and undergoing the next round of workouts at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, perhaps joined by some position players who reported early and passed their physicals, except the lockout remains in place and threatens an on-time opening day. Representatives for Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association met again yesterday and the session lasted about 15 minutes, according to reports. Lead negotiators Dan Halem and Bruce...

With the White Sox now, Delmonico remembers his time with the Orioles

With the White Sox now, Delmonico remembers his time with the Orioles
CHICAGO - The Orioles selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of a high school in Knoxville, Tenn. They liked his bat a lot and signed Nicky Delmonico then to an overslot bonus of $1.525 million. But at the trade deadline in 2013, in a search for immediate relief help, he was traded to Milwaukee for veteran right-hander Francisco Rodriguez. He was the Orioles No. 4 ranked prospect at the time. Now Delmonico makes the Chicago White Sox clubhouse home. He signed...

The long-time O's farmhand that made his MLB debut with Toronto

The long-time O's farmhand that made his MLB debut with Toronto
When the Orioles drafted catcher Mike Ohlman in the 11th round of the 2009 draft and signed him to a hefty overslot bonus, they probably envisioned a day he would be playing at Camden Yards. He did too. Just not as a player for the Toronto Blue Jays. But Ohlman is here in Baltimore this weekend enjoying his first trip to the major leagues as Toronto's backup catcher. He was batting .246 with seven homers and an OPS of .982 for Triple-A Buffalo when he got the call on May 8. Toronto put catcher...

Urrutia's tweet, Hall of Fame veterans and Ohlman's new team

Urrutia's tweet, Hall of Fame veterans and Ohlman's new team
Since I've been covering the Orioles fulltime in 1997, there haven't been many feel-good stories that can top Henry Urrutia's climb to the majors. His defection from Cuba after a failed attempt, the struggle to get from Haiti to Miami, his acclimation to life in the U.S. - including how he crashed through the language barrier - the walk-off home run against the Mets and the tears that followed as he talked about giving the ball to his infant son. Urrutia isn't feeling good these days. His...

Michael Ohlman on being traded by the Orioles

Michael Ohlman on being traded by the Orioles
Sometimes when a minor league player is traded, it doesn't make big news. It might not be mentioned very much on MLB Network or ESPN and to some fans may just be a line or two in the transactions list. But we should never forget those are players whose lives have been changed by those deals. Like the rest of us, they develop close friendships in the workplace and have mixed emotions when change comes their way. Take Michael Ohlman, for instance. He was drafted by the Orioles in the 11th round...

Ohlman traded to Cardinals

Ohlman traded to Cardinals
A week after being designated for assignment, catcher Michael Ohlman is changing organizations. The Orioles announced today that they traded Ohlman, 24, to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations. They removed him from the 40-man roster on Jan. 27 to create room for outfielder Travis Snider. Ohlman batted .236/.310/.318 with two home runs and 33 RBIs in 113 games last season with Double-A Bowie. He won the Carolina League batting title in 2013 after hitting .313/.410/.524 with 29...

More on the trade, Ohlman and Wieters

More on the trade, Ohlman and Wieters
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Pirates for not asking the Orioles about the availability of Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy. See, that's how you get a deal done. You can't judge this deal until finding out whether pitcher Stephen Tarpley reaches the majors and makes an impact with the Pirates. Until learning the identity of the player to be named later and how he progresses. Until finding out whether Travis Snider can fill a chunk of the void left by the departure of right fielder Nick...

A look at the pitcher the O's gave up for Travis Snider

A look at the pitcher the O's gave up for Travis Snider
The Orioles tonight acquired lefty-hitting outfielder Travis Snider from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named later. To make room on the 40-man roster, they designated catcher Michael Ohlman for assignment. Tarpley is a lefty that will turn 22 on Feb. 17. The Orioles selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft out of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College. This year, he went 3-5 with an ERA of 3.68 in 66 1/3 innings with short-season Single-A...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Two years ago, the Orioles signed veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson to a minor league deal after he threw at Camden Yards during their minicamp. He spent the entire season at Triple-A Norfolk. Hendrickson will take another shot at it next week. He's been invited to attend the minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, where he will throw for manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. Hendrickson, 40, hasn't pitched in the majors since making...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles have hired former major league third baseman Sean Berry as the hitting coach at Triple-A Norfolk. Berry replaces Denny Walling, who retired to spend more time with his family. Berry, 48, had been the Padres minor league hitting coordinator. He previously served as the Astros hitting coach. Berry played for the Expos while Dan Duquette was their general manager. The Orioles still need a field coach at Single-A Frederick. They've hired Howie Clark as Single-A Delmarva field coach...

Daniel Clark: Recapping O's prospects' performances in Arizona Fall League

Daniel Clark: Recapping O's prospects' performances in Arizona Fall League
The summer of baseball has finished, and while most of the discussion has shifted to free agents, trades and roster moves, many of baseball's best young prospects have just completed play in the Arizona Fall League. Seven of those prospects - four pitchers and three position p layers - were wearing Orioles uniforms. Those seven minor leaguers were playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs, who won 14 games, lost 15 and tied two, finishing in last place in the AFL West Division. Here's how each...

Two Orioles prospects named to AFL showcase game

Two Orioles prospects named to AFL showcase game
Right-hander Parker Bridwell and catcher Michael Ohlman have been chosen to the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game, to be played Nov. 1 in Scottsdale. Bridwell and Ohlman will play for the West Division team. Triple-A Norfolk's Mike Griffin will be the club's co-pitching coach. The game will air on MLB Network at 8:08 p.m. Eastern time. The Orioles must decide whether to protect Bridwell, 23, in the Rule 5 draft after he went 7-10 with a 4.45 ERA in 26 starts at Single-A Frederick....

A look at O's prospects who begin play today in Arizona Fall League

A look at O's prospects who begin play today in Arizona Fall League
Seven Orioles prospects take the field later today as play begins in the Arizona Fall League. The Orioles players are on the Glendale Desert Dogs, who open against Mesa. Each major league team sends four pitchers and three position players to the AFL. The O's pitchers are Zach Davies, Parker Bridwell, Mychal Givens and Ashur Tolliver. Also on the Glendale roster are catcher Michael Ohlman, infielder-outfielder Garabez Rosa and third baseman Jason Esposito. In addition to the seven players,...

A look at the Orioles' Aussie connections

A look at the Orioles' Aussie connections
For Orioles minor league players, it provides a chance to extend their summer, play more baseball and work on their games. It also provides a chance to see a land far, far away and maybe even spend Christmas in Australia. Over the years, the Orioles have developed a strong professional relationship with the Perth Heat of the winter Australian Baseball League. Perth has won the championship three of the last four years. It has become a destination for O's farmhands to play winter ball and see...

Notes and quotes from Bowie Baysox media day

Notes and quotes from Bowie Baysox media day
BOWIE, Md. - Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez will get the start on opening night Thursday at Prince George's Stadium as the Bowie Baysox begin their 22nd season as the Orioles' Double-A affiliate. The Baysox, managed by Gary Kendall, start the year with a seven-game homestand against Harrisburg and Richmond. Bowie also begins the year with a starting rotation featuring three of the Orioles' top 11 prospects, according to Baseball America. Rodriguez (O's No. 3 prospect) starts Thursday and...

Orioles make three roster cuts

Orioles make three roster cuts
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles announced three more roster cuts today. The club has optioned left-hander Tim Berry and catcher Michael Ohlman to Double-A Bowie and reassigned catcher Brian Ward to minor league camp. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 53 players at major league spring training, including 15 non-roster invitees. Berry and Ohlman are on the 40-man roster for the first time and couldn't be optioned before today. Ward isn't on the 40-man, which is why he's...

Early Orioles notes on second official day of spring training

Early Orioles notes on second official day of spring training
SARASOTA, Fla. - There's nothing new to report on pitcher Suk-min Yoon. The Orioles may announce his signing later today. However, it doesn't appear that he will be introduced to the media before Monday. Pitcher Tim Alderson reported to camp this morning after experiencing travel issues related to the snowstorm. He had to fly through Dallas after the cancellation of his connecting flight in Charlotte. "Yesterday was a long day," he said. "Just a lot of movies and hanging out." And a...

Hunter on closing, Lough on defense, Patton on suspension and more

Hunter on closing, Lough on defense, Patton on suspension and more
There was a great crowd Saturday at FanFest. We could hear you often from behind the main stage where the media spent most of the day interviewing O's players and coaches, past and present. Here are a few quotes and notes worth passing along: * Pitcher Troy Patton will miss the season's first 25 games after testing positive for an amphetamine in violation of Major League Baseball's joint drug prevention and treatment program. He said he took an Adderall pill, not to enhance his...