Rick VandenHurk hasn't been obsessing over every pitcher that the Orioles add to their camp roster, though each move could impact his future in the organization. If it's me, I'm keeping a chart and pacing the floor. I might be up to two packs a day. VandenHurk is out of minor league options and would have to be exposed to waivers and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk if he doesn't make the club in spring training. The Orioles want to add a veteran starter and one more reliever, but that...

The Orioles scored just 613 runs last season and that was next to last in the American League. Many fans are expecting that total to make a major jump after the additions of Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy. Plus, the O's hope to have Brian Roberts for a full season and perhaps see hitters like Nolan Reimold and Matt Wieters hit more like they did in 2009. If all that happens, the club could score a lot more runs in 2011. But in addition to being better hitters this coming season,...

Sorry to leave you hanging, but I won't be passing along quotes today from reliever Kevin Gregg. I hope that you didn't plan your entire day around it - like I did. I'm sure you're smarter. The Orioles are still waiting to receive the results from his physical. The weather might have played a factor in the delay. No reason to fret. We'll probably get the announcement tomorrow morning and it will be business as usual. Gregg agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with a vesting...

One of the things that manager Buck Showalter likes about his roster is it includes players who have a chip on their shoulders. (As opposed to Sidney Ponson, who had potato chip crumbs on his chest. Not the same.) Showalter wants guys who find extra motivation in the idea that they have something to prove - and you can include Mark Reynolds, J.J. Hardy and Derrek Lee in that group. Does Jim Johnson belong in it? Johnson emerged as a dominant setup man in 2008, using his heavy sinker to post...

Lefty Cameron Coffey finally made his anticipated minor league debut for the Orioles last August in the Gulf Coast League and he went 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in seven games. Some fans may have assumed, as I did, that it just took time for Coffey to make it to the mound following his elbow ligament replacement surgery in March 2009. But while Coffey's comeback from Tommy John surgery progressed fine and he was throwing well last spring training, his delay in getting in a game last summer was due...

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa told me on 106.7 The Fan in D.C. that his hand is healing well from hamate surgery and he will be good to go for next month's spring training. He says injured players are expected to report to Viera, Fla., on Feb.13. "I am working out," Espinosa said. "It has gone really well. I have progressed very quickly. I really like where I am at (with the recovery from surgery). My scar has healed great. My hand strength is higher than it was when I was...

I just got off the phone with Orioles reliever Jim Johnson, who had plenty to say about his right elbow, his motivation for the 2011 season and all the changes that have been made to the roster. Johnson lives in Sarasota during the winter, so he basked in 70-degree weather today while many of us braced for more snow. His in-laws live in Annapolis, so he's fully aware that we're not working on our tans. Johnson played catch again today at Ed Smith Stadium. He's been throwing for the last...

Speaking at a Washington Post breakfast forum sports business featuring the owners of area teams Tuesday morning, Washington Nationals principal owners Robert Tanenbaum and Marla Lerner Tanenbaum discussed the challenges of owning and developing a baseball team in the nation's capital. Joined by Redskins owners Dan Snyder, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and D.C. United owner Will Chang, the group fielded questions from the Post's Mary Jordan about the market, the business, failures, customer...

When this offseason began, the Orioles had more than 20 of their players become minor league free agents. Some have re-signed with the club. According to Matt Eddy, in his minor league transactions listing on Baseball America's Web site, the O's re-signed pitchers Jose Diaz, Alberto Castillo and Chris George, and catchers Steven Lerud and Michel Hernandez in December. An O's source has confirmed these signings. Diaz, a right-hander, went 4-0 with a 1.92 ERA last summer between Single-A...

The snow is coming, the snow is coming. Still love the changing of the seasons? Still think this is better than 75 and sunny? Listen closely and you'll hear my eyes rolling. The forecast is calling for two to four inches here, which probably means a foot. Fortunately, Santa brought me gloves. Reliever Kevin Gregg is scheduled to take his physical today. He might want to limit the small talk and get back to the airport before the storm hits. Gregg probably will be made available to the...