Although the season has been over for almost two weeks, baseball fans have tried to fill the void with awards season and the opening of free agency. Despite that fact, many Orioles fans are still missing watching their Birds play baseball. Well, we have a solution: Catch six "Orioles Classics" games this week on MASN HD. The games airing include three postseason games, the Orioles' 60th anniversary special and a few more. Here's what's on deck this week: Monday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m.:...

It had been six years since a team last had both members of the left side of its infield win Silver Sluggers. Derek Jeter and everyone's favorite, Alex Rodriguez, accomplished that feat with the Yankees in 2008. Now Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon are the newest shortstop/third base combo to take home baseball's top offensive award. Last night, Desmond won his third straight Silver Slugger Award, presented by Louisville Slugger, putting him in a pretty prestigious club. The only shortstops in...

The Mesa Solar Sox have a good roll going, winning their last three games. On Wednesday, the Solar Sox won 11-2 over Glendale, highlighted by seven runs in the sixth. Derek Self (1-0) notched his first win of the Arizona Fall League season, going two innings, scattering three hits, one walk and allowing just one run. Self now has an ERA of 1.29. Self tossed 36 pitches, 23 for strikes, in facing 10 batters. On Thursday, Mesa dropped first-place Salt River 4-2. Spencer Kieboom contributed an...

As the Orioles monitor the free agent market and check on potential trade partners, they're placing heavy emphasis on finding a left-hander reliever this winter. It's their primary focus at the moment. This could be viewed as a sign that they're not optimistic about re-signing Andrew Miller, a free agent with numerous suitors who may command a four-year deal for closer-type money. The projected bullpen next season includes left-handers Zach Britton, Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland. Britton...

Nelson Cruz has said several times that he would like to remain an Oriole. But he has not said he would sign with the Orioles if their contract offer is not the best he can get as a free agent. Would he take less money or a contract for fewer years than he could get from another team? That is a whole different story. As I wrote earlier this offseason, Cruz has earned his payday. He batted .271 with 32 doubles, 40 homers, 108 RBIs and a .525 slugging percentage for the Orioles last season. He...

Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond and third baseman Anthony Rendon were named recipients of 2014 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards on Thursday night, the third such honor for Desmond and first for Rendon. This is just the second time in the Nationals' short history that they've had two players honored in the same season with the National League's top offensive award (also 2012). "Our entire organization is exceptionally proud of Ian and Anthony," said Nationals President...

The Orioles announced today that their annual FanFest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Convention Center. More information will become available later. For now, you'll need to be satisfied with the date. Save it. The Silver Slugger Awards were handed out tonight, the selections revealed on MLB Network, and the Orioles were shut out after winning three of them in 2013. Nelson Cruz lost out to the Tigers' Victor Martinez among finalists at designated hitter. Cruz led the majors with 40...

The left side of the Nationals infield was arguably as potent offensively as any team's in the National League this season. And shortstop Ian Desmond and third baseman Anthony Rendon are getting the hardware to prove it. Desmond made it a three-peat, winning his third consecutive Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award, while Rendon takes home the award for the first time. The awards were announced live on MLB Network a short time ago. "Our entire organization is exceptionally proud of Ian...

The Sliver Slugger Awards will be handed out tonight to the best offensive performers at each position in both leagues. A few Nationals come to mind in the discussion for the award. Among them, of course, is Adam LaRoche. Whether it was game-tying home runs or walk-off hits, LaRoche's bat seemed to deliver the big knock when it mattered most. He finished the season with 26 home runs and 92 RBIs, ranking fourth and third, respectively, among National League first basemen. This week, I'm...

Tonight, the Silver Slugger Awards will be handed out to the best offensive player at each position in each league. Nelson Cruz led the major leagues in home runs, finishing with 40 during the regular season. He also ranked fourth in RBIs with 108. With those monster stats, Cruz could walk away with a Silver Slugger tonight. While we wait to hear if his name is called, let's take a look back on one of Cruz's most dominating offensive performances from 2014. The Orioles slugger smashed two...