Roch Kubatko

Leftovers for breakfast

November 03, 2016, 8:43pm

Orioles

You may have noticed yesterday that former bullpen coach Dom Chiti was upset that the Orioles didn't reach out to him about a new contract, which led to his departure and a new position with the Braves. Meanwhile, executive vice president Dan Duquette wants to get a new pitching coach in place before focusing on a bullpen coach, feeling that Dave Wallace's successor should have input. Chiti was a consideration for the post, but he never heard back from the Orioles and refused to campaign for...

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Chiti disappointed that he's leaving Orioles

November 03, 2016, 2:28pm

Orioles

The Braves made official this afternoon the hiring of former Orioles bullpen coach Dom Chiti and pitching coach Dave Wallace. All that's left now is for the Orioles to find their replacements. Chiti was named director of pitching and Wallace was named a special assistant to pitching, the close friends heading back where they previously worked together before joining the Orioles for the 2014 season. Chiti wanted to stay with the Orioles, but his contract ran out on Oct. 31 and he didn't...

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Assistant hitting coach Mark Quinn leaving Orioles

November 03, 2016, 1:15pm

Orioles

Assistant hitting coach Mark Quinn is leaving the Orioles after one season with the club, according to a baseball source. Quinn, an outfielder who played for the Royals between 1999-2002, was hired in January to work with hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh. Quinn beat out Royals minor league hitting instructor Milt Thompson, the other finalist for the position. According to the source, Quinn will return to The Baseball School, the hitting academy he owns in Houston. Prior to last season, Einar Diaz...

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This, that and the other (updated)

November 02, 2016, 7:53pm

Orioles

The news that bullpen coach Dom Chiti is returning to the Braves is unsettling to an organization that values his work and his relationship with the pitchers on the staff. Not only the relievers. All of the pitchers. Losing pitching coach Dave Wallace is a big blow, but at least the Orioles were braced for it. And they held out hope that he'd remain with them in a different capacity that allowed him to spend more time with his family. That ship also sailed. The immediate reaction on Twitter...

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Chiti and Wallace take jobs with the Braves

November 02, 2016, 3:24pm

Orioles

Chiti and Wallace take jobs with the Braves

The Orioles have at least two openings to fill on their coaching staff. Bullpen coach Dom Chiti, whose contract expired in Oct. 31, has accepted a position with the Braves as their senior director of pitching, according to industry and team sources. Dave Wallace, who retired as pitching coach, will join Chiti in Atlanta as a roving pitching instructor and adviser. The Braves are expected to make the announcement on Thursday. The Orioles were hoping to keep Wallace in the organization and Chiti...

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Poised for the start of free agency

November 01, 2016, 5:15pm

Orioles

I've been rooting for a Game 7 all along. Nothing beats it in sports and it delays the start of free agency, which extends my downtime a little bit longer. It's always about me. I've got five days before the free agent market is open for business once the World Series ends, and I'll only leave Twitter at my own risk. Five days before beat writers are challenged to separate fact from fiction as rumors surface of the Orioles' interest in ... insert any name. Let me get a head start by saying...

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The long and short of a position change for Machado

October 31, 2016, 5:25pm

Orioles

The long and short of a position change for Machado

The Orioles shifted their focus to the offseason before their flight from Toronto landed at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Wheels up, eyes forward. Decisions must be made regarding qualifying offers for pending free agents, arbitration figures and possible non-tenders, upgrading positions and depth, sorting through the minor league free agents, finding a replacement for pitching coach Dave Wallace. They've got shortstop J.J. Hardy under contract for one more season and can back-burner him...

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Stewart selected to AFL Fall Stars Game

October 31, 2016, 10:02am

Orioles

Outfielder DJ Stewart, the 25th overall pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University, has been chosen to play in the Arizona Fall League's 11th annual "Fall Stars Game" Saturday in Surprise, Ariz. Stewart, 22, is 10-for-45 with three doubles, a triple, five RBIs and five runs scored in 12 games. He has 11 walks, 11 strikeouts and is 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts. In 59 games this season at Single-A Frederick, Stewart batted .279/.389/.448 with 12 doubles, two...

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Orioles still deciding on qualifying offer for Wieters

October 30, 2016, 5:18pm

Orioles

It comes as no surprise that the Orioles continue to ponder whether they should make a qualifying offer to catcher Matt Wieters. They've had internal debates since he accepted the last one. I've heard that they're weighing both sides and I sense that they may be leaning more toward not giving it to Wieters, who hit .243/.302/.409 with 17 doubles, 17 home runs and 66 RBIs this season in 124 games. But they're far from solidifying a decision. Wieters made $15.8 million after unexpectedly...

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Should Orioles consider an eight-man bullpen?

October 29, 2016, 5:13pm

Orioles

Watching how bullpens have been utilized in the postseason, especially by Indians manager Terry Francona, led to an interesting discussion yesterday on "Wall-to-Wall Baseball" on MASN. Will more teams consider breaking camp next year with eight relievers and only three bench players, or will a fresh season bring a return to normalcy? It would be tough to manage an entire season yanking your starters in the fourth or fifth innings and passing the baton, and bringing in set-up men in the middle...

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Britton named top reliever in American League (updated)

October 29, 2016, 3:11pm

Orioles

Britton named top reliever in American League (updated)

While Orioles left-hander Zach Britton awaits his Cy Young fate, he's been recognized as the best reliever in the American League. Insert Captain Obvious reference here. The use of the word "duh" also is permissible. Britton received the Mariano Rivera Award tonight that goes to the top AL reliever. The Dodgers' Kenley Jansen was given the NL's version, named after Trevor Hoffman. It would have been a major upset for Britton to be denied. In case you missed it, here's what I wrote about...

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Will Britton be named top AL reliever?

October 28, 2016, 11:24am

Orioles

As the World Series continues tonight with Game 4 at Wrigley Field, it's also important to note that we've entered awards season. Sporting News has dished out its hardware and the Rawlings Gold Glove finalists were revealed on Thursday. The Relievers of the Year will be announced later today, with one winner in each league. The American League award is named after Mariano Rivera, and the NL award is named after Trevor Hoffman. Somewhere, Heathcliff Slocumb is fuming. The awards were first...

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Date set for FanFest

October 28, 2016, 10:44am

Orioles

A "save the date" isn't just for weddings. There's also the baseball winter version. The Orioles announced today that their annual FanFest event will be held on Jan. 28, 2017 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Or exactly three months from today. More information will become available later, including the list of players, coaches and former players in attendance and a breakdown of the autograph stations. The event runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., but season plan holders will have access beginning...

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Leftovers for breakfast

October 27, 2016, 3:43pm

Orioles

So much for the Orioles having four Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners in their infield. The best they can do is two after first baseman Chris Davis and third baseman Manny Machado were named finalists yesterday in the American League. No team has sported four Gold Glove winners in the infield in the same season, but the Orioles came close in the past. Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger and Davey Johnson won the award in 1969 and 1971, and Robinson, Belanger and Bobby Grich won it from 1973-1975....

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Davis and Machado named Gold Glove finalists

October 27, 2016, 10:30am

Orioles

Davis and Machado named Gold Glove finalists

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis and third baseman Manny Machado have been named Rawlings Gold Glove finalists in the American League. Davis joins the Royals' Eric Hosmer and the Rangers' Mitch Moreland. Hosmer has won the award in the last three seasons. Davis has been a finalist in the past. Machado joins the Mariners' Kyle Seager and the Rangers' Adrian Beltre. Machado won it in 2013 and 2015, and also won a Platinum Glove in 2013. The winners will be announced on Nov. 8 on ESPN. Davis...

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Looking back at Britton and wondering about his future

October 26, 2016, 6:58pm

Orioles

Looking back at Britton and wondering about his future

In case you missed it, Orioles left-hander Zach Britton was named to the Sporting News American League All-Star team. I saw the tweet after returning home from a mini-vacation in Mexico, where the top closers usually include tequila. The team was selected by a panel of 29 American League executives before the playoffs. Britton was the lone reliever and an obvious choice considering his historic season. The Indians' Andrew Miller, the Yankees' Dellin Betances and the Blue Jays' Roberto Osuna...

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Early thoughts on spring training

October 25, 2016, 5:27pm

Orioles

The release of the spring training schedule this week made me flash back to past players who occupied so much space in this blog and never made it to Baltimore. There seems to be one every year. I also celebrated how we're making only one trip to Dunedin while lamenting the upcoming drives to Orlando and Lakeland, but I digress ... There needs to be an award for whichever player is the big spring tease. Left-hander Jeff Beliveau (pronounced BELL-uh-voh) would have received it this year after...

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Trumbo receives AL award from Sporting News

October 25, 2016, 6:27am

Orioles

Trumbo receives AL award from Sporting News

If Mark Trumbo leaves the Orioles as a free agent, he'll join a new team as the reigning Sporting News 2016 American League Comeback Player of the Year. Trumbo, 30, beat out the Rangers' Ian Desmond by one vote for the award, which has existed since 1965. Orioles starter Chris Tillman finished in seventh plave. Trumbo was selected by a panel of 174 American League players. They obviously put a lot of stock in leading the majors in home runs, which Trumbo did with 47. He also drove in 108 runs...

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Orioles announce spring training schedule

October 24, 2016, 11:20am

Orioles

The Orioles open their 2017 Grapefruit League schedule against the Tigers on Feb. 24 in Lakeland, Fla. Their first home game is Feb. 26 against the Pirates at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. The early start is due to the World Baseball Classic. The Orioles will host the defending champion Dominican Republic on March 7. The Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico in 2013 to claim the WBC championship. The Orioles will make 17 trips during spring training, including four to Bradenton to...

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Will a starter move to the bullpen?

October 22, 2016, 9:27am

Orioles

Should the Orioles hold onto their six starters through spring training or consider trading one? Teams say you never can have enough pitching and the Orioles are thinking of making it their slogan in 2017. And yet, it's worth debating today whether they might want to deal from their "excess." We're talking about only six starters, so maybe calling their supply "excess" is, well, excessive. But there's room for only five. It's simple math. Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy are...