Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant is teaming with the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation on a "Gift for Kids" drive to benefit the St. Vincent Courage House in Baltimore. From now through Sunday, fans can drop off a new toy for children 6-13 at Dempsey's at the B&O Warehouse (just look for the brightly lit signs at night near the North Warehouse parking area opposite Conway Street). The toys will be distributed to kids at the St. Vincent Courage House, which is home to 75 children who have...

The Orioles hosted 80 first- through fifth-grade students from Morrell Park Elementary School in Baltimore today as part of the 34th Annual OriolesREACH Holiday Party for Kids at Dave & Busters at Arundel Mills Mall. Manager Buck Showalter, shortstop J.J. Hardy, outfielders Nick Markakis and LJ Hoes, and pitcher Steve Johnson served lunch to the kids, played games and signed autographs. They were joined by former Orioles Al Bumbry, Chris Hoiles, Dave Johnson and Scott McGregor. The Right Side...

Washington Nationals pitchers Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen will join Washington Capitals forward Matt Hendricks, critically-acclaimed country music singer Kellie Pickler and comedian/CBS "Excused" host Iliza Shlesinger on the 2012 USO holiday tour led by the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey. General Dempsey will lead the group on a seven-day, four-country tour to military venues. Detwiler and Stammen recently concluded their 2012 season with the...

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy lost one of his favorite teammates and card players. Hardy was hoping that the Orioles would re-sign Mark Reynolds, who agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, "I've still got (Matt) Wieters next to me, but he only played because Reynolds forced us to play, and then (Nick) Markakis was also in there," Hardy said earlier today at the annual OriolesREACH Holiday Party at Dave & Busters at Arundel Mills Mall. "I don't know. We'll...

If you knew the name of Christian Garcia a year ago, you either are borderline fanatical about the Nationals' minor league system or you are somehow related to the right-handed pitcher. At this time last year, Garcia had wrapped up his first season in the Nationals' organization, appearing in 10 games at short-season Single-A Auburn and one game at Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia pitched well in 2011, posting a 2.66 ERA. He still was pretty low on the organizational depth chart, but at least...

If Adam LaRoche re-signs with the Nationals, does that mean Michael Morse will be traded? With Denard Span in center field, Bryce Harper in left and Jayson Werth in right, is Morse the first baseman? If that is the case, is LaRoche gone? These questions have been in play for what seems like almost a month, as teams expressed interest in Morse and LaRoche sought a long-term contract from the Nationals and others. Here is a quick look at the tale of the tape: (We see this comparison all the...

If the Orioles don't acquire another first baseman, Chris Davis will be playing the not-so-hot corner on opening day at Tropicana Field. Manager Buck Showalter is prepared to give Davis the job, with the full support of executive vice president Dan Duquette. As the roster is currently constructed, Wilson Betemit would back up Davis as one of Showalter's four reserves. In the meantime, Duquette continues to search for another bat, whether it's for first base or as designated hitter or a...

The Orioles have tapped into the independent league market again to find another pitcher. They're leaving no independent stone unturned. The Orioles signed right-hander Kyle Mertins, according to a tweet from his former team, the Sioux Falls Pheasants of the American Association. Mertins, 24, is a former 28th-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal-State Fullerton. He went 4-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 45 relief appearances, with 36 hits allowed, 14 walks...

He is one of the Orioles' top young pitchers, but like most pitchers in the O's organization this past season, he got overshadowed by Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman. But Eduardo Rodriguez had a third straight strong season in 2012 and most consider him the club's best pitching prospect after the Bundy-Gausman duo. In November, Baseball America rated Rodriguez, a 19-year-old lefty from Valencia, Venezuela, as the Orioles' fifth-best prospect in its top 10 ranking. After pitching to an ERA...

When the Orioles drafted pitcher Josh Hader out of Old Mill High School in Anne Arundel County in June, they knew they were getting a kid with impressive high school stats, but not yet an impressive fastball. But that changed this summer. The 18-year-old left-hander, who went 10-0 with an ERA of 0.39 as a senior, was pitching in the mid 80s during his high school season but ended up touching 93 and 94 by the end of his first pro season, surprising even some seasoned members of the Orioles'...