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Wieters aiming for offensive resurgence in 2011

January 29, 2011, 9:14am

Orioles

Wieters aiming for offensive resurgence in 2011

Matt Wieters hopes to put up better numbers on offense this year, and when he analyzed his game after the 2010 season he came to the conclusion that he chased too many pitches last season. "It's consistency, getting pitches to hit and not chasing them out of the zone. In the minors, I prided myself on discipline at the plate and last year I got away from that a little bit, tried to do too much. You have to give yourself the best chance," he said. "I went out of the zone I am comfortable...

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Reimold happy he's still an Oriole

January 29, 2011, 10:54am

Orioles

Nolan Reimold is at FanFest - and happy to still be an Oriole. During the Winter Meetings, it looked like Reimold would get dealt to Tampa Bay in a move that would have made shortstop Jason Bartlett an Oriole. "I woke up one morning and got a text from my agent to call him and that's how I found out I was about to get traded. But I'm happy that fell through and I'm still in Baltimore," he said. "I thought it was almost a done deal and then it fell through. That's the first time my...

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Guthrie, Orioles have discussed long-term contract

January 29, 2011, 8:16am

Orioles

Orioles starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie said today at FanFest that he and the club have had a conversation about the possibility of a long-term contract. "I don't think the parties agreed on the length of it, but I love Baltimore. I love pitching here and anytime you can provide your family with security, it's a great option. I'm very happy to also play it out year-by-year and have the motivation to go out and do the best that I can. Whatever happens, I'll be a good spot," Guthrie...

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Josh Bell's in much better condition

January 29, 2011, 11:17am

Orioles

Josh Bell looks noticeably thinner since he's been working out with former Oriole Brady Anderson. He can't tell you how much weight he's lost, but he brought a different body to FanFest. "I haven't jumped on a scale yet," Bell said. "I'm going to wait to surprise myself. I feel great. I'm running well. Everything's stronger." Bell started his winter in Arizona and has since relocated to Florida and California. He's spent the last two weeks with Anderson in California. Bell is...

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Mark Connor's tale of the tape

January 29, 2011, 10:58am

Orioles

Mark Connor has spent his winter getting acclimated to his new pitching staff. He's been watching videos that the Orioles supplied for him. No sense waiting until spring training. "I had the video coordinator (Michael Silverman) make up some DVDs of all these guys, as much as you can get - good outings, bad outings - just to kind of wrap my arms around these guys and see what they're all about from a physical standpoint," said Connor, who replaces Rick Kranitz as pitching coach. "You...

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New O's coach Wayne Kirby can't wait to get started

January 29, 2011, 9:41am

Orioles

New O's coach Wayne Kirby can't wait to get started

If you want to meet someone that is almost bubbling over with excitement for the new Orioles season, check out new first base coach Wayne Kirby. Kirby is the only member of the new O's staff that has never coached in the majors, but he can't wait to get started. "I have a lot of passion for this game," Kirby said. "I bring energy every day and kids feed off that. If I'm dead, (a player) may be. I'll bring it every day and they might have to tell me to shut up." Kirby. who will also...

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Healthy Bergesen optimistic about 2011 season

January 29, 2011, 9:17am

Orioles

Healthy Bergesen optimistic about 2011 season

Brad Bergesen says he's been going online for the first time this winter to check on the Orioles' offseason moves. He laughed when I asked which sites he checks. I was serious, but anyway... Bergesen has joined the ranks of the excited. He's expecting much better results from the Orioles in 2011. "I've been paying attention because there's been so much activity," he said. "I'm on the computer almost every night, just doing a quick search, seeing if anything's new. Obviously, I...

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Fresh from West Coast workouts, Matusz eager to get going

January 29, 2011, 7:26am

Orioles

Fresh from West Coast workouts, Matusz eager to get going

Orioles lefty Brian Matusz is enjoying the optimism around the Baltimore Convention Center today and said he is pretty psyched for the 2011 season. "You can see it, everyone is excited," he said. "We just seem like a team, we all are real comfortable right now. I keep saying it, but I am real excited about this spring. Our new park (in Sarasota), I hear is amazing." Matusz said he had a productive winter of workouts on the West Coast. "It's been a good offseason. I've been working out...

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Talking Millwood, J.J. and Vlad at FanFest

January 29, 2011, 5:45am

Orioles

Talking Millwood, J.J. and Vlad at FanFest

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and manager Buck Showalter are taking questions from season-ticket holders at the first forum of today's FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Showalter received a rousing ovation and chants of "Buck, Buck Buck." MacPhail told the crowd that the Orioles have interest in bringing back Kevin Millwood, saying the idea hasn't been ruled out "by any stretch," but the hindrance in signing any of the remaining free-agent starters is the...

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Showalter weighs in on starting pitching, Scott's future role

January 29, 2011, 6:53am

Orioles

Showalter weighs in on starting pitching, Scott's future role

After he and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail held their fan forum here today with season ticket holders, Orioles manager Buck Showalter talked with reporters on a few O's topics. Showalter was asked if the club still wants to sign a veteran starting pitcher. "It's something we have kicked around a lot. Just because a guy doesn't necessarily look attractive with his recent track record doesn't mean he's not going to be an impactful pitcher for us," he said. "We are still...

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MASN to unveil text-messaging service at Saturday's FanFest

January 28, 2011, 11:31am

Orioles

MASN to unveil text-messaging service at Saturday's FanFest

Saturday's Orioles FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center will be full of fan forums, autographs and giveaways. But Orioles fans attending the annual baseball-centric celebration will also get the opportunity to participate in a brand-new MASN initiative: a mobile text-messaging platform that will deliver important FanFest updates directly to their cellular devices and smart phones. By texting ORIOLES to 74499, O's fans will be given an opportunity to receive updates throughout the day....

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Quick Duchscherer update

January 29, 2011, 6:18am

Orioles

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he received a positive report on free-agent pitcher Justin Duchscherer, who threw for their Arizona-based scout yesterday. The Orioles retain interest in Duchscherer, but MacPhail warned again that you can't read too much into a pitcher's winter bullpen session. "We're pleased with the way he's come along at this point," MacPhail said. "As I mentioned before, that is not an uncommon occurrence for us. We have seen this year three or...

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Orioles sign utility infielder Nick Green (updated)

January 28, 2011, 11:36am

Orioles

The Orioles have added another candidate for their second utility infield job, agreeing to terms with veteran Nick Green on a minor league contract with a spring training invitation. There's your big FanFest announcement. OK, not really. But he did agree to the deal. Green will compete with Robert Andino and Brendan Harris for the chance to join Cesar Izturis on the bench. If this sounds like a repeat, the Orioles almost had a deal done with Green last month, but he was hoping to land a...

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O's announce minor league coaching staffs

January 28, 2011, 12:08pm

Orioles

O's announce minor league coaching staffs

The Orioles today announced the coaching staffs for their seven minor league affiliates for the 2011 season. Gary Allenson returns for his sixth season in the organization. He will manage Triple-A Norfolk for the fifth season after guiding the Tides to a 24-31 record in the first two months of the 2010 season. Allenson was promoted to Baltimore to serve as third base coach for the remainder of the season on June 4, 2010. Mike Griffin, who pitched for the 1987 Orioles, will serve as pitching...

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One last time: Jordan on 2009 draftees Berry, Cowan and Martin

January 28, 2011, 6:27am

Orioles

One last time: Jordan on 2009 draftees Berry, Cowan and Martin

In our last article with O's scouting director Joe Jordan on some of the pitchers selected in the 2009 draft, he talks about Ryan Berry, Jake Cowan and Jarret Martin. Berry has been a success story to this point, despite the fact he was a pitcher the O's selected even though he had been hurt as a college pitcher that year at Rice. He missed some time during Rice's 2009 season with a strained shoulder. The Orioles took Berry in round nine and he was signed to an over slot bonus and they...

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Luke Scott wants Guerrero in the lineup (updated)

January 28, 2011, 4:21am

Orioles

Luke Scott wants Guerrero in the lineup (updated)

The Orioles' search for a left-handed reliever won't lead them to Joe Beimel. He's apparently decided to sign with the Pirates, according to this tweet from Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Beimel was born in St. Marys, Pa. and pitched at Duquesne. He spent his first three major league seasons in Pittsburgh. Sounds like he wants to go home. We'll find out later how much the Pirates are paying him for that warm and fuzzy feeling. Yes, they beat out the Orioles. They also beat out the Red...

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Updates on Guerrero, Duchscherer and Beimel

January 27, 2011, 11:10am

Orioles

Updates on Guerrero, Duchscherer and Beimel

After making another round of calls today, I can pass along the following nuggets on a few of your favorite free agents: The Orioles have, indeed, made an offer to Vladimir Guerrero this week, and it falls in the $3 million to $5 million range. They most certainly did not exceed $5 million. I'd say it's a lot closer to $3 million. Also, team officials don't expect a FanFest announcement similar to what transpired with Miguel Tejada last winter. In fact, while they understand that the...

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The 2009 draft: Joe Jordan with updates on Henry, Tolliver and Wirsch

January 27, 2011, 4:37pm

Orioles

The 2009 draft: Joe Jordan with updates on Henry, Tolliver and Wirsch

Here is a followup to an article with O's scouting director Joe Jordan addressing some of the pitching injuries to hurlers the O's selected in the 2009 draft. In this post, he talks more specifically about some of those pitchers. Despite the injuries that impacted so many of the 2009 draftees last summer, Jordan remains quite hopeful for the pitchers taken in the top 10 rounds that June. Right-hander Randy Henry was the fourth-round pick that year from South Mountain Community College in...

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O's prospect Britton fired up to make a run at rotation spot

January 26, 2011, 5:46pm

Orioles

O's prospect Britton fired up to make a run at rotation spot

If some baseball prospects fly under the radar, Orioles pitching prospect Zach Britton isn't one of them. Maybe fans didn't know much about Britton when he was drafted in the third round out of a Texas high school in 2006, pitching at Rookie League Bluefield that summer. But it seems everyone now knows his name. Britton was named Carolina League pitcher of the year in 2009 and he pitched for Team USA in the Futures Game last July. He ended the 2010 season thriving at Triple-A and was named...

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Remembering the Jackson-Dempsey collision

January 27, 2011, 5:20am

Orioles

Remembering the Jackson-Dempsey collision

I was watching the MLB Network's "Top 50 Most Incredible Collisions" last night, and No. 8 was Bo Jackson plowing into Rick Dempsey and almost sending the former Orioles catcher flying into the dugout. I counted three backward somersaults. When I texted Dempsey, he replied, "Well, I've got that going for me." Which is nice. Dempsey, in his only season with the Cleveland Indians in 1987, missed the last six weeks with a broken left thumb. And get this: A proctologist in Kansas City set...