Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hit a home run with the Baseball Writers' Association of America, too.
The BBWAA has named Davis as a finalist for the American League's Most Valuable Player Award. The announcement came tonight on MLB Network.
Davis is joined by Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Angels outfielder Mike Trout. The winner will be revealed on Nov. 14 on MLB Network.
Cabrera topped Davis in two Players Choice Awards categories last night - AL Outstanding Player and...
Former Orioles third baseman Jeff Manto is back in the organization.
The Orioles have hired Manto as minor league hitting coordinator. He replaces Mike Boulanger, who will move into an amateur and professional scouting role in 2014.
Manto served as the hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox from 2012-13. He was fired on Sept. 28 following a 99-loss season.
Boulanger will scout in the Midwest and handle some professional coverage.
Manto has strong ties to Orioles director of player...
While wondering why teammates of Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin didn't intervene as he was subjected to threats and racial slurs from guard Richie Incognito...
Not much to update on the Orioles' search for a bullpen coach. I'm hearing that an announcement could come next week, and that Bill Castro and Scott McGregor are under consideration.
"We're still working on that," said executive vice president Dan Duquette, who didn't want to offer a timetable.
Castro and McGregor...
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis lost out twice to Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera in the Players Choice Awards, which were announced tonight on MLB Network.
Cabrera was a repeat winner as the American League's Outstanding Player and the overall Player of the Year.
Davis was nominated in both categories after leading the majors with 53 home runs, 138 RBIs and 370 total bases. He posted a .286/.370/.634 line with 42 doubles and a triple, and also was nominated for a Gold Glove.
Cabrera...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed tonight that Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Chris Jones has been added to the 40-man roster.
The Orioles acquired Jones, 25, from the Atlanta Braves in April for veteran reliever Luis Ayala.
Jones posted a 2.57 ERA in four games at Double-A Bowie, and he was 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 31 appearances (two starts) with Norfolk, allowing 72 hits, walking 34 and striking out 47 in 70 2/3 innings.
"He was very effective getting left-handed...
The Orioles took care of another order of business this afternoon, declining the $3 million option on infielder Alexi Casilla's contract for 2014.
Today is the deadline for teams to exercise or decline options. The Orioles declined left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada's $5 million option on Saturday.
Casilla receives a $200,000 buyout and becomes a free agent.
The Orioles selected Casilla, 29, off waivers from the Twins on Nov. 2 to provide depth at second base and shortstop. He appeared in 62...
Today is the final day for teams to reinstate players from the 60-day disabled list. It's also the day that the Orioles are expected to decline the $3 million option on infielder Alexi Casilla's contract, removing him from the 40-man roster and making him a free agent.
Casilla will receive a $200,000 buyout as a nice parting gift. No word on whether he also gets a lifetime supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat.
Today is also the last day that teams may tender qualifying offers to...
Eduardo Rodriguez tossed a scoreless inning and was credited with a hold last night in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game.
Rodriguez walked one batter in the fourth in the West team's 9-2 victory over the East. And I honestly don't know why that qualifies as a hold, but it says so in the box score.
Might have something to do with the West breaking a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the third. I'm not really in tune with the hold rule, and by admitting it, I feel as...
The Orioles made the anticipated roster move official tonight, declining the $5 million option on left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada's contract.
Wada, 32, is removed from the 40-man roster and becomes a free agent.
Wada signed a two-year, $8.15 million deal on Dec. 14, 2011, but he never pitched for the Orioles after undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow on May 11, 2012.
The Orioles kept Wada at Triple-A Norfolk this season and sent him to Sarasota in September rather than...
While handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters Thursday, I had a neighbor ask which Red Sox player I'd take if I were in charge of the Orioles. He happened to be wearing a Red Sox jersey, and he wasn't in costume. He's a big fan of the World Series champions.
After pausing for a few seconds to consider my options, I chose second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Fills a need, gets on base, has won three Gold Gloves. And who wouldn't want a player with the nicknames Laser Show and The Muddy...
One of the most intensly analyzed statements from Orioles manager Buck Showalter late in the 2013 season went something like this:
"We need to pitch better."
Sounds simple, right? But was he suggesting that the Orioles need to find better pitchers, or get better production from the ones currently in the organization?
I'm going with the latter, which puts me in agreement with the likes of Tom Davis and Dave Johnson at MASN. (And I do like them, by the way.)
The Orioles aren't going to...
Anyone else staring at a pile of fun-size candy wrappers this morning and feeling a bit sheepish?
I could wallpaper my living room with them. And that's no fun.
The Orioles made two roster moves yesterday and more are coming. None of them will blow back your hair.
They're creating room for future acquisitions and players they want to place on the 40-man roster to protect from the Rule 5 draft. Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Chris Jones comes to mind, though the Orioles first will have to...
The Orioles announced today that infielder Dan Johnson and outfielder Chris Dickerson have been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
Johnson and Dickerson will be removed from the 40-man roster, allowing the Orioles to clear room for players they need to protect in the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Both are expected to decline their assignments and elect free agency.
Johnson went 0-for-5 in three games played for the Orioles this season. In 138 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Norfolk,...
The contract of Orioles bullpen coach Bill Castro runs out today, and whether he returns in 2014 remains an uncertainty.
Castro said he still hasn't been contacted by the Orioles, who hired Dave Wallace as their pitching coach earlier this week. Castro inherited the job Aug. 15 after Rick Adair took a personal leave of absence.
"I haven't heard anything either way," said Castro, named the Orioles bullpen coach before the 2012 season. "The only thing I know is I see what you guys write....
Anyone remember who the Orioles play on opening day next season?
Oh, yeah, right.
If one kid shows up at my door for Halloween tonight wearing a beard and a Red Sox cap, he's getting a treat from the crappy bag of candy.
No mini Snickers or Kit Kat or Hershey bar or Reese's. Enjoy your Dum Dum.
Consider yourselves lucky that I'm not handing out dental floss or pocket combs.
I actually picked the Red Sox to win the World Series before the playoffs started, but I wasn't going out on a...
Yesterday is a blur, but it cleared up a few issues.
The Orioles have a new pitching coach, former Braves minor league pitching coordinator Dave Wallace. They have three Gold Glove winners in center fielder Adam Jones, shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Manny Machado. They had a lot going on yesterday.
Wallace was officially hired six days after his interview. All four candidates made strong impressions on manager Buck Showalter, executive vice president Dan Duquette and vice president of...
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters tonight during a conference call that he didn't downgrade any of the pitching coach candidates for being too old or too young. Age didn't matter.
The Orioles chose 66-year-old Dave Wallace, who spent the past four seasons as the Braves minor league pitching coordinator, over former Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, Mariners pitching coach Carl Willis and Rangers bullpen coach Andy Hawkins.
"The guys we interviewed who we didn't take will...
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy no longer can be viewed as unappreciated defensively.
Hardy, primarily known for his power at the shortstop position, won his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove tonight by beating out the Tampa Bay Rays' Yunel Escobar and the Kansas City Royals' Alcides Escobar. The announcement was made on ESPN2.
Hardy is the third Orioles shortstop to win the award in consecutive years, joining Cal Ripken Jr. (1991-92) and Mark Belanger (1973-78).
In 2013, Hardy led all...
For the first time since 1975, an Orioles third baseman has been awarded the Rawlings Gold Glove for defensive excellence.
A 21-year-old former shortstop ended the dry spell.
Manny Machado has won his first Gold Glove in his first full season in the majors, with the announcement coming tonight on ESPN2. Machado had to pry it away from the other two finalists, the Rangers' Adrian Beltre and the Rays' Evan Longoria, who combined to win the last six.
Machado, the only Oriole last night to win...
The Orioles have hired Atlanta Braves pitching coordinator Dave Wallace as their new pitching coach. Wallace replaces Rick Adair, who took a personal leave of absence in August.
Wallace has served as a pitching coach for four major league teams - the Houston Astros (2007), Boston Red Sox (2003-06), New York Mets (1999-2000) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-97). Overall, Wallace has worked in professional baseball since 1981, serving as a major league coach, minor league coach and front office...
