It looks like John Russell is the choice as bench coach, according to a few people I've contacted in the organization. But he hasn't signed a contract, so nothing is official at this point.
That would be too simple.
The Sun posted a report on its web site earlier this afternoon that manager Buck Showalter had selected Russell after meeting with him Friday at Camden Yards.
Russell was a late entrant, so it must have been one heck of a meeting.
Assuming that Russell sticks around and...
Rangers closer Neftali Feliz was named the American League's Rookie of the year today in voting conducted by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Feliz saved 40 games for the Rangers, a major league record for a rookie. He received 20 first place votes, seven second and one third for a total of 122 points.
Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson finished second, followed by Minnesota's Danny Valencia.
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz received three third-place votes to finish...
We'll find out later today whether left-hander Brian Matusz has been voted as the American League's Rookie of the Year.
If baseball handed out second-half awards, he'd be a slam dunk.
Matusz finished 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA and led AL rookies with 32 starts, 143 strikeouts and 175 2/3 innings. He ranked second in opponents' average at .255 and was tied for second in wins and third in ERA.
Matusz went 7-1 with a 2.11 ERA in his last 11 starts covering 64 innings. That's how you leave an...
I'm packed and getting ready to head back home after a nice, relaxing, food-filled weekend in Ocean Pines.
The general manager meetings - not to be confused with the organizational, owners and winter meetings - take place Tuesday and Wednesday in Orlando. They're regarded as a primer for the winter meetings. Parameters of deals are discussed and executives vow to resume talks next month. They also eat lunch.
These meetings could be more important now than previous years because president of...
I've emerged from my food coma, though I sense that another one is on the way. These weekends in Ocean Pines don't come without certain risks.
The Sun is reporting that former Pirates manager John Russell interviewed with Buck Showalter yesterday. He could fill the role of bench or third base coach, and he's a former catcher.
It's another name to toss into the pile.
Gary Allenson would have to consider that managing job at Triple-A Norfolk if Russell is hired, because the Orioles don't...
I was checking stats and results from the Dominican Winter League yesterday and noticed that Nerio Rodriguez allowed one unearned run and one hit over six innings in Leones del Escogido's victory on Wednesday.
Yes, that Nerio Rodriguez. There couldn't possibly be two.
Oscar Salazar homered Wednesday for La Guaira of the Venezuelan Winter League. The irony would have come if he connected off Cla Meredith.
Anyone up for another coaching entry?
Oh come on, you live for these moments. Your...
The Orioles thought their coaching staff was completed with Juan Samuel returning to third base and Don Wakamatsu taking a seat in the dugout beside manager Buck Showalter, and you know how that scenario turned out. Wakamatsu agreed to become the Blue Jays' bench coach and Samuel was hired as the Phillies' third base coach and outfield instructor.
Four slots are currently filled, but there are growing concerns that the Orioles could lose bullpen coach Rick Adair, who might be coveted as a...
The MLB Network just ran a scroll informing viewers that the Phillies have hired Juan Samuel as third base coach and outfield instructor.
Outfield?
Let me explain.
Former Orioles coach and manager Sam Perlozzo will move to the first base box. He's one of baseball's most respected infield instructors, which explains why Samuel will be assigned to the outfielders.
Samuel was expected to stay in the Orioles' organization and resume his duties as third base coach, but he couldn't pass up an...
I don't like the Ravens on the road in a short week.
I'm just saying...
The Mets reportedly are hoping to name a new manager by the winter meetings.
The winter meetings? Other teams are making their hires and moving forward, and the Mets keep dragging their feet. Such an embarrassment. Why can't they be like other organizations. This is Metland!
OK, sorry.
Actually, frustrated fans probably refer to it as Metlife, which works for me.
I've seen a report stating that free-agent first...
You can always count on Baseball America's Matt Eddy to provide the latest minor league transactions. He compiled a list of all the free agents, which includes 22 members of the Orioles' organization in 2010:
RHP: Jose Diaz (AA), Jose Duran (A), Frank Mata (AAA), Bob McCrory (AA), Jim Miller (AAA), Andy Mitchell (AAA), Josh Perrault (AA), Bruno Sanchez (SS), Dennis Sarfate (AAA)
LHP: Chris George (AAA), Mike Hinckley (AAA), Wilfrido Perez (AA)
C: Zach Booker (AA), Phillip Britton (AAA),...
I just got off the phone with former shortstop Mike Bordick, one of my all-time favorite players that I've covered on the Orioles' beat. They don't come much better than him, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a teammate or reporter who would disagree.
Would Cal Ripken move to third base for just anyone?
Not so fast, Mr. Alexander. Back of the line, Mr. Bell.
Bordick attended the organizational meetings in Arizona last week and never was approached about the possibility of joining manager...
Update: According to a press release, the Orioles and Delaware North Companies Sportservice today announced a 12-year partnership in which the global hospitality management company will provide food, beverage and retail merchandise services at Camden Yards.
Sportservice will manage all concessions, catering, dining operations and retail stores and kiosks within the ballpark, including Eutaw St. The Orioles and Sportservice will collaborate on an $11 million project to redesign and enhance the...
You already know that the Orioles were shut out this year.
Here are the American League winners:
P - Mark Buehrle, Chicago, (2)
C - Joe Mauer, Minnesota, (3)
1B - Mark Teixeira, N.Y. (4)
2B - Robinson Cano, N.Y. (1)
3B - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay, (2)
SS - Derek Jeter, N.Y., (5)
OF - Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay, (1)
OF - Franklin Gutierrez, Seattle, (1)
OF - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, (10)
Grady Sizemore's health issues again knocked him out of the competition, but there was no room for Adam Jones...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
