The Orioles have two of baseball's top 24 prospects, according to MLB.com. In announcing its top 50 prospects last night, MLB.com named left-handed pitcher Zach Britton as the game's 19th best prospect and rated shortstop Manny Machado as the 24th. Britton, who turned 23 on Dec. 22, went 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA in 26 starts last year between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. The lefty, who was added to the O's 40-man roster in November, gave up two earned runs or fewer in 21 of 26...

According to a Harris Poll, pro football is the most popular sport in the United States. Among people that follow at least one sport, 31 percent say football is their favorite sport while baseball is second at 17 percent. In 1985, 23 percent in the same poll listed baseball as No. 1, so the sport is losing ground since then. There are some that think baseball is completely dwarfed by interest in the NFL and some that say the sport just doesn't generate the interest it once did. Oh,...

Welcome to another morning of "What the heck am I going to write about?" I really need a sponsor. And some news. I had a brief conversation with a team official last night, and we discussed left-hander Clay Rapada, who agreed to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. Rapada will be given a chance to win a spot in the bullpen as the second southpaw, joining Michael Gonzalez, but here's my guess: He'll be Mike Hinckley, who lost out to Will Ohman last spring and pitched at...

Mike Napoli was traded to the Blue Jays. Then he was traded to the Rangers. I believe 12 minutes passed between deals. When the music stops, grab a team. The Blue Jays appeared to be out of the running for free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero after sending Vernon Wells to the Angels for Napoli and Juan Rivera. Now they might have an opening after sending Napoli to the Rangers earlier today for reliever Frank Francisco. Rangers president Nolan Ryan stated yesterday that he retained interest...

Nationals left-handed starter John Lannan avoided arbitration last week, signing a one-year contract reportedly worth $2.75 million. This was a significant step for Lannan after last year's odyssey from an arm injury to Double-A demotion, then back to D.C. and a powerful 6-3 finish. Lannan was very pleased to avoid an arbitration hearing and get a deal completed well before spring training. "I think overall it went well," Lannan said. "I think both sides are happy not to have to go to...

I was getting my hair cut this afternoon when I received an e-mail from the International League, announcing its Hall of Fame class. I opened it when I got home and discovered that former Rochester Red Wings third baseman Cal Ripken is being honored. The accolades just keep pouring in for baseball's Iron Man. And you really should try his Power Shred jerky. Ripken will join Steve Balboni and Wade Boggs as members of the Class of 2011. All three players starred in the International League...

Jorge Cantu is off the board after reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with the Padres. I'll stop pitching him now. It's not a certainty that the Orioles will bring in another utility candidate, but they could ink somebody to a minor league deal and toss him into the mix with Brendan Harris and Robert Andino. As it currently stands, Cesar Izturis is the backup at second base if Brian Roberts is injured. He was re-signed to be the utility middle infielder. I'm fine with Izturis on...

When it comes to the Orioles' 2009 draft, Matt Hobgood is not the only pitcher the O's selected then that has dealt with or is currently dealing with injury issues. The club selected 12 pitchers among the first 20 rounds in that draft, signing 10 of them. Of those 10, six pitched fewer than 50 innings last summer. They selected six pitchers in the first 10 rounds and five of those hurlers dealt with some type of injury last season. Here is a rundown: Round 1 - Hobgood: Currently...

Another Orioles pitcher is dealing with legal issues, though the severity doesn't match what's transpiring in the Dominican Republic with Alfredo Simon. According to this report from a Houston television station, left-hander Troy Patton was arrested Saturday night and charged with a DWI after police officers reported that the pitcher's car sped over a curb. Officers said he failed a Breathalyzer test, blowing a 0.14. The legal blood alcohol content limit in Texas is 0.08. Patton posted a...

So here we are, exactly three weeks from the day when pitchers and catchers hold their first workout at the spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla. The roster won't be set until the Orioles secure another starting pitcher and left-handed reliever. They could add another bat, perhaps for the bench, though Vladimir Guerrero will continue to cast a large shadow until he finds a home. You would expect more interest in a guy who hit .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs last season. Is he still...