orioles

Brooks Robinson: "I think we need some new blood there"

December 05, 2011, 6:56am

Orioles

Brooks Robinson: "I think we need some new blood there"

DALLAS - I'm happy to report that legendary third baseman Brooks Robinson is here as part of baseball's Golden Era Committee, which voted Ron Santo into the Hall of Fame, and that he's feeling much better these days. Robinson looked frail and unsteady during the ceremony on Oct. 22 to unveil his statue outside of Camden Yards. He's had a litany of health issues, and will undergo two more procedures this winter, but he seems to be doing fine. He stood for quite a while as reporters...

Comments

Tags:

orioles winter meetings brooks robinson frontfeatured_orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Orioles add Lee Thomas as special assistant to executive vice president of baseball operations, Fred Ferreira as executive director of international recruiting

December 05, 2011, 8:04am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have hired veteran baseball executives Lee Thomas as Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and Fred Ferreira as Executive Director of International Recruiting. Thomas brings over five decades of experience in professional baseball, highlighted by Executive of the Year honors in 1993 after leading the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series as General Manager. Thomas served as GM of the Phillies from June 1988 through...

Comments

Tags:

Orioles News Release orioles

Day One in Dallas

December 05, 2011, 4:09am

Orioles

DALLAS - That's technically correct. Yesterday wasn't supposed to count. The Winter Meetings officially begin today. So why am I so tired already? Maybe it's from having to change rooms when I returned to my hotel around midnight. The temperature inside had reached 100 degrees, according to a maintenance guy who used some sort of infra-red light, pointed toward the ceiling vent, to determine that I could roast a chicken in my bed. Talk about a Rotisserie league ... (Sorry, that's the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3 winter meetings

Manny being Manny in Baltimore? Please not here

December 05, 2011, 6:38am

Orioles

Manny being Manny in Baltimore? Please not here

DALLAS - When Andy MacPhail was the Orioles team president, if the club was rumored to be involved with a player at the Winter Meetings and the reports were unfounded, MacPhail could be counted on to set the Baltimore media straight. "I wouldn't go down that road (with that rumor)," was typical of something he might say to let us know that rumor was going to turn out to be just that and nothing more. Given the chance to do that last night about Manny Ramirez, a player he once signed in...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski winter meetings dan duquette frontfeatured_orioles many ramirez frontstory_orioles1

Santo elected into Hall of Fame

December 05, 2011, 6:32am

Orioles

DALLAS - Major League Baseball's Golden Era Committee has voted Cubs legend Ron Santo into the Hall of Fame. Santo needed 12 votes to earn 75 percent. He received 15 of the 16. It's unfortunate that Santo isn't alive to enjoy it. He passed away Dec. 3, 2010. The Committee got it right. Just a year too late. Jim Kaat received 10 votes. Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso each received nine votes, and Tony Oliva eight. Brooks Robinson is part of the Committee, and he's here today. I'll post...

Comments

Tags:

orioles ron santo winter meetings

The Orioles are finally players on the international market

December 04, 2011, 6:44pm

Orioles

DALLAS - When new Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette told me last week that "by the first of the year, I think we will have a very, very strong international recruiting department here. We will add veteran baseball people, scouts and executives," he wasn't kidding. It appears the Orioles' international program went from 0 to 60 in about three seconds. Duquette said he would upgrade the international effort and it seems he has already done more here in a few days than the Orioles...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski dan duquette frontfeatured_orioles

Is Duquette interested in Manny Ramirez?

December 04, 2011, 3:16pm

Orioles

Is Duquette interested in Manny Ramirez?

DALLAS - As soon as news broke earlier today that outfielder Manny Ramirez had applied for reinstatement, everyone here pretty much held the same thought: Would Dan Duquette try to sign him again? Duquette gave Ramirez an eight-year, $160 million deal with the Red Sox back in December 2000. Ramirez could be secured at a much lower rate this winter, and the Orioles are looking to add another bat to their lineup. The designated hitter slot is open, but is Duquette open to a reunion? He...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles manny ramirez frontstory_orioles3

Thomas and Ferreira added to Orioles' front office

December 04, 2011, 12:37pm

Orioles

DALLAS - The Orioles confirmed today that they've hired former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as a special assistant to executive vice president Dan Duquette, and Fred Ferreiera as executive director of international recruiting. Thomas, 75, built the 1993 Phillies team that won the National League pennant - winning Executive of the Year honors that year - but Ed Wade replaced him as GM after four straight losing seasons. He brings over five decades of experience in professional baseball....

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

Lee Thomas on Duquette: "Some people missed the boat on him"

December 04, 2011, 3:09pm

Orioles

Lee Thomas on Duquette: "Some people missed the boat on him"

DALLAS - Dan Duquette and Lee Thomas are working together again. Thomas was hired today as a special assistant to the Orioles' executive vice president of baseball operations. Most recently, Thomas worked as a pro scout for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2004-2006. Prior to that time, he worked for six seasons as special assistant to the general manager and assistant general manager for the Red Sox, working closely with Duquette the majority of those years. Thomas was general manager of the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski dan duquette lee thomas winter meetings featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Dan Duquette: "We're putting the band back together"

December 04, 2011, 2:56pm

Orioles

Dan Duquette: "We're putting the band back together"

DALLAS - The Winter Meetings haven't officially started, but Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette already has met with a few teams and introduced his two latest front office hires to the media. Duquette is looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder who can back up Adam Jones in center and maybe platoon in left. He also wants to "support" the pitching staff and improve the club's defense - which might take us back to that left-handed hitting outfielder. The local media met with...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

New O's scouting director looks to add Florida-area scout

December 02, 2011, 2:51pm

Orioles

New O's scouting director looks to add Florida-area scout

New Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich has only been on the job a few days, but says he'd like to hire some new amateur scouts by the end of the year. Rajsich said it appears his first O's scouting staff could be slightly larger than Joe Jordan's last one. "I would like to add a couple of guys to strengthen some areas that, in talking to our people, are areas where we might be light, staff-wise. I could add a couple of guys in those areas to make sure we cover it properly. Central...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski gary rajsich frontstory_orioles2

Everything's bigger in Texas (updated)

December 04, 2011, 1:23am

Orioles

The above phrase includes all the rumors that will surface at the Winter Meetings. I'm sitting at my American Airlines gate, waiting to board my 7:05 a.m. flight to Dallas. I'm stuck in a middle seat. We're off to a good start. I chose an airline that also filed for bankruptcy, but it's promised to honor all flights. I'll have to serve peanuts and push the drink cart down the aisle, but it's for a good cause. Executive vice president Dan Duquette, manager Buck Showalter, new scouting...

Comments

Tags:

orioles winter meetings frontstory_orioles3

Ferreira and Blakeley among possible front office hires

December 03, 2011, 8:44am

Orioles

Ferreira and Blakeley among possible front office hires

I'm hearing that the Orioles could announce more hires in the front office tomorrow, one day before baseball's Winter Meetings begin in Dallas. The restructuring continues, just as Dan Duquette promised after being hired as executive vice president of baseball operations. According to multiple reports, the Orioles have hired former Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as an assistant to Duquette. A deal apparently was reached earlier this week. Another possible hire is Fred Ferreira as...

Comments

Tags:

orioles dan duquette fred ferreira lee thomas frontstory_orioles2

Dan Duquette: No decision on Jones yet

December 02, 2011, 2:57pm

Orioles

New Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette certainly realizes that Adam Jones would be popular in trade talks and could bring a nice return for the club should it choose to put him on the market. He also knows Jones brings a lot to his team right now and could be a key future core piece as he works to improve the team. "I think that we should build around players like Adam Jones. I'm looking forward to meeting him and I've enjoyed watching him play for a couple of years and...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski adam jones dan duquette frontstory_orioles3

Giving up pitching for pitching?

December 02, 2011, 6:37pm

Orioles

Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie might be the Orioles' biggest bargaining chip this winter. Adam Jones rivals him in that category, but executive vice president Dan Duquette seems intent on holding onto the center fielder and perhaps opening dialogue on a contract extension after the holidays. The Orioles want to acquire a starting pitcher, and they figure that a trade is the best method. But does it make sense to trade a pitcher - especially one who eats up the most innings - for another pitcher? I...

Comments

Tags:

orioles dan duquette frontstory_orioles3 featured_sidebar

To celebrate 20th anniversary of Camden Yards, 20 prizes in 20 days

December 02, 2011, 7:41am

Orioles

To celebrate 20th anniversary of Camden Yards, 20 prizes in 20 days

Who doesn't like to win something? Who doesn't love Camden Yards? Well, the 20th anniversary of the iconic ballpark and the opportunity to land some cool prizes will intersect in January. That's when the Orioles and Delaware North Sportservice will combine to award 20 prizes in 20 days to mark the 20th anniversary of the ballpark that forever changed baseball. Here are some of the prizes up for grabs: * Free season tickets for the 2012 season * The opportunity to throw out a ceremonial...

Comments

Tags:

camden yards orioles orioles buzz pete kerzel frontstory_orioles2

Duquette confirms John Stockstill will remain as head of player development

December 02, 2011, 7:15am

Orioles

Duquette confirms John Stockstill will remain as head of player development

In a phone interview today to discuss the Orioles' minor leagues and player development, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette confirmed that John Stockstill will continue in his current role as director of player development for the team. "Yes, he's in that role. Yes," Duquette said. When asked if that means Stockstill is staying in that role moving forward, Duquette said, "He's in that role." Duquette said he does not plan to have someone in his front...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski dan duquette frontstory_orioles3

This, that and the other (and more)

December 01, 2011, 5:23pm

Orioles

I wonder whether the Orioles will announce Lee Thomas' hiring as assistant general manager, or whatever title they'll give him, or make us wait until everyone is in place, including scouts and the minor league managers and coaches. My assumption is they'll announce Thomas sooner, since they already confirmed Gary Rajsich as director of amateur scouting. Executive vice president Dan Duquette declined comment on Thomas during yesterday's teleconference. Thomas was the Phillies' general...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Is it getting tougher for Orioles farmhands to make the majors?

December 01, 2011, 5:32pm

Orioles

Here is a fair question that some of the Orioles' prospects in the higher minor leagues might be asking these days: How much of a chance will I get in the next year or two with the Orioles? Pitchers wondering that could include Tim Bascom, Steve Johnson, Oliver Drake, Cole McCurry, Chris Tillman and Sean Gleason. Position players asking that could include Ryan Adams, Matt Angle, Josh Bell, Brandon Snyder, Kyle Hudson, Tyler Henson, Xavier Avery, Caleb Joseph, Joe Mahoney, Xavier Avery and LJ...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles featured_sidebar

Orioles announce "20 Prizes in 20 Days" Sweepstakes

December 02, 2011, 7:28am

Orioles

To help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Camden Yards, the ballpark that forever changed baseball, the Orioles, in partnership with Delaware North Sportservice, are giving away 20 prizes in 20 days in January, 2012 to fans who purchase or renew season ticket plans for the upcoming season. Some of the prizes include: * Your season tickets are free for the 2012 season * Opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch * Spring Training getaway for two to Sarasota * Personalized jersey and...