If you know me and this blog, you know that I was dragged kicking and screaming into the Twitter world. I had little choice. My profession dictated it. Well, so did my bosses, but you know what I mean. I was confused and amused by how many people simultaneously tweeted last night that Red Sox assistant general manager Allard Baird declined the opportunity to interview with the Orioles for the position of president of baseball operations. I thought he was on a conference call, but he actually...

Here is a good question to ponder this weekend: How do you feel about a fan that dumps one team for another? How would feel about an Orioles fan that dumps the Birds for say the Nationals or Red Sox or Yankees or any other baseball team? I think fans have the right to be upset with their team, to rip their team on the message boards and talk shows and clearly they have the right to decide against purchasing any tickets or team merchandise. No one could blame any longtime Orioles fan to be...

Mix politics and baseball, says Orioles pitcher Tommy Hunter, and you've got the potential for some awkwardness. At least that's what Hunter gleaned from a day at Camden Yards earlier this week, portraying himself in an episode of the forthcoming HBO comedy "Veep." Hunter, teammate Jake Arrieta and other O's staffers spent almost six hours on the ballpark field shooting an episode that will air next March, when the O's are at spring training at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarastota, Fla. The TV...

Bo Porter will remain the third base coach of the Nationals, according to general manager Mike Rizzo. Porter spoke with Rizzo about the vacancy on the coaching staff at the bench coach position, following manager Davey Johnson's announcement that Pat Corrales would not return at that post next season. The Nationals believe Porter is very valuable to the organization as a coach, especially as the third base coach. They mutually decided that Porter best serves the Nationals at third base and...

I can't let you go to bed later tonight without another entry about the Orioles' search for a president of baseball operations. As of right now - check the time on this entry - the Orioles haven't scheduled any other interviews for the weekend. Of course, that could change. I've heard that they really want to sit down with Red Sox assistant GM Allard Baird. And they received permission from the Yankees to interview scouting director Damon Oppenheimer. Multiple people close to the...

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with free-agent right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang on a one-year contract for the 2012 season. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang went 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts with the Nationals in 2011, returning to the big leagues after missing more than two seasons with a right shoulder injury. The 31-year-old went 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA in his final nine starts last...

The Twins have denied the Orioles permission to interview Mike Radcliff for the position of president of baseball operations, according to an industry source. According to the same source, the Twins denied permission because of internal reorganization and promotions that could be in the works. Radcliff currently serves as vice president for player personnel for the Twins, but his title may now change. The Orioles will interview former Expos and Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette later...

For those of you keeping score at home, the Orioles will interview former Expos and Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette today, making him the sixth candidate to meet with the search committee. As long as you're keeping score, Duquette is only the third candidate who's still in play, joining John Stockstill and Scott Proefrock. You've seen a variety of names float past your computer screens. There's no exact list of remaining candidates. The Orioles are expected to interview Red Sox...

This just in: The Orioles are getting crushed by the national columnists right now. ESPN's Buster Olney published a column yesterday that was titled: "Orioles stalled by a perception problem." Here is part of what he wrote: "The Orioles have a significant perception problem now, slowing down a team already viewed within the industry as one that is all horse-and-buggy in a wireless world. Think about what we just saw in the last week: The Orioles - a team with a rich history, a landmark...

So much for a slow start. That is ancient history, again, for Bryce Harper. The Scottsdale outfielder slammed a home run in the third inning, his fifth round tripper in the past six games, leading the Scorpions to a 10-6 win over Surprise in Arizona Fall League play. He went 3-for-3 with two runs, a homer, two walks and three RBIs in the victory. Harper is now hitting .323 with three doubles, one triple, six homers and 23 RBIs in 17 games. He has now hit six homers in AFL play, and has 17...