Roch Kubatko

Venting machine

April 02, 2010, 12:43pm

Please tell me why I'm forced to watch the San Diego-Washington game on FOX-45, instead of the Dallas-Philadelphia matchup that's much more interesting and important? Who's the pinhead behind that decision? Is it coming from the network or the league? I need answers. I want his name and home address. I know we're supposed to be slobbering all over the Ravens today, but my television comes with a remote. Dallas-Philly is a big game. I wanted to switch back and forth. It's what I do on...

Delgado debuts

April 02, 2010, 12:42pm

Carlos Delgado made his long-awaited debut tonight in the Puerto Rican Winter League, going 1-for-4 while batting fourth as the designated hitter for Gigantes de Carolina. That's good enough for me. Sign him. Kidding. I don't want a singles hitter batting cleanup for the Orioles. Again, kidding. We'll judge him later in the month. More important, the Orioles will do so after scouting him. Lou Montanez's team, Criollos de Caguas, provided the opposition, but he hasn't played since...

Springing forward

April 02, 2010, 12:41pm

While wondering if Gilbert Arenas simply misunderstood what his coach meant by a morning shootaround... I've got about six more weeks before I fly into the Sarasota airport with a look of confusion and angst on my face. I don't know how to fly a plane. Actually, it's because my comfort zone for spring training will be gone. I'll feel lost for a while, not knowing the best routes to my hotel, the ballpark, a bar that's still serving at 2 a.m. It's never too early for me to stress out....

Springing forward - Part II

April 02, 2010, 12:41pm

If you missed it, former Oriole John Parrish signed a minor league deal with the Royals. Here's hoping that Parrish doesn't report to spring training in a body cast. Also, ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the Cardinals and outfielder Matt Holliday are close to a deal, which has pretty much been the word around baseball today. And SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that the Red Sox are nearing an agreement with third baseman Adrian Beltre. I walked outside earlier today and noticed an...

In the news...

April 02, 2010, 12:40pm

Gilbert Arenas claims that he brought guns into the Wizards' locker room so he could play a joke on a teammate. The Wizards should claim they were only joking when they gave him that $111 million contract. Carlos Delgado went 2-for-4 with a strikeout last night in the Puerto Rican Winter League. He batted fourth again as the designated hitter. I find it amusing that Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa posted a message on Twitter last week. Times really have changed. We've been trying to drag...

Dwindling market for LaRoche?

April 02, 2010, 12:39pm

The Orioles need a corner infielder, and first baseman Adam LaRoche looks like the most appealing option among the free agents on the market. ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that LaRoche turned down the Giants' two-year, $17 million offer. At least he hasn't panicked yet. Olney speculates (and that's all he's doing here) that the Giants and Orioles are the only potential suitors for LaRoche. The Orioles aren't likely to exceed San Francisco's offer, but by allowing the market to - brace...

Alomar's HOF credentials

April 02, 2010, 12:38pm

Is ESPN really coming out with a 3-D channel? I can't wait for the network to launch ESPN-Boxer Briefs, the first channel that requires you to strip down before watching. (I don't count late-night Cinemax.) The latest Hall of Fame inductees will be announced today at 2 p.m., and I'm predicting that Roberto Alomar is elected on the first ballot. Alomar won a record 10 Gold Gloves at second base in 11 years, along with four Silver Slugger Awards. In 17 seasons, he totaled 2,724 hits, 210...

Alomar not elected

April 02, 2010, 12:37pm

Andre Dawson was voted into the Hall of Fame today, but Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were left on the outside. Dawson will be honored along with manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, who were elected last month by the Veterans Committee. Candidates must receive 75 percent of the votes for election. Blyleven and Alomar narrowly missed, so look for them to make it next year. Andre Dawson - 420 - 77.9% Bert Blyleven - 400 - 74.2% Roberto Alomar - 397 - 73.7% Jack Morris - 282...

Hoiles talks about Alomar

April 02, 2010, 12:36pm

Like many of us, former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles believes that Roberto Alomar belongs in the Hall of Fame, noting that his old teammate might be the best second baseman to play the game. "I played against him when he was in Toronto prior to coming over to Baltimore, and you knew he was a good player," Hoiles said earlier today. "He was the guy you didn't want to come up to the plate with the game on the line. But when we got him, you really got a true sense of the type of player he...

The Orioles' side of the story

April 02, 2010, 12:32pm

Orioles director of international scouting John Stockstill told me late last night that the club has "evaluators" at the Dominican Prospect League who are "reporting to us on a regular basis." Stockstill described the league as "basically a showcase" of Dominican teenage players who weren't drafted. It's largely gone unnoticed among fans here until ESPN.com ran a story yesterday with agent Brian Mejia noting how the Orioles and White Sox haven't had a regular presence at games. Sound...

Minor league staffs

April 02, 2010, 12:31pm

Gary Allenson returns for his fifth season as manager at Triple-A Norfolk. Mike Griffin returns as pitching coach, but former Single-A Frederick manager Richie Hebner has replaced Dallas Williams as field coach. Former Norfolk pitching coach Larry McCall drops down to rookie-level Bluefield. And you'll recognize some familiar names at Single-A Delmarva. Here's the complete list: Norfolk: Gary Allenson (manager) Mike Griffin (pitching coach) Richie Hebner (field coach) Bowie: Brad...

Minor promotion

April 02, 2010, 12:30pm

After two years as field coach at Single-A Delmarva, Ryan Minor is getting the opportunity to manage. And he'll feel right at home despite limited experience in the role, since he lives in Salisbury and has a short commute to the ballpark. Minor has managed in the instructional league, so he's not a total stranger to the job. Otherwise, he's served as a coach for the York Revolution under former manager Chris Hoiles and offered hitting tips and other instruction with the Shorebirds. "I...

Minor achievement on Sept. 20, 1998

April 02, 2010, 12:29pm

Another rumor for me to chase: I hear Tom Brady's baby wanted to bounce on daddy's knee, and he drew a 15-yard penalty. I'm playing a hunch here, but I bet Ryan Minor's legacy in baseball won't have anything to do with being hired as Delmarva's manager. It has to be his tenure as a York Revolution coach. Or maybe - just maybe - it will be the night he replaced Cal Ripken at third base. On Sept. 20, 1998, Ripken walked into manager Ray Miller's office at Camden Yards and voluntarily...

Interest remains in Delgado

April 02, 2010, 12:26pm

The Orioles will send representatives to Puerto Rico next week to scout Carlos Delgado, who recently began playing for Gigantes de Carolina. Delgado hit his first home run last night, a solo shot in the eighth inning, and collected his first two RBIs. He's batting .364. The Orioles tried to scout him in Puerto Rico earlier this winter, but he wasn't ready to play. Delgado has been serving as the designated hitter, but the Orioles consider him an option at first base. They also have...

Here's the pitch...

April 02, 2010, 12:09pm

The Orioles are looking to add pitching. Any kind of pitching. It doesn't have to be a starter, though adjusting the rotation again remains a possibility. "I would say right now we'd like to add a corner infielder, but we don't really have to because we can go internally if we need to. But we're still looking at that," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "And we're still looking at any pitching where we think it would be an improvement." The club remains open to...

Orioles this, Orioles that

April 02, 2010, 12:08pm

While wondering how Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson failed to receive a single MVP vote... The Orioles aren't going to sign a full-time designated hitter as long as Luke Scott remains on the roster. And while he's a trade chip who has generated interest among a few teams - including the Mariners before they acquired Casey Kotchman - the Orioles aren't actively shopping him. They want to add another corner infielder, but they don't have much interest in Mike Lowell. He's been...

Montanez and Pie

April 02, 2010, 12:05pm

Lou Montanez apparently has completed his stay in the Puerto Rican Winter League after 28 games. Montanez batted .324 with 10 doubles, one triple, three homers and 13 RBIs for Criollos de Caguas. His last at-bats came on Dec. 29. "I think he played to the extent that he wanted to play. He did what he was supposed to do," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "Now he's going to work out and get ready for spring training." Montanez's spot on the 40-man roster appears to be...

Chapman off the board? (updated)

April 02, 2010, 12:05pm

If you predicted that Ray Rice would average 83 yards per carry today, you're looking pretty smart right now. Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has agreed to a $30 million deal with a National League club, according to a tweet from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports. That's an impressive sum for a pitcher who brings such mixed reviews. Some teams love him, others question his character and whether he can be a starter in the majors. Some teams think he's ready right now, others think he isn't...

Cleaning out my notebook

April 02, 2010, 12:04pm

Did Randy Moss play yesterday? The guy looked so bored, I was waiting for him to send a text message while running a route. Does it make anyone else feel old that Otis Nixon celebrated his 51st birthday over the weekend? Then again, he looked 51 during his rookie season. Aubrey Huff reportedly has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, further reducing the number of possible destinations for Adam LaRoche. LaRoche turned down the Giants' two-year, $17 million...

Selig's response to McGwire

April 02, 2010, 12:03pm

Commissioner Bud Selig has issued a statement regarding Mark McGwire's admission today that the former slugger used steroids. The statement doesn't begin with, "It's about time." "I am pleased that Mark McGwire has confronted his use of performance-enhancing substances as a player. Being truthful is always the correct course of action, which is why I had commissioned Senator George Mitchell to conduct his investigation. This statement of contrition, I believe, will make Mark's reentry...