Roch Kubatko

While I was away...

April 02, 2010, 11:16am

I spent the last hour posing for photos at the MASN booth as fans passed by with updates on Miguel Tejada. The Orioles do their best business when I'm away from my laptop. They reached agreements with Mike Gonzalez and Garrett Atkins while I attended the MASN holiday party, and they've apparently done the same with Tejada. The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec has confirmed it. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail did everything except hold up a poster of Tejada during his forum, and later...

Samuel's new challenge

April 02, 2010, 11:14am

Third base coach Juan Samuel is responsible for working with the infielders, which means he'll have to ease Miguel Tejada's transition to third base. Assuming that Tejada passes his physical, he'll be playing a new position with the Orioles. It's nice to hear that he's finally willing to move over from shortstop, but can he handle it? The Orioles have only won half the battle. "It's going to take a lot of work for him to get used to that position," Samuel said. "It's a reaction...

Putting on a happy face

April 02, 2010, 11:13am

More than 10,000 fans are here, and they're still filing through the doors. They're probably having a better time than Ty Wigginton, who's doing his best to hide his disappointment in the Orioles' roster moves. Wigginton agreed to a two-year deal last winter because he was led to believe that he might be a starter in 2010. Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora weren't expected to return, and Wigginton can play first and third base. The Orioles signed Garrett Atkins and reportedly have reached...

MacPhail still dancing around the subject

April 02, 2010, 11:11am

During his latest forum, president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail reminded fans that he can't confirm any contract agreements until the player passes his physical. But he did his best to get the message across about Miguel Tejada. He wasn't going to issue any denials. Everyone knows the deal is done. And the crowd broke out in applause as MacPhail dropped more hints. "All I know is Dave (Trembley) has been smiling since I talked to him this morning," MacPhail said. Trembley didn't...

Blair's health scare

April 02, 2010, 11:10am

The latest forum taking place on the main stage includes members of the 1970 world championship team, and it's a huge relief to see Paul Blair on the panel. Blair, my favorite player growing up, suffered a heart attack on Dec. 22. He was released on Christmas Day and said he's feeling much better. Blair said he was bowling when he began to experience tightness in his chest. He never lost consciousness on his trip to the hospital. Doctors told Blair that he had a 98-percent blockage in the...

Wrapping up FanFest

April 02, 2010, 11:06am

It's done. I'm talking about FanFest and the Miguel Tejada rumors. More than 12,000 people attended today's event. I personally counted each one. It would have been nice if you stood still and made it easier on me. I want to thank everyone who waited in line at the MASN booth to have a photo taken with me. You obviously had some time to kill. And it was terrific meeting so many of my readers and putting a face with the name. We really need to arrange a School of Roch night because I...

Snyder, Bell and a message

April 02, 2010, 11:05am

A humorous exchange from FanFest: Brandon Snyder was standing beside me as Lou Montanez explained that he didn't play first base in Puerto Rico. In an exasperated tone, Snyder said, "You're playing first base now? Oh great! I guess I'll start playing left field." I don't think Snyder needs to change positions again. He's safe. It just might take a while for him to debut at first base with the Orioles. Josh Bell is staying at third base, and he won't be rushed to Baltimore. Maybe...

Policing the lineup (with a few more added)

April 02, 2010, 11:04am

A team that commits five turnovers and allows 12 men in the huddle after moving into field goal range doesn't deserve to win, but a level playing field in the NFC championship game would have been nice. Three calls went against the Vikings in overtime, which again makes me wonder why they don't demolish the review booth or use it as an extra concession stand. Bad spot on fourth down, bad pass interference call on an overthrown ball, bad reception ruling on a ball that Robert Meachem never...

Miggy and lefties (updated)

April 02, 2010, 11:03am

Miguel Tejada is expected to be re-introduced to the local media this afternoon after taking his physical. I'll provide an update later today once all of the details are official, but you'll probably want to keep your television tuned to MASN. Update: The Orioles will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. They didn't specify the reason, but we'll assume it involves Tejada. I'll head to the Warehouse to attend the press conference. Steve Melewski also will be there, so check out his blog as...

Getting Miggy with it

April 02, 2010, 11:02am

Let's clear up the first controversy regarding Miguel Tejada: He hasn't chosen a uniform number and he doesn't really care. Tejada isn't married to No. 10. He wore it during his first stint with the Orioles because No. 4 was retired. While he appreciated Adam Jones' gesture to surrender 10 for a Rolex, he probably won't press the issue. Miguel Tejada and Andy MacPhail discuss Tejada signing with the Orioles The Orioles didn't hand Tejada a jersey during today's press conference, so...

Regular duty for Tejada

April 02, 2010, 10:58am

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail addressed a question during the press conference that was directed at Miguel Tejada. He jumped in like a referee getting between two fighters, though he didn't wave his arms and remove Tejada's mouthpiece. A reporter wanted to know whether Tejada would have any issues with moving off third base to make room for Josh Bell later this summer, if the situation presented itself. More to the point, would he accept a part-time role? "The kind of deal...

This, that and the other

April 02, 2010, 10:58am

Miguel Tejada says he has no preference where he hits, so I guess he won't be submitting his own lineup ideas to this blog. "Last year, I went from second to sixth," he said. "Every day I was in the lineup, I was totally happy." According to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, Tejada told him, "Just put me in the lineup. Wherever you see fit is fine with me." "I'm sure Dave Trembley's gone through 14 different versions of what it might be," MacPhail said. "I do like...

Miggy don't lose that number

April 02, 2010, 10:56am

Miguel Tejada will wear No. 9 this season. Read all about it here on the team's Twitter account - @birdlandinsider. Michael Aubrey wore No. 9 last year, after Gregg Zaun was traded, but I doubt that he'll receive an expensive watch in return. I'm sure he'd settle for a spot on the 25-man roster. He'd probably have an easier time getting the Rolex.

The corresponding roster move

April 02, 2010, 10:55am

The Orioles have designated reliever Dennis Sarfate for assignment, a move made to create room on the 40-man roster for third baseman Miguel Tejada, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract yesterday after passing his physical. The club is expected to make the announcement later today, but Sarfate's agent already has informed him of the move. Sarfate was 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in 20 appearances last season. He spent almost four months on the disabled list with a circulatory condition in his...

More invites and reaction from Sarfate

April 02, 2010, 10:55am

The Orioles have invited six more players to spring training, including shortstop Blake Davis. Joining Davis will be catchers Luis Bernardo and Adam Donachie, infielder Miguel Abreu, outfielder Matt Angle and infielder/outfielder Jonathan Tucker. The Orioles also made Sarfate's removal from the 40-man roster official. Sarfate received the news from his agent earlier today that the Orioles had designated him for assignment. He let it sink in, took a deep breath and headed outdoors to throw...

Hendrickson says he's back

April 02, 2010, 10:54am

How nice of Mark Hendrickson to announce last night at a sports banquet in Hanover, Pa. that he agreed to terms with the Orioles. Maybe I should have placed my last 12 calls to him over there. I was doing it all wrong. At least he saved me from making No. 13 later today. (I almost made No. 2 when I heard about this, if you know what I mean.) I've been predicting this move since, oh, around October. Three months later, it's happened. If you wait long enough, you'll eventually be...

Trembley on Hendrickson

April 02, 2010, 10:52am

Orioles manager Dave Trembley is glad to have left-hander Mark Hendrickson back in his bullpen. Trembley talked about Hendrickson's value as the 2009 season closed, and his opinion hasn't changed. This is a signing that he endorsed from the beginning - one that will become official later this week. "Glad to have Hendrickson," Trembley wrote in an e-mail. "He did well last year as a left-handed guy out of the bullpen. He can pitch in long relief or late in the game as a situational type....

Sorting through the bullpen

April 02, 2010, 10:51am

Is it true that Kurt Warner will hold a press conference today to announce whether Brett Favre is retiring? Perhaps I misunderstood. The Orioles' news is slowing again, but not because president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is letting the market play out. We're approaching spring training and the camp roster is pretty much set. We'll probably see a left-handed reliever signed to a minor league contract. Try to control your breathing. Erik Bedard reportedly is throwing, but that...

Updating Koji

April 02, 2010, 10:49am

Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz, calling into last night's Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan and ESPN 1300, reported that Koji Uehara is throwing in Japan and apparently in good health after going on the disabled list for the last time on June 24 and missing the rest of the season. "Everything I've heard is that he's throwing," Kranitz said. "Obviously, we have to put some eyes on him to really find out how he's doing, because we don't have anybody there to look at him. But knowing...

Kranitz on Bergesen

April 02, 2010, 10:46am

My ears are still ringing from the sound of Billy Butler's line drive smacking off Brad Bergesen's left shin. Imagine how it sounds to Bergesen. He'll be a full-go in spring training after a long and painful recovery, but I keep wondering how he'll react to the first ball that's hit up the middle. And the second and third. I don't know about Bergesen, but I'll be flinching. "I've seen it happen more when guys get hit above the shoulders, somewhere in that area, where it really...