Roch Kubatko
Roch Kubatko

Because You Asked - State of the Union

Because You Asked - State of the Union
The Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Jan. 16, which probably has readers of this blog pacing the floor. Settle down. I'll give you another sequel while you wait. Yes, it's the latest installment of "Because You Asked," where I attempt again to answer these same questions. It's our own little School of Roch dance. Who wants to do the bump? Never mind. I'll let you supply the questions. What's the Orioles' biggest priority - starting pitcher, closer, second baseman...
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Roch Kubatko

Two former Orioles sign minor league deals

Two former Orioles sign minor league deals
Former Orioles outfielder Chris Dickerson and catcher Taylor Teagarden are no longer on the free agent market. Dickerson signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Teagarden signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. Both players will receive invitations to spring training. Dickerson batted .238/.266/.400 with five doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs in 56 games with the Orioles last season after they signed him in January. They had no interest in bringing him back and...
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Roch Kubatko

Expecting anything new from the Orioles' nucleus?

Expecting anything new from the Orioles' nucleus?
While the Orioles continue to be questioned for their approach to the offseason, with complementary pieces added but no major impact moves, folks in the industry agree that the team has a nucleus that's the envy of its competitors. One agent challenged me to name a club in the American League East that could top the Orioles in center field and at third base, shortstop, first base and catcher. A few opposing scouts echoed that sentiment at the Winter Meetings. Take away Nick Markakis'...
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Roch Kubatko

Notes on the rotation, Chen and the upcoming mini-camp

Notes on the rotation, Chen and the upcoming mini-camp
I've already made an attempt to project the Orioles' lineup despite all the weeks that remain before the March 31 opener at Camden Yards. The rotation is just as tricky because executive vice president Dan Duquette is trying to acquire another starter. For now, we probably can agree that Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris are in the rotation. The fifth spot is wide open, but as I stated yesterday on "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN - which re-airs tonight at 11:30...
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Roch Kubatko

Saturday morning Orioles notes

Saturday morning Orioles notes
The Orioles' primary focus right now is finding another starting pitcher. It takes precedent over a designated hitter. Unfortunately, they still don't know whether A.J. Burnett wants to pitch in 2014. The Orioles can't wait around on Burnett, the Monkton resident who turned 37 yesterday. They most definitely have interest in him, as I reported at the Winter Meetings, but they still haven't heard whether he's going to retire, stay with the Pirates or give them a chance to sign...
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Orioles sign Quintin Berry

Orioles sign Quintin Berry
The Orioles announced today that they've signed outfielder Quintin Berry to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Berry, 29, gives the Orioles another left-handed bat for the outfield. He also presents a much-needed stolen-base threat after Nate McLouth signed with the Nationals as a free agent. Berry is 29-for-29 in stolen base attempts, including the playoffs. He's a career .268/.339/.371 hitter in 107 games over parts of two major league seasons with the Tigers...
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Roch Kubatko

Orioles maintain interest in Francisco Rodriguez

Orioles maintain interest in Francisco Rodriguez
The Orioles could go in two directions regarding their bullpen. Sign a closer or move Tommy Hunter into the role and acquire another set-up man. Either way, they seem likely to add another reliever before spring training. Though they made an immediate push for free agent closer Fernando Rodney after their deal with Grant Balfour fell apart, he may be too pricy for a team that wasn't willing to pay Jim Johnson $10-$11 million in 2014. There doesn't appear to be a financial match. According...
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Roch Kubatko

The holiday hiatus is history

The holiday hiatus is history
We've moved past the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, also known as baseball's dead zone. The Angels signed veteran left-hander Mark Mulder to a minor league contract yesterday, the Astros signed reliever Jesse Crain to a one-year deal on Tuesday and the Pirates acquired first baseman Chris McGuiness from the Rangers for reliever Miles Mikolas on Monday, so there was a slight pulse. The shelves in the free agent market are far from bare. Still plenty of big-ticket items for...
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My Hall of Fame ballot

My Hall of Fame ballot
Eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America were required to submit their Hall of Fame ballots by Dec. 31. I mailed in mine a week early, figuring the career stats of each candidate weren't going to change. There's no perfect ballot. Voters will be criticized for playing morality police and excluding candidates who were linked to performance-enhancing drugs. They will be criticized for including cheaters. Can't please everyone. The BBWAA and Hall of Fame allow a...
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Room for improvements

Room for improvements
The Orioles led the majors with 212 home runs and set records for errorless games (119), fewest errors (54) in a 162-game season and highest fielding percentage (.991). Power and defense weren't in short supply. What needs to get better? I came up with a quick list. Feel free to make your own contributions. * The Orioles ranked 19th in the majors with a .313 on-base percentage. The Red Sox ranked first at .349. They won the World Series by defeating the Cardinals, who ranked third at...
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Blair to be honored Friday in Towson (updated)

Blair to be honored Friday in Towson (updated)
The family of former Orioles center fielder Paul Blair will greet his many friends and fans on Friday, Jan. 3, at Ruck's Funeral Home at 1050 York Road in Towson. The public is invited to attend from 2-8 p.m. Blair, a member of the Orioles Hall of Fame who spent 13 of his 17 seasons in Baltimore, died on Dec. 26 after collapsing at a bowling alley in Pikesville. He was 69. Memorial contributions may be sent in Blair's name to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis,...
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Roch Kubatko

Taking a closer look at Jones' season

Taking a closer look at Jones' season
I spent a large portion of the 2013 season fielding complaints about Adam Jones blowing bubbles in center field and chasing sliders in the dirt. I couldn't care less about the bubbles - they don't impact whether he catches a ball and they never will - but it would be nice if he could lay off that pitch, especially with two strikes. For what it's worth, he's not the only Oriole to have this issue. Sidney Ponson chased a lot of sliders in the dirt, though only when the bag tore from White...
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Orioles haven't been bullish on free agent market

Orioles haven't been bullish on free agent market
I'm driving back to Sykesville this morning, which again opens up the possibility that the Orioles will make a roster move while I'm in Easton or on the Bay Bridge. It's easier to pull over in Easton. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is traditionally slow in baseball, but I do have a track record. The Orioles could still sign a free agent or two before spring training, but they don't exactly hit the market with gusto every winter. Consider my projected lineup that I posted...
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Clevenger ready to compete for backup job

Clevenger ready to compete for backup job
Now that Scott Feldman has signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Astros, catcher Steve Clevenger is all that remains for the Orioles from their July 2 trade with the Cubs. Pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop will report to spring training with the Cubs. Clevenger will be competing for the backup job in Baltimore. Clevenger, 27, was more than just a throw-in, but the Orioles had targeted Feldman as the veteran innings-eating starter who would allow them to make a more spirited run...
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Bumbry on Blair: "I loved to watch him play"

Bumbry on Blair: "I loved to watch him play"
Al Bumbry was named the American League's Rookie of the Year back in 1973. He played most of his games for the Orioles in left field. Center field was occupied by a guy who would win eight Gold Gloves, including seven in a row. Bumbry was teammates with Paul Blair during his first four seasons in the majors, taking over in center field in 1977. "I learned a lot watching him and talking to him about playing center field," Bumbry said of Blair, who died tonight of an apparent heart attack...
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Former Orioles center fielder Paul Blair dies

Former Orioles center fielder Paul Blair dies
I have the unfortunate task of passing along news that former Orioles center fielder Paul Blair died tonight. From what I understand, Blair collapsed in a Pikesville bowling alley. He was 69. Blair played his first 13 seasons with the Orioles and was part of the 1966, '69, '70 and '71 World Series teams. He won two titles with the Orioles and two more with the Yankees. Blair won eight Gold Gloves and was named to the American League's All-Star team in 1969 and 1973. His final season came...
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Trying to figure out the roster in December (Angelos statement on Blair)

Trying to figure out the roster in December (Angelos statement on Blair)
One of my holiday traditions is sending along a projected Orioles lineup for a national publication. It's a challenge in late December, with more roster moves expected before spring training. It's a real head-scratcher this winter. I understand that utility infielder isn't a sexy role and it doesn't usually spark much of a debate, but help me out. If the Orioles don't acquire a second baseman and they hand the starting job to Ryan Flaherty, who's backing up shortstop J.J. Hardy? Jemile...
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No possibility of posting for Tanaka

No possibility of posting for Tanaka
As the news continues to evolve concerning the posting process for Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, I feel as though my face is pressed against a window and I'm watching the story unfold from the outside. Alanis Morissette says I'm uninvited. An unfortunate slight. Other reporters have been hanging on every update, but the Orioles won't get involved with Tanaka. Executive vice president Dan Duquette made it clear at the Winter Meetings, which reduced me to nothing more than a casual...
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Orioles need to keep shopping past Christmas

Orioles need to keep shopping past Christmas
I raced downstairs this morning, trying not to trip in my footie pajamas and hoping that Santa filled my stocking with all the goodies that I requested while sitting on his lap, but he didn't come through for me. Maybe I freaked him out by facing the other way. I was totally dissed by the jolly fat man with the white beard and cookie crumbs on the front of his shirt. No Bronson Arroyo or A.J. Burnett. No Kendrys Morales. Heck, no Nelson Cruz, who was included with the socks and...
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Hunter's closing argument

Hunter's closing argument
Tommy Hunter responded to my text message yesterday with a phone call, asked how I was doing and said he would be sitting in a tree later in the afternoon. I imagined him placing the star on top - the final touch to his holiday decorating - until I figured out that he meant a tree stand. He's a hunter in more ways than one. Why did I contact Tommy Hunter? Because I'm lonely and it's the holidays and I tend to get bluesy. But seriously ... I wanted to gauge his interest in becoming the...
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