If the Orioles stick to their plan, they won't announce their coaching staff until after hiring their president of baseball operations. Though they don't anticipate any objections, they'd still rather allow their new executive to give final approval on manager Buck Showalter's staff. The Orioles must make two hires, though the job descriptions aren't settled. John Russell will remain as bench coach, which leaves a vacancy at third base following Willie Randolph's departure. However,...

Aaron Baker will tell you now that, as the trade deadline approached last summer, he didn't expect to be leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. They had drafted the first baseman in the 11th round in 2009 out of the University of Oklahoma and he made the mid-year All-Star teams in both his previous seasons in the short-season Single-A New-York Penn League in 2009 and the Single-A South Atlantic League in 2010. But on July 30, Baker was dealt to the Orioles as Derrek Lee went to...

The Nationals took a chance two years ago with a former Yankees pitcher coming off a major shoulder surgery. Chien-Ming Wang paid dividends for the Nationals' patience with a tremendous return to the big leagues, winning four of his last five decisions, and gaining his confidence and strength back. He had 16 strikeouts and no walks in his final four starts. Several times this summer with the Nats, Wang looked like the back-to-back 19-game winner from New York in 2006 and 2007. Once...

Blue Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava is in town today to interview for the job vacated by Andy MacPhail. I doubt that the Orioles have whittled their list down to two candidates, but they couldn't go wrong with LaCava or Jerry Dipoto, the Diamondbacks' senior vice president of scouting and player development. Everyone I've talked to in baseball raves about them and thinks they would be smart hires. Dipoto also will interview for the Angels' GM job, according to various reports....

Orioles manager Buck Showalter and his wife Angela have teamed up with KidsPeace to host the second annual KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K run/1M walk on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Canton. This family event is open to all ages and features Halloween activities in addition to the race. The entry fee for individuals participating in the run is $35, which includes an Under Armour t-shirt for the first 400 registered runners. Families who plan to walk the one mile together will pay just $20 and are...

The Nationals have returned right-handed pitcher Elvin Ramirez to the NY Mets (per Rule 5 Draft).

According to an industry source, the Marlins have denied the Orioles permission to interview assistant general manager Dan Jennings for the position of president of baseball operations. Jennings, who is currently in Arizona scouting the fall league, has a contract that runs through 2015. The Marlins have denied teams permission to interview Jennings on three other occasions. The Orioles are interviewing Diamondbacks senior vice president of scouting and player development Jerry Dipoto today...

Saturday's the day - a statue honoring legendary Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson will be dedicated at noon at a plaza between Washington Boulevard and Russell Street, northwest of Camden Yards. For the geographically impaired - or those who have never participated in the time-honored Baltimore baseball tradition of hoisting a brew at PIckles Pub or Sliders (or both) - here's a map of the statue's location. Though the ceremony doesn't begin until noon, the festivities kick off at 11...

Scottsdale Scorpions catcher Derek Norris has made some adjustments to his approach at the plate that have made a positive difference as he wraps up his 2011 season in the Arizona Fall League. Norris hit .210 in 104 games with 334 at-bats for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators this season. He had 17 doubles, one triple, 20 homers, 77 walks and 46 RBIs. Norris said playing in the Arizona Fall League this month has been good for his season. "I prefer this than to go out of the country to play...

I'm 51-34 picking NFL games against the spread this season. Is that good? Double-A Bowie first baseman Joe Mahoney, playing in his second Arizona Fall League game yesterday, went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored for the Mesa Solar Sox. He's hitting .600 with seven RBIs in two games. And his error total held at four. Xavier Avery, starting in center field, went 0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and his first error. He's batting .077. FOXSports.com's...