Manager Buck Showalter says he wants to address his coaching staff before the conclusion of the World Series, speeding up the timetable that he originally laid out. "That's not something that I'm going to string along for very long, in fairness to everybody concerned," he said. "We've had a couple conversations with them. It was a tough day yesterday, and obviously real tough today with two games, but I'm going to try to speed up the process before they all leave so they know what's...

No one is naming any names, but some players from other teams have expressed an interest in joining the Orioles through free agency. This is a bit of a gray area, since players can't even file yet for free agency. But when asked today if the O's improved play since August 3rd might help the club attract possible free agents this winter, O's manager Buck Showalter indicated that answer might already be yes. "I know Andy and I get calls and whatever. Some of them don't completely make...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter still hadn't posted his lineup before meeting with reporters at 1:30 p.m., but he told us that second baseman Brian Roberts hasn't been cleared to play today. Roberts was examined yesterday by a team physician because of recurring headaches. He tried to work out on the field with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells earlier today, but the session didn't go well enough for him to play. He'll be re-evaluated tomorrow. I'm heading back downstairs to check the...

The Orioles will hold their annual Fan Appreciation Weekend during their last homestand of the 2010 season when they host the Detroit Tigers for four games, today through Sunday, October 3. The club has planned events throughout the weekend to give back to their fans. * Each game of the series, nine fans will be randomly selected to take the field and stand with an Orioles player during the National Anthem, with Junior Orioles Dugout Club Members being selected for this event on Sunday. *...

Now that the instant gratification of yesterday's postponement has worn off, it's time to prepare for today's doubleheader. I'll pass along the lineups for Game 1 at 1:05 p.m., when the clubhouse opens to the media. It seems like forever since I've walked inside Camden Yards, but I should be able to find it. Also need to check on second baseman Brian Roberts, who's missed the last two games because of headaches. He was supposed to be examined yesterday in Baltimore. I'd add headaches...

Maybe he tired a bit late in the year and his bat slumped then, but overall, the 2010 season has to be considered a pretty successful one for O's outfield prospect Xavier Avery. He began the year with Frederick as one of the youngest players in the Carolina League (at 20) and by season's end, was the leadoff hitter and center fielder for Double-A Bowie. "I feel like there are a lot of things I still have to learn at this level, but I've gotten better since I've been here too," Avery...

A quick update on the pitching prospects and how several of them are progressing after a couple of weeks at instructional league in Viera, Florida: The team was in Vero Beach today to take on Team China. First, an update on veteran Chien-Ming Wang - He threw a simulated game earlier this week and will throw a scheduled side session today. If everything goes well, they will likely put him in a game soon. Wang has been recovering from major shoulder surgery which took place about 14...

Orioles minor league shortstop Alfredo Zambrano, a member of the club's Dominican Summer League team, has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for metabolites of Nandrolone. Don't know much about them, but they're considered a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension begins at the start of next season. Zambrano, 17, batted .140 in 18 games. So much for performance enhancing.

Along with pushing Thursday's Orioles-Tigers game to Friday, the (very) wet weather hitting the region is putting a damper on another O's event scheduled for the last homestand of the season. Unfortunately, Friday's doubleheader has forced us to cancel our last round of live video chats with Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Jones. Friday's adjusted schedule (not to mention Guthrie's next start) simply won't allow us to complete the chats as scheduled, and with the end of the season rapidly...

Thursday's scheduled Orioles game against the Detroit Tigers has been postponed due to rain. On Friday, the Orioles will host a double header against the Tigers beginning at 4:35 p.m. with the second game beginning 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first. Both games will appear on MASN 2 and MASN 2 HD. O's Xtra will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a shortened post-game program between the two games and a full O's Xtra following the second game. ###