Adding Jair Jurrjens is a good low-risk move by the Orioles (O's ranked 17th)

Adding Jair Jurrjens is a good low-risk move by the Orioles (O's ranked 17th)
There hasn't yet been an announcement from the club, but CBSSports.com reported late last night that the Orioles have come to terms with right-handed pitcher Jair Jurrjens on a one-year major league contract that will pay him $1.5 million in guaranteed money and could earn him another $2.5 million in incentives. Signing a pitcher that is still young (he turns 27 next Tuesday), went 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA for Atlanta in 2011 to make the All-Star team, and will be under team control for two more...
Continue reading

Once again, taking the pulse of Orioles fans

Once again, taking the pulse of Orioles fans
So, Orioles fans, how are you feeling about the Orioles' inactivity this offseason now? Of course, the club has made some moves, but not many were of the significant variety in adding starting players and no big free agent contracts were handed out. It has been the prevailing topic of discussion for weeks now. While we need to keep in mind that there could be more moves made at any time, and that includes after next season starts, my sense is that more fans feel better about this team today...
Continue reading

WBC could provide a good experience for Jonathan Schoop

WBC could provide a good experience for Jonathan Schoop
It seems that many American baseball fans are not real excited about the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Fans are not happy that the competition will take some players away from major league teams in spring training. But the competition could be a real plus for Orioles top minor league prospect Jonathan Schoop. The club's No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America, is expected to play for the Netherlands when the games begin March 2. "It's good to play for your country," Schoop said....
Continue reading

How will Chris Davis hold up on defense at first base?

How will Chris Davis hold up on defense at first base?
While the Orioles insist that Chris Davis has been a solid defender at first base in the past and will be again, some O's fans have expressed concerns about a defensive dropoff at the spot if Davis turns out to be the full-time replacement for Mark Reynolds. Reynolds was certainly not smooth around the bag as last season wore on, but he made a lot of key plays there as the club's defense played a huge role in the winning last season. Orioles manager Buck Showalter has said he feels very...
Continue reading

Roberts understands fans' doubts

Roberts understands fans' doubts
After dealing with concussion symptoms, undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn labrum in his hip and Dec. 20 sports hernia surgery, Brian Roberts is not surprised at all that some fans doubt he can return to play regularly for the Orioles. And he's completely OK with and understanding of that. "I don't hold anything against anyone that doesn't think I can do it anymore. That's fine," Roberts said Saturday at FanFest. "I had people 12 years ago that thought that, so it's not...
Continue reading

O's pitching coach Rick Adair on the rotation, mini-camp and more

O's pitching coach Rick Adair on the rotation, mini-camp and more
As spring training approaches, the Orioles' five-man starting rotation is not set. But pitchers like Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez seem close to locks to be in the opening day starting five, and Chris Tillman may be on that list, as well. At FanFest, O's pitching coach Rick Adair addressed his rotation's current state. "There are probably three or four guys we feel good about in the rotation and there are other guys that can be in the rotation," Adair said. "We hope...
Continue reading

As Orioles fans, we got to see No. 4 make the Orioles No. 1

As Orioles fans, we got to see No. 4 make the Orioles No. 1
Thinking back, I'm so glad that the Orioles returned to the playoffs last year because that meant Earl Weaver got to see his Orioles win again. We didn't know it then, but we know now that was his last season watching his beloved Birds. One reason we know Buck Showalter is great as a skipper is that we have Earl to compare him to. I'm so glad I was there in September 1982, when the Orioles lost to the Brewers but Earl got a sendoff that was incredible. I'm glad I was there in Cooperstown...
Continue reading

Nick Markakis praises O's fan base for record turnout at FanFest

Nick Markakis praises O's fan base for record turnout at FanFest
After spending so many years with this organization and not playing on a winner, last year was special for Nick Markakis, even if he ended up last season on the disabled list as the playoffs began. "It was awesome. That is what I've been waiting a long time for and why I wanted to stay here," Markakis said. "I knew what this place could be like when things are going good. I'd heard about it and saw some video and pictures. I think it could be the best baseball city in all of baseball. Our...
Continue reading

Jim Johnson not concerned about coming to terms with Orioles

Jim Johnson not concerned about coming to terms with Orioles
Even though there is a bit of gap between what the Orioles submitted and what Jim Johnson's agent is seeking through arbitration, the Orioles closer said today he's not concerned at all about his 2013 contract. He figures the business side of it will get taken care of and soon. Johnson is seeking $7.1 million through arbitration and the Orioles' offer was for $5.7 million. "You know how this stuff always plays out," Johnson said. "They do their thing. My agents do theirs. I get a phone...
Continue reading

Matusz would prefer to start, but role still up in the air

Matusz would prefer to start, but role still up in the air
The Orioles have indicated they are not yet certain whether Brian Matusz will pitch as a starter or a reliever this year. But if Matusz has any say in it, he made clear today what he favors. "I'm going in this spring with an opportunity to be a starter," he said. "I've been a starter my whole life until last year. I want to go out and fight and try to earn a spot in the rotation." He knows how much success he had as a lefty reliever late last year but he wants to carry that back into a...
Continue reading

Dickerson brings plenty of experience to O's third base box

Dickerson brings plenty of experience to O's third base box
The Orioles' new third base coach has not been in that box for a while, but Bobby Dickerson, who was hired to replace DeMarlo Hale, has been in that box a lot over the years. "I've got over 1,200 games coaching third at the minor league level," Dickerson said today at FanFest. "I've coached third at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. I've been over there. The only big difference is I was there as a manger. The biggest adjustment I've going to have, I believe, is going to be relaying the...
Continue reading

Palmer becomes emotional remembering Weaver

Palmer becomes emotional remembering Weaver
We've seen Jim Palmer become emotional before - for instance, this year during his legends ceremony, when he talked about Mike Flanagan. Today, the Hall of Famer kept it together pretty well when talking about Earl Weaver until very late in an interview with reporters covering FanFest. "Mike Flanagan came up to me and said, one year after (I) had pitched during a spring training game, Earl called him over said, 'See that guy out there? Just do what he does and you'll be fine,' " Palmer...
Continue reading

Duquette: Saunders will likely choose his 2013 team this week

Duquette: Saunders will likely choose his 2013 team this week
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said he feels free agent pitcher Joe Saunders, who started two playoff games for the Orioles last October, will be making a decision soon on which team he will pitch for this year. "Joe is not here, but he did a great job for us last year," Duquette said. "He's probably going to make a decision this week." Is Duquette confident that Saunders will re-sign with the club? "I don't have a real sense of it," Duquette said. "We'd like to have...
Continue reading

McLouth: "This is where I wanted to be"

McLouth: "This is where I wanted to be"
Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth is looking forward to his second season with the team. He told reporters at FanFest today that he felt this was his best fit when he was a free agent and he had that in mind as much as the dollars when sizing up where to play in 2013. "Things were started to materialize with other teams. It just came down to this is where I wanted to be," he said. "I wanted to jump on the opportunity before they started looking at somebody else. Luckily it happened the way it...
Continue reading

Duquette and Showalter on Earl Weaver

Duquette and Showalter on Earl Weaver
At the beginning of their forum with Orioles season ticket holders, which kicks off FanFest each year, executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter each made comments about Hall of Famer Earl Weaver, who died this morning. "Earl obviously was a great manager," Duquette said. "I was grateful last year we got to share a lot about his career when he was with us last year. You could see the love between the players and Earl. Earl was a simple guy. You pitch it, catch it, hit...
Continue reading

Goodbye to an Orioles legend

Goodbye to an Orioles legend
I will never forget a weekend I spent with friends in Cooperstown, N.Y., in August 1996. We made the drive north for the Hall of Fame induction of Earl Weaver. So many memories of No. 4 come rushing to the forefront today with news that Earl died last night. He was 82. I was there not to work as a reporter, but as a fan to honor a man who was a big reason that my childhood was a happy one. When you are a young kid and baseball means so much to you, it's pretty cool that your boyhood team...
Continue reading

The Orioles debut "The BUCKle up Birds" DVD

The Orioles debut "The BUCKle up Birds" DVD
It was not a Hollywood premiere, but there was an orange carpet outside the Maryland Science Center's IMAX Theater last night. The Orioles debuted their 2012 season highlights DVD called, "The BUCKle Up Birds: An Underdog Story." They showed the DVD in a special screening for O's players, coaches and front office and staff, along with their families, club sponsors and some invited guests. The DVD, which was produced in-house by the award-winning Orioles Productions, includes both in-game...
Continue reading

Dylan Bundy on offseason workouts, goals for improving and more

Dylan Bundy on offseason workouts, goals for improving and more
Even after a season where he pitched at three minor league levels, was named the Orioles' minor league Pitcher of the Year and made it to the majors before his 20th birthday, Dylan Bundy realizes he is still a work in progress. "My offspeed pitches can get better, the consistency of them. Fastball command is a huge thing. You saw in the big leagues I was a little wild at times, but it's all about controlling the nerves and locating pitches," he said in the O's clubhouse Friday. Bundy is...
Continue reading

Jim Johnson talks to fans in Aberdeen about the rotation, the WBC and much more

Jim Johnson talks to fans in Aberdeen about the rotation, the WBC and much more
From time to time, the debate begins again. There are plenty of Orioles fans and some in the media that believe Jim Johnson, if given the chance, would be an excellent starting pitcher because he has several quality pitches. As for Johnson, he is not campaigning for a shot at the rotation. In fact, he said last night, he figures he's now likely a bullpen pitcher for good. "I think that has gone by the wayside honestly," Johnson said. "I think that time is long gone and I'm comfortable...
Continue reading

Pedro Strop looks forward to pitching for Dominican Republic in WBC

Pedro Strop looks forward to pitching for Dominican Republic in WBC
The World Baseball Classic coming in March will pit some major league teammates against each other in the 16-nation tournament and that could happen for Orioles teammates Adam Jones and Pedro Strop. The 27-year-old right-hander will pitch for the Dominican Republic and he could wind up facing Jones at some point instead of watching him play center field behind him. "Something like that would be fun," Strop said today when asked about the possibility of facing Jones in the tournament. "You...
Continue reading