Eduardo Rodriguez tossed a scoreless inning and was credited with a hold last night in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game. Rodriguez walked one batter in the fourth in the West team's 9-2 victory over the East. And I honestly don't know why that qualifies as a hold, but it says so in the box score. Might have something to do with the West breaking a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the third. I'm not really in tune with the hold rule, and by admitting it, I feel as...

The Orioles made the anticipated roster move official tonight, declining the $5 million option on left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada's contract. Wada, 32, is removed from the 40-man roster and becomes a free agent. Wada signed a two-year, $8.15 million deal on Dec. 14, 2011, but he never pitched for the Orioles after undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow on May 11, 2012. The Orioles kept Wada at Triple-A Norfolk this season and sent him to Sarasota in September rather than...

As the Orioles look to improve their pitching for 2014, manager Buck Showalter wonders if the club has some answers now or looking to the future already within their organization. Last night, Showalter indicated the Orioles are open to adding pitching this winter via free agency while at the same time expressing some optimism for some of the current pitchers in the minor leagues. Showalter recently spent some time checking out O's prospects in person in the Arizona Fall League. "I went out...

While handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters Thursday, I had a neighbor ask which Red Sox player I'd take if I were in charge of the Orioles. He happened to be wearing a Red Sox jersey, and he wasn't in costume. He's a big fan of the World Series champions. After pausing for a few seconds to consider my options, I chose second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Fills a need, gets on base, has won three Gold Gloves. And who wouldn't want a player with the nicknames Laser Show and The Muddy...

Now that you've had a day to chew on it, how do you feel about the beginning of the Matt Williams era? In his introductory press conference Friday, Williams sure sounded the part of a 21st-century major league manager, as forward-thinking and embracing of the advanced metrics now frequently used to dissect baseball as he was respectful of the game he loves and true to his deep, traditional roots. He seemed to say all the right things, but that's by design. After all, introductory pressers...

New Nationals manager Matt Williams' coaching staff will remain largely intact. Only bullpen coach Jim Lett, who began his Nationals tenure under Jim Riggleman and remained on Davey Johnson's staff after Riggleman resigned, will not return. Lett will be replaced by Matt LeCroy, the former major league catcher who has managed at several levels of the Washington organization, most recently at Double-A Harrisburg. The return of bench coach Randy Knorr, who had been a candidate for the job that...

By his own admission, Matt Williams' managerial style will be a work in progress. At his introductory press conference Friday afternoon at Nationals Park, the sixth field manager in Nats history was consistent in his use of the word "fluid" to describe how he'll approach his rookie season as a major league skipper. "The plan's fluid," he said, "and it will present itself differently every day." But it won't be difficult to pinpoint one facet of the Williams era that will quickly...

New field manager Matt Williams made a point during his opening introductory news conference to say how thankful he was that current Nationals players Ian Desmond, Tanner Roark and Jayson Werth were in attendance. Williams said he was struck by a conversation he had with Desmond before the introduction to the media. Desmond told Williams he wanted to work a little bit harder. Williams said he was all for it. That symbolized what kind of player Williams was - the marine, the Carson Crusher,...

Matt Williams, former third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, was introduced Friday as the fifth manager in Nationals history, taking over for the retired Davey Johnson. Williams played 17 seasons as a third baseman with the Giants, Indians and Diamondbacks, playing in a World Series with each team. His only ring came in 2001 with the Diamondbacks. He is the only player in history to hit at least one home run in the World Series for three different teams. Other nuggets about Williams'...

One of the most intensly analyzed statements from Orioles manager Buck Showalter late in the 2013 season went something like this: "We need to pitch better." Sounds simple, right? But was he suggesting that the Orioles need to find better pitchers, or get better production from the ones currently in the organization? I'm going with the latter, which puts me in agreement with the likes of Tom Davis and Dave Johnson at MASN. (And I do like them, by the way.) The Orioles aren't going to...