Roch Kubatko

Second (or third) look at second base

October 25, 2011, 2:16pm

Orioles

We've debated which starting pitchers are realistic targets for the Orioles. We've kicked around the idea of the Orioles making a run at Prince Fielder or Michael Cuddyer or any hitter with a pulse and a productive bat. We've argued whether Adam Jones should be traded while his value is high and his free agent year is still a little ways in the distance. With yesterday being devoid of GM news - and non-update updates give me a full body rash - I figured to revisit the potential vacancy at...

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Orioles and Angels take different paths in GM search

October 24, 2011, 6:13pm

Orioles

As you know, the Orioles will interview Dodgers executive De Jon Watson tomorrow morning, making him the third candidate to fly into Baltimore. Jerry Dipoto and Tony LaCava beat him here. The Angels also are in the midst of a GM search, but I don't see many similarities in the two lists. The Angels also have targeted Dipoto, and both teams could contact Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine once the World Series ends. Andrew Friedman (Rays) and Damon Oppenheimer (Yankees) already have met with...

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Watson interviewing Wednesday

October 24, 2011, 11:59am

Orioles

The Orioles will interview Dodgers assistant general manager De Jon Watson on Wednesday for the position of president of baseball operations. Watson will fly into Baltimore tomorrow night and become the third candidate to interview for the job vacated by Andy MacPhail, whose contract expires Oct. 31. Watson, 45, is responsible for the Dodgers' player development and oversees Latin American player development. He served previously as scouting director with the Reds and Indians. I talked to...

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Just another manic Monday

October 23, 2011, 8:52pm

Orioles

I don't have a whole lot for you this morning. Maybe something breaks later in the day, but right now it's more of the same. The Orioles have interviewed Jerry Dipoto and Tony LaCava for the job of president of baseball operations. The Marlins denied them permission to contact Dan Jennings. They're expected to interview Dodgers executive De Jon Watson this week. Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine is a possibility after the World Series. In that order. They still need a scouting director...

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Pressing players for answers

October 23, 2011, 6:28am

Orioles

I'm nominating Dan Lozano for "Happiest Man in the World" today. I'll give you 10 seconds to figure out why. OK, time's up. Lozano is the agent who represents Albert Pujols. Cha-ching! Pujols set a World Series record last night with 14 total bases. He joined Babe Ruth (twice) and Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit three home runs in the same game. I'm also pretty sure he's the only player to drive a ball into another state without using his car. Apparently, this guy will do...

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Orioles receive permission to interview Watson

October 21, 2011, 3:51pm

Orioles

The Dodgers granted permission today for the Orioles to interview assistant general manager De Jon Watson for the position of president of baseball operations. Watson will be the third candidate interviewed, following the Diamondbacks' Jerry Dipoto and the Blue Jays' Tony LaCava. The Marlins denied the Orioles permission to interview Dan Jennings. I wrote about Watson yesterday and passed along this report from mlbtraderumors. Watson's background in player development and scouting make...

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Cuddyer for hire

October 21, 2011, 12:59pm

Orioles

In case you missed it, former Orioles infielder (and part-time catcher) Lenn Sakata was named manager at high Single-A Modesto of the California League. The Nuts, as they're called, are a Rockies affiliate. Sakata had been serving as hitting coach at low Single-A Asheville. The Nuts have two mascots: Al the Almond and Wally the Walnut. I'm not making this up. Wouldn't it be nice if Tippy Martinez threw out the first pitch, with Sakata behind the plate, for Modesto's home opener next...

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So what about the bullpen?

October 20, 2011, 7:27pm

Orioles

Clutch comeback by the Rangers last night. Down 1-0 in the top of the ninth, they rallied for two runs and returned home with the World Series deadlocked 1-1. Both runs scored on sacrifice flies. It's not the sexiest way to win a game, but it worked. Great baserunning by the Rangers in the ninth. They were alert, and they were fearless. The Orioles' bullpen will be tweaked again this winter. I don't know about a complete overhaul, but there will be changes. It's the norm. And in...

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All's quiet on GM front

October 20, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

Here's a quick update on the Orioles' search for a new GM/president of baseball operations: Nothing has changed. I told you it was going to be quick (that's what ... never mind.) I'm told that the Orioles don't have any other interviews scheduled at the present time, but they're not going to stop at two candidates. Other executives will be brought in, though I don't expect a stampede to the warehouse. The Orioles are still expected to seek permission from the Dodgers to interview...

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Should the Orioles wait for their Prince Fielder to come?

October 19, 2011, 6:27pm

Orioles

My favorite tweet from last night, courtesy of @TheBillWalton: Ron Washington/Cocaine, Tony La Russa/DWI, Mark McGwire/Steroids. The coaching staff at the World Series looks like a Lohan family reunion. Bodog posted odds on which team will sign first baseman Prince Fielder this winter. The Orioles made the list, which reads as follows: Chicago Cubs 3/1 Washington Nationals 5/1 Toronto Blue Jays 5/1 Baltimore Orioles ...

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Russell staying in dugout, Kirby could change roles

October 19, 2011, 8:01am

Orioles

Russell staying in dugout, Kirby could change roles

If the Orioles stick to their plan, they won't announce their coaching staff until after hiring their president of baseball operations. Though they don't anticipate any objections, they'd still rather allow their new executive to give final approval on manager Buck Showalter's staff. The Orioles must make two hires, though the job descriptions aren't settled. John Russell will remain as bench coach, which leaves a vacancy at third base following Willie Randolph's departure. However,...

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More organizational chatter

October 18, 2011, 2:43pm

Orioles

Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava is in town today to interview for the job vacated by Andy MacPhail. I doubt that the Orioles have whittled their list down to two candidates, but they couldn't go wrong with LaCava or Jerry Dipoto, the Diamondbacks' senior vice president of scouting and player development. Everyone I've talked to in baseball raves about them and thinks they would be smart hires. Dipoto also will interview for the Angels' GM job, according to various reports....

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Orioles denied permission to interview Jennings (updated)

October 18, 2011, 11:46am

Orioles

According to an industry source, the Marlins have denied the Orioles permission to interview assistant general manager Dan Jennings for the position of president of baseball operations. Jennings, who is currently in Arizona scouting the fall league, has a contract that runs through 2015. The Marlins have denied teams permission to interview Jennings on three other occasions. The Orioles are interviewing Diamondbacks senior vice president of scouting and player development Jerry Dipoto today...

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This, that and the 40-man roster

October 17, 2011, 9:08pm

Orioles

I'm 51-34 picking NFL games against the spread this season. Is that good? Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney, playing in his second Arizona Fall League game yesterday, went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored for the Mesa Solar Sox. He's hitting .600 with seven RBIs in two games. And his error total held at four. Xavier Avery, starting in center field, went 0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and his first error. He's batting .077. FOXSports.com's...

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Dipoto will be interviewed Tuesday (LaCava update)

October 17, 2011, 3:13pm

Orioles

Dipoto will be interviewed Tuesday (LaCava update)

The Orioles will interview Arizona Diamondbacks senior vice president of scouting and player development Jerry Dipoto tomorrow for the position of general manager, according to an industry source. Dipoto will be the first candidate interviewed. Toronto Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava is scheduled to be interviewed later this week. You can read more about Dipoto right here, courtesy of mlbtraderumors.com. Update: LaCava will be interviewed on Wednesday. That's two.

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Accardo becomes free agent

October 17, 2011, 6:34am

Orioles

In case you were wondering or thought I forgot, reliever Jeremy Accardo refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk last week and elected to become a free agent. Add him to your list of available relievers. Accardo went 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA in 31 appearances with the Orioles. He allowed 43 hits, walked 18 and hit a batter in 37 2/3 innings. His WHIP was 1.619. Yes, that's too many baserunners. Accardo was 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 26 games at Norfolk. The Orioles also outrighted...

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This and that

October 16, 2011, 7:16pm

Orioles

Jeff Passan, the lead baseball columnist for Yahoo! Sports, tweeted the following last night: Brewers gave up Brett Lawrie and four prospects for Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke. Their playoff stats: 26.1 IP, 9.57 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 7 HR. Ouch. Lawrie will be a star with the Blue Jays. Marcum will be remembered as something else, and it won't be Mr. October. I was reminded last night that you can't spell M-I-L-W-A-U-K-E-E without two Es. Jerry Hairston Jr. has carved out a nice career as a...

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Is there a spot for Bordick on the coaching staff?

October 15, 2011, 5:20pm

Orioles

Is there a spot for Bordick on the coaching staff?

Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney made his Arizona Fall League debut yesterday and went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. He also committed four errors. Now that his oblique strain is gone, he needs to get rid of the stiffness in his mitt. But at least he's playing again. Maryland's football team squandered an 18-point third quarter lead last night against Clemson, and Kevin Gregg was charged with a blown save. I'm not sure how that's possible. I failed to wish Jim Palmer a happy 66th...

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Leftovers for breakfast

October 14, 2011, 8:19pm

Orioles

My current issue of ESPN The Magazine has a naked Hope Solo on the cover. A naked goalie? I'm going to save this issue. (See what I did there?) I wanted to give you some reading material before I head over to Hunt Valley for the latest airing of "Wall to Wall Baseball" from 11 a.m. to noon on MASN. I wrote an entry yesterday detailing Jeremy Guthrie's inclusion on the major league team that will travel to Taiwan next month. He's known about it since August, but his placement on the...

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Randolph won't return in 2012

October 14, 2011, 11:40am

Orioles

I've been dropping strong hints that Willie Randolph wouldn't return to the coaching staff in 2012. I received further confirmation earlier this afternoon. It appears that manager Buck Showalter will need to fill two vacancies. I heard recently that Randolph was exploring other opportunities. Naturally, he'd prefer to manage. The Orioles hired Randolph to serve as bench coach, but he swapped places with third base coach John Russell. We were told that Russell's sore knee made it...