Your thoughts on Delgado?
I began my morning with a quick check of mlbtraderumors, and decided to cut-and-paste their Top 50 Free Agents list. Should make for some good discussion, especially with
Carlos Delgado, at No. 43, going to the Orioles.
Keep in mind that these are just predictions, and nobody has inside information about Delgado.
He would make sense in one sense. The Orioles need a first baseman and a power bat (and he would probably benefit from the rest provided when serving as the designated hitter)....
Baseball Prospectus has released its list of the top 11 Orioles prospects - a nice, round figure - and Brian Matusz is No. 1. He's also the only five-star selection.
Josh Bell, Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton are four-star choices. Matt Hobgood, Brandon Erbe, Brandon Snyder and Mychal Givens are three-star selections, and Brandon Waring and Cameron Coffey receive two stars.
Click here to view the entire list, which is compiled by Kevin Goldstein and includes four other prospects deemed worthy...
The Orioles have claimed right-hander Armando Gabino off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and added him to the 40-man roster.
Gabino, 26, went 6-4 with three saves and a 2.94 ERA in 38 games (seven starts) with Triple-A Rochester. He also appeared in two games with the Twins.
And I'll admit that I can't picture the guy. Name sounds familiar, but...nothing. I'll do some research.
Update: Gabino went 0-0 with a 17.18 ERA in his two appearances with the Twins. He made his major league...
The general manager meetings begin today in Chicago, which will bring more rumors and speculation than actual activity.
Some deals are struck, but it's mostly a way for executives to lay the groundwork for next month's winter meetings in Indianapolis. They'll express interest in players, discuss parameters of a deal and agree to continue those talks. It gives them a better sense of who's available and whether there's a potential match.
Otherwise, there's a lot of business discussed...
After a slow start in his rookie season at Triple-A Norfolk, right-hander Brandon Erbe is starting to pitch much better.
Thursday afternoon he pitched seven shutout innings of four-hit ball vs. Syracuse. He walked one with six strikeouts.
On May 2nd, Erbe allowed just one run, then had a start where he gave up six runs followed by today's outing.
Erbe in 2010 at Norfolk:
First four starts: 8.35 ERA and .342 opponent batting average
Last three starts: 3.37 ERA and .225 opponents batting...
Every game seems to bring a press box debate, or at least a quiet discussion in the interview room before manager Dave Trembley takes a seat behind the microphone.
Since I'm not ready to let go of today's victory, I'll pass along how we talked about Seattle third base coach Mike Brumley's decision to send Josh Wilson with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.
Left fielder Corey Patterson scooped up Ichiro Suzuki's single and fired the ball to the plate, where catcher Matt Wieters...
I just spoke with an Orioles official with some clarity on Jim Johnson's examination today.
The Orioles continue to classify Johnson's injury as a sprained ligament in his right elbow following the reliever's visit with Dr. James Andrews. They say the exam didn't reveal anything new.
Johnson will spend the next four weeks at the minor league complex in Sarasota. Team officials don't anticipate that Johnson will require surgery.
When I asked one official whether Johnson has a slight...
Sometimes to make a game-winning play you have to be prepared for it before it happens.
That was the case today for O's left fielder Corey Patterson.
In just his second game with the team, he threw out Josh Wilson at the plate on Ichiro Suzuki's single to end the game as the Orioles beat Seattle 6-5.
Corey Patterson gets a pie in the face after throwing out the potential game-tying run at the plate
"With Ichiro up I knew he had more power to his pull side. Anything he hits opposite...
The Orioles entered today with a record of 0-19 this year when trailing after seven innings.
After scoring just one run over seven today vs. Felix Hernandez, and behind 5-1, the O's came to bat in the 8th this afternoon vs. Seattle righty Brandon League.
League got a save here Tuesday and had not allowed an earned run over his last six games.
But Luke Scott came up with the bases loaded and one out with the O's now down 5-2 after a Corey Patterson homer.
His drive on the first pitch...
I'll pass on the obvious joke here.
You're welcome.
Luke Scott gave the Orioles a 6-5 lead with a grand slam in the eighth inning. Corey Patterson began the rally with a home run and ended the game with his throw to the plate. Catcher Matt Wieters made a tremendous tag, blocking the plate while reaching far to his right for the ball.
Dave Trembley talks about the O's dramatic 6-5 win over the Mariners
That's the obvious stuff.
Now for the little things.
Did anyone notice how Nick...
Luke Scott's second career Grand Slam in the last of the 8th has just given the Orioles a 6-5 lead on Seattle.
Scott drilled a Brandon League offering to left center and left fielder Michael Saunders leaped at the wall, but it appeared that a fan had the ball glance off his hands as Saunders stretched his glove out, over the wall, trying to make what would have been a remarkable catch.
Maybe during that 2-16 run, that ball is caught.
Was it a reverse Jeffrey Maier?
Well, it apparently was...