Here are some current stats on players from the Orioles organization that are playing in winter ball leagues around the world: In the Dominican: * Pedro Florimon is batting .235/0/1 going 4-for-17 with seven strikeouts. * Pedro Viola is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 11 games. In 7 1/3 he has allowed four hits and one run. * Jose Diaz is 0-0 with an ERA of 0.00 over eight games. In 8 2/3 innings, he has allowed just one hit and no runs with a batting average against of just .038. Austrailian Baseball...

When the Georgetown University men's basketball team traveled to China this past summer, the Hoyas went with a videographer who documented the trip, from start to finish. The end product of that historic 11-day trip can now be seen by all as MASN will air "From the Baseline" on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Produced by the Georgetown Athletics Department and Futureview, Inc., "From the Baseline" provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Hoyas trip. It documents the team from its departure...

The Orioles have scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference Tuesday at the warehouse to introduce Dan Duquette to the local media. The press conference will air live on MASN and will be streamed live on MASNsports.com. The Orioles have given Duquette the title of executive vice president of baseball operations, which wasn't on my short list. I kept referring to the job as "general manager" or "president of baseball operations." I may have to abbreviate it to executive VP of baseball ops....

Scottsdale left-hander Sammy Solis has been named the Pitcher of the Week for Week 5 of the Arizona Fall League. Solis worked eight innings, allowing no earned runs with 14 strikeouts in his last two outings. He shone Friday in his only start of the week, striking out nine batters in four scoreless frames in a win over Phoenix. The nine punchouts were a single-game best in the AFL this season. Solis ranks second in strikeouts (23) and is tied for third in innings pitched (23). It is big for...

In 2002, when Dan Duquette was fired by the Boston Red Sox as their general manager, he vowed to make a comeback. Now, he gets his chance as the Orioles' top executive. Duquette left Boston in cloud of controversy, and because of that, he probably didn't get proper credit for his role in building the Red Sox's 2004 World Series championship team. His strengths are his Latin American connections and his ability to develop players. He gets credit for pulling off the most lopsided trade in...

In Baltimore, we know Cal Ripken Jr. as The Iron Man. This week, he takes on a different moniker: baseball ambassador. From Nov. 8-16, Ripken will take participate in a diplomatic mission through Japan, where he will conduct baseball and softball clinics in Tokyo, Takarazuka and Kyoto. Officially, Ripken will be functioning as a U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy, a State Department position that allows him to assume role of sports diplomat. This is the third trip Ripken has taken in this capacity....

Baseball America is out with its annual top 10 list of prospects for the Nationals and it is no surprise who is listed at No. 1. Here's the full list: 1. Bryce Harper, OF 2. Anthony Rendon, 3B 3. Brad Peacock, RHP 4. A.J. Cole, RHP 5. Brian Goodwin, OF 6. Alex Meyer, RHP 7. Matt Purke, LHP 8. Sammy Solis, LHP 9. Derek Norris, C 10. Steve Lombardozzi, 2B/SS Harper has torn up the Arizona Fall League, batting over .314. He has hit .462 with six homers and 21 RBIs in his last 10 games. Joining...

Is anyone else burned out from all this general manager talk? I'd like to go the rest of the year without typing the word "candidate." I'd like to go the rest of my life without typing it, but I don't know whether Dan Duquette has that kind of staying power. My assumption is that Duquette will be introduced Tuesday as the new president of baseball operations. You can be sure that it will happen this week. The search is over. We can put that "short list" to bed. Duquette won't...

As Dan Duquette becomes the latest top executive to try and turn the Orioles around, many Orioles fans must be hoping the Buck Showalter-Duquette pairing will be the one to finally take this team back to the top of the standings. While no one can blame fans for being doubters and skeptical about that, a new face at the top does provide hope. Hope that this time some things will be different. Hope that Duquette will bring some fresh ideas and/or staff to the front office. Hope that it all will...

The Orioles and Dan Duquette have agreed to terms on a contract that will make him the organization's new president of baseball operations, according to an industry source. The deal is done, according to the source, and the Orioles are expected to make the announcement as early as tomorrow. Duquette met again this morning with owner Peter Angelos, his third interview in three days. He returned to Baltimore yesterday after his initial meeting, making him only the second candidate to be...