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Hudson claimed by Rangers

January 28, 2012, 4:29pm

Orioles

I just returned from the Shorebirds' Hot Stove Banquet at the Delmar VFW, where I was introduced to slippery dumplings. Where have they been all my life? Many thanks to the Shorebirds for making me feel right at home. They also overfed me. And they couldn't have been more gracious hosts. In case you missed my tweet earlier today, the Texas Rangers announced that they signed outfielder Kyle Hudson to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The Orioles designated Hudson for...

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Brooks Robinson apparently fine after falling at event

January 27, 2012, 5:45pm

Orioles

Brooks Robinson apparently fine after falling at event

Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson fell off a stage tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood Fla., where he was attending the Joe D Legends Classic. I'm told that he was coherent as paramedics transported him to a local hospital as a precaution. The fall was unrelated to Robinson's previous health issues. Robinson, 74, tumbled as he stood up to leave the stage, which sat a few feet above the floor. Earlier in the night, former Senators and Braves catcher Paul...

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As spring training approaches, the natives are very restless

January 27, 2012, 5:02pm

Orioles

As spring training approaches, the natives are very restless

It strikes me that the MASNsports.com message boards were buzzing with a lot more positive talk this time last year. I remember the many, many fans that insisted the Orioles could be a playoff team last year, coming off their 34-23 finish in 2010. The fans were also overwhelmingly in favor of bringing Vlad Guerrero in to serve as the DH, even at a $8 million price tag. The young pitchers finished real strong in 2010 and were ready to take the next step and the future was bright, many felt...

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Orioles sign 18-year-old outfielder from Guatemala

January 27, 2012, 8:22am

Orioles

Forget the free-agent market. The Orioles clearly want to do most of their shopping in the international market. The Orioles have signed Andres Aguilar, an 18-year-old outfielder from Guatemala. He'll be assigned to the Gulf Coast League team unless the roster is full. If there's no room, he'll be placed on the Dominican Summer League team. Here's Aguilar taking a round of batting practice: Fred Ferreira, the Orioles' executive director of international recruiting, returned home from...

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Sarasota County libraries and the Baltimore Orioles team up to promote reading

January 27, 2012, 8:40am

Orioles

For the second consecutive year, Sarasota County libraries and the Baltimore Orioles are teaming up to promote reading through the Orioles Big League Reader program. Children who sign up for the program and read three or more books in the month of February will receive a reserved grandstand ticket to the Wednesday, March 14 game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last season over one hundred Sarasota-area children completed the program and were eligible to receive a free ticket to an Orioles spring...

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Orioles announce minor league staffs

January 26, 2012, 12:15pm

Orioles

The Orioles finally released the names of their minor league managers and coaches for 2012. There are no surprises among the managers. As you probably have read, former Red Sox first base coach Ron Johnson will be in charge of Triple-A Norfolk. Gary Kendall returns to Double-A Bowie, Orlando Gomez returns to Single-A Frederick and Ryan Minor returns to Single-A Delmarva. Gary Allenson moves down from Norfolk to short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Ramon Sambo returns as manager of the Gulf Coast...

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Prospects and other notes

January 26, 2012, 5:52pm

Orioles

I'm still recovering this morning from the news that Robert Hegyes, who played Juan Epstein on the 1970s hit "Welcome Back, Kotter," died yesterday of a heart attack. He was 60. I've already made a "note from his mother" reference to friends, so you won't be the first. (If you're too young to know what I'm talking about, there's nothing I can do for you. We'll just move on.) Baseball America released its prospect handbook, Here's the top 31 for the Orioles (Yes, 31. The book...

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Some thoughts from the new Orioles minor league hitting coach

January 26, 2012, 4:40pm

Orioles

Part of Dan Duquette's restructuring of the Orioles' player development system was his hiring of Mike Boulanger as the O's minor league hitting coordinator. Boulanger will oversee the batting coaches and instruction of all the hitters on the O's farm. Boulanger brings plenty of experience to Baltimore as both a minor league coach and manager and has ties to both Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. From 2000-2002, Boulanger was a minor league manager when Duquette was the Red Sox GM and he...

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Orioles name minor league managers, coaches and staff

January 26, 2012, 12:14pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced the coaching staffs for their seven minor league affiliates for the 2012 season. Ron Johnson joins the organization as the manager at Triple-A Norfolk after spending the last 12 seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization, including the 2010-11 seasons as the first base coach for the major league club. Johnson has posted a 1,261-1,262 record in 18 seasons as a minor league manager. Mike Griffin will serve as pitching coach for the fifth consecutive season in the...

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Hoiles, Cespedes and more

January 25, 2012, 5:36pm

Orioles

As I told you yesterday, former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles will serve as an instructor in spring training. He leaves for Sarasota on Feb. 16, two days before pitchers and catchers report. Hoiles' duties will be more clearly defined next month. He's expected to serve as a roving instructor, moving between the major league and minor league camps. He'll work with the catchers, of course, but he also could offer instruction on hitting. "I'll go back and forth if that's what the team...

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Notes on O's prospects, long-term contracts, Angle, Cordero and more

January 25, 2012, 5:51pm

Orioles

Notes on O's prospects, long-term contracts, Angle, Cordero and more

Here is a question to think about: Are all the top sluggers eventually going to wind up in the American League? After Albert Pujols got a 10-year deal from the Angels and Prince Fielder got a nine-year contract from the Tigers, two of the game's most-feared sluggers have moved to the AL. Fielder was second in the National League with 38 homers last year and Pujols was third with 37. While neither player was signed to serve as a designated hitter, just knowing the DH spot is there for those...

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WBAL Radio announces list of spring training games to be broadcast

January 25, 2012, 12:24pm

Orioles

WBAL Radio announces list of spring training games to be broadcast

MASN recently released its schedule of Orioles spring training games to be broadcast on the air. But if you're not a television kind of person, or you're stuck in the early 20th century, then you're in luck. WBAL Radio announced today plans to broadcast 16 Orioles spring training games, beginning with the team's March 5 showdown with the Pittsburgh Pirates. WBAL Radio is the flagship station of the Orioles and will again broadcast all 162 games during the regular season. Here is the...

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WBAL Radio to broadcast 16 Orioles spring training games

January 25, 2012, 10:36am

Orioles

The Orioles and 1090 AM WBAL Radio, the flagship station of the Orioles Radio Network, have announced that 16 Orioles spring training games will be broadcast in 2012. The schedule includes the spring opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates from Ed Smith Stadium on Monday, March 5 at 7:05 p.m., and nine additional home games from the new Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Six of the 16 broadcasts will feature 30-minute Pre-Game and Post-Game Shows. MASN previously announced that they will broadcast...

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Betemit: "I just want to go out there and play" (with note)

January 25, 2012, 7:50am

Orioles

Betemit: "I just want to go out there and play" (with note)

I just got off the phone with newest Oriole Wilson Betemit, who's back home in the Dominican Republic after signing a two-year deal worth $3.25 million that includes a $3.2 million vesting option for 2014. Betemit explained why he chose the Orioles. While the money offered is an obvious reason, he added, "My agent told me I'd get an opportunity to play over there. I just want to go out there and play. It's an opportunity to play and try to help the team win and play whatever position they...

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Orioles spring training tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28

January 25, 2012, 6:07am

Orioles

Individual tickets for all 16 of the Orioles' spring training games at Ed Smith Stadium will go on sale this Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. It is recommended that fans purchase tickets online, by phone or at select area Wal-Mart locations . Last season, the Orioles set an all-time Sarasota attendance record at Ed Smith Stadium with 115,506 fans over 16 games, including 10 sellouts. Fans interested in season tickets, five game flex-plans or group tickets, or those wishing to receive additional...

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Where do we go now? (Andino signs)

January 24, 2012, 6:07pm

Orioles

Prince Fielder is off the board, and we're left to ponder how much the Orioles were really in on him. Or we can just move on and never again speak his name. I felt a sense of relief yesterday after news broke that Fielder had agreed to a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Tigers, who get to wear the 2012 label of "Scott Boras' Mystery Team." Not because, as a few readers suggested, I didn't want the Orioles to sign him. Preposterous. Why would I root against a feared left-handed...

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Orioles agree to terms with infielder Robert Andino

January 25, 2012, 5:39am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with infielder Robert Andino on a one-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration. Andino, 27, batted .263/.327/.344 in 2011 for the Orioles, setting career-highs in games (139), at-bats (457), runs (63), hits (120), doubles (22), home runs (5), RBIs (36), stolen bases (13), walks (41) and total bases (157). He appeared defensively at second and third base, shortstop and left field.

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Taking a closer look at the Wilson Betemit signing

January 24, 2012, 8:25pm

Orioles

Taking a closer look at the Wilson Betemit signing

The Orioles are getting some criticism for signing Wilson Betemit to a two-year contract. Not only is it a two-year deal, but there is a vesting option for the 2014 season. This for a player that has never been a season-long regular for any team and has never had more than 373 at-bats in any one season. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and MLB Network wrote this late yesterday via Twitter: lost in huge day is how wilson betemit gets $3.25M guaranteed for 2 w/ $3.2M vesting option for '14 w/...

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Duquette on Betemit and Fielder

January 24, 2012, 7:03am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette keeps placing emphasis on improving the Orioles' on-base capabilities, and he feels that he took another step in that direction by signing infielder Wilson Betemit to a two-year deal with a vesting option for 2014. Betemit has posted on-base percentages of .378 and .343 the past two seasons. And he's been better hitting from the left side, which also appeals to Duquette. "We like his bat, and if you take a look at what he's done the last two...

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Fielder is not an Oriole and some fans won't understand that

January 24, 2012, 10:28am

Orioles

Fielder is not an Oriole and some fans won't understand that

In the end, while the Detroit Tigers have come seemingly out of nowhere to get Prince Fielder, to me it's no surprise that Fielder ended up with a winning team and in the American League. Any team willing to give a player those years and that money - and it's been reported as a nine-year, $214 million deal - better at least have the designated hitter spot ready for him at some point. I think that's an insane contract, but I felt the same way about the Albert Pujols deal with the...