Snyder, Bell and a message

Snyder, Bell and a message
A humorous exchange from FanFest: Brandon Snyder was standing beside me as Lou Montanez explained that he didn't play first base in Puerto Rico. In an exasperated tone, Snyder said, "You're playing first base now? Oh great! I guess I'll start playing left field." I don't think Snyder needs to change positions again. He's safe. It just might take a while for him to debut at first base with the Orioles. Josh Bell is staying at third base, and he won't be rushed to Baltimore. Maybe...

Policing the lineup (with a few more added)

Policing the lineup (with a few more added)
A team that commits five turnovers and allows 12 men in the huddle after moving into field goal range doesn't deserve to win, but a level playing field in the NFC championship game would have been nice. Three calls went against the Vikings in overtime, which again makes me wonder why they don't demolish the review booth or use it as an extra concession stand. Bad spot on fourth down, bad pass interference call on an overthrown ball, bad reception ruling on a ball that Robert Meachem never...

Miggy and lefties (updated)

Miggy and lefties (updated)
Miguel Tejada is expected to be re-introduced to the local media this afternoon after taking his physical. I'll provide an update later today once all of the details are official, but you'll probably want to keep your television tuned to MASN. Update: The Orioles will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. They didn't specify the reason, but we'll assume it involves Tejada. I'll head to the Warehouse to attend the press conference. Steve Melewski also will be there, so check out his blog as...

Getting Miggy with it

Getting Miggy with it
Let's clear up the first controversy regarding Miguel Tejada: He hasn't chosen a uniform number and he doesn't really care. Tejada isn't married to No. 10. He wore it during his first stint with the Orioles because No. 4 was retired. While he appreciated Adam Jones' gesture to surrender 10 for a Rolex, he probably won't press the issue. Miguel Tejada and Andy MacPhail discuss Tejada signing with the Orioles The Orioles didn't hand Tejada a jersey during today's press conference, so...

Regular duty for Tejada

Regular duty for Tejada
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail addressed a question during the press conference that was directed at Miguel Tejada. He jumped in like a referee getting between two fighters, though he didn't wave his arms and remove Tejada's mouthpiece. A reporter wanted to know whether Tejada would have any issues with moving off third base to make room for Josh Bell later this summer, if the situation presented itself. More to the point, would he accept a part-time role? "The kind of deal...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Miguel Tejada says he has no preference where he hits, so I guess he won't be submitting his own lineup ideas to this blog. "Last year, I went from second to sixth," he said. "Every day I was in the lineup, I was totally happy." According to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, Tejada told him, "Just put me in the lineup. Wherever you see fit is fine with me." "I'm sure Dave Trembley's gone through 14 different versions of what it might be," MacPhail said. "I do like...

Miggy don't lose that number

Miggy don't lose that number
Miguel Tejada will wear No. 9 this season. Read all about it here on the team's Twitter account - @birdlandinsider. Michael Aubrey wore No. 9 last year, after Gregg Zaun was traded, but I doubt that he'll receive an expensive watch in return. I'm sure he'd settle for a spot on the 25-man roster. He'd probably have an easier time getting the Rolex.

The corresponding roster move

The corresponding roster move
The Orioles have designated reliever Dennis Sarfate for assignment, a move made to create room on the 40-man roster for third baseman Miguel Tejada, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract yesterday after passing his physical. The club is expected to make the announcement later today, but Sarfate's agent already has informed him of the move. Sarfate was 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in 20 appearances last season. He spent almost four months on the disabled list with a circulatory condition in his...

More invites and reaction from Sarfate

More invites and reaction from Sarfate
The Orioles have invited six more players to spring training, including shortstop Blake Davis. Joining Davis will be catchers Luis Bernardo and Adam Donachie, infielder Miguel Abreu, outfielder Matt Angle and infielder/outfielder Jonathan Tucker. The Orioles also made Sarfate's removal from the 40-man roster official. Sarfate received the news from his agent earlier today that the Orioles had designated him for assignment. He let it sink in, took a deep breath and headed outdoors to throw...

Hendrickson says he's back

Hendrickson says he's back
How nice of Mark Hendrickson to announce last night at a sports banquet in Hanover, Pa. that he agreed to terms with the Orioles. Maybe I should have placed my last 12 calls to him over there. I was doing it all wrong. At least he saved me from making No. 13 later today. (I almost made No. 2 when I heard about this, if you know what I mean.) I've been predicting this move since, oh, around October. Three months later, it's happened. If you wait long enough, you'll eventually be...

Trembley on Hendrickson

Trembley on Hendrickson
Orioles manager Dave Trembley is glad to have left-hander Mark Hendrickson back in his bullpen. Trembley talked about Hendrickson's value as the 2009 season closed, and his opinion hasn't changed. This is a signing that he endorsed from the beginning - one that will become official later this week. "Glad to have Hendrickson," Trembley wrote in an e-mail. "He did well last year as a left-handed guy out of the bullpen. He can pitch in long relief or late in the game as a situational type....

Sorting through the bullpen

Sorting through the bullpen
Is it true that Kurt Warner will hold a press conference today to announce whether Brett Favre is retiring? Perhaps I misunderstood. The Orioles' news is slowing again, but not because president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is letting the market play out. We're approaching spring training and the camp roster is pretty much set. We'll probably see a left-handed reliever signed to a minor league contract. Try to control your breathing. Erik Bedard reportedly is throwing, but that...

Updating Koji

Updating Koji
Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz, calling into last night's Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300, reported that Koji Uehara is throwing in Japan and apparently in good health after going on the disabled list for the last time on June 24 and missing the rest of the season. "Everything I've heard is that he's throwing," Kranitz said. "Obviously, we have to put some eyes on him to really find out how he's doing, because we don't have anybody there to look at him. But knowing...

Kranitz on Bergesen

Kranitz on Bergesen
My ears are still ringing from the sound of Billy Butler's line drive smacking off Brad Bergesen's left shin. Imagine how it sounds to Bergesen. He'll be a full-go in spring training after a long and painful recovery, but I keep wondering how he'll react to the first ball that's hit up the middle. And the second and third. I don't know about Bergesen, but I'll be flinching. "I've seen it happen more when guys get hit above the shoulders, somewhere in that area, where it really...

Sarfate update

Sarfate update
The Orioles are trying to work out a trade for Dennis Sarfate, rather than risk losing him to a waiver claim, after designating him for assignment on Wednesday. Once the Orioles cleared room on the 40-man roster for Miguel Tejada, they had 10 days to trade Sarfate, release him or put him on waivers. Sarfate believes that several teams will be interested in him. A fastball that tops out in the upper 90s will get a guy noticed. Sarfate is out of options, a prime reason why the Orioles...

A sense of relief

A sense of relief
Many thanks to "Bumblebee" in Japan for passing along the YouTube video of Koji Uehara that ran last week. You'll need a translator, but it's proof that he's still alive (and playing catch). According to Bumblebee, Uehara tells his interviewer - a former player with the Yomiuri Giants - that he's planning to throw more cutters and changeups this season. As long as we're talking about the staff, pitching coach Rick Kranitz is a firm believer in letting young starters gain experience...

Hendrickson, Mora and Scott

Hendrickson, Mora and Scott
We should receive official word today that reliever Mark Hendrickson has re-signed, though he may choose to make the announcement at the next Oriole Advocates luncheon. Hendrickson apparently has passed his physical. The MLB offices were closed over the weekend, which explains the delay. Am I the only person around here who isn't getting all sentimental over Melvin Mora's departure? Mora spent 10 seasons in Baltimore, including the second half of 2000 after coming here in the Mike...

Hendrickson update and more

Hendrickson update and more
Mark Hendrickson didn't complete his physical on Friday, so the medical stuff continued today. And while the club expects him to pass, his official signing could be delayed until later in the week. I apologize if I lost anyone with the phrase "medical stuff." I understand that some of you prefer layman's terms. The Orioles also won't expect to have Dennis Sarfate's situation resolved until later in the week. They designated him for assignment on Wednesday to make room for Miguel Tejada...

Do the right thing

Do the right thing
If you've been keeping those fingers crossed that catcher Robby Hammock would re-sign with the Orioles, he signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. Says so right here in Baseball America's latest minor league transactions. Hammock will dress in the same spring training clubhouse as Melvin Mora and Jay Payton. Also, catcher Gustavo Molina, who appeared in seven games with the Orioles in 2007, signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox. Best of luck to Kevin Millar as...

Catching up with Bigbie

Catching up with Bigbie
In case you skipped over the most recent batch of comments attached to today's blog entry, "Buddy" provided a link to an article from the Ball State Daily News regarding former Oriole Larry Bigbie. Bigbie is being inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, an honor that might seem predictable given his status as a first-round draft pick and the years he spent in the majors. But you had to wonder whether the university would distance itself from Bigbie after his inclusion...