orioles

Cooling off the Crisp rumor (and update on hires)

January 03, 2012, 3:24am

Orioles

Cooling off the Crisp rumor (and update on hires)

Well, that was fun. I've heard from a team source that the Orioles spoke to Coco Crisp's agent a while ago, but nothing significant came from it. Another source shot down any possibility that the Orioles were on the verge of signing Crisp. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com sent two tweets early this morning that read as follows: While Orioles talked to Crisp's agent, it sounds like its not them (I need a new crystal ball). Not a perfect fit for Baltimore. Orioles are looking for a...

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Orioles have "interest" in Hisashi Iwakuma

January 02, 2012, 11:25am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette, still searching for another starting pitcher and also committed to increasing the club's presence in the international market, remains interested in Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, according to an industry source. Iwakuma's name has been floated in the media over the past few months as one possibility for the Orioles, who signed Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada to a two-year deal in December. The Mariners also are in the hunt for...

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Is Crisp coming to Baltimore?

January 02, 2012, 5:25pm

Orioles

Free agent outfielder Coco Crisp reportedly is close to signing with a new team, and a hot rumor tonight links him to the Orioles. Jon Heyman from CBSSports.com is speculating that the Orioles have emerged as the mystery team. Crisp's agent, Steve Comte, recently told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that his client had made a decision. The Orioles already have Adam Jones in center field, and they signed Endy Chavez as a fourth outfielder. However, Heyman is speculating that...

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Did you know ... ?

January 02, 2012, 3:47am

Orioles

Before we leave 2011 completely behind, I wanted to share a few items from the Orioles' season summary that I brought home from the Winter Meetings. Nick Markakis fell out of the 40-doubles club, but he became only the eighth player in baseball to record 30 or more doubles in each of the last five seasons. He's recorded 180 or more hits in five seasons, the most in club history. Jeremy Guthrie became the 11th pitcher in Orioles history to start 30 or more games in four seasons....

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Thoughts on Edwin Jackson, the AL East and Matt Hobgood

January 01, 2012, 7:46pm

Orioles

Thoughts on Edwin Jackson, the AL East and Matt Hobgood

I have been reading that free agent pitcher Edwin Jackson wants a four-year contract and it's no surprise that Scott Boras is shooting for the moon here. This is a pitcher that has already played for six different teams and has a career ERA of 4.46. Jackson did have a solid 2011 season, going 12-9 with an ERA of 3.79 between the White Sox and Cardinals. But he gives up a lot of hits and his WHIP of 1.437 last year (better than his career number of 1.476) would have ranked second among O's...

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What about Ryan Adams?

January 01, 2012, 7:45am

Orioles

I woke up with a headache, so I'm asking that everyone please blink a little softer today. Thanks much. Each time that I've written about the lineup and how second base could shape up, I'm inevitably asked about Ryan Adams. I've been excluding him because his name hasn't come up in discussions with executive vice president Dan Duquette. It could be a simple matter of Duquette focusing on Brian Roberts, Robert Andino and the players who have been acquired over the last few months - Matt...

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We'll be missing one key Oriole in 2012

December 29, 2011, 6:46pm

Orioles

As this calender year comes to a close it is sad to think that we won't be seeing Mike Flanagan during the 2012 season. I've said it many times, but among all the Orioles I've been lucky to meet over many years, none loved being an Oriole any more than Flanny. It is still stunning to think about the events of last August. I saw where SBNation, reflecting on Jim Palmer's tearful tribute to Flanny that night, named that as the top sportscasting moment of 2011. I don't know that I would...

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Dan Duquette: Between a rock and a (frustrated) fan base

December 30, 2011, 6:17pm

Orioles

Dan Duquette: Between a rock and a (frustrated) fan base

There can be no doubt that many Orioles fans are frustrated and they are beaten down by 14 straight losing seasons. As someone who went to his first game at Memorial Stadium at the age of 6 and later covered many of those seasons, I can relate. I don't completely relate, though, to the fans who seem to be clinging to seemingly extreme long shot hope that the Orioles will sign free agent Prince Fielder. I just don't see it happening and think the odds are not good at all. Yet some fans are...

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The rotation, bullpen, Fielder, minor league managers and Mora

December 29, 2011, 6:24pm

Orioles

The rotation, bullpen, Fielder, minor league managers and Mora

As the Orioles continue to pursue starting pitchers, with two of their targets being Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin and free-agent lefty Joe Saunders, I wonder whether a trade is in the works. Otherwise, the Orioles might be going with a 10-man rotation. I can immediately rattle off five starters: Jeremy Guthrie, Tsuyoshi Wada, Tommy Hunter, Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton. Then I'm reminded that the Orioles traded for left-hander Dana Eveland at the Winter Meetings. He's supposed to be a...

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Orioles still pursuing Chen Wei-Yin, interested in Saunders

December 29, 2011, 11:09am

Orioles

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette hasn't ended his search for starting pitching, and an industry source confirmed that the club remains interested in Taiwanese left-hander Chen Wei-Yin. Chen, 26, was 8-10 with a 2.68 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) this year for the Chunichi Dragons of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. The Orioles have scouted Chen multiple times. Unlike Yu Darvish, he doesn't require a posting fee. Duqette already has signed Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi...

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Palmer's tearful memories of teammate named top 2011 sportscasting moment

December 29, 2011, 9:29am

Orioles

Palmer's tearful memories of teammate named top 2011 sportscasting moment

We live in an era of television where today's great moment is tomorrow's distant memory. There's just too frequent a cycling of information and pictures for most broadcasts to burn a place in our consciousness. But according to SBNation, the most compelling television moment in sports during 2011 appeared on MASN's airwaves, where Orioles color commentator Jim Palmer didn't hide his emotions while discussing the shocking suicide death of former teammate Mike Flanagan, a fellow MASN...

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"Curse of the Andino" ranks No. 1

December 28, 2011, 3:55pm

Orioles

As 2011 draws to a close, we're wading in a steady stream of "favorite moment" stories and blog entries. Be sure to roll up your pant legs. I'm not a huge fan of the format because it's cliched and formula. Every newspaper in the country falls into this trap. Reporters submit their amusing or touching anecdotes from the year in sports. Whatever happened on their respective beats that will somehow stay with them until they die - or until they're given another assignment by their...

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Updating O's scouting and Boras talks about Fielder

December 28, 2011, 5:26pm

Orioles

Updating O's scouting and Boras talks about Fielder

New Orioles amateur scouting director Gary Rajsich continues to set up his staff and department now with about six months remaining before the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He recently hired Danny Haas from the Red Sox organization to serve as a national crosschecker. Haas was a player in the Boston farm system when Rajsich worked for the Red Sox. Haas and Ron Hopkins will be the Orioles' two national crosscheckers. Jim Thrift, who was the Orioles' major league advance scout last year, will...

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Filling out my Hall of Fame ballot

December 28, 2011, 4:43am

Orioles

I have to submit my Hall of Fame ballot by Saturday, so it's probably a good idea to fill it out today before I forget. I've been stalling because I can't decide on Terry Mulholland. Lots of sleepless nights here. But seriously ... It's Brad Radke and Tony Womack that keep me tossing and turning. But seriously ... The Baseball Writers' Association of America allows for up to 10 players to receive votes. This year's group consists of: Jeff Bagwell Jeromy Burnitz Vinny Castilla Juan...

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Projecting the starting rotation

December 27, 2011, 6:47pm

Orioles

Many things could change between now and April, but at this moment, with the current makeup of the roster, here is my projected Orioles starting rotation and order of the five: Jeremy Guthrie Zach Britton Jake Arrieta Tsuyoshi Wada Tommy Hunter I am certainly not counting Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Dana Eveland and/or Brad Bergesen out of the picture, but if I had to pick five right now, that is my list. I could even see Jim Johnson still factoring into the picture, but right now the...

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The one position where other teams are envious of the Orioles

December 26, 2011, 6:18pm

Orioles

If there is one position where the Orioles are set for the next several seasons and one position where they can hold their own with just about every other club in baseball, it is catcher. With Matt Wieters, they have a 25-year-old catcher that is a Gold Glove winner, was a first-time All-Star in 2011, a switch-hitter, a player that is big and durable and is under team control through the 2015 season. Those factors would make most teams envious of what the Orioles have at that...

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Join MASNsports.com bloggers at Shorebirds' Jan. 28 Hot Stove Banquet

December 27, 2011, 7:32am

Orioles

Join MASNsports.com bloggers at Shorebirds' Jan. 28 Hot Stove Banquet

Back in the days before the Internet, Twitter and MLBTradeRumors.com, folks whiled away the winter months by sitting around and talking baseball. They didn't wait for the next day's newspaper, the 11 p.m. news or a few seconds of diamond discussion on the radio; they talked among themselves, shared opinions and engaged in meaningful dialogue. Taking a cue from this old-school approach, the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds have changed the format of their annual Hot Stove Banquet, which will be...

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Will Jim Johnson be the closer?

December 26, 2011, 6:45pm

Orioles

We've known all along that Jim Johnson's role in 2012 would be determined by the moves made over the winter. If the Orioles fortified the bullpen and were short on starters, he would join the rotation. If they signed and traded for enough starters, he would continue to be a reliever. It's still December and the jury is still out, but Johnson looks like a late-inning reliever. Remember how executive vice president Dan Duquette responded two weeks ago to a question about Johnson's role...

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Lining up the starting nine

December 26, 2011, 3:51am

Orioles

The Heat beat the Mavericks yesterday in a rematch of the NBA finals, which leads me to this question: The NBA season has started? We're still waiting on baseball. I told you earlier this month that pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 18. Position players report Feb. 23, with the first full-squad workout being held the following day. Is anyone here Sarasota-bound? The renovations continue at Ed Smith Stadium. The clubhouses are being upgraded, and changes also are being...

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Are you still confident in the young pitchers?

December 26, 2011, 6:14am

Orioles

Are you still confident in the young pitchers?

It was true last year and likely will be true again next year: The Orioles can improve as a team, but they need their young pitching to take a step forward in 2012. The opposite pretty much is what we saw last year. * Brian Matusz ended 2010 going 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA over his last eight starts, then got injured, lost his fastball and went 1-9 with an ERA of 10.69 last season. * Jake Arrieta's ERA increased from 4.66 during his 2010 rookie year to 5.05 last summer. * Zach Britton had his ups...