Quiet start to Orioles offseason, Hill on hill, spring update

Updates on the Orioles are scarce as we move through the last days of October.

A final decision hasn't been made on the coaching staff and contracts expire at the end of the month. The Orioles are notorious for dragging out the process.

Manager Buck Showalter already has met with owner Peter Angelos and he's back in town for Saturday's KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K/1-mile walk at Camden Yards. Showalter and Angelos could talk again later this week.

A replacement hasn't been named for head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, who retired after 41 seasons in the organization and 34 at the major league level.

Assistant Brian Ebel could be promoted, which would make the most sense. There's no reason to elevate or hire anyone above him. But the club hasn't revealed its plans.

I haven't heard of any offseason surgeries for players who remain under contract in 2018. You may recall that reliever Brad Brach underwent a minor procedure on his left knee last October.

The Orioles have checked on closer Zach Britton's elbow and knee and shortstop Tim Beckham's hamstring. There was talk of a possible cleanup procedure on outfielder Craig Gentry's ankle, but he's a pending free agent.

The first offseason addition came from the independent Can-Am League with last week's signing of first baseman/outfielder Joe Maloney to a minor league contract.

Maloney is expected to be assigned to Double-A Bowie.

* Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill is starting Game 2 of the World Series, which still makes me shake my head no matter how often the words pass my lips.

I was covering the Orioles back in 2009 when they acquired Hill from the Cubs for a player to be named, not much of a price considering his previous status as a top prospect. But Hill had been demoted to Triple-A Iowa and he was out of minor league options.

The deal reunited Hill with Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bullpen coach Alan Dunn, who worked with him in the Cubs' system, but familiarity didn't make much of a difference.

Hill had a partially torn labrum that required surgery in August, more than a month after he was shut down with inflammation in the shoulder. He made 13 starts among 14 appearances, registered a 7.80 ERA and 1.873 WHIP in 57 2/3 innings and averaged 6.2 walks per nine innings.

Besides Hill's shoulder injury, I also remember how he seemed to lack confidence, how any reference to a deer caught in headlights should have included his photo. He couldn't locate his target, with the simplest of throwing drills in camp putting bystanders at risk.

There was nothing about Hill, now 37, that suggested he'd become a coveted free agent worthy of making a World Series start.

I interviewed Matt Wieters last year before Hill pitched for the Athletics at Camden Yards. Wieters caught Hill in Triple-A and with the Orioles.

"He was unbelievable down there when I had him," Wieters said. "He had three pitches that he could use at any time when I caught him down there. Watching him now, he's a little bit different because he'll change his arm angle a little bit more than he did, but when I caught him it felt like it was the Chicago Cubs Rich Hill with the big curveball, the good changeup and the fastball that he could throw by people."

Hill was 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in a career-high 32 starts in 2007 and he was on the mound for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Diamondbacks. But rising stars can burn out quickly and Hill became a journeyman, forced to pitch with the independent Long Island Ducks in 2015 before signing with the Red Sox and resurrecting his career.

The Dodgers signed Hill to a three-year, $48 million contract last winter and he responded by going 12-8 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in 25 starts. He held the Cubs to one run over five innings and struck out eight batters in the Championship Series. Tonight marks his first World Series appearance.

"You never know," Wieters said. "Everybody with the talent level at the major league level is one switch away from being able to figure it out again and go back to being a very dominant pitcher."

The Orioles designated pitcher Brian Burres for assignment to make room for Hill. So many memories.

* The Pirates released their home spring training schedule and it includes a March 12 game against the Orioles.

One trip to Bradenton? It's the shortest drive of the spring. I can get there in 20 minutes.

The Orioles host the Pirates on March 2 and March 10. Perhaps another trip to Bradenton will be added at a later date. These schedules are tentative.

Here's the latest from the Grapefruit League, courtesy of springtrainingonline.com.