In my recent interview with Mark Reynolds, we spent time on many topics, to include all his homers and all his strikeouts, but we also took time to visit on other aspects of his play and career as well. For instance, did you know that Reynolds is still somewhat a newcomer to third base? In college, at the University of Virginia, he was a shortstop before a guy named Ryan Zimmerman showed up a year after him. The head coach needed to move one of them off short. Reynolds felt that since he...

While discussing Derrek Lee's placement in the lineup and which players might fit into other slots, manager Buck Showalter mentioned how you can get a pretty good read on a team by looking at its 7-8-9 hitters. Signing Lee and trading for Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy has left the Orioles with a potentially deeper lineup than past seasons. Showalter seems inclined, at least a month before spring training, to bat Nick Markakis second and Lee third. He wants to keep Adam Jones lower in the...

Among all the Orioles, the player that seems to evoke the greatest disparity of opinion on his play and his future from fans is center fielder Adam Jones. The commentary can range from fans writing in to say they think Felix Pie - not Jones - should be the center fielder to others saying that now is the time to sign Jones to a long-term contract. Some see Jones and see future greatness, while others see a player with holes in his swing who frustrates fans with moments of less-than-heads-up...

General manager Mike Rizzo used the word "disappointed" when describing the Nationals' efforts to obtain a top of the rotation starter during the winter. Although there is still a chance a starting pitcher could be brought on from the free agent market or by trade prior to spring training, manager Jim Riggleman still feels pretty good about the 2011 starting rotation with the guys that are available now and back healthy from an injury-plagued 2010. "I think our starting pitching will be...

I'm sure plenty of you are still recovering from the Ravens' loss yesterday. One friend of mine is inconsolable. She sent me a profanity-filled text message late in the fourth quarter because she couldn't curse at home in front of her kids. That's what I'm here for. I guess the countdown to spring training intensifies. There's one less distraction. Not long after the Orioles confirmed that they'd hired Buck Showalter as their third manager of 2010, I was asked whether free agents...

You get it. Tackling a few topics - an appropriate term for the weekend of football that is now here. But back to the topic at hand for this blog, here is a take or two on an O's topic or two. A tale of two players It has been pointed out before - many, many times - that some players don't seem to want to come to Baltimore through free agency. I can only conclude now that Adam LaRoche was one of those players. At his Nats press conference Friday he said Washington was "a place I wanted...

I feel as though I've written this before and it doesn't pan out, but the Orioles' bullpen, at least on paper, appears to be the real strength of this club. We don't know which left-hander will be signed, but the backend of the 'pen is daunting. Kevin Gregg's experience closing in the American League East is a huge benefit, and Koji Uehara is more than capable, as he proved over the second half of last season. Jim Johnson says that his elbow is a non-issue. If it stays that way and...

The Orioles have announced the lineup for autograph sessions for FanFest, which will be held Jan. 29, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Baltimore Convention Center. The club's new autograph policy will both raise funds for OriolesREACH charitable endeavors and reduce fan disappointment by shortening lines. By outlining which players will be available for autographs in which locations, the Orioles hope to maximize each fan's opportunity to get the autographs he or she most desires. Autograph...

As you've heard, the Orioles have introduced a new autograph policy for their annual FanFest on Jan. 29 at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is designed to support youth charitable endeavors through OriolesREACH and shorten wait times. Children ages 4-14 will have a specially designated Kids Only player autograph station that is free of charge and will operate continuously throughout the day. All other stations will require the advance purchase of autograph vouchers exclusively at...

The Washington Nationals have announced that the third annual NatsFest will take place on Wednesday, March 30. In previous years, the Nationals hosted a winter caravan leading up to NatsFest in late January, but they are trying a new approach in 2011. The event is on a Wednesday, though the team believes fan participation will be higher than ever. "Through this event, we hope to engage our fans like never before and get them excited for what is sure to be an electrifying baseball season,"...