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O's get Machado

August 16, 2010, 7:26pm

Orioles

The Orioles have come to terms with their top draft pick, Miami prep shortstop Manny Machado, the third pick in the first round. Machado's bonus is between five and six million dollars. Machado goes 6'2" and 180 pounds and is a right-handed hitter. He just turned 18 July 6th. This season for Miami's Brito High he batted .639-12-56 and had 27 doubles in 86 at bats and 44 of his 55 hits went for extra bases. As a junior, he hit .636-8-53. Last summer he helped lead the USA 18 and under...

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A scout's take on Matt Bywater

August 16, 2010, 4:34pm

Orioles

O's scout Gil Kubski was the area scout for O's third-round draft pick Dan Klein of UCLA and also for seventh-round pick pitcher Matt Bywater, who agreed to terms with the club tonight. Here is Kubski's take on Bywater: "He's a 6'3", 6'4" left-hander, real lean. I think he's going to get bigger and stronger when it's all done. He's not a flame thrower, about 87 and will touch 90. "But he's got an outstanding change-up. If there's a better change-up in the country this year...

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Matt Bywater interview

August 16, 2010, 6:54pm

Orioles

While we wait for the stroke of midnight....... Pepperdine pitcher Matt Bywater confirmed tonight that he agreed to a bonus of $195,000 to come to terms with the Orioles. He said the O's upped their offer sometime around 4 pm West Coast time today and he happily accepted the deal. "We were getting the feeling that was where it was going to stay. Going into the day, we needed them to go up a little and they did, so we jumped on it." So now he gets to live out his dream and play pro...

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Not Manny, but one Boras client signs (Taillon signs)

August 16, 2010, 5:51pm

Orioles

Not Manny, but one Boras client signs (Taillon signs)

Maybe Scott Boras is working his way up the first-round ladder. He is the representative for four players in the first-round that were unsigned to start today, including O's pick shortstop Manny Machado. Tonight, there are reports that one of his players, outfielder Gary Brown of Cal-State Fullerton, taken 24th overall by the Giants, has agreed to terms. It's reported to be a deal worth 1.45 million. Boras also represents the seventh overall pick, pitcher Matt Harvey who was taken by the...

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Orioles now confirm: Bywater comes to terms

August 16, 2010, 1:51pm

Orioles

The Orioles have now confirmed that they have come to terms with pitcher Matt Bywater, their seventh-round draft pick out of Pepperdine. The 6'3", 195-pound lefty went 6-5, 2.40 as a junior this past season. Over 97 2/3 innings, he allowed 88 hits with 30 walks and 83 strikeouts. The 21-year-old Bywater, from Thousand Oaks, California, pitched five complete games for Pepperdine with four shutouts. Early last season, he pitched a four-hit shutout with ten strikeouts vs. then 4th-rated...

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What if they don't sign Machado?

August 16, 2010, 5:49am

Orioles

First of all, don't let that headline scare you. There is no word yet on whether the O's will or won't sign Machado tonight, but the guess remains that they do get it done. I'll keep you posted all night with anything I hear. Meanwhile, as of 7pm, no other O's signings to announce and the clock is ticking toward midnight. If the O's don't come to terms with Manny Machado by midnight tonight, they will lose his rights and will get a compensation pick in next year's draft that could...

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O's 3rd-round pick missed 2009 but is healthy now

August 16, 2010, 11:13am

Orioles

O's 3rd-round pick missed 2009 but is healthy now

While awaiting tonight's draft developments... The Orioles are excited that their third-round draft pick, pitcher Dan Klein of UCLA, should be pitching sometime soon for the Aberdeen IronBirds. Klein was 6-1, 1.90 with ten saves for the Bruins team this year that made the College World Series. It was a big year for Klein as he showed the scouts he was healthy after he took a redshirt year and didn't pitch for UCLA in 2009. Klein missed some time the previous season as well due to shoulder...

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This and That

August 16, 2010, 1:00pm

Orioles

As the O's return home for the start of a seven-game homestand, the Players Trust's annual Buses for Baseball program will visit the ballpark tonight to host children with cancer. Young O's fans from the Cool Kids Campaign will meet O's players Jeremy Guthrie, Ty Wigginton, Luke Scott, Brian Matusz, and Corey Patterson. Buses for Baseball provides the kids with roundtrip transportation to Major League ballparks, and once there, the kids receive free tickets, food, beverages, and...

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Matt Bywater update

August 16, 2010, 12:21pm

Orioles

Pepperdine pitcher Matt Bywater, the Orioles seventh-round draft pick, said he has had some phone conversations with club officials today, but he still does not have an agreement with the team as of a little after four this afternoon. "Not so much progress at this point," Bywater said. "I'd like to be optimistic, I guess we are kind of at a standstill," he said. The 21-year-old lefty went 6-5, 2.40 in college this year with five complete games and four shutouts. He fanned 83 in 97 2/3...

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Orioles lineup (w/note added)

August 16, 2010, 11:35am

Orioles

Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton 1B Luke Scott DH Adam Jones CF Felix Pie LF Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Josh Bell 3B Brad Bergesen RHP Update: Jason Berken is still awaiting the results of his MRI, but pitcher Rick VandenHurk appears among the relievers on the magnetic board outside the clubhouse.

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Urban hopeful he'll be an Oriole

August 16, 2010, 10:30am

Orioles

As of a little after two o'clock this afternoon, there is no announcement of any additional signings of O's draft picks. But there is a long way to go before the midnight deadline. One player the O's still could sign is right-handed pitcher Austin Urban from Richland High in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Urban was taken in the 27th round and told me a few moments ago that he hopes this day ends with his agreeing to terms with the Orioles. He has a college commitment to Penn State, but said...

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Jordan on the one that got away & others that may still sign

August 15, 2010, 8:26pm

Orioles

Jordan on the one that got away & others that may still sign

The Orioles have already agreed to terms with 36 draft picks and may add more before this day is over. But, apparently one they will not get is pitcher Dixon Anderson of Cal, who was drafted by the O's in round six with the 178th overall selection. A draft-eligible sophomore, the 6'5", 225-pound Anderson went 5-4, 5.17 in 17 games, 13 starts, for the Golden Bears, this past season. O's scouting director Joe Jordan said a deal did not get done and Anderson will likely return to college...

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Good reports on Erbe and Klein

August 15, 2010, 6:29pm

Orioles

The good news for O's pitching prospect Brandon Erbe is that he should be back on a mound sometime next year. Exactly when that will be, no one knows for sure right now, but his surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder last Friday was a success. "We feel like the surgery went well and less damage was found than they thought," O's director of player development, John Stockstill said. There are estimates that Erbe could be pitching again in eight to ten months, which would put...

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O's ink two more draft picks

August 15, 2010, 4:56pm

Orioles

The O's have come to terms tonight with two more draft picks. They have agreed on deals with high school pitcher Jaime Esquivel, drafted in round 28 and right-handed pitcher Alex Schmarzo from St. Mary's College in California. Schmarzo was drafted in round 48. Esquivel got a $225,000 signing bonus. Meanwhile, the O's still need to come to terms with top pick, high school shortstop Manny Machado. Scouting director Joe Jordan said there were no contract talks today with Machado but he...

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A matchup of young guns: Arrieta vs. Hellickson

August 14, 2010, 7:41pm

Orioles

A matchup of young guns: Arrieta vs. Hellickson

Here is the reason to watch and/or listen to today's Orioles-Tampa game. The contest features a matchup of the two of the best, young pitching prospects in the game. It's Jake Arrieta for Baltimore and Jeremy Hellickson for Tampa. Let's start with Hellickson. Entering this season, Baseball America ranked the 23-year-old righty as Tampa's number 2 prospect and number 18 in all of baseball. In their recent mid-season rating of the top 25 prospects in baseball at the mid-point he was...

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Draft signing deadline day dawns

August 15, 2010, 7:01pm

Orioles

So the deadline day to sign draft picks has finally arrived. We are all probably glad that after midnight tonight, or perhaps even earlier we can hope, no one will have to ask the question "Will the O's sign Manny Machado?" Last night, I reported that the O's signed two more picks: pitcher Jaime Esquivel taken in the 28th round and pitcher Alex Schmarzo, taken in round 48. Check my blog throughout this day and night - Any updates I get will be posted as soon as possible. Also, later...

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O's lose by one in road trip finale

August 15, 2010, 12:44pm

Orioles

The Orioles have their first two-game losing streak since Buck Showalter took over as manager. The Birds lost 3-2 vs. Tampa this afternoon to lose their first series with Showalter and end their road trip to Cleveland and Tampa with a 3-3 record. They were trying for a fourth straight series win for the first time since August of 2004. Jeremy Hellickson got the win and Jake Arrieta the loss in a matchup of two of the game's best, young pitchers. Hellickson became the first Tampa pitcher to...

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Getting to know Buck Showalter

July 29, 2010, 12:50pm

Orioles

Full Name: William Nathaniel Showalter Birthdate: May 23, 1956 Birthplace: DeFuniak Springs, FL Playing Career: Showalter played college ball at Mississippi State University, graduating as an All-American in 1977. No doubt the .459 batting average helped him get drafted in the fifth round by the New York Yankees following college. After seven years as a first baseman in the Yankees' farm system, Showalter's playing career ended in 1983, never making it to the majors. Managerial...

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O's 7th-round pick, Matt Bywater, still open to signing

August 15, 2010, 10:25am

Orioles

O's 7th-round pick, Matt Bywater, still open to signing

Pepperdine pitcher Matt Bywater, who was drafted in round seven by the Orioles, said he still could sign with the team, although it hasn't happened yet. "We are still in negotiations," Bywater, a 21-year-old lefty said this afternoon from his home in Thousand Oaks, California. "It's not a done deal on either side." When asked if he is still open to coming to terms with the club he said "completely open." I asked Bywater if the sides were close or far apart in their...

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Conley to Frederick

August 14, 2010, 12:19pm

Orioles

Outfielder Brian Conley, a Gaithersburg, Maryland native and Towson University product, has been promoted from Delmarva to Frederick today. Conley, a 17th-round pick in 2008, is having his best professional season. In 98 games, he hit .270 with 16 doubles and 29 RBIs. The 24-year old ranks fourth in the South Atlantic League in on-base percentage (.393) and second in the league in walks (70). Conley was selected to the SAL All-Star Game. Recently, he was recognized as having the "Best...