Meeting with MacPhail
Meeting with MacPhail
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, sat down with a few team executives and player representatives today and said he had two or three meetings lined up later tonight. He isn't close to making a deal, which means the Orioles aren't a mystery team in the Matt Lindstrom or Edwin Jackson talks. MacPhail had a brief, informal meeting with Mark Hendrickson's agent, Joe Urbon, but he hasn't met with Mark Pieper, who represents Erik Bedard. However, MacPhail and Pieper will meet soon...
When the going gets tough, the Trembley gets tougher
When the going gets tough, the Trembley gets tougher
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
One of the heavy points of emphasis in spring training will be reducing the amount of "careless giveaways" on the bases, according to manager Dave Trembley. Players should beware if they don't get the message. Dave Trembley on the emphasis on baserunning and how he'll change as a manager Trembley already suggested late in the season that he'll be more inclined to drop the hammer in 2010. Mistakes won't be as easily forgiven. And he said earlier today that some guys could be "on the...
Trembley talk
Trembley talk
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Outfielder Felix Pie is supposed to start playing in the Dominican next month. Asked whether he foresees Pie getting the bulk of the playing time in left field next season, with Nolan Reimold serving as the designated hitter, manager Dave Trembley hesitated before replying: "I think it's a nice thing to be able to sort out, especially the way Pie played the second half of the season. I know there's a lot of interest in Pie. You've got to like what Reimold did. You've still got Luke...
Quick hits from Trembley
Quick hits from Trembley
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I'll go more in-depth later, but I wanted to take a few seconds to review some highlights from manager Dave Trembley's session with the media. Dave Trembley talks with Roch Kubatko from the MLB Winter Meetings - Trembley's priorities for the team remain, in no particular order, a starting pitcher, closer, first baseman and third baseman. - He still believes the Orioles can obtain a big bat for the middle of the lineup (and he prefers a right-handed one), despite the weak free-agent...
Let's all go to the lobby
Let's all go to the lobby
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The small lobby area at the Marriott is packed with reporters, baseball executives and managers. The Christmas tree in the middle is taking up valuable space, and I've almost run into it twice. Members of the print and electronic media are constantly checking their BlackBerry's for the latest updates and contradictions. For instance, the New York Post reported that left-hander Andy Pettitte has turned down a one-year offer from the Yankees. The Daily News shot back that no offer has been...
Chapman update
Chapman update
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles will meet with the representatives for Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman before leaving Indianapolis. They've had discussions with Alan Hendricks over the past few weeks in sort of a start-over process after Chapman switched agents. The Orioles aren't expected to sign Chapman, but they haven't closed any doors. Here's where it gets complicated: Owner Peter Angelos recently confirmed interest via an AP story in playing another exhibition game in Cuba. It would be difficult to...
Heading to Cooperstown
Heading to Cooperstown
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Not me. You couldn't pry me out of Indianapolis with a crowbar. Manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey have been elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Herzog, who led the Kansas City Royals to three straight American League West titles from 1976-78 before leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title and the 1985 and 1987 NL pennants, received 14 of 16 votes. Harvey, who worked National League games for 31 seasons and was named to six All-Star...
Good morning from Indy
Good morning from Indy
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I ran into manager Dave Trembley last night as he was coming up the escalator of the Westin hotel with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Well, not literally. He didn't take a charge. But it was an unexpected meeting. Trembley looks tanned and rested - and we assume he's ready. He's lost about 17 pounds and is looking to shed a few more. According to the New York Post, plenty of baseball executives expect the Orioles and Mariners to be big spenders this winter. I believe...
Koji update
Koji update
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Koji Uehara received permission from doctors to begin playing catch back home in Japan. Uehara is recovering from a torn tendon in his right elbow that ended his season early. It might not sound like much, but we're still two months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Uehara told one of the Japanese reporters here that he'll do whatever the Orioles want - start, close, set-up. The Orioles don't appear to have any plans to insert Uehara in the rotation....
And so it continues...
And so it continues...
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
My Southwest flight was booked, and it seemed like most of the passengers were headed to the Winter Meetings. Andy MacPhail is already here, and Matt Klentak, John Stockstill and David Stockstill arrived today. MASNsports.com's Phil Wood and Dan Kolko, The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck, FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, The Washington Post's Dave Sheinin and USA Today's Mel Antonen made up the media contingent. A scout from another organization was pushing for the Orioles to dip into...