Where do you stand on "the plan"?

Where do you stand on "the plan"?
Fans have asked about the Orioles moving forward - what is "the plan"? It's not something that is written on paper. The O's don't have a mission statement like Tom Cruise's character in Jerry Maguire (remember, that was not a memo). The proof is in their actions. They have drafted pitchers. And then drafted more pitchers in recent years. They are trying to acquire young position player talent that can stick around awhile. They are not chasing big-money free agents right now, much...

If you are watching or listening to today's game......

If you are watching or listening to today's game......
.......why not send in a comment or question to me while you are tuned in. I'll be watching today's game from home here in beautiful Harford County. While you are tuned in and also keeping up with all of Roch's great reporting from the game itself, feel free to send me a comment as well. We've gotten a lot of interesting comments today on my blog about Guthrie & Tillman. Feel free to keep the comments coming there or you can write them here now as well. (No need to repeat what you...

Mounting concern over Guthrie

Mounting concern over Guthrie
When Robinson Cano launched that 3-1 pitch over the fence Monday night, you could almost feel Orioles fans confidence in Jeremy Guthrie drop another notch. He has not done much this spring to provide fans with hope that he will have a bounce back season. But I do think the concern, some would say panic, over Guthrie's struggles, is a little over the top. *Why is he being handed a starting rotation spot? That is the question from some fans. He does have a track record of success, two years...

Next challenge for Waring: Eastern League pitchers

Next challenge for Waring:  Eastern League pitchers
So after being named Carolina League MVP last year while also winning the Brooks Robinson award as the O's Minor League Player of the Year, what will Brandon Waring do this season for an encore? In his second year in the O's organization he'll move up to Double-A Bowie and tangle with Eastern League pitching. "This year will be the most challenging year yet," the 24-year-old Waring said. "The pitchers are more refined, they have a plan and can throw all their pitches for strikes. I'm...

Some pitching and some hoops

Some pitching and some hoops
Jeremy Guthrie seems to be one pitcher that many fans feel is in for another poor year. Some reporters are questioning his confidence. Some don't even feel he should begin the year in the rotation. I am not in that camp. He showed me enough in 2007 and 2008 and I am not yet overly concerned about his spring performance. Only 15 pitchers in the AL worked more innings than Guthrie last season and that should count for something. His 5.04 ERA came down some in the second half when he...

Plenty of reasons to watch the minors

Plenty of reasons to watch the minors
While the Orioles are closing in on another opening day, so are their four full-season farm teams: the Norfolk Tides, the Bowie Baysox, the Frederick Keys and the Delmarva Shorebirds. With the parent club rebuilding around youth and pitching, there will be plenty of reasons to follow the O's minor leaguers this year. Bowie - Early on, this may be the most interesting team to track. The rotation could feature top pitching prospect Zach Britton along with Steve Johnson, Chorye Spoone and...

Not everyone is on the Bergesen bandwagon

Not everyone is on the Bergesen bandwagon
Whether he's getting hit with batted balls or getting sore after shooting a commercial, maybe nothing can stop Brad Bergesen from his mission to become a solid Major League pitcher. Throughout his career Bergesen has heard the critics - he doesn't throw hard enough, he doesn't strikeout enough hitters, he's just not a top prospect. Click here for a recent Fangraphs article where the author seems to want to convince himself that Bergesen is a decent pitcher, but just can't. In fairness...

David Stockstill comments on his new role

David Stockstill comments on his new role
The Orioles announced today that David Stockstill will officially begin in his new position as the club's director of international scouting on April 5th. Stockstill, who has headed up the O's minor league operations since November of 2004, is in Florida now and will remain there through early April to help setup the club's minor league rosters. In his new role, David will oversee all the club's international operations, including scouting in the Far East, Latin America and beyond. He...

Luke Scott's spot in the order

Luke Scott's spot in the order
As expected, Luke Scott is batting fifth tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields. The lowest that he figured to drop was sixth behind catcher Matt Wieters, but fifth seemed to be his most likely destination. I had an interesting conversation with Scott earlier this spring - and most of them are interesting because the talk often shifts away from baseball - about his placement in the lineup. He actually suggested that he would make an ideal No. 2 hitter. Scott has accumulated...
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For Rowell: Back to the dirt

For Rowell:  Back to the dirt
Billy Rowell is changing positions again. He's moving back to the infield and back to third base. Also, Rowell will begin this year with the Class-A Frederick Keys instead of playing for Bowie as some had speculated he might. Rowell, the Orioles first-round pick in June of 2006, played in right field at Frederick last year. In his first three seasons in the organization he played at third base. "I feel like this is a good plan. The new farm director John Stockstill has a plan for me in...

Steve's official predictions for the 2010 season (plus a Rowell update)

Steve's official predictions for the 2010 season (plus a Rowell update)
Billy Rowell update - I spoke with Billy Rowell tonight and he confirmed that he is moving back to the infield and will start this season with Class-A Frederick. The 21-year-old Rowell is moving back to third base, a position he played from 2006 through 2008 in his first three years in the organization. He played right field at Frederick last year. He may spend some time in the DH role early in the year as he re-adjusts to infield play. Rowell played outfield for the most part in spring...

Aubrey staying

Aubrey staying
Michael Aubrey has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Aubrey didn't get into many games this spring because of a minor medical procedure on his back and a groin injury suffered while running the bases in Tampa. He eventually was sent to the minor league camp without giving himself a real chance to crack the 25-man roster. It was a long shot to begin with, but he didn't even go down swinging. Now it's up to Norfolk manager Gary Allenson to find at-bats for...
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We can work it out

We can work it out
Manager Dave Trembley met with reporters a few minutes ago and indicated that he'll reveal his opening lineup after the workout. That's what happens when you ask nicely. If Nolan Reimold plays first base this season, it will happen "way down the road," according to Trembley. "We're just kicking the tires on that," he said, adding that first base would be another way to get Reimold's bat in the lineup. It also shows how much Felix Pie has progressed in the eyes of the...
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Getting Miggi with it

Getting Miggi with it
Craig Tatum is taking throws at first base. Should I read anything into that? Kidding. Miguel Tejada said he's become a lot more comfortable at third base since the start of spring training. "That first game, the intrasquad game that we played, I felt a little bit different," he said. "Now I feel like I'm ready to go." Tejada heated up at the plate over the final weeks of camp, as we expected him to do, and raised his average to .274. All of a sudden, the ball's exploding off his...
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Making their pitch (updated)

Making their pitch (updated)
Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell will throw out the ceremonial first pitches before Friday's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1970 World Series championship. Having Brooks and Boog together on Friday is a wonderful and appropriate gesture. Boog was the American League's MVP. Brooks was the Series MVP. Perfect. Gates open at noon. The Orioles will take batting practice from 12:25 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. The Blue Jays will take BP...
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Rays lineup for tomorrow

Rays lineup for tomorrow
Jason Bartlett SS Carl Crawford LF Ben Zobrist RF Evan Longoria 3B Carlos Pena 1B B.J. Upton CF Pat Burrell DH Sean Rodriguez 2B Dioner Navarro C James Shields RHP It must seem strange for Orioles manager Dave Trembley to be overseeing a workout on the day that most teams are starting their seasons. "You play the schedule as it's given to you," Trembley said. "Just like I tell people, I wish I was 29 again, 6-3 and had a full head of hair. Not going to happen. No sense crying over...
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Pie vs. Reimold

Pie vs. Reimold
It's become the most interesting battle in the AL East. Forget the Yankees and Red Sox (and I keep trying). Orioles fans seem more worked up about Felix Pie unseating Nolan Reimold as the starting left fielder. Has he really done it? Reimold was brought along slowly this spring because of the Achilles surgery. He told me that he wouldn't be 100 percent until mid-summer, though he ran the bases much better as the Orioles were preparing to break camp. Reimold also started to look more...