Oh Danys Boy

Oh Danys Boy
I can't let Danys Baez join the Phillies without wishing him the best of luck with team No. 6. Baez reportedly has agreed to a two-year deal, pending a physical next week. I'm a little surprised that he netted more than one year, but good for him. A few notes about Baez from the 2009 season: • He went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA, 59 hits allowed, 22 walks and 40 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings. • He allowed one earned run or fewer in 50...

The first entry of 2010

The first entry of 2010
Happy New Year to everyone here at the School of Roch. I hope your head isn't pounding so loudly that the neighbors can hear it. I'm not big on resolutions, but I refuse to watch any bowl game that's named for a corporate sponsor. That means the Outback Bowl can bite it. Same to you, Capital One Bowl. The Konica Minolta Gator Bowl gets a pass, but just barely. Do they still play the Tangerine Bowl? Yes, they do. It's now the Capital One Bowl. So, did anyone make a sports-themed...

Who's on first? - Part II

Who's on first? - Part II
The NFL Network still lists the Denver Broncos as one of the two wild card teams in the AFC, and the Ravens as being "in the hunt" with an identical record. Shouldn't that be reversed, since the Ravens beat the Broncos earlier this season? I understand that it's a complicated formula, but the Ravens are in if they win. Picking winners against the spread is especially challenging in the final week of the regular season, with teams that have clinched first-round byes often choosing to rest...

Venting machine

Venting machine
Please tell me why I'm forced to watch the San Diego-Washington game on FOX-45, instead of the Dallas-Philadelphia matchup that's much more interesting and important? Who's the pinhead behind that decision? Is it coming from the network or the league? I need answers. I want his name and home address. I know we're supposed to be slobbering all over the Ravens today, but my television comes with a remote. Dallas-Philly is a big game. I wanted to switch back and forth. It's what I do on...

Delgado debuts

Delgado debuts
Carlos Delgado made his long-awaited debut tonight in the Puerto Rican Winter League, going 1-for-4 while batting fourth as the designated hitter for Gigantes de Carolina. That's good enough for me. Sign him. Kidding. I don't want a singles hitter batting cleanup for the Orioles. Again, kidding. We'll judge him later in the month. More important, the Orioles will do so after scouting him. Lou Montanez's team, Criollos de Caguas, provided the opposition, but he hasn't played since...

Springing forward

Springing forward
While wondering if Gilbert Arenas simply misunderstood what his coach meant by a morning shootaround... I've got about six more weeks before I fly into the Sarasota airport with a look of confusion and angst on my face. I don't know how to fly a plane. Actually, it's because my comfort zone for spring training will be gone. I'll feel lost for a while, not knowing the best routes to my hotel, the ballpark, a bar that's still serving at 2 a.m. It's never too early for me to stress out....

Springing forward - Part II

Springing forward - Part II
If you missed it, former Oriole John Parrish signed a minor league deal with the Royals. Here's hoping that Parrish doesn't report to spring training in a body cast. Also, ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the Cardinals and outfielder Matt Holliday are close to a deal, which has pretty much been the word around baseball today. And SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that the Red Sox are nearing an agreement with third baseman Adrian Beltre. I walked outside earlier today and noticed an...

In the news...

In the news...
Gilbert Arenas claims that he brought guns into the Wizards' locker room so he could play a joke on a teammate. The Wizards should claim they were only joking when they gave him that $111 million contract. Carlos Delgado went 2-for-4 with a strikeout last night in the Puerto Rican Winter League. He batted fourth again as the designated hitter. I find it amusing that Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa posted a message on Twitter last week. Times really have changed. We've been trying to drag...

Dwindling market for LaRoche?

Dwindling market for LaRoche?
The Orioles need a corner infielder, and first baseman Adam LaRoche looks like the most appealing option among the free agents on the market. ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that LaRoche turned down the Giants' two-year, $17 million offer. At least he hasn't panicked yet. Olney speculates (and that's all he's doing here) that the Giants and Orioles are the only potential suitors for LaRoche. The Orioles aren't likely to exceed San Francisco's offer, but by allowing the market to - brace...

Alomar's HOF credentials

Alomar's HOF credentials
Is ESPN really coming out with a 3-D channel? I can't wait for the network to launch ESPN-Boxer Briefs, the first channel that requires you to strip down before watching. (I don't count late-night Cinemax.) The latest Hall of Fame inductees will be announced today at 2 p.m., and I'm predicting that Roberto Alomar is elected on the first ballot. Alomar won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base in 11 years, along with four Silver Slugger Awards. In 17 seasons, he totaled 2,724 hits, 210...

Alomar not elected

Alomar not elected
Andre Dawson was voted into the Hall of Fame today, but Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were left on the outside. Dawson will be honored along with manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, who were elected last month by the Veterans Committee. Candidates must receive 75 percent of the votes for election. Blyleven and Alomar narrowly missed, so look for them to make it next year. Andre Dawson - 420 - 77.9% Bert Blyleven - 400 - 74.2% Roberto Alomar - 397 - 73.7% Jack Morris - 282...

Hoiles talks about Alomar

Hoiles talks about Alomar
Like many of us, former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles believes that Roberto Alomar belongs in the Hall of Fame, noting that his old teammate might be the best second baseman to play the game. "I played against him when he was in Toronto prior to coming over to Baltimore, and you knew he was a good player," Hoiles said earlier today. "He was the guy you didn't want to come up to the plate with the game on the line. But when we got him, you really got a true sense of the type of player he...

Lunch with Trembley and tracking the O's online

Lunch with Trembley and tracking the O's online
MASN will reward their fantasy baseball winners next week, as five baseball-savvy fans will get to eat lunch with Orioles Manager Dave Trembley at the ESPN Zone on Monday, November 9. I'll be tagging along to recap the luncheon and relay any interesting info from the skipper, who will be flying in from his Florida home to spend a few hours with some dedicated O's fans. Check back next Monday afternoon for an update on the lunch with Trembley. In the meantime, if you're missing your...

A little O's atmosphere on your special day

A little O's atmosphere on your special day
A few days ago, I noticed a small crowd of people grouped around the Orioles' dugout. Since tours can be scheduled year-round, I figured this group must be doing just that, taking a guided ballpark tour. But as I glanced away, I noted the tell-tale tour guide uniform in the way of a black and orange jacket and ball cap was missing, and this group was pretty well dressed for a bunch of fans just walking around the Yard--Most fans don't opt for sparkling dresses or sharply cut suits, or a...

The Orioles' side of the story

The Orioles' side of the story
Orioles director of international scouting John Stockstill told me late last night that the club has "evaluators" at the Dominican Prospect League who are "reporting to us on a regular basis." Stockstill described the league as "basically a showcase" of Dominican teenage players who weren't drafted. It's largely gone unnoticed among fans here until ESPN.com ran a story yesterday with agent Brian Mejia noting how the Orioles and White Sox haven't had a regular presence at games. Sound...

Fantasy winners enjoy the ultimate Orioles lunch hour

Fantasy winners enjoy the ultimate Orioles lunch hour
Orioles Manager Dave Trembley met a handful of fans in a private side room at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore's Inner Harbor today with a smile as warm as the weather. On an unseasonably nice day in November, the O's skipper got up at 3:00 a.m. to leave his sunny Daytona Beach home for a 5:00 a.m. flight to Baltimore; but he wasn't headed back to Charm City on business. Today, he traveled back to the home of the O's to have lunch with the winners of MASN's first fantasy baseball league on...

Minor league staffs

Minor league staffs
Gary Allenson returns for his fifth season as manager at Triple-A Norfolk. Mike Griffin returns as pitching coach, but former Single-A Frederick manager Richie Hebner has replaced Dallas Williams as field coach. Former Norfolk pitching coach Larry McCall drops down to rookie-level Bluefield. And you'll recognize some familiar names at Single-A Delmarva. Here's the complete list: Norfolk: Gary Allenson (manager) Mike Griffin (pitching coach) Richie Hebner (field coach) Bowie: Brad...

One liners from lunch with Trembley

One liners from lunch with Trembley
Over the two-hour lunch the MASN fantasy baseball winners were treated to with Orioles Manager Dave Trembley Monday, there seemed to be a handful of one-liners and little observations that didn't fit into my official piece on the event. So here they are, one at a time... -When looking at the photo in the post on the MASN fantasy baseball winners' lunch, did you notice anyone familiar in the group of winners? Yep, that's "Molly from Pikesville" from the MASN Defining Moments commercial. ...

Minor promotion

Minor promotion
After two years as field coach at Single-A Delmarva, Ryan Minor is getting the opportunity to manage. And he'll feel right at home despite limited experience in the role, since he lives in Salisbury and has a short commute to the ballpark. Minor has managed in the instructional league, so he's not a total stranger to the job. Otherwise, he's served as a coach for the York Revolution under former manager Chris Hoiles and offered hitting tips and other instruction with the Shorebirds. "I...

'Phenomenal' welcome for the Orioles in Sarasota

'Phenomenal' welcome for the Orioles in Sarasota
Many more events will mark the occasion, including the first Orioles game in Sarasota this spring and the completion of the renovations to come later on that will transform the Reds' fomer complex into a warmer-weather Birdland; but O's fans put their initial mark on Ed Smith Stadium by turning out 2,500 strong last Saturday for the Orioles Family FanFest held in the team's new spring training home. More than twice as many fans than were expected at the event came out on Saturday to add...