More morning musings (with note)

Tony LaCava. De Jon Watson. John Stockstill. No more Jerry Dipoto. LaCava the likely hire at this point. Should know soon. There's your incremental non-update update on the Orioles' GM situation. The Pirates released their spring training schedule, which includes four games against the Orioles: March 5 and 14 in Sarasota, and March 25 (7:05 p.m.) and 31 (split-squad) in Bradenton. The Yankees exercised their $14 million option on Robinson Cano's contract, so you can remove his name from the list of pending free agents. Not that anyone truly believed that he'd be allowed to test the market and the Orioles would sign him. Pitcher Steve Johnson went three innings again yesterday for the Mesa Solar Sox, allowing one run and three hits, walking two and striking out one. He threw 45 pitches, 28 for strikes. Johnson, who fractured his nose while warming up before his last start, tweeted the following after the game: "I'm missing my curveball and slider. Last seen about 2 weeks ago. If anyone sees them.. Please tell them both to come back to me. Thanks!" "Or just one of them.. Either one doesn't matter. I appreciate it! #cantbegreedy" Xavier Avery went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to raise his average to .283. He has 15 hits in his last 34 at-bats. Jose Hernandez, a field coach at Single-A Delmarva last season, could move up to Double-A Bowie next season. He held the same job with the Gulf Coast League team in 2010. Geier Financial Group, based in Howard County, has added Orioles pitcher Rick VandenHurk as a client. Geier will provide VandenHurk with investment and financial planning management services. Other clients include Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Mark Teixeira and Brad Lidge. Did you know that VandenHurk's first name is Henricus? According to Major League Baseball, Game 7 of the World Series averaged 25.4 million viewers on FOX, making it the most watched baseball game since 2004, when the Red Sox won the World Series and ended a curse. I've heard lots of people suggest that Game 7 was anticlimactic after Game 6 evolved into an instant classic, with the Cardinals twice battling back after being down to their final strike. I guess you could say the same about Game 7 of the 1986 Series and Game 7 of the 1975 Fall Classic. Each Game 6 was a tough act to follow. I was reminded of the '75 Series yesterday during a segment on "Wall to Wall Baseball" on MASN. Everyone remembers Carlton Fisk's home run and how he practically willed the ball to stay fair, but does anyone remember the hero of Game 7? I had a vague recollection of someone with the Reds producing a tie-breaking single, but I couldn't nail down the name or the inning without looking it up. And that's pretty bad. Turns out, Joe Morgan blooped a two-out single into center field in the top of the ninth to score Ken Griffey and give the Reds a 4-3 lead. The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the third inning before the Reds pulled even, setting up Morgan's clutch hit heard 'round the world. Then the world pretty much forgot about it except in two cities. Anyone remember the Red Sox's reliever who gave up Morgan's hit? Jim Burton appreciates your short memory. NOTE: As expected, Vladimir Guerrero and Cesar Izturis have filed for free agency. Continue to breathe normally.