Fans love to talk about a hitting coach's philosophy. Does he preach patience and working the count? Does he want his hitters to be aggressive and come to the plate in full attack mode? Does it vary depending on the situation and the hitter? Does he prefer Ginger or Mary Ann? (Put me down for Mary Ann.) I never got around to the last one during yesterday's phone conversation with new hitting coach Jim Presley. I figured it might make a bad first impression. Presley said his philosophy is...

With yesterday's, let's say, passionate fan reaction to the O's losing out on Adam Dunn, after they had earlier lost out on Victor Martinez, some are left wondering what the O's now will do at first base. We should remember that is just one of the areas the O's need to address. Here are some other questions/issues they have to answer. *Is Mark Reynolds their guy for third base? His age of 27 and homer total of 76 over the last two years are pluses for him and so is the fact he is signed...

Despite an uproar by Nats fans to Adam Dunn leaving for the Chicago White Sox, baseball expert Jim Callis thinks it is the right move for the Nationals in the long term. "I think it makes sense," says the executive editor of Baseball America. "Could Adam Dunn help them next year, certainly. When you are looking long term, the Nationals still aren't ready to contend. So what Adam Dunn would have done for your 2011 team would have been irrelevant." It is obvious Dunn is, and can continue...

Statement from Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo in response to first baseman Adam Dunn agreeing to terms on a multi-year contract with the Chicago White Sox: "The Washington Nationals wish Adam Dunn and his family the best of luck and good will in Chicago. Adam contributed much to the Nationals and to the Washington, D.C. community. He will be missed, but will remain an important figure in the early history of this franchise and will...

That was an extremely long reach. My apologies. The White Sox non-tendered closer Bobby Jenks and his facial hair, making him available on the free-agent market. The Orioles will kick the tires on him at next week's winter meetings, if their leg hasn't already swung. Jenks' save total has dropped from 41 to 40 to 30 to 29 to 27 over the past five years. The two-time All-Star was 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA, 18 walks and 61 strikeouts in 55 appearances covering 52 2/3 innings this season. He...

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms, thus avoiding salary arbitration, with catcher Jesus Flores and infielder Alberto Gonzalez. The club did not tender contracts to catcher Wil Nieves and right-handed pitchers Joel Peralta and Chien-Ming Wang. Nationals Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Is everyone refreshed after venting last night over the Adam Dunn news and, hopefully, getting a good night's sleep? There's still plenty of time to patch the holes in your walls and apologize to the cat. If you're waiting breathlessly for the Orioles to reveal their minor league coaching staffs, it probably won't happen until the middle of next week. A few openings might remain, but most of the names will be in place. At least three affiliates will have a full-time extra coach, while...

Nationals left fielder Josh Willingham is rehabbing well from knee surgery and will be 100 percent for spring training. "The knee is good," Willingham said. "I rehabbed it for the first three weeks in Washington. They said go home and do it so I rehabbed it for three more weeks (in Alabama). Since I have been done with rehab I took some time off and then started working out again and everything is good. I am 100 percent." Willingham remembers when he first got hurt and how the knee...

A Baltimore Sun report, citing an industry source, said the O's offered Adam Dunn a four-year deal worth $40 million. Dunn reportedly signed for $56 million over four years with the White Sox, who now may also retain Paul Konerko. Yes, we are all thinking the same thing here. If those reports are accurate, the O's missed by a mile. If both reports are on the money, pun intended, the O's offer to Dunn was a huge swing and miss. Dunn's agent let it be known they were seeking four years and...

The Orioles today announced that they have declined to tender a contract offer to RHP Matt Albers, allowing him to become a free agent. Albers, 27, was acquired by the Orioles on December 12, 2007 from Houston as part of a deal that sent SS Miguel Tejada to the Astros. He went 11-12 with a 4.60 ERA (191.2IP, 98ER) in 146 games pitched over three seasons with Baltimore. With the non-tender, the Orioles have 34 players on their 40-man roster.