Here are the two best reasons I can think of for keeping Jim Johnson as a reliever next season: * He's an excellent relief pitcher. * He's easily the best option for closer among the current roster. But here is the reason I still think he should be used in the rotation next year: * The Orioles' starting rotation ERA this year was 5.39. That is bad, real, real bad. But there is some hope it can get much better in a hurry. What if Zach Britton improves even a little on his rookie year,...

If you're looking for manager Buck Showalter today, he's attending the TCU-SMU football game. A promise he made to his kids. I'm not sure where president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is hanging out this weekend, but he won't be making any statements on his future in the organization. Things change quickly around here, but as I wrote yesterday, we probably won't learn of MacPhail's decision before Monday. He's not staying in his current role, but he could stick around as an...

Due to renovation construction on the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's home PNC Field during the 2012 baseball season, 10 of the Yankees "home" games will be played at Alliance Bank Stadium, home of the Washington Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs. The International League made the announcement Friday that eight of the games will be against the Chiefs and the other two against Buffalo. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will be the home team in Syracuse on April 14-15, June 14-17, and...

With the season over for the Nationals, it's time for the local and national media outlets to determine the annual winners of baseball's postseason awards. While some Nationals are likely in contention for some of the higher profile awards - Danny Espinosa for Rookie of the Year and Michael Morse for breakout player of the year, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America announced Thursday its annual team awards for the Nationals. For those who aren't aware, the IBWAA is an...

I always point out how I strongly dislike incremental updates that don't advance a story, but here I go again. The Orioles haven't made an announcement today regarding president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, and we probably won't hear anything until Monday at the earliest. Nothing has changed at this point. MacPhail will no longer serve as president of baseball operations unless there's a dramatic turn in events that nobody is anticipating. The question is whether he stays in the...

A source confirmed tonight that Andy MacPhail no longer will serve as president of baseball operations and is leaving the organization This isn't a resignation or a firing, despite the wording in some national reports. MacPhail's contract ends on Oct. 31. MacPhail flew to Florida earlier this week to attend to a family matter. He couldn't be reached tonight for comment. Family obligations are a primary reason why MacPhail won't return, according to a source. It was known for much of the...

The Washington Nationals' season is over and the team improved its record by 11 wins since 2010. The 80 wins is also 21 victories better than 2009's low water mark. Manager Davey Johnson was asked what 80 wins meant in Wednesday's postgame interview on MASN, and he certainly was not jumping for joy. That showed to me how determined he is to get this team to the next level. "Not a whole lot," Johnson said. "We are not playing in postseason. But it shows how far these guys have come. I...

A couple of thoughts before we head into the first weekend since March without Orioles baseball. * Peter Gammons said of Terry Francona on MLB Network: "Sometimes you measure Boston managers in dog years and Tito managed 56 years." By the way, the Red Sox averaged a robust 5.4 runs per game during their 7-20 September. But here are the ERAs for some of their pitchers during the month: Erik Bedard 5.25, Jon Lester 5.40, Josh Beckett 5.48, John Lackey 9.13 and Daniel Bard 10.54. Ken...

Here are a few things I have heard about the Orioles' instructional league workouts currently going on in Florida. The first thing I should point out however, is fans should realize instructional league is about instruction, of course and teaching the players. While they do play games there, you can't put a lot on evaulating any stats or results. No scores or stats are released from the games. Orioles 2011 top draft pick, pitcher Dylan Bundy, has been pitching in some of those games. He is...

One of the lasting images from the 2011 season was provided last night by second baseman Robert Andino. Not just his game-winning hit, but the way he bounded around the bases, took a flying chest-bump from Adam Jones and landed on his back. And the way he disappeared under a pile of jubilant teammates. And the way he strutted back to the dugout on his way to the clubhouse, waving that right arm in the air. OK, that's four lasting images. I warned you about my math. Andino almost didn't...