If I had to handicap the first base race in Baltimore, it's becoming more evident that Derrek Lee has pulled ahead of Adam LaRoche. LaRoche was an early favorite, and the Orioles have held extensive talks with his agent, Mike Milchin, but they seem prepared to move on without him because of contract demands that they're not willing to meet. I talked to someone in the organization earlier today who, while declining to offer many specifics, indicated that Lee is the more likely player to sign...

Is anyone else having trouble concentrating today because of the excitement surrounding the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium? Like we don't have enough meaningless bowl games polluting our airwaves. Kansas State and Syracuse are playing in the Bronx. I guess RFK Stadium couldn't be cleaned up in time. I yearn for the days of the Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Orange, Gator, Peach and Tangerine bowls. Throw in the old Blue-Gray game. And bring back the game between the Super Bowl champions and the...

Not a bad summer at all for left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis. He gets drafted by the Nats in June, signs a deal over slot, pitches well in Hagerstown with two starts and then with Scottsdale, minutes from his home, wins the championship game of Arizona Fall League. Not bad, not bad at all. Solis was 1-0 with a 3.80 ERA with the Scorpions, starting five games, striking out 12 batters and allowing only 10 earned runs. And now Solis is ranked No. 6 on the Nationals' Top 10 prospect list...

In a way, Matt Hobgood is relieved that doctors say he has a strained rotator cuff. To him, that perhaps is the best explanation yet why the fastball velocity he had in three high school seasons, has never surfaced in two years of pro ball with the Orioles. Hobgood, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft, had an MRI last week and now doctors have put him on a four- to six-week rehab program to strengthen his shoulder and they say surgery is not needed. In a Wednesday afternoon phone...

In a phone conversation this afternoon, Matt Hobgood said he felt some soreness in his shoulder during a light, mid-December throwing session and that led him to pre-Christmas visits with Drs. John Wilckens and Lewis Yocum. They both said he has a strained rotator cuff, but does not need surgery. Hobgood described this as "a minor setback" but also said it's possible his shoulder problems could date back to sometime in 2009. He also feels the shoulder issue is the primary reason he has not...

Washington Avoids Salary Arbitration with Top Bullpen Lefty The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett on a two-year contract extension with a mutual option for the 2013 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In 2010, his finest season to date, Burnett posted career-best efforts in appearances (73), saves (3), innings (63.0), strikeouts...

I'm in between breakfast courses and wanted to check in real quick. The first course included fried ham and French toast made with gourmet Italian panettone bread. The eggs are cooking. Over easy. I'll need the jaws of life to get out of these pants. I would love to pass along an update on the first base negotiations, but I've got nothing. The Orioles preferred Adam LaRoche. They turned their attention to Derrek Lee. They continue to hold discussions with LaRoche's agent. They continue...

Today, I find myself once again writing about Matt Hobgood. Some fans and commenters to this and other blogs just can't get enough of the guy and commenting on his selection by the Orioles with their top pick in 2009. I know the majority of fans and readers here wish him the best and support him. I also know there are a few fans who see him as my boy and were likely outwardly excited at the news of his shoulder injury. They can't wait to tell me again how right they are and that I am just...

The Orioles probably won't announce their full minor league coaching staffs until after Jan. 1, but the top four affiliates have their managers in place. Gary Allenson returns as Triple-A Norfolk manager, Gary Kendall moves up from Single-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie, Orlando Gomez returns to Single-A Frederick and Ryan Minor returns to low Single-A Delmarva. Orioles manager Buck Showalter still wants to add a seventh coach, like an eye-in-the-sky, and that hire could influence additions to...

Coming in at No. 7 on Baseball America's Top 10 Nationals prospects is right-hander Cole Kimball, who made a meteoric rise up the rankings with a very successful 2010 in several challenging leagues. The 25-year old Kimball was ranked fourth among minor league hurlers in the Nats organization in 2009, after posting 122 strikeouts for Single-A Hagerstown in 2008. The 2006 12th-round selection was so good this year, he was rewarded with a place on the 40-man roster last month. Aaron Fitt of...