"Because You Asked - Money Never Sleeps"

"Because You Asked - Money Never Sleeps"
The Orioles didn't factor into the Baseball Writers' Association of America Rookie of the Year voting, the results revealed last night on MLB Network. The White Sox's Jose Abreu was a unanimous choice in the American League, and none of the Orioles received a vote. The tide turns tonight. Buck Showalter is expected to be named AL Manager of the Year for the third time after being runner-up to the Angels' Mike Scioscia in the Sporting News voting. Showalter, Scioscia and the Royals' Ned...

Left-handed relief a priority for Orioles

Left-handed relief a priority for Orioles
As the Orioles monitor the free agent market and check on potential trade partners, they're placing heavy emphasis on finding a left-hander reliever this winter. It's their primary focus at the moment. This could be viewed as a sign that they're not optimistic about re-signing Andrew Miller, a free agent with numerous suitors who may command a four-year deal for closer-type money. The projected bullpen next season includes left-handers Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland. Britton...

Notes on Nelson Cruz, free agent rankings and more

Notes on Nelson Cruz, free agent rankings and more
Nelson Cruz has said several times that he would like to remain an Oriole. But he has not said he would sign with the Orioles if their contract offer is not the best he can get as a free agent. Would he take less money or a contract for fewer years than he could get from another team? That is a whole different story. As I wrote earlier this offseason, Cruz has earned his payday. He batted .271 with 32 doubles, 40 homers, 108 RBIs and a .525 slugging percentage for the Orioles last season. He...

One reliever off the free agent board, a prospect flashback and the stat of the day

One reliever off the free agent board, a prospect flashback and the stat of the day
Heading into free agency, the Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees all had one key reliever that could have hit the open market. Now that number has been reduced from three players to two. While Andrew Miller and David Robertson are likely to test the market and accept offers, Koji Uehara will not. The former Orioles right-hander signed a two-year deal worth $18 million to stay with the Red Sox. That seems to be too much money to pay for a reliever that struggled late last season and will turn 40 next...

AL East offseason preview: Cruz, Miller loom large in O's plans

AL East offseason preview: Cruz, Miller loom large in O's plans
The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 to win their third World Series in five seasons, so let the offseason begin. Here's a primer on what's going on with teams in the American League East: Baltimore: The Orioles have already signed shortstop J.J Hardy, but they go into the offseason needing to sign outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz, 34, and lefty reliever Andrew Miller. Cruz and Miller aren't going to be as easy to sign as Hardy was. Miller is expected to get...

After great 2014 season, will O's shell out big bucks for Andrew Miller?

After great 2014 season, will O's shell out big bucks for Andrew Miller?
Andrew Miller picked a good time to have the best year of his life. He pitched great for two teams during the 2014 season and now he can sit back and watch teams fight over him during free agency. He can go to the highest bidder and the bidding should go high for this reliever who combines talent, size, smarts and a devastating slider to produce impressive statistics. Fans seem convinced that the Orioles made a shrewd trade when they gave their No. 3 prospect, 21-year-old left-hander Eduardo...

Notes on Cruz, Roberts, Davis and more

Notes on Cruz, Roberts, Davis and more
I've decided to begin the morning by addressing one rumor and squelching speculation about a former Oriole. I received a tweet about a Facebook status - yeah, so far it's rock solid - claiming that Nelson Cruz was buying a television in Baltimore for his mother because he received a new contract from the Orioles. Stop laughing. I have no idea whether Cruz purchased a TV, but I've been told by three people in the industry that he doesn't have a contract with the Orioles. He can become a free...

Duquette on playoff loss, roster decisions and more

Duquette on playoff loss, roster decisions and more
Dan Duquette, the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations, delivered a message to fans this afternoon while standing in front of the home dugout at Camden Yards. The gates were closed, but he wanted them to hear it. "I think what I want our fans to know is that we took a big step forward this year," he said. "We won the division. We won 99 games and we aim to be competitive year in and year out." Duquette was just getting started. "We had several players that we didn't...

Decisions looming on key contributors

Decisions looming on key contributors
The Orioles are opening their clubhouse to the media today at 12:30 p.m. A few players may wander inside to pack up their belongings before flying home. Most of them probably took care of it last night or made arrangements to have a clubhouse attendant ship boxes to them. Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette will conduct interviews in the dugout. Showalter will try to come up with some fresh responses. The wounds are probably fresh, as well. This is the saddest day...

Anderson reminds Orioles to keep their perspective going into Game 3

Anderson reminds Orioles to keep their perspective going into Game 3
KANSAS CITY - The sun is shining today and there isn't a hint of rain in the forecast. Game 3 of the American League Championship Series will be played without interruption. Just don't mind the wind. I went to bed in Missouri and woke up in Kansas. I'm talking heavy, blustery winds. The kind that violently shake flag poles, as I've witnessed, and turn every fly ball and pop-up into an adventure. But it's not raining. Following the Orioles' Game 2 loss at home to the Royals, I approached...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
KANSAS CITY - It wasn't long ago that Orioles manager Buck Showalter fielded questions about his club growing stale after clinching its division so quickly, about how it could lose its edge and bring no momentum into the playoffs. Move ahead to yesterday, when Showalter was asked whether the Orioles might benefit from the rain that washed away Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Maybe they needed a little more time to recover from the two losses at home. Maybe the Royals would...

Duquette: "I'm sure they'll be ready to play ball when we can play ball"

Duquette: "I'm sure they'll be ready to play ball when we can play ball"
KANSAS CITY - Should the American League Championship Series go the full seven games, the Orioles will need a fifth starter unless they use someone on short rest. Rookie Kevin Gausman could end up on the mound for Game 7. It would depend on whether manager Buck Showalter inserted him earlier in the series. Lots of moving parts. We know that Wei-Yin Chen is starting Game 3 on Tuesday. Chris Tillman could start on normal rest Wednesday in Game 4 or be pushed back to Game 5, if needed, on...

What's gone wrong in the ALCS?

What's gone wrong in the ALCS?
In a victorious clubhouse yesterday at Camden Yards, Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson was asked whether he expected to return to Baltimore for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. "No sir, I don't," he said. "And I don't think they think that, either." Shots fired. Dyson has every reason to be overflowing with confidence and bravado as his team heads home with a 2-0 lead in the series, but the Orioles fully expect to win at least two games at Kauffman Stadium. Their backs are...

Jones on O's mindset: "Seems like a normal day at the office to us"

Jones on O's mindset: "Seems like a normal day at the office to us"
The Royals will start former Oriole Jeremy Guthrie in Game 3 on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. Jason Vargas is expected to start Game 4 the following night. Guthrie is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles. The Royals didn't steal a base last night after leading the majors in that category with 153 during the regular season and swiping 12 in the playoffs - by eight different players. Jarrod Dyson appeared to steal second, but his foot came off the bag during an...

After tough Game 1 loss, do the Orioles bounce back today?

After tough Game 1 loss, do the Orioles bounce back today?
The Orioles scored six runs, they had 14 hits, they went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They came from four runs behind. And they lost. It was a rare sight to see Chris Tillman, Zach Britton and Darren O'Day all have moments when they struggled and all in the same game as Kansas City beat the Orioles 8-6 in 10 innings last night. Maybe the Orioles and their fans will get a small lift from this stat: Since the introduction of the seven-game series in 1985, just 54 percent (15 of...

Zach Wilt: Backs ends of bullpens present interesting ALCS matchup

Zach Wilt: Backs ends of bullpens present interesting ALCS matchup
For years, I preached about the importance of starting pitching in the postseason. In my mind, I firmly believed that the teams with the best rotations had the greatest chance of making a deep run into October. It was all about those four starters and no matter what a team did to hide its lack of starting pitching in the regular season, they would surely be exposed in the playoffs. Suddenly, I'm not so sure that's true anymore. At least not this year. The Tigers added a third Cy Young award...

Showalter on first ALCS: "It's not going to drive my life" (O's-K.C. in ALCS)

Showalter on first ALCS: "It's not going to drive my life" (O's-K.C. in ALCS)
DETROIT - As Orioles manager Buck Showalter sat down in the interview room following today's 2-1 victory over the Tigers, a reporter offered congratulations on his first series win. "Really?" Showalter replied in mock surprise. "I got one in Albany." He got a much bigger one in Detroit. The Orioles swept the Tigers in the American League Division Series, enabling Showalter to reach his first Championship Series. "They're all relevant," Showalter said. "It feels good. It means we...

On to the ALCS: Norris with a gem, Cruz with a homer as O's sweep Detroit

On to the ALCS: Norris with a gem, Cruz with a homer as O's sweep Detroit
In his first career postseason start, Orioles right-hander Bud Norris was sensational. He matched 2012 Cy Young Award winner David Price pitch for pitch and his offense finally got him the lead. Norris pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer as the Orioles beat Detroit 2-1 to complete a three-game sweep of their American League Division Series. The win sends the Orioles to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 1997. They await the winner of the...

Andrew Miller on playoff bullpen usage and other notes and quotes from the Game 1 win

Andrew Miller on playoff bullpen usage and other notes and quotes from the Game 1 win
The 1966 Orioles didn't do it. Neither did the great teams from 1969, '70 and '71. Or the 1983 World Series champs. None of them scored 12 runs in a playoff game. The Orioles' previous best was 11 runs four times before last night's 12-3 win over Detroit in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. The last time the O's scored 11 runs was Oct. 7, 1983 in Game 3 at the White Sox in the AL Championship Series. That date is also notable for this reason: The Orioles won that game 11-1...

Markakis: "Want to thank the best fans in baseball" (plus other clubhouse quotes)

Markakis: "Want to thank the best fans in baseball" (plus other clubhouse quotes)
Amid the crush of the Orioles postgame clubhouse, Nick Markakis talked about playing and winning the first playoff game of his career. "Awesome," Markakis said. "Everything you want it to be. We play for the people that come here and they supported us. It was everything you work for. We want to thank the best fans in baseball. They showed it tonight." Markakis had played the third-most games (1,365) of any active player before making his playoff debut. Meanwhile, as he has often this...