Roch Kubatko

Statement from Brooks

Statement from Brooks
Not many people are aware that Brooks Robinson has been dealing with a serious health issue. I'm thrilled to report that he was released from the hospital late yesterday and is doing fine. Robinson and his family wanted to keep the matter private, which I certainly understand and respect. I'm just thankful that he's home again. The following is a statement from No. 5, which I'm honored (and greatly relieved) to pass along to Oriole fans everywhere: "On December 28, 2009, I had abdominal...
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Roch Kubatko

Crow and Reimold

Crow and Reimold
Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley, calling into Friday night's edition of the Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300, heaped a lot of praise on the young talent on the roster, including right fielder Nick Markakis. "I feel like Nicky's due for an All-Star season," Crowley said. "Actually, for me, he had four All-Star seasons, but the general public has to recognize that one of these years and he'll be on an All-Star team. And Adam Jones in center - strong defensively. It's too...
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Roch Kubatko

Luke at what happened

Luke at what happened
You've seen the splits on Luke Scott. You know he was a viable candidate for first-half team MVP after batting .305 with 18 homers and 51 RBIs. You also know he fell apart in the second half, batting .208 with seven homers and 26 RBIs. He's always been a streaky hitter, but this is extreme. So what happened? "I think Luke put too much pressure on himself," hitting coach Terry Crowley said. "Luke is the guy who wants to hit .400, he wants to hit 50 home runs. Don't get me wrong, I...
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Roch Kubatko

Taking inventory

Taking inventory
I don't expect the Orioles to begin the season with Michael Aubrey at first base, but I also didn't expect the Jets to play in the AFC championship game or the snow to finally melt in my yard. If the Orioles decide to sift through their inventory, which isn't their first choice, Aubrey would have to rank as the favorite to emerge with the job. He appeared in 31 games last season after having his contract purchased on Aug. 18, batting .289 with seven doubles, four homers and 14 RBIs in 90...
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Roch Kubatko

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
I'm predicting that the Colts and Saints meet in the Super Bowl, and we'll be bombarded with stories about Peyton Manning facing his father's old team. That won't get tired. If you want Jose Offerman to be your team's next manager, keep in mind that he's liable to deck the plate umpire during the exchange of lineup cards. This isn't the first time that Offerman has gone down swinging. FOX Sports' Tracy Ringolsby gives his slam-dunk last-place finishers for 2010, and he's got the...
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Roch Kubatko

Getting Miggy with it?

Getting Miggy with it?
If I had to wager, I'd put my money on Joe Crede playing third base for the Orioles over former shortstop Miguel Tejada. Just don't refer back to my NFL picks this season. I understand that things change as the market plays out. I also assumed that Tejada would be off the board three weeks into Janauary, but he's still on it. And interest in him is limited. What does that tell you? Each time that I've asked president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail about bringing back Tejada,...
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Roch Kubatko

No arbitration for Scott

No arbitration for Scott
The Orioles have reached agreement on a one-year deal with Luke Scott on the day that arbitration-eligible players had to submit their salary figures. The Orioles tendered Scott a contract last month and figured to avoid a hearing with him. The team still needs to reach agreement with pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who also was tendered a contract last month.
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Roch Kubatko

Matusz interviewed, and upcoming promotions (with Guthrie update)

Matusz interviewed, and upcoming promotions (with Guthrie update)
Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, who will be in Baltimore this weekend for FanFest, was interviewed by phone earlier today on the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks Show on MASN and 105.7 The Fan. Matusz would like the Orioles to sign veteran left-hander Erik Bedard, who remains on the free-agent market and continues to draw interest. "That would be another great addition if we could end up landing him," Matusz said. "That's a guy that I could look up to, a veteran left-handed pitcher,...
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Roch Kubatko

More from Matusz

More from Matusz
Twitter strikes again. We had a young reporter tweet yesterday that the Blue Jays signed Carlos Delgado - that supposedly was the "word out of Puerto Rico" - but their general manager and Delgado's agent, David Sloane, quickly denied the report. Delgado, it seems, is still a free agent. There's no need to fact-check anymore. Just get the rumor out there and worry about the details later - like whether it's false. I saw plenty of examples at the Winter Meetings. Man, this business...
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Roch Kubatko

Spring invitees (updated)

Spring invitees (updated)
The Orioles have invited 12 non-roster players to spring training: Left-handers Chris George and Mike Hinckley; right-handers Jake Arrieta, Frank Mata, Josh Perrault, Alfredo Simon and Ross Wolf; catchers Michel Hernandez, Caleb Joseph and Chad Moeller; outfielder Jeff Salazar; and infielder Scott Moore. The Orioles will have to create room on the 40-man roster if anyone from this group makes the club. Moeller is the most likely candidate. Moore has an outside shot if the Orioles don't sign...
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Roch Kubatko

Interest remains in Takahashi

Interest remains in Takahashi
The Orioles have engaged in talks with pitcher Hisanori Takahashi and retain interest in the Japanese left-hander, but they're unsure whether he'll join former teammate Koji Uehara in the organization. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said the club has talked to him "in general terms about what we'd offer and whether he'd be interested." Takahashi is claiming that he's received a major league offer, according to various reports, but he won't reveal the team. MacPhail...
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Roch Kubatko

Orioles this, Orioles that

Orioles this, Orioles that
I'll open the morning with a quick thought on Japanese pitcher Hisanori Takahashi: A few readers here are disturbed that the Orioles would bother pursuing Takahashi, but team officials aren't doing it with the same intensity that marked their negotiations with Koji Uehara and Kenshin Kawakami. They're obviously intrigued by him. He's a lefty with an assortment of pitches, including a screwball. He has experience as a starter and reliever. And he's friends with Uehara, which might make...
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Roch Kubatko

Where's Blake Davis?

Where's Blake Davis?
Looking at the list of spring training invitees, I have to wonder what happened to infielder Blake Davis. Davis made a solid impression last spring before fracturing a bone in his foot and undergoing surgery that limited him to 55 games with Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles regard him as being ready defensively at shortstop. They just wonder how much he'll hit. I know the minor league camp in Sarasota is close to the major league facility, so the Orioles don't need to fill their roster with...
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Roch Kubatko

Because You Asked - Red, White and Blonde

Because You Asked - Red, White and Blonde
It's time once again to tackle the questions that keep popping back up after I've launched myself into them and been flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit. You know the routine. I answer them, you ask me again, I answer them, you ask me again. It's the School of Roch dance. Dim the lights and let me lead. • Do you think the Orioles have any interest in Ben Sheets? Nope. That's mostly because he doesn't have any interest in them. It's like telling everyone you...
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Roch Kubatko

Remembering Curt Motton (updated)

Remembering Curt Motton (updated)
I have the unfortunate task of passing along some sad news. The Orioles lost another member of their family when former outfielder Curt Motton died last night at age 69. Only a year ago, Motton appeared to be in good health. Friends were shocked when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and his courageous battle ended last night. Motton played eight seasons in the majors, seven of them with the Orioles. He was a part of the 1969, '70 and '71 World Series teams. Motton also served as a...
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Roch Kubatko

Shameless plug alert

Shameless plug alert
The Hot Stove Show returns to 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300 tonight at 8 p.m., with Jim Hunter sitting across from your favorite blogger. I'm referring to myself, in case there was any confusion. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is scheduled to call into the program at the top of the hour. Left-hander Brian Matusz will join us at 8:30 p.m. Once I learned that MacPhail had been confirmed, I wondered if he was going to make a grand announcement. Maybe break a little news for us....
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Roch Kubatko

Cornering MacPhail

Cornering MacPhail
The Orioles won't be introducing a new acquisition at tomorrow's FanFest. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail pointed out during the Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan that a player would have to pass a physical first, and since the club hasn't reached agreement with a free agent, "the likelihood of somebody being announced and then popping out from behind a curtain is about zero at this stage." Makes sense. MacPhail sounded encouraged that he'll find another player within the...
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Roch Kubatko

MacPhail on Bedard

MacPhail on Bedard
The Orioles retain interest in left-hander Erik Bedard after going over his medical records, but they don't sense that he's on the verge of signing with anyone. "We have had conversations, we have reviewed the medical stuff," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said earlier tonight. "We remember Erik the way he pitched for us, which was just positively dominating over the course of the 2007 season. We have confidence in the human being and his competitive nature. "They've...
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Roch Kubatko

Early observations from FanFest

Early observations from FanFest
That was quite the long line wrapping around the Baltimore Convention Center this morning as I arrived here at 9:30 a.m. Hello right back to everyone who shouted out my name. And please, no "Mr. Kubatko." Call me "Roch." Season-ticket holders were allowed early entrance for the Andy MacPhail/Dave Trembley forum, which began with a moment of silence for Curt Motton. MacPhail indicated again that the Orioles should sign a player within the next week. Then he mentioned the likelihood of...
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Roch Kubatko

FanFest - Part II

FanFest - Part II
President of baseball operations dropped a heavier hint that the club will sign a third baseman next week. "We made significant progress recently," he said. MacPhail said "nothing is finalized," but he's confident a deal will get done within the next few days. Asked if it's a third baseman, he paused before replying that it's "fair speculation." Garrett Atkins has been swinging a bat for the past month. He's eager to start working with hitting coach Terry Crowley. "He's...
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