Here is a look at the 2018 Salt River Rafters Schedule for their first week, starting Tuesday, Oct. 9. The Arizona Fall League team consists of prospects from the Nationals, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Rockies and Twins. Week 1 Oct. 9 at Surprise Saguaros, 12:35 pm MST Oct. 10 Surprise Saguaros, 6:35pm Oct. 11 Scottsdale Scorpions, 6:35pm Oct. 12 at Scottsdale Scorpions, 6:35pm Oct. 13 Bowman Hitting Challenge (Sloan Park), 6:35pm Oct. 14 off day The home stadium for the Rafters is the Salt River...

If you've been trying to pry a list of Orioles managerial candidates from family, friends or beat writers, do yourself a favor and forget about it. There's an order here and it begins with the hiring of a replacement for executive vice president Dan Duquette, with the title to be determined. I've heard more than once that the new hire will compile the list of candidates to replace manager Buck Showalter. He or she will choose the successor. He or she won't be overruled. So, until we know...

Shortly after noon on Sunday, Mike Rizzo stood in the dugout at Coors Field and gave his end-of-season assessment of the 2018 Nationals, a team that had received plenty of elite performances from individual stars, outscored the opposition by 89 runs and yet barely finished over .500. What prevented the Nats from winning more games, Rizzo believes, was poor execution of "the little things" that make all the difference in a close contest. "I think that we have to work on the small aspects of...

The rebuilding of the Orioles moved from the clubhouse to the dugout and front office yesterday with the news - made official last night - that Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter will not return for the 2019 season. The Orioles' baseball operations will have a new leader, new voice and a new vision at some point this offseason. The team's press release last night stated this: "The club will hire an executive from outside of the organization to lead the Baseball Operations department. Once in...

The Nationals' biggest offseason need may be in the starting pitching department, but it's far from their only roster need heading into 2019. Between free agent departures and other areas that simply need an upgrade, there's no shortage of items on general manager Mike Rizzo's to-do list this winter. Let's run through the positions that are likely to be addressed in the coming months ... CATCHER It shouldn't have surprised anyone that this was a problem area in 2018, because it was a...

There were four scenarios that could play out regarding executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. Yesterday's outcome was one of them, but also a bit of a stunner. Under no circumstances was Showalter staying and Duquette leaving because I heard the Orioles didn't want a manager in place without a general manager, or whatever title that person would hold. It became increasingly apparent that Showalter wouldn't return, which eliminated the idea of the Orioles standing...

The Orioles announced tonight that they won't retain executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter beyond contracts that run out at the end of the month. They also laid out the plan moving forward. The club will hire an executive from outside of the organization to lead the baseball operations department, an important distinction following today's moves. The Orioles stated in a release that this individual will have the final determination on all baseball matters "that he...

The Orioles today announced that Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette and field manager Buck Showalter will not return to the organization in 2019. Duquette and Showalter are currently completing contracts that conclude at the end of the month. The club will hire an executive from outside of the organization to lead the Baseball Operations department. Once in place, this individual will have the final determination on all baseball matters that he or she believes will...

The Orioles will become busier as they move through the offseason with today's news that they also won't bring back executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. The contracts of Duquette and manager Buck Showalter expired at the end of the month and they aren't going to be part of the rebuild moving forward, according to numerous sources. No announcement has been made by the Orioles, but it could happen later tonight. The media has been in a holding pattern. It made sense...

The number of manager vacancies is piling up, including the Orioles, who decided not to bring back in Buck Showalter in 2019 after the team went 47-115.So who is the replacement for Showalter? There's the older generation of successful managers that includes Brad Ausmus, who last managed in Detroit; Joe Girardi, who won with the Marlins and Yankees; and John Farrell, who had success in Boston before he was let go by the Red Sox in 2017 after losing the American League Division Series to...