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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Projected lineup for 2014

Projected lineup for 2014
As Steve Melewski mentioned in his blog earlier today, Baseball America came out with its Top 10 list of Orioles prospects, and it may or may not surprise you that shortstop Manny Machado is No. 1 without playing a full season of professional ball. Did he play a full week? The rest of the list reads as follows: 1. Manny Machado, ss 2. Zach Britton, lhp 3. Xavier Avery, of 4. L.J. Hoes, 2b 5. Dan Klein, rhp 6. Wynn Pelzer, rhp 7. Mychal Givens, ss 8. Ryan Adams, 2b/3b 9. Ryan Berry,...
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Hargrove offers his opinion on Kirby

Hargrove offers his opinion on Kirby
I woke up shivering this morning and noticed that my thermostat read 62 degrees. But I will not turn on the heat. I will, however, start wearing a little more clothing to bed. But you don't really need to know that, do you? Did anyone pick the Giants back in spring training to win the World Series this year? The starting pitching was impressive, but I kept hearing how they didn't have enough offense. Apparently, they have enough offense. Perhaps the Orioles will announce their coaching...
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Deciding the top DH for 2010

Deciding the top DH for 2010
The Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award will be presented next month, which makes sense, considering that we're down to our final day of this month. Happy Halloween. The two leading candidates are Vladimir Guerrero and David Ortiz. One player looked like he was finished and didn't draw a tremendous amount of interest on the free agent market. The other player looked like he was finished once the season began and dealt with all sorts of speculation about being benched or...
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Naka...Naka...not gonna give up

Naka...Naka...not gonna give up
Just when you thought it was safe... You'll recall that I passed along a tweet yesterday from Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker that said Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima wouldn't be posted, and therefore wouldn't be allowed to play in the majors next season. Here's the latest tweet - I just pounded my fist on the kitchen table - from Newman: "Despite announcement, Nakajima not giving up on posting, wants to talk with Seibu mgmt again" So Nakajima might still be in play, though his...
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An entirely new staff in 2011?

An entirely new staff in 2011?
The early projections among members of the media had manager Buck Showalter keeping a few of the holdovers on his coaching staff and going outside the organization to fill the remaining spots. As the process dragged out, reporters began to wonder whether most, if not all, of the coaches on the Orioles' payroll would return. As you survey the landscape this morning, it's fair to assume that no one is coming back. We'll know for sure once the Orioles make a formal announcement - with the...
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Presley to be named hitting coach

Presley to be named hitting coach
The Orioles aren't ready to announce their coaching staff, but Jim Presley is set to replace Terry Crowley as hitting coach. An industry source said it's a done deal, though Presley has received offers from "two or three clubs." This news coincides with an early report from MLB.com. Manager Buck Showalter, driving back to Baltimore from the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., would only confirm that Presley is among "two or three guys" on the final list. Crowley has offered his...
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Naka...Naka...not coming to the U.S.

Naka...Naka...not coming to the U.S.
That's probably the last time I can use this joke for a while. You're officially spared. According to a tweet from Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima won't be posted. That means he won't be free to sign with a major league team. The tweet - there's that word again- reads as follows: "Official -- Nakajima posting denied" The Orioles were counted among the teams that scouted Nakajima multiple times. I wrote about it here.
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