As Joe Jordan leaves the Orioles for the Phillies, I guess he can finally go several weeks without getting a phone call from me. We'll have less to talk about now, but I sure wish him the best. He's done so many interviews with me since 2004, I've lost track. I have asked so many questions about Matt Hobgood that I've lost track of that. A typical conversation between us might go like this: Joe: Steve, Britton was sure good last night. What did you think of that sinker? Steve: Looked...

Manager Buck Showalter will likely remain in Baltimore through the weekend while trying to speed up the process of interviewing candidates for general manager/president of baseball operations and making a hire. This thing can't drag out much longer. Showalter wants the coaching staff to become more settled by the weekend. We might not learn every name, but we could find out if anyone is leaving. The Orioles need a bullpen coach after Rick Adair replaced Mark Connor as pitching coach on June...

The Orioles are expected to begin contacting teams tomorrow to receive permission to interview candidates for general manager/president of baseball operations. I'm not sure which title will be used, so I'm playing it safe. The list is a moving target, to use one of manager Buck Showalter's favorite expressions. Thad Levine (Rangers), Tony LaCava (Blue Jays), Dan Jennings (Marlins) and J.P. Ricciardi (Mets) remain on it, though Ricciardi is an unlikely hire. I'd place him at the...

It all happened very fast for Joe Jordan, who left his job today after seven years as the Orioles scouting director to take the position of head of player development for the Philadelphia Phillies. Jordan said as he was flying home Friday from the Orioles' instructional league in Sarasota Fla., the Phillies were asking permission to interview him. That interview took place Monday and yesterday afternoon he was offered the Phillies' position. Jordan said he could have stayed with the Orioles...

Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander Sammy Solis makes his second start of the Arizona Fall League campaign tonight as he takes to the mound against Salt River. Solis went three innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and no strikeouts in a no-decision against the very same Salt River Rafters, Oct. 6. Despite the three walks, Solis was pleased with the outing and came away confident. Scorpions pitching coach Paul Menhart agreed, saying Solis threw "quality pitches, Solis was...

When Orioles fans debate how Joe Jordan did in his seven years as scouting director, most will first mention Matt Hobgood and Billy Rowell. Rowell has simply not come close to panning out and may be headed on his way out of the organization and the returns so far on Hobgood are pretty bleak. Hobgood still has time to salvage his career though, so he can't be written off yet. But many fans will never forgive Jordan for these two picks. My thoughts are that Jordan did a decent job as O's...

Like many others, I've been anticipating heavy turnover in the Orioles' organization, and it's been unfolding over the past few days. Andy MacPhail no longer will serve as president of baseball operations, news that became official late Friday night. As I tweeted earlier this morning, scouting director Joe Jordan has been hired as the Phillies' director of player development. (Check out this report from MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski.) The Orioles have lost two amateur scouts. Keith...

Mesa dropped Scottsdale 3-2 in Arizona Fall League play Tuesday with George Washington product pitcher Pat Lehman getting knocked around for four hits and two runs. An Aaron Hicks triple, which glanced off the glove of Bryce Harper in right field, and a home run by Brandon Short were the big hits for the Solar Sox off Lehman in two innings of work. Rafael Martin finally got into an AFL game for the Scorpions, pitching one inning in front of Lehman, allowing no hits, one walk and one...

So when does the offseason begin? I'm talking about mine. Here's hoping that the Orioles don't drag out the interviewing and hiring process. Here's hoping we'll learn the identity of Andy MacPhail's replacement before next month's general managers meetings. The empty chair would be embarrassing. Owner Peter Angelos is supposed to meet today with manager Buck Showalter, who's racking up some serious frequent flyer miles. Or maybe he's just developed an addiction to those little bags...

Orioles fans have head to deal with 14 consecutive years of losing. No players have had to deal with all that losing, but Nick Markakis has been a part of the organization for the last nine seasons. Markakis was a first-round draft pick in 2003. How has the losing impacted him and his career? "This is where I started, this is the team that drafted me and brought me through the minors," Markakis said. "I'm completing my sixth year now (in the majors). I've been here through the tough...