Roch Kubatko

Showalter shut out

November 17, 2010, 9:04am

Orioles

Ron Gardenhire has been named the American League's Manager of the Year, finishing ahead of Ron Washington by 27 points. Buck Showalter didn't receive a single vote. He was a little late jumping into the pool. Here are the results: Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins 108 Ron Washington, Texas Rangers 81 Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays 44 Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox 13 Cito Gaston, Toronto Blue Jays 5 Joe Girardi, New York Yankees 1 Bud Black edged Dusty Baker by one point...

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Showalter's chances in Manager of Year voting

November 17, 2010, 1:42am

Orioles

Showalter's chances in Manager of Year voting

If you play Japanese Fantasy Baseball, former Orioles pitcher Hayden Penn remains eligible for your draft. He re-signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines. Penn was victimized by more bizarre physical setbacks than any player I've covered. Three immediately come to mind: Sprained ankle while carrying boxes down steps at spring training, appendectomy, impaled by piece of broken bat. He wasn't attacked by sharks on Fort Lauderdale Beach, so his luck occasionally changed for the better. Does...

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Sarfate headed to Japan?

November 16, 2010, 1:04pm

Orioles

Former Orioles reliever Dennis Sarfate is currently in negotiations with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League and could be taking his professional career in a new direction - one that leads outside the U.S. No deal has been reached, but he's considering a move to Japan and a fresh start. Sarfate became a minor league free agent and declined a chance to stay in the Orioles' organization after they failed to purchase his contract during the summer. He went 2-2...

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Odds and ends

November 16, 2010, 9:44am

Orioles

Earlier today, Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay became the fifth pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in each league, and the 16th multiple winner. Here's the final voting: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies 224 Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals 122 Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies 90 Tim Hudson, Atlanta Braves 39 Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins 34 Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros/Philadelphia Phillies 14 Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants 7 Heath Bell, San Diego Padres 4 Mat Latos, San...

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More on the coaching staff

November 16, 2010, 1:58am

Orioles

The National League's Cy Young winner will be announced this afternoon, so collect the rest of the money in your office pools and get ready. The AL and NL Managers of the Year will be announced tomorrow, followed by the AL Cy Young winner on Thursday, the NL Most Valuable Player on Monday and the AL MVP next Tuesday. Plan accordingly. Following up on yesterday's discussion about John Russell and Willie Randolph, I received a phone call late last night - and by "late," I mean that I was...

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T-Bone joining Brewers

November 15, 2010, 1:23pm

Orioles

John "T-Bone" Shelby has joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization as an outfield instructor/eye in the sky, according to a team press release. You can read more right here. Shelby was the Orioles' first base and outfield coach for the last three seasons, but he'll be replaced by Wayne Kirby. Shelby won't be in uniform for games. The eye-in-the-sky title, similar to the one Brian Graham held with the Orioles under former manager Mike Hargrove, dictates that you sit in the press box or a...

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Is Randolph the final coaching piece?

November 15, 2010, 10:32am

Orioles

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...

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Feliz top AL rookie

November 15, 2010, 9:04am

Orioles

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...

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Will Matusz be the AL's top rookie?

November 15, 2010, 2:07am

Orioles

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...

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Burning your fingers on the hot corner

November 14, 2010, 5:02am

Orioles

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...

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More 'penned up emotions

November 13, 2010, 5:23am

Orioles

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...

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Showalter still searching

November 12, 2010, 1:40am

Orioles

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...

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Could two coaching vacancies become three?

November 11, 2010, 1:49pm

Orioles

Could two coaching vacancies become three?

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...

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Samuel joins Phillies

November 11, 2010, 9:24am

Orioles

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...

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This, that and the other

November 11, 2010, 3:03am

Orioles

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...

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O's minor league free agents

November 10, 2010, 11:57am

Orioles

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),...

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Bordick's waiting like everyone else

November 10, 2010, 7:03am

Orioles

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...

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Honey, I shrunk the ballpark (updated)

November 10, 2010, 1:45am

Orioles

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...

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AL Gold Glove winners

November 09, 2010, 10:55am

Orioles

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...

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Answering the Nishioka question

November 09, 2010, 9:32am

Orioles

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...