World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966 American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966

American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969

American League Wild Card 2012, 1996

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Columns:

Orioles closing in on one-year deal with former All-Star infielder Everth Cabrera The

Sun 2/18

Everth Cabrera would come with some risk, but also with some big upside The Sun 2/18

Orioles might not be done adding players, and a Hot Stove Talk in York, Pa. The Sun

2/18

Orioles sign utility infielder Jayson Nix to minor league deal The Sun 2/17

What they're saying about the Orioles heading into spring training The Sun 2/17

Orioles announce minor league coaching staffs for the 2015 season The Sun 2/17

Orioles thoughts on Jeffrey Maier, Tony Tarasco, Miguel Gonzalez, Nathan Showalter

The Sun 2/17

Jeffrey Maier's infamous glove from the 1996 AL Championship Series being auctioned

The Sun 2/16

There's little risk for Orioles or Alejandro De Aza in arbitration hearing The Sun 2/16

Orioles becoming attractive spot for former Boston Red Sox prospects The Sun 2/15

As familiar doubts about the Orioles return, so do the reasons for optimism The Sun 2/14

With 2017 All-Star Game in Miami, Baltimore's conspiracy theories need re-examining

The Sun 2/14

Orioles on verge of signing Cabrera to one-year deal MLB.com 2/18

Trio expected to make up for O's losses MLB.com 2/17

O'Day tops among baseball's elite setup men MLB.com 2/17

Source: O's sign infielder Nix to Triple-A deal MLB.com 2/17

Orioles set Minor League coaching staffs for 2015 MLB.com 2/17

Orioles enter camp with no plans to regress MLB.com 2/16

Maddon, Winfield honored with Ripken Sr. Aspire Award MLB.com 2/14

For Orioles to fly high, 4 prospects could be key MLB.com 2/13

Orioles nearing deal with Everth Cabrera MASNsports.com 2/18

Can Janish win utility job? MASNsports.com 2/18

O's sign Jayson Nix to minor league deal (plus Duquette quotes) MASNsports.com 2/18

Mills moves up to Bowie (plus full O's minor league staff) MASNsports.com 2/17

Wondering about Wieters if he isn't ready to catch (with note) MASNsports.com 2/17

Jeffrey Maier's infamous glove being auctioned MASNsports.com 2/16

Tillman leftovers for breakfast MASNsports.com 2/16

Another look at the lineup and what to do with Pearce MASNsports.com 2/15

Davis shifting his strategy at the plate MASNsports.com 2/14

A few notes on the minor league staff announcements (plus prospect notes)

MASNsports.com 2/18

Orioles announce minor league coaching staffs MASNsports.com 2/17

Hearing from Henry Urrutia and Tyler Wilson, plus some power rankings

MASNsports.com 2/17

A few questions with spring training a few days away MASNsports.com 2/16

With scoring down, MLB officials take a close look at the sport MASNsports.com 2/15

Machado is not one of top 10 third basemen, according to one list MASNsports.com 2/14

Orioles' partnership with Sarasota County proves valuable for both parties

MASNsports.com 2/17

MASN's Mike Bordick recalls O's 1999 exhibition in Cuba MASNsports.com 2/13

Henneman has lived the duration of "60 Years of Orioles Magic" MASNsports.com 2/13

Orioles agree with infielder Nix on minor league contract SI.com 2/17

Maier's glove used for catch Jeter's 1996 HR up for auction SI.com 2/16

Jones a unique player and person ESPN.com 2/16

Nix tries to impress Showalter in utility audition CSN Baltimore 2/18

Orioles sign veteran infielder to minor league deal CSN Baltimore 2/17

Orioles make tweaks to farm system CSN Baltimore 2/17

Orioles not favorites of oddsmakers CSN Baltimore 2/17

Are six catchers enough for Orioles? CSN Baltimore 2/16

Orioles will try and make positives outweigh negatives CSN Baltimore 2/16

Five Orioles to keep an eye on this spring CSN Baltimore 2/15

Where does the Orioles' defense rank in the AL? CSN Baltimore 2/14

Best part of Orioles spring training: Offseason is over CSN Baltimore 2/14

Orioles try to replace Cruz, Markakis in outfield CSN Baltimore 2/13

Orioles Reportedly Close To Signing Infielder Everth Cabrera PressBoxOnline.com 2/18

New Orioles Reliever Wesley Wright Ready To Pitch Where Needed

PressBoxOnline.com 2/17

Orioles' Spring Training In Sarasota Offers A Warm Welcome PressBoxOnline.com 2/16

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Position Battles PressBoxOnline.com 2/16

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Non-Roster Invitees PressBoxOnline.com 2/16

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Injury Report PressBoxOnline.com 2/16

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Projected 25-Man Roster PressBoxOnline.com

2/16

Orioles Enter 2015 With Several Compelling Storylines PressBoxOnline.com 2/16

Ranking MLB’s managers entering 2015 season The Boston Globe 2/15

The Orioles Left And Right Field Spots Will Be Rotated Heavily CBS Baltimore 2/18

Sports Rehab: Steve Melewski Talks Orioles Baseball CBS Baltimore 2/17

Scott Garceau: Orioles First To Worst CBS Baltimore 2/14

The Orioles are close to signing Everth Cabrera NBCSports.com 2/18

Orioles sign Jayson Nix NBCSports.com 2/18

J.J. Hardy would have preferred to re-sign with Orioles sooner NBCSports.com 2/14

Chris Davis: “I think there are definitely situations where I need to bunt” NBCSports.com

2/14

Chris Davis prepared to bunt to beat defensive shifts Yahoo! Sports 2/15

Organizational report: Orioles manager says last place prediction 'beautiful' USA

TODAY Sports 2/14

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-closing-in-on-oneyear-deal-with-

former-allstar-everth-cabrera-20150218-story.html

Orioles closing in on one-year deal with former All-Star

infielder Everth Cabrera

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

February 18, 2015

The Orioles are finalizing a one-year deal with free-agent infielder and former All-Star Everth

Cabrera, according to an industry source.

Cabrera has taken a physical and the results are pending, according to the source. The deal is

believed to in the range of $2.4 million, equaling his salary of last season.

Cabrera, 28, was nontendered by the San Diego Padres this offseason after hitting just

.232/.272/.300 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 90 games in 2014. He stole 18 bases in 26

attempts.

He gives the Orioles a legitimate leadoff option that they’ve been missing since the departure of

outfielder Nick Markakis this offseason. Cabrera has combined to steal 99 bases in the past three

seasons, despite averaging just 100 games per year in that span. Cabrera has made 228 of his 452

major league starts (50.4 percent) from the leadoff spot, tallying a .247/.315/.316 batting line

from atop the order.

Cabrera led the National League with 44 stolen bases (on 48 attempts) in 115 games in 2012. He

led the NL with 37 steals in 49 attempts in 2013 in 95 games before his season was cut short

when he was forced to serve a 50-game suspension for involvement in the Biogenesis

performance-enhancing drugs scandal.

Cabrera went on the disabled list twice last season, missing a total of 69 games with left

hamstring injuries.

A switch hitter, Cabrera has a .261/.327/.353 batting line against left-handed pitching and a

.243/.316/.325 against right-handers.

The Nicaragua-born Cabrera fits the mold of a late offseason signing by Orioles executive vice

president of baseball operations Dan Duquette. He’s coming off a tough season and has gone

unsigned throughout the offseason. Duquette often stresses that he takes a year-round approach

to building the Orioles, and Cabrera represents a high-upside player with a relatively low-risk

deal.

Cabrera has had his share of off-field issues. Besides being one of 11 players who served 50-

game suspensions through connection with Biogenesis, he has a pending misdemeanor charge

for resisting arrest stemming from a Sept. 3 incident.

The California Highway Patrol arrested Cabrera that day on suspicion of driving under the

influence for marijuana, according to the (San Diego) Union-Tribune. He was later charged with

resisting arrest, a charge that could lead to up to one year in jail if convicted. He was also cited

for possession of marijuana, which carried a fine of up to $100. He was not charged with DUI.

Cabrera pleaded not guilty to the charge. A trial is set for April 13.

The Orioles have had great success with other players who have come to the club with histories

of off-field issues. Both Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young came to the Orioles with off-field

issues, but flourished within the team's clubhouse dynamic.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck-blog/bal-everth-cabrera-would-come-with-some-

risk-but-also-some-big-upside-20150218-story.html

Everth Cabrera would come with some risk, but also with

some big upside

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

February 18, 2015

If the Orioles complete the signing of infielder Everth Cabrera this week, there will be room to

question why the club was willing to take a chance on a player who was involved in the

Biogenesis scandal and has a pending charge of misdemeanor resisting arrest hanging over his

head.

It's not that complicated.

The club has a positive recent history with "second-chance" players, and Cabrera potentially fills

a big hole in the roster. Presumably, the team has done its homework and feels that he will not be

a problem in the clubhouse. The deal appears to be pending an early resolution of the legal issue

in California.

In a sense, the team inoculated itself with the very successful signing last year of 2014 Most

Valuable Oriole Nelson Cruz, who was just off a Biogenesis suspension but turned out to be

a strong leader and a good citizen during his -- regrettably -- only season in Baltimore.

Cabrera is not on the same level. He's a speedy infielder who does not necessarily project into

the everyday lineup, but could fill several roles for the Orioles, batting leadoff and spelling J.J.

Hardy at shortstop. He can catch the ball, can get on base and has stolen 90 total bases in the past

three seasons.

I'll weigh in on everything surrounding this potential signing in my column later today and in

tomorrow's print edition of the Baltimore Sun.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-the-sun-and-the-orioles-in-spring-training-

and-a-hot-stove-talk-in-york-pa-20150217-story.html

Orioles might not be done adding players, and a Hot Stove

Talk in York, Pa.

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

February 18, 2015

Infielder Jayson Nix, whom the Orioles signed to a minor league deal Tuesday, may not be the

last player to join the team for spring training in Sarasota, Fla.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette is still working on adding players, and it would be a

surprise if at least one more pitcher didn’t join the club on a minor league deal in the next few

days.

Duquette also will be tweaking things as spring training progresses -- that’s how he builds a

team. As of Tuesday night, the club had 57 players expected for major league camp. That’s a lot

of bodies, but somehow Orioles manager Buck Showalter makes it work.

So there may be a little uncertainty with the Orioles’ roster for spring training, but no such

ambiguity with The Baltimore Sun’s baseball team.

Orioles beat reporter Eduardo A. Encina and columnist Peter Schmuck are in Sarasota. They’ll

begin full coverage from Ed Smith Stadium as pitchers and catchers report this week. Check this

blog several times a day and make sure to follow Ed (@EddieInTheYard) and Pete

(@SchmuckStop) on Twitter for continual updates and pictures.

I’ll be subbing in for Schmuck in mid-March. Ed (our Iron Man) and I will take you through the

end of spring training and into the first three games of the regular season at the Tampa Bay Rays

before we head back to Camden Yards for the home opener April 10. Once I get down to Florida,

I will be blogging and tweeting up a storm, too (@danconnollysun).

I’ll also be doing my fifth annual Hot Stove Baseball Talk for charity this Monday -- Feb. 23 --

in York, Pa. The event starts at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 2215 Brandywine Lane in York

and is free to the public. However, a freewill offering will be taken with all proceeds going

toward Zion’s youth programs and specifically to cover costs to send a group of teens and

volunteers to the Lutheran Church’s National Youth Gathering in Detroit this summer.

As he has done four of the five years I’ve hosted the talk, Mel Antonen will be joining me

Monday. A baseball contributor for SI.com and MASNsports.com and commentator for MASN

and Sirius/XM, Mel and I have a blast picking on each other and talking baseball.

This year, I am particularly psyched because Fred Manfra is our featured guest. As a play-by-

play voice of the Orioles for more than two decades, Fred has a wealth of stories about the team

from a different perspective from the writers. So it should be fantastic to get his take. Primarily,

though, it’s a question-and-answer format with lots of audience participation.

It’s just a fun, laid-back night talking baseball -- and it comes at a perfect time, two days before

the Orioles have their first full workout with the complete spring roster.

After the event, signed copies of my soon-to-be-released book, “100 Things Orioles Fans Need

To Know & Do Before They Die,” will be available for purchase for $15.

For more information on the charity Hot Stove Talk, contact the church at 717-767-4673. I hope

to see many of you there.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-sign-jayson-nix-to-a-minor-league-

deal-20150217-story.html

Orioles sign utility infielder Jayson Nix to minor league deal

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

February 17, 2015

The Orioles have added another player to their spring training camp, signing utility infielder

Jayson Nix to a minor league deal worth $750,000 if he makes the team. He can add another

$50,000 in incentives, a source confirmed.

Nix, 32, played in 41 major league games last year with three teams: the Philadelphia Phillies,

Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals. He hit a combined .120 in 83 at-bats. A former

supplemental first-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2001, Nix is a career .212 hitter in parts

of seven seasons with eight different teams.

His defensive versatility has been his biggest strength; Nix has played 198 games at third base in

his career, 133 at second base, 89 at shortstop, 24 in the outfield and one at first base. He will

compete for a shot at the Orioles’ utility infielder job.

If second-year major leaguer Jonathan Schoop remains as the club’s primary second baseman as

expected, Nix would be in competition with Ryan Flaherty and several others (Paul Janish, Rey

Navarro) to be the main infield backup.

The Orioles now will have 57 players at the major league portion of spring training. It’s possible

that they could add another player or two this week -- a veteran reliever has been on executive

vice president Dan Duquette’s radar this month.

Pitchers and catchers have their first workout in Sarasota, Fla., on Friday.

CBSSports.com first reported the signing.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-what-theyre-saying-orioles-heading-into-

spring-training-20150217-story.html#page=1

What they're saying about the Orioles heading into spring

training

The Baltimore Sun

February 17, 2015

As the Orioles prepare to start spring training later this week at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in

Sarasota, Fla., here's a look at what other media outlets are saying about the team.

* ESPN's Tim Kurkjian discusses Orioles center fielder Adam Jones' ability to go from cracking

jokes and doing impressions off the field to being all about business on it.

And then Jones stopped laughing, paused and said, "But when that game starts ..."

When that game starts, that's when we see the other side of Jones, one of the best players in the

American League, and the intense leader of the Orioles.

"When I first got here [2010], he was our best player, but he also played the game the right

way," Showalter said. "His words come with a lot of weight. He walks the walk. No one plays

harder than Adam Jones. Nine innings, 90 feet, no one. That's not something that everyone can

do in the big leagues, play hard every play, post up every day. Sometimes, he wants to override

his brain, but we don't want to take that away from him. We don't want him to be a robot. He will

tell the truth, and he will say it to your face. He loves to win, doesn't like to lose."

* In his column this week, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe ranks all 30 major league

managers. The Orioles' Buck Showalter is No. 2 on the list.

2. Buck Showalter, Orioles -- Showalter seems to be one of those guys who can win games for his

team. Tremendously organized, aware of the limitations or abilities of his personnel, and a good

in-game manager who sets a professional tone for his team.

* SI.com's Jay Jaffe grades the Orioles' offseason. Overall, he gives the organization a D+, but he

believes second baseman Jonathan Schoop could use some time at Triple-A Norfolk.

It's too soon to give up on 23-year-old Jonathan Schoop, but he's coming off a brutal rookie

campaign in which his 16 homers were offset by a .209/.244/.354 line featuring a 122/13

strikeout-to-walk ratio in 481 PA. Amid all the swings-and-misses, he did prove himself more

than capable at second base (+10 DRS and +6 UZR in 123 games there), but it's fair to say that

he could probably use a few months at Triple A. A better fallback than Ryan Flaherty

(.221/.283/.369 in 750 career PA) would give Schoop more time to develop. While veteran

utilitymen such as Nick Punto and Ramon Santiago are off the board, taking a flyer on free agent

Mark Ellis, who was terrible in limited duty with the Cardinals in 2014 (.180/.253/.213) but

worth a combined 5.3 WAR in 2012-13 with the Dodgers (.264/.328/.357, +22 DRS), isn't a bad

idea.

* Jesse Spector of the Sporting News also grades the Orioles' offseason as a D+, the worst

among the 15 American League teams.

Woof. The Orioles did their major business last offseason in mid-February, signing Ubaldo

Jimenez on the 19th and Nelson Cruz on the 24th — one of which worked out. This time around,

there are much slimmer pickings on the late free agent market, and after losing the major

leagues’ leading home run hitter in Cruz and a veteran stalwart in Markakis, Baltimore’s only

real option for corner outfield help (to be fair, the Orioles’ only position of legitimate need) is

the trade market. There are teams out there, specifically the Padres, who have an outfield

surplus, but dithering through a winter that included rumors of Dan Duquette leaving his GM

post to go to Toronto has left the Orioles in a position where the roster looks set to enter 2015

worse than 2014, even with the eventual returns from injury of Manny Machado and Matt

Wieters. Consider the trade for Travis Snider to play right field and the re-signing of Delmon

Young to, in the most optimistic best-case scenario, be a poor man’s Cruz at DH and left field,

less than inspiring.

* USA Today's Scott Boeck gives an organizational report on the Orioles, including a position-

by-position breakdown and thoughts on the club's top prospects.

RHP Dylan Bundy: The last two years haven't turned out how Bundy or the Orioles had hoped.

The 2011 first-round pick, fourth overall, missed 2013 and much of 2014 after Tommy John

elbow surgery. He returned in June and went 1-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 41 1/3 innings in the

minors. Bundy, 22, commands an above-average fastball and is considered a top-of-the-rotation

pitcher. The Orioles have placed an innings limit on him that they hope will help him reach the

majors this season.

* Anthony Castrovince of Sports on Earth believes the Orioles' defense is No. 2 in the major

leagues behind the Kansas City Royals.

Buck Showalter put it best: "In our [payroll] situation, we can't afford to take a player who can't

defend." The metrics surrounding new right fielder Travis Snider are varied, but the O's have

studied him enough to believe he'll be another solid defender in a lineup full of them. The O's re-

signed J.J. Hardy after a down offensive season in large part because his glove doesn't slump,

and he and center fielder Adam Jones were once again deserving winners of the Gold Glove last

season.

This is a repeat of last year's spring storyline, but getting Manny Machado back in action after

knee surgery will ensure strong defense at the hot corner, and catchers Matt Wieters and Caleb

Joseph are terrific at controlling the running game. Jonathan Schoop's strong arm and quick feet

allowed him to seize the second-base job as 2014 evolved.

The O's prioritize defense more than most, and it shows on the field.

* Castrovince also ranks the Orioles' bullpen as the fourth-best in the major leagues.

Losing Andrew Miller doesn't help, but the O's had a pretty good bullpen before they acquired

the big lefty, and they should still have a pretty good bullpen without him, too.

Zach Britton's quick adaptation to the closer role (1.65 ERA, 37 saves, 0.90 WHIP) after his

starting career went wayward was a sight to behold as 2014 evolved. He's set up by Darren

O'Day (1.70 ERA, 0.89 WHIP) and Tommy Hunter (2.97 ERA, 1.10 WHIP). The O's also have

Brian Matusz, who had a 1.42 ERA in the second half, and Brad Brach, who had a breakout

year.

With Buck Showalter manning the switches and finding the appropriate roles for his available

arms, you have to like the O's chances of ranking in the upper-tier in relief ERA again this

season.

* And Castrovince says the Orioles have the eighth-best lineup.

Look, they've lost a lot -- the 40 homers Nelson Cruz hit last year, and the steady on-base

presence of Nick Markakis. But in both cases, the O's were better off in the long run to let other

people overpay for those assets. The company line of Matt Wieters and Manny Machado coming

back to keep up the offensive pace is not without merit, nor is it crazy to conceive of a bounce-

back season from Chris Davis (who was a mess yet still hit 26 homers last year) and J.J. Hardy

(whose power went suddenly south). Adam Jones' bat still strikes me as underrated.

I also like Travis Snider as a sneaky pickup for right field. And you just know the O's will

probably have some waiver claim or retread (Alex Hassan, perhaps?) rip off a bunch of big hits

for them, because that's the sort of thing that happens for the Orioles.

* SI.com lists the Orioles at No. 13 in their preseason power rankings.

* David Schoenfield of ESPN.com puts the Orioles at No. 9 in his preseason rankings.

The final word: But I'm not a computer! I like the O's to finish above .500. If Machado returns

and Matt Wieters gets back behind the plate on a regular basis, that will help; but even if he

doesn't, Caleb Joseph threw out a league-leading 40 percent of base stealers. They lose Cruz's

power but Davis will have a better year. And, like the Red Sox, maybe the rotation lacks an ace,

but it has depth -- especially if Kevin Gausman can produce 30 starts in his first full season.

Don't sleep on Chris Tillman, who had a 2.33 ERA in the second half with a much-improved

strikeout rate. The defense and bullpen are both solid and no manager is more prepared than

Buck Showalter.

* On Sports on Earth, Castrovince ranks the Orioles at No. 7 to start the season.

PECOTA and ZiPS both have the O's as a sub-.500 team. I'd be more worried about that if they

didn't have the same projection for them a year ago, when they wound up winning 96 games.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-announce-minor-league-coaching-

staffs-for-the-2015-season-20150217-story.html

Orioles announce minor league coaching staffs for the 2015

season

By Dean Jones Jr. / The Baltimore Sun

February 17, 2015

On Tuesday, the Orioles announced their minor league coaching staffs for this season. All of the

managers will return, but some will take on different assignments in 2015.

Triple-A Norfolk's Ron Johnson, Double-A Bowie's Gary Kendall and Low-A Delmarva's Ryan

Minor will continue to manage their current squads, while Orlando Gomez, Luis Pujols and Matt

Merullo will each head to a different level.

Gomez, who managed the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles for the last two seasons, will

take over for Pujols at High-A Frederick. After one season with the Keys, Pujols will head to

short-season Single-A Aberdeen to replace Merullo, who will go to the GCL team after two

seasons with the IronBirds.

New coaches in the organization this season include: Norfolk hitting coach Sean Berry, Bowie

hitting coach Keith Bodie and Delmarva hitting coach Howie Clark.

Also, former Orioles relief pitcher Alan Mills moves from Delmarva to become Bowie's pitching

coach, while Paco Figueroa will head to Frederick to serve as the hitting coach after working in

the same role for Delmarva last season.

Below is the full list of minor league coaches.

Affiliate // League // Manager // Pitching Coach // Field Coach(es) // Trainer/S&C

Norfolk (AAA) // International // Ron Johnson // Mike Griffin // S. Berry/J. Hernandez //

Shires/Howell

Bowie (AA) // Eastern // Gary Kendall // Alan Mills // Keith Bodie // Wesley/Armstrong

Frederick (A) // Carolina // Orlando Gomez // Kennie Steenstra // Paco Figueroa // Poole/Cecere

Delmarva (A) // South Atlantic // Ryan Minor // Blaine Beatty // Howie Clark // Schuler/TBD

Aberdeen (SA) // New York-Penn // Luis Pujols // Justin Lord // Scott Thomas // Guzman/K.

Clark

Gulf Coast (R) // Gulf Coast // Matt Merullo // Wilson Alvarez // Milt May/Ramon Sambo //

Marty Brinker

Dominican (R) // Dominican // Elvis Morel // Dionis Pascual // B. Adames/R. Francisco //

Ludovino Marte

Dominican 2 (R) // Dominican // Nelson Norman // Robert Perez // R. Lubo/R. Caraballo //

Anthony Adames

BALTIMORE ORIOLES 2015 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Director, Player Development // Brian Graham

Director, Minor League Operations // Kent Qualls

Manager, Minor League Administration // Maria Arellano

Coordinator, Player Development // Cale Cox

Administrator, Sarasota Operations // Len Johnston

Director, Pitching Development // Rick Peterson

Coordinator, Minor League Hitting // Jeff Manto

Coordinator, Minor League Catching // Don Werner

Coordinator, Minor League Infield // Kevin Bradshaw

Coordinator, Minor League Outfield and Baserunning // Scott Beerer

Coordinator, Pitching Rehabilitation // Scott McGregor

Coordinator, Florida and Latin America Pitching // Dave Schmidt

Coordinator, Minor League Medical // Dave Walker

Coordinator, Sarasota Strength and Conditioning // Ryan Driscoll

Instructor, Special Assignment // Mike Bordick

Director, Dominican Baseball Operations // Nelson Norman

Director, Dominican Academy // Felipe Rojas Alou, Jr.

Coordinator, Dominican Field // Miguel Jabalera

Administrator, Dominican Academy // Jorge Perozo

Coordinator, Latin American Medical // Manny Lopez

Manager, Minor League Equipment // Jake Parker

Manager, Dominican Equipment // Franklin Garcia

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-thoughts-and-observations-jeffrey-

maier-and-tony-tarasco-miguel-gonzalez-nathan-showalter-20150216-story.html

Orioles thoughts on Jeffrey Maier, Tony Tarasco, Miguel

Gonzalez, Nathan Showalter

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

February 17, 2015

When I saw that the infamous Jeffrey Maier glove -- the black Mizuno used by the 12-year-old

Maier to deflect a fly ball into a homer in Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship

Series at Yankee Stadium -- is being auctioned off this week, I had to laugh.

Every few years that moment comes up again -- one of the most painful in Orioles history. Over

the years, I have gotten to know Maier a little bit; he’s a down-to-earth guy who did what most

12-year-old kids would do -- and many adults -- at a ballgame. He then was feted -- albeit too

much -- in New York while being forever despised in Baltimore. He has handled it all very well

after those first few overwhelming days.

I have talked to Maier several times about his role in that infamous home run by Derek Jeter that

tied the game in the eighth (one the Yankees eventually won in 11), but I had never spoken to

Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco about it until this summer while researching the subject for my

soon-to-be released Orioles book.

All of these years later, Tarasco has an interesting take on that moment. He said he’s a big

believer that things happen for a reason, and he just thinks Jeter and the Yankees were destined

to win. So it wasn’t surprising, in retrospect, that something bizarre helped to trigger the

Yankees’ dynastic run. Something, that is, besides a 12-year-old kid and an umpire who

completely blew the call. All that said, with a smile, Tarasco will tell you that he’ll forever feel

he was robbed.

We’ll never know what would have happened if Tarasco had caught that ball. The Orioles likely

would have won Game 1 and went back to Baltimore 2-0, instead of tied 1-1. The Yankees then

swept all three at Camden Yards, capitalizing on every break on their way to their first World

Series title in 18 years. Starting with 1996, the Yankees won four in five years.

When I last wrote about that incident, back in 2012 when the Orioles returned to the Bronx for a

playoff game, several people -- and at least one museum -- asked me whether Maier still had the

home run ball. The answer: he never had it. After it hit his glove, it caromed away, and a fan in

his section jumped on it. So Maier, who arguably made the most famous home run “catch” by a

fan in baseball history, didn’t actually catch the ball.

** I’m sure many of you can’t wait for the first pictures, stories, blogs and tweets from Sarasota,

Fla., this week. Friday is the first workout for pitchers and catchers.

It’s going to take weeks, but the storyline that most intrigues me is what happens with the six

pitchers for the five-man rotation. These things usually have a way of working themselves out in

the simplest ways. One sore shoulder and there is no longer a logjam.

But if not, I get the sense that Miguel Gonzalez, who has proven his worth as a major league

starter, could be the odd man out. Given the hefty contract Ubaldo Jimenez possesses, he’s going

to get a real shot to seize a rotation spot. And given his unorthodox delivery, he should have

some spring training success against Grapefruit League lineups that aren’t brimming with top

talent. So a solid March for Jimenez buys him some time.

Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman and Wei-Yin Chen all can be sent to the minors without passing

through waivers this year, so that may be one way to lessen the crowded rotation. Chen is the

only left-hander, and Gausman could be the most talented of the group, so Gonzalez could be the

most likely to be sent to Triple-A Norfolk, at least temporarily, until the rotation becomes

clearer. He also could end up in the big league bullpen.

Regardless, that would be a tough conversation for manager Buck Showalter -- and a tough one

for Gonzalez to hear. Gonzalez is a pro’s pro, but he wants to get the ball every fifth day in the

majors. So we’ll monitor that situation throughout the spring. It’s my experience that questions

in February are often answered in March without any tough decisions being made.

** As Fox Sports reported Monday, Showalter’s 23-year-old son, Nathan, has joined the team as

an area scout. It has been in the works since late last year, but only became official recently.

Nathan Showalter scouted for the San Diego Padres in 2014, and had other offers this year, but

his heart was in his father’s organization. He’ll be scouting high school and college players in

North Texas and Southern Arkansas. His father said the region has roughly seven potential first-

rounders in it this year, and so it’ll be a good test for the younger Showalter.

Nathan Showalter also could do some international scouting in the future. He is fluent in

Spanish.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-jeffrey-maiers-infamous-glove-for-sale-

20150216-story.html

Jeffrey Maier's infamous glove from the 1996 AL

Championship Series being auctioned

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

February 16, 2015

The black Mizuno glove that hung over the wall in right field at Yankee Stadium in 1996 and

still lingers in the nightmares of Baltimore baseball fans nearly 20 years later is up for auction.

Yes, Orioles fans, if you want, you can purchase Jeffrey Maier’s infamous glove that turned a fly

ball by Derek Jeter into a home run and perhaps turned the tide of the 1996 American League

Championship Series.

Heritage Auctions, which refers to itself as the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer, is running

an online auction of the glove this week through Friday and a “floor auction” from Saturday to

Sunday (clandestine bids can be placed online to compete with the live auction).

The top bid for the glove was at $13,000 by mid-afternoon Monday.

Maier, who was 12 at the time, has provided notarized authenticity that this was the glove he

used to deflect a fly ball by Derek Jeter into the right-field stands for a game-tying home run in

Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS on Oct. 9. The Orioles ultimately lost the opener in 11 innings and

the best-of-seven series in five games.

Orioles right fielder Tony Tarasco was camped underneath the ball and expected to catch it when

it disappeared from sight on its way down. Tarasco immediately pointed upward at Maier and

then argued with umpire Richie Garcia, who ruled that it was a homer. Replays showed Maier

clearly had reached over the wall to glove the ball.

Maier became an overnight sensation in New York and a pariah in Baltimore. He later went on to

play college baseball and is now a businessman in New England.

The glove does not come with the home run ball, however. Maier actually never caught it; it

caromed off his glove and into the stands where another patron jumped on it.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-looking-a-little-closer-at-arbitration-

hearings-20150215-story.html

There's little risk for Orioles or Alejandro De Aza in

arbitration hearing

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

February 16, 2015

Unless things change dramatically, the Orioles this week will participate in their first arbitration

hearing since 2012, when they were victorious against right-hander Brad Bergesen.

On Friday afternoon, the Orioles and outfielder Alejandro De Aza are expected to present their

cases before a three-person panel in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The sides can still settle heading into the hearing, but the sense is they won’t. So the panel will

choose between De Aza’s submitted figure of $5.65 million and the Orioles’ $5 million.

The club had 11 players that were arbitration-eligible this winter and settled with 10. Six players

exchanged figures with the Orioles and the gap of $650,000 with De Aza was the second-

smallest. And yet they didn’t settle with him. (Ryan Flaherty had the smallest disparity of

$600,000, but that represented a large chunk of what he was asking for -- $1.5 million. He settled

at $1.075 million).

So why didn’t the Orioles just settle with De Aza?

Well, the arbitration game is all about risk.

Steve Pearce, for instance, asked for $5.4 million and the Orioles countered with $2 million – for

what seemed like an insurmountable gap of $3.4 million.

But, in many cases nowadays, the larger the gap the better chance to settle because the risk is

huge. If Pearce goes to a hearing and loses, it’s a $3.4 million verdict for the other side. So he

and the Orioles met in the middle, and he agreed to a $3.7 million deal – which, based on the

season he had in 2014 and the struggles he’s had to stay healthy in the big leagues in his career –

can be viewed as a victory for both sides.

If De Aza loses, it’s a $650,000 drop – a lot of money for the regular worker but not nearly as

significant for someone who will make $5 million in 2015 anyway.

There used to be a stigma with players going to arbitration hearings – basically, the team will

mention a laundry list of negatives to explain why a player shouldn’t get paid what he thinks he

is worth. And there was a sense that could affect a player’s performance in the upcoming season.

Former baseball executive Andy MacPhail never once took a player to arbitration in his career

with the Orioles, Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins. He didn’t like the message it sent.

But with all the criticism players deal with nowadays, listening to negatives in a hearing just

doesn’t seem to be as much of a concern in 2015. Current Orioles executive vice president Dan

Duquette doesn’t have a problem with it. This is likely the second case under his watch to go to

arbitration in four offseasons.

Overall, the Orioles have been tremendously good in arbitration hearings over the years. Since

Peter Angelos took over the team in 1993, the club is 9-1; losing only to Ben McDonald and his

agent, Scott Boras, in 1995. Since club general counsel H. Russell Smouse took over lead in the

proceedings, the Orioles are 7-0.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-minor-leaguers-from-boston-0216-

20150215-story.html

Orioles becoming attractive spot for former Boston Red Sox

prospects

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

February 15, 2015

The Orioles' reputation for utilizing every bit of organizational depth to the major league club's

advantage is a welcome change for a set of newcomers who came from the Boston Red Sox

system, where minor league prospects move slowly and only a select few get a chance at the

highest level.

"You almost have to put up video game numbers to get noticed," right-hander Jason Garcia said

at Orioles FanFest. "I have noticed a lot of guys who are in the minor leagues get away from the

organization and get their shot up there."

Luckily for Garcia, he and several former Red Sox prospects — including outfielder Alex

Hassan and catcher Ryan Lavarnway — arrived in Baltimore this winter, a land of opportunity

by comparison. Perhaps none will have more eyes on them than the youngest of the group,

Garcia.

Drafted at age 17 in 2010 out of Land O' Lakes, Fla., Garcia ascended to full-season ball at Low-

A Greenville by 2012, his age 19 season. But he had a 6.16 ERA as a starter that year and made

just nine appearances a year later before undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery.

When Garcia returned in 2014, he struck out more than a batter per inning in 14 appearances, but

saw his velocity jump from the low-90s to the mid-to-upper 90s when he moved to the bullpen.

When he was sent to the Fall Instructional League — which he perceived as a minor slight — he

vowed to let loose. There, he struck out 14 of 18 Orioles batters and got on the team's radar.

An explosive young arm like his might have been protected in other organizations, but the Red

Sox don't traditionally dedicate 40-man roster spots to low-minors relievers. Houston selected

him in the Rule 5 draft and traded him to the Orioles, where his name and potential are often

mentioned by executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.

"It is a pretty big jump from A-ball to making the big league club, but seeing that the team has so

much confidence in me kind of helps going into spring training," said Garcia, who must be

returned to the Red Sox if he does not spend the entire season on the Orioles' 25-man roster.

Hassan, claimed off waivers from Oakland two days after the Athletics claimed him from

Boston, made his debut with the Red Sox last June. The 2009 20th-round pick had been close to

the highest level for years.

Hassan made it to Triple-A Pawtucket full-time in 2012, and played there for three seasons,

batting .283 in 263 games at the level during that span. Though Hassan — who lacks power —

initially struggled while attempting to calm down what he admits is a movement-filled swing, he

reverted to his original form and batted .321 in 2013 and .287 last season.

But with trades, free agents and prospect promotions filling the Boston outfield, the Red Sox

deemed him surplus. That the Orioles have developed a reputation for liberally dipping into their

Triple-A roster for reinforcements made Baltimore an appealing destination.

"I'm at a different point in my career," Hassan said at FanFest. "I was with Boston, I was

working my way up, in Triple-A, then finally got to the big leagues.

"I just feel like for where I'm at in my career, it seems like an organization where if you perform,

you're going to get a chance. I'm at the point in my career where I kind of need a chance, so I

think it kind of aligns. It's a good spot for me to end up, and I'm really happy to be here."

Like Hassan, Lavarnway was stuck in something of a Triple-A purgatory. He famously hit a pair

of home runs in the Red Sox's season-ending series in Baltimore in 2011, the culmination of a

meteoric rise through the system for the slugging catcher. The 2008 sixth-round pick from Yale

hit 21, 22, and 32 home runs from 2009 to 2011, but he lost his power stroke upon returning to

the minors in 2012 and hit three home runs in 240 major league at-bats in the past three years.

Like Hassan, Lavarnway bounced around waivers before landing with the Orioles, and he was

outrighted to Triple-A in January. Both he and 2013 Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar, a one-time

Red Sox prospect who in 2009 received a then-club record $1.5 million signing bonus, are

among the Orioles' nonroster invitees to spring training.

Infielder Derrik Gibson, a 2008 second-round pick, joins them in the Orioles' system from

Boston and could serve as minor league depth going forward for the Orioles. With Lavarnway

and Hassan also capable of playing first base, Almanzar, a third baseman, and Gibson at a

middle infield spot, the majority of the Norfolk infield could be played by former Red Sox.

"It's nice to have a little bit of familiarity with some guys coming into a new team," Hassan said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-column-0215-20150214-

column.html

As familiar doubts about the Orioles return, so do the

reasons for optimism

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

February 14, 2015

It's time to jump in the Hot Tub Time Machine and go back exactly one year for a little spring

training perspective.

The Orioles were in camp by now, and the narrative about their offseason and prospects for a

playoff run — minus the Dan Duquette fiasco — was surprisingly similar to that which

surrounds the organization as it prepares to welcome pitchers and catchers to the Ed Smith

Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Thursday.

It is, for lack of a less belabored Yogi Berra-ism, deja vu all over again.

If you scan the various analytics sites on the Web, you'll find the team that reached the 2014

American League Championship Series getting the same tepid evaluations and facing the same

dismal projections it did last year, which I suppose is understandable when you see how little has

really changed year over year.

The parallels are fairly obvious. Duquette took a lot of heat last year when he traded away two-

time major league saves leader Jim Johnson because the club didn't want to pay him the $10

million or so he would have gotten in salary arbitration, a move that is hard to question after

seeing Johnson struggle badly and Zach Britton establish himself as an effective closer.

This year's unsentimental journey took outfielder Nick Markakis, the longest-tenured active

Oriole, to Atlanta when the Orioles balked at giving him a four-year deal worth about $10

million annually. It was announced soon after he signed a slightly larger deal with the Braves

that Markakis would undergo neck surgery to correct the herniated disk that has hindered him the

past couple of seasons. As was the case with Johnson, it'll be a while before we know whether

the Orioles made the right call.

They pretty much ignored their own free-agent class last winter, letting Brian Roberts, Jason

Hammel and Scott Feldman walk while Duquette padded the 40-man roster with marginal

players. The same thing happened this offseason, though the lack of a serious effort to retain club

Most Valuable Player Nelson Cruz and premier setup man Andrew Miller figures to be much

more significant than last year's losses.

The point here is not to say that this year's team is as good as the team that opened the 2014

regular season, only that the makeup of the team that will open spring training this week is very

similar to the one that went through its first workout on Valentine's Day last year.

Of course, that was before Duquette went on a February spending spree that garnered Cruz at a

severely discounted price and — less happily, it would turn out — added veteran right-hander

Ubaldo Jimenez to the starting rotation.

That's why there is some logic to the notion that the Orioles can weather the loss of Cruz and

Miller; they are expecting to have catcher Matt Wieters and third baseman Manny Machado back

from their season-killing injuries, and they have the same bullpen that was more than adequate

before the midseason acquisition of Miller.

The big difference is in the outfield, where Markakis was a fixture and the only thing manager

Buck Showalter needed to figure out was how to fill left field. That situation became clearer with

the arrival of Cruz, but it never was really settled.

Showalter plugged in seven different outfielders in left field over the course of the season, and

might have to do something similar in 2015 unless newly acquired outfielder Travis Snider takes

hold of the job in right and doesn't let go.

It's still possible Duquette has a couple of moves left to make. He has a history of making late

additions to his spring rosters, but the pool of restricted free agents he tapped last February is all

but tapped out this year. He'll have to deal one of his starting pitchers if he wants to acquire a

significant player to deepen the outfield or upgrade the team's on-base potential.

Chances are, what you see on the extended roster is what Showalter will have to choose from

over the next seven weeks, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

The Orioles have a solid rotation, a strong bullpen and a talented offensive nucleus. What they

don't have is the margin for error that Cruz provided with his terrific 2014 season.

This year, they'll have to stay healthy and hope slugger Chris Davis can reconnect with his scary

2013 self to stay in contention in the tough AL East … which is exactly what everyone was

saying a year ago.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-all-star-games-and-conspiracy-theories-

20150214-story.html

With 2017 All-Star Game in Miami, Baltimore's conspiracy

theories need re-examining

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

February 14, 2015

Major League Baseball announced Friday that the 2017 All-Star Game will be held in Miami.

Last month, it announced that the 2016 All-Star Game will be held in San Diego. This year’s will

be in Cincinnati.

That’s three straight National League hosts, the first time in the exhibition game’s history, dating

to 1933, that one league has been skipped three straight years.

Heading into 2015, back-to-back All-Star games held in cities in the same league had happened

twice: in 1950 and 1951, to best fit with a city celebration in Detroit, and in 2006 and 2007, so

that Yankee Stadium could hold the event in its last season, in 2008.

That’s it, folks. Never three in a row, and rarely two in a row.

So why will it be different in the next three seasons?

MLB says the All-Star Games have gone to the many new and deserving parks in the NL; only

one park in the American League never has been host, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.,

which is not exactly a place you want to showcase.

That is supposed to be the only reason, according to MLB.

And before we get into conspiracy theories, Toronto and Oakland have gone longer without

hosting an All-Star Game than Baltimore. Oakland’s stadium situation is still a mess, but Rogers

Centre is a solid place and Toronto is a wonderful city. The city is deserving of its first

midsummer classic since 1991.

OK, now to the snub of Camden Yards, which hasn’t hosted since 1993, the year after it opened.

It is widely considered one of the best ballparks in baseball and a trendsetter for all of the retro,

downtown parks that followed. It also hosts a resurgent team that has a re-energized fan base.

So I’m not buying what MLB is selling: the idea that the Orioles’ legal entanglement over Mid-

Atlantic Sports Network TV-rights fees with the Washington Nationals and MLB is not at least a

contributing factor to their wait to host the All-Star Game again. That just doesn’t ring

completely true to me.

To be clear, getting the All-Star Game is more about civic pride than extra cash flow. So it’s not

as if the commissioner’s office would hold the All-Star Game hostage until Orioles managing

partner Peter G. Angelos and his family drop their lawsuit. It doesn’t have that kind of juice, not

when millions are at stake annually in the MASN dispute.

But the All-Star Game is perceived as a reward to a city and franchise. And it’s not a stretch to

say that MLB will not be doing the Orioles any favors until the MASN situation is resolved.

What will be most interesting is what happens for 2018 and 2019. Washington deserves an All-

Star Game, too, but if it gets one, will that keep Baltimore from landing one the following (or

preceding) year? Normally, venues so close don’t receive consideration in consecutive years.

New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said recently that he is OK with that scenario, since he

views Washington and Baltimore as different markets.

Of course, outgoing commissioner Bud Selig said the same thing a few months ago, when he

also said he wanted to keep the All-Star Game alternating between AL and NL cities.

That won’t happen for the next three seasons, although the AL in 2016 will bat last, even with

the game played in an NL park. That’s supposed to prove the MLB is being fair.

I’m not sure that “fairness” resonates throughout the entire country, though.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109591340/orioles-on-verge-of-signing-everth-cabrera-to-

one-year-deal

Orioles on verge of signing Cabrera to one-year deal Veteran infielder likely to compete with Flaherty, Schoop for second-base job

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 18, 2015

The Orioles are on the verge of signing infielder Everth Cabrera to a one-year deal, a source

confirmed to MLB.com. Cabrera, who has already taken his physical, will be part of the O's 40-

man roster, and he presents a speedy option that could alter how the club breaks camp.

The Orioles haven't confirmed the deal.

With 99 steals in the past three seasons, Cabrera has played predominantly shortstop over his

Major League career, though he has also played a dozen games at second base. While J.J.

Hardy is firmly entrenched at shortstop, Cabrera could vie for the second-base job or the utility

infielder role, making for an interesting competition with him, Ryan Flaherty and Jonathan

Schoop.

Cabrera owns a career .248/.319/.333 line in six Major League seasons, and he could also be a

leadoff option for the O's, who have been looking to fill the spot since losing Nick Markakis.

A former National League All-Star who was non-tendered by the Padres this winter, Cabrera

doesn't come without some concerns. Besides being a player implicated -- and suspended -- in

the Biogenesis scandal, the 28-year-old is facing a pending misdemeanor charge for resisting

arrest during a Sept. 3 incident.

On that day, Cabrera was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana

and was also cited for possession of the drug. If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail.

Cabrera has pleaded not guilty and the trial is set for mid-April.

The O's, particularly under manager Buck Showalter, haven't been afraid to take on players that

come with baggage. Last season, they added Nelson Cruz and Delmon Young, and they both

flourished in the clubhouse and on the field. Baltimore re-signed Young this winter, while Cruz

signed a four-year, $58 million deal with the Mariners on Dec. 4.

Cabrera played in 90 games last season, twice going on the disabled list for hamstring issues.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109511454/trio-expected-to-make-up-for-baltimore-

orioles-losses

Trio expected to make up for O's losses Baltimore needs big production out of Machado, Wieters and Davis in 2015

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 17, 2015

BALTIMORE -- It will be a tough task to replace both Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis in 2015,

but the Orioles are relying on having a healthy Manny Machado and Matt Wieters. While

Machado will be a full go in Spring Training, Wieters will be watched carefully, with the O's

hopeful he will be available for Opening Day.

Slugger Chris Davis will also be counted on to bounce back after a disappointing 2014 season

that ended with a 25-game suspension (the suspension will finish on Opening Day). At the top of

the order, Alejandro De Aza has the most leadoff experience and is a top candidate to take over

for Markakis there, while Steve Pearce is coming off a career year. J.J. Hardy seemed confident

at last month's FanFest that he would return to form offensively, and Jonathan Schoop should be

more consistent in his sophomore season.

The rotation has six guys for five spots right now, and Ubaldo Jimenez will be watched closely

this spring. Signed to a four-year deal last year, the O's can't just give up on Jimenez -- who was

removed from the rotation down the stretch -- after one bad season. So, expect him to get another

shot. Still, Kevin Gausman has made great strides, and it will be tough if he has a great spring to

not list him among the Orioles' top five starters.

It's very early, and a lot can happen between now and the start of the season. Below are some

very preliminary projections, including a projected lineup against right-handed pitching. Delmon

Young, who re-signed with the O's on a one-year deal, is expected to be in the lineup regularly

against left-handers.

2014 record

96-66, first in the American League East

Projected batting order

1. LF De Aza:

.252 BA, .314 OBP, .386 SLG, 8 HR, 41 RBI in 2014

2. 3B Machado:

.278 BA, .324 OBP, .431 SLG, 12 HR, 32 RBI in 2014

3. CF Adam Jones:

.281 BA, .311 OBP, .469 SLG, 29 HR, 96 RBI in 2014

4. 1B Davis:

.196 BA, .300 OBP, .404 SLG, 26 HR, 72 RBI in 2014

5. DH Pearce:

.293 BA, .373 OBP, .556 SLG, 21 HR, 49 RBI in 2014

6. C Wieters:

.308 BA, .339 OBP, .500 SLG, 5 HR, 18 RBI in 2014

7. SS Hardy:

.268 BA, .309 OBP, .372 SLG, 9 HR, 52 RBI in 2014

8. RF Travis Snider:

.264 BA, .338 OBP, .438 SLG, 13 HR, 38 RBI in 2014

9. 2B Schoop:

.209 BA, .244 OBP, .354 SLG, 16 HR, 45 RBI in 2014

Projected rotation

1. Chris Tillman, 13-6, 3.34 ERA in 2014

2. Wei-Yin Chen, 16-6, 3.54 ERA in 2014

3. Bud Norris, 15-8, 3.65 ERA in 2014

4. Miguel Gonzalez, 10-9, 3.23 ERA in 2014

5. Gausman, 7-7, 3.57 ERA in 2014

6. Jimenez, 6-9, 4.81 ERA in 2014

Projected bullpen

Closer: Zach Britton, 37/41 saves, 1.65 ERA in 2014

RH setup man: Darren O'Day, 1.70 ERA in 2014

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109524632/lyle-spencer-orioles-darren-oday-tops-among-

baseballs-elite-setup-men

O'Day tops among baseball's elite setup men O's reliever held batters to .089 average with runners in scoring position in '14

By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

February 17, 2015

The toughest relief pitcher in the National League in 2014 with runners in scoring position was

the Reds' Aroldis Chapman. No surprise there. But the man from Cuba with the golden arm

wasn't the No. 1 shutdown artist in the Major Leagues in those game-changing situations.

That distinction belonged to Orioles side-winder Darren O'Day, who has spent his career with

four clubs getting big outs with little fanfare. Such is the life of the relatively unheralded

specialists who work the middle innings into the ninth, keeping things in order for the high-

profile closer to come on and rack up the save.

Part of a deep, resourceful bullpen that has had a major role in the recent success of manager

Buck Showalter's Orioles, O'Day held hitters to an .089 batting average with runners in scoring

position last year. Among relievers working at least 50 innings, Fernando Abad of the A's

(.100), Brett Cecil of the Jays (.120), the Mariners' Tom Wilhelmsen (.125) and the

Yankees' Dellin Betances (.128) also excelled.

Chapman held hitters to a .111 average with men in scoring position to lead the NL, followed by

the Padres' Joaquin Benoit (.114), the Pirates' Jared Hughes(.127) and the Brewers' Francisco

Rodriguez (.143).

Dealing for the American League champion Royals in front of dominant closer Greg

Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera brought a new level of respect to setup men last

season. When Rodriguez produced his record 62 saves for the 2008 Angels, he shared credit

with Scot Shields, master of the eighth inning.

A look of some of the game's elite setup artists:

O'Day, Orioles

K-Rod's Angels teammate as a rookie in 2008, intently studying the work habits of Shields

and Darren Oliver, O'Day embodies the workmanlike nature of a reliever in the shadows. O'Day

busted out in 2009 with the Rangers after pitching four games for the Mets, who'd claimed him

from the Angels in the Rule 5 Draft. A waiver claim by the Orioles after the 2011 season, O'Day

has been a rock (17-6, 2.05 ERA, 0.941 WHIP) for three seasons.

Among all setup and middle relievers over the past six years with at least 300 total innings,

O'Day is the leader in ERA at 2.18 across 335 innings. His .200 batting average allowed is

surpassed only by Tyler Clippard's .183 and Benoit's .191. The native Floridian has shown that

you don't have to throw 95-100 mph to excel; you can do it with movement, command and guile.

Luke Gregerson, Astros

Like O'Day, Gregerson doesn't blow up any radar guns with his upper-80s fastball, but his killer

slider and ability to keep the ball down in good spots have enabled him to lead the Majors in

holds with 154 in his six seasons. Durable and consistent for five years in San Diego before

moving to the A's last year, Gregerson signed a free-agent deal with a Houston club in dire need

of quality relief. His 1.078 career WHIP and 2.75 ERA averaging 72.5 appearances should make

him an ideal complement to Pat Neshek, another proven reliever.

Clippard, Athletics

The NL holds leader three times with the Nationals, Clippard brings his wicked changeup and

splitter along with a 91-93 mph fastball to Oakland in a deal sending infielder Yunel Escobar to

Washington. Only Gregerson has more holds than Clippard's 150, and he has been the most

durable pitcher in this category with 453 2/3 innings since 2009, with a WHIP of 1.084 and 2.88

ERA.

Joel Peralta, Dodgers

Another setup man on the move, Peralta goes from the Rays to the other sunshine coast to help

mend a bullpen that faltered for the Dodgers last summer. Peralta is third in the Majors in holds

the past six seasons with 130, and he has held hitters to a .205 batting average. He's no kid,

turning 39 two weeks before Opening Day, and his 4.41 ERA last year is a concern. But Peralta

has a track record, and the Dodgers' new front-office minds know him well from their Tampa

Bay days.

Joe Smith, Angels

In the O'Day mold, keeping hitters off-balance with his finely tuned stuff and deception, Smith is

no ordinary Joe setting up for Huston Street, to form a shutdown duo manager Mike Scioscia can

compare to Shields and K-Rod. Eighth in the Majors in holds with 135 in his eight seasons --

including two with the Mets and five with the Indians -- Smith had his best year in 2014. Closing

capably before Street was acquired from the Padres, Smith delivered career bests in innings (74

2/3), ERA (1.81) and WHIP (0.804). Over his career, he has held hitters to a .219 batting

average.

Matt Thornton, Nationals

Since 2005, his first full season in the Majors with the Mariners before establishing himself as a

White Sox anchor, Thornton is the holds leader with 188 -- 15 more than fellow lefty Scott

Downs, now with the Indians. Dividing his time between the Yankees and Nats in 2014,

Thornton showed he had the goods at 37 with his 1.75 ERA and 1.139 WHIP in 64 appearances.

He figures as a key, if characteristically understated, component on a brilliant pitching staff.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109537282/source-baltimore-orioles-sign-infielder-jayson-

nix-to-triple-a-deal

Source: O's sign infielder Nix to Triple-A deal

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 17, 2015

The Orioles have signed infielder Jayson Nix to a Triple-A deal, MLB.com has learned. The club

has not confirmed. The deal was first reported by CBS Sports.

The versatile Nix will be in big league Spring Training and will make $750,000 should he make

the team.

Nix has played for eight different teams over a seven-year career, including the Royals, Pirates,

and Phillies last year.

The 32-year-old is a career .212 hitter with a .627 OPS.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109521438/baltimore-orioles-set-minor-league-coaching-

staffs-for-2015

Orioles set Minor League coaching staffs for 2015

By Andrew Simon / MLB.com

February 17, 2015

The Orioles revealed the 2015 coaching staffs for their eight Minor League affiliates on Tuesday.

Among the holdovers is Ron Johnson, who returns for his fourth season as manager of Triple-A

Norfolk. Johnson, entering his 22nd season as a Minor League skipper, is 216-216 at Norfolk,

putting him 68 victories shy of matching the Tides' all-time record.

Johnson's staff will include Mike Griffin, back for his sixth straight year as pitching coach and

eighth in the organization. Former big leaguers Sean Berry and Jose Hernandez will serve as

hitting coach and field coach, respectively. Berry spent the past four years as a Minor League

hitting coordinator with the Padres after five as the Astros' hitting coach, while Hernandez is

filling his role for the third straight year.

Other returning managers in the system are Gary Kendall at Double-A Bowie (fifth year) and

former Orioles third baseman Ryan Minor at Class A Delmarva (second year). Orlando Gomez

will move up from the Gulf Coast League Orioles to manage the Class A Advanced Frederick

Keys, while Luis Pujols shifts from Frederick to short-season Class A Aberdeen, and Matt

Merullo from Aberdeen to the Gulf Coast League. Elvis Morel and Nelson Norman will manage

the Orioles' two Dominican Summer League squads.

Baltimore also is bringing back Brian Graham as director of player development (third season),

Rick Peterson as director of pitching development (fourth season) and Jeff Manto as Minor

League hitting coordinator (second season).

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109426636/baltimore-orioles-enter-camp-with-no-plans-

to-regress

Orioles enter camp with no plans to regress After reaching ALCS in 2014, club hopes it will again contend in AL East

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 16, 2015

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles looked around a crowded FanFest last month and it became

apparent: Last year's run to the American League Championship Series stirred up a lot of

excitement in the city. Even a slow offseason, in which the biggest rumor involved executive

vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette, hasn't deterred the O's faithful.

"There's no more passionate, sincere group of fans than the guys we have," manager Buck

Showalter said. "I tell them in the spring, 'When you want to give in and there's some physical

challenges, there's people living and dying with us. You have a real opportunity here.' Nothing

would kick me in the chest more than for us to regress."

To keep improving, the Orioles are relying on the return of their core and a healthy Matt

Wieters and Manny Machado, both of whom are coming off season-ending injuries. Chris Davis,

who will finish his 25-game suspension Opening Day, will be counted on to try to make up for

the loss of Nelson Cruz's bat, while Showalter will have a plethora of outfielders to watch this

spring. How the left- and right-field spots -- after the departure of Nick Markakis -- shake out

will be of particular interest.

So, too, will be the rotation, where the O's return all of their starters and have six guys for five

spots. Can Ubaldo Jimenez bounce back from a frustrating first season with Baltimore? Will this

be the year the O's stop shuttling Kevin Gausman back and forth from Triple-A?

Duquette said the Orioles would still try to add a bullpen arm and a utility infielder. They're also

very intrigued with the pair of pitchers they picked in the Rule 5 Draft, Jason Garcia and Logan

Verrett. And, of course, there is the question of who Showalter will choose to bat leadoff without

Markakis.

Here are some of the notable dates this spring for fans to monitor:

Pitchers and catchers report Thursday

Full squad reports Feb. 24

First Spring Training game Away vs. Tigers, March 3, 1:05 p.m. ET

Opening Day Away vs. Rays, April 6, 3:10 p.m. ET

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109307980/joe-maddon-dave-winfield-honored-with-cal-

ripken-sr-aspire-award

Maddon, Winfield honored with Ripken Sr. Aspire Award Eleventh annual gala in Baltimore celebrates Cubs manager, Hall of Famer

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 14, 2015

BALTIMORE -- New Cubs manager Joe Maddon joked Friday night that he better get used to

this cold. The former Tampa Bay Rays manager braved the chilly temperatures in Baltimore

where, along with Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, he was honored with the Aspire Award at the

Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation's 11th Annual Aspire Gala.

Maddon, who spent nine years with Tampa Bay, graciously accepted the award and was

extremely appreciative of all the assistance the Ripken Foundation, represented by Cal Ripken,

Jr. Friday night, has given to his Hazleton Integration Project.

The Aspire: A Tribute to Life's Coaches is an annual fundraising event to support the Cal

Ripken, Sr. Foundation and its programs. The event draws more than 800 attendees with

numerous celebrity guests to honor notable figures in business, entertainment and sports. The

Aspire Gala has grown in scope each year, and it has now become one of the largest single-day

fundraising events in Maryland, raising $2.3 million in 2014.

Ripken, Jr. said attracting people like Maddon and Winfield is part of what keeps the event

growing year to year, and he was humbled by how the foundation has grown from helping

several children to a regional and national level.

Founded in 2001, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has impacted over 800,000 kids nationwide

through its Youth Development Park initiative and Badges for Baseball programming.

In addition to Winfield and Maddon's awards, distinguished attorney, diplomat and Army Air

Force veteran George W. Haley was honored with the Cal, Sr. Award.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/109193878/for-os-to-fly-high-4-prospects-could-be-key

For Orioles to fly high, 4 prospects could be key Bundy, Harvey among promising talent primed to make difference in organization

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

February 13, 2015

BALTIMORE -- MLB.com continues its preview series in anticipation for Spring Training by

looking at some prospects to watch. The Orioles didn't make a lot of offseason moves and are

banking heavily on their core players to perform as well as the development of some of their

most promising prospects. Here are a few Minor League players to keep an eye on this season.

OF Dariel Alvarez: Considered a fantastic defender with a plus arm, Alvarez's time in

Baltimore is coming soon. The Cuban prospect is highly regarded within the organization and all

eyes will be on him this spring.

RHP Dylan Bundy: Expected to be fully healthy in Spring Training after spending last year's

Minor League season coming back from Tommy John surgery, Bundy is ranked No.20 on

MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list. The right-hander is a former top Draft pick and could help

the Orioles this season.

O's prospects looking to 2015

RHP Hunter Harvey: Harvey also made MLB.com's Top 100 list, at No. 41, and he was

dominant in his first pro season. The son of former All-Star closer Bryan Harvey was named a

South Atlantic League All-Star and pitched in the Futures Game. His season ended early,

however, due to a strained right flexor mass in his right elbow in July. Like Bundy, Harvey was

also given a clean bill of health this winter.

1B Christian Walker: Walker made his Major League debut last year, and with first

baseman Chris Davis suspended for Opening Day, he has an outside chance of making the

Orioles coming out of camp. Even if he doesn't, the young infielder is on the team's radar.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/orioles-nearing-deal-with-everth-

cabrera.html

Orioles nearing deal with Everth Cabrera

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 18, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are close to signing free agent shortstop Everth Cabrera to a

one-year deal, according to sources. A few issues need to be resolved before it becomes official.

Cabrera has taken his physical, but that's not the only holdup.

Cabrera, a career .248/.319/.333 hitter in six seasons with the Padres before they non-tendered

him, was charged in November with resisting arrest after being stopped for suspicion of driving

under the influence of marijuana two months earlier. A trial is set for April.

There's more baggage with Cabrera, 28, who was suspended for 50 games in 2013 for his

involvement in the Biogenisis scandal. However, the Orioles took chances on Nelson Cruz,

Delmon Young and Alfredo Aceves in the past few years and went 2-for-3 in those signings.

They've done their homework on him.

The Orioles are looking for a leadoff hitter and Cabrera, a switch-hitter who's represented by the

Boras Corporation, fits the description. He led the National League with 44 stolen bases in 48

attempts in 2012 and has batted first in 231 career games, the most at any spot in the order.

The Padres non-tendered Cabrera after he batted .232/.272/.300 in 90 games. He went on the

disabled list twice with hamstring injuries.

Cabrera has played 461 major league games at shortstop and only 12 at second, but the Orioles

are convinced that he can move around the infield. The question is whether he would have a

greater impact on second baseman Jonathan Schoop or utility player Ryan Flaherty. The Orioles

can't keep both of them if Cabrera makes the club.

"Competition is a good thing," said one official.

Cabrera has a minor league option, which is a huge consideration for the Orioles. He made the

National League All-Star team in 2013. The Orioles like his upside.

Cabrera's pending deal with the Orioles guarantees close to the $2.45 million he made last

season. He's not getting a raise.

The Sun first reported the deal.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/can-janish-win-utility-job.html

Can Janish win utility job?

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 18, 2015

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles should have enough utility infielders after yesterday's signing of

veteran Jayson Nix to a Triple-A deal with an invitation to spring training. It's time to say

"when."

Nix, who can earn $750,000 if he makes the team, is a career .212/.282/.345 hitter in seven major

league seasons with eight teams and a .259/.330/.415 hitter in 14 minor league seasons. He's a

former first-round pick, which always brings a certain appeal to executive vice president Dan

Duquette

Nix is trying to wrestle the utility role away from Ryan Flaherty, but he's not alone. This isn't a

one-on-one competition. It also isn't a battle royal. There aren't that many candidates.

Rey Navarro agreed to a major league deal in November, but the Orioles view him primarily as a

second baseman despite how shortstop is his natural position. He needs to demonstrate in spring

training that he can bring plus defense as J.J. Hardy's backup. Otherwise, he's ticketed for

Norfolk.

Flaherty has stayed in the majors because manager Buck Showalter trusts his defense at every

infield position.

Paul Janish might be my choice as the dark horse this spring. Showalter already has mentioned

that Janish is an excellent fielder at short, where he's appeared in 344 major league games,

compared to 57 at third and 21 at second. He can really pick it, as they say.

"That's kind of my natural position, but at this point in my career I'm pretty much comfortable

anywhere in the infield," Janish said Monday on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "It

definitely was something that they kind of brought to me, and last year with J.J. having some of

the back issues. ... Obviously, when he's healthy he's going to play pretty much every day, which

is what everybody in Baltimore is hoping. But, yeah, that's kind of my role.

"On a good, winning team you've got to have a guy like that, and fortunately in the past I've had

the chance to be that guy on a few different teams and hopefully get the chance to do it again."

Janish, 32, hit a combined .268/.323/.359 last year in 113 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs

and Triple-A Omaha. Selected by the Reds in the fifth round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft

out of Rice University, Janish is a career .214/.284/.288 hitter in 431 major league games with

the Braves and Reds. He spent 2014 in the minors.

The Orioles signed Janish (pronounced YAN-ish) to a minor league deal in November and gave

him a spring invite.

"It just seemed like a good fit," he said. "I heard a lot of good things about the coaching staff,

and obviously last year was a good run for the team and hoping to do more of the same this year.

For someone like myself, it's hoping to fit in with a guy like Buck who's an old-school mindset

and kind of fits my game. I look forward to getting in with the guys and mixing it up."

Where did Janish get his old-school approach to playing baseball?

"You know, that's a hard thing to pinpoint," he said. "I think it's a little bit how you're raised and

where you grow up, but for me personally, I know playing at Rice, my college coach was an old-

school guy, a guy named Wayne Graham, and he's about as old-school and about as hard-nosed

as they get.

"At that age, that's when a lot of guys get their mentality established and it wasn't really a whole

lot different for me, so I think it's just kind of grandfathered in for me."

Janish is aware of the numbers stacked against him as he tries to win a job. He already did the

math before the Orioles signed Nix.

"At this point in my career, it's one of those things where from my perspective I'm hoping those

things work themselves out," he said. "I know that team has a lot of good chemistry in that

clubhouse and they're big on team guys and that's kind of my mantra, so for me I'm excited about

getting in and mixing in the clubhouse and hopefully being a good fit."

Asked what he brings to the table, Janish talked about his postseason experience with the Braves

and Reds, and understanding his role.

"Fortunately, I've been able to be on some teams that have been good and gone to the playoffs

and done well, and my role on those teams for the most part has kind of been filling in gaps

when guys go down. And over the course of a season, that's kind of an inevitable thing," Janish

said.

"For me, obviously, I'm kind of a defense-first guy and I know that's something Buck preaches

and they're big on that as a coaching staff, and hopefully that's good for me. Being a guy that's

older and has been around, I have the ability to kind of fill in on a moment's notice and sit around

for a week or two if that needs to be the case, and then be ready when called upon, so those

things all combine.

"I think it's a good fit for myself and hopefully the coaching staff sees it the same way."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/os-sign-jayson-nix-to-minor-league-

deal.html

O's sign Jayson Nix to minor league deal (plus Duquette

quotes)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 17, 2015

Executive vice president Dan Duquette had been seeking another infielder to bring to Sarasota

and added one this afternoon, signing Jayson Nix to a minor league deal with an invitation to

spring training.

The Orioles now have 57 players coming to camp, including 16 non-roster invitees.

Nix, 32, was selected in the first round by the Rockies in 2001, and has played seven major

league seasons with eight different clubs and at seven different positions. He is primarily an

infielder, having played 198 games at third, 133 games at second and 89 games at shortstop. He

has also appeared in the outfield 24 times, at designated hitter 20 times and once at first base.

Nix is a career .212/.282/.345 hitter in 466 big league games. He had his worst season to date in

2014, hitting .120/.169/.157 with one homer and four RBIs in 41 games split between the

Phillies, Pirates and Royals.

He has spent his most time with the Yankees, appearing in 161 games from 2012-13. Baltimore

will be his third stop in the American League East, as he played 46 games with the Blue Jays in

2011.

The Nix signing was first reported by CBSSports.com.

Update: Duquette had the following to say about the Orioles' latest addition.

"Nix is a proven professional shortstop and an excellent competitor," he said. "He should add

depth and playoff experience to the club."

Nix has played in nine career postseason games - six with the Yankees in 2012 and three with the

Royals last season.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/mills-moves-up-to-bowie.html

Mills moves up to Bowie (plus full O's minor league staff)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 17, 2015

Former Orioles reliever Alan Mills has moved up two levels in the farm system to become

pitching coach at Double-A Bowie.

Mills continues a climb that began at short-season Single-A Aberdeen, where he spent two

seasons. He served last summer as pitching coach at Single-A Delmarva.

"It's just a job," said Mills, who pitched for the Orioles from 1992-98 and again in 2000-01.

"Wherever I am, it's my job to help them make progress. I really don't focus too much on where I

am or where I'm trying to get. It's something I do.

"I was told that I was going to Bowie and I'm happy."

Part of the joy comes from being reunited with Baysox manager Gary Kendall.

"I get a chance to work with Kendall," said Mills, who's making the drive later today from his

Lakeland, Fla., home to Sarasota for spring training. "He and I have been friends for a long time.

I had a chance to work with him out in the Fall League in Arizona a couple years ago.

"I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season."

Mills ultimately would like to land a job in the majors, but he's not obsessing over it. Each step

he takes in the system is exactly where he wants to be at that moment.

"That would be nice, but a lot of that stuff is out of your control," he said. "If I'm in Bowie and

I'm looking at trying to get to Baltimore, I'm not focused on the job at hand, so to speak.

Wherever I am, whether it's Aberdeen or Bowie or Delmarva or Frederick, that's where my focus

is, and that's the only way I know how to do it. I can't do it any other way."

Mills will get his first chance to work with top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy outside of spring

training.

"He's a talent, that's for sure," Mills said. "I'm looking forward to working with him and whoever

is on that staff. He's a talented individual."

The Orioles announced their minor league staffs earlier today, including the hiring of Sean Berry

as Triple-A Norfolk hitting coach, Keith Bodie as Bowie's hitting coach and Howie Clark as

Delmarva's hitting coach.

Here's the full listing of the Orioles' minor league staff:

Affiliate, League, Manager, Pitching Coach, Field Coach(es), Trainer/S&C

Norfolk (AAA), International, Ron Johnson, Mike Griffin, S. Berry /J. Hernandez, Shires/Howell

Bowie (AA), Eastern, Gary Kendall, Alan Mills, Keith Bodie, Wesley/Armstrong

Frederick (A), Carolina, Orlando Gomez, Kennie Steenstra, Paco Figueroa, Poole/Cecere

Delmarva (A), South Atlantic, Ryan Minor, Blaine Beatty, Howie Clark, Schuler/TBD

Aberdeen (SA), New York-Penn, Luis Pujols, Justin Lord, Scott Thomas, Guzman/K. Clark

Gulf Coast (R), Gulf Coast, Matt Merullo, Wilson Alvarez, Milt May/Ramon Sambo, Marty

Brinker

Dominican (R), Dominican, Elvis Morel, Dionis Pascual, B. Adames/R. Francisco, Ludovino

Marte

Dominican 2 (R), Dominican, Nelson Norman, Robert Perez, R. Lubo/R. Caraballo, Anthony

Adames

BALTIMORE ORIOLES 2015 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Director, Player Development - Brian Graham

Director, Minor League Operations - Kent Qualls

Manager, Minor League Administration - Maria Arellano

Coordinator, Player Development - Cale Cox

Administrator, Sarasota Operations - Len Johnston

Director, Pitching Development - Rick Peterson

Coordinator, Minor League Hitting - Jeff Manto

Coordinator, Minor League Catching - Don Werner

Coordinator, Minor League Infield - Kevin Bradshaw

Coordinator, Minor League Outfield and Baserunning - Scott Beerer

Coordinator, Pitching Rehabilitation - Scott McGregor

Coordinator, Florida and Latin America Pitching - Dave Schmidt

Coordinator, Minor League Medical - Dave Walker

Coordinator, Sarasota Strength and Conditioning - Ryan Driscoll

Instructor, Special Assignment - Mike Bordick

Director, Dominican Baseball Operations - Nelson Norman

Director, Dominican Academy - Felipe Rojas Alou, Jr.

Coordinator, Dominican Field - Miguel Jabalera

Administrator, Dominican Academy - Jorge Perozo

Coordinator, Latin American Medical - Manny Lopez

Manager, Minor League Equipment - Jake Parker

Manager, Dominican Equipment - Franklin Garcia

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/wondering-about-wieters-if-he-isnt-ready-

to-catch.html

Wondering about Wieters if he isn't ready to catch (with

note)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 17, 2015

Has it stopped snowing?

My Southwest flight is listed as questionable. I may need a place to crash, so let me know if

you've got a spare bedroom or an unoccupied couch.

Whatever happened to the Orioles announcing their minor league staffs? I understand that it's not

the kind of news that keeps fans awake a night, but I'm still waiting to cross it off my list.

One of my goals in spring training is to find out whether the Orioles are willing to let Matt

Wieters serve exclusively as the designated hitter if he's not ready to catch on opening day. I've

posed the question to manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette this

winter, but I can't get an answer.

The Orioles didn't let Wieters DH last season because they decided it would hinder his attempts

to rehab his right elbow, which later required surgery. It wasn't going to benefit him to interrupt

his treatments to swing a bat.

Their stance may change this spring if they don't think the at-bats will negatively affect his

elbow. That's what I want to know.

Wieters could start behind the plate on opening day, serve as the DH or go on the disabled list,

backdated as far as Major League Baseball will allow. Those are the three options.

The Orioles will need to carry two other catchers if Wieters remains on the 25-man roster, but

isn't ready to set up behind the plate. Caleb Joseph figures to be one of them, and Showalter

would have to decide between Steve Clevenger, J.P. Arencibia, Ryan Lavarnway and Brian

Ward.

Nick Hundley isn't walking through that door. Neither is Javy Lopez or Ramon Hernandez.

Ward is a defensive specialist, which brings tremendous appeal to Showalter. He would be a

dark horse candidate. No one is talking about him, but it would be a mistake to dismiss his

chances.

Showalter is all about the defense. I'm just not sure about the bass.

Clevenger ended up at Triple-A Norfolk because Showalter preferred the defense provided by

Joseph and Hundley. Arencibia is known for his power and little else. Lavarnway won't win a

Gold Glove unless he's the highest bidder at an auction.

If I'm a catcher in camp, I'm skipping the BP sessions and focusing on my work behind the plate.

That's the way to win a spot on the 25-man roster. A .500 average and tape measure home runs

won't necessarily win you a job.

Carrying the equivalent of a third catcher would complicate Showalter's roster construction.

Who's the odd man out in this scenario?

For the sake of argument, let's say that Wieters is the designated hitter, Alejandro De Aza is the

left fielder, Travis Snider is the right fielder and Chris Davis is the first baseman after serving the

final game of his suspension. Delmon Young and Steve Pearce are extra outfielders and Ryan

Flaherty is the utility infielder. The winner of the backup catcher competition completes the four-

man bench.

How does David Lough fit into this equation?

There's no way that Young and Pearce fail to make the club, and Showalter needs a utility

infielder and backup catcher. Flaherty isn't a lock - Paul Janish is considered a plus defender at

shortstop and he's spent parts of six seasons in the majors - but he's the favorite heading into

camp.

Of course, we're getting way ahead of ourselves here with so many weeks remaining before the

April 6 opener at Tropicana Field, but it gives us something else to talk about as the snow

continues to fall and I try to get to the airport in one piece.

Note: The Orioles and 105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM), the flagship station of the Orioles Radio

Network, have announced a change in the spring training radio broadcast schedule. The March 8

game against the Twins at 1:05 p.m. will replace the March 14 game against the Rays.

The March 14 game will still be televised by MASN as part of its seven-game television

broadcast schedule.

The complete schedule of spring training games to be carried live on 105.7 The Fan is below (all

times ET):

* Wednesday, March 4, Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m.

* Saturday, March 7, Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m.

* Sunday, March 8, at Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m.

* Wednesday, March 11, Toronto Blue Jays, 1:05 p.m.

* Sunday, March 15, at Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m.

* Saturday, March 21, at Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m.

* Sunday, March 22, St. Louis Cardinals, 1:05 p.m.

* Saturday, March 28, at New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.

* Sunday, March 29, Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m.

* Wednesday, April 1, Pittsburgh Pirates, 7:05 p.m.**

* Friday, April 3, Atlanta Braves, 6:05 p.m.**

* Saturday, April 4, at Atlanta Braves, 3:05 p.m.**

** Includes 30-minute pregame and postgame shows.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/maiers-infamous-glove-being-

auctioned.html

Jeffrey Maier's infamous glove being auctioned

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 16, 2015

Should Orioles fans start a collection to buy Jeffrey Maier's glove and burn it in a ceremony on

opening day at Camden Yards?

Just a thought.

Maier's black leather Mizuno glove is up for auction, in case you missed the news. The current

bidding is listed at $13,000.

A small price to pay to watch it smolder.

In case you've been living under a rock, Maier used the glove to deflect Derek Jeter's fly ball to

right field in Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium.

Orioles right fielder Tony Tarasco argued for fan interference - replays showed that Maier

reached over the wall - but umpire Richie Garcia ruled it a home run and later signed autographs

before Game 2.

Probably not his finest moment, but who am I to judge?

Jeter's "home run" off Armando Benitez tied the game in the eighth inning and Bernie Williams'

won it in the 11th with a legitimate shot to left field off Randy Myers. The Yankees took the

series in five games.

Maier, who was 12 at the time, became a hero in New York and something else entirely in

Baltimore.

Heritage Auctions is running an online auction of the glove through Friday and a floor session

Saturday and Sunday. Two notarized letters from Maier attest to the glove's authenticity.

It's not like he'd cheat you.

Maier no longer owns the glove. He sold it to someone who put it up for auction.

Any takers?

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/tillman-leftovers-for-breakfast.html

Tillman leftovers for breakfast

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 16, 2015

If the Orioles are going to add another player to their camp roster before pitchers and catchers

report, it's got to happen within the next few days.

A reliever and utility infielder remained on executive vice president Dan Duquette's shopping list

as he addressed the crowd at FanFest on Jan. 31. He wanted more depth in both areas.

Time also is running out for me to get rid of any items in my refrigerator that will spoil while I'm

gone. I've come home to a few unintended science experiments. No one wants to see 50 shades

of Grey Poupon.

Speaking of leftovers, I've got more quotes from Chris Tillman to pass along.

Tillman has allowed only two stolen bases in 13 attempts since the start of the 2013 season, one

of the qualities that endears him to manager Buck Showalter, who demands that his pitchers

control the running game.

Learn to hold runners, quicken the time to home plate, give the catchers a chance.

"When Buck came, I focused on it," Tillman said. "Before, I didn't really pay all that much

attention to it. Just try to make the best pitch that I can and whatever happens with the runner

happens with the runner. But once he put the video in front of us and the stats in front of us about

runners advancing another 90 feet, as a pitcher that's everything.

"You're trying to limit the baserunners from getting into scoring position and they're a single

away from scoring and I think when you're able to lock down the running game and focus on

making your pitches, it's a whole other tool in the toolbox, especially with the catchers we have.

John Russell is one of the best catching coaches in the game, and working with (Matt) Wieters

and (Nick) Hundley and Caleb (Joseph) last season, we have a lot of stuff on our side."

Hundley is in Colorado, but Joseph could back up Wieters this season.

Tillman is glad that pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti are back in the

fold.

"It's a good feeling," Tillman said. "I felt like coming into spring training last year that I had a

pretty good feel for them. They came out to California, as you all know, to kind of get a feel for

us and us to get a feel for them. I think that was huge.

"Let me tell you, these two guys keep you on your toes every day. They're out there and they do

a good job of keeping it loose as far as the starting staff goes, and I think that goes a long way in

this game.

"It gets stressful, you have your ups and you have your downs, but these guys are nice and

steady. It's a pleasure to be around them."

Tillman feels the same about Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin, who again will

serve as an instructor in spring training.

"They're on the same page," Tillman said. "They're three peas in a pod."

Shameless plug alert: I'm calling into MLB Network's "Hot Stove" show today at 9:15 a.m., and

I'm back in studio tonight for the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan.

I'll gladly take the extra heat with more snow in the forecast.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/another-look-at-the-lineup-and-what-to-do-

with-pearce.html

Another look at the lineup and what to do with Pearce

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 15, 2015

I was messing around with another projected Orioles lineup yesterday during "Wall to Wall

Baseball" on MASN. We had two hours to kill.

Manager Buck Showalter can go in many directions, depending on the opponent's starting

pitcher. Here's one possibility:

Alejandro De Aza LF

Manny Machado 3B

Adam Jones CF

Chris Davis 1B

Matt Wieters C

Steve Pearce DH

Travis Snider RF

J.J. Hardy SS

Jonathan Schoop 2B

I'm fully aware of the free-agent losses this winter, but that's still a nice lineup.

Pearce could move up to the second slot, as Showalter suggested at the Winter Meetings.

Delmon Young will get plenty of starts as the designated hitter and perhaps in right field, where

he's more comfortable than in left.

Any theories on why Young would prefer right to left?

A 12-man pitching staff leaves the Orioles with four players on the bench. Young would be one

of the reserves with the above lineup, along with the backup catcher. David Lough is the favorite

to break camp as an extra outfielder and Ryan Flaherty is the favorite to emerge as the utility

infielder.

We must remember that the opening day roster won't include Davis, who has one game

remaining on his suspension. Someone is going to be on the team for one day before heading to

minor league camp, and Showalter could choose to carry an extra pitcher.

Also, we don't know whether Wieters will begin the season on the roster or the disabled list, and

his absence would bring a major adjustment to the lineup.

Dave Johnson, the former Orioles pitcher and current MASN analyst, wonders whether Pearce

would be better served playing every day at one position. Give him a shot as the full-time right

fielder, for example, instead of moving him around.

While I totally see the logic there, I like the idea of taking advantage of Pearce's versatility by

starting him in left and right field, at first base and as the designated hitter (just not at the same

time). His defense won't hurt you at any position.

Your thoughts?

No matter how it plays out, Pearce will receive plenty of at-bats as long as he isn't sidelined

again by a wrist injury. He's earned them.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/02/davis-shifting-his-strategy-at-the-plate.html

Davis shifting his strategy at the plate

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

February 14, 2015

Major League Baseball has officially awarded the 2017 All-Star Game to the Miami Marlins.

It's also convinced that the Orioles moved back to St. Louis.

That's three straight National League cities, and Washington could make it four in a row in 2018.

However, MLB is trying to be "fair" by alternating which league bats last, since these games

determine home-field advantage in the World Series.

Meanwhile, the scream you heard earlier this week was Ubaldo Jimenez reacting to MLB's

interest in reducing the size of the strike zone.

Cut the guy a break!

Chris Davis would be fine with new commissioner Rob Manfred getting rid of the shift as a way

of increasing run production. It wasn't his friend in 2014.

How many times did Davis line a ball into shallow right field last season, only to walk back to

the dugout in frustration, his average tumbling like my standards at 2 a.m.? An oblique injury

was a mighty contributor to his .196 average. Let's not lay all the blame on the shift. But I lost

count of all the hits that the alignment cost him.

There's one possible solution for Davis, and he's finally on board with it.

"I think there are definitely situations where I need to bunt, and I know there was some

frustration last year obviously with my batting average being as low as it was - not only on my

part but the fan base and maybe even on some of my teammates' part - as far as me hitting into

the shift," Davis said earlier this week on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan.

"First of all, when you're not swinging the bat well and you're kind of trying to find it, for me, I

want to go up there and have an at-bat. I don't want to just lay a bunt down. There were times last

year when I did lay a bunt down, but for me it's really a comfort thing. It's different going out

there and working off a machine or even a BP arm and laying balls down the third base line and

going into a game and doing it. For me, it was just a comfort thing and I have worked on it this

offseason. I've probably worked on it more this offseason than I have in the past. If it's a one-run

game, I'm probably not going to lay one down, but there are situations where unselfishly it's

probably the best thing to do. It's definitely a weapon I can use against other teams.

"I think the biggest thing for me last year was just seeing how drastic the shift was. I remember

when Texas came in, I hit something like three or four balls on a line in the four hole, which is

right over the first baseman's right shoulder. These are balls that most of the time are going to be

singles, if not doubles, and the second baseman caught them at his chest on a line, and I was just

thinking, 'Man, that's not even fair. Those are good hits right there that are being taken away.' "

Few teams employ the shift more than the Orioles. It's become a common move now, and not

just on the right side.

"I think you saw it a lot last year on a wider scale with right-handers as well," Davis said. "In the

past, usually Big Papi, your big left-handed hitters, you'd see them shift a little bit. Jim Thome

was another guy. But last year was the first time I really saw right-handers and left-handers get

shifted and it changed the game. It really did."

Here's my question to you: Should Davis bunt more or is he just playing into the opposing

manager's hands by not being a home run threat?

I say he needs to do it in certain situations. Not necessarily when one swing ties the game, but if

the Orioles need a baserunner, Davis is struggling and the left side of the infield is unoccupied. It

also depends on who's batting behind him in those situations.

Shameless plug alert: I'm making my final in-studio appearance on "Wall to Wall Baseball"

today from noon-2 p.m. before heading to spring training.

And finally, Happy Valentine's Day to the folks who love Hallmark holidays, and Happy 22nd

birthday to my wonderful daughter. So glad report date is later this year and I'm able to spend

part of it with her.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/a-few-notes-on-the-minor-league-staff-

announcements-plus-prospect-notes.html

A few notes on the minor league staff announcements (plus

prospect notes)

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 18, 2015

The Orioles made their minor league managing and coaching assignments official yesterday and

they sure have a solid list of eight managers, counting four at full-season affiliates, two with

short-season clubs and two for their Dominican Summer League teams.

The managers at their top three affiliates either already are or could become the winningest

managers for those teams by the end of 2015.

Ron Johnson, 58, is entering his fourth year as skipper at Triple-A Norfolk. He has a record of an

even 216-216. He is 68 wins shy of matching Gary Allenson's 284 victories for the most in Tides

franchise history. Johnson is the father of Atlanta Braves third baseman Chris Johnson. Beyond

the won-loss record, Buck Showalter often cites Johnson's knowledge and scouting reports on his

players and his honest observations of which can help the Orioles at any given time.

Gary Kendall returns to Double-A Bowie, where he is the longest-tenured and winningest

manager in franchise history. The Baltimore native will begin his fifth season with the Baysox.

He has a 296-271 record and led Bowie to the 2012 Eastern League playoffs. Over the winter,

Kendall was inducted into the Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Sparrows Point High School.

The Frederick Keys' all-time winningest manager, Orlando Gomez, will return as skipper in

2015. Gomez, 68, begins his 51st season in professional baseball and his 11th with the Orioles

organization. Entering his second tour of duty in Frederick, Gomez led the Keys from 2010-

2012, amassing a 214-204 record. The only manager in club history to eclipse 200 wins, he led

the Keys to their last Mills Cup title in 2011. That team went 80-59 for the best record in Keys

history and is the last O's affiliate to win a league championship.

Ryan Minor is returning to manage at Single-A Delmarva with Luis Pujols moving to manage at

short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Matt Merullo moving to manage the Rookie-level Gulf

Coast League Orioles. Nelson Norman and Elvis Morel return to manage the Orioles' two teams

in the Dominican Summer League.

In a few changes in the organization from last year, Denny Walling retired as hitting coach for

Norfolk and has been replaced by Sean Berry. Berry has plenty of experience. He previously

served as minor league hitting coordinator with the San Diego Padres (2011-14) and hitting

coach for the Houston Astros (2006-10).

At Bowie, field coach Butch Davis left the O's after 20 years as a minor league coach to take a

job as first base coach with the Minnesota Twins. The O's hired Keith Bodie to take over at

Bowie. Bodie spent the past 16 seasons with the Houston Astros organization, including the last

three as manager of Double-A Corpus Christie.

At Frederick, coach Torre Tyson did not have his contract renewed and has been replaced by

Paco Figueroa, who moves up from Single-A Delmarva. Last year, the 31-year-old Figueroa

helped Chance Sisco win the South Atlantic League batting title. A former Keys player, Figueroa

hit .284 in 2006 with the Keys and was named a Carolina League midseason and postseason All-

Star.

Dave Anderson, who served as the Orioles' infield instructor for the 2014 season, is now the

manager of Triple-A Salt Lake in the Angels system. He has been replaced by Kevin Bradshaw.

A former minor league player, Bradshaw spent 23 seasons in the Tigers organization, 14 as a

minor league manager.

More prospects news: Meanwhile, FanGraphs has released its list of the top 200 prospects in

baseball. The site stopped ranking after No. 142, saying there is not enough separation to put a

number value on those players up to No. 200 and the remaining were listed as honorable

mention.

FanGraphs ranks pitcher Dylan Bundy at No. 22, pitcher Hunter Harvey at No. 36 and catcher

Chance Sisco at No. 78. They list first baseman Christian Walker, pitcher Zach Davies and third

baseman Jomar Reyes as honorable mention.

Here is a capsule summary of where some outlets have ranked three Orioles recently:

Bundy: * No. 8 by Baseball Prospectus

* No. 20 by MLBPipeline.com

* No. 22 by FanGraphs

* No. 26 by ESPN.com

Harvey: * No. 16 by ESPN.com

* No. 20 by Baseball Prospectus

* No. 36 by FanGraphs

* No. 41 by MLBPipeline.com

Sisco: * No. 78 by FanGraphs

* No. 101 by Baseball Prospectus

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/orioles-announce-minor-league-coaching-

staffs.html

Orioles announce minor league coaching staffs

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 17, 2015

The Orioles announced their minor league coaching staffs today for their affiliates this afternoon.

All six managers for their U.S.-based clubs will return for next year, but a few are with new

teams.

As previously reported here at MASNSports.com, Ron Johnson will return as manager at Triple-

A Norfolk with Gary Kendall at Double-A Bowie, Orlando Gomez at Single-A Frederick and

Ryan Minor returning to Single-A Delmarva. Luis Pujols will manage at short-season Single-A

Aberdeen and Matt Merullo will skipper the O's Gulf Coast League entry.

Nelson Norman and Elvis Morel return to manage the Orioles' two teams in the Dominican

Summer League.

Pitching coach Alan Mills, a former Oriole, is moving from Delmarva to Bowie with Blaine

Beatty moving from Bowie to Delmarva. Mike Griffin returns as pitching coach at Norfolk with

Kennie Steenstra returning to Frederick.

Here is the Orioles' release:

Ron Johnson returns for his fourth season as the manager at Triple-A Norfolk after guiding the

Tides to a 65-79 mark in 2014. The 2015 season will be Johnson's 22nd as a minor league

manager. He has compiled 1,477 career victories (1,477-1,478 overall) and is 68 wins shy of

matching the record for most managerial wins in Tides franchise history after going 216-216

over his first three seasons with the club. Mike Griffin will serve as pitching coach for the eighth

consecutive season in the organization and sixth straight season in Norfolk. Sean Berry will

serve as hitting coach for the Tides in his first season after previously serving as Minor League

Hitting Coordinator with the San Diego Padres (2011-14) and Hitting Coach for the Houston

Astros (2006-10). Former major leaguer Jose Hernandez will serve as field coach for Norfolk for

the third straight season and his sixth year in the organization. Mark Shires enters his 16th year

as an athletic trainer in the Orioles' system and his ninth year at Norfolk. Trevor Howell will

return for his third season in the Orioles' system and second as strength and conditioning coach

for the Tides.

Gary Kendall will return for his fifth season as manager at Double-A Bowie. 2015 will be

Kendall's 16th season in the organization and 12th season as a manager. Former Oriole Alan

Mills moves from Delmarva to Bowie in his fourth season as a pitching coach in the

organization. After 16 seasons with the Houston Astros organization, including the last three as

manager of Double-A Corpus Christie, Keith Bodie will begin his first as hitting coach for the

Baysox. Pat Wesley begins his 12th full season as an athletic trainer in the Orioles' organization.

Strength and conditioning coach Pat Armstrong returns for his fifth year in the organization and

fourth year at Bowie.

Orlando Gomez will manage the Frederick Keys after two seasons with the Gulf Coast League

Orioles and is in his 11th in the organization (ninth as a manager). Kennie Steenstra will serve as

pitching coach, returning for his fourth season with the Keys and his 11th in the organization.

Former Orioles farmhand Paco Figueroa will serve as Frederick's hitting coach after spending his

first season as a professional coach as Delmarva's field coach in 2014. Chris Cecere will serve as

strength and conditioning coach for the Keys in his fourth year in the organization, while Chris

Poole will move from Aberdeen to Frederick to serve as athletic trainer.

Former Orioles third baseman Ryan Minor, who managed Delmarva from 2010-12, will return to

manage the Shorebirds for the second straight season after also piloting the Frederick Keys in

2013. The 2015 season will be Minor's eighth as a coach or manager in the Orioles organization.

Entering his 10th year in the Orioles organization (six with Frederick, two with Bowie, and one

with Delmarva), Blaine Beatty will enter his second year as pitching coach for the Shorebirds

after spending the previous two seasons with the Baysox. Former Oriole Howie Clark enters his

first season as hitting coach for Delmarva. Trek Schuler returns to the Shorebirds, where he spent

the 2001-03 seasons, for his second straight season with Delmarva and 16th season as an athletic

trainer in the Orioles organization.

Long-time major league coach Luis Pujols will manage the Aberdeen IronBirds in 2015 after

managing the Frederick Keys in 2014 and Delmarva Shorebirds in 2013. Pujols will be joined by

pitching coach Justin Lord, who returns for his second season with the IronBirds after spending

the 2013 campaign with Delmarva. Scott Thomas will return for his second season with

Aberdeen to serve as the club's field coach. Brian Guzman will begin his first season with the

IronBirds, serving as athletic trainer, while Kevin Clark will serve as the strength and

conditioning coach with Aberdeen after spending 2014 with Delmarva.

After two seasons with the IronBirds, Matt Merullo will manage the Gulf Coast League Orioles

in 2015. Former major leaguer Wilson Alvarez returns for a third season as pitching coach for

the GCL Orioles. Ramon Sambo returns as the team's field coach and Milt May returns for his

sixth season as hitting coach for the GCL Orioles. Marty Brinker will serve as the athletic trainer

for the GCL Orioles.

Elvis Morel and Nelson Norman will manage the Orioles' two entries in the Dominican Summer

League. They will be assisted by pitching coaches Robert Perez and Dionis Pascual and coaches

Benny Adames (hitting), Ramon Caraballo (field supervisor), Ramon Lubo (catching), and

Ruben Francisco (field coach). Ludovino Marte will serve as athletic trainer for the DSL club,

while Anthony Adames will serve as strength and conditioning coach.

Brian Graham enters his eighth season with the Orioles and third as director of player

development. Rick Peterson will return for his fourth season as director of pitching development,

and Jeff Manto returns for his second year as minor league hitting coordinator.

Don Werner will serve as the minor league catching coordinator, while Kevin Bradshaw will

serve as the minor league infield coordinator, and Scott Beerer will serve as the minor league

outfield and baserunning coordinator. Scott McGregor will spend his 14th year as a coach in the

organization and fourth season as the Sarasota-based rehabilitation coordinator. Dave Schmidt,

in his 18th season in the organization, will serve as the Florida and Latin America pitching

coordinator for the Orioles. In addition to his managerial duties, Nelson Norman remains the

director of Dominican baseball operations for the Birds, while Felipe Alou Jr. returns to serve as

director of the Dominican academy after seven years as coordinator of Dominican operations.

Len Johnston enters his 39th season with the Orioles organization, serving as the administrator

for Sarasota operations. Dave Walker will begin his 13th year as minor league medical

coordinator and 22nd season in the Orioles' farm system. Ryan Driscoll returns for his sixth year

as strength and conditioning coordinator, Sarasota. Jake Parker returns for his sixth season as

minor league equipment manager, while Franklin Garcia will serve as Dominican equipment

manager.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/hearing-from-henry-urrutia-and-tyler-

wilson-plus-some-power-rankings.html

Hearing from Henry Urrutia and Tyler Wilson, plus some

power rankings

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 17, 2015

When we talk about outfielders that could help the Orioles this year, it seems that Henry

Urrutia seldom gets much mention.

But we should not forget that he hit .347 with a .913 OPS at Double-A and Triple-A in 2013, and

.276 with the Orioles in 58 at-bats. He was named the O's minor league Player of the Year that

season.

But last year was a setback for him.

Urrutia underwent sports hernia surgery. He was out from April 28 to July 5 and was limited to

51 games at Norfolk, where he hit .270 with no homers and 17 RBIs.

He did hit .303 in 122 at-bats after his return, but he said dealing with the injury made for a long

and trying 2014 season.

"I just played for like 50 games," Urrutia said. "The last month, I was feeling a lot better after the

surgery. But in the end of spring training, I was feeling something, I was not 100 percent. The

first months at Triple-A were terrible for me. So I made the decision to stop and have the

surgery.

"It was the most terrible few months, but now I feel good. Trainers like Dave Walker have really

helped me and I feel good. I'm very excited for this spring. I think it's a big opportunity for me

and I'm working hard."

Urrutia's work includes looking to add some power to his game and working to improve his

defense.

"I'm working hard on my defense every day," he said. "Been working with a Dominican trainer

and coach every day - on everything. If I want to play in the big leagues, I have to do perfect. It

is not all about hitting, it is everything."

By the way, Urrutia answered every question during this interview by speaking very

understandable English. He previously used an interpreter and has worked hard to improve his

speaking skills. He's come a long way and should get credit for that.

I interviewed Urrutia recently when he appeared at a Bowie Baysox event. Pitcher Tyler

Wilson was at the same event. The right-hander was the Orioles' 2014 minor league Pitcher of

the Year after going a combined 14-8 with 3.67 ERA between Bowie and Norfolk.

Last month, Wilson attended the Orioles minicamp in Sarasota, Fla., where he got to meet with

pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.

Was this his first chance to get some face time with the O's pitching brass?

"Maybe for an extended period of time, definitely," he said. "With Dave and Dom being new last

year, this was the first time I got to talk to them about a pitching plan and how I identify myself

as a pitcher and my routine. That was extremely beneficial.

"They wanted to know how I go about my work and what I do between starts. But they also

wanted to get to know who I am as a person, about my personal life, where I am from and what

I'm hoping to accomplish. They definitely are on top of things and are great guys to be around."

Added to the 40-man roster in November, Wilson will be among the O's pitchers and catchers

reporting to spring training this week. He knows the O's staff is pretty crowded right now and

he's a long shot to make the team come opening day. But there is still a lot for him to gain over

the next few weeks.

"My goal is to go in and enjoy it," he said. "To take every day as an opportunity to learn

something, to improve on certain aspects of my game and be around all those guys for an

extended period of time.

"Until the day comes where I am in the big leagues, this is my best chance to be around guys that

have all that major league experience and know what it takes to get there, stay there and win at

that level. I'll go in open-minded, keep my mouth shut and listen to what everybody has to say."

Wilson and three of his minor league teammates are now on the Orioles' 40-man roster, as

pitchers Oliver Drake, Eddie Gamboa and Mike Wright were also added this winter.

"It is awesome. Having gone through the system with those guys and see how they handle

themselves, it is awesome to see someone get rewarded for that," Wilson said. "I'm grateful for

that myself and excited for those guys as well. Those are my friends. Been through the trenches

with them."

Here are some MLB power rankings:

* Sportsonearth.com has the Orioles at No. 7.

* ESPN.com's David Schoenfield has the Orioles at No. 9.

* SI.com has the Orioles at No. 13.

Here are over/under win totals from Bovada:

Los Angeles Dodgers - 92½

Washington Nationals - 92½

Los Angeles Angels - 89½

St. Louis Cardinals - 88½

Boston Red Sox - 86½

Seattle Mariners - 86½

San Diego Padres - 85½

Detroit Tigers - 84½

San Francisco Giants - 84½

Cleveland Indians - 83½

Pittsburgh Pirates - 83½

Baltimore Orioles - 82½

Chicago Cubs - 82½

Toronto Blue Jays - 82½

Chicago White Sox - 81½

Miami Marlins - 81½

New York Mets - 81½

New York Yankees - 81½

Oakland Athletics - 80½

Kansas City Royals - 79½

Milwaukee Brewers - 78½

Tampa Bay Rays - 78½

Cincinnati Reds - 77½

Texas Rangers - 77½

Houston Astros - 74½

Atlanta Braves - 73½

Arizona Diamondbacks - 71½

Colorado Rockies - 71½

Minnesota Twins - 70½

Philadelphia Phillies - 68½

He nailed it with this story: ESPN's Tim Kurkjian does a wonderful job explaining the

relationship between Buck Showalter and Adam Jones in this story. I can remember Showalter

telling me years ago that he told Jones that if he wanted to be a leader on this team, he needed to

bring his best game every day. The effort cannot be questioned. Jones does bring that every day

and it is a big part of what the Orioles are all about.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/a-few-questions-with-spring-training-a-

few-days-away.html

A few questions with spring training a few days away

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 16, 2015

While Orioles fans freeze in the Baltimore area, the sun and warmth of Sarasota is calling.

Spring training begins this week.

Almost time to play ball.

Orioles pitchers and catchers report to Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday with their first workout

set for Friday. Position players join them for the first full-squad workout on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The first exhibition game is March 3 and the season opener is April 6 in St. Petersburg against

the Tampa Bay Rays.

So with the sound of the crack of the bat set to return, here are five questions facing the Orioles

over the next few weeks:

* How do you get six starters down to five?

This is a big one to be resolved in Sarasota. The old baseball axiom that "things have a way of

working out" may be what happens here, but how will it get worked out? It would only take one

injury to make this five for five spots, but no one wants that, of course.

Ubaldo Jimenez should not be handed a job based on his salary, but he also can't be optioned. If

healthy, he has to break north with some role on this club.

By the way, four of the six starter candidates do have options left: Kevin Gausman, Miguel

Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris.

* Who will get the playing time in left field and right field?

Is Alejandro De Aza going to get most of the starts in left and Travis Snider in right? Will there

be some platooning out there? Earlier, I wrote that four or five players, including Steve Pearce,

David Lough and Delmon Young, will all likely get 350-400 or more at-bats in some sort of time

share. I'm expecting to see Buck Showalter do his thing - mixing and matching his talent to its

best use, especially at these two positions.

Also will someone like Nolan Reimold or Alex Hassan surprise and get more time than

expected? Will one of the Cuban duo of Dariel Alvarez and Henry Urrutia impact the roster

much this year?

* Will Manny Machado and Matt Wieters be ready for opening day?

Of the two, Machado seems more likely to be ready. I don't think the Orioles acquired Ryan

Lavarnway and J.P. Arencibia only to compete for the backup catcher's job. They are also

insurance if Wieters is not ready come April 6. Plus Steve Clevenger remains on the 40-man

roster.

* What happens come July?

The Orioles have 11 players that can be free agents at the end of this year. That list includes

Norris, Chen, Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter, Ryan Webb, Wesley Wright, Chris Davis, Wieters,

De Aza, Pearce and Young.

If the Orioles get off to a poor start and are not contending by July, will there be a big sell-off of

these players? What if the team is on the fringe of contending? The July trade deadline will

likely be the O's last chance to get more than a draft pick for any of these players unless some

clear waivers and can be traded after July 31.

* Which team will provide the biggest threat to the Orioles' push to repeat as American

League East champion?

Toronto could be that team. They have a mix of vets and youngsters in the rotation and added

Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson to an already powerful lineup. The Yankees have plenty of

question marks that start with Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia atop their rotation. The Red

Sox have added Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval as they try for another worst-to-first climb.

Tampa Bay should again have a strong rotation with plenty of question marks on offense.

At least soon we get to see and talk about the Orioles back on the field again.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/with-scoring-down-mlb-officials-take-a-

close-look-at-the-sport.html

With scoring down, MLB officials take a close look at the

sport

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 15, 2015

Under new commissioner Rob Manfred, it sure looks like Major League Baseball officials are

going to take a long and thorough look at the sport with the decline in offense in recent years.

The average big league team scored 4.07 runs per game last year, the lowest in a non-strike year

since 1976, when it was 3.99. The Orioles averaged 4.35 runs per game last year, by the way.

Average MLB runs per game through the years:

4.07 - 2014

4.81 - 2004

4.92 - 1994

4.26 - 1984

4.12 - 1974

Along with that, more players are striking out than ever before at 7.73 for every nine innings.

That number was 7.13 in 2010 and 2011, 7.56 in 2012 and 7.57 in 2013.

So we are seeing less contact and fewer runs than we have in a long time. Is this something that

baseball has to fix and how should the sport's leaders go about doing so?

Manfred raised eyebrows when, in his first day on the job, he talked about looking at eliminating

defensive shifts. That seems extreme and very unlikely to happen.

But we could see another potential change that might help the batters and that would be the

reshaping the strike zone, as officials are concerned that too many low strikes are being called.

According to the rule book the strike zone is defined this way:

That area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between

the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the

hollow beneath the kneecap. The strike zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the

batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.

According to Jon Roegele of Hardball Times, the average size of the strike zone was 475 square

inches last year. That was up from 436 inches in 2010 and 456 inches in 2012.

You take that stat, along with the increased emphasis in the game on velocity and on a strong

back end of the bullpen with flame-throwers, and it may be tougher on hitters now than at any

time in the history of the sport.

Wasn't it just yesterday that teams were bashing baseballs in the steriod era?

But at a time when MLB scoring is down, revenues and attendance are up and very healthy. Last

year two American League teams drew 3,000,000 or more fans and 10 drew 2,000,000 or more.

In the National League, three teams topped 3,000,000 and 14 drew 2,000,000 or more. That is 24

MLB teams that topped 2,000,000 in attendance last year, including the Orioles, who ranked

sixth in the AL at 2,464,000.

Along with strike zone and defensive shifts, MLB's brass is also looking into pace of game

issues. They want to reduce the time of the games.

But if the revenue and attendance in the sport is healthy right now, are MLB officials fixing

problems that are not really there? Are they overthinking it right now?

What is your take?: Is the decreased scoring an issue for fans? Should MLB officials look to

reshape the strike zone? What about the length of games? What changes, if any, does baseball

need to take a look at over the next few years?

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/02/manny-machado-is-not-a-top-10-mlb-

third-baseman-right-now-at-least-on-one-list.html

Machado is not one of top 10 third basemen, according to

one list

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

February 14, 2015

Nothing can stir up an Orioles fan like a perceived slight about their team or their players. So it

was this week when some fans reacted to me via Twitter, upset that Manny Machado did not

make MLB Network's list of "The top 10 third basemen right now."

The shredder, the formula used by the network, is not as big of a fan as last year when Machado

was ranked No. 10.

But coming off a season where Machado played just 82 games and then had a second knee

surgery, this is probably fair. For now anyway.

We all know a healthy Machado is a potential big-time talent. We saw that in 2013 when he

batted .283 with a league-leading 51 doubles, 14 homers and 71 RBIs.

He was in the top 10 in the American League in hits (sixth), multi-hit games (seventh), extra-

base hits (tied for seventh) and total bases (10th). He made his first All-Star team and won a

Gold Glove and Platinum Glove as the best fielder at any position in the AL.

He began that 2013 season at age 20 and ended it at 21. He begins this season as a 22-year-old

potential superstar.

But now Machado has a few things to prove. That he can play well on two surgically repaired

knees is one. This is a big one. The game is filled with talented players whose bodies betrayed

them. Until Machado plays at a high level for an extended time, we won't know for sure about

his health. It seems there is a good chance Machado is going to be just fine. But until we see that,

we don't know for sure.

Machado also still may have some repair work to do after his bat-throwing incident and five-

game suspension from last June against Oakland. That was not a good weekend for the Orioles'

young star, who seemed to have a short fuse for a few games.

Machado later apologized for his actions. It seems most if not all O's fans have accepted that and

are happy to move on and give the kid a second chance. But around baseball, he still may have

some repair work to do and no doubt he can get that done.

Moving forward, it is a good question to ponder: What is the ceiling for Machado on offense?

Will all those doubles turn into more homers as he gets more experience and gets bigger? Will

his low OBP get better over time? Is he a future .300 hitter?

Keep in mind that Machado's career average in the minor leagues is .269 and he has not had an

OPS over .800 at any level since he played for Single-A Delmarva in 2011.

But he has also been much younger than league average in just about every league he's played in

since the day the Orioles selected him third overall in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Machado has shown improvement over his three big league seasons. His OBP has increased

every year, from .294 in 2012 to .314 in 2013 and to .324 last year. His OPS has also trended up,

from .739 to .746 to .755, and his OPS-plus has gone from 98 to 102 to 113.

Some see his future and get blinded by how bright it looks. Some see a potential perennial All-

Star and MVP candidate.

On another Machado topic, when is the right time for the Orioles to talk with him about a long-

term contract? For me, that time is not now. For one, Machado is not even arbitration-eligible

yet. He cannot be a free agent until after the 2018 season. He has at least four more years

wearing O's colors.

Maybe Machado needs to prove he can play healthy and as well as he did in 2013 prior to his

first procedure before the club approaches him about an extension. Even if the Orioles wait until

next winter, Machado will still be three years from free agency then. There is plenty of time for

that. No need to rush into anything.

So what is your take on Machado going forward? How good can he be on offense? Any concerns

over the knee surgeries? What about a contract extension?

http://www.masnsports.com/orioles-buzz/2015/02/orioles-partnership-with-sarasota-county-

proves-valuable-for-both-parties.html

Orioles' partnership with Sarasota County proves valuable

for both parties

By Olivia Witherite / MASNsports.com

February 17, 2015

While the Orioles' location of spring training operations in Sarasota County began as a back-up

plan of sorts, it has become a valuable and uniting force between the O's and the county. When

the Orioles failed to lock down a long-term deal with the city of Fort Lauderdale for spring

operations more than five years ago, they began to look west.

"We did the deal (with Sarasota in 2009) because the (Orioles) ownership felt it was such a good

community and such a good fit for the fan base, and it was an equally good fit for the player

development function," Orioles executive vice president John Angelos said in an interview with

PressBox.

And a good fit it has been. While there were many original obstacles or steps to be taken to move

the O's to the Gulf Coast - including more than $31 million of renovations to Ed Smith Stadium,

local government approval, the allure of spring training in Arizona and more - the Orioles have

helped transform tourism and baseball in Sarasota.

Another reason the partnership has been successful is the influence of MASN, according to

Virginia Haley, head of the Sarasota County visitors group.

"Without the opportunities from the Orioles and MASN, we could never afford to advertise

Sarasota to the Baltimore-Washington market. That's an expensive market," Haley told

PressBox. "The partnership with the Orioles has driven traffic to our website, visitation has

grown and it's not just for the time that there's spring training."

Since the Orioles first started operations in Sarasota, the county has seen a huge growth in

tourism, game attendance and more.

Some O's fans, since learning to love Sarasota after attending spring training games, are even

looking to purchase homes in the county.

"I think my wife and I will take a look," Towson, Md., resident Bill Jones told PressBox. "They

have some of the best beaches in the world, good restaurants, there's a good amount of cultural

activity, including the performing arts, and of course, the fact that the Orioles have their spring

training home there is a big plus."

To see the O's full impact on Sarasota, read the PressBox article in its entirety or check out more

on the O's efforts in the Florida community.

http://www.masnsports.com/orioles-buzz/2015/02/a-look-back-at-the-1999-orioles-cuba-

series.html

MASN's Mike Bordick recalls O's 1999 exhibition in Cuba

By Josh Land / MASNsports.com

February 13, 2015

When President Barack Obama announced plans to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba in

December, news broke less than two months later that the Orioles are among the teams interested

in playing an exhibition game there this spring.

This might all sound familiar for a reason.

Sixteen years ago, after the United States lifted travel restrictions to Cuba, the Orioles played a

home-and-home exhibition series with the Cuban national team, becoming the first major league

team to play a game in the nearby island nation since 1959.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos led the initiative, hoping to capitalize on the policy change to

improve diplomacy between the nations, something that's on the way to happening today.

On March 28, 1999, the Orioles made the trek from Fort Lauderdale Stadium, where they held

spring training, to Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana for the first of the two contests against

Cuba. With former Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, Angelos and former Cuban

President Fidel Castro sitting together in the stands, the Orioles eked out a 3-2 win in 11 innings.

Right-hander Scott Erickson allowed one run in seven innings, but that wasn't enough for a

victory. The Orioles jumped out to a 2-0 lead on catcher Charles Johnson's homer in the second,

but were held in check by right-hander Jose Contreras, who went on to pitch in the majors from

2003-13.

Contreras entered in relief the third inning and pitched eight spectacular frames, holding the

Orioles scoreless on two hits while striking out 10 and walking four.

Cuba tied the game with single runs in the seventh and eighth before designated hitter Harold

Baines drove in the eventual winner in the top of the 11th. Orioles left-hander Jesse Orosco got

the save by holding Cuba scoreless in the bottom of the 11th.

The second exhibition took place in-season, on May 3, 1999 at Camden Yards. Right-hander

Scott Kamieniecki started for the Orioles and second baseman Delino DeShields homered in the

ninth, but Cuba earned a decisive 12-6 victory.

MASN color commentator Mike Bordick was the Orioles' starting shortstop at the time and

played in both exhibition games. Bordick recalls being excited about the unique opportunity to

play in Cuba.

"Just hearing all the stories about Cuban baseball, thinking that this was going to be pretty

intense," he said. "I never had the opportunity to play in winter ball, so it was a great experience

for me personally to see a little bit of that culture and their passion for the game. I think most

players kind of looked at it that way, just an opportunity to see how other cultures played

baseball. And they certainly proved to be a great opponent, and now you see a lot of Cuban

players playing in the major leagues."

The atmosphere for the game was unlike anything Bordick had experienced - the high energy in

the stands with fans sounding horns, pounding on drums and shaking tambourines.

"It was just great excitement all the way through," Bordick said. "I remember balls going up into

the outfield seats and kids just being so excited. It didn't matter who you ran into even before the

game and after the game. There was just a great excitement, you could tell a tremendous passion

for the game of baseball and also to see major league players come over."

The game itself was as competitive as it could be with the Cuban national team giving a major

league club all it could handle, taking the Orioles to extra innings before falling by a single run.

Considering the fact that the Orioles started seven of nine regulars and had Erickson on the

mound, seeing the Cuban talent play them so tight was eye-opening.

"Heck yeah, it was," Bordick said. "... I think it was good for our team because we were

obviously preparing for the (major league) season and we knew that we had to be respectable.

Spring training was winding down. We were all supposed to be working on all cylinders, and I

think it was a good test. We substituted a lot of players. I don't think our A team stayed in there

the whole time. But still, there was some depth there. There was some good young players that

ended up eventually playing in the major leagues and helping us out.

"So it was a big challenge, a good opportunity. I think for everybody, it was a very intense game.

We knew they were going to be out to beat us and we obviously had to prove that we were a

worthy opponent. We didn't want to certainly lose. We were playing to win for sure."

And the player who gave the Orioles the most trouble was a then 27-year-old Contreras, who

dazzled out of the bullpen.

"He was pretty nasty," Bordick recalled. "We got to their first pitcher, the starter, and then

Contreras came in and just we were like, 'Come on, let's get him out of here. Quick.' The next

thing you know, he's (pitched) eight innings ... shutout, maybe a couple hits."

The Orioles' series with Cuba was about much more than baseball, however. Bordick wasn't

interested in getting tied up in any of the political ramifications of the game, but was proud to be

a part of Angelos' and MLB's efforts to make inroads with Cuba-U.S. relations.

"You really had to separate it and say, 'We're just playing baseball. We're still in the exhibition

stage. We're preparing for the season. We're going to go out there and play hard and win.' And I

think the political side of it certainly would've been a distraction," Bordick said. "But I felt good

about playing the game. I didn't feel bad about doing something for Fidel Castro or Cuba. I just

kind of looked at it like things have to start somewhere. Good or bad, the perception - some

people are going to like it, some people aren't. I think we're part of something that can potentially

be a change, and even if it doesn't change right away, you hope the next time something comes

around, it lasts a little bit longer.

"So to be a part of something like that, and I think it was a bold move by Mr. Angelos, and it

certainly brought some attention there and obviously some interest in the game. It worked

twofold to help promote Major League Baseball and it helped some of the Cuban players as well,

as some of them came over to play in the United States. ...

"I think anytime people look for change, somebody's got to take a step forward and somebody

has to take a chance. Whether it works or not, if you're a part of that, it stimulates conversation

and it helps growth one way or another. People were talking about it and who knows if it may

lead to something bigger from this? What President Obama's doing, it seems like it did and

certainly there are two sides. There's a lot of negative viewpoints on it. But hey, somebody's got

to make a move, right? Somebody's got to start if you want to incite a change. It feels good to

have been a part of that."

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette recently confirmed that the Orioles are looking at

the possibility of playing another exhibition in Cuba.

Having played in the last major league exhibition there and having seen the recent U.S. policy

change, Bordick thinks it would be a positive for the Orioles.

"Of course. Absolutely. Why not? I think a door's open," he said. "... Think of the opportunity for

players, expansion, Major League Baseball if there's an open line, the players that come out of

Cuba and then the safety aspect. You think of all the players that have played in the major

leagues, the stories that they have. I mean, geez, it's horrifying, scary for a lot of players that still

dream about playing in the major leagues.

"It'd be better if there were a safer way for everybody and it'd be a great opportunity for them,

and of course Major League Baseball, too."

http://www.masnsports.com/orioles-buzz/2015/02/henneman-has-lived-the-duration-of-60-years-

of-orioles-magic.html

Henneman has lived the duration of "60 Years of Orioles

Magic"

By Pete Kerzel / MASNsports.com

February 13, 2015

When the Orioles were seeking a writer to chronicle their first six decades in Baltimore, longtime

journalist Jim Henneman was a logical choice, one found in their own backyard.

The 79-year-old Henneman's lifetime practically mirrors the Orioles' tenure in Charm City. As a

youth, he worked in the clubhouse at Oriole Park, home of the team during its Triple-A run from

1946-53. He attended the 1954 parade down Charles Street welcoming the former St. Louis

Browns to their new roost, and was in the stands at Memorial Stadium for the team's first home

game. He even worked at the then-new ballpark, first as an usher and later as a press box

attendant, before a long career in print journalism.

"I'm pretty sure I've seen more Orioles games than anybody alive," Henneman says.

In 1958, Henneman joined the Baltimore News American as a copy boy (writing about native

son Al Kaline of the Tigers playing in the 1958 All-Star Game at Memorial Stadium at the

behest of late sports editor John Steadman), and eventually worked his way onto the sports staff .

He worked at the paper from 1958-68 and 1973-80, carving out a career writing about the

Orioles (with a five-year stint on the Bullets beat), before moving to The Evening Sun and later

The Sun, from 1980-95. Now he writes for PressBox and PressBoxOnline.com, when he's not

serving as an official scorer at Camden Yards.

But when he was asked by the Orioles to take the lead on a major project that culminated their

season-long 60th anniversary celebration last summer, Henneman's reaction was summed up in

one word: "Wow!"

"One, how do you go about doing this? I literally had no idea," he explains. "It's a different kind

of writing than ... (I'm) used to. The first wow is, 'How cool is this?' The second one is, 'Oh,

wow, this sounds a little overwhelming.' "

Drawing on research and personal recollections, his memories of baseball in his hometown and

the players he's grown to know over a career that's stretched over parts of seven decades,

Henneman has authored the official literary legacy of the Orioles, "Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years

of Orioles Magic."

The diamond tome covers the period from baseball's return to Baltimore in 1954 and ends with

the 60th anniversary season, which saw the Orioles win the 2014 American League East title and

advance to the American League Championship Series. With a little hope, sometime around

opening day, the book will be available at Camden Yards; pre-orders, which started at FanFest,

are available here for $50.

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer wrote the forward, and the book contains more than 300 images

from the team's photographic archives, including some that have never before been published.

Bill Stetka, the team's alumni relations director, worked closely with Henneman on the project,

which is a must-read for anyone interested in Orioles history.

Henneman separated the team's 60 years into specific eras, which replace the chapters found in a

traditional work. And he put his personal knowledge of the team's time in Baltimore into each of

the eras that are represented.

"I tried to find an angle with each era and I tried to make each era a story," explained Henneman,

who admits writing a book was significantly different than penning a feature story or a game

recap on deadline.

Strangely, he chose to begin the project near the midpoint of the team's 60 seasons in Baltimore,

starting in 1983 and working off a comment from 1983 World Series Most Valuable Player Rick

Dempsey after the Orioles had dispatched the Phillies in the Fall Classic: "OK, now comes the

tough part."

From there, the history flowed. And it was a disaster that preceded the Orioles' transformation

from the woebegone Browns in 1954 that was an important point for Henneman to mention.

"People my age and older are going to remember this, but the fire that burned down the minor

league ballpark (Oriole Park) 10 years before was really the reason that we had a big league

team," he said.

"I wanted to tie that in. ... Then I tied it, even though I wasn't around for it, to the Great

Baltimore Fire of 1904, which basically allowed the city to be reborn."

The Orioles' history is rich with significant achievements and dynamic personalities: the "Kiddie

Corps" and the improbable sweep of the Dodgers in 1966; a time when 100-victory seasons

became a birthright for Baltimoreans; stars like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Palmer,

Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken Jr.; a fiery manager in Earl Weaver; the construction of Camden

Yards, which became a blueprint for the urban retro stadiums that followed; and the recent

renaissance that erased the sour taste of 14 seasons of sub-.500 futility. Since it's a historical

recollection, the bad - the lean years early on, World Series setbacks at the hands of the Mets and

Pirates - goes along with the good.

And not every important Oriole was a Hall of Famer, though we've seen our share and shared

them with Cooperstown. Flashes in the pan, like 1977 backup catcher Dave Criscione, whose

entire major league career consisted of 10 at-bats over a two-week period in July, prove

Henneman's belief that "even a cup of coffee can be a taste of champagne."

The recent surge by the Buck Showalter-led Orioles, who have reached the postseason twice in

the past three seasons, proved a pleasant crescendo for Henneman's remembrance of the team's

first six decades.

"What's gone on in these last couple of years has been a lot of fun. '12, '13, '14 were the last era,

but the last era started with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in the last game of '11," he

says, referring to the game affectionately referred to as the "Curse of the Andino."

Remember journeyman infielder Robert Andino's walk-off hit prevented the Red Sox from

reaching the playoffs? Henneman does - and vividly. He was ready to leave the ballpark early

that night, until Chris Davis' two-out double started the rally that ended with a stunning

comeback for a 4-3 victory. What was left of the crowd of 29,749 danced in the aisles,

celebrating the fact that the O's 69th win didn't become their 94th loss of the season.

What's happened since reminds Henneman of the team's glory days. And sometimes he finds

himself torn between seasoned play-it-straight sportswriter and longtime fan of the game in

Baltimore.

"It's the energy, feeling the energy and feeling the excitement," he says. "I get more excited, at

this stage of my life and my career, at seeing the city respond as I do personally. At this stage of

the game, I enjoy it and I get excited, but I also think the nature of what I've done all these years

leads you to some feeling of neutrality, enjoy the game and don't let the highs be too high and the

lows be too low."

"Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic" has given Henneman an opportunity to reflect -

not only on the history of the Orioles, but also his own long association with the team he's long

covered and the game he's loved since childhood.

The past six decades of Orioles baseball have unfolded before him, and Henneman has taken it

all in. It's not like he was preparing to record the team's history, but seeing it happen,

experiencing it, has made him uniquely qualified to do so. In effect, he's been writing the Orioles'

history since the start.

"Do you envision things? As they go on? I don't know," he says. "But I will say, lately, watching

this park open and realizing that it's 20-some years later, you start thinking ... that at this point,

I've lived through it all.

"How much closer can you be? I love the era I grew up in."

"Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic" is available for purchase here for $50, which

includes a voucher redeemable for two upper reserved tickets to select 2015 home games. All

season plan members, including new 2015 season plan members, can exclusively save 20 percent

off of pre-orders by ordering through their My Orioles Tickets account for a limited time. Season

plan members who have been with the club for the past three seasons will receive a

complimentary book in appreciation for their continued support of and dedication to the Orioles.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/02/17/ap-bba-orioles-nix

Orioles agree with infielder Nix on minor league contract

AP News / SI.com

February 17, 2015

BALTIMORE (AP) Utility infielder Jayson Nix has agreed to terms a minor league contract with

the Baltimore Orioles and will attend big league spring training.

Nix played with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Kansas City last season, batting .120 over 41

games. The 32-year-old spent the previous two seasons with the New York Yankees.

Nix played all four infield positions last season and also saw time in the outfield. He broke into

the majors in 2008 with Colorado and has a career batting average of .212 with 38 homers and

130 RBIs.

His best season was in 2012 with the Yankees, when he hit .243 with four homers and six steals

in 74 games.

Baltimore announced the agreement Tuesday.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/02/16/ap-bba-maiers-glove-auction

Maier's glove used for catch Jeter's 1996 HR up for auction

AP News / SI.com

February 16, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) The glove Jeffrey Maier used to catch Derek Jeter's tying home run against

Baltimore in the eighth inning of the 1996 AL Championship Series opener at the original

Yankee Stadium will be auctioned.

Heritage Auction said Monday the glove will be put up for bids on Feb. 21 in New York. It did

not identify the current owner, who it said had purchased the glove from Maier.

Then 12, Maier reached in front of the right-field wall and prevented Tony Tarasco from

catching Jeter's drive on Oct. 9, 1996. Umpire Rich Garcia declined to call fan interference and

Bernie Williams hit an 11th-inning home run that gave the Yankees a 5-4 victory. Baltimore's

protest was denied by baseball's ruling executive council and AL President Gene Budig.

New York went on to defeat the Orioles in five games and win the first of what would be four

World Series titles in five years.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/blackhistoryMLB1/baltimore-orioles-adam-jones-unique-

player-person

Jones a unique player and person O's CF has an intensity about him -- on and off the field -- that truly stands out

By Tim Kurkjian | ESPN.com

February 16, 2015

As we celebrate Black History Month, it's interesting to note that Baltimore Orioles center fielder

Adam Jones makes his teammates laugh the hardest when he does what manager Buck Showalter

calls Jones' "white guy voice."

"He'll start talking like a white guy when he says to [Steve] Pearce, 'C'mon Steve.' It gives me a

belly laugh like no one else," Showalter said. "But Adam mimics everyone. He mimics [coach

Wayne] Kirby better than Kirby. At Adam's wedding, Adam mimicked what I do during the

game on the bench, how I pick up the phone, how I signal to a catcher, everything I do. How can

he even see me from center field? Every spring, we do a talent show. Adam could do the whole

talent show by himself if he wanted."

Jones said with his own belly laugh, "No, no, I have too much service time for that. But I love to

imitate the coaches especially. I do, I got Kirby down to a T. I pay attention. I observe my

surroundings. Buck is a very observant guy, but I observe what is going on around me. I study

people's antics. Everyone has little niches. And somehow, I can make Buck and [bench coach]

John Russell laugh. That's not easy. That's the hardest thing to do."

And then Jones stopped laughing, paused and said, "But when that game starts ..."

When that game starts, that's when we see the other side of Jones, one of the best players in the

American League, and the intense leader of the Orioles.

"When I first got here [2010], he was our best player, but he also played the game the right way,"

Showalter said. "His words come with a lot of weight. He walks the walk. No one plays harder

than Adam Jones. Nine innings, 90 feet, no one. That's not something that everyone can do in the

big leagues, play hard every play, post up every day. Sometimes, he wants to override his brain,

but we don't want to take that away from him. We don't want him to be a robot. He will tell the

truth, and he will say it to your face. He loves to win, doesn't like to lose."

Jones, 29, has been an Oriole for seven years. In 2012, he signed a six-year deal worth $85.5

million, the biggest contract in club history, which he received in part because he has played 149,

151, 162, 160 and 159 games the past five years.

"I let people know what the blueprint of the Orioles is, it's not rocket science, it's as simple as it

gets: bring it every day," he said. "There are no selfish guys here. If you are selfish, you get your

a-- kicked."

Added Showalter: "He has been as good for me here as I hope I have been for him. The first

week I was here, he said all the right things, and he was sincere. Adam has a lot of cachet. He

has earned it. He has earned that freedom. We have three or four guys like that. If new guys need

answers to their questions, I tell them to watch the guys who have been here, like Adam. If you

don't understand them, then you're stupid, and you have to go. When we were deciding [in 2014]

to sign Delmon [Young], I knew I had Adam. He does drills like it's the seventh game of the

World Series. When we got [outfielder Alejandro] De Aza last year, we heard he was a little

lazy, but I didn't worry because we had Adam. When we got [outfielder Travis] Snider [from

Pittsburgh in January], I didn't worry. [Outfielder] Nelson [Cruz] had figured out some short cuts

when he got to us [in 2014], but the first day, we did some serious drills. He kind of asked, 'We

do these on the first day? Don't we get some time to ease into it?' Adam said, 'We don't do things

that way here.'"

Added Jones: "When teammates talk to me, they know I'm not going to lie to them. I'm not going

to tell them, 'Hey, you should hit more home runs,' or 'Hey, you should strike out more hitters.'

But I'm damn sure going to tell them that, as an Oriole, you will give a great effort. That's the

moral of the story here: play with effort, play with awareness. If they don't bust their butt, there

will be a bus ticket to [Triple-A] Norfolk waiting for them. I'm not real vocal in the clubhouse

because everyone is having fun in there, but no one is ever going to come to me and say, 'Hey,

you don't hustle,' because I know I did."

That mentality comes from Jones' upbringing in San Diego, playing baseball, basketball and

football on the fields and in the streets with his brothers, cousins and friends. Many of those

friends then remain his friends today.

"I have met some of his friends, they are good guys, classy guys," Showalter said. "A couple of

years ago, we needed a bullpen catcher. Adam recommended a guy he went to high school with.

The guy has been great for us, so professional. Adam's best friend is [outfielder] Quintin Berry.

He's a great guy."

The Mariners made Jones their No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft. He shined as a minor leaguer, but in

2008, Jones and four other Mariners, including Orioles ace Chris Tillman, were sent to Baltimore

for pitcher Erik Bedard. It was one of the worst deals in Mariners history.

"When I was with Seattle, [infielder] Mark McLemore gave me the blueprint on how everything

is going to happen in pro ball," Jones said. "Everything he said has happened. I am in a unique

position now, I relish being where I am. But I want to give back."

He does in many ways, mostly in San Diego and Baltimore. He has what he calls "a

brotherhood" of major league players "that hang together and work out together," including,

among others, the Upton brothers, B.J. and Justin; pitcher Edwin Jackson; former major leaguer

Junior Spivey; and outfielders Cameron Maybin and Matt Kemp.

"We are trying to promote baseball in our cities and our communities," Jones said. "We know

how fortunate we are, and we've all agreed to try to give back as much as we can. I take

tremendous pride doing what I'm doing. When I got to pro ball, there were more black players

around, maybe two, three, four per team. Now there aren't that many. Some teams have none. So,

we're trying to get more [black] kids playing baseball. There are other sports for them, but if they

play baseball, they're going to be good because they have talent."

As for Jones' talent, it grows all the time. He has hit at least 19 home runs in each of the past six

seasons. In each of the past four, he has hit at least 25 home runs and driven in at least 80 runs.

The past five years, he has hit, in order, .280, .287, .285, .281 and .280, and won four Gold

Gloves. He strikes out too much (who doesn't these days?) and doesn't walk enough. But Jones

says, "I have proven to the baseball world and the people of Baltimore what I can do. But I have

just cracked the mold on what I can do. When I get in that batter's box, I have no fear. I have

evolved as a player that way. Look at some of the greatest players in recent years, [Barry] Bonds,

[Ken] Griffey [Jr.], [Craig] Biggio, Tony Gwynn, they were all prepared. That's me, always

trying to get better. I'm like a website, you know, under construction."

The Orioles know what they have: a bright, funny, intense center fielder who plays every day.

"I really believe he could run for mayor of Baltimore when he is done playing," Showalter said.

"He bought a house here. He married a girl from here. For Adam, it's all about commitment.

When we won the [AL East] last year, and he ran around the stadium in the celebration [shaking

hands with fans], that was real. That was sincere. Whether he's in a tuxedo at his wedding or in a

duck blind, he knows how to communicate with all people."

And, Showalter knows, if Jones ever gets out of line, all they have to do is call his mother.

"His button is his mom," Showalter said. "You don't want to piss her off."

Jones laughs about that. His mom, Andrea Bradley, "is the sweetest woman in the world," Jones

said. "When we go to Anaheim, we bring her down on the field. She leaves Buck and Kirby

laughing. She watches all our games, she TiVos them. Sometimes, I'll get a long text from her

after a game saying, 'Could you please stop cursing.' So I will. Then I'll get another long text

from her a couple of days later saying, 'Could you please stop cursing.' I say, 'Mom, it's an

emotional game. You curse, too.' She said, 'We're not talking about me, we're talking about you.'

Sweetest woman in the world, but she can flip a switch in a hurry."

Just like her son, who goes from the funniest guy on the team, to the most intense guy on the

field.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/nix-tries-impress-showalter-utility-audition

Nix tries to impress Showalter in utility audition

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 18, 2015

After the Orioles brought Manny Machado to the big leagues in August 2012, manager Buck

Showalter said the team would do anything that might improve it by even “two inches.”

On Tuesday, the Orioles added perhaps another two inches when they signed journeyman Jayson

Nix to a minor league contract with an invitation from spring training.

Nix joins Rey Navarro and another non-roster veteran infielder Paul Janish is trying to snatch

away Ryan Flaherty’s utility job.

He’ll be trying to make his ninth major league team. Last year alone he played for three times:

Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Kansas City, hitting just .120, but he got a World Series check with

the Royals when he got into two games.

Nix’s brother, Laynce concluded his big league career in 2013, and played four seasons for

Showalter in Texas. Laynce Nix was traded to Milwaukee in 2006 for Nelson Cruz.

Together, the brothers have played for 12 different teams. The only team both played for was the

Phillies, Laynce in 2012 and 2013, and Jayson last year.

The Orioles’ Nix faced them regularly in 2012 and 2013 with the Yankees, and in his career

hasn’t hit well in Baltimore. He’s just 4-for-36 (.111) with 13 strikeouts.

When spring training begins on Thursday, Jayson Nix begins the audition. Will he be two inches

better than Flaherty?

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-sign-veteran-infielder-minor-league-deal

Orioles sign veteran infielder to minor league deal

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 17, 2015

The Orioles have another infielder who will be challenging for a backup role. Jayson Nix, a 32-

year-old utility man, who has been with eight major league teams, has agreed to a minor league

contract with an invitation to spring training.

According to CBSsports.com’s Jon Heyman, who initially broke the news which was confirmed

by multiple industry sources, Nix gets $750,000 if he plays for the Orioles and can earn an

additional $50,000 in bonuses.

Nix has played for eight major league teams, and last year batted .133 in 34 games with

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

In the past, Nix, who plays second, shortstop and third, has shown power, hitting 26 home runs

in 2009 and 2010. Nix played for the Yankees in 2012 and 2013, and faced the Orioles in the

2012 Division Series. While he played for the Royals in the World Series last year, he was not on

Kansas City’s roster for the ALCS.

Nix joins three-year incumbent Ryan Flaherty, Rey Navarro and minor league infielder Paul

Janish in trying to make the team as a backup.

His signing will give the Orioles 57 players, 16 of them non-roster.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-make-tweaks-farm-system

Orioles make tweaks to farm system

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 17, 2015

The Orioles officially named their minor league staffs on Tuesday. Ron Johnson returns for his

fourth season as Norfolk’s manager and Baltimore native Gary Kendall is back for his fifth

season with Bowie.

Orlando Gomez returns to Frederick for his second stint as Keys manager after two years with

Gulf Coast. Ryan Minor is back with Delmarva.

Former Detroit Tigers manager Luis Pujols, who managed the Shorebirds in 2013 and Frederick

last year, moves to Aberdeen, and Matt Merullo, who was with the Ironbirds for the last two

seasons, goes to Gulf Coast.

Some familiar faces return as coaches, and others have moved around. Mike Griffin is back for

his sixth season as Tides’ pitching coach. He’s joined on Johnson’s staff by former Houston

Astros hitting coach Sean Berry, who replaces the retired Denny Walling.

Former Orioles reliever Alan Mills moves up to Bowie as pitching coach, and he’s joined by

Keith Bodie as hitting coach. Bodie replaces Butch Davis, who is now Minnesota’s first base

coach.

Onetime Orioles outfielder Howie Clark is Delmarva’s new hitting coach.

Under director of player development Brian Graham, the Orioles retained minor league hitting

coordinator Jeff Manto. With the departure of Dave Anderson, who is now managing the Angels’

Triple-A Salt Lake club, the Orioles have brought in Keith Bradshaw as minor league infield

coordinator. Rick Peterson returns for his fourth season as minor league pitching coordinator.

Don Werner, who has been battling cancer, is back to his job as minor league catching

coordinator. Scott Beerer is the minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator, and Scott

McGregor, who has filled a variety of roles in the organization, returns as the rehabilitation

coordinator in Sarasota.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-not-favorites-oddsmakers

Orioles not favorites of oddsmakers

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 17, 2015

If the Orioles want some additional incentive for this year, they can pull out the “nobody

believed in us” routine. After winning 96 games and making it to the American League

Championship Series, the Orioles aren’t exactly favorites this year.

Two oddsmakers and two baseball blogs have recently published their win predictions for the

Orioles, and none are predicting a repeat AL East title.

The most optimistic is Reno, Nevada’s Atlantis Casino, which predicts the Orioles will win 84.5

games. That’s 1 ½ fewer than the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are the favorites of all four

prognosticators.

Atlantis has the Toronto Blue Jays a game behind the Orioles with 83.5 wins.

Online oddsmaker Bovada, which actually set odds on the length of Idina Menzel’s Super Bowl

National Anthem, has the Orioles with 82 ½ wins, the same number as Toronto. Bovada makes

Boston the favorite with 86 ½ wins.

The websites, Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA and FanGraphs both forecast the Orioles will not

only lose more than they will win, but finish last in the AL East.

FanGraphs gives the Orioles 79 wins, PECOTA just 78. PECOTA has the Red Sox winning 87,

and the Tampa Bay Rays just a game behind.

Bovada, which gave the Orioles 33-1 odds to win the World Series in 2014, now has them listed

at 20-1.

Interestingly, no one is predicting a team will win 100 games nor lose 100. Last year for the first

time since 2007, no team won 100 nor lost 100.

Atlantis has the Washington Nationals with 93 wins, most in baseball, and forecasts the Los

Angeles Angels to win 87.5 to lead the American League.

Bovada has the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals with 92 ½ and the Angels with

89 ½.

Four teams, the Angels, Dodgers, Nationals and Orioles won more than 93 a year ago.

Each oddsmaker predicts the Philadelphia Phillies will win the fewest games in baseball, ranging

from 67-69.

PECOTA has the Dodgers with 97 wins while FanGraphs’ leaders are the Dodgers and Nationals

with 91.

NOTE: Nathan Showalter, son of the Orioles manager, has joined the team as an area scout. The

younger Showalter, who graduated from Texas Christian University last spring, scouted for San

Diego last summer. Buck Showalter hinted at the appointment in December when he told the

Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore that his son would “probably” join the team’s scouting

department.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/are-six-catchers-enough-orioles

Are six catchers enough for Orioles?

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 16, 2015

For the Orioles, six should be enough. Six catchers for spring training.

While all the attention will be on Matt Wieters’ throws to see how well he’s recovered from

Tommy John surgery, there are five other catchers in camp.

Caleb Joseph, who was the nominal starter in Wieters’ absence last year has the advantage to be

the backup.

In Wieters’ first four complete seasons, he caught between 126 and 140 games a season. That

means the backup starts about 30 games a season.

Joseph caught 78 games a year ago, and will be fortunate to catch even half that many this year.

It’s an important year for both Wieters and Joseph. Wieters can be a free agent this fall, and

wants to show he’s fully recovered from Tommy John while Joseph needs to show the Orioles he

can be a No. 1 catcher in 2016 if Wieters walks.

Besides these two, Steve Clevenger remains on the 40-man roster. Clevenger started the season

with the Orioles, but was sent down in late May after the team acquired Nick Hundley.

He’s a left-handed hitter, and has a strong bat. In nine minor league seasons, he’s a .308 hitter,

but still has much work to do defensively.

Joseph’s defense improved markedly in spring training last year. The Orioles will be looking for

the same from Clevenger.

There are three non-roster catchers coming to camp: J.P. Arencibia, Ryan Lavarnway and Brian

Ward. All are intriguing for different reasons.

Arencibia isn’t a great defensive catcher, but he has power. In three full seasons with Toronto,

Arencibia hit 62 home runs, but he also strikes out and doesn’t walk much.

He could conceivably be a right-handed DH besides a potential backup catcher.

Lavarnway is considered a better defensive catcher, but he doesn’t throw well nor has he shown

an ability to hit at the big league level. In 79 games with Boston over the past four seasons,

Lavarnway has just a .201 average. He’s hit much better in the minors.

Ward may be the Orioles’ best defensive catcher in the minors, but at 29, he’s coming off his

first extended shot at Triple-A. His hitting was weak, just .227, but had a .330 on-base

percentage. In the minor leagues, Ward has thrown out 38 percent of runners trying to steal.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-will-try-and-make-positives-outweigh-

negatives

Orioles will try and make positives outweigh negatives

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 16, 2015

In three days, the talk will be about the Orioles’ uncertainties. Manny Machado. Matt Wieters.

Chris Davis. Ubaldo Jimenez.

Those are all concerns. Injuries and underperformance for those four will dominate the early talk

out of Sarasota.

It’s also worrisome that so many key players: Davis, Wieters, Alejandro De Aza, Wei-Yin Chen,

Tommy Hunter, Bud Norris, Darren O’Day and Steve Pearce can be free agents after this season.

There’ll not only be talk of that during the spring, but throughout the season, too.

But, there are many positives and, if the Machado and Wieters are healthy, relatively few

questions that need to be answered in the next seven weeks.

Opening Day at Tropicana Field is Apr. 6, seven weeks from today. The Orioles return for their

home opener four days later.

Few teams enter spring training with five known starting pitchers, and six, if you add Jimenez.

Chris Tillman, Bud Norris, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Kevin Gausman combined for

a 61-36 record. None had an ERA over 3.65

There aren’t many teams who can list 14 pitchers who had substantial major league exposure in

2014, either. Besides those six, there are Hunter, O’Day, Brad Brach, Zach Britton, Brian

Matusz, T.J. McFarland, Ryan Webb and newcomer Wesley Wright.

None of them had an ERA over 3.83, and two, Britton and O’Day had ERA’s under 2.

The Orioles have an ultra-dependable shortstop in J.J. Hardy, who was disappointed because he

played in only 141 games last year. He’s signed for another three years.

Adam Jones has missed five games in the last three years and averaged 31 home runs and 94

RBIs during that time. He’s signed for four more years.

Buck Showalter has a contract through 2018, too. Starting his sixth season with the Orioles, he’s

now managed the team longer than anyone but Earl Weaver, Paul Richards and Hank Bauer, and

by the end of April will pass Bauer for third place.

Those positives should outweigh the uncertainties and give the Orioles a decent chance of

repeating as American League East champions.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/five-orioles-keep-eye-spring

Five Orioles to keep an eye on this spring

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 15, 2015

There will be many players to watch during spring training. With reporting day coming along on

Thursday, here are five to key an eye on this spring.

1) Steve Pearce

Pearce could take on a number of roles this season: Right field, left field, designated hitter, first

base, maybe even third base.

Well, if Manny Machado is fine, you can probably rule out third base, but manager Buck

Showalter has said Pearce may get some time there this spring.

It was an unusual offseason for Pearce. He knows he has a job, and doesn’t have to overwork

himself to get ready.

The key is giving him enough work to be sharp and keeping him from the extra work in the cage

he may feel he needs, but probably no longer does.

2) Ubaldo Jimenez

Will he be one of the five best starters? Will he be in the bullpen? Will he be traded?

The Orioles would have loved to been able to arrange a trade for Jimenez, who struggled

mightily in his first season with the Orioles, but couldn’t.

If there are no injuries, the Orioles have five established starters, and Kevin Gausman doesn’t

need any more time at Norfolk. Where does that leave Jimenez?

If he pitches well in spring training, perhaps that opens things up for a trade, and putting him in

the bullpen, where he has most limited experience at the expense of a more qualified pitcher isn’t

a good idea.

If the Orioles are forced to hold on to him, there may be a positive. Wei-Yin Chen and Bud

Norris are free agents and if both leave after the season, Jimenez is under contract through 2017,

and perhaps he becomes useful then.

3) Caleb Joseph

The Orioles are certainly hoping that Matt Wieters is ready for Opening Day. And if not, perhaps

a week or not afterward.

If he’s not ready, they need a starting catcher, and if he is ready, will be assume his normal

workload immediately?

Joseph, who adequately filled in defensively a year ago, certainly has the advantage over Steve

Clevenger and non-roster catchers J.P. Arencibia, Ryan Lavarnway and Brian Ward.

But, Joseph still needs to prove he can hit major league pitching. A terrible late-season slump

saw his average fall to .209.

His defense was strong, and Joseph did a fine job controlling the running game, but a job isn’t

assured.

4) Travis Snider

It’s funny to imagine a winter where Travis Snider is the biggest acquisition the Orioles made,

but it was. The Orioles have seen Snider when he played for Toronto, during interleague games

with Pittsburgh and during spring training.

But, Showalter hasn’t seen him as an Oriole yet.

It’s assumed that Snider will basically take the place of Nick Markakis and play right field, but

he has played left field, and there is an opening for a left-handed DH.

Snider is considered strong defensively and the left-handed hitter should benefit from playing at

Oriole Park, where he’s hit poorly in limited opportunities.

5) David Lough

The Orioles hoped that Lough would be a younger and capable replacement for Nate McLouth

last year. His first two months gave them pause.

In the season’s last four months, Lough hit a robust .337, but didn’t play much, and when the

team acquired Alejandro De Aza, there was some talk that Lough wouldn’t make the postseason

roster.

He did, and he’s back for another season. Like De Aza, he’s a left-handed hitter. Lough has

speed, but didn’t show great basestealing skills in 2014.

With De Aza on hand, Lough doesn’t seem to have a position. If Adam Jones gets hurt, Lough

can back up in center. He can pinch run, and play effective defense.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/where-does-orioles-defense-rank-al

Where does the Orioles' defense rank in the AL?

By Ray Frager / CSN Baltimore

February 14, 2015

Defense wins championships — it’s not a saying normally associated with baseball. But not

giving your opposition extra outs goes a long way to making a contender.

Anthony Castrovince, mlb.com columnist writing at Sports on Earth, has ranked the majors’ 10

best defenses, and the Orioles come out pretty well. Castrovince rated them second to the Kansas

City Royals.

He quotes manager Buck Showalter as saying, "In our [payroll] situation, we can't afford to take

a player who can't defend."

Of new right fielder Travis Snider, who is replacing Gold Glover Nick Markakis, Castrovince

writes: “The O's have studied him enough to believe he'll be another solid defender in a lineup

full of them.”

That lineup, so stellar with center fielder Adam Jones, shortstop J.J. Hardy (“his glove doesn’t

slump”) and catcher Matt Wieters, is looking forward to again having Manny Machado, who

plays an often spectacular third base and is returning from knee surgery.

“The O's prioritize defense more than most,” Castrovince write, “and it shows on the field.”

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/best-part-orioles-spring-training-offseason-over

Best part of Orioles spring training: Offseason is over

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 14, 2015

The best part of spring training’s start on Thursday is that the offseason’s conclusion is

mercifully at hand.

Charles Lindbergh, the famed pilot who flew across the Atlantic once said his journey was:

"Moments of stark terror interrupted by long periods of utter boredom.” That’s also an apt

description of the Orioles’ offseason.

One of the scariest weeks in Orioles history came in early December when within five days,

Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller all signed elsewhere.

Miller was expected to find a new home. The Orioles weren’t going to give a relief pitcher $36

million over four years for “a couple outs,” as Dan Duquette put it.

Cruz was at best an even money bet to re-sign with the Orioles, but the Seattle Mariners offered

him four years.

Markakis got four years from the Atlanta Braves amid reports that his medicals were scary.

Shortly after he signed with Atlanta, Markakis underwent neck surgery.

Duquette didn’t seem terribly disturbed by these developments, and a few days later when he

flew to San Diego for the Winter Meetings, news broke that he was interested in becoming

Toronto’s team president.

That notion was quickly shot down by Orioles owner Peter Angelos, and the terror ceased, at

least for a while.

Then came the utter boredom.

For weeks, little seemed to happen. There was the signing of Wesley Wright, whose only

similarity to Miller was being left-handed. There was also the re-signing of Delmon Young.

And before that, a new hitting coach. In each of Buck Showalter’s five offseasons, at least one

coach has had to be replaced. Just two months before, Showalter proudly announced that all his

coaches would return, but Jim Presley, who had been with the Orioles since the start of the 2011

season, asked for a reassignment due to personal reasons.

Showalter talked to several people both in the organization and outside. His original hope was

that longtime major league manager Charlie Manuel would take the job, but he didn’t.

After Texas initially rebuffed the request to interview Scott Coolbaugh, the Orioles were finally

given a brief window to close the deal, and did.

Last month, Manny Machado appeared for the final day of a three-day minicamp at Sarasota,

Fla. to test out his surgically repaired right knee. Things went well, and he and the Orioles

pronounced him as a full-go for spring training.

Around then, rumors resurfaced that Duquette was again itching to go to Toronto, and again,

Angelos shot them down.

There were reports of talks between the two teams for compensation for a few days, with some

saying that a deal was close. Finally, Toronto said it was not going to engage in any further talks

and that current team president Paul Beeston was staying on for another year.

Between the Winter Meetings and the reported end of the Duquette dance came the utter

boredom.

There were occasional rumors about the Orioles being interested in a player, but as Duquette said

at the Winter Meetings: “We're not about signing high-profile free agents. We're about bringing

good players through the farm system, we're about making trades, we're about being active in the

Rule 5 drafts, signing international players. That's who we are."

Shortly after the Duquette pursuit ended, he quieted his critics by trading for Travis Snider, a

right fielder to replace Markakis.

The Orioles talked trade with many teams during the Winter Meetings, and Snider was discussed

with the Pittsburgh Pirates then.

After that, the Orioles turned their attention to Colby Rasmus. A mercurial outfielder, Rasmus

was unhappy in Toronto, and seemed to be interested in the Orioles.

Showalter took two days from his offseason to visit Rasmus at his home, and after initial hope

that he would sign with the Orioles, Rasmus went with a higher offer and signed with Houston

instead.

Snider was a better idea.

Duquette drafted two pitchers in the Rule 5 draft and also brought back Nolan Reimold on a

minor league contract and quickly negotiated contracts with 10 of the 11 arbitration-eligible

players. Only Alejandro De Aza, whose difference with the Orioles is $650,000 remains

unsigned.

As spring training begins, the questions will center around Machado, Matt Wieters and Chris

Davis. Machado is expected to be ready for Opening Day. Wieters will use spring training to see

if he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery, and Davis will work with Coolbaugh to see if he

can recover his stroke.

Davis won’t be ready for Opening Day because he has to serve the final game of a 25-game

suspension for use of Adderall without a prescription.

There will be many questions beginning Thursday, but spring training will mostly be a relief

from the tedium that enveloped Birdland over the last four months.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-try-replace-cruz-markakis-outfield

Orioles try to replace Cruz, Markakis in outfield

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

February 13, 2015

Two players who combined for 314 games are now gone. Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis left in

that same awful week that also took Andrew Miller from the Orioles.

Their departures left a huge hole in the outfield. While many think of Cruz as a pure designated

hitter, he played 70 of his 159 games in the outfield. No doubt, as he would say, had he stayed

with the Orioles, his appearances in the outfield would have dropped and would have DH’d more

often.

The Orioles will miss both Cruz and Markakis, the latter of whom's departure has not been

forgotten by Orioles fans, though many sided with the team after finding out about his neck

surgery.

Markakis was one of the best Orioles of the last 15 years, a reliable right fielder, whose

ascension in the Top 10 of the team’s all-time hitters gained him much notice last year. He didn’t

care about the attention.

To replace them, the Orioles will resort to a combination of Alejandro De Aza, David Lough and

perhaps Delmon Young in left.

De Aza, whose arbitration case over $650,000 will be heard on Feb. 20, came to the team in late

August, and with all the big names on the team, went relatively unnoticed.

This year, he’ll be expected to lead off, and provide on-base ability and speed.

The Orioles want to see the Lough they saw in the last four months of 2014, and not the one who

struggled badly in the first two months.

And, Young, who played in 83 games, will probably be the regular DH, though he could play in

left every now and then.

Even though Cruz and Markakis are gone, the ultra-consistent Adam Jones is back. Jones will be

expected to do more offensively, but what he’s done in recent years will be just fine, thank you.

To Jones’ left, in right field, will be Travis Snider, acquired by the Orioles from Pittsburgh late

last month. Snider should provide some power and like De Aza, Lough and Markakis, is a left-

handed hitter.

Steve Pearce will move around, playing some right, some left, perhaps some first and even third

with some DH’ing mixed in. It may be a stretch to think he can hit 21 home runs without being

injured again this year, but Pearce is now expected to be a regular contributor.

It will be hard for an outsider to crack this group. The only other outfielder on the 40-man roster

is Henry Urrutia, who has worked hard over the offseason to get another shot with the Orioles.

The Orioles are also bringing back Nolan Reimold on a minor league contract and Dariel

Alvarez will get a long look in spring training before he presumably starts the season in Norfolk.

Alvarez is a good bet to see some time with the Orioles later in the season.

Journeyman Matt Tuiasosopo is also on the spring training roster.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/18/orioles-reportedly-close-to-signing-infielder-everth-

cabrera

Orioles Reportedly Close To Signing Infielder Everth

Cabrera

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

February 18, 2015

The Orioles are close to adding a talented but troubled former All-Star to their mix, reportedly

looking to sign infielder Everth Cabrera to a one-year deal Feb. 18.

According to The Baltimore Sun, which first reported the deal, Cabrera's agreement with the

Orioles is expected to be roughly $2.4 million.

Cabrera, 28, had spent his entire six-year major league career with the San Diego Padres before

they non-tendered him Dec. 2. He is a career .248/.319/.333/.652 hitter with 12 home runs and

128 RBIs during 481 games. He made the National League All-Star team in 2013, batting a

career-best .283/.355/.381/.736 during 95 games.

Cabrera, though, brings his share of baggage. Like former Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz,

Cabrera received a 50-game suspension in 2013 for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal,

cutting short his All-Star season. When he returned in 2014, his numbers plummeted, as he

batted .232/.272/.300/.572 during 90 games. He also suffered a left hamstring injury that twice

landed him on the disabled list.

Cabrera had another off-the-field incident Sept. 3, 2014, when California police pulled him over

on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana. Cabrera was cited for possession of

marijuana and was later charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor. He is scheduled to go to

trial April 13.

Cabrera's inconsistent 2014 season and off-field troubles were likely the main reasons he

remained unsigned until February. But the Orioles, whose gamble on Cruz paid off big in 2014,

could be hoping Cabrera similarly bounces back under their watch.

With J.J. Hardy firmly entrenched at shortstop, Cabrera will likely be competing with Ryan

Flaherty for a utility infielder role. If Cabrera makes the team, he'll bring an element of speed

that the roster lacked last season. In 2012, Cabrera racked up an NL-leading 44 stolen bases in 48

attempts, a 92 percent success rate. He swiped 37 bags in 2013, but dropped to 18 steals in 26

attempts in 2014, perhaps hobbled by the hamstring injury. During his career, Cabrera has stolen

136 bases in 174 attempts (78 percent).

The Orioles further added to their infield depth Feb. 17, signing veteran utility man Jayson Nix

to a minor league deal. Nix, 32, has spent seven years in the majors with eight different teams,

batting .212/.282/.345/.627 with 38 home runs and 130 RBIs during 466 games. He split 2014

between the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals, managing 10 hits

in 83 at bats (.120 batting average).

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/17/new-orioles-reliever-wesley-wright-ready-to-pitch-

where-needed

New Orioles Reliever Wesley Wright Ready To Pitch Where

Needed

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

February 17, 2015

Snow may be blanketing the Baltimore area, but one sure sign of spring will take place Feb. 19,

when Orioles pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Sarasota, Fla.

Among the group will be a newcomer to the O's roster, veteran left-handed reliever

Wesley Wright. During the Orioles' quiet offseason, Wright was the only pitcher they signed as a

major league free agent, giving him a one-year, $1.7 million deal Dec. 19.

Wright, 30, will be joining his fifth major league organization. Drafted by the Los Angeles

Dodgers in 2003, Wright joined the Houston Astros as a Rule 5 pick in 2008, spending five and a

half seasons there before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013. He spent 2014 with the

Chicago Cubs, posting a 3.17 ERA during 58 games.

Other than the Rays, with whom he spent three months, Wright hasn't played for a winning team

since his rookie year. He jumped at the chance to join the defending American League East

champion Orioles.

"I'm excited," Wright said. "The last couple years, I've played against them on the other side,

briefly with Tampa, also with Houston, and then last year they came to Wrigley [Field] when I

was with the Cubs. It's a great organization, a winning team coming off a great season. [I] just

want to come in and do what I can to continue that winning situation. It's a great opportunity for

me at this stage in my career to kind of show what I can do in the AL East against great

competition."

Although Wright did a solid job with the Cubs in 2014, they non-tendered him after the season,

not wanting to give him a raise from his $1.425 million salary. That gave the O's -- who were in

the market for a lefty reliever -- the chance to swoop in.

"You never really know what type of interest is going to be out there when you got non-

tendered," Wright said. "And when I heard that the Orioles were a team that was interested in

me, it really piqued my interest because of the situation here and how good they've been over the

past couple years. When we got close to making this deal happen, I was really excited about the

future and the possibilities of coming in here. And you're getting a chance to get back in the

postseason."

Wright's only previous experience in the postseason came in 2013, when the Rays rented him

down the stretch. He appeared in two games during the American League Division Series against

Boston, retiring two of the four batters he faced.

"It was a different experience, but it was something that I've always dreamed about," Wright

said. "And to get in that situation and produce was gratifying to me, to let me know that all the

hard work I've put into it was paying off. So I feel the same way here. I'm just going to go out.

It's the same game. You've just got a little bit more attention on you."

Wright will have big shoes to fill in the Orioles' bullpen, essentially taking the roster spot of left-

hander Andrew Miller, who left the O's for the New York Yankees as a free agent during the

offseason.

If Orioles fans are expecting Wright to be anywhere near as dominant as Miller, they'll likely be

disappointed. During his short tenure with the Orioles, Miller struck out 15.3 batters per nine

innings and allowed 0.6 base runners per inning. Wright's stuff isn't nearly as overpowering; he

holds a career strikeout rate of 8.7 and WHIP of 1.402.

Still, while Wright is no Miller, he can be plenty effective in his own way. He has excelled as a

left-handed specialist, holding lefty batters to a .646 OPS during his career. In 2014, he

continued his success against lefties (.594 OPS) and wasn't a liability against right-handed

hitters, either (.719 OPS).

"I consider myself kind of a jack of all trades," Wright said. "I'm pretty good against lefties, and I

hold my own against righties. … I'm not really afraid of any situation. I'm an emotional guy, but

when I pitch, I try to stay as calm as possible. I'm just a guy that likes to compete."

Ultimately, Wright is ready to serve whatever role the Orioles will have in mind for him.

"I just want to go out and pitch," Wright said. "That's what I enjoy doing, and I really don't care

what inning it is. I just want to go out there and help this bullpen. [The Orioles have] had a great

bullpen the last couple years, so I just want to fit in and do what I can do."

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/12/orioles-spring-training-in-sarasota-offers-a-warm-

welcome

Orioles' Spring Training In Sarasota Offers A Warm

Welcome

By Bill Ordine / PressBoxOnline.com

February 16, 2015

There's an old saying in business that sometimes the best deals are the ones that never get made.

When the Orioles failed to secure a long-term agreement in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., more than five

years ago to keep their spring training home in South Florida, it could have been a blow for the

team's plans for preseason stability as well as unsettling for player development.

But that apparent setback put the Birds on an odyssey through the Sunshine State that eventually

led to Sarasota, Fla., on Florida's Gulf Coast. In the process, the team found a willing partner in a

symbiotic relationship that combined marketing acumen with civic commitment.

"We did the deal [with Sarasota in 2009] because the [Orioles] ownership felt it was such a good

community and such a good fit for the fan base, and it was an equally good fit for the player

development function," said Orioles executive vice president John Angelos, who headed the long

search for a permanent spring training home.

However, the only reason the Orioles were even talking with Sarasota in 2009 was because an

agreement with Fort Lauderdale fell apart.

There was also still the matter of selling the Orioles to Sarasota's political leaders, even though

the team had its supporters there. Local government would have to find some of the money to

refurbish Sarasota's aging Ed Smith Stadium.

"We told them that we had a better construct to promote their community to our community,"

said Angelos, son of Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

There was certainly the economic impact to Sarasota that's in the tens of millions of dollars. The

Orioles estimated that to be more than $35 million a year, using state figures. A 2009 report by

the Florida Sports Foundation said the average economic impact per team statewide was even

higher. But Angelos was offering Sarasota even more value.

"Something else we knew we could do was bring our marketing platform to bear in ways we

knew that other teams didn't do or haven't done," Angelos said, "because they didn't have the

things that we have at our disposal, or they weren't willing to put it together."

FORT LAUDERDALE PLAN FIZZLES

The Orioles are about to start their sixth spring training in Sarasota when pitchers and catchers

report Feb. 19, and position players follow five days later. The first spring training game is

March 3 against Detroit on the road, and the Orioles play their first game in Sarasota the next

day, also against the Tigers.

For lucky fans able to escape the chill of late winter and get to Sarasota, hearing the crack of the

bat while basking in the west Florida sun will be a welcome overture to what Orioles followers

hope will be a fourth straight winning season.

But while the living may be easy in Sarasota's newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium, getting the

Orioles to their current spring training home was no breeze.

It started, curiously, with failure -- the failure to seal a deal to keep the Orioles on the state's East

Coast in Fort Lauderdale.

The O's had held spring training in Fort Lauderdale beginning in 1996, jumping there after the

Yankees left for Tampa Bay, Fla. Oriole ownership, led by Peter Angelos, inherited Fort

Lauderdale as a spring camp and seemed willing to stay there indefinitely.

Old Fort Lauderdale Stadium needed a lot of work, and other improvements were needed. But

the team and the local governments had cobbled together the financing needed to move forward.

After renewing a series of short-term contracts with Fort Lauderdale, the Birds were poised to

make a 30-year commitment to stay there when the rug was pulled from underneath the team and

their local government hosts.

The land where the Fort Lauderdale spring training facility was located was controlled by the

Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA had been renting the land to the city of Fort

Lauderdale that, in turn, had the Orioles as tenants. When the FAA asked for a huge hike in rent

from Fort Lauderdale, the carefully assembled plan began to crumble.

Realizing the Fort Lauderdale deal could be derailed, John Angelos began working on what he

called "Plan B" to make sure the team wasn't left in the lurch.

"We were upfront with everyone there that we needed to consider contingencies," Angelos said.

John Webb, now the president of the Florida Sports Foundation and was a Broward County

tourism executive when the Orioles were trying to hammer out a deal in Fort Lauderdale,

concurred that the Orioles played fair all along.

"We certainly hoped that they were not successful in finding a new place, but I understood what

they needed to do, and they were classy about it," Webb said.

John Angelos' Plan B involved discussing spring training options with a number of Florida

locations, including Palm Beach County and Vero Beach. Early talks with Sarasota seemed to be

going nowhere, in part because some politicians there thought they had a shot to attract the

Boston Red Sox, considered a more glamorous alternative in 2009.

ARIZONA LURE HITS GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Meanwhile, there were many in Florida political, business and civic circles who wanted to make

sure the Orioles stayed in the Grapefruit League.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Arizona's Cactus League has been wildly successful in

luring major league teams that had previously spent their springs in Florida.

Since 2003, five teams -- Kansas City, Texas, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers and, most

recently, Cincinnati -- left Florida for attractive deals in the Southwest.

Arizona was able to attract so many teams by dangling publicly financed new stadiums, some of

them home to more than one team, and all clustered in the Greater Phoenix area to make game

travel easier. Now, there are 15 teams each in Florida and Arizona.

"Arizona did it right -- putting up these huge stadiums that could host two teams," said Wendy

Bitner, who, along with her late husband Dave Bitner, represented Florida's Grapefruit League as

lobbyists and successfully pushed for state funding to keep spring training camps in Florida.

Dave Bitner, who grew up in Hagerstown, Md., also helped introduce Angelos to Sarasota

County officials.

That Sarasota was even a consideration for the Orioles was the result of Arizona's siren song.

The Florida Gulf Coast city, situated about an hour south of Tampa Bay, had been spring home

to the Orioles from 1989-1991, but it was the Chicago White Sox who were Sarasota's main

spring team for more than three decades from 1960-1997. However, the White Sox took off for

Arizona, first training in Tucson, Ariz., and now in Glendale.

The Reds replaced the White Sox in Sarasota, and the city perhaps got complacent thinking

Cincinnati would never move. But after efforts to raises taxes failed in Sarasota to redo Ed Smith

Stadium, the Reds lost patience, and they also bolted for Arizona, the Phoenix suburb of

Goodyear, in 2010.

"Those were tough times for Sarasota," said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County,

the organization responsible for promoting tourism there.

The faltering housing market, which pummeled much of Florida from 2007-2012, hit the

Sarasota area especially hard.

"Sarasota is a baseball town," Haley said. "And it needed a win badly."

GETTING THE DEAL ON TRACK

At the same time the Orioles were looking for a viable spring home after the disappointment in

Fort Lauderdale, the Red Sox were considering making a move from Fort Myers, Fla., and began

a Sarasota flirtation. Whether Boston was serious about Sarasota or just using the city as leverage

for a better deal in Fort Myers is conjecture, but in the end, Boston got a new ballpark, JetBlue

Park at Fenway South, that kept them in Lee County.

In November 2008, John Angelos and Haley, the Sarasota County tourism executive, met for

breakfast in what would turn out to be a watershed meeting for Sarasota and the Orioles. From

that moment on, there was a renewed effort to get the Orioles to Sarasota.

In June 2009, there was positive movement in a joint meeting of Sarasota County and Sarasota

city commissioners. Haley said the business community, especially the local Chamber of

Commerce, got behind the Orioles.

Angelos' pitch was straightforward in offering the area the best deal possible.

"My approach was to put everything on the table and get it out there," he said. "There's no reason

to play poker with anyone, and I didn't want negative stories with what we should have done or

didn't do."

Angelos' message to Sarasota leaders was direct.

"We're not going to just play here and give you ads in the program at Camden Yards," he told

them. "We're going to promote year-round that this is our home away from home, that this is our

sister city or sister region, and while we want people to come here and see our games, we also

think it's a great place to be a corporate citizen and a great place for Orioles fans to visit, to

vacation and even to retire."

In July 2009, the Sarasota County and city commissions gave final approvals, and it was

announced the O's would begin spring training in Sarasota in 2010. Work on Ed Smith Stadium

would begin after that 2010 spring season.

The 30-year lease agreement the Orioles signed with Sarasota called for more than $31 million in

renovations to Ed Smith Stadium.

The completely overhauled stadium complex has turned out to be a perfect spring training

enclave with a façade vaguely reminiscent of Ebbets Field, albeit with a Florida flair, and seating

for 8,500. Beyond centerfield is a cluster of four practice fields.

When the Orioles break camp, the stadium gets more use with college-aged and elite high school

teams playing there. There are also music concerts, and Angelos said he wants to bring in events,

such as beer and food fests, so that the local community feels the stadium belongs to it and isn't

the private preserve of a major league team.

Shannon Staub, who was chairwoman of the Sarasota County commissioners during talks with

the Orioles, said a big part of the baseball organization's appeal was its commitment to being part

of the Sarasota community.

"This is a very philanthropic community, and we value a business that wants to be part of the

community," she said. "The Orioles, being owned by the Angelos family, felt like it was more of

a family operation than some other baseball organizations that felt more corporate."

It was important that the hotel industry got behind the effort because some of the funding for the

stadium renovation came from a new hotel tax. Other funding came from a state grant the

Orioles had secured in the hopes of doing the long-term deal in Fort Lauderdale.

MASN THE TRUMP CARD

Critical to getting Sarasota's political leaders and business community on board was the unique

marketing package John Angelos had brought to the table.

A linchpin was the MASN television channels that are majority owned by the Orioles, with the

Washington Nationals holding a minority interest.

What the Orioles could offer Sarasota, a region that depends on tourists and retirement- and

second-home purchasers, was an opportunity to reach a valuable audience.

"Without the opportunities from the Orioles and MASN, we could never afford to advertise

Sarasota to the Baltimore-Washington market. That's an expensive market," said Haley, the head

of the Sarasota County visitors group. "The partnership with the Orioles has driven traffic to our

website, visitation has grown and it's not just for the time that there's spring training. It's the rest

of the year as well."

In addition to television spots on the MASN channels and radio ads during games, Sarasota gets

exposure through events such as FanFest held in January or February at the Baltimore

Convention Center that draws an estimated 15,000 fans. The public may be there to connect with

players and coaches and collect autographs, but it's the perfect opportunity to whet the appetite

of baseball-starved fans with the prospect of a trip to spring training.

"When we first started going to FanFest, the reaction we were getting from fans was, ‘Woe, is

me … we're used to Fort Lauderdale,'" Haley said. "Now, we get fans volunteering what their

favorite restaurants are in Sarasota and looking for suggestions on new places."

In just about every conceivable way, the Orioles organization has helped get more visibility for

its sister city in Florida.

During the season, there's a "Visit Sarasota County Day" at Oriole Park. In early April, the Visit

Sarasota County organization hosts the annual Greater Baltimore Committee's Orioles luncheon

to get the Florida city's message in front of influential attendees.

Also during the baseball season, the Sarasota tourism folks get use of luxury suites at Camden

Yards and Nationals Park to host and target the Baltimore-area travel industry.

In terms of what marketing folks call "impressions," the Orioles deliver an array of opportunities

for Sarasota. A far-reaching one is signage touting Sarasota behind home plate at Oriole Park

that reaches not just the Baltimore region, but also viewers in other East Coast markets, such as

New York.

Perhaps some of the best marketing opportunities for Sarasota are simply the spring training

games that are broadcast from Ed Smith Stadium. Seven Orioles spring training games will be

broadcasted live on MASN this year, with four of those being re-broadcasted later. There's

perhaps nothing quite as enticing for a baseball fan than to be sitting home with near-freezing

temperatures outside and watching the home team playing the summer game with folks in the

stands in short sleeves.

Sarasota tourism officials calculate that the marketing opportunities provided by the Orioles

amount to about $1 million, and visitation statistics seem to back up the efficacy of all the

promotion.

Visitors to Sarasota from Maryland more than doubled from 5,000 in 2009 to 10,300 in 2012,

according to Visit Sarasota County.

The growth has continued in more recent years.

In the first three months of 2014 -- spring training time -- overall visitation to Sarasota County

grew 4.3 percent from 2013, a jump of more than 11,000 visitors. Expenditures from visitors

grew even more, 8.8 percent. And average attendance at Ed Smith Stadium was 7,454 per game,

just about 88 percent of capacity. This year, there are 16 home spring training games.

O'S FANS TREK SOUTHWARD

A couple of those Baltimore-area visitors are Hal Hackerman and Bill Jones, two friends who

travel to Sarasota every year with a larger group to follow the Orioles. In fact, both Hackerman

and Jones have been making spring training pilgrimages for more than 30 years, so they have a

breadth of experience.

"Sarasota is very family-oriented," said Hackerman, a CPA from Baltimore who will be making

his annual trip in March again this year. "The stadium is great. There's easy parking. There are a

lot of good places to eat."

A favorite spot for stone crabs, Hackerman said, is Moore's on Longboat Key.

"And there are a lot of places to stay. Some of the guys who go with us want something less

expensive, so they stay out toward the airport. But when we started, we stayed at a Hyatt, and

we've been at the Ritz-Carlton. There's a Holiday Inn at Lido Beach. So there's a good range."

Jones, who does development, business and government relations consulting and lives in

Towson, Md., is just the type of visitor the Sarasota folks were hoping to attract when they

landed the Orioles. Not only is Jones a regular yearly visitor, he's also considering buying a

second home there.

"I think my wife and I will take a look," he said. "They have some of the best beaches in the

world, good restaurants, there's a good amount of cultural activity, including the performing arts,

and, of course, the fact that the Orioles have their spring training home there is a big plus."

For fans like Hackerman and Jones, Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium is a paradise that gets them

closer to the game than they could ever hope for at a major league park.

"You can actually hear the players' and the coaches' chatter," Hackerman said.

For the Orioles organization, the location is perfect.

Four of the five American League East teams make their spring homes on Florida's West Coast,

with the New York Yankees in Tampa Bay, the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., and the Red

Sox in Fort Myers. Close to the Orioles and Sarasota are the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton,

Fla., the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., and the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla.

That's also good for fans like Hackerman and Jones because they can drive to see the Orioles at

away spring training games.

Had things gone more smoothly for the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale six or seven years ago, they

would have found themselves isolated in South Florida, with the nearest teams being the St.

Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, more than 60 miles to the north in Jupiter.

"When you have eight or nine clubs around you, and all of the AL East, it really solved lot of the

problems that we had and were increasingly having in Fort Lauderdale because teams were

leaving, and no one was coming back," John Angelos said.

So, while events beyond the Orioles' control -- such as the FAA insisting on much more rent in

Fort Lauderdale for that spring training site and Arizona luring more teams there -- were

buffeting the Birds, the end result was a winner.

"The irony is that we wound up in a place that served our interests better than even if things had

gone more our way on the East Coast," Angelos said.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/12/2015-orioles-spring-training-preview-position-

battles

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Position Battles

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

February 16, 2015

The 2014 season saw the Orioles win 96 games, clinch their first American League East title in

17 years and make a run to the American League Championship Series. Yet, as they report to

2015 spring training in Sarasota, Fla., the O's still have their fair share of questions to try to

answer at camp. How will their injury-rehabbing stars fare? Can they find quality options to

replace key 2014 contributors Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller, who left the

team as free agents? Let's take a closer look at some of the Birds' top storylines for spring

training.

ORIOLES POSITION BATTLES

The Orioles made few offseason additions from outside the organization this winter, which

means they'll be auditioning several in-house candidates to fill the holes left by their departing

free agents. A few jobs will be up for grabs in spring training.

CORNER OUTFIELD/DESIGNATED HITTER

It's only natural to combine these three lineup spots into one battle, because the same contenders

are battling for all three. Of the quintet of Alejandro De Aza, David Lough, Steve Pearce, Travis

Snider and Delmon Young, all five could coexist on the roster, but the question is how their

playing time will be divided among the three spots.

Pearce is likely to be a near-everyday player coming off his breakout 2014, splitting time in left

field, right field and at designated hitter as needed. Young is slated for designated hitter duty

against lefties. De Aza could be the primary left fielder against right-handed pitchers; ditto for

Snider in right field. Lough can serve as a defensive replacement and spot starter. But with De

Aza, Snider and Lough all left-handed batters, who will start against southpaws alongside the

righty swinging Pearce and Young? Manager Buck Showalter will have a juggling act on his

hands and could end up using multiple platoons.

LEADOFF HITTER

With the departure of Markakis -- who served as the Birds' leadoff hitter for all but 14 games in

2014 -- the O's have a void atop the lineup.

The frontrunner to replace him in the No. 1 spot is De Aza, who has 296 career starts at leadoff.

The speedy Lough, too, could see some leadoff action when he starts. But what about against

left-handed pitchers, when neither De Aza nor Lough is likely to be in the lineup? That's when it

gets interesting. One possibility is Pearce, who is not a prototypical leadoff hitter but led the O's

with a .373 OBP in 2014. A dark horse candidate -- if he makes the team -- is Nolan Reimold,

who hit well during a brief stint in the leadoff role in 2012.

STARTING ROTATION

No matter how many times you do the math, you'll end up with the same result: the Orioles

currently have six starting pitchers for five spots. It's a real-life game of musical chairs, and one

hurler will be left out come Opening Day.

Righty Chris Tillman and lefty Wei-Yin Chen are locks for the rotation, barring injury, and right-

hander Bud Norris is a safe bet coming off a strong 2014. The weak link of the bunch in 2014

was control-challenged righty Ubaldo Jimenez, who fizzled in the first season of a four-year, $50

million free-agent contract. But with the amount of money owed to Jimenez, the O's will likely

give him another shot in the rotation, hoping he can carry over the late-season mechanical

changes he made in 2014.

Then again, neither Miguel Gonzalez nor Kevin Gausman did anything to lose their claim on a

starting spot either, as both put up strong 2014 numbers. But the righties Gonzalez and Gausman

both have bullpen experience, so if anyone has to move out of the rotation in the short term,

they're the likely candidates. Gausman also has a minor league option, but the O's are tired of

shuttling him between the majors and minors as they've done the past two seasons.

BULLPEN

The Orioles have almost an embarrassment of riches on the pitching staff -- which are words you

rarely heard during long stretches of the club's recent history. Every primary member of their

2014 bullpen is still on the roster in 2015, minus Miller. But only closer Zach Britton and righty

setup men Darren O'Day and Tommy Hunter are guaranteed spots.

Newly-signed lefty Wesley Wright has the inside track on a specialist role, which could spell

trouble for incumbent southpaw Brian Matusz, who was erratic in 2014. Veteran righty Ryan

Webb is entering the second year of a two-year, $4.5 million contract, but fell out of favor with

the Birds during the second half of 2014. Righty Brad Brach and lefty T.J. McFarland both fared

well in 2014, but there might be room for only one of them. And the Orioles would like to give a

long look in spring training at young right-handers Logan Verrett and Jason Garcia, whom they

acquired in the Rule 5 draft. Much could be decided based on spring training performances.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/12/2015-orioles-spring-training-preview-non-roster-

invitees

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Non-Roster Invitees

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

February 16, 2015

The 2014 season saw the Orioles win 96 games, clinch their first American League East title in

17 years and make a run to the American League Championship Series. Yet, as they report to

2015 spring training in Sarasota, Fla., the O's still have their fair share of questions to try to

answer at camp. How will their injury-rehabbing stars fare? Can they find quality options to

replace key 2014 contributors Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller, who left the

team as free agents? Let's take a closer look at some of the Birds' top storylines for spring

training.

ORIOLES NON-ROSTER INVITEE

Every so often, a non-roster veteran takes advantage of a spring training invite to make the club

and contribute. Case in point: Delmon Young's career was seemingly on its last legs in 2014, but

he played his way onto the Opening Day roster, became a valuable pinch-hitter and delivered one

of the biggest postseason hits in O's history, a key three-run double in Game 2 of the American

League Division Series against Detroit. Which notable non-roster invitees will be in 2015 camp -

- and could one of them be the next Young?

J.P. ARENCIBIA, C

A former Toronto Blue Jays catcher, Arencibia is not exactly an on-base machine. In fact, he's

almost historically terrible at it. In 2013, he compiled a .227 OBP in 497 plate appearances, the

second-worst mark in baseball history for a player with that many plate appearances. He hasn't

held a starting job since. But Arencibia, 29, is known as a capable defensive catcher, and

manager Buck Showalter values defense above all else in his backstops. It doesn't hurt that

Arencibia has power; he popped 18 or more homers during each of his three seasons as Toronto's

regular catcher. The O's will need a third catcher at some point -- perhaps as early as Opening

Day, depending on Wieters' health -- and Arencibia is a top candidate for the job.

MARK HENDRICKSON, LHP

Yes, that Hendrickson. His athletic career has spanned four years in the NBA and 10 years in

MLB, most recently with the Orioles from 2009-2011. He's now a 40-year-old grandfather, but

he hasn't hung up the cleats yet. He spent 2014 pitching for the independent York Revolution and

reinvented himself as a sidearmer, giving hitters a confusing arm angle to track from a 6-foot-9

southpaw. The O's agreed to give him a spring training invite. He stands almost no chance of

making the team, but if nothing else, he'll be an interesting story to follow.

STEVE JOHNSON, RHP

It wasn't too long ago -- 2012 -- Johnson provided an inspiring “hometown kid makes good”

story, going 4-0 during 12 games for the postseason-bound Orioles. The Baltimore-born

Johnson, son of former O's hurler and current MASN broadcaster Dave Johnson, has seen his

career stall since then. His 2014 was a lost cause because of a shoulder injury, which required

offseason surgery to remove a bone spur. Johnson, 27, could have left the organization as a

minor league free agent this winter, but he elected to return to the Birds on a minor league deal.

If healthy, he could provide bullpen depth in 2015.

CHRIS PARMELEE, 1B/OF

A former first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins, Parmelee has put up prodigious

offensive numbers in the minor leagues -- with 105 home runs and a career .820 OPS -- but

hasn't seen his success translate to the major league level, posting a sub-.700 OPS during each of

the last three years. Parmelee, 26, signed a minor league deal with the Birds hoping to compete

for a spot as a lefty-swinging outfielder, but his chances of making the team took a hit when the

O's acquired Travis Snider Jan. 27. Still, Parmelee could see big league time at some point in

2015.

NOLAN REIMOLD, OF

He's back. Reimold spent the first five seasons of his career with the Orioles, but amassed less

than two seasons' worth of at bats, thanks to a calamitous string of injuries capped by a pair of

neck surgeries in consecutive years. The O's sent Reimold packing in 2014, but after brief stints

with Toronto and Arizona, he's back with the Birds on a minor league deal. At 31, Reimold is

now six years removed from his impressive rookie year with the Orioles, and expectations for

him aren't high. But he's a low-cost, low-risk pickup and a sentimental favorite.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/12/2015-orioles-spring-training-preview-injury-report

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Injury Report

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

February 16, 2015

The 2014 season saw the Orioles win 96 games, clinch their first American League East title in

17 years and make a run to the American League Championship Series. Yet, as they report to

2015 spring training in Sarasota, Fla., the O's still have their fair share of questions to try to

answer at camp. How will their injury-rehabbing stars fare? Can they find quality options to

replace key 2014 contributors Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller, who left the

team as free agents? Let's take a closer look at some of the Birds' top storylines for spring

training.

THE ORIOLES INJURY REPORT

For all the Orioles' 2014 success, just imagine what they might have done if their Gold Glove

catcher and third baseman had been healthy all year. Two O's All-Stars will be returning from

injury in 2015, and the O's will be watching them carefully during camp.

MANNY MACHADO

This is the second straight year Machado has been listed in the spring training injury report. At

the 2014 camp, he was coming off knee surgery. In 2015, he's doing the exact same thing, except

this time it's his right knee instead of his left.

A year ago, still hampered by his Oct. 14, 2013 surgery, Machado couldn't participate in

Grapefruit League games, and didn't return to the Orioles until May 1. But one advantage

Machado has this season over last is that he's a couple extra months removed from his surgery.

When spring training begins, it will have been nearly six months since his Aug. 27, 2014

procedure to repair a partial tear of his right knee ligament. The average recovery time is six and

a half months, meaning Machado could be back in action by March and full-go by Opening Day.

Still, Orioles fans will likely be holding their breath every time Machado dives for a ball or takes

an awkward swing.

MATT WIETERS

When it comes to Tommy John surgery, there's plenty of documented history about how pitchers

recover. But for position players? Not so much. Wieters is one of a very few catchers who has

undergone the procedure, so the O's will be keeping a close eye on his rehabilitation this spring.

If his recovery follows the same timeline as the average pitcher's -- about one year to regain full

strength in his throwing arm -- he might not be 100 percent until close to midseason, when he'll

be 12 months removed from his June 17, 2014 surgery.

Wieters' elbow doesn't restrict him from swinging a bat, so if nothing else, he's ready to

contribute on the offensive end. But if Wieters doesn't recover enough arm strength to serve

behind the plate by Opening Day, the O's will have a difficult decision on their hands. They'll

either have to restrict Wieters to designated hitter duty while his elbow recovers, or place him on

the disabled list -- potentially for a month or two -- until he's ready to defend.

KEY DATES

Feb. 19: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training

Feb. 24: Full squad reports to spring training

March 3: First spring training game (1:05 p.m. at Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla.)

March 4: First home spring training game (1:05 p.m. vs. Detroit Tigers in Sarasota, Fla.)

April 4: Final spring training game (3:05 p.m. at Atlanta Braves in Kissimmee, Fla.)

April 6: Regular-season opener (3:10 p.m. at Tampa Bay Rays in Tampa, Fla.)

April 10: Regular-season home opener (3:05 p.m. vs. Toronto Blue Jays in Baltimore)

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/12/2015-orioles-spring-training-preview-projected-25-

man-roster

2015 Orioles Spring Training Preview: Projected 25-Man

Roster

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

February 16, 2015

The 2014 season saw the Orioles win 96 games, clinch their first American League East title in

17 years and make a run to the American League Championship Series. Yet, as they report to

2015 spring training in Sarasota, Fla., the O's still have their fair share of questions to try to

answer at camp. How will their injury-rehabbing stars fare? Can they find quality options to

replace key 2014 contributors Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller, who left the

team as free agents? Let's take a closer look at some of the Birds' top storylines for spring

training.

THE ORIOLES PROJECTED 25-MAN ROSTER

Despite the Orioles' offseason free-agent departures, they'll still begin spring training with well

more than 25 players who can make a strong case for an Opening Day roster spot. Here's one

guess at how it'll shake out.

STARTING LINEUP (NINE)

C Matt Wieters

LF Alejandro De Aza

1B Chris Davis*

CF Adam Jones

2B Jonathan Schoop

RF Travis Snider

3B Manny Machado

DH Steve Pearce

SS J.J. Hardy

BENCH (FOUR)

IF Ryan Flaherty

C Caleb Joseph

OF David Lough

OF Delmon Young

STARTING ROTATION (FIVE)

RHP Chris Tillman

LHP Wei-Yin Chen

RHP Bud Norris

RHP Kevin Gausman

RHP Ubaldo Jimenez

BULLPEN (SEVEN)

RHP Brad Brach

RHP Miguel Gonzalez

RHP Tommy Hunter

LHP Brian Matusz

RHP Darren O'Day

LHP Wesley Wright

LHP Zach Britton (closer)

The asterisk next to Davis' name indicates that he'll miss Opening Day to serve the final game of

the 25-game amphetamine suspension he received in September 2014. He is eligible to return to

the roster in time for the Orioles' second game. So one unlucky Oriole could have the privilege

of cracking the Opening Day roster, only to get dumped the next day when Davis returns.

This projected roster assumes Machado and Wieters will both be healthy enough to break camp

with the team. If either suffers a setback in spring training, though, the equation changes. A

Machado disabled list stint would create a need for an extra infielder such as Jimmy Paredes or

newcomer Rey Navarro, while Wieters' absence would open a starting spot for Joseph and a

backup gig for J.P. Arencibia or Steve Clevenger.

Among the Orioles' six starting pitchers, the versatile Gonzalez is most likely to draw the short

straw, getting bumped to the bullpen until a rotation spot opens up. That, in turn, will bump a

veteran reliever off the roster -- perhaps Webb, who is a strong trade candidate. The bullpen

roster crunch could also lead lefty McFarland to start the year at Triple-A Norfolk, and it'll be

tough for either Rule 5 draft pick (Logan Verrett and Jason Garcia) to make the team.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/02/12/orioles-enter-2015-with-several-compelling-

storylines

Orioles Enter 2015 With Several Compelling Storylines

By Stan Charles / PressBoxOnline.com

February 16, 2015

As is the case with any season -- and any baseball team -- the 2015 Baltimore Orioles will have

lots of storylines that will not only factor into whether they are a success this season, but that

may factor into how the Birds are set up for the foreseeable future. Here are a few:

THE DAN DUQUETTE EFFECT

I am simply amazed at how much negativity has been tossed at Orioles vice president of baseball

operations Dan Duquette after reports surfaced he may be leaving to become president of the

Toronto Blue Jays. Duquette will be staying in Baltimore, but he has been under rapid fire from a

fan base that knew nothing of winning for 14 years.

This is a guy who couldn't get a job in the baseball for 10 years, and now has resurrected his

career and his capability of earning big dollars. Pretty much anybody in Duquette's position

would have wanted to see one of two outcomes: 1. Be allowed to go to Toronto with a more

prestigious title of team president and the riches that would have come with the title; 2. Stay in

Baltimore and be offered a similar position or even a decent bump in pay.

Duquette ended up with door No. 3, which was, "Hey, you signed a contract here in Baltimore,

and you're not going anywhere." Duquette isn't thrilled with the choice that was made for him.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out for the team in the near future.

WILL DYLAN BUNDY ASCEND?

Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy is perhaps the organization's biggest question, and his

fate could go a long way in determining whether the Orioles have a true No. 1 among their

young pitchers. Drafted out of high school as the No. 4 overall pick during the 2011 draft, Bundy

looked every bit as good as advertised during his first season with the organization. He

meteorically rose through the ranks from Single-A ball to the majors in 2012, becoming the first

Oriole since Mike Adams in 1967 to make his debut before turning 20.

But 2013 was a lost cause for Bundy, as he missed the entire season after having Tommy John

surgery. Then, he had mixed results the following season. The start of his 2014 campaign was

delayed until mid-June. Bundy started three games with Single-A Aberdeen and compiled a 0.60

ERA during three starts that spanned 15 innings. In July, he was promoted to High-A Frederick -

- where he had dominated in 2012 -- and he found it tough sledding this time around. During five

starts in July he racked up a 5.78 ERA. After one impressive start during August, Bundy's season

was cut short due to a strained lat muscle.

Now, he comes into spring training with the kid gloves removed. Bundy doesn't have to make an

impact at the major league level in 2015, but he does need to re-establish himself as someone

who is ready and able to make an impact in the majors.

CAN THE ORIOLES AND MATT WIETERS FIND TRUE LOVE?

It seems like only yesterday that then-O's director of amateur scouting Joe Jordan took a big risk

in drafting switch-hitting, power-hitting and defensive savant catcher Matt Wieters with the No.

5 pick during the 2007 draft. The risk was all about whether the O's could sign a Scott Boras

client. Jordan told his superiors he could get his name on the dotted line. A wrinkle developed as

Jordan's superiors -- general manager Mike Flanagan and vice president of baseball operations

Jim Duquette -- were supplanted and replaced by Andy MacPhail in 2007.

Jordan proved his mettle in ascertaining that Wieters would sign, and as the negotiations

developed, Wieters pushed his agent to get a deal done with the Orioles. Now, it has all come

full circle, but Wieters' value has been put in doubt somewhat following Tommy John surgery

last season.

If he comes back with a big season in 2015, he'll most likely price himself out of Baltimore. But

manager Buck Showalter loves this kid as his field general behind the plate. So, will history

repeat itself, with Boras being told to get a deal done to remain in Baltimore? It is possible.

WILL DARIEL ALVAREZ, MIKE YASTRZEMSKI AND CHRISTIAN WALKER

BECOME "NO DOUBT ABOUT IT PROSPECTS?"

Since Cal Ripken Jr. made it to the big leagues in 1982, the Orioles farm system has drafted and

developed the following major league position players of any renown: Steve Finley, Jeffrey

Hammonds, Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters, Manny Machado and Jonathan

Schoop. That's seven players in 32 years. But note that four have come in the last nine years. The

farm system was a disaster at helping the big league club, and the results on the field were

actually quite predictable.

It seems an impediment to success is about to be removed with an interesting group of three

players -- Dariel Alvarez, Mike Yastrzemski and Christian Walker -- who could all be pushing

for full-time spots in 2016. Of the three, many feel Alvarez is close, because he plays superior

defense.

But all three will have one thing in common in 2015. They'll have all eyes on them in spring

training, and how they are perceived going into 2016 will be a big storyline.

WILL ORANGE FERVOR CONTINUE AMONG YOUTH?

I was at Babe Ruth's birthday bash Feb. 6, and I was standing around with five movers and

shakers in the Orioles Advocates. And one longtime member pointed out how much joy she gets

in how the young people are getting to experience exactly what folks in the 1950s, 1960s and

1970s took for granted -- namely that when the Orioles are playing well, it is simply the best

thing going.

If FanFest attendance was any indication, the glory days of the Orioles have returned, when a lot

of veteran fans had become decidedly cynical. But with the young fans leading the way, Oriole

Park at Camden Yards is electric like it's never been before.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/02/15/ranking-major-league-

managers/SAW13kzqyXkbju5tvDYjIK/story.html

Ranking MLB’s managers entering 2015 season

By Nick Cafardo / The Boston Globe

February 15, 2015

For the past few years leading into spring training we’ve attempted managerial rankings. They

are based on my opinions and the opinions of the many people around baseball I speak with

during the course of the week.

The rankings factor in recent performance and track record. Obviously, a manager’s performance

is tied into the talent on his roster and his ability to push that talent to positive results.

How many games can a manager win or lose for a team? Who really knows, especially now that

front offices are making managers factor in analytics?

As always, we put first-time managers at the bottom of the list:

1. Bruce Bochy, Giants — This one wasn’t hard. Three out of five championships, great

player/manager communication, great use of his bullpen, just a great feel for the personnel on his

team. The fact he gets the most out of good but not great talent speaks volumes.

2. Buck Showalter, Orioles — Showalter seems to be one of those guys who can win games for

his team. Tremendously organized, aware of the limitations or abilities of his personnel, and a

good in-game manager who sets a professional tone for his team.

3. Joe Maddon, Cubs — Consistently near the top of these rankings. Innovative, fun, smart.

Don’t like that he reintroduced defensive shifts to the game. New challenge with the Cubs, but

similar to the Rays in that he’ll be managing young players and trying to elevate the

organization. He can do that.

4. Terry Francona, Indians — Can’t argue with his record, methods, and track record for

getting optimum performance out of his players. He had super talent in Boston and managed big

egos. He’s now taken a small-market team and made it relevant. Great use of the bullpen and

resting players at the right time.

5. Bob Melvin, Athletics — So consistent in his approach and methods, the way he

communicates with players. He can be tough and emotional, and also a good teacher. He has to

deal with a lot of front-office intervention but keeps his identity as a manager and stays true to

who he is. There’s a reason he’s a two-time Manager of the Year.

6. Clint Hurdle, Pirates — He may not be the renaissance man Maddon is, but he is one of the

top motivators in the game. Nobody uplifts his players more than Hurdle.

7. Mike Scioscia, Angels — He’s got nothing left to prove. He loves a roster that stresses

defense, running, and pitching, and when he has that he flourishes. He’s opening himself up to

analytics, while still emphasizing his tremendous instincts.

8. Joe Girardi, Yankees — Anyone in this seat would have his hair on fire most of the time, but

Girardi manages to hold himself together under the toughest of circumstances and usually makes

the most out of a difficult situation. Girardi’s teams have been killed by injuries the last couple of

years, but he’s managed to keep the Yankees in the playoff hunt. He does things his way.

Sometimes pigheaded, but that’s OK. He leads.

9. Mike Matheny, Cardinals — Matheny inherited a great roster and hasn’t messed it up. Are

there moves along the way, in-game especially, that raise an eyebrow or two? Certainly, as some

of our baseball people pointed out. But as time goes by Matheny, who had no managerial

experience when he took the job, continues to grow.

10. John Farrell, Red Sox — He’s experienced severe ups and downs in Toronto and Boston,

but he’s managed to stay even-keeled, has stuck to his message, and created an atmosphere

where players can excel. Does he need more fire? That’s been a complaint, but intensity can’t be

contrived. His personality is his personality. He’s one of the smartest managers during games

and likely has a future as a general manager.

11. Bud Black, Padres — A personal favorite, Black has had little to work with but he stands out

as a guy who gets it, seeking solutions for problems that at times are unsolvable because of a

lack of personnel. He won’t have that issue this year with a revamped lineup and pitching staff.

Maybe now the rest of the baseball will see how good he is.

12. Lloyd McClendon, Mariners — Do you learn after your first managerial stint and then years

of coaching? Of course. McClendon’s fire and leadership are starting to seep into his team. He

also has some talent now, which should begin to get him more notice as a top motivator and

manager.

13. Mike Redmond, Marlins — Before he took the job, he was consistently one of the names

mentioned as a possible good manager. After wading through growing pains and a poor roster,

Redmond is establishing himself as that guy. Enhancements to the roster make him better able to

turn that acumen into wins, and we’ll see if the Marlins stay in contention in the National League

East.

14. Ned Yost, Royals — Other than the hiccup in the playoffs when he took out James

Shields and went with rookie Yordano Ventura, who gave up a home run to Brandon Moss, Yost

managed very well in the postseason. He’s not liked by the analytics folks because he bunts too

much, but oh well. The Royals performed well.

15. Brad Ausmus, Tigers — Went through all of the first-time manager woes. While the game

was too fast at times, he caught up. One of the smartest people in the game, Ausmus will rise to

the top of this list soon.

16. John Gibbons, Blue Jays — Your record (462-472) is what you are, but this is a guy who

has searched deep inside to come up with the right tone and perspective. He’s been tough, soft,

and maybe now he is a guy who can manage people, tries to get his personnel to play the game

the right way, and has found himself.

17. Don Mattingly, Dodgers — Kudos for being able to handle such a complicated roster.

Mattingly had to deal with Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Yasiel

Puig, etc. Mattingly had smoke coming out of his head at times, but he survived. He now has a

team with fewer headaches, but one that perhaps isn’t as talented. New management stuck with

him.

18. Ron Roenicke, Brewers — It is said that Roenicke is under fire after a late-season collapse

(9-17) and could be one of the first fired if the Brewers don’t get off to a good start. Roenicke is

a cerebral guy who loves the game and knows it inside and out. It would be a shame to blame

some of the Brewers’ woes strictly on him.

19. Terry Collins, Mets — Baseball knowledge? It’s hard to find someone with more street

smarts about baseball. The results haven’t been there, and to its credit management has never

sought to make Collins the scapegoat. He’s got a developing roster and pitching staff that should

make the Mets a compelling team to watch in 2015.

20. Robin Ventura, White Sox — Ventura would be the first to tell you that it hasn’t been easy

going from the street to managing a major league team. He’s had to deal with a substandard

roster and all kinds of changes, but now the White Sox have given him the riches of a viable

pitching staff, which should bode well for his bottom line.

21. Bryan Price, Reds — A solid manager who has made the Black/Farrell transition to the

bench. The Reds are a challenge given their limited resources. Price isn’t a miracle worker and it

looks as if he’d have to be that for the Reds to be relevant in 2015. We know he’s an excellent

pitching coach. Now he must show he’s just as good of a manager.

22. Fredi Gonzalez, Braves — Gonzalez had a bad roster last season and had no chance to turn

around the Braves. New team president John Hart acknowledged that and kept Gonzalez as the

manager. He’s overcome his bullpen management issues, but now the Braves won’t be relevant

until 2017 with a rebuild going on. The experienced Gonzalez needs to produce a team that plays

hard even if it doesn’t win.

23. Matt Williams, Nationals — We remember the yanking of Jordan Zimmermann in that

playoff game with the Giants as a brain cramp that probably cost the Nationals a chance to go

far. But there’s a more extensive body of work than that one move. The rookie manager made

some rookie mistakes.

24. Ryne Sandberg, Phillies — Love Sandberg’s fire and him wanting to be tough on players

who need it. He has no fear that way. Obviously, he’s presiding over a team that won’t be viable

for at least a couple of years. We’ll see if he survives it.

25. Walt Weiss, Rockies — Another manager who is hard to judge given the obstacles he faces

with a substandard pitching staff and two superstars, Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, who

can’t stay on the field at the same time. Those who watch Weiss consistently see a competent

manager who finds himself in an unmanageable situation.

26. A.J. Hinch, Astros — Hinch was way ahead of his time when he was hired in Arizona in

2009. He was one of the first analytical managers, but it was too soon, and the 1½ years with the

Diamondbacks weren’t pretty. Having spent his time since in player development and perhaps

now knowing how to use the numbers and being in the most analytical organization of all, he

should be a good fit for the Astros.

27. Kevin Cash, Rays — Indications are he’ll have a competitive team because of the pitching,

which he can handle. He’s been in the Tampa Bay market as a player, so he understands all of it.

He’s in that “you knew he was going to be a manager” camp from his days with the Red Sox.

28. Jeff Banister, Rangers — Worked under Hurdle in Pittsburgh, and the Rangers won’t be

horrible. With Prince Fielder and other injured players back, he should have a good first season.

29. Chip Hale, Diamondbacks — A former bench and third base coach in two stints with

Melvin, Hale has learned something and now he’ll put it to good use with the Diamondbacks,

who are looking for a new purpose under Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart.

30. Paul Molitor, Twins — The second Hall of Famer to take a crack at managing, he joins

Sandberg in trying to apply the things that made him great to players who will likely be inferior.

This is not easy. Ted Williams also struggled as a manager because players couldn’t live up to

what he expected. Molitor has been around the Twins as a coach so the transition shouldn’t be

severe.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/18/the-orioles-left-and-right-field-spots-will-be-rotated-

heavily/

The Orioles Left And Right Field Spots Will Be

Rotated Heavily

CBS Baltimore

February 18, 2015

Brittany Ghiroli is the Orioles beat reporter for MLB.com.

Brittany joined Ed and Steve to talk about the Orioles roster heading toward spring training.

Brittany started off by talking about what roster spots are up for grabs in spring training saying “I

think you’re looking at who is going to be the every day guy in left field and in right field…what

do you do with David Lough? Those outfield spots could be rotated heavily in spring training

and throughout the year.” Brittany also talked about the starting rotation and the DH position

being key places for someone to make the roster.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/17/sports-rehab-steve-melewski-talking-orioles-baseball/

Sports Rehab: Steve Melewski Talks Orioles Baseball

CBS Baltimore

February 17, 2015

Steve Melewski of MASN Sports joined Sports Rehab to talk about the Orioles as Spring

Training starts in a few days.

The phrase “pitcher and catchers report” is a clear sign that spring is right around the corner. For

the Baltimore Orioles, that day is this coming Friday. Many of the players are already in

Sarasota, Florida getting in some early work before the first full squad workout on February

25th. A few national pudits are predicting the Orioles to take a step back after last years AL East

title. One report has the prediction of the O’s winning just 78 games in 2015. When about the

reports, Melewski replied “At some point, you can’t use just numbers. The output on the field

can’t be ignored.”

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/02/14/scott-garceau-orioles-first-to-worst/

Scott Garceau: Orioles First To Worst

By Scott Garceau / CBS Baltimore

February 14, 2015

Pitchers and catchers go to work next week in Sarasota and I guess it’s fair to ask, who are these

Orioles? If you believe the stat nerds at Fangraphs this is a team ready to collapse from first to

worst. That’s right the analytics guys tell us the O’s will finish in last place in the AL East with a

79-83 record. They say it’ll be Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay, New York and Baltimore.

I get it, the Orioles had a bad off-season, Nelson Cruz took his 40 homers to Seattle, Nick

Markakis headed south to Atlanta, lights out Andrew Miller is a damn Yankee and Executive of

the Year Dan Duquette spent the off-season dreaming of Toronto. Last I checked Buck

Showalter was still the manager and his lineup should include All-Stars Matt Wieters, Chris

Davis, JJ Hardy, Manny Machado and Adam Jones.

Didn’t Steve Pierce hit 26 dongs in ’14? Jonathan Schoop had an impressive rookie year and

Alejandro De Aza, Travis Snyder and Delmon Young can swing the bat. The Orioles pitching

fueled their AL East title last season, all 5 starters return plus Ubaldo Jimenez and bullpen

leaders Zach Britton and Darren O’Day.

It’s fair to say the pitchers won’t be able to repeat what they did in ’14 but isn’t it possible if 1 or

2 slip and Kevin Gausman’s career takes off the change will be negligible. The Orioles don’t

have that elite number 1 starter but who in the division does? Chris Tillman went 20 consecutive

starts last season allowing 3 runs or fewer.

The Rays Alex Cobb and Tillman might be the two best starters in the East. Maybe the O’s

won’t win the division in 2015 and they may not win 96 games this summer, but last place? The

Orioles won the East by 12 games last year and finished 25 games ahead of Boston. Dead last in

2015? C’mon man! From here hon, I expect the O’s to be in the thick of it and Buck has every

right to say “I like our guys.”

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/18/the-orioles-are-close-to-signing-everth-cabrera/

The Orioles are close to signing Everth Cabrera

By Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com

February 18, 2015

I forgot this guy was even out there looking for a job:

The Padres cut bait on him with a non-tender after he batted just .232/.272/.300 in 391 plate

appearances in 2014. Given that he made $2.45 million as a first-year arbitration eligible player,

they wisely didn’t want to pay $3 million or $4 million to see if he might bounce back. And

that’d before you get into his legal problems, his being wound up in the Biogenesis thing and

everything else.

But, on a cheap deal on the eve of spring training? Well, that’s a pretty low-dollar, low-risk kind

of move for a 28-year-old middle infielder who has shown flashes of production in the past. It

would’ve been bad for the Padres to keep him, but it’s a pretty savvy pickup for the Orioles.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/17/orioles-sign-jayson-nix/

Orioles sign Jayson Nix

By Aaron Gleeman / NBCSports.com

February 17, 2015

Looking to add some infield depth, the Orioles have signed journeyman Jayson Nix to a minor-

league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Nix has spent parts of seven seasons in the majors playing for eight different teams, including the

Royals, Pirates, and Phillies last year.

He’s a 32-year-old career .212 hitter with a .627 OPS, but has played every position except

center field and catch in the big leagues.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/14/j-j-hardy-would-have-preferred-to-re-sign-with-

orioles-sooner/

J.J. Hardy would have preferred to re-sign with

Orioles sooner

By Bill Baer / NBCSport.com

February 14, 2015

The Orioles announced a three-year, $40 million extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy back in

October, but if Hardy had his way, he would’ve inked his name a lot sooner. Via MASN’s Steve

Melewski:

“It kind of went a lot longer than I wanted it to,” Hardy said. “I didn’t think it needed to go that

long, but it did. But I told my agent, ‘Listen, this is what I want and I like it in Baltimore. Let’s

get to what is fair and make this happen.’ Now that it is done, I’m glad everything worked out as

it did.”

It was important for the Orioles to extend Hardy before he hit the open market, as several rich

teams including the Yankees and Dodgers made changes at shortstop and that would have driven

Hardy’s price up. Despite only hitting nine home runs last season, the 86 he has slugged since

the start of the 2011 season leads all shortstops, ahead of Troy Tulowitzki‘s 84. The Orioles also

saw Nelson Cruz sign with the Mariners, so losing Hardy would have been a crippling blow to

their power hitting.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/14/chris-davis-i-think-there-are-definitely-situations-

where-i-need-to-bunt/

Chris Davis: “I think there are definitely situations where I

need to bunt”

By D.J. Short / NBCSports.com

February 14, 2015

Orioles slugger Chris Davis finished third in the balloting for the American League MVP Award

in 2013 after launching 56 home runs and amassing 138 RBI, but he took a major step back last

year by batting just .196/.300/.404 over 127 games before he was handed a season-ending 25-

game suspension for amphetamine use. While Davis saw his strikeout rate increase by 3.4

percent from 2013, he was also one of the biggest victims of increased defensive shifts around

MLB. According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, Davis wants to be better prepared this

year:

“I think there are definitely situations where I need to bunt, and I know there was some

frustration last year obviously with my batting average being as low as it was – not only on my

part but the fan base and maybe even on some of my teammates’ part – as far as me hitting into

the shift,” Davis said earlier this week on the “Hot Stove Show” on 105.7 The Fan.

“First of all, when you’re not swinging the bat well and you’re kind of trying to find it, for me, I

want to go up there and have an at-bat. I don’t want to just lay a bunt down. There were times

last year when I did lay a bunt down, but for me it’s really a comfort thing. It’s different going

out there and working off a machine or even a BP arm and laying balls down the third base line

and going into a game and doing it. For me, it was just a comfort thing and I have worked on it

this offseason. I’ve probably worked on it more this offseason than I have in the past. If it’s a

one-run game, I’m probably not going to lay one down, but there are situations where unselfishly

it’s probably the best thing to do. It’s definitely a weapon I can use against other teams.

According to Baseball Reference, Davis had one bunt hit last season. Simply changing your

approach to use all fields is easier said than done, so if Davis sees the same extreme infield shifts

again in 2015, he’s essentially being offered a free base if he can drop one down the third base

line. You probably don’t want him doing that with runners on base, as the Orioles are counting

on him to drive in runs, but it’s something that would be interesting to see on occasion. Same

goes for other victims of the shift, like Brian McCann and Mark Teixeira of the Yankees.

Defensive shifts aren’t going anywhere, despite some brief discussion on the matter last month,

so hitters need to think of ways to neutralize it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/slugger-chris-davis-prepared-to-bunt-to-beat-

defensive-shifts-085548099.html

Chris Davis prepared to bunt to beat defensive shifts

By Mark Townsend / Yahoo! Sports

February 15, 2015

While new commissioner Rob Manfred ponders eliminating extreme defensive shifts from MLB

all together, Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis is considering his own strategy to beat the

analytically based strategy that tortured him throughout the 2014 season: He's ready to bunt.

Or at least that's what Davis said during an interview on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan

this week. MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko provides the context and the quote.

How many times did Davis line a ball into shallow right field last season, only to walk back to

the dugout in frustration, his average tumbling like my standards at 2 a.m.? An oblique injury

was a mighty contributor to his .196 average. Let's not lay all the blame on the shift. But I lost

count of all the hits that the alignment cost him.

There's one possible solution for Davis, and he's finally on board with it.

"I think there are definitely situations where I need to bunt, and I know there was some

frustration last year obviously with my batting average being as low as it was - not only on my

part but the fan base and maybe even on some of my teammates' part - as far as me hitting into

the shift."

It's possible some of that is carryover frustration speaking. After leading all of baseball with 53

home runs and 138 RBIs in 2013, Davis crashed back to earth in 2014, hitting just 196/.300/.404

across the board with 26 homers and 72 RBIs over 127 games. There was also an oblique injury,

as Kubatko noted, not to mention the season-ending 25-game suspension for amphetamine use.

The suspension cost him the final 17 regular season games, all seven of Baltimore's postseason

games, and will keep him out on opening day this season.

From a personal standpoint, it's a season he'd like to forget on nearly every level. However, that

he is so focused on beating the shift suggests it's wedged in his head and there's a real desire to

adjust and attack that defense when the time arrives.

"I think the biggest thing for me last year was just seeing how drastic the shift was. I remember

when Texas came in, I hit something like three or four balls on a line in the four hole, which is

right over the first baseman's right shoulder. These are balls that most of the time are going to

be singles, if not doubles, and the second baseman caught them at his chest on a line, and I was

just thinking, 'Man, that's not even fair. Those are good hits right there that are being taken

away.' "

It's a strategy manager Buck Showalter would probably discourage Davis from using too often.

The Orioles will need his power more than ever this season after losing Nelson Cruz and Nick

Markakis in free agency, and will want to see him establish some real confidence at the plate.

But there are times when it could be effective as well, as in when he's struggling or the Orioles

simply need baserunners.

With that said though, it's just interesting hearing of a former home run champion who accepts

what's in front of him and understand it's on him to adjust. It's that type of strategic thinking that

makes the game interesting, but would be missing if the league did eliminate shifts. Here's

hoping that's not the case, and here's hoping we inspire more thinking and creativity within the

game, rather than from decision makers outside it.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/02/14/baltimore-orioles-organizational-

report/23402623/

Organizational report: Orioles manager says last place

prediction 'beautiful'

By Scott Boeck / USA TODAY Sports

February 14, 2015

The Baltimore Orioles had an interesting offseason, one that had more discussions about

executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette moving north than about roster

decisions.

The Toronto Blue Jays expressed interest in hiring Duquette as president and CEO, despite four

years remaining on his contract. But the teams came to an impasse on compensation for

Duquette.

That led to the perception Duquette was not concentrating on his day job and subsequently not

making any important offseason moves. He disputed that notion and described the offseason as

business as usual.

"I've always done my job 24 hours a day and to the best of my ability," Duquette said at a dinner

event in January. "That's a habit. We're going to have another good ballclub this year. I'm

confident of that."

The Orioles finished 96-66, second best in the American League. Their pitching deficiency

ultimately showed when they lost to the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship Series. The

club has averaged 91 wins over the last three seasons and reached the postseason twice but failed

to reach the World Series.

With spring approaching, many wonder if Duquette addressed the offseason needs to get

Baltimore back into the playoffs.

Baltimore manager Buck Showalter says, "(Duquette) has been engaged with us since the get-

go."

However, the Orioles have done little this offseason, losing key contributors such as outfielders

Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis and relief pitcher Andrew Miller to free agency. The only major

move Duquette made was acquiring outfielder Travis Snider in a trade with the Pittsburgh

Pirates. The left-handed hitter is projected to replace Markakis in right field and is expected to

fare well at Camden Yards.

The offense is depleted with the losses of Cruz and Markakis. For a club that led the majors with

211 home runs last season, 54 came from Cruz and Markakis. Snider hit 13 last season.

But let's not forget about the reinforcements returning. First baseman Chris Davis, third baseman

Manny Machado and catcher Matt Wieters return to the lineup after combining to miss a total of

251 games. The three are well motivated for different reasons, and big contributions are

expected.

For each of the last three years, the sabermetric PECOTA system projected the Orioles to have a

losing season. In 2012 they were projected to win 71 games and went on to win 93 and the AL

wild-card game. In 2013 they won 85 games, 11 more than the projection. Last season they won

21 more and reached the ALCS.

This season, PECOTA projects 75 wins.

Showalter is unfazed and wants to again prove the computer data wrong.

"They're picking us last again," he said at the Orioles' FanFest last month, "which is beautiful."