orioles

In other news

February 06, 2011, 6:59am

Orioles

After the blitz of news, posts and reader comments about Vladimir Guerrero, here is a tidbit or two on other things Oriole. Even though new Orioles' pitcher Justin Duchscherer has made 192 career major league appearances out of the bullpen, don't expect to see him doing any of that in Baltimore. "He sees himself as a starter and we brought him in with the idea that he'd be given every chance to be a starter," O's president Andy MacPhail said. MacPhail said the Orioles currently have...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles2

Showalter comments about addition of Guerrero

February 06, 2011, 9:36am

Orioles

There has been a lot of discussion about the Orioles increasing their contract offer to get an agreement with Vladimir Guerrero. According to this report on ESPN.com, Buster Olney's sources say that $2 million of the $8 million is deferred. Meanwhile, while O's president Andy MacPhail will not comment on the deal until it is official, manager Buck Showalter did appear on ESPN's "SportsCenter." He pointed out that the deal is pending a physical, but he also made some comments on the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski buck showalter frontfeatured_orioles vladimir guerrero

Duchscherer looking forward to fresh start & good health

February 05, 2011, 7:48am

Orioles

Duchscherer looking forward to fresh start & good health

Justin Duchscherer just proved that he can interview hurt. Duchscherer came down with a bad cold, but he still took questions between coughs in a noon conference call. "I don't usually sound like a 70-year-old smoker," he joked. I guess he was a little too enthusiastic after a team physician told him to "turn and cough." It's OK to stop now. Duchscherer, who agreed to a one-year contract late Sunday night that could pay him $4.5 million with incentives, discussed his three hip...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Luke Scott talks about his defense in left field

February 04, 2011, 3:58pm

Orioles

Luke Scott talks about his defense in left field

The Orioles' addition of Vladimir Guerrero may unseat Luke Scott as the team's designated hitter, but it is not likely to take him out of the lineup. Scott is now expected to become the O's regular left fielder. In a telephone conversation tonight, Scott said he has heard the opinion that his left field defense is not up to par, but he doesn't share that view. "People have said that a lot in my career coming up. But that's what it is, an opinion" he said. "It's not supported by...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski luke scott vladimir guerrero

I can't agree with Rob Neyer this time

February 05, 2011, 7:03am

Orioles

There are a lot of national baseball writers out there who are talented, bring a lot to the table and are worth reading all the time. Rob Neyer is clearly one of them. He may be underrated and almost always has some real knowledge to spread with his opinions. But I don't agree with this column where he is down on the Orioles' addition of Vladimir Guerrero. Let's take some of this point by point, with some excerpts from his column. Guerrero's got a name, obviously. But can you really...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1 vladimir guerrero

A few thoughts on Guerrero

February 04, 2011, 3:03pm

Orioles

For my daughter's 18th birthday, I decided to get her Vladimir Guerrero. She really wanted a car. (If I was feeling more clever, I'd come up with a joke that ties together Guerrero and a car. Maybe later.) Actually, my daughter turns 18 on Valentine's Day, but my family gathered tonight because I'll be in Sarasota for the big occasion. And naturally, the Orioles decided to make news as the entrees arrived. Well, it's the least they could do after forcing us to wait until tomorrow to...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

Team source confirms Guerrero signing

February 04, 2011, 1:37pm

Orioles

According to this tweet, the O's have come to terms with Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year deal for $8 million. An Orioles source tonight confirmed the agreement. Earlier today, a team source said the O's and Guerrero's representatives have had "ongoing" discussions this week. Now those discussions have indeed paid off. Reached via e-mail, O's president Andy MacPhail said he could not confirm or deny a signing that required a physical. He does not comment publicly on any signings before...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles vladimir guerrero

A Winn-win for the Orioles

February 03, 2011, 5:01pm

Orioles

Since a few of you asked and I always try to please my readers - well, up to a certain point - I'm told the Orioles have had "light discussions only" regarding Oscar Salazar, who was designated for assignment by the Padres. I don't sense a lot of enthusiasm, but it's not like the idea was dismissed entirely. You know it's a slow news day when a non-roster spring training invite for Randy Winn stirs up conversation on this blog. You know it's a slow morning when I'm revisiting the...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles3

MacPhail: Duchscherer passed two-day physical exam

February 04, 2011, 12:52pm

Orioles

MacPhail: Duchscherer passed two-day physical exam

New Orioles right-hander Justin Duchscherer passed his physical today, but the 33-year-old has had a past that includes two hip operations and just five starts over the last two years. But O's president Andy MacPhail feels good about Duchscherer's health heading into spring camp. The Orioles' doctors gave Duchscherer a more extensive look than usual. "He had a two-day workover," MacPhail said. "They looked at every aspect and he passed. Given his history, it's quite possible there...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1

Duchscherer passes physical, signing official (updated)

February 04, 2011, 9:01am

Orioles

Duchscherer passes physical, signing official (updated)

Justin Duchscherer has passed his physical examination, making his one-year contract with the Orioles official. Duchscherer's signing takes the Orioles' 40-man roster to its limit. The right-hander is expected to be part of the team's starting rotation and will report to spring training in Sarasota, Fla., later this month. The Orioles will make Duchscherer available to reporters via a conference call at an undetermined time. His travel plans altered the original schedule. The important...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_orioles1 justin duchscherer orioles

The next step for Matt Hobgood

February 03, 2011, 8:14am

Orioles

Pitcher Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 2009, will be seen by O's team physicians in the middle of this month at spring training in Sarasota, Fla.. At that time, the doctors then will determine what will come next for the 20-year-old right-hander. Hobgood has been rehabbing a strained rotator cuff. The examination in mid-February will determine if the rehab process has led to improvement for Hobgood's shoulder. He has yet to begin a throwing program that pitchers...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles3

Orioles announce spring training invites

February 03, 2011, 12:18pm

Orioles

The Orioles have signed and invited 16 non-roster players to their major league spring training camp. Let's start with the pitchers: Right-handers Mitch Atkins, Ryan Drese, Armando Gabino, Wynn Pelzer, Raul Rivero and Josh Rupe, and left-handers Mark Hendrickson and Clay Rapada. Position players include catchers Adam Donachie, Michel Hernandez and Caleb Joseph; outfielders Tyler Henson and Randy Winn; and infielders Ryan Adams, Nick Green and Brendan Harris. Randy Winn? Did I forget about...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles

MacPhail is playing his cards well with Guerrero

February 04, 2011, 4:39am

Orioles

MacPhail is playing his cards well with Guerrero

No truth to a rumor that, while walking into the warehouse Wednesday Andy MacPhail saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of Vladimir Guerrero rumors. Can anyone even stand six more hours of this? I'm still waiting to find out who offered Guerrero that $8 million dollar deal. Yeah, right. I think MacPhail has handled this situation/negotiation with Guerrero perfectly. He is not going to bid against himself and if Guerrero falls to the Orioles, he'll take him. But clearly, the O's...

Comments

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontfeatured_orioles

Roberts talks about Showalter

February 03, 2011, 12:02pm

Orioles

One of the biggest curiosities among fans and media is how spring training could change under manager Buck Showalter's guidance. I've never spent seven weeks with him in Florida or Arizona, so I'm not qualified to say. He's built a reputation as a no-nonsense guy, but it's not like the other managers hung piÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â±atas on the backstops and used their stopwatches for potato sack races. Second baseman Brian Roberts was asked at FanFest whether he anticipated a different climate...

Comments

Tags:

orioles

Bordick and Surhoff lend a hand to O's minor leaguers

February 01, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

Bordick and Surhoff lend a hand to O's minor leaguers

They are former Orioles and they are still around to help the orange and black. Over the last month, as some of the organization's minor league players took part in drills under the stands at Camden Yards, B.J. Surhoff and Mike Bordick have been among those lending a hand. Players like Tyler Townsend, L.J. Hoes and Tyler Henson have taken part in the three-day-a-week voluntary workouts. The group was led by O's strength and conditioning coach Joe Hogarty and Gary Kendall, who will manage...

Comments

Tags:

mike bordick orioles steve melewski b.j. surhoff frontstory_orioles1 featured_sidebar

Wondering whether we should be concerned about the Keys' future in Frederick

February 02, 2011, 3:42pm

Orioles

Wondering whether we should be concerned about the Keys' future in Frederick

Here is something I didn't think I'd have to ponder and write about it. It is possible that the Frederick Keys, the Orioles' Single-A Carolina League affiliate, could leave town after this season and move somewhere else? I would guess that is a real long shot, and it's probably too soon to get alarmed, but right now the team and city of Frederick seem locked in a dispute over money and how much the team should pay the city to lease Harry Grove Stadium. Frederick Mayor Randy McClement...

Comments

Tags:

frederick keys orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles1

Where does Duchscherer fit into the rotation?

February 02, 2011, 5:51pm

Orioles

Where does Duchscherer fit into the rotation?

I'm running on fumes this morning. I'll check for more FanFest leftovers later before they go bad like the onion dip that I found in the back of my fridge last week (speaking of fumes). I wanted to address a question regarding new pitcher Justin Duchscherer and the possibility that he could be the Orioles' opening day starter with a good spring. I don't think that manager Buck Showalter has slotted his starters two months before the first game. He still needs to choose five arms. But...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles justin duchscherer

Nothing new on Vladimir Guerrero

February 02, 2011, 12:22pm

Orioles

I walked into the gym this afternoon and heard the question. It could have been anywhere. Grocery store, bank, dentist's waiting room. "Vlad?" It's been shortened to one word. "Vlad?" I still don't know whether the Orioles will sign him. I still don't know whether that $8 million offer from another team actually exists. I still don't know why he wouldn't accept it if it's true. The Orioles made their offer and aren't budging from it. They hope he accepts it. They won't come...

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontstory_orioles2

More Fanfest leftovers

February 01, 2011, 4:24pm

Orioles

Pitcher Justin Duchscherer will take his physical today. I'm still trying to find out whether his school was delayed two hours. I promised some FanFest leftovers a few days ago and got sidetracked by Duchscherer. And if I had a nickel for every time I wrote the phrase "sidetracked by Duchscherer," I could retire today. New bench coach Willie Randolph was asked whether he reached out to any players over the winter. "Guys nowadays don't call you back too often," he said, laughing....

Comments

Tags:

orioles frontfeatured_orioles frontstory_orioles2

Willie Randolph's new culture club

February 02, 2011, 8:42am

Orioles

New bench coach Willie Randolph knows winning. It's on his resume. So how can a team like the Orioles change a losing culture? Let's ask him. "It takes individuals, it takes guys who are willing to commit to changing that as a group, as a team," Randolph said during a break at FanFest. "Changing a culture is not all that tough if you want to get on board and get back to where you were as an organization and as a team. So it's really not that difficult, but that's why it's so important...