Did anyone think the Giants would jump out to a 3-0 lead on the Tigers in the World Series? Tim Lincecum has been a beast out of the bullpen. Another starter-turned-reliever success story. I've been asked who would replace Rick Peterson as the Orioles' director of pitching development if he's hired as the Red Sox's pitching coach. I don't know whether the club would fill that role. It's unique. It's been created for Peterson and his unique talents. Not everyone carries around the...

When it comes to the back of their rotation, the Nationals have options. They could tender John Lannan a contract and go into spring training thinking he'll take the No. 5 spot in their rotation. They could re-sign Edwin Jackson to a multi-year deal and go forward with him as one of their top five guys. They could also dip into the free agent market and bring someone in to round out what sets up as one of baseball's top starting staffs with Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann...

As we attempt to piece together the Orioles rotation for 2013, we must keep in mind that Chris Tillman is out of minor league options. Tillman can't be sent down if he isn't deemed worthy of a starting job, and he's never pitched in relief. Fifty-one major league appearances, 51 starts. The Orioles have placed other starters in the bullpen, including Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz, but they've always resisted changing Tillman's role, even if only temporarily. Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen...

Nationals infield prospect Anthony Rendon checked in from the Arizona Fall League, where he is playing for the Salt River Rafters. He is batting .231 in 11 games so far for the Rafters, with four doubles and five RBIs. He has seven walks and eight strikeouts. Rendon has played third base exclusively for the Rafters and said that he feels 100 percent healthy following recovery from a fractured left ankle suffered in April with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. "It is back to full...

Now that the Orioles ended their 14-season losing streak by not only having a winning season but by returning to the playoffs, can they do it again? Were the 2012 Orioles a one-hit wonder? There seem to be times in sports where a losing team turns into a winner but can't sustain it because it doesn't have the hunger and intensity it did the first time around. In an interview this week on the 105.7 FM The Fan morning show in Baltimore, manager Buck Showalter indicated he feels strongly that...

The Orioles have officially released left-hander Dontrelle Willis, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy. My first reaction was, "Dontrelle Willis was still in the organization?" The Orioles must have taken the hint when he retired July 2. They sent out a tweet to confirm it. But I guess releasing him after the season was some kind of a procedural move. Willis was 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA in four appearances for Triple-A Norfolk, with six earned runs (eight total) and 10 hits in 6 1/3...

The Nationals have yet to release their full 2013 spring training schedule, but for those of you interested in getting a head start on your vacation planning, I've got some tentative dates courtesy of the Grapefruit League master schedule put together at SpringTrainingOnline.com. Here's what's listed so far. The Nats, of course, will play their home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. Feb. 23: Nats at Mets (Port St. Lucie) Feb. 24: Marlins at Nats Feb. 26: Nats at Braves (Lake...

As we learned a long time ago, the offseason is open season on free agent speculation. The Orioles are fairly quiet while the World Series plays out. Dana Eveland and Ronny Paulino elected to become minor league free agents. Third base coach DeMarlo Hale interviewed for the Red Sox managerial job. The Sporting News named Buck Showalter American League Manager of the Year. The Diamondbacks received cash to complete the Joe Saunders/Matt Lindstrom trade. That's about it. Nothing to grab the...

I think they may be partly serious and partly kidding, but the Inland Empire 66ers of the Single-A California League say they have offered their job as play-by-play broadcaster to Bob Costas. In a recent interview with sports columnist Joe Posnanski, Costas said that he still had a dream of calling an entire season of minor league baseball. According to Posnanski, "(Costas) has often talked about a dream - one he insists he still has, even after hosting all the Olympics and winning all the...

The Orioles haven't released their 2013 spring training schedule, but I'll pass along some tentative dates off the Grapefruit League's master list, put together by SpringTrainingOnline.com. Plan accordingly. The home games, of course, are held at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Feb. 23: Twins at Orioles Feb. 24: Orioles at Blue Jays (Dunedin) March 2: Orioles at Rays (Port Charlotte) March 3: Phillies at Orioles March 4: Orioles at Yankees (Tampa) March 8: Orioles at Pirates...