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FanFest autograph vouchers go on sale Saturday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.

January 14, 2011, 1:52pm

Orioles

FanFest autograph vouchers go on sale Saturday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.

The Orioles have announced the lineup for autograph sessions for FanFest, which will be held Jan. 29, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Baltimore Convention Center. The club's new autograph policy will both raise funds for OriolesREACH charitable endeavors and reduce fan disappointment by shortening lines. By outlining which players will be available for autographs in which locations, the Orioles hope to maximize each fan's opportunity to get the autographs he or she most desires. Autograph...

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Mark Reynolds talks about the K factor

January 13, 2011, 6:15pm

Orioles

Since the Orioles acquired third baseman Mark Reynolds more than a month ago, fans have gotten excited about his home run potential. But others have expressed concern about his league-leading strikeout totals, as well. Reynolds doesn't shy away from the topic of his strikeout total of 638 over the last three seasons. He led the NL in strikeouts all three years and would like to cut down on the whiffs when he joins the O's lineup in 2011. "Growing up and in college, I'd never been a (big)...

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O's need to be good hitters, but also smart hitters

January 12, 2011, 6:50pm

Orioles

O's need to be good hitters, but also smart hitters

The Orioles scored just 613 runs last season and that was next to last in the American League. Many fans are expecting that total to make a major jump after the additions of Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy. Plus, the O's hope to have Brian Roberts for a full season and perhaps see hitters like Nolan Reimold and Matt Wieters hit more like they did in 2009. If all that happens, the club could score a lot more runs in 2011. But in addition to being better hitters this coming season,...

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O's re-sign Castillo, four others

January 11, 2011, 8:02am

Orioles

When this offseason began, the Orioles had more than 20 of their players become minor league free agents. Some have re-signed with the club. According to Matt Eddy, in his minor league transactions listing on Baseball America's Web site, the O's re-signed pitchers Jose Diaz, Alberto Castillo and Chris George, and catchers Steven Lerud and Michel Hernandez in December. An O's source has confirmed these signings. Diaz, a right-hander, went 4-0 with a 1.92 ERA last summer between Single-A...

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After dealing with injuries, Coffey is hopeful for health in 2011

January 11, 2011, 6:42pm

Orioles

After dealing with injuries, Coffey is hopeful for health in 2011

Lefty Cameron Coffey finally made his anticipated minor league debut for the Orioles last August in the Gulf Coast League and he went 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in seven games. Some fans may have assumed, as I did, that it just took time for Coffey to make it to the mound following his elbow ligament replacement surgery in March 2009. But while Coffey's comeback from Tommy John surgery progressed fine and he was throwing well last spring training, his delay in getting in a game last summer was due...

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Could Reynolds do what Albert Belle once did in Baltimore?

January 09, 2011, 12:02pm

Orioles

Could Reynolds do what Albert Belle once did in Baltimore?

When looking at new O's corner infielders Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds, you could make a case for either as the club's best power bat acquisition. Lee has a career OPS of .865 to Reynolds' .817. While Reynolds has never had an OPS over .900 in his four big league seasons, Lee's OPS was .972 with the Cubs in 2009. But if you talk strictly homers only, Reynolds moves to the top of the charts. While Lee hit 35 in 2009, Reynolds has averaged nearly 35 over the last three seasons at...

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Some pitchers have bad mechanics, but produce good results

January 10, 2011, 7:14pm

Orioles

Some pitchers have bad mechanics, but produce good results

When I was the play-by-play broadcaster several years ago for the Aberdeen IronBirds, I can remember watching a young right-hander from the Dominican Republic join our team in 2005 and start dominating New York-Penn League hitters. I can still remember a warm, July night in Burlington, Vt.,when he struck out 15 without a walk in six brilliant, dominant, shutout innings. That year with the IronBirds, he went 5-4, 1.77 in 11 starts and over 56 innings allowed just 36 hits while recording 82...

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Is the demise of the AL East being greatly exaggerated?

January 08, 2011, 7:04am

Orioles

Is the demise of the AL East being greatly exaggerated?

Many readers on this and other blogs have mentioned two things that fuel their optimism for the Orioles in 2011: The O's have improved while several American League East teams have not. While I, like most of you, feel the Orioles can be much improved with their additions in the field, their young pitching, their strong finish and a full season with Buck Showalter, I am not yet willing to concede that this division is starting to lose its clout. No doubt, right now, Boston is the clear...

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He's angling for a shot in the majors

January 06, 2011, 6:21pm

Orioles

Since he was drafted by the Orioles in round seven out of Ohio State in 2007, outfielder Matt Angle has made steady progress through the minor leagues and, in November, he joined Joe Mahoney and Zach Britton in being added to the 40-man roster for the first time. "It was a great day," the 25-year-old Angle said. "It's an honor and for them to think enough of me to be a part of that it's just an honor and was a great day overall. "It's just another step in the ultimate goal of winning...

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Are there issues with the Hall of Fame voting process?

January 05, 2011, 6:01pm

Orioles

Are there issues with the Hall of Fame voting process?

There are some things I just don't understand about the Hall of Fame voting process that elected Robbie Alomar and Bert Blyleven yesterday. How can a player like Blyleven not be good enough for election for 13 straight years, yet make it on the 14th try? Don't get me wrong, Blyleven deserves to be in, and this was long overdue. Clearly, some voters who didn't vote for Blyleven before did this year. Did he win 18 games last year and I missed it? At least, in his case, the voters eventually...

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Pondering a few Orioles questions

January 04, 2011, 7:41pm

Orioles

If you talk to yourself on the bus or at a restaurant, people might stare. But in a blog, I can ask myself some questions and then answer myself. You are most invited to respond with your answer or answers to one or all of the following questions about 2011 O's baseball. What was the Orioles most significant acquisition? No it probably won't be the addition of pitcher Casey Lambert in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. It could be the pickup of third sacker Mark Reynolds. At 27,...

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Reliever Gregg, Orioles agree on two-year deal (updated)

January 04, 2011, 9:37am

Orioles

A team source has confirmed that the Orioles have reached an agreement today with free agent reliever Kevin Gregg on a two-year contract. The deal will become official once Gregg passes his physical. Various reports have placed the value of the deal from $8-$10 million. Manager Buck Showalter must choose between Gregg and Koji Uehara to be the team's closer in 2011. Gregg wanted to sign with a team that would give him that opportunity and he'll go into the camp as the early...

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Can Matt Wieters get his bat going in 2011?

January 03, 2011, 5:44pm

Orioles

Can Matt Wieters get his bat going in 2011?

After tearing it up as a college hitter and then being named the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters had a strong rookie year in 2009. He seemed poise for a possible breakout, all-star-type season in 2010. Instead, Wieters took a step back offensively. While some just felt Wieters was over-hyped and not as good as advertised, it's just too soon to make that call. But I think there was a reason - call it an excuse if you want - for Wieters' statistical dropoff...

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Maybe there will be glee about adding Lee

December 31, 2010, 6:54pm

Orioles

Maybe there will be glee about adding Lee

New year, new first baseman for the Orioles. After all the worry, hand-wringing and frustration over how long the process played out, the O's got a decent first sacker, one that is one season removed from hitting 35 homers with 111 RBI in 141 games. They didn't get Victor Martinez, Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Carlos Pena or Adam LaRoche, who just wasn't worthy of a three-year deal. The O's began the offseason with Martinez as their top target to be their new first baseman. In ending up with...

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Next question: How much better are the Orioles?

January 02, 2011, 5:46pm

Orioles

So now that we can say the season (spring training at least) starts next month, some excitement is clearly building for the 2011 version of Orioles baseball. Many fans seem quite pleased with the offseason additions and some seem to even feel the club could contend if a lot breaks right. I would still guess that is a two-year process where you would hope to make a run at .500 and 80-some wins one season while hoping to get to 90-plus and contention the next. So can 2011 be the year where...

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Noteworthy day

December 31, 2010, 4:49am

Orioles

Some notes to wrap up another year of blogging for me here at MASNsports.com. Thanks to everyone for reading all year and Happy New Year! Right before the 2010 season began, I made some fearless predictions about the O's and the AL East. Here are some of those predictions and how they fared vs. what really happened. Steve's predicted 2010 AL East standings: Boston 94-68 Tampa 91-71 New York 90-72 Baltimore 79-83 Toronto 72-90 The actual standings were: Tampa 96-66 New York 95-67 Boston...

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Hobgood: "O's didn't get damaged goods"

December 29, 2010, 5:38pm

Orioles

In a way, Matt Hobgood is relieved that doctors say he has a strained rotator cuff. To him, that perhaps is the best explanation yet why the fastball velocity he had in three high school seasons, has never surfaced in two years of pro ball with the Orioles. Hobgood, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft, had an MRI last week and now doctors have put him on a four- to six-week rehab program to strengthen his shoulder and they say surgery is not needed. In a Wednesday afternoon phone...

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Exclusive: O's prospect Matt Hobgood talks about his shoulder injury

December 29, 2010, 12:19pm

Orioles

Exclusive: O's prospect Matt Hobgood talks about his shoulder injury

In a phone conversation this afternoon, Matt Hobgood said he felt some soreness in his shoulder during a light, mid-December throwing session and that led him to pre-Christmas visits with Drs. John Wilckens and Lewis Yocum. They both said he has a strained rotator cuff, but does not need surgery. Hobgood described this as "a minor setback" but also said it's possible his shoulder problems could date back to sometime in 2009. He also feels the shoulder issue is the primary reason he has not...

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Still a Hobgood fan? Yep.

December 28, 2010, 7:19pm

Orioles

Today, I find myself once again writing about Matt Hobgood. Some fans and commenters to this and other blogs just can't get enough of the guy and commenting on his selection by the Orioles with their top pick in 2009. I know the majority of fans and readers here wish him the best and support him. I also know there are a few fans who see him as my boy and were likely outwardly excited at the news of his shoulder injury. They can't wait to tell me again how right they are and that I am just...

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Roberts, Jones and Markakis at the top

December 26, 2010, 1:41pm

Orioles

It is hard to project what the Orioles batting order could or should be for the 2011 season since all the parts are not in place yet. But I still think the most effective top of the order, or top three spots in the order, could be with Brian Roberts batting first, Adam Jones second and Nick Markakis third. I suspect many fans first thought about this will be negative. They don't see the free-swinging Jones as a number two hitter at all and most realize Markakis statistically hits better...