The Orioles have released details for their annual FanFest on Jan 29 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The event will be held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with early entry for Orioles season plan holders to begin at 10 a.m. In addition to FanFest activities, individual game tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale at 10 a.m. on the same date. Fans may purchase tickets throughout the day at the Convention Center or the Orioles' box office at the north end of the warehouse. Tickets also will be...

Made available in a conference call that ended a few minutes ago, former Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar told reporters he was surprised that he received 90 percent of the votes this year after getting 73.7 percent last winter. "I didn't expect to get so many votes," he said. "I know last year was a little bit disappointing, but on the other hand, I feel happy with what happened this year and I'm real excited. It's a real exciting moment for me. "It's something that's out of...

Cal Ripken passed along the following comment regarding former teammate Roberto Alomar's election into the baseball Hall of Fame: "I was happy and excited to see that Robbie was elected to the Hall of Fame. He is one of the most talented guys I ever played with and against. He was great at the plate and in the field and made plays at second base that I never saw anyone else make. Congratulations to Roberto. I look forward to welcoming him to Cooperstown." For anyone who questions whether...

"We congratulate Roberto Alomar on his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Although he spent just three of his 17 seasons in Baltimore, Roberto's accomplishments during his time here were significant. His performance during those years, which included three All-Star Game selections, two Gold Gloves and countless on-field heroics, helped the team make two playoff appearances and showcased Roberto's Hall of Fame credentials."

Former Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar and pitcher Bert Blyleven will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 2011. Former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, trying to be recognized through the cloud that remains from his failed drug test, didn't receive enough votes in his first year on the ballot. Alomar, a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, totaled 523 votes, giving him a whopping 90 percent. He fell eight votes short last winter. Blyleven received 463 votes,...

Making a big splash for the Nationals in September 2010 was shortstop/second baseman Danny Espinosa. The Long Beach State product smacked three homers and had 10 RBIs in his first five games, including a dramatic grand slam, getting the home crowd pumped for the future of an Ian Desmond/Espinosa double-play combination in the middle of the Nationals' infield. Espinosa followed up his September debut with an impressive run in Puerto Rico during the winter, hitting .281 with six doubles, two...

The Orioles today announced that they have re-signed INF Cesar Izturis to a one-year contract. Izturis, 30, batted .230 (109-473) in 150 games with the Orioles in 2010, his second season with the club. He was 2nd in fielding percentage (.985) and 5th in assists (382) and putouts (212) among AL shortstops last season. Izturis has batted .256 with a .619 OPS in 10 major league seasons, during which he has won a Gold Glove (2004) and was a National League All-Star (2005).

It's been weeks since the Orioles confirmed that they reached a verbal agreement on a one-year contract with infielder Cesar Izturis. Well, Izturis finally took and passed his physical, so the deal is official. You can blow out your candle. Izturis will serve in a utility role in 2011, backing up shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Brian Roberts. Considering their past health issues, he might stay busy. Let's hope not. Izturis, 30, batted .230 in 150 games last season, his second...

The results of the Hall of Fame voting will be announced at 2 p.m., and I fully expect Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven to receive the necessary 75 percent for induction. I've never seen a better defensive second baseman than Alomar, and he was the best all-around player in baseball for a period of time. Unfortunately, Robbie had that on-off switch. If he lost interest, which happened when his team lost ground in the standings, he could look quite average. Case in point: the 1998 season. But...

If you talk to yourself on the bus or at a restaurant, people might stare. But in a blog, I can ask myself some questions and then answer myself. You are most invited to respond with your answer or answers to one or all of the following questions about 2011 O's baseball. What was the Orioles most significant acquisition? No it probably won't be the addition of pitcher Casey Lambert in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. It could be the pickup of third sacker Mark Reynolds. At 27,...