Yes, it's true that the Orioles are raising non-prime single-game ticket prices at Camden Yards for the second time since 2003. You can go to www.orioles.com and get the breakdown of the prices. Though math isn't my strong suit, the average increase for 2011 works out to $3 a ticket. The left field upper-reserve seats still can be purchased for $9, and the cost for season-tickets remains the same. Otherwise, you'll have to dig a little deeper. The average price for non-prime,...

Going back to last night's entry, the 1970 Orioles were voted the fourth-best team on the "MLB Network Countdown." The 1998 Yankees, 1975 Reds and 1961 Yankees made the top three. Perhaps it's the fan in me, but I still regard the 1969-1971 stretch as a dynasty despite only one championship. We can include 1966 and make it two. Since we've spent so many days talking about the bullpen and how it shapes up as the strength of the 2011 team, and since we're also going back in time, it seems...

No doubt, Orioles fans quickly became believers in manager Buck Showalter last season. He took over an O's club that was 32-73 and then went 34-23 from Aug. 3 through the end of the year. The O's winning percentage was .308 before he got there and .596 after he took over. The O's posted winning records in both August and September for the first time since 1996. But, will this truly be Showalter's second season as O's skipper? Well, Steve, duh, of course it is. Silly question,...

The Nationals farm system helped general manager Mike Rizzo make a trade this week for Tom Gorzelanny. Two minor league pitchers, Graham Hicks and A.J. Morris, were sent to the Chicago Cubs along with outfield prospect Michael Burgess. The team still has prospects that have impressed. making it easier for Rizzo to make such moves because there is finally some organizational depth to work from now, and other major league teams are taking notice. Rizzo has some pieces to play with now. The...

The "MLB Network Countdown" will rank the top 40 greatest teams in baseball history at 9 p.m. It probably comes as no surprise that the 1970 Orioles made the final cut. The 1984 Detroit Tigers, 1998 New York Yankees and 1995 Atlanta Braves also will be featured. Teams are ranked from 1961 to the present, and the 1970 Orioles made the Top 10. Meanwhile, the NFL Network is currently showing a replay of last weekend's Ravens-Steelers game. I think I'll pass, so to speak. By the way,...

I just got off the phone with Kevin Millwood, who doesn't sense that he's close to signing with another team. Millwood has been linked to the Royals, Indians and Yankees at various times, and he indicated that all three teams remain in play. He's confident that he'll secure a major league deal rather than having to settle for a minor league contract with a spring training invite. So what about the Orioles? Millwood said his agent, Scott Boras, mentioned the Orioles among the teams that...

Here are some more quotes from my conversation with Orioles' scouting director Joe Jordan on the selection of Matt Hobgood with the O's 2009 first-round pick. The 20-year-old right-hander, who was taken with the fifth overall pick, is 4-9, 4.48 in 29 starts covering 120 2/3 innings the past two seasons with Bluefield and Delmarva. Hobgood has been criticized by fans for his performance and conditioning and Jordan has received criticism for his selection of the former California high school...

Team exchanges salary arbitration figures with RHP Jeremy Guthrie and DH Luke Scott The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with SS J.J. Hardy, OF's Adam Jones and Felix Pie and RHP Jim Johnson on one-year contracts, avoiding arbitration. Hardy, 28, batted .268 (91-340) with 6 home runs and 28 RBI in 101 games with the Minnesota Twins in 2010. He hit 26 home runs and was a National League All-Star in 2007 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Jones, 25, batted .284 (165-581) with...

I'll start with some alumni news: Former Orioles outfielder Lou Montanez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to this tweet from Baseball America's Matt Eddy. The Cubs made Montanez the third overall pick in the 2000 draft. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez was taken first by the Florida Marlins. The Minnesota Twins used the second pick on right-hander Adam Johnson. You must remember that the Orioles used the 14th pick on University of Texas pitcher Beau Hale. See how...

Recently in this space, Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 2009, talked about his shoulder injury. Hobgood has a strained rotator cuff and has begun the process to rehab the injury. He cannot pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred, but does know that the fastball velocity he had as a high school senior has been missing in his two pro seasons. On Tuesday, O's scouting director Joe Jordan spoke candidly and at great length with MASNsports.com about his selection of...