Left-hander Matt Purke was outstanding again in the Arizona Fall League, going four innings for his second win as Mesa trumped Peoria 6-1. Purke (2-0) struck out seven hitters in gathering 12 outs, allowing no hits, no runs and walking only one. He tossed 54 pitches, 36 for strikes. Purke allowed only four groundouts and no flyouts. Peoria failed to make good contact against Purke. He had one hit by pitch. Brian Goodwin went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Goodwin is batting .364. Matt Skole...

I wrote yesterday that the Orioles had scheduled three or four interviews next week with candidates for pitching coach. I also heard that a "high-profile" candidate would interview Tuesday. That would be former Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, as The Sun reported last night. Dubee is intriguing because he worked with studs like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. He also has strong ties to executive vice president Dan Duquette, though it's ultimately manager Buck Showalter's...

Watch any postseason baseball this season? If not, you're seriously missing out on great pitching matchups, clutch hits and just overall fantastic baseball. With the Orioles in the offseason and some playoff baseball being played, you may have missed some developing stories surrounding the O's this week, including Wednesday night's news that Rick Adair will not return as pitching coach. Each Friday this offseason, I'll give you links to any stories you may have missed. Continue to check...

In case you haven't noticed, there's some pretty great postseason baseball being played right now. The Red Sox are looking to head to the World Series, and they're in need of just one more win. The Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw to the mound tonight as they look to even up their series with the Cardinals. However, if your attention is solely on postseason baseball, you may have missed some news surrounding the Nationals this week. The Nats are continuing their managerial search, looking...

In March, the Orioles hired former major leaguer Nelson Norman to serve as their director of baseball operations in the Dominican Republic. Norman oversees all aspects of the organization's Dominican program and managed one of their two teams this year in the Dominican Summer League. A former major league infielder born in San Pedro de Macoris, Norman, 54, has over two decades of experience in player development with Montreal, Atlanta, Boston, Minnesota, St. Louis and Washington, both in the...

Days tend to stretch to weeks, and weeks to months, when it comes to the Orioles announcing changes to their coaching staff. We should have plenty of time to speculate about candidates and hires. Unfortunately, you're going to come across some names that don't belong. It happens. It's "Guesses Gone Wild," with industry types offering opinions based on a variety of factors. Logic doesn't always lead to truth. I'm hearing that three or four candidates already are lined up for interviews...

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. still hasn't been contacted about interviewing for a managing job next season despite the continuing speculation that he will return to the dugout. Ripken, currently working the National League Championship Series for TBS, remains open to the idea. Nothing has changed in that regard. "When I do these things, I get asked that kind of question and I try to answer as honestly as I can," Ripken said during a phone interview with MASNsports.com. "I've always said...

For as long as I remember, I've been intrigued by cemeteries. Not just the otherworldly aspects - which seem apropos now that Halloween is a couple of weeks away - but the intricate designs of the headstones and monuments. As a child, I can remember riding by local graveyards and being transfixed by the way the shadows of ornate obelisks and stately mausoleums reflected the moonlight. When my family moved next to Baltimore National Cemetery on the Baltimore City/Baltimore County line in 1984,...

There is a new wave of talent starting to gain momentum in the Nationals organization. That wave of talent is emanating from the Dominican Republic Academy the Nationals established a few years back, led by administrator Fausto Severino. I would not be surprised to see several of these Dominican pitchers work their way up through the minor league ranks of the Nationals system beginning next season. This confidence stems from how good these pitchers were with the rookie-level Gulf Coast...

The Nationals continue to keep the details of their managerial search hush-hush, but as we get deeper into October, things are slowly starting to progress in that area. The team will interview former big league catcher and current Padres special assistant to baseball operations Brad Ausmus, a source familiar with the Nationals' plans confirmed. FOXSports.com first reported that Ausmus would interview for the Nationals' managerial job. Ausmus, 44, played 18 seasons in the big leagues from...