A look at O's players headed to winter ball (plus other notes)

Every year, as the major league season winds down into late October (and maybe even into November), play in winter leagues around the world begins. As it relates to big league teams like the Orioles, many of the organization's minor league players get in extra work to improve their game and help their careers.

In some cases, players that have been playing since February travel to far away places to try and get better as they continue to chase that major league dream. There are winter ball leagues in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Australia. Thanks to the Orioles for providing a list of players and staff that are headed back to a ballpark real soon, if not already.

Orioles players scheduled to play winter ball:

Michael Almanzar, 3B: Leones del Escogido (DR)
Dariel Alvarez, OF: Tigres de Aragua (VZ)
Ricardo Andujar, SS: Toros del Este (DR)
Jayson Aquino, LHP: Toros del Este (DR)
Pedro Beato, RHP: Tigres del Licey (DR)
Julio Borbon, OF: Tigres del Licey (DR)
Natanael Delgado, OF: Estrellas de Oriente (DR)
Will Dennis, LHP: Perth Heat (AUS)
Carlos Diaz, 1B: Tomateros de Culiacan (MX)
Jay Gonzalez, OF: Tiburones de Aguadilla (PR)
Luis Gonzalez, LHP: Estrellas de Oriente (DR)
Quincy Latimore, OF: Mayos de Navojoa (MX)
Osvaldo Martinez, SS: Gigantes de Carolina (PR)
Yermin Mercedes, C: Tigres de Licey (DR)
Andy Oliver, LHP: Leones del Escogido (DR)
Francisco Pena, C: Aguilas Cibaenas (DR)
Audry Perez, C: Estrellas de Oriente (DR)
Derek Peterson, INF: Perth Heat (AUS)
Elias Pinales, LHP: Toros del Este (DR)
Jomar Reyes, 3B: Tigres del Licey (DR)
Ademar Rifaela, OF: Toros del Este (DR)
Aderlin Rodriguez, 1B: Gigantes del Cibao (DR)
Richard Rodriguez, RHP: Aguilas Cibaenas (DR)
Franderlin Romero, RHP: Leones del Caracas (VZ)
Garabez Rosa, INF: Gigantes del Cibao (DR)
Lex Rutledge, LHP: Perth Heat (AUS)
Jason Stoffel, RHP: Leones del Escogido (DR)
Henry Urrutia, OF: Leones del Caracas (VZ)

Staff

Wilson Alvarez: Pitching Coach, Zulia (VZ)
Bobby Dickerson: Manager, Gigantes del Cibao (DR)
Einar Diaz: Coach, Gigantes del Cibao (DR)
Chris Poole: Trainer, Gigantes del Cibao (DR)
Felipe Rojas: Coach, Leones de Escogido (DR)

Play has already started in Venezuela (Oct. 6) and Mexico (Oct. 11). Plays begins soon in the Dominican Republic (Oct. 20), Puerto Rico (Oct. 27) and Australia (Nov. 18). The Caribbean Series is set for Feb. 1-7, 2017 in Culiacan, Mexico.

Farrell to return: Does a manager that led his team to 93 wins and a division title need to worry about returning the next year?

Apparently, in Boston he does.

After the American League East champion Red Sox got swept by the Indians in the AL Division Series, that series loss "sparked speculation (John) Farrell would be replaced," according to this Boston Globe story.

I don't understand that at all. Boston won 11 in a row in September to seize the division. A sample size of 162 games tells me more about a manager than three games where his team didn't hit much. There was no fall guy needed here, no one to be thrown under any bus.

Farrell is signed through 2017 with a team option for 2018. He'll be back, as he should be.

Tebow talk: Tim Tebow went 0-for-3 in his Arizona Fall League debut Tuesday night for the Mets. The odds are against the former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner ever making the majors.

But I didn't completely understand some of the strong reactions by some around baseball that his trying out for big league teams was a "joke or PR stunt."

Scouts said Tebow had good speed and raw power and both may be plus tools. What is wrong with taking a look at him next year in the minors? Each team has about 150 players in their minor leagues (maybe more) and Tebow will be blocking no one. If there is a top prospect that deserves to play over him, give that kid the spot.

By the way, the great majority of those 150 or so players for each organization will never make the majors. Tebow may never either. But in an industry that pays mediocre starting pitchers $10 million or more in some cases, and middle relievers millions, Tebow got $100,000 to sign. If the Mets deemed he was truly serious about baseball, that was not exactly a crippling investment.

Any 18-year-old kid with two plus tools would draw the attention of scouts. Tebow is 29 and hasn't played at a higher level than high school, so there is a big difference here. I get that.

He should not be judged on a few AFL at-bats, but rather by his entire season next year. After 400 or 500 at-bats, will he have shown enough to continue the experiment? If yes, they move forward. If not, they are out $100,000 and plenty of prospects that signed for much more never saw a day in the majors. Some didn't get past Single-A or Double-A.