On Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for baseball. No, it shouldn't outrank the importance of family and friends in our lives, our health and so forth, but it's pretty important to many of us. Some of us make our living in the game and we're glad and thankful there are great O's fans like you out there that make that possible. So keeping all that in perspective and taking time to relax and just have fun today and not get too deep, I'm thankful for these things among many others: * That...

After clinching their first playoff berth since 1997, the Orioles are looking to lock up the same coaching staff this offseason. Jim Presley agreed to a new contract Wednesday, leaving just third base coach DeMarlo Hale as the only coach whose return is uncertain. Hale interviewed for the Blue Jays' bench coach position this week. While Brian Roberts said he is doing well health-wise, he knows that he will not have to share any time at second base with Robert Andino, who was traded to the...

After watching his team pick up Manager of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards, Mike Rizzo got in on the action this week. He was voted Executive of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Tuesday. On the same day, the Nationals added right-handed pitchers Erik Davis and Nathan Karns to their 40-man roster. This move protects both prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, which will occur Dec. 6. Fellow prospects, of the Salt River Rafters, made it to the...

After re-signing as the manager of the Nationals for the 2013 season, Davey Johnson locked up the Manager of the Year award, a day after he saw his rookie phenom bring home the hardware. On Monday, Bryce Harper, who just turned 20 a month ago, won the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award after batting .270/.340/.477 with 22 home runs since his debut on April 28. After winning the award, Harper said, "This is a great award and I'm so excited and proud of it, but my biggest thing is I...

With the Orioles' annual FanFest date announced as Jan. 19, fans will have different trade and award news from this week to discuss. On Tuesday, Buck Showalter placed second in Manager of the Year voting, just eight points behind winner Bob Melvin of the A's. Showalter finished with 12 first-place votes to Melvin's 16. While Angels' Mike Trout was the runaway winner for the American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, Wei Yin Chen received two third-place votes Monday after...

The Orioles now have five of their coaches under contract for 2013. Hitting coach Jim Presley has agreed to a new deal, leaving third base coach DeMarlo Hale as the only member of the staff who isn't assured of being back next season. Hale interviewed for the Toronto Blue Jays' bench coach position earlier this week. The Orioles have offered him a contract and are waiting for a response. Presley told me on Monday that he fully expected a deal to get done that would enable him to remain as...

No debate about whether you'll be able to get a jump on your holiday shopping while still digesting your roast turkey dinner (or whatever your family services) Thanksgiving night. If you want to hit up the Nationals Clubhouse Team Store for some gift-giving goodies, you'll have to wait until Friday. No early opening hours Thursday night, so you can focus your attentions at that time on Target, Walmart and the like. But, boy, will you be rewarded by the Nationals for your patience. Schedule...

In case you missed it, the Nationals made a couple of additions to their 40-man roster last night, selecting the contracts of right-handed pitchers Erik Davis and Nathan Karns. Both Davis (a reliever) and Karns (a starter) are now protected from the Rule 5 draft which will take place in a little over two weeks. Come spring, they'll get to spend some time in big league camp and also get some personal satisfaction in knowing the Nationals value them enough that they didn't want to risk losing...

The immediate reaction from fans on this blog to yesterday's trade between the Orioles and Mariners seemed to lean more toward disappointment than indifference. Second baseman Robert Andino won over a lot of people with his walk-off single to beat the Red Sox in the final game of the 2011 season. They liked his swagger, his willingness to fill any role and his occasional movie reviews that were played on the video board at Camden Yards. He evolved into a lovable character, and one who really...

The Orioles added infielder Jonathan Schoop and left-handed pitcher Mike Belfiore to their 40-man roster yesterday. It will mean, for one, that each player will report to spring training when the big leaguers do. It also could be a big step for both as they look to get to the majors with the Orioles. The man who saw the pair play every day this year was Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall. Schoop, ranked by Baseball America as the club's No. 3 prospect, spent all season with the Baysox, and...