Giants catcher Buster Posey claimed National League Most Valuable Player honors, getting 27 of the 32 first-place votes handed out. The 25-year-old Posey has had a decent year; he won the batting title, got himself a World Series ring and now has taken home the NL MVP award. The Nationals, meanwhile, were well-represented in the MVP voting. Five Nats received MVP votes. Adam LaRoche finished tied for sixth with the Mets' David Wright in the voting, accumulating 86 points. LaRoche received...

The Orioles will hold their annual FanFest on Jan. 19 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Plan accordingly. The event will run from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. However, season ticket holders will be treated to a special preview from 10-11 a.m. More details will be released at a later date, including which players are scheduled to appear and the times that they will sign autographs. I just wanted to pass along the confirmed date. I'm sure the Orioles will arrange another media forum. In the past, I've...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter called into "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" yesterday on MASN in his latest round of interviews. The guy had more privacy while his team was still playing, but he's in demand after being a finalist for American League Manager of the Year. Showalter addressed a topic that came up here immediately after news broke that the Toronto Blue Jays were acquiring half of the Miami Marlins. Do the Orioles need to make a big move to counter it? "They took on a lot...

On Tuesday night, shortly after Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton expressed his frustration with the monster trade which shipped five of his teammates to the Blue Jays, Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper sent a tweet Stanton's way. The message, which has since been deleted, read: "you can always come play for the Nats! We will take you anytime! Get some red, white, and blue in your life!" Last night, Stanton replied to Harper via Twitter with the following: "Dang bro, If only my...

Some quick takes today and please jump in with comments and opinions as you provide your takes on mine. The Toronto Blue Jays, 2013 American League East champs?: Pardon me if I wait for them to play the season before attending the Blue Jays' victory parade. No, the Orioles don't need to counter this move. This is not chess, or the Red Sox and Yankees. The Orioles need to make moves to try and improve their team and that held true before the big Miami-Toronto trade and still does. I'm...

The Salt River Rafters downed Billy Hamilton and the Peoria Javelinas, 6-4 Wednesday afternoon at Salt River Fields in Arizona Fall League competition. Salt River improves to 16-13, guaranteeing a winning regular season record, and with one game left to play Thursday. Scottsdale (15-15) will be unable to catch them because the Scorpions would have played one more game, and they lost that game. First baseman Matt Skole went 0-for-3 with a walk, but is still batting .305. Third baseman Jason...

The Nationals have announced Gary Thurman has been named the new minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator. Thurman comes over from the Miami Marlins, where he served as first base coach in 2012. He was also the Marlins' outfield and baserunning coach. Thurman has been a manager, coach or instructor for 14 years in professional baseball. From 2008-2011, Thurman was in the Cleveland Indians' organization as minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator. He previously worked nine...

The Nationals won't go 3-for-3 in the major end-of-season awards. Bryce Harper won the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year and Davey Johnson won the NL Manager of the Year, but Gio Gonzalez came up short in his bid for the NL Cy Young Award. That went to Mets starter R.A. Dickey, a 38-year-old knuckleballer who has taken the league by storm the last few years. Dickey picked up 27 of 32 first-place votes and 209 points overall. Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw finished second,...

Orioles closer Jim Johnson received four votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America to finish in seventh place for the American League's Cy Young Award. Tampa Bay's David Price edged out Detroit's Justin Verlander, with only four points separating them. Price was named first on 14 of the 28 ballots, second on 13 and third on one for 153 points. Verlander received 13 first-place votes, 13 seconds and two thirds for 149 points. The other first-place vote went to Tampa Bay...

The Washington Nationals today named Gary Thurman their minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. Thurman, 48, brings 14 years of experience as a manager, coach or instructor in professional...