In Baltimore, we know Cal Ripken Jr. as The Iron Man. This week, he takes on a different moniker: baseball ambassador. From Nov. 8-16, Ripken will take participate in a diplomatic mission through Japan, where he will conduct baseball and softball clinics in Tokyo, Takarazuka and Kyoto. Officially, Ripken will be functioning as a U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy, a State Department position that allows him to assume role of sports diplomat. This is the third trip Ripken has taken in this capacity....

Baseball America is out with its annual top 10 list of prospects for the Nationals and it is no surprise who is listed at No. 1. Here's the full list: 1. Bryce Harper, OF 2. Anthony Rendon, 3B 3. Brad Peacock, RHP 4. A.J. Cole, RHP 5. Brian Goodwin, OF 6. Alex Meyer, RHP 7. Matt Purke, LHP 8. Sammy Solis, LHP 9. Derek Norris, C 10. Steve Lombardozzi, 2B/SS Harper has torn up the Arizona Fall League, batting over .314. He has hit .462 with six homers and 21 RBIs in his last 10 games. Joining...

Is anyone else burned out from all this general manager talk? I'd like to go the rest of the year without typing the word "candidate." I'd like to go the rest of my life without typing it, but I don't know whether Dan Duquette has that kind of staying power. My assumption is that Duquette will be introduced Tuesday as the new president of baseball operations. You can be sure that it will happen this week. The search is over. We can put that "short list" to bed. Duquette won't...

As Dan Duquette becomes the latest top executive to try and turn the Orioles around, many Orioles fans must be hoping the Buck Showalter-Duquette pairing will be the one to finally take this team back to the top of the standings. While no one can blame fans for being doubters and skeptical about that, a new face at the top does provide hope. Hope that this time some things will be different. Hope that Duquette will bring some fresh ideas and/or staff to the front office. Hope that it all will...

The Orioles and Dan Duquette have agreed to terms on a contract that will make him the organization's new president of baseball operations, according to an industry source. The deal is done, according to the source, and the Orioles are expected to make the announcement as early as tomorrow. Duquette met again this morning with owner Peter Angelos, his third interview in three days. He returned to Baltimore yesterday after his initial meeting, making him only the second candidate to be...

Nationals prospects Bryce Harper and Derek Norris played in Saturday's AFL Rising Stars Game in Surprise, Ariz. The AFL West, led by former Virginia standout Danny Hultzen, beat the AFL East 11-2 at Surprise Stadium. Harper connected on an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth for the East. He finished 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts. Norris went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. As the second half of the season begins Monday, Norris is batting .339 and Harper connecting at .314. The...

The idea of Orioles fans being held hostage may soon be over. If Dan Duquette gets the general manager's job, the club will have its new top executive and you can get on with your lives, not to mention the rest of the offseason. Personally, I was and remain a big fan of De Jon Watson of the Dodgers. I think this guy is going to be a top GM for someone soon and hope the Orioles didn't miss out on a guy that shows leadership, the ability to produce a solid player development system and...

Owner Peter Angelos met with Dan Duquette late into the night, and I turned off my laptop without any word on whether a deal had been struck. Not that anyone is burning up my phone with updates. Keeping me in the loop isn't a high priority. As of early this morning, it appears that nothing has been finalized, but we're still heading in that direction. I don't feel any need to dust off my list of other potential candidates. Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer comes into play only if...

The reaction here to Dan Duquette's second interview with the Orioles is mixed, to say the least. Some fans respect the work he's done in the past - especially the one-sided trades - and think he'll be a major asset. Others think the work was done too far in the past and he's no longer relevant. I just want the situation resolved, so I'm feeling a small sense of relief for selfish reasons. Duquette is meeting tonight with owner Peter Angelos, and the common belief is the Orioles...

I've received confirmation that Dan Duquette is heading back to Baltimore, and the Orioles could be drawing close to naming their new president of baseball operations. No contract has been offered, according to a source, but the two sides will attempt to hammer out a deal this weekend. ESPN's Tim Kurkjian first reported that Duquette was returning to Baltimore. Duquette interviewed yesterday, and I'm told that his detailed presentation impressed everyone in the room. One member of the...