Talking about Buck and the King

Talking about Buck and the King
So Buck Showalter didn't get a single vote for AL manager of the year. My reaction? I didn't expect him to. The award is for manger of the year, not manager of the last two months. Buck would have been a strong contender for that. Don't worry, this is no lack of respect for Buck or the Orioles. You just can't win this award when you manage just 57 games. Well, maybe if you went 57-0, but how likely is that? I'm sure some readers and fans may find a reason to be upset over this, but...
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To trade or not to trade pitching, that is the question

To trade or not to trade pitching, that is the question
Let me start by repeating that I am, for the most part, against trading young pitching. Not in every case and there are probably some deals that could really help the O's where they just have to part with a young arm or arms. But, if they have any interest in getting a top talent like Adrian Gonzalez or Prince Fielder in a deal, there is no way they can avoid dealing some young pitching, I don't think. But here is the key reason the O's should not deal any young pitching right now. ...
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Britton and Griffin joined forces in 2010 at Norfolk

Britton and Griffin joined forces in 2010 at Norfolk
After working with pitching coach Kennie Steenstra at Delmarva in 2008, Frederick in 2009 and Bowie last season, when lefty pitching prospect Zach Britton made it to Triple-A Norfolk last summer he worked with Tides' pitching coach Mike Griffin. He was certainly in good hands with both gentlemen. Griffin has worked with most of the best young arms on the O's farm over the last three seasons and said Britton clearly stacks up well with all of them. "I think so. He is knocking on the door...
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Mike Griffin is returning to the O's organization

Mike Griffin is returning to the O's organization
Mike Griffin, the O's well-respected pitching coach at Triple-A Norfolk, confirmed today that he is returning to the organization in 2011. "I'm returning and looking forward to it," he said. Griffin, who was pitching coach at Bowie in 2008 and at Norfolk the past two seasons, will likely serve as pitching coach at Triple-A once again although the final coaching positions have not been announced by the O's, who have also yet to finalize their Major League staff. Griffin has worked with...
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Taking the pulse of the fans

Taking the pulse of the fans
Now that free agency is here, it's time to find out what the fans think. At least those of you that will read this blog today. Pick one of these listed below that you feel best represents how you feel the club will do this winter in an attempt to fill some holes and improve the club. Feel free to explain more about why you answered how you did. Feel free to select "other" if none listed below characterize your feelings and tell us what thoughts you do have on the team. A: The O's...
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Does MacPhail move too slowly in free agency?

Does MacPhail move too slowly in free agency?
Here is a question that will probably make Andy MacPhail's critics, and some feel that is a large list, move front and center. Do you feel that MacPhail moves too slowly in dealing with free agents? For those critics, I just lobbed a softball that they can hit out of the park. But one thing I have come to realize over the years, first as a talk-show host and now as a blogger is this - the fans that jam the phone lines and message boards don't represent everyone. Because many readers or...
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A few final words from Caleb Joseph

A few final words from Caleb Joseph
During my recent interview with O's minor league catcher Caleb Joseph, not only did we talk about some adjustments he is making on offense and defense, we hit on some other topics as well. Like the fact that last year he was ranked as the O's 10th best prospect by Baseball America. But, now, after hitting .235 at Double-A Bowie, he has fallen out of those lists. "I knew before the season was over I would not be on any top ten lists. That's OK, it's great to be recognized. But going...
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Caleb Joseph makes changes with his defense

Caleb Joseph makes changes with his defense
Most minor league players are thrilled to be invited to the Arizona Fall League. The League is often filled with prospects and has graduated many players to the Major Leagues. O's minor league catcher Caleb Joseph is there now with the Scottsdale Scorpions. As a taxi squad player, he only gets into two games a week. But that hasn't stopped him from reaping big benefits of playing in the AFL. Joseph has taken the time when he is not playing to work on his game and make big improvements on...
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The quality start stat is a good one

The quality start stat is a good one
I have heard some fans and media guys over the years say the quality start stat is not a good one because you can have an ERA of 4.50 and get a quality start. For those that don't know, a quality start is defined as an outing where a starting pitcher goes six innings or more and gives up three earned runs or less. So, yes, if you give up exactly 3ER over 6IP, you fulfill the minimum requirement and your ERA for that game is 4.50. But if you give up 2ER over 6IP, the ERA is 3.00. If you...
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Talking Lee, Samuel, Greinke & Joseph

Talking Lee, Samuel, Greinke & Joseph
Checking in and commenting on some recent news around the baseball world: Cashman courts Lee: No one should be surprised the Yankees' GM headed to Arkansas to talk with Cliff Lee and his agent. Why aren't the O's headed there too? Because they have no shot at Lee and it's crazy to pay 100 million or more for a pitcher. Pitchers get hurt and most megabucks free agent contracts for pitchers have backfired, dating back to Kevin Brown and the Dodgers. You can add Mike Hampton and...
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A take on the free agent first basemen

A take on the free agent first basemen
If the Orioles are going to add that so called "big bat" during free agency, the supply of quality hitters is certainly larger at first base than at third. Adrian Beltre heads up a not great list of free agent third sackers, while Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko top the list of first baseman. Dunn and Konerko are both type A free agents. Because the O's draft among the top 15 in the first-round of next June's draft, they cannot lose that pick. If they signed any type A free agent that is...
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AFL Update: Joseph finds his swing with Scottsdale

AFL Update:  Joseph finds his swing with Scottsdale
When catcher Caleb Joseph went home after this season, he had time to think about his play at Double-A Bowie this year. The O's seventh-round pick out of Lipscomb University in 2008, he hit .235-11-51 in 106 Baysox games. He called it a "terrible year." It came a season after he hit .284 with Frederick and was among the O's top ten prospects on some lists. "I wasn't getting the job done offensively and felt I was very average defensively. I've never struggled like that in my life...
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Free agency: An exciting or discouraging time?

Free agency:  An exciting or discouraging time?
In the wildest dreams of an Orioles' fan, there will be a day soon when, at a press conference, the O's announce the signing of Cliff Lee to a five-year, $125 million dollar contract. Lee steps to the mic and says he noticed some of that good young pitching on the O's roster and how the team responded to Buck Showalter and wants to be a part of it. He adds, "Hey, the O's kicked my butt a couple of times, I didn't forget that either." Of course, in our dreams is probably the only place...
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Under the radar minor leaguers

Under the radar minor leaguers
Earlier this week, I wrote about Ronnie Welty. The 22-year-old played right field for the Frederick Keys in 2010 and had a very good season, finishing among the Carolina League leaders in several categories. Yet, Welty is almost never mentioned as one of the O's better prospects. But he has made three post-season All-Star teams in three different leagues over three years. That is pretty impressive. I guess we could say he has flown "under the radar." Today, here are two questions for...
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Is this baseball's silly season?

Is this baseball's silly season?
The hot stove season in baseball can be a lot of fun. It's a time where there is a lot of speculation about which players will end up where, who will sign for what dollar amounts and so forth. It can also be a bit of a frustrating time. There are just so many reports and speculation out there anymore and, to me, pretty much every year now, most of it winds up being not completely true or, at the other end of the spectrum, totally wrong. I know that every time any player signs with just...
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The Giants make the case for pitching

The Giants make the case for pitching
If the Orioles want to challenge the big boys in the American League East, their best chance may be to win the arms race. While I keep hearing the O's need a big bat or two to add to their lineup, didn't we just get yet another strong lesson that it's more about the pitching. The San Francisco Giants finished ninth this year in the regular season in runs scored in the National League. They finished first in team ERA. The Giants won the World Series during a postseason where they...
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Under the radar All-Star: Another solid season for Welty

Under the radar All-Star:  Another solid season for Welty
When O's fans talk about some of the best prospects on the Orioles farm, they often leave Ronnie Welty off the list. Maybe they shouldn't. Sometimes overlooked, but productive now for three seasons in a row, the 22-year-old Welty is coming off a real solid season in the Carolina League. In 130 games with Frederick, the right fielder hit .282-18-82 with 32 doubles, 86 runs and an OPS of .814. "I started out really good and was really pleased with my start. Then got into kind of a funk...
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What to make of the NFL's ratings win over the World Series

What to make of the NFL's ratings win over the World Series
It's believed to be the first time it's ever happened, but on Sunday, an NFL regular season game beat a World Series game in the television ratings. The Steelers and Saints drew an 11.8 rating on NBC, while the Rangers vs. the Giants posted a 10.4 on Fox. No, it's not because the Simpsons or Cops are a lousy lead-in. You want to know why I think it happened? Three main reasons. Gambling, fantasy football and new October teams. I know the NFL is a ratings powerhouse and is now...
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The O's top ten prospects

The O's top ten prospects
Baseball America has released its list of the Orioles current top ten prospects, with Manny Machado number one after playing only a handful of games. That's no surprise really, given the hype about his talents. O's minor league player of the year Joe Mahoney did not make the top ten - Maybe no surprise after the comments we got recently from Jim Callis when he said he felt Mahoney was not a top prospect. Here is the list. Feel free to add your comments. Please note that some of the...
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Wondering about a few things

Wondering about a few things
Did you ever wonder...... *Why in baseball, when a fly ball hits that big yellow pole down the line, it's a home run even though it just hit the "foul" pole. *Why baseball doesn't have a stat for team error? When a pop that clearly should be caught, drops between two defenders, the batter should not get credit for that hit. That should be an example of a team error. *If baseball will play a weekday World Series game in the daytime ever again. *Why some fans are so quick to rush to...
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