Roch Kubatko

When the going gets tough, the Trembley gets tougher

April 02, 2010, 1:43pm

One of the heavy points of emphasis in spring training will be reducing the amount of "careless giveaways" on the bases, according to manager Dave Trembley. Players should beware if they don't get the message. Dave Trembley on the emphasis on baserunning and how he'll change as a manager Trembley already suggested late in the season that he'll be more inclined to drop the hammer in 2010. Mistakes won't be as easily forgiven. And he said earlier today that some guys could be "on the...

Trembley talk

April 02, 2010, 1:42pm

Outfielder Felix Pie is supposed to start playing in the Dominican next month. Asked whether he foresees Pie getting the bulk of the playing time in left field next season, with Nolan Reimold serving as the designated hitter, manager Dave Trembley hesitated before replying: "I think it's a nice thing to be able to sort out, especially the way Pie played the second half of the season. I know there's a lot of interest in Pie. You've got to like what Reimold did. You've still got Luke...

Quick hits from Trembley

April 02, 2010, 1:39pm

I'll go more in-depth later, but I wanted to take a few seconds to review some highlights from manager Dave Trembley's session with the media. Dave Trembley talks with Roch Kubatko from the MLB Winter Meetings - Trembley's priorities for the team remain, in no particular order, a starting pitcher, closer, first baseman and third baseman. - He still believes the Orioles can obtain a big bat for the middle of the lineup (and he prefers a right-handed one), despite the weak free-agent...

Let's all go to the lobby

April 02, 2010, 1:38pm

Orioles

The small lobby area at the Marriott is packed with reporters, baseball executives and managers. The Christmas tree in the middle is taking up valuable space, and I've almost run into it twice. Members of the print and electronic media are constantly checking their BlackBerry's for the latest updates and contradictions. For instance, the New York Post reported that left-hander Andy Pettitte has turned down a one-year offer from the Yankees. The Daily News shot back that no offer has been...

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Orioles winter meetings

Chapman update

April 02, 2010, 1:37pm

The Orioles will meet with the representatives for Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman before leaving Indianapolis. They've had discussions with Alan Hendricks over the past few weeks in sort of a start-over process after Chapman switched agents. The Orioles aren't expected to sign Chapman, but they haven't closed any doors. Here's where it gets complicated: Owner Peter Angelos recently confirmed interest via an AP story in playing another exhibition game in Cuba. It would be difficult to...

Heading to Cooperstown

April 02, 2010, 1:36pm

Not me. You couldn't pry me out of Indianapolis with a crowbar. Manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey have been elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Herzog, who led the Kansas City Royals to three straight American League West titles from 1976-78 before leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title and the 1985 and 1987 NL pennants, received 14 of 16 votes. Harvey, who worked National League games for 31 seasons and was named to six All-Star...

Good morning from Indy

April 02, 2010, 1:36pm

I ran into manager Dave Trembley last night as he was coming up the escalator of the Westin hotel with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Well, not literally. He didn't take a charge. But it was an unexpected meeting. Trembley looks tanned and rested - and we assume he's ready. He's lost about 17 pounds and is looking to shed a few more. According to the New York Post, plenty of baseball executives expect the Orioles and Mariners to be big spenders this winter. I believe...

Koji update

April 02, 2010, 1:35pm

Koji Uehara received permission from doctors to begin playing catch back home in Japan. Uehara is recovering from a torn tendon in his right elbow that ended his season early. It might not sound like much, but we're still two months away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Uehara told one of the Japanese reporters here that he'll do whatever the Orioles want - start, close, set-up. The Orioles don't appear to have any plans to insert Uehara in the rotation....

And so it continues...

April 02, 2010, 1:35pm

My Southwest flight was booked, and it seemed like most of the passengers were headed to the Winter Meetings. Andy MacPhail is already here, and Matt Klentak, John Stockstill and David Stockstill arrived today. MASNsports.com's Phil Wood and Dan Kolko, The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck, FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, The Washington Post's Dave Sheinin and USA Today's Mel Antonen made up the media contingent. A scout from another organization was pushing for the Orioles to dip into...

And so it begins...

April 02, 2010, 1:34pm

Arriving at your gate at 9:30 a.m. for an 11:45 a.m. flight isn't recommended, but I'm a people-watcher and this is the ideal place for it. It also gives me a chance to gripe about the lousy internet service. I've been disconnected four times already and No. 5 is on the way. A man working security at the Southwest terminal asked if I was heading to "the game." I had no idea what he meant until he referenced the Ravens and Packers. "Don't you do TV stuff?" he asked. Yes, but I'd...

This, that and the other

April 02, 2010, 1:33pm

Show of hands if you "get" the title of last night's entry - The wisdom of bringing back Moeller. Or maybe you have to be a dentist. I'm packing my laptop with all the winter meeting necessities, and I just found an old notepad that contains enough clean pages to be useful. As I was flipping through it, I discovered some questions that I had scribbled down for one of the Orioles' new acquisitions. I wanted Jaret Wright's reaction to the trade, and to learn more about his relationship...

The wisdom of bringing back Moeller

April 02, 2010, 1:33pm

The last few weeks have been hectic and rewarding for catcher Chad Moeller. His wife, Nicole, gave birth to the couple's third child (and second son), Cash Benjamin, on Nov. 23. And earlier today, Moeller and the Orioles reached agreement on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. The Orioles declined Moeller's $850,000 option so they could remove him from the 40-man roster, but they also made it clear that they wanted him to stay in the organization. And...

Moeller signs

April 02, 2010, 1:32pm

As expected, catcher Chad Moeller has agreed to terms on a minor league deal that includes a spring training invite. Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, confirmed the signing, which was reported earlier today by The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec. The Orioles declined Moeller's $850,000 option to create room on the 40-man roster, but they wanted him back. He's regarded as the frontrunner to serve as Matt Wieters' backup next season.

Rummaging through my notebook

April 02, 2010, 1:32pm

Carlos Delgado hasn't started playing for Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League. The Orioles still intend to scout him later this month unless they find another first baseman. I exchanged emails with Delgago's agent, David Sloane, who said he won't be making any comments regarding negotiations. Nothing personal. It's just in his client's best interests. Sloane, who won't be attending the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, sent out mass emails to reporters that provided...

Not getting Miggy with it - Part II

April 02, 2010, 1:30pm

It doesn't appear that the Orioles will be making any moves prior to the Winter Meetings that begin on Monday. It's safe to leave the house. I'm still not getting any indication that the Orioles are serious players for free agent Miguel Tejada. They're not in a position to rule out anything at this stage, but I'm told they're far more likely to go in another direction while trying to find a replacement for third baseman Melvin Mora. The Tejada talk has mostly been speculative, which...

Let's get excited, or at least try

April 02, 2010, 1:29pm

I want to go the rest of the day without hearing Tigers Woods' name. That's my modest goal. I'll sign off this subject by again pointing out that Woods turned a circus into a bigger circus by fending off the police for three days and chastising the media for starting rumors. And he's still venting about "tabloid scrutiny," even though at least part of the story proved to be true. You know, the infidelity part. At least that's the assumption after he sort of admitted to something...

Orioles announce 2010 Spring Training schedule

April 02, 2010, 1:28pm

The Orioles announced their 2010 spring training schedule earlier today. Pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout on Thursday, Feb. 18. The first full-squad workout will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The Orioles will hold a team workout at Ed Smith Stadium on Sunday, April 4 and a workout at Tropicana Field on Monday, April 5 prior to their 2010 Opening Day game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, April 6 in St. Petersburg. Individual tickets for all 16 spring training...

The rumor Millwood

April 02, 2010, 1:27pm

I didn't fall asleep until 2:30 a.m. and woke up for the last time at 6:05 a.m., so I'm trying not to bump into anything as I stumble around this blog. FOXSports reported earlier this week that the Orioles contacted the Texas Rangers regarding pitcher Kevin Millwood. Talks weren't considered serious, according to one source. The Rangers are looking to unload Millwood's $12 million salary for next season. I don't anticipate that the Orioles will be the team absorbing it, but there's...

In the news...

April 02, 2010, 1:26pm

We're still a little over six hours from the midnight deadline for teams to offer arbitration to their free agents, and nothing has changed with the Orioles. They're not going to do it. "Very unlikely" is how one person described it. That's good enough for me. I'm fully prepared to go to bed at 11:45 p.m. without having to make a mad dash for the laptop. Yankees manager Joe Girardi volunteered to be a special guest instructor to teach Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez how to...

MacPhail talks about Krivsky's departure

April 02, 2010, 1:26pm

Orioles special assistant Wayne Krivsky recently became the sixth member of the organization that an opposing team requested permission to interview for a job opening, and the third to leave for a better opportunity. "I would say we must be doing something right," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. Dave Hollins accepted a scouting position with the Phillies, and Midwest crosschecker Deron Rombach was named national crosschecker for the Braves. The Orioles denied...