Minor update on major league coaches (and other notes)

There's no real update on the Orioles coaching staff, but I can offer a little clarity on the situation.

Not all of the contracts expire on Tuesday. The coaches who came up from the minor league system have deals that run through the end of the year.

Third base coach Bobby Dickerson, bullpen coach Alan Mills and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark fall into the latter category. Dickerson was minor league infield coordinator before replacing DeMarlo Hale in December 2012. Mills was Double-A Bowie's pitching coach before replacing Dom Chiti in November 2016. Clark was Bowie's hitting coach before replacing Mark Quinn in February.

Dickerson also serves as the Orioles' infield instructor.

I'm still not hearing anything related to changes in the staff, but there's going to be an air of uncertainty until fresh signatures appear on contracts.

* Manager Buck Showalter's name immediately came up as a candidate for the Phillies job, the media speculation ignoring how he still has one year left on his contract with the Orioles. Now it's happening again with another team.

Showalter won't be returning to the Yankees as Joe Girardi's replacement. Those dots shouldn't be connected, either. But he's heard from people asking whether it could happen.

East Coast managers are falling like leaves. Showalter is one of the few left standing.

The Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Nationals and Phillies made changes following the season.

* Left-hander Tanner Scott started yesterday for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, and he took the loss after surrendering three runs in three innings.

Scott allowed three hits, walked three batters and struck out one. He threw 52 pitches, 29 for strikes, and he's carrying a 7.71 ERA in three starts.

The six walks in seven innings indicate that control remains a challenge or plate umpires in the AFL squeeze until they leave bruises.

The Orioles have a decision to make on Scott. Do they continue to stretch him out as a starter next season, perhaps at Triple-A Norfolk, or put him back in the bullpen in whatever role they envision for him?

Left-hander Keegan Akin took the loss Friday afternoon after allowing a tie-breaking solo home run to Peoria's Josh Naylor with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

It was the only run and hit surrendered by Akin in 2 1/3 innings. He walked none, struck out two and finished with his ERA at 1.93.