As new O's manager Buck Showalter continues to put his stamp, if you will, on this organization, what about the minor leagues? During his brief time as O's skipper, Showalter already has made trips to Bowie and Aberdeen and saw some of the O's younger prospects workout during the instructional league camp at Camden Yards. How much impact and input does Showalter want to have on the minors? In a recent meeting in his Camden Yards office, Showalter talked on that topic. "I trust John...

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail doesn't believe that an announcement on the coaching staff is "on the horizon," but he adds that it's "truly in Buck's hands, what he does and the circumstances." We're waiting for the Orioles to soon reveal which coaches are returning, without naming replacements for the departed. "There are so many managerial positions to be filled that it has a ripple effect on the staff," MacPhail said. Hitting coach Terry Crowley will return,...

Today is your last chance to cast your vote for Luke Scott for the Hank Aaron Award, which is given annually to the top offensive player in each league. This year, fan votes will be counted alongside the votes from a panel of Hall of Famers hand-selected by Hank Aaron himself. So toss your vote in with Tony Gwynn, Harmon Killebrew, Paul Molitor, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, and Robin Yount to help Scott secure the honor of this year's award. Check out Luke Scott's batting stats here...

So, does anyone want to trade places with Brooks Conrad? The Atlanta second baseman committed three errors yesterday, the final one allowing the go-ahead run to score in the ninth inning and putting the Braves within a game of elimination. "I wish I could just dig a hole," Conrad said, "and sleep in it." I'm sure a few of his teammates would bring the shovel. Maybe I just expect too much in the postseason from a player named Brooks. Aubrey Huff delivered a huge hit in the ninth, tying...

A scout from outside the organization who ventured inside Camden Yards over the final weeks of the season made the following observation about Adam Jones, including differences in the center fielder since manager Buck Showalter took control of the club: "I think the biggest guy that I've seen impacted is Jones. I thought in the middle of the season that he was at a crossroads for me, whether he was going to go one way or the other. I think he's really stepped up. "He's got the most...

In 2009, with Bowie, Brandon Erbe was limited to 14 starts due to shoulder problems. This year he had to deal with more shoulder issues. He made 14 starts for Triple-A Norfolk. He would pitch just once after June 20th, throwing a couple of innings on July 24 in an injury-rehab outing with Aberdeen. This time, the problem led him to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum on August 13th. Angels' physician Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the procedure. "It was the same injury (this season),...

There seemed to be some confusion among fans as to whether Xavier Avery will be playing in the Arizona Fall League. He will be and is indeed on the Scottsdale Scorpions' roster. The AFL season starts on Tuesday. It should be an interesting challenge for the 20-year-old Avery. "It means a lot. It's an opportunity and I'm going to take it, a chance to get better and see better pitchers. Some of the best talent in the minor leagues will be there," Avery said of playing in the AFL. Avery...

I'll be heading to M&T Bank Stadium in a few minutes to shed my sportswriter inhibitions and behave like a fan. That means sitting in the stands, yelling my lungs out and hitting the concessions. And yes, standing in line at the urinals, rocking back and forth from one foot to the other, wishing the guy in front of me hadn't downed 12 beers before deciding to break the seal. It isn't all fun and games. I'll check the blog later, of course, but you'll have to forgive me for straying...

Nationals prospect left-hander Sammy Solis (pronounced soh-lease) is getting ready to start the Arizona Fall league season and head back home. He says his time in Viera with the instructional league squad has been all about getting in condition to pitch against the best in Arizona. It is even more impressive to see Solis excel in Florida and get ready for the AFL, after signing with the Nationals less than two months ago (August 14). "It is actually going really well," Solis said as he...

With word spreading through baseball that Cliff Lee will seek CC Sabathia money this winter, it becomes even less likely that the Orioles will make a run at him. And it was a long shot coming out of the gates. We already know that the corner infield spots will garner the most attention, which sounds vaguely familiar. Didn't we do this same dance last winter? At least we can eliminate Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada from the discussion. And I won't be fooled again by Joe Crede, who didn't...