Roch Kubatko

Minor achievement on Sept. 20, 1998

Minor achievement on Sept. 20, 1998
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Interest remains in Delgado

Interest remains in Delgado
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Here's the pitch...

Here's the pitch...
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Orioles this, Orioles that

Orioles this, Orioles that
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Montanez and Pie

Montanez and Pie
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Chapman off the board? (updated)

Chapman off the board? (updated)
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Cleaning out my notebook

Cleaning out my notebook
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Selig's response to McGwire

Selig's response to McGwire
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...
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Roch Kubatko

Bordick school

Bordick school
As the Orioles' new minor league offensive coordinator, former shortstop Mike Bordick won't be wearing a headset and implementing the shotgun. And I won't be making any Gilbert Arenas jokes. Bordick will teach the small-ball approach to some impressionable youngsters, while also being available to assist in other areas, such as defense and baserunning. His methods will meld with those belonging to roving hitting instructor Denny Walling. Bordick addressed this topic, among others, during...
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Roch Kubatko

Bordick school - Part II

Bordick school - Part II
Here are a few leftovers from Friday night's interview with new minor league offensive coordinator Mike Bordick: On how the Orioles look to him: "They're looking good, in my opinion. And obviously, after the season they had last year, there's really only one way to go and that's up. I know the competition in the East is tough. The other teams aren't getting any worse, but I think the talent's there, I think the pieces are in place. I think (Kevin) Millwood's a huge help. (Add) maybe a...
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Roch Kubatko

A few spring training tidbits

A few spring training tidbits
The Orioles' pitchers and catchers report to their new spring training home in Sarasota on Feb. 17, with the first workout being held the following day. The first full-squad workout, including position players, takes places on Feb. 23. Four teams in the American League (Royals, Angels, Yankees, Mariners) and seven in the National League (Cubs, Reds, Rockies, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, Giants) have the same report dates as the Orioles. No team will arrive earlier. Individual tickets for...
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Roch Kubatko

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
Carlos Delgado went 1-for-4 last night and is batting .304. He started at first base and didn't break a hip. Delgado was removed for a pinch-runner in the seventh inning, which could explain the hip thing. The Blue Jays reportedly are keeping close watch on Delgado, and it would be interesting to have him back in Toronto with new play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez, his former manager. One of the more popular questions here centers on the FanFest lineup. I addressed it three or four times...
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Roch Kubatko

Quick Hill update

Quick Hill update
Left-hander Rich Hill expects to sign a contract today or tomorrow, and he hasn't formally eliminated the Orioles from consideration after they offered him a minor league deal. "Not yet," he said. However, Hill indicated that one team might be willing to give him a major league contract. If that's the case, you can cross the Orioles off his list. "I've talked with a number of teams," he said, "and I think there are some good opportunities out there. That's where it's at right...
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Roch Kubatko

Random thoughts

Random thoughts
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson doesn't receive a single MVP vote, but he's named AP's Offensive Player of the Year? Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is named MVP, but he's not the AP's Offensive Player of the Year? A little help, please. Your daily Carlos Delgado update: He went 0-for-2 with a run scored as the designated hitter before being removed for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. A pinch-hitter? Catcher Bengie Molina reportedly is close to signing a...
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Roch Kubatko

LaRoche off the board?

LaRoche off the board?
The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached agreement on a one-year deal with free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to this tweet from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Does this make sense? LaRoche reportedly turned down a two-year, $17 million offer from the Giants to sign for one year with the Diamondbacks. Maybe he's banking on a big season so he can test the market again next winter. The Orioles weren't going to offer more than one year, which seemed to take them...
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Roch Kubatko

FanFest update (with an update)

FanFest update (with an update)
More than 60 current, former and future (hopefully) Orioles players and coaches will participate in FanFest on Jan. 23 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with 10 a.m. entry for season-plan holders. Players expected to attend include MATT ALBERS, ROBERT ANDINO, GARRETT ATKINS, MICHAEL AUBREY, JOSH BELL, BRAD BERGESEN, JASON BERKEN, ALBERTO CASTILLO, BRANDON ERBE, MIKE GONZALEZ, JEREMY GUTHRIE, DAVID HERNANDEZ, RHYNE HUGHES, JIM JOHNSON, ADAM JONES, NICK...
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Roch Kubatko

Orioles scouting Delgado

Orioles scouting Delgado
It isn't much, but this will have to pass as news: The Orioles sent a representative to Puerto Rico this week to scout first baseman Carlos Delgado. I knew that was the plan, but I still wanted to get confirmation that they're monitoring Delgado, who's batting .280 with one homer and two RBIs in eight games and 25 at-bats with Gigantes de Carolina. He's walked four times and struck out four times. Delgado mostly has served as the designated hitter, but he's also played a little first...
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Roch Kubatko

Shameless plug alert

Shameless plug alert
It wouldn't be Friday without a shamless plug. I'll be joining Steve Melewski tonight for the Hot Stove Show that runs from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300. Outfielder Nolan Reimold will join us at the top of the hour, and hitting coach Terry Crowley will follow at 8:30 p.m. You can be sure that Reimold will provide an update on his Achilles and offer his opinion on playing first base, since that's been such a popular subject here. Crowley will head to Camden Yards next...
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Roch Kubatko

A few Oriole items

A few Oriole items
I've dug up a few nuggets that might get you through the night. • At this time, the Orioles don't plan on having a scout attend Ben Sheets' throwing session Tuesday in Louisiana. That could change, but it's not likely. Sheets didn't seem interested in signing here when the Orioles met with his agent last month at the winter meetings (which takes us back to their inability to secure his medical records). • Team officials have...
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Roch Kubatko

What logjam?

What logjam?
If you're wondering why the Orioles aren't concerned about a logjam in the outfield, I can give you two pretty good reasons. Nolan Reimold isn't certain that he'll be full-go when he reports to spring training next month. He still hasn't done any sprints since undergoing surgery on his left Achilles on Sept. 23. Felix Pie didn't play winter ball because his injured left quadriceps muscle has been slow to heal. Factor in the days that Adam Jones and Lou Montanez spent on the disabled...
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