NatsTown is prepared for a new manager, and one should be named during the first week of November. But whether general manager Mike Rizzo decides to turn the managerial reins over to an in-house candidate or picks someone from outside the organization to succeed Davey Johnson, there will likely be a ripple effect that changes the makeup of the Nationals coaching staff. A new manager will want the latitude to assemble his own staff. Obviously, if either current third base coach Trent Jewett or...

For the first time since 1999, the year the Yankees swept the Braves, the teams with the best records will play in the World Series. This is the fourth World Series played by the Cardinals and Red Sox. The Cardinals beat the Red Sox in 1946 and 1967. Both went seven games. The Red Sox swept St. Louis in 2004 to end the famous "Curse of the Bambino,'' giving them that gave them a title for the first time since Babe Ruth played for them in 1918. The series opens in Boston. The last time the...

Mesa hung in its game Saturday night until the ninth inning, before surrendering seven runs in an 8-2 loss to Salt River in Arizona Fall League play. Leading 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, Salt River tallied seven runs on R.J. Alvarez, who blew the save. It was not all of his fault as four of the runs were unearned. Nationals prospects Richie Mirowski and Robert Benincasa got in before the onslaught. Mirowski went one inning, allowing two hits, a run and struck out one batter....

Outside of finding a new manager, which clearly tops the Nationals' list of offseason priorities, general manager Mike Rizzo has said that one of his biggest goals this winter will be to bolster the bullpen. As a team this season, Nationals relievers pitched to a 3.56 ERA, 17th-best in the majors, and had a .252 batting average against, which ranked 24th in the bigs. Compare that to 2012, when the Nats bullpen posted a 3.23 ERA (seventh) and .231 batting average against (seventh), and you...

So how did the Orioles' offense fare in 2013? It was a mixed bag as the club was strong in some areas and not nearly strong enough in others. Since the bottom line is scoring runs, they get good marks there. The O's scored 745 runs last year to rank tied for fourth in the American League. Only Boston (853), Detroit (796) and Oakland (767) scored more. The O's scored 31 more runs in 2013 than they did in 2012. The O's ranked high in homers (first in the AL), slugging (third) and OPS...

While wondering if Orioles manager Buck Showalter can relate to the heat that John Harbaugh is catching from Ravens fans this season ... I'm heading back home this morning after a weekend filled with love, laughs and calories. Nothing beats family. The Orioles will begin interviewing candidates this week for the vacant pitching coach position. I'm not going to anoint a favorite because we don't have the complete list and there are so many factors in play, including the impression made...

Well, we have our World Series pairing. It'll be a rematch of the 2004 World Series, as the Cardinals will face the Red Sox, both of whom have advanced after winning their respective League Championship Series in six games. Two big swings propelled the Red Sox to their ALCS win - David Ortiz's grand slam into the bullpen in Game 2 and Shane Victorino's Green Monster grand slam last night in Game 6. Boston got average starting pitching, a mediocre offensive effort and tremendous work out...

By almost any measure, Hunter Harvey's first pro season was a rousing success. The 18-year-old right-hander, drafted with the 22nd pick in Round 1 by the Orioles in June, went 0-1 with a 1.78 ERA over eight starts between the Gulf Coast League and short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Today I'm beginning an offseason series of blogs where I provide information and opinions on an aspect of the Orioles minor leagues with a closer look at their 2013 top pick. If you count five no-hit innings Harvey...

I can't say whether Cal Ripken Jr. would make a great manager. Won't know until he gets the chance. But let's keep in mind that Mike Matheny didn't coach or manage at any level until taking over the Cardinals before the 2012 season. Now they're in the World Series. No knock on Matheny, but he doesn't know more about the game than Ripken. I can't sit here and measure which one is better at handling people. My point is that Ripken's lack of experience coaching and managing shouldn't...

The Nationals are already working their way through the first round of interviews for their vacant managerial position, having met with Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams and Padres executive Brad Ausmus, as well as Randy Knorr, who has served as Nats bench coach the last two seasons. But don't expect to hear any final word on who lands the Nats' managerial job until November. Things have ramped up a bit in general manager Mike Rizzo's search for a new manager, but according to...