Don't be surprised if Baltimore's New Year's Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor has a distinct orange-and-black tinge come Dec. 31. When thousands flock to the Inner Harbor to ring in 2013, they'll enjoy a celebration sponsored by their favorite baseball team. This morning in a press conference at Camden Yards, it was announced that the Orioles and OriolesREACH, the club's community-minded charitable wing, will be the presenting sponsors of the annual New Year's Eve celebration. So...

There's no doubt that the Nationals' minor league system has been thinned out by recent trades that brought in Gio Gonzalez and Denard Span. But there are still a few prospects within the Nats' system with a pretty high ceiling, even after guys like Brad Peacock, A.J. Cole, Derek Norris, Tommy Milone and Alex Meyer were dealt in order for the Nationals to bring in proven major league players. Baseball America has released its list of the top 10 prospects in the Nationals' organization for...

MASN, the television home of the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles, has reached an affiliate agreement with Cape Charles, Va., cable provider Bay Creek. Bay Creek is carrying MASN on Channel 60, MASN HD on Channel 660, MASN 2 on Channel 61 and MASN2 HD on Channel 661. The launch of MASN on Bay Creek brings Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals baseball, NCAA football and basketball, dozens of coaches' shows and more local sports programming to viewers in Virginia. Throughout the...

NOTE: If your cable or satellite provider carries MASN, they will also carry MASN2 but not necessarily MASNHD or MASNHD 2. Please locate your cable provider (left column) below to find MASN, MASN2 and MASNHD on your television! Provider Region Area masn masn2 masnHD masn2HD DIRECTV                 All DirecTV Customers 640 641 640 641-1 ...

It was about one year ago that Tripp Keister was making the jump from collegiate coach at Wesley College to his job as manager for the Gulf Coast League Nationals. Now he has been promoted to manage the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Keister believes his purpose and job description really hasn't changed despite the classification jump. "I look forward to being at (Hagerstown)," Keister said this week. "I recognize as a player development staff member your job is still the same: Get these...

To answer a few readers, the Orioles are in the process of working through a number of candidates to replace Bobby Dickerson as minor league infield coordinator. They are considering members of the organization and also are exploring options outside of it. Dickerson was hired as third base coach, which forces him to surrender his previous duties. The club routinely waits to announce all of its minor league staffs, including managers, coaches and instructors. We may not get official word until...

Matt Hobgood, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, is flying home to California for the holidays after receiving good news earlier today from Dr. Craig Morgan. Hobgood said he passed all of the tests administered by Dr. Morgan, who performed surgery in April to tighten the pitcher's right shoulder capsule. "He laid me on my back and tested my shoulder in terms of flexibility, and he said it's right in terms of where it needs to be," Hobgood said. "He said it looks...

Another day has passed, and still no announcement from the Red Sox on whether they've finally completed their deal with first baseman/catcher Mike Napoli. Napoli and the Red Sox agreed to terms on a three-year, $39 million deal at the Winter Meetings more than two weeks ago, but the deal has still not been made official. There are reports that the Red Sox have found some sort of issues with Napoli's physical, and while the two sides are still working on a way to finalize the contract they...

Since there's still no real news coming out of the warehouse - just non-update updates and more names being chucked against the wall - I'll pass along a few leftover quotes. Maybe I'll try to make up something later, just to keep it interesting around here. When did the Orioles realize that they were legit this year? "In spring training, we all believed we had a good team and we would be able to be competitive," said shortstop J.J. Hardy. "I'd say sometime after the All-Star break, we...

Here are some updates on Leones de Ponce in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (offseason league) this past week and how the Nationals' prospects are faring. Third baseman Zach Walters has put together four multi-hit games in his last nine contests, with 10 hits since Dec. 6. He had three hits on Dec. 6 and Dec. 16, plus a pair of base knocks on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. Over his last 10 games, he is hitting .270 and his overall average is .260 overall with eight doubles and 13 RBIs...