I'm going to keep this entry brief and get right to the point.
Yes, Cal Ripken Jr. is interested in getting back into baseball. He's also intrigued by the idea of managing. If he's contacted about an opening, he's going to listen.
In other words, nothing has changed in the last 24, 48 or 72 hours. Nothing has changed for months.
Ripken has stated previously that he'd consider a return to the majors once daughter Rachel and son Ryan were in college. They're out of the house and he's...
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is celebrating his 36th birthday today, which probably includes changing diapers and grabbing naps while his baby boy sleeps.
Veteran move.
Roberts is a pending free agent, his four-year, $40 million contract running out in 2013. The Orioles will give serious consideration to re-signing him.
Both sides are open to it. Roberts is really hoping for it.
Roberts has been in the organization since the 1999 First-Year Player draft, when the Orioles chose him...
The Red Sox continue to win games by exhibiting tremendous patience at the plate and running the bases better than anyone in baseball.
They steal bases. They take the extra base. They beat out ground balls.
Jacoby Ellsbury went from first to third on a wild pitch in the seventh inning last night and scored the go-ahead run on Shane Victorino's infield hit.
I understand that it's hard for Orioles fans to view the Red Sox in a positive light, but plenty of teams could learn from them. Just...
Outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse, acquired by the Orioles in an Aug. 30 trade with the Mariners, is expected to undergo surgery on his left wrist after receiving a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic.
Morse didn't play after Sept. 22 because of the injury, which he didn't reveal to the Orioles under the final week of the season. He went 3-for-29 with no extra-base hits after the trade.
Morse is a pending free agent and the Orioles aren't saying much about the examination, which...
The Arizona Fall League starts up today, and the Surprise Saguaros roster includes 10 members of the Orioles organization: pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Kline, Tim Berry and Jason Gurka; outfielders Henry Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez; second baseman Jonathan Schoop; catcher Michael Ohlman; Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall and short-season Single-A Aberdeen pitching coach Alan Mills.
Urrutia needs to get more comfortable in left field. He also needs to get around on the fastball. He was...
First baseman Chris Davis has been chosen as the Orioles' representative for the Hank Aaron Award, which has recognized the most outstanding offensive performer in each League since its inception in 1999.
Fans may vote here for one player in each league up to 10 times a day through Thursday, Oct. 10. Winners will be announced during the World Series.
A panel of Hall of Famers, led by Aaron and including Johnny Bench, Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount and former Orioles Eddie Murray and...
The Orioles had the right idea. Add a big bat to the middle of the lineup before the deadline for setting playoff rosters. Don't stand pat while other contenders are hunting for more offense.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette landed Michael Morse on Aug. 30, sending Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Xavier Avery to the Mariners. The Orioles claimed him off waivers and had 48 hours to work out a trade. They did so with a few minutes to spare.
Morse figured to become the regular designated...
No matter how many times the rumors shifted from one player to the next, from one organization to the next, the Orioles never lost sight of Astros right-hander Bud Norris as the non-waiver trade deadline approached.
He was a pitcher they had targeted, a pitcher under team control through the 2015 season who could solidify a rotation that was putting too much stress on the bullpen.
The asking price was high. It gave some executives nose bleeds.
The Orioles wouldn't part with Double-A...
In compiling the list of Orioles trades in July, I ignored the acquisition of minor league infielder Alex Liddi from the Mariners. He never made it to Baltimore and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after being designated for assignment and clearing waivers.
I'm focused on the major league deals, which included the July 23 acquisition of veteran reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers for Single-A Frederick infielder Nicky Delmonico.
Rodriguez didn't sign with the Brewers until April...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette swung three deals in July before the non-waiver deadline, and another one Aug. 31 before the deadline to set postseason rosters.
Did you have a favorite? One that brought instant regret - like that trip through the Taco Bell drive-thru at 2 a.m., or that round of drinks for the women at the other end of the bar at 2 a.m.?
Nothing good happens after 2 a.m., right?
Let's examine the first trade, which sent pitchers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop to...
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has landed another studio gig during the playoffs.
Jones will work as a TBS guest analyst on Oct. 8-10, joining Keith Olbermann, Pedro Martinez, Tom Verducci and Dirk Hayhurst on set.
Jones should be properly warmed up for the assignment. His studio debut comes on Sunday and Monday as a guest analyst on the MLB Network.
If Jones is in need of some rest, he may have to wait until spring training.
Meanwhile, minor league pitcher Chris Jones - no relation -...
Before the 2013 season officially came to a close for the Orioles, manager Buck Showalter already had discussed 2014 with two of his relievers.
Brian Matusz and Tommy Hunter want to be starters again despite their successes in the bullpen. They stopped by Showalter's office - his door is always open to his players and occasionally to the media - to gauge whether they would be given a chance to crack the rotation next season.
Both pitchers are out of minor league options. Otherwise, the...
The Orioles announced today that they reinstated right-hander Eric Beaulac from the 15-day disabled list and outrighted him to Triple-A Norfolk.
Beaulac, 26, had his contract selected from Double-A Bowie on Sept. 1 and immediately was placed on the disabled list with a torn labrum in his right hip. The Orioles added him to the 40-man roster in case they made the playoffs, which would have enabled them to replace him with someone else past the deadline for setting 25-man rosters.
Beaulac...
I'm talking about the Orioles center fielder, not the NFL cornerback. Though, I must admit, partying with Pacman Jones in the parking lot before a football game would take tailgating to a much higher level.
"Higher" being the key word here, but I digress.
The Orioles' Adam Jones announced on Twitter this afternoon that he's hosting the first annual "Adam Jones #StayHungry Purple Tailgate!" More details are coming on Monday, but here's what we know:
The gathering begins at 8:30 a.m....
While sitting in stunned silence over Freddy Garcia's inclusion in the Braves' rotation for the Division Series ...
The Orioles led the majors with 212 home runs this season. They ranked fifth in runs scored with 745 and eighth in hits with 1,460. They were tied for eighth in batting average at .260. They were fourth in OPS at .744.
Chris Davis did the heavy lifting, and first base is one of many positions that will go untouched over the winter. The Orioles are set, to say the least.
But...
The Orioles have issued the following statement from owner Peter G. Angelos on the passing of Tom Clancy, who most recently served as the organization's vice chairman of community projects and public affairs:
"For decades, Tom Clancy entertained millions with his novels and enjoyed producing no fewer than 17 best-sellers. He was an extraordinary storyteller who had an ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats. His passion for the military was evident in his efforts to ensure that...
When Manny Machado collapsed on the infield dirt at Tropicana Field, tears filling his eyes as he grabbed his left knee, three thoughts immediately sprung to my mind.
1. Is it his ankle?
2. Is his career in jeopardy?
3. Is this a chronic issue?
The first two questions became fairly easy to answer.
It wasn't his ankle, and my first clue was that whole grabbing-the-knee thing. But the ankle definitely turned.
Machado's career seems to be safe, considering the diagnosis and how surgery...
The Orioles didn't qualify for the playoffs this year, but Adam Jones will get to experience more of the postseason.
Not the way that he did in 2012. Not as a center fielder.
Jones will serve as a guest studio analyst for MLB Network during the month of October, joining Raul Ibanez, Mark Teixeira, Mark DeRosa and longtime broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson.
Harrelson will be the first guest analyst on "MLB Tonight" with a two-night stint beginning Friday. Did anyone tell him that the...
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado received good news today following his visit to orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla.
I'm told that Andrews' recommendation matched up with the one provided by the Orioles' medical staff. Machado will rest and continue down the same rehabilitation path for his left knee that the club has laid out for him.
Machado, 21, tore the medial patellofemoral ligament in the seventh inning of last Monday's game against the Rays at Tropicana...
As long as I'm looking back on the 2013 season, I'd like to pass along an anecdote from the final road game on Sept. 23 at Tropicana Field. May as well keep it light today.
I mentioned that the Orioles let Wei-Yin Chen's interpreter, Tim Lin, deliver the lineup card to home plate before the anthem. Lin was all smiles as he walked back to the dugout, but his look soon changed to one of confusion as players and coaches motioned for him to go back.
The four umpires posed for a photo with Lin,...
