It should come as no surprise that when Nationals pitcher Collin Balester heard about a mustache-growing movement called Movember, he immediately wanted to get involved. The reliever's previous experiments with mustaches were well documented on his Twitter feed. This time, however, the experiment will be for a cause that is very important to him. "I've decided to donate my face to raising awareness about cancers that affect men," he said in an e-mail. "My commitment is the growth of a...

Did anyone watch "Modern Family" last night? The smoke detector kept chirping. The guy finally destroys them all with a baton. I could relate. The Orioles are in the market for a first baseman and a bat that can launch baseballs onto the flagcourt. They were interested in Adam LaRoche last winter and made an offer comparable to the one he accepted from the Arizona Diamondbacks - one year, $6 million. Arizona declined to pick up LaRoche's $7.5 million option for next season, choosing...

If the Orioles want to challenge the big boys in the American League East, their best chance may be to win the arms race. While I keep hearing the O's need a big bat or two to add to their lineup, didn't we just get yet another strong lesson that it's more about the pitching. The San Francisco Giants finished ninth this year in the regular season in runs scored in the National League. They finished first in team ERA. The Giants won the World Series during a postseason where they...

An industry source confirmed that Wayne Kirby has agreed to become the Orioles' first base coach, nearly completing manager Buck Showalter's staff for 2011. It's been later rather than sooner, but it's almost done. The Sun cited a source earlier today while reporting that the Orioles came to terms with Kirby, who also will work with the outfielders. I sought out former manager Mike Hargrove's opinion of Kirby a few days ago. You can review it right here. It looks like we're down to...

Nationals prospect, relief pitcher Cole Kimball, is enjoying his experience pitching in the Arizona Fall League and is thrilled to get an invite to the Rising Stars All-Star Game Sunday. "It has been great. I am not pitching every other day like I was this summer so it is hard to get into a rhythm when you pitch only every three or four days," Kimball said. But he hasn't had any trouble adjusting to less work. Kimball is 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 7 games with 8 strikeouts and only one run...

I'm not sure if anyone saw this story about former manager Sparky Anderson, who's been placed in hospice care at his Thousand Oaks, Calif. home for complications resulting from dementia. It's sad to know that Anderson's life is winding down in this manner. Though he never managed the Orioles, he's also a vivid part of my childhood sports memories. How many times have we seen video of his rant following "the call" by plate umpire Ken Burkhart in Game 1 of the 1970 World Series? It's...

Orioles reliever Jason Berken and his wife, Emily, spent a week in Aruba before returning to their Atlanta home a few days ago. Now the work begins. Berken started an exercise program on Monday as part of his rehab from a torn labrum that ended his season on Aug. 12. He's strengthening the shoulder in preparation for a throwing program that will begin, as it normally does, in late December or early January. It's a good sign that Berken is holding to his usual schedule. He expects to be...

Nationals prospects outfielder Michael Burgess and pitcher Cole Kimball have been named to the Eastern Division All-Star team of the Arizona Fall League. The Rising Stars game will be played November 6 in Surprise. Twenty-eight players who played in last year's Rising Stars game, such as Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen and Buster Posey, made at least an appearance in the Majors this summer. The Scorpions' coaching staff will coach the Eastern team, based on having the best record on...

Bo Porter joins Jim Riggleman's staff as third base coach The Washington Nationals today announced that bench coach John McLaren, pitching coach Steve McCatty, hitting coach Rick Eckstein, first base coach Dan Radison and bullpen coach Jim Lett will return next season. The Nationals also announced Bo Porter will join field manager Jim Riggleman's staff as third base coach. Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Eckstein and...

The Orioles today announced that they have declined their 2011 option for LHP Mark Hendrickson. Hendrickson, 36, went 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA (75.1IP, 44ER) in 52 games for the Orioles in 2010, his second season with the club.