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O's claim O'Day on waivers, reinstate trio from 60-day DL

November 02, 2011, 10:03am

Orioles

O's claim O'Day on waivers, reinstate trio from 60-day DL

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-hander Darren O'Day on waivers from the Texas Rangers. O'Day, 29, was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (16.2IP, 10ER) in 16 games for the American League champions this season. He was also 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA (21.1IP, 6ER), 27 strikeouts and four walks in 18 total games with Double-A Frisco (one game) and Triple-A Round Rock (17 games). In four major league seasons with the Angels (2008), Mets ('09) and Rangers ('09-'11), O'Day is 8-5 with a...

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The search isn't over

November 01, 2011, 8:09pm

Orioles

I opened yesterday's entry by saying that we might have an announcement on a new president of baseball operations, and I came close to being right. An offer was made to Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava. He turned it down yesterday. Otherwise... LaCava returned home, huddled with his family and broke the news to the Orioles that he wasn't leaving the Blue Jays. I'm sick of this topic, but it won't go away. Dodgers executive De Jon Watson is waiting to find out whether...

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Wieters on Wieters

November 02, 2011, 5:48am

Orioles

Catcher Matt Wieters was made available to reporters in a conference call earlier this morning. Here are some of his comments regarding his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award: "I take a lot of pride in the award," he said. "It's definitely something I always work at to get better, and to be able to win a Gold Glove, I'm honored to be in the same class as the other great catchers in the game defensively. It's an honor, for sure. I'm very blessed to be able to win the award this early in my...

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Wieters and Markakis: A Gold Glove story (Hardy denied)

November 01, 2011, 10:35am

Orioles

Wieters and Markakis: A Gold Glove story (Hardy denied)

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters can add "Gold Glove winner" to his expanding resume. Named to his first All-Star team over the summer, Wieters just learned that he's also won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Wieters beat out American League finalists A.J. Pierzynski and Alex Avila for the award, which was announced on ESPN2. He's the first catcher to win the award in club history. Nick Markakis also won his first Gold Glove in right field, beating out the Angels' Torii Hunter and the...

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Xavier Avery talks about being named to AFL Rising Stars Game

November 01, 2011, 8:00pm

Orioles

Xavier Avery talks about being named to AFL Rising Stars Game

Orioles outfield prospect Xavier Avery rode an 11-game hitting tear right onto a roster spot for the East squad in Saturday's Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game. The rosters were released Tuesday and Avery earned a spot on the East squad that will take on the West team Saturday night at 8:10 p.m. Eastern time in a game that will be televised live on the MLB Network. "I'm happy about it. It's a compliment. It's great," Avery said by phone last night from Arizona. In 19 AFL games...

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Wieters and Markakis claim first Gold Gloves

November 01, 2011, 7:46pm

Orioles

Wieters and Markakis claim first Gold Gloves

Late tonight, Rawlings announced that Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and right fielder Nick Markakis have been named this year's American League Gold Glove Award recipients for defensive excellence at their respective positions. The award for Wieters culminates a season in which the 25-year-old was also named to his first All-Star team and set new career-highs in eight offensive categories, including hits, home runs, runs and RBIs. His .995 fielding percentage tied for the American League lead...

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LaCava staying with Blue Jays (updated twice)

November 01, 2011, 1:58pm

Orioles

LaCava staying with Blue Jays (updated twice)

Tony LaCava has decided to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays as assistant general manager, and the Orioles are discussing the possibility of bringing in more outside candidates. Apparently, LaCava was ready to accept an offer from the Orioles until flying back into Baltimore yesterday for a second meeting. I'm told the issues that cropped up for LaCava didn't involve ownership or manager Buck Showalter. However, a deal couldn't be reached. The Orioles have interviewed four candidates,...

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A few words from Tony LaCava

November 01, 2011, 5:35pm

Orioles

I just got off the phone with Tony LaCava, who earlier today turned down the Orioles' offer to become their president of baseball operations. LaCava insisted that, in the end, he didn't want to leave Toronto. And he understands that most people will think he's crazy. "I really enjoy my job in Toronto, and I have a GM that I work with (Alex Anthopoulos) who's like a brother to me," LaCava said. "We're very, very close. We have a really good dynamic between us. I wasn't looking to...

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In "The Home Team," Bready labored to preserve Baltimore baseball history

November 01, 2011, 8:58am

Orioles

In "The Home Team," Bready labored to preserve Baltimore baseball history

Because of a death in the family, I reconnected with an old friend this morning. Seeing news that longtime Baltimore newspaperman and author James H. Bready had died at 92 on Saturday made me long for the pre-Internet days when baseball hungry minds had to crack open a book if they wanted to learn a batting average, ERA or the principals in a trade. Bready wrote one of the best tomes to Orioles baseball, "The Home Team," an oversized paperback - thin by today's standards - that holds a...

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It will take more than one man to fix the Orioles

October 31, 2011, 6:03am

Orioles

I think there is one point that all of us need to keep in mind when it comes to the Orioles and the search for the next general manager: One man cannot, by himself, fix the Orioles. Just as one player can't turn around a team and it takes many players and teamwork and chemistry, the same is true of the front office. The top executive makes the biggest decisions and provides his vision for the organization. But usually he doesn't make those decisions without the help, input and knowledge of...

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Markakis, Hardy and Wieters nominated for Gold Gloves, more GM stuff

October 31, 2011, 12:48pm

Orioles

Markakis, Hardy and Wieters nominated for Gold Gloves, more GM stuff

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis, shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt Wieters are finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. Markakis, the Angels' Torii Hunter and the Royals' Jeff Francoeur are the finalists among American League right fielders. Ichiro, a 10-time winner, didn't make the cut. Hardy, the Angels' Erick Aybar and the Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera are the league's finalists among shortstops. Wieters, the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynksi and the Tigers' Alex Avila are the...

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Show them the money

October 30, 2011, 7:08pm

Orioles

Former Orioles Jerry Hairston Jr. and Willie Harris filed for free agency yesterday. Any interest? What if Robert Andino winds up as the everyday second baseman and the Orioles need a super-utility player? Teams have five days after the World Series to negotiate with their free agents before they hit the open market. The Cesar Izturis train has left the station. Manager Buck Showalter has stated more than once that he expects Vladimir Guerrero to receive another one-year deal over the winter,...

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Nationals' 2012 interleague schedule no easy task

October 30, 2011, 9:44pm

Nationals Orioles

Nationals' 2012 interleague schedule no easy task

The Nationals got on their biggest roll in 2011 when they feasted on Seattle, Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox in June. It was one of the many reasons that factor into how a season plays out: the strength of schedule. The Nationals won 15 of their final 20 games to finish with at least 80 wins for the first time since 2005. Those two runs turned out to be crucial in the 80-81 finish. The Nats were able to post winning records of 17-10 in June and September. Ironically, Washington was able...

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Quick Jakubauskas update

October 30, 2011, 11:16am

Orioles

It took longer to type his last name. Pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who cleared waivers last week, has refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected to become a free agent. Jakubauskas was outrighted previously, which allowed him to refuse the assignment. He also would have qualified as a minor league free agent later this week. Jakubauskas, 32, was 2-2 with a 5.72 ERA in 33 games (six starts) and 72 1/3 innings for the Orioles this season. He wasn't invited to spring...

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More morning musings (with note)

October 29, 2011, 4:35pm

Orioles

Tony LaCava. De Jon Watson. John Stockstill. No more Jerry Dipoto. LaCava the likely hire at this point. Should know soon. There's your incremental non-update update on the Orioles' GM situation. The Pirates released their spring training schedule, which includes four games against the Orioles: March 5 and 14 in Sarasota, and March 25 (7:05 p.m.) and 31 (split-squad) in Bradenton. The Yankees exercised their $14 million option on Robinson Cano's contract, so you can remove his name from...

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Avery's bat heats up in the AFL plus other winter ball news

October 28, 2011, 7:52pm

Orioles

Avery's bat heats up in the AFL plus other winter ball news

Xavier Avery, the Orioles' 21-year-old outfield prospect, got off to a terrible start for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, but now he is starting to hit and make up for lost time. After going just 2-for-26 (.077) in his first eight AFL games, Avery is batting .419 (13-for-31) in his last eight games. In that span he has three triples, seven RBIs, 10 runs scored and four multi-hit games. In 16 games overall, Avery is batting .263 with one double, four triples, no homers and nine...

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A few morning notes

October 28, 2011, 9:33pm

Orioles

While wondering if there's a way to turn ignored calls and text messages into cash ... The Rangers failed last night to become the first road team to win Game 7 of the World Series since the Pirates in 1979. Sorry for the reminder. Also sorry to see Michael Gonzalez limp off the mound with an injury. He won't win many popularity contests in Baltimore, but he's a standup guy who truly feels bad that he didn't pitch better with the Orioles, and that fans didn't get to see him at his best...

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What if Gary Thorne called a walk-off World Series homer ...

October 28, 2011, 1:03pm

Orioles

What if Gary Thorne called a walk-off World Series homer ...

Well, he did - just not for the Orioles. The venerable MASN play-by-play man, whose home run calls pack so much unbridled joy and enthusiasm into mere seconds, is working for ESPN during the Fall Classic, calling games for ESPN International, which distributes the World Series games to a worldwide audience. Fans get the games in three languages - English, Spanish and Portugese - throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East and via ESPN America throughout Europe. Thorne...

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With Tatum claimed, backup catcher also needed (more moves)

October 28, 2011, 11:56am

Orioles

With Tatum claimed, backup catcher also needed (more moves)

The Orioles lost their backup catcher when the Houston Astros claimed Craig Tatum off waivers. Tatum began the season at Triple-A Norfolk and batted .195 in 31 games with the Orioles. He had three doubles and seven RBIs. Tatum beat out Chad Moeller for the backup job in 2010 and batted .281 in 43 games, with four doubles and nine RBIs, but the Orioles made Jake Fox the backup coming out of spring training this year. Tatum made it back to Baltimore during the summer because he was a defensive...

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Orioles outright Fox, Jakubausakas; Tatum claimed off waivers

October 28, 2011, 12:11pm

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas and catcher Jake Fox have cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles also announced that catcher Craig Tatum has been claimed on waivers by the Houston Astros. Jakubauskas, 32, was 2-2 with a 5.72 ERA (72.1IP, 46ER) in 33 games (six starts) for the Orioles in 2011. Fox, 29, batted .246 (15-61) with two homers and six RBI in 27 games for the Orioles, while Tatum, 29, batted .195 (17-87) with...