orioles

Thoughts on Machado, international scouting and Uehara

October 13, 2011, 5:08pm

Orioles

Thoughts on Machado, international scouting and Uehara

He may not have posted big stats this year when he played for the Single-A Frederick Keys, but Orioles 2010 top draft pick Manny Machado still made a big impression on his manager, Orlando Gomez, who enjoyed working with the 19-year-old shortstop. "It's been fun. You have to teach and be patient and let him know when you don't like something. Try to keep his mind positive and let him see things he needs to do to keep improving," Gomez said of Machado. "He's very level-headed. He gets...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2 koji uehara manny machado featured_sidebar

The fluid list

October 13, 2011, 8:12pm

Orioles

I've decided that "fluid" is my favorite term to describe the Orioles' list of general manager candidates. If only I knew how to describe the job itself. General manager. President of baseball operations. Whatever. It's the same responsibilities previously bestowed upon Andy MacPhail. The list keeps changing, depending on who you follow on Twitter. In fairness, it's going to take on different looks, no matter who's passing it along, because candidates were added and removed during this...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

Jordan on Hobgood, his staff, the 2009 draft and more

October 12, 2011, 6:17pm

Orioles

Jordan on Hobgood, his staff, the 2009 draft and more

As Joe Jordan leaves the Orioles for the Phillies, I guess he can finally go several weeks without getting a phone call from me. We'll have less to talk about now, but I sure wish him the best. He's done so many interviews with me since 2004, I've lost track. I have asked so many questions about Matt Hobgood that I've lost track of that. A typical conversation between us might go like this: Joe: Steve, Britton was sure good last night. What did you think of that sinker? Steve: Looked...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski joe jordan frontstory_orioles2

Graham a leading candidate for farm director

October 13, 2011, 1:32pm

Orioles

Graham a leading candidate for farm director

If the Orioles decide to replace John Stockstill as director of player development, the top in-house candidate appears to be former coach Brian Graham, the coordinator of minor league instruction. We've been told that the final decision will be made by the new president of baseball operations. The Orioles are trying to make these hires and announcements in their proper order. But multiple sources in the industry have confirmed that Graham is a leading contender for the job and would be highly...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles3

A timely, non-Orioles Chuck Thompson memory

October 13, 2011, 12:02pm

Orioles

Fifty-one years ago this afternoon, at precisely 3:36 p.m., a guy who became synonymous with the Orioles called arguably the greatest home run in baseball history. In Pittsburgh, no less. Chuck Thompson was doing the national radio broadcast for NBC when Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski stepped to the plate at Forbes Field and hit a 1-0 pitch from the Yankees' Ralph Terry over the left field wall to give the battling Buccos the 1960 World Series. To folks in Pittsburgh, the sight of a...

Comments

Tags:

chuck thompson frontstory_orioles3 orioles orioles buzz pete kerzel

Adair's role to be determined

October 12, 2011, 6:04pm

Orioles

Manager Buck Showalter will likely remain in Baltimore through the weekend while trying to speed up the process of interviewing candidates for general manager/president of baseball operations and making a hire. This thing can't drag out much longer. Showalter wants the coaching staff to become more settled by the weekend. We might not learn every name, but we could find out if anyone is leaving. The Orioles need a bullpen coach after Rick Adair replaced Mark Connor as pitching coach on June...

Comments

Tags:

orioles buck showalter frontfeatured_orioles rick adair featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Byrnes off Orioles' GM list

October 12, 2011, 4:16pm

Orioles

The Orioles are expected to begin contacting teams tomorrow to receive permission to interview candidates for general manager/president of baseball operations. I'm not sure which title will be used, so I'm playing it safe. The list is a moving target, to use one of manager Buck Showalter's favorite expressions. Thad Levine (Rangers), Tony LaCava (Blue Jays), Dan Jennings (Marlins) and J.P. Ricciardi (Mets) remain on it, though Ricciardi is an unlikely hire. I'd place him at the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Joe Jordan talks about his decision to leave the Orioles

October 12, 2011, 12:09pm

Orioles

It all happened very fast for Joe Jordan, who left his job today after seven years as the Orioles scouting director to take the position of head of player development for the Philadelphia Phillies. Jordan said as he was flying home Friday from the Orioles' instructional league in Sarasota Fla., the Phillies were asking permission to interview him. That interview took place Monday and yesterday afternoon he was offered the Phillies' position. Jordan said he could have stayed with the Orioles...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1 joe jordan

A closer look at Joe Jordan's time as scouting director

October 12, 2011, 8:47am

Orioles

A closer look at Joe Jordan's time as scouting director

When Orioles fans debate how Joe Jordan did in his seven years as scouting director, most will first mention Matt Hobgood and Billy Rowell. Rowell has simply not come close to panning out and may be headed on his way out of the organization and the returns so far on Hobgood are pretty bleak. Hobgood still has time to salvage his career though, so he can't be written off yet. But many fans will never forgive Jordan for these two picks. My thoughts are that Jordan did a decent job as O's...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2

O's scouting director Joe Jordan is leaving to join Phillies

October 11, 2011, 6:15pm

Orioles

O's scouting director Joe Jordan is leaving to join Phillies

The Orioles can add the position of scouting director to their front office search. After seven seasons as the Orioles' director of amateur scouting, Joe Jordan is leaving the organization to take a job with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jordan is expected to be named the Phillies' director of player development. He interviewed with the team this week and accepted the position today. Jordan interviewed Monday with the Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. along with Phillies senior advisor...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles joe jordan featured_sidebar

More movement in Orioles organization

October 12, 2011, 8:35am

Orioles

Like many others, I've been anticipating heavy turnover in the Orioles' organization, and it's been unfolding over the past few days. Andy MacPhail no longer will serve as president of baseball operations, news that became official late Friday night. As I tweeted earlier this morning, scouting director Joe Jordan has been hired as the Phillies' director of player development. (Check out this report from MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski.) The Orioles have lost two amateur scouts. Keith...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles1

Nick Markakis: "I want to be here for the good times"

October 11, 2011, 6:40pm

Orioles

Nick Markakis: "I want to be here for the good times"

Orioles fans have head to deal with 14 consecutive years of losing. No players have had to deal with all that losing, but Nick Markakis has been a part of the organization for the last nine seasons. Markakis was a first-round draft pick in 2003. How has the losing impacted him and his career? "This is where I started, this is the team that drafted me and brought me through the minors," Markakis said. "I'm completing my sixth year now (in the majors). I've been here through the tough...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

The Fab 5 list of GM candidates

October 11, 2011, 3:11pm

Orioles

The Orioles are putting together a list of candidates to replace president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. They haven't sought permission to interview anyone, but that soon will change. A source confirmed that the short list includes Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine, Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava, Marlins assistant GM Dan Jennings, Padres vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes and Mets special assistant J.P. Ricciardi. Other candidates could surface,...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

Frederick pitching coach sizes up Bundy and Schrader

October 10, 2011, 7:37pm

Orioles

Frederick pitching coach sizes up Bundy and Schrader

One big reason the Single-A Frederick Keys won the Carolina League championship this year was solid pitching. The Keys' team ERA of 3.22 was the best in the league. Two of their better pitchers this year were 21-year-old right-handers Bobby Bundy and Clayton Schrader. Both put up big numbers for the Keys, but neither ended the year with Frederick. Bundy moved to Double-A Bowie in August and Schrader didn't pitch after July 25 due a right elbow flexor mass strain. Frederick pitching coach...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski blaine beatty bobby bundy clayton schrader frontstory_orioles2

Accardo outrighted again

October 11, 2011, 9:36am

Orioles

Orioles reliever Jeremy Accardo cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. See, the Orioles can still conduct business without a president of baseball operations. Accardo also was designated and outrighted this summer, so he can refuse the assignment and become a minor league free agent. The right-hander was 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA in 31 relief appearances during two stints with the Orioles in 2011. With the move, the 40-man roster now stands at 39.

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

Accardo clears waivers, sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk

October 11, 2011, 9:42am

Orioles

Accardo clears waivers, sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk

The Orioles today announced that right-hander Jeremy Accardo has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Accardo had two stints with the Orioles in 2011, combining to go 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA (37.2IP, 24ER) in 31 relief appearances. The Orioles 40-man roster now stands at 39.

Comments

Tags:

Orioles News Release orioles

This, that and the other

October 10, 2011, 6:45pm

Orioles

I haven't checked lately, but I think Nelson Cruz is still standing at home plate admiring his grand slam. The first walk-off grand slam in postseason history? Can that really be true? Delmon Young's oblique injury makes him a real liability in left field. The Rangers must look at him out there and think, "Green light!" Not quite the same as one of Sidney Ponson's passengers yelling, "Red light!" The Orioles will be linked to Prince Fielder this winter because they still need a big...

Comments

Tags:

orioles featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles2

Bordick talks about Angle and Machado

October 07, 2011, 11:13am

Orioles

The fall instructional league ended Saturday, along with Matt Angle's crash course on playing second base. Angle is a plus defender in the outfield, so the Orioles aren't looking to change his position. They just want to expand the ones he can handle. You know how it goes. Angle isn't projected as a regular in left field. His value increases if he can play multiple positions. And second base isn't exactly secured, considering that Brian Roberts still comes down with occasional headaches...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles manny machado matt angle mike bordick frontstory_orioles2

Thoughts on Showalter, the GM search and Avery's AFL struggles

October 10, 2011, 4:55am

Orioles

Thoughts on Showalter, the GM search and Avery's AFL struggles

I have noticed several fans that indicate they have a problem with Buck Showalter having input into the hiring of the Orioles' next president/general manager. It's funny that last year at this time, Showalter walked on water in the minds of some fans and now some of the same fans may be wary of his input on this next hire. Showalter is likely to emerge from all this with major input on most Orioles decisions moving forward. Heck, that may have been the case already. I don't see an issue...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski buck showalter xavier avery featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Job one for the new regime: Fix the minors

October 08, 2011, 6:42am

Orioles

Job one for the new regime: Fix the minors

Now that we know Andy MacPhail is leaving the Orioles, a big project for his successor is to improve the club's minor leagues. When Baseball America released its top prospects lists for the various minor leagues this week, the Orioles, as expected, had fewer prospects making those lists than the other four American League East teams. Not only do the Orioles reside in the cellar in the division in the win-loss record, but they trail the others in player development, too. Some of this is...