Answering the Nishioka question

Answering the Nishioka question
Or at least trying. Do the Orioles have interest in Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka if he's posted? Yes, they do. Is there a strong chance that they'll get him? It doesn't look that way. I guess that counts as two questions. The Chiba Lotte Marines haven't committed to posting Nishioka, so it could be a moot point, but he wants to come to the U.S. and the Orioles have scouted him. They favor him more than pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, who has a 30-day window of exclusive negotiations...
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Will Markakis be a golden newbie? (updated)

Will Markakis be a golden newbie? (updated)
Update: I'll answer my own question right here. No. The Orioles were shut out in the Gold Glove voting. Jason Garrett finally got a head coaching job in the NFL. I guess it was worth passing on the Ravens' offer. Special thanks to the Bengals receiver who dropped that fourth-down pass last night and ensured that his team would lose by more than 4 ½ points. It's not like I took Cincy + 4 ½. No, I'd never do anything that stupid. Nobody asked my...
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No interest in Iwakuma

No interest in Iwakuma
The Orioles didn't bid on Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, who could end up with the Oakland Athletics. The A's submitted the winning posting bid, according to an MLB release issued earlier today. They have 30 days to negotiate exclusively with him. Iwakuma had a 2.82 ERA in 201 innings this year. The Orioles scouted him, but the reports apparently weren't favorable enough for the club to enter the bidding. Also, former bullpen coach Alan Dunn has accepted the job as a roving pitching...
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Wakamatsu headed to Toronto

Wakamatsu headed to Toronto
So much for Don Wakamatsu joining manager Buck Showalter's staff as bench coach. The search continues. Wakamatsu has accepted a job as Toronto's bench coach, according to a press release issued by the Blue Jays less than an hour ago. You can read it right here. Wakamatsu has pretty much been the only candidate we've heard about, so it feels like we're back to Square One. Showalter obviously has contingency plans. He didn't put all of his eggs in the Wakamatsu basket. Feel free to...
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Allenson still in limbo

Allenson still in limbo
Former third base coach Gary Allenson still hasn't decided on his next move. He's got a standing offer to manage at Triple-A Norfolk, but obviously would prefer a major league job. Allenson has been a first base, third base and bullpen coach in the majors. He's managed in the minors and worked as a catching coordinator. He'll benefit whichever organization ends up with him. My guess: He'll be managing the Tides in 2011. I would have been fine with Allenson staying as third base...
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To market, to market...

To market, to market...
I woke up this morning and the Orioles still hadn't signed any free agents. I knew this process would drag along. It's been more than 24 hours since the market opened...and nothing. Here's that list again, in case you need a quick refresher. The Orioles' needs haven't changed. A big bat for the middle of the order is their No. 1 priority - wherever it fits. That's the obsession. And they can't come up short this time. They must address the holes at first and third base, which...
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Starting vs. relieving

Starting vs. relieving
My interview with Jason Berken last week rekindled the debate over whether a pitcher experiences more strain on his injured or surgically repaired shoulder as a starter or reliever. Berken bypassed surgery and is rehabbing his torn labrum, just as Matt Albers did a few years ago. Troy Patton underwent the surgery. Berken and Albers have been working out of the bullpen. Patton was a starter at Triple-A Norfolk and a spectator in the Orioles' bullpen. So is there a definite answer? So far, I...
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Hoey added to 40-man (updated)

Hoey added to 40-man (updated)
The Orioles made an interesting personnel move today, placing reliever Jim Hoey on the 40-man roster. Gone, but not forgotten. Hoey appeared in 12 games with the Orioles in 2006 and 23 in 2007, going a combined 3-5 with an 8.13 ERA, 23 walks and 24 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. He didn't pitch in 2008 because of a shoulder injury that required an arthroscopic procedure, and he spent last year at Double-A Bowie. That's the gone part. Hoey was 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA in 24 games with Bowie this...
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More reminders of 2010

More reminders of 2010
As I continue to flip through the Orioles' season-in-review and wonder why, in this version, Nolan Reimold has the bad back and Felix Pie injures his Achilles... (OK, not really) • The Orioles were 29-21 in one-run games, including 12-5 under manager Buck Showalter and an astounding 22-6 at Camden Yards. Minnesota led the AL with 31 one-run victories. Texas had 30. • The Orioles were 11-21 in games decided by two...
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Reminders about the season

Reminders about the season
My Orioles postseason media guide just arrived in the mail. Spoiler alert: In this version, they make the playoffs. Flipping through the pages, provided by the Orioles' first-rate PR staff, I'm reminded that: • The Orioles won 34 games from the start of August through the end of the season, the most since 1996, when they won 35 games on their way to the Division Series and ALCS. • The Orioles won 34 games after suffering their...
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J.J.'s a Super Two (updated)

J.J.'s a Super Two (updated)
Bodog has made the New York Yankees a 4/1 favorite to win the World Series next year. The Giants are 10/1 to repeat. The Orioles are 75/1, but that's better than five other teams. Of course, you can't get a true read on a team until Opening Day. Rosters are a long way from being set. New York Yankees 4/1 Philadelphia Phillies 6/1 Boston Red Sox 10/1 San Francisco Giants 10/1 St. Louis Cardinals ...
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Mata clears waivers; this and that (updated)

Mata clears waivers; this and that (updated)
I have a few items to pass along on this rainy day, starting with the sad news that Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson died today as a result of complications from dementia. He was 76. RIP Captain Hook. Reliever Frank Mata cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. He's taken off the 40-man roster to make room for pitcher Jason Berken, who was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. And you thought today would be void of news. Update: I should mention that Mata becomes a...
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Another chance at LaRoche

Another chance at LaRoche
Did anyone watch "Modern Family" last night? The smoke detector kept chirping. The guy finally destroys them all with a baton. I could relate. The Orioles are in the market for a first baseman and a bat that can launch baseballs onto the flagcourt. They were interested in Adam LaRoche last winter and made an offer comparable to the one he accepted from the Arizona Diamondbacks - one year, $6 million. Arizona declined to pick up LaRoche's $7.5 million option for next season, choosing...
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Kirby joining staff

Kirby joining staff
An industry source confirmed that Wayne Kirby has agreed to become the Orioles' first base coach, nearly completing manager Buck Showalter's staff for 2011. It's been later rather than sooner, but it's almost done. The Sun cited a source earlier today while reporting that the Orioles came to terms with Kirby, who also will work with the outfielders. I sought out former manager Mike Hargrove's opinion of Kirby a few days ago. You can review it right here. It looks like we're down to...
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Sad news about Sparky

Sad news about Sparky
I'm not sure if anyone saw this story about former manager Sparky Anderson, who's been placed in hospice care at his Thousand Oaks, Calif. home for complications resulting from dementia. It's sad to know that Anderson's life is winding down in this manner. Though he never managed the Orioles, he's also a vivid part of my childhood sports memories. How many times have we seen video of his rant following "the call" by plate umpire Ken Burkhart in Game 1 of the 1970 World Series? It's...
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Berken is workin' on his shoulder

Berken is workin' on his shoulder
Orioles reliever Jason Berken and his wife, Emily, spent a week in Aruba before returning to their Atlanta home a few days ago. Now the work begins. Berken started an exercise program on Monday as part of his rehab from a torn labrum that ended his season on Aug. 12. He's strengthening the shoulder in preparation for a throwing program that will begin, as it normally does, in late December or early January. It's a good sign that Berken is holding to his usual schedule. He expects to be...
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Hendrickson's officially a free agent

Hendrickson's officially a free agent
That didn't take long. The Orioles declined to pick up reliever Mark Hendrickson's option for 2011, which officially makes him their seventh free agent. Hendrickson went 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA in 52 games covering 75 1/3 innings. Hendrickson, 36, wants to return next season. He's a York, Pa. resident who likes pitching close to home. I won't say the ship has sailed because I've been wrong before when using that analogy.
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Next up: free agency

Next up: free agency
About 12 seconds after the final out was recorded in Game 5 of the World Series, officially ending the 2010 season, the Major League Baseball Players Association released the names of 142 players who had become free agents. Why the holdup? Glaus, Troy 1B AT Hinske, Eric OF AT Lee, Derrek 1B AT Benson, Kris SP AZ Hampton, Mike ...
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Kranitz officially gone

Kranitz officially gone
It's been rumored and speculated for weeks that Mark Connor would replace Rick Kranitz as pitching coach. The Orioles haven't made any announcements, but Kranitz today was hired as the Houston Astros' minor league pitching coordinator. You can check out an article about Kranitz's new job right here. Kranitz appeared to be a candidate to join Joe Girardi's staff in New York, but it's not going to happen. "Rick adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to our development system,"...
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Naka...Naka...not gonna be fooled again

Naka...Naka...not gonna be fooled again
That's it. The joke has finally run its course. As a few readers pointed out - and thanks for the heads-up - Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima isn't being posted, so he can't come to the U.S. That's twice that the Seibu Lions' ownership nixed the idea. I think we can finally end the dance. NPB Tracker sent out another tweet earlier this afternoon that read: "In the what's become a quite banal dialog, Seibu again denies Nakajima's posting appeals" Two strikes and you're...
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