Orioles minor league pitcher Brian Parker has received a 50-game suspension from the office of the commissioner after a second positive test for a "drug of abuse" that violates the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension for Parker, currently on Double-A Bowie's roster, will begin at the start of the 2010 season. Parker led Single-A Frederick with 35 appearances last season, going 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings.

I've made the assumption that three spots in the Orioles' batting order are set. Brian Roberts leads off, Nick Markakis hits third and Cesar Izturis hits ninth. It's the rest of the lineup that's been a mystery. I still believe you'll it see play out that way on most nights, but manager Dave Trembley suggested yesterday that only two spots are locked up. "I would say one and nine," Trembley said yesterday during his call-in segment on Wall to Wall Baseball. "I wouldn't say three is...

Logistical issues and some follow-up testing have caused a delay in Mark Hendrickson's new contract becoming official. We probably won't get an announcement before Monday, but it's coming. The Orioles haven't dismissed the idea of signing another starting pitcher before spring training, but they're focused only on non-roster deals at the moment. Unless something comes up unexpectedly that makes sense, they won't be offering a major league contract to a starter or reliever. The Orioles...

A polar bear knocked on my door this morning and asked when pitchers and catchers report. Is that weird? I've shoveled my sidewalk and dug out my car five times, once rising out of bed at 5 a.m., and I still can't keep ahead of this storm. And I did it with my fingers crossed, hoping and praying that my power doesn't go out. I couldn't get my door open earlier this morning, and then I couldn't get it to close behind me. I decided to leave it ajar and not risk being stuck in a...

The Erik Bedard deal makes more sense now that the Seattle media has determined that it includes a mutual option for 2011. Initial reports mentioned only the $1.5 million base salary and incentives. Why would any team sign him for one season when he might not be available for at least the first two months, and will be less than a year removed from labrum surgery? Does anyone really think that Bedard is going to blow away hitters this summer after undergoing such a serious medical procedure...

By this time next week, I'll be tossing clothes in a suitcase and wondering how much AirTran will charge me for the privilege of checking in for my flight to Sarasota. Southwest doesn't fly into that city, which is one strike against the Orioles' spring training relocation. But I'm sure another airline can provide me with the same travel issues that hound me each year. It's a tradition of sorts and I'd hate to see it end. The Orioles' camp roster isn't set, since they continue to...

Keep your hands off my mama, keep your hands off my Doritos. Consider yourselves warned. Since we examined the 13 available spots for position players earlier today, let's shift to the 12-man pitching staff. Keep in mind, of course, that performances and potential late acquisitions will influence the list. We're tackling this issue on Feb. 8 (and doing a much better job of it than the Colts' secondary). Kevin Millwood, Jeremy Guthrie, Brad Bergesen and Brian Matusz are expected to break...

I bet you thought I was going to say Will Ohman. According to a tweet (there's that word again) from FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi, the Orioles have signed left-handed reliever Will Startup to a minor league contract. No word on whether he'll receive a spring training invite, but I'd ship him in bubble wrap. Startup, 25, missed the entire 2008 season and most of 2009 with injuries - he reportedly underwent Tommy John surgery - but he's posted a 2.70 ERA in four minor league seasons....

Darren in GB and Tom McAllister beat me to it. Will Startup's intro music has to be "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones. No arguments. As a reminder to the terminally negative on this blog, Startup is a minor league signing who gives the Orioles another left-hander for their farm system. He isn't being trumpeted as the free agent who will push them ahead of the Yankees and Red Sox. He's organizational bullpen depth, and his numbers were pretty good before the Tommy John surgery. What's...

It's official: The Orioles have re-signed Mark Hendrickson and designated reliever Armando Gabino for assignment. Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail just confirmed that the club has signed pitcher Will Ohman to a minor league deal. Ohman receives an invitation to spring training, with the chance to win a spot in the bullpen as a situational lefty. That should put a little more heat on Alberto Castillo, who appeared in 48 games with the Orioles over the past two...