I have a hot date later today - with my couch to watch football. I may shower first, but it's a game-time decision. The GM meetings take place later this week in Milwaukee. They're sort of an appetizer for the Winter Meetings. Executives talk trades, gauge the parameters and agree to resume discussions the following month - this time in Dallas. I wonder if Mark Reynolds' name will come up. I've heard that at least one executive who interviewed for the president of baseball operations job...

Seven hours north of Tokyo, lies Ofunato, the area most heavily damaged by March's Japanese earthquake and tsunami. That's where Cal Ripken Jr., on a diplomatic mission sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and his former Orioles teammate Brady Anderson traveled yesterday to survey the devastation and connect with children from this ravaged region. "I can't fathom what took place here," Ripken said, adding that he was looking forward to conducting a clinic for youths in the area. The...

In recent years, there has been talk of the Orioles increasing their presence in Venezuela. It is a nation that has produced current players like Asdrubal Cabrera, Felix Hernandez, Victor Martinez, Freddy Garcia, Magglio Ordonez, Johan Santana and former Oriole Melvin Mora to name just a few. The kidnapping this week of Nationals' catcher Wilson Ramos sheds light on the dangers that pro baseball players from that country face. It makes you wonder if any of this impacts the Orioles and other...

I told you yesterday that Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin isn't currently regarded as a candidate to become the Orioles' bullpen coach. Griffin is one of the more highly valued members of the organization, but in this case, it keeps working against him. The Orioles don't want to create a huge void by removing him from his post in order to fill another vacancy. They passed him up last year while parading coaches through the bullpen for that exact same reason. Guys like Mike...

The Orioles are hoping to announce their coaching staff next week. That's the goal. It's not going to happen over the weekend, so don't plan your days and nights around it. They're still open to the possibility of moving Wayne Kirby to third base and hiring a new first base coach. According to one member of the organization, the ideal staff would include a Latin American coach at third base who also could work with the infielders - that's a prime reason why the Orioles wanted Juan...

Cal Ripken Jr. continued his diplomatic tour of Japan today, visiting Ofunato, the area hardest hit by the March earthquake and tsunami. You can read Ripken's reflections here, and MASNsports.com will post a YouTube video tomorrow of his trip to the region. Ripken wrote in his blog that nothing prepared him for the devastation he saw - photos in the slideshow bear out the incredible level of destruction in the area - and that he hoped the clinics planned for Japanese children would help the...

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed Tuesday that he only has two coaching vacancies to fill. John Russell signed a new contract, allowing him to join holdovers Rick Adair, Jim Presley and Wayne Kirby. Russell will remain on the bench. Kirby, however, isn't sure where he'll coach. Kirby served as first base coach last season, but it's still possible that he moves across the diamond to replace Willie Randolph. "It doesn't matter to me," Kirby said last night. "I told Buck, 'Whatever you...

For the life of me I don't see Jorge Posada, who is a free agent, as a fit for the Orioles. Jon Heyman of SI.com tweeted this yesterday: "If posada decides to play, i'm thinking orioles or marlins. but i hope he retires. great career. terrific guy." Posada turned 40 last summer and while the Orioles need a backup catcher and might have some DH at-bats available next season as well, I don't see a player at that stage of his career being anyone the Orioles could use in 2012. Posada was...

This transaction won't rock the baseball world, but the Orioles have started the process of signing six-year minor league free agents. Their first signee is outfielder Scott Beerer, 29, formerly a second-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2003 out of Texas A&M. Beerer was selected as a pitcher, but the Rockies converted him to the outfield in 2008. According to this story, he moved to southern California after briefly retiring and began working on his swing with former Oriole Brady...

The Orioles will honor Negro Leagues pioneer Buck O'Neil in a ceremony at their minor league facility, the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park, this Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. The date marks the 100th anniversary of O'Neil's birth. O'Neil, who spent a portion of his childhood in Sarasota, was a star first baseman and manager in the Negro Leagues. He also scouted and coached in the major leagues and worked tirelessly to preserve and promote the history of the Negro Leagues until...