Maybe the Giants are this year's Cardinals. Two straight San Francisco victories over St. Louis in win-or-go-home situations have forced the National League Championship Series to a decisive Game 7 tonight. That's now five victories in must-win spots for the Giants during this postseason, which brings back memories of the high-wire act the Cardinals walked during their 2011 World Series run. The Giants will stay at home for Game 7 with Matt Cain taking the mound against Kyle Lohse. Should...

Here are some thoughts to get this Monday morning started. Feel free to leave your own comments on one or all three of the topics. Is now the time to sign Matt Wieters to a long-term deal?: I don't think it is. Matt Wieters ended the 2012 season with 3.129 years of service time and can't be a free agent until after the 2015 season. He is just now arbitration eligible for the first time. When the Orioles signed Adam Jones to a six-year deal in late May, at that point he had less than two...

The Red Sox did exactly what had been rumored pretty much since their former manager, Bobby Valentine, criticized Kevin Youkilis earlier this year. They arranged for John Farrell to become their new manager. Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale interviewed for the job, but the Red Sox made their decision a long time ago. They just needed to complete the rare player-for-manager trade with the Blue Jays, which they did by sending Mike Aviles to Toronto. The first time I ever heard of such a...

High Single-A Potomac Nationals third baseman Matt Skole has played in six games so far for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. He has had at least one hit in each game. Saturday was Skole's third multi-hit game, and he went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He is batting .500 (11-for-22) with three doubles, one homer and five RBIs. His slugging percentage is .773 and his OPS (on-base plus slugging) is 1.380. Skole has been playing some first base with Anthony Rendon...

Yesterday, we kicked around ideas for second base. Today, we'll ponder whether the Orioles need to upgrade the rotation or play the hands - right and left - that they've been dealt. The Orioles' starters posted an ERA under 4.00 after Aug. 1 and a 2.00 ERA in the playoffs. The pitching staff finished with a 3.90 ERA that ranked 14th in the majors. Their 3.73 ERA after the All-Star break tied them with the Giants for 11th. The staff's 3.35 ERA in September ranked eighth in the majors, and...

Right-hander Taylor Jordan completed his season with the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns and moved on to Florida for instructional league workouts that wrapped up last week. A ninth-round selection from the 2009 draft, Jordan recovered from 2011 Tommy John surgery to get back and pitch six games at short-season Single-A Auburn and then joined the Suns for nine starts. Potomac Nationals pitching coach Chris Michalak worked with Jordan in Viera, Fla., up until Oct. 1 while he was at instructional...

While the left side of the infield is set for 2013, the right side is open for business. The Orioles probably won't pick up Mark Reynolds' $11 million option. They could non-tender him and attempt to re-sign him, rather than risk going to arbitration. Second base is especially unsettled, with Robert Andino and Omar Quintanilla non-tender candidates and Ryan Flaherty a possibility to start the season at Triple-A Norfolk, now that he's no longer a Rule 5 player. Nobody knows what to expect...

Tyler Moore's role for next year is very much uncertain. He could become the Nationals' everyday first baseman. He could become their everyday left fielder. He could be a right-handed bat off the bench. He could even be a trade candidate, if the Nats re-sign Adam LaRoche and other teams in need of some power come calling. Very little regarding Moore is clear at this point. But this much is clear - the 25-year-old has shown he can flat-out hit at every level at which he's played, and that...

Does it feel to you like the Orioles haven't played in a month? Yet it was only a week ago last night that the Orioles were playing Game 5 against the Yankees. Since the 2012 season is still so fresh in our minds, I'll pose a question today that is an obvious one to ask. As Buck Showalter would say, I'll be Captain Obvious here. What was your favorite memory or game from this Orioles' season? Just off the top of my head, a few come to mind. The Orioles; 9-6 win in 17 innings on May 6 at...

The Houston Astros announced today that former Orioles manager Dave Trembley has been hired as a coach. Trembley, 60, will join new manager Bo Porter's staff. His position hasn't been determined. "I'm real appreciative," Trembley said in a phone interview. "Bo is still sorting through where he's going to place everybody. He's got a couple more hires to make, so he's kind of holding off on what we're going to do for him." Trembley had been working as the Atlanta Braves' minor...