How former Twin Denny Hocking joined the O's organization

How former Twin Denny Hocking joined the O's organization
A friendship with a member of the O's public relations department and a Little League coaching dispute have combined to lead former Twin Denny Hocking to the Orioles organization. Hocking will be a first-year pro coach when he serves this coming season as Frederick Keys' field coach. Hocking, who played in the Majors from 1993 to 2005, has known Jeff Lantz, the O's media relations manager, for a long time.
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Stockstill talks about Bordick's new role

Stockstill talks about Bordick's new role
Mike Bordick played six seasons for the Orioles and had a reputation as a smart and very solid defender at shortstop. But it's the smarts he also used with his bat that he'll use in his new role as O's minor league offensive coordinater. Bordick, a career .260 Major League hitter with 1,500 career hits, served as roving infield instructor for the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
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Minor League notes

Minor League notes
The Orioles began the offseason with 22 of their own players that qualified as minor league free agents. While the club has not officially announced any signings yet, the O's have re-signed five of those players: pitchers Josh Perrault, Ross Wolf, Chris George and Alfredo Simon and third baseman Scott Moore. Perrault is a 27-year-old right-hander the O's selected in the 2008 Rule 5 minor league draft from the Nationals' organization. In 2009, between Bowie and Norfolk, he went 1-4, 2.13...
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Staying put for Reimold

Staying put for Reimold
I don't understand why some fans want to move Nolan Reimold to first base. I know the O's have an opening at that position. But they still might acquire someone to play there - plus they have three first basemen on the 40-man roster in Brandon Snyder, Rhyne Hughes and Michael Aubrey. If the O's had any designs at all to put Reimold at first base, we would have heard more about it by now.
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It's Complicated

It's Complicated
That might be the title of a Meryl Streep movie. It could also be a phrase used when talking about Mark McGwire and his admission that he used steroids. McGwire should score some points with fans and media for admitting his mistake. He should lose some points for the fact that it took him this long. But he has at least admitted using steroids. Anyone expecting to hear a similar confession from Barry Bonds and/or Roger Clemens, who many assume also used steroids?
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Hernandez preps for 2010 season

Hernandez preps for 2010 season
After making 19 starts for the Orioles on the mound last year, right hander David Hernandez is quite aware that he is not assured a rotation spot in 2010. But right now he has other important issues to deal with. When I spoke with David by phone Wednesday afternoon, he was speaking from his new house in Elk Grove, California. He and his wife Rachel were awaiting the birth of their first child, a son, that could come at any time. For now, at least for Hernandez, thoughts of the 2010 season...
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More with David Hernandez

More with David Hernandez
Earlier here I presented a story and interview with O's pitcher David Hernandez. He talked about his winter workouts, his outlook for the coming season and his goal to improve his control for 2010. Here are some more quotes from that interview.
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A matter of leadership

A matter of leadership
So what makes a leader on a Major League baseball team? Do all teams need a leader and in what ways does it help to have a strong leader? In a game so filled with statistics, we can't put a number on leadership. And we can debate whether it's important or not.
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More on the Minor League coaches and staff

More on the Minor League coaches and staff
The Orioles recently announced their minor league coaches and staff for the 2010 season. Here are some comments from the man that put the staff together, the O's Director, Player Development, David Stockstill, about this year's staff. Click here to check out the staff for 2010. Of your seven U.S. affiliated teams, five managers return to the club they managed last year. The other two managers return to the organization. How important is continuity like that for the minors? "Very pleased...
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Looking at the Orioles' big picture

Looking at the Orioles' big picture
There are certainly a lot of upset O's fans around here lately. They feel like the club should have added another bat by now and are concerned who will play first and third base next season. But keep in mind this fact - the O's don't need to play a game tomorrow and they still have time left to make a move. Some are unhappy the O's have not spent a lot of money this winter.
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Have you noticed...

Have you noticed...
There are a lot of high draft picks among the players projected in the O's rotation and starting lineup in 2010. The Birds will feature eight starting pitchers or players that were drafted in the first or second rounds, nine if Michael Aubrey starts at first base.
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Pondering a worldwide draft with the O's Joe Jordan

Pondering a worldwide draft with the O's Joe Jordan
It's been discussed for years and now there are reports that Major League baseball has convened a committee to study the possibility of implementing a worldwide draft. Right now, the First-Year Player Draft, that is held in June, covers players from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico only. Players from countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are not eligible to be taken.
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Trembley sets the record straight on Reimold

Trembley sets the record straight on Reimold
He's the Oriole that has probably been the most talked about by the fans this winter. Some suggest Nolan Reimold should be the DH or tried at first base this year. Some feel he should be part of a left-field platoon with Felix Pie. Some have questioned his defensive skills.
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More Dave Trembley comments on Reimold & Pie

More Dave Trembley comments on Reimold & Pie
Earlier today, we posted a blog where O's skipper Dave Trembley confirmed that Nolan Reimold will be the O's starter in left field and that the club has no plans to use Reimold at first base. Here are some other comments from the O's manager.
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The happiest spring training invitee

The happiest spring training invitee
If he isn't the happiest non-roster player that got an invitation to the Orioles' Major League spring training camp, than he's right up there. Less than two years after being drafted in round seven in 2008, catcher Caleb Joseph will rub elbows with the big boys in Sarasota starting next month. He and 11 others have been invited to big league camp.
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A few tidbits as FanFest arrives

A few tidbits as FanFest arrives
I'm looking forward to today's Orioles' FanFest. It's a great day to talk baseball, meet fans and even get some new interviews and material for this blog. I believe I will be at the MASN booth for a time in the late afternoon and I will be hosting a fan forum at 5:00 p.m. called "blogging the Birds." So come on by or stop me anytime just to say hello. In the meantime I have some quotes from recent interviews that didn't appear in the original stories this week.
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Luke Scott said.......

Luke Scott said.......
He was, of course, pleased that he got his contract resolved recently and is able to avoid an arbitration hearing. "My approach has always been simple. I don't need to be wined and dined that not's me. I just want what is fair. I've had people try to walk over me in this life and I won't let that happen. They were fair with me and I'm happy and ready to have the best season of my life." Scott talked about his improved stats last year vs. lefty pitching. "The key is repetition. ...
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Roberts talks about Tejada

Roberts talks about Tejada
Moments ago Brian Roberts talked about the O's likely signing of Miguel Tejada. "I love Miggy, I'm excited. We're excited to have him back if that's the case. We're looking forward to what he brings to the team on and off the field. His personality in the clubhouse and the numbers he puts up." He was asked about Tejada adapting to a move to third base. "If you played shortstop for ten years in the big leagues, you can adapt. Certainly it's not going to be easy. It won't happen...
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MacPhail confirms Tejada agreement

MacPhail confirms Tejada agreement
Andy MacPhail says yes, the O's do have an agreement in principle with Miguel Tejada, pending a physical. He just hinted at that during a fan forum here at FanFest and confirmed that part of the deal with a few reporters after his forum. MacPhail also said Tejada's physical has not yet been scheduled. The one-year deal is believed to be worth about six million dollars, but is not heavy with incentive clasues. Most O's players here were not aware of the possible Tejada signing and were...
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Mickolio is 100 percent (plus FanFest attendance note)

Mickolio is 100 percent (plus FanFest attendance note)
Reliever Kam Mickolio who was bothered by an inflammed bicep tendon late last year, says he is now 100 percent. "I got it checked here Friday by our trainers and everything checked out 100 percent. They said they were impressed with the range of motion and strength. Everything is looking up right now. "I've been throwing for a couple of weeks now. At first, you just get the cobwebs out, now it's feeling probably better than it's ever felt, I'm real happy about it." Mickolio rested...
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