FanFest began with a moment of silence in memory of legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver. As the assembled season ticket holders hushed in reverence, one fan, attired in an O's T-shirt and cap, at the Convention Center tapped his heart, pointed skyward, thrust four fingers in the air and yelled, "We love you, Earl!" Memories of the Hall of Fame skipper, nicknamed "The Earl of Baltimore" and revered as a favorite son in Charm City, are flooding through FanFest today. The mood is a little...

At the beginning of their forum with Orioles season ticket holders, which kicks off FanFest each year, executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter each made comments about Hall of Famer Earl Weaver, who died this morning. "Earl obviously was a great manager," Duquette said. "I was grateful last year we got to share a lot about his career when he was with us last year. You could see the love between the players and Earl. Earl was a simple guy. You pitch it, catch it, hit...

I will never forget a weekend I spent with friends in Cooperstown, N.Y., in August 1996. We made the drive north for the Hall of Fame induction of Earl Weaver. So many memories of No. 4 come rushing to the forefront today with news that Earl died last night. He was 82. I was there not to work as a reporter, but as a fan to honor a man who was a big reason that my childhood was a happy one. When you are a young kid and baseball means so much to you, it's pretty cool that your boyhood team...

On the day that the Orioles are holding their annual FanFest, news has spread through the Baltimore Convention Center that Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver passed away last night. He was 82. Weaver died while on a cruise ship, according to people close to the Orioles organization. Weaver managed the Orioles from 1968-82, and again from 1985-86. He won four American League pennants and one World Series, and compiled a 1,480-1,060 record. The Orioles honored Weaver with a statue unveiling on...

Has it really been a year since I sat behind the main stage for FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center and cranked out a blog entry about the Orioles' reported interest in reliever Luis Ayala? There wasn't much enthusiasm for that rumor, but Ayala became an integral part of the Orioles' sensational bullpen last season, posting a 2.64 ERA in 66 games. News broke during FanFest 2010 that the Orioles were bringing back Miguel Tejada, after I kept insisting that ship had sailed. The...

It was not a Hollywood premiere, but there was an orange carpet outside the Maryland Science Center's IMAX Theater last night. The Orioles debuted their 2012 season highlights DVD called, "The BUCKle Up Birds: An Underdog Story." They showed the DVD in a special screening for O's players, coaches and front office and staff, along with their families, club sponsors and some invited guests. The DVD, which was produced in-house by the award-winning Orioles Productions, includes both in-game...

Rather than try to convince reporters at spring training that he wasn't upset with the club's decision to renew his contract, as he did in 2012, catcher Matt Wieters is able to put all the money talk behind him before reporting to the Ed Smith Stadium complex next month. Wieters agreed today to a $5.5 million deal for the upcoming season in his first year of arbitration eligibility. No controversies, no threat of a hearing. "It's a good feeling," Wieters said tonight at the Maryland...

The Orioles are down to three unsigned arbitration-eligible players after reaching contract agreements today with catcher Matt Wieters, first baseman Chris Davis, and pitchers Troy Patton and Brian Matusz. "We started out with 12 in the process and we have nine signed so far, so I guess we're three-quarters of the way home, right?" said executive vice president Dan Duquette. The big winners were Wieters ($5.5 million) and Davis ($3.3 million). "I'm real happy we got agreements with...

General manager Mike Rizzo left little doubt that Rafael Soriano will be the Nationals' primary ninth-inning option for 2013. For the money they're paying Soriano - two years and $28 million with a vesting option for a third year - that was pretty much predetermined. Soriano doesn't have the long history as a closer that Rizzo referenced in yesterday's press conference at Nationals Park. He's only closed games full-time since 2009, when he took over the role when the Braves designated Bob...

Even after a season where he pitched at three minor league levels, was named the Orioles' minor league Pitcher of the Year and made it to the majors before his 20th birthday, Dylan Bundy realizes he is still a work in progress. "My offspeed pitches can get better, the consistency of them. Fastball command is a huge thing. You saw in the big leagues I was a little wild at times, but it's all about controlling the nerves and locating pitches," he said in the O's clubhouse Friday. Bundy is...