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

Monday, December 15, 2014

Columns:

Report: Orioles free-agent target Melky Cabrera agrees to deal with White Sox The Sun

12/14

Some thoughts on Orioles' next moves after winter meetings The Sun 12/12

What's left for the Orioles on the outfield market? MASNsports.com 12/15

This, that and the other (Melky Cabrera off the board) MASNsports.com 12/14

Orioles' outfield search continues, Phillies offered Byrd and Howard MASNsports.com

12/13

Orioles remain in running to sign Reimold MASNsports.com 12/12

Asking O's fans, "How did it all start for you?" MASNsports.com 12/15

A look back: The quotable from the trip to San Diego MASNsports.com 12/14

How Jason Garcia impressed the Orioles, plus Harvey invited to spring training

MASNsports.com 12/13

Report: Orioles are favorites to host 2016 All-Star Game SI.com 12/12

Orioles OF search continues? ESPN.com 12/14

Orioles still looking and looking for outfield help CSN Baltimore 12/15

Did Mussina have a Hall of Fame career? CSN Baltimore 12/14

Winter Meetings were memorable for many reasons CSN Baltimore 12/13

Buck Showalter makes his pick for Army-Navy CSN Baltimore 12/12

Orioles looking for big things from Christian Walker CSN Baltimore 12/12

The Best Rule 5 Draft Picks In Orioles History PressBoxOnline.com 12/15

New Chuck Thompson CD Revisits Golden Era Of Oriole Baseball PressBoxOnline.com

12/15

Orioles Offseason Has To Be Taken In Totality PressBoxOnline.com 12/12

Report: Orioles leading contender to host 2016 All-Star Game CBSSports.com 12/13

Report: Orioles could host '16 All-Star Game WPTZ.com 12/13

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-report-melky-cabrera-agrees-to-deal-with-

white-sox-20141213-story.html

Report: Orioles free-agent target Melky Cabrera agrees to

deal with White Sox

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

December 14, 2014

With Melky Cabrera reportedly headed to the White Sox, a top Orioles free-agent target is off

the board.

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a three-year deal with free-agent outfielder Melky

Cabrera, pending a physical, according to Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com in Chicago.

Cabrera was on the Orioles’ radar, but the club was reportedly more interested in a two-year

deal, though three was a possibility.

The Orioles are looking to fill at least one outfield hole with the departures of Nick Markakis and

Nelson Cruz.

The 30-year-old Cabrera seemed like a potential fit. The switch hitter can play left or right field

and hit toward the top of the order.

He batted .301 with a .351 on-base percentage in 139 games with the Toronto Blue Jays last

year. Cabrera was suspended in 2012 for testing positive for testosterone while with the San

Francisco Giants.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-moves-after-winter-meetings-

20141212-story.html

Some thoughts on Orioles' next moves after winter meetings

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

December 12, 2014

Now that the winter meetings are over, where do Dan Duquette and the Orioles go from here?

If Seattle won't give Melky Cabrera a 4-year contract, he may make a good fit with the O's on a

shorter deal.

The Orioles returned from the winter meetings with nothing more than two selections in the Rule

5 draft, a high-upside project in right-hander Jason Garcia and a right-hander with a steady

minor-league resume in Logan Verrett.

Other than that, the Orioles stood by as other teams, in both large and small markets, made trades

and signed free agents during what might have been the most frenzied 48 hours in recent winter

meetings history. A lot of players changed jerseys.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette went from seemingly having one foot out the

front door of the Warehouse at the beginning of the week to making a poignant plea to O's fans,

telling them to remain patient and not jump ship on the club this early in the offseason.

Let's think back to this time last season, when the Orioles also came home from the winter

meetings with nothing more than a Rule 5 pick. It was before the Orioles signed

outfielder/designated hitter Delmon Young, before they signed right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez and

way before they inked outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz.

This time, it's a litte different. There's no Nelson Cruz lingering out there on the market. And a

bearded Nick Markakis isn't walking through the doors of the Convention Center for FanFest in

January.

But Duquette does deserve some goodwill from the fanbase. Despite a quiet December last year,

the Orioles had their highest payroll, won 96 games and an AL East title, enjoying their best

season in 17 years.

We know Duquette well enough now to know he's not going to dive into the winter meetings

pool and make a big splash. The prices there are often too rich. He reminded us of that this week,

reinforcing that the Orioles' strategy isn't centered on signing high-profile free agents. It's not

going to happen very often.

By now, we know how Duquette shops. He's not shopping at Nordstrom. He's shopping at

Nordstrom Rack -- on the additional 30 percent off clearance rack. But he's proved you can still

get some good stuff on discount.

Following the Rule 5 draft, he made reference to the career season Steve Pearce had in 2014.

Pearce went from a guy who couldn't get an at-bat in the first month of the season to one of the

Orioles' best players down the stretch. Some sabermetricians will say he was the best player. He

led the team with a 6.0 WAR (wins above replacement).

"When Pearce emerged last year when he got the opportunity," Duquette said. "We're going to

need somebody else to emerge this year. Maybe it's a left-handed hitter this time, but we will be

able to find some hitters for DH, outfield."

The Orioles are also banking a lot on Manny Machado, Matt Wieters and Chris Davis returning

to their old selves.

The Orioles can probably bring Delmon Young back, though it will only likely happen on a one-

year deal. There are plenty of outfielders still out there, but beside Melky Cabrera, they all have

their warts.

The situation with Cabrera is an interesting one to watch. Cabrera was seemingly on his way to

Seattle to join Cruz on a four-year deal, but the Mariners are reportedly balking on giving him a

fourth year. That's an interesting development because if Cabrera doesnt get a four-year deal, it

definitely puts the Orioles in the market for the 30-year-old outfielder.

The Orioles aren't going four years with Cabrera, but I was told the Orioles would consider a

deal of two or three years. They realize that Cabrera is the best outfielder remaining on the

market and his numbers last season (.301/.351/.458, 16 homers, 73 RBIs) were better than

Markakis' last year.

Maybe Duquette has something up his sleeve again this offseason. At this time last year, no one

thought Nelson Cruz would be wearing an Orioles uniform. And no one thought Steve Pearce

would hit 21 homers.

Other thoughts coming out of the meetings:

** The Orioles' apparently wanted Rule 5 acquisition Jason Garcia badly. After the team saw

him pitching for the Boston Red Sox's instructional league team this year -- Duquette said he

struck out 14 of 18 Orioles hitters he faced -- the Orioles worked out a deal for the Houston

Astros to take Garcia with the fourth pick and trade him over for cash.

Duquette admitted its a stretch that Garcia, who hasn't pitched above low-A ball, can stick on a

big league roster. But he's been clocked regularly at 95-98 mph and some reports say he's hit

100. At the end of the day, it's his ability to use his secondary pitches that will allow him to stick

in the majors. He is said to own a plus slider and an occasional changeup.

** The Orioles are getting closer to hiring a new hitting coach to replace Jim Presley. Manager

Buck Showalter said this week that he has 3 or 4 strong candidates. A hire could be made as soon

as early next week.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2014/12/whats-left-for-the-orioles-on-the-outfielder-

market.html

What's left for the Orioles on the outfield market?

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

December 15, 2014

The weekend is over and the Orioles lost another outfield candidate with Melky Cabrera

agreeing to a three-year, $42 million deal with the White Sox.

Where do they turn?

Executive vice president Dan Duquette has made it clear that the Orioles are more likely to sign

free agents than make trades. They still need outfielders who bat from the left and right side, but

the list of appealing options is paper thin.

Peter Gammons tweeted yesterday that the Orioles "are being pushed to take Colby Rasmus on a

one year deal." But he never told us who's doing the pushing.

Is it Rasmus' agent? Orioles ownership? A frustrated fan base? I'm not sure how to interpret it.

Rasmus, 28, was the 28th overall pick by the Cardinals in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft,

which is easy to forget when considering that he's a career .246/.313/.438 hitter in six major

league seasons and batted .225/.287/.448 in 104 games with the Blue Jays in 2014. He strikes out

too much. He's primarily a center fielder, having played only nine games in left field and six in

right, which doesn't suit the Orioles' needs.

Also, check the splits. Rasmus is a career .213/.287/.361 hitter against left-handed pitching. You

want him playing every day?

Some reporters view Rasmus as a good fit for the Orioles, an opinion based mostly on their need

to replace Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, but it's still a reach.

Rasmus is the highest rated outfielder remaining on the free agent market, which says more

about the market. However, the Orioles may have to settle for him because there's no Cruz to fall

into their laps in spring training and they can't pencil Dariel Alvarez into right field on opening

day, no matter how much they like him. That would be premature.

Let Alvarez force the issue. He can't be handed the job in December.

Take a look at the list of remaining corner outfielders on the free agent market compiled by

MLBTradeRumors.com. If your heart starts racing, you must have borrowed some of my pre-

workout powder.

Left fielders

Mike Carp (29)

Endy Chavez (37)

Tyler Colvin (29)

Chris Denorfia (34)

Andy Dirks (29)

Cole Gillespie (30)

Jonny Gomes (34)

Tony Gwynn Jr. (32)

Scott Hairston (35)

Reed Johnson (38)

Jason Kubel (33)

Ryan Ludwick (36)

Nyjer Morgan (34)

Mike Morse (33)

Delmon Young (29)

Eric Young Jr. (30)

Right fielders

Nori Aoki (33)

Endy Chavez (37)

Tyler Colvin (29)

Chris Denorfia (34)

Scott Hairston (35)

Alex Rios (34)

Nate Schierholtz (31)

Ichiro Suzuki (41)

It's clear that the Orioles will be depending heavily on Alejandro De Aza, Steve Pearce and

David Lough, plus whatever pieces they can add on short-term deals. They'd like to re-sign

Delmon Young and they're interested in Mike Morse, who could help replace some of the power

lost with Cruz's departure. They're also hoping that Alvarez will be ready at some point over the

summer.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2014/12/this-that-and-the-other-73.html

This, that and the other (Melky Cabrera off the board)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

December 14, 2014

An Orioles official told me yesterday that they're still working on a minor league deal with

pitcher Chaz Roe. It's going to get done.

I'd expect the deal to include an invitation to spring training.

Roe appeared in 21 games with the Diamondbacks in 2013, posting a 4.03 ERA. He got into

three games with the Yankees this season, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits,

walking three and striking out four in two innings.

Roe worked the eighth inning in Game 2 of a Sept. 12 doubleheader at Camden Yards, allowing

one run and striking out two. Jonathan Schoop reached on a wild pitch after striking out and

scored on Alejandro De Aza's triple.

Former executive Jim Duquette, part of the "Wall to Wall Baseball" panel yesterday, said Kevin

Gausman will be an "impact pitcher" this season, not just a contributor.

Gausman has minor league options and experience in the bullpen, but I'll repeat that he should be

given the ball every five days, along with the chance to finally establish himself as a major

league starter.

Dylan Bundy is out of minor league options after the 2015 season. He needs to be healthy and

productive to let the Orioles project him as part of the 2016 staff.

Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris are pending free agents. The Orioles would love to slot Bundy

into the rotation in 2016 at the latest.

Chen is owed $4.75 million in the final season of his contract. He's represented by Scott Boras,

who gave reporters the following quote at the Winter Meetings:

"Other than them exercising Wei-Yin's option, I've not heard from them about what their

position is on the future, but obviously he's one of their top winning pitchers and very valuable

and a very young guy and he's going to have great free agent value come next year at this time."

Great free agent value. Anyone else hear the sound of a cash register ringing?

Another left-hander, Jason Vargas, signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Royals in

November 2013. Right-hander Brandon McCarthy went 5-11 with a 4.53 ERA in 22 starts with

the Diamondbacks in 2013 and 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts in 2014 before being traded in

July, but the Dodgers say he's worth $48 million over four seasons.

Chen won 16 games this year and is 35-24 with a 3.86 ERA in 86 major league starts. He's got a

chance to really get paid.

Ubaldo Jimenez looked like a bust after signing a four-year, $50 million deal last spring, but

being owed almost $39 million over three years seems like the going rate these days.

Jimenez could turn into a bargain if the adjustment made to his delivery pays off in 2015. It's just

a shame that it took until September for Jimenez to lower his hands. Had he done it sooner, he

may have lowered his ERA.

It's a challenge to carry one Rule 5 pick all season. There's no way that the Orioles carry two of

them next year.

Jason Garcia, 22, is getting most of the attention because of his mid-to-upper 90s fastball and

how he struck out 14 of 18 Orioles (including Chris Davis) in an instructional league game. He

hasn't pitched above the Single-A level. Talk about a long shot.

He's worth a look. He's worth the $50,000 to claim him. But it isn't realistic to expect him to stay

with the Orioles.

It's up to Garcia to prove everyone wrong and the Orioles, if that impressed by him, to figure out

a way to keep him.

Logan Verrett made 28 starts at the Triple-A level this season after making 24 at Double-A in

2013. He's got a better shot, though it wouldn't be easy to create room for him in the bullpen.

As the Orioles keep reminding their fans, they reached the American League Championship

Series because of their improved pitching and they've lost only one arm. It belonged to Andrew

Miller, who spent the second half with the club.

A Rule 5 pick has to stay on the active roster for 90 days. He can't be optioned without clearing

waivers and being offered back to his former club, but he can be placed on the disabled list.

The Orioles didn't lose anyone in the major league phase of the draft. The Rangers liked

outfielder Glynn Davis, but he's played 26 games at the Double-A level and they didn't think

they could keep him all season.

Davis has a .343 on-base percentage in four minor league seasons. The Orioles like him, too.

The Pirates signed former Orioles pitcher Radhames Liz to a one-year deal worth $1 million.

They agreed to two years, but the Pirates reportedly were uncomfortable with the results of Liz's

physical.

It does happen with other teams.

Former Orioles reliever Will Ohman was at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego during the

Winter Meetings. The left-hander is searching for a job, but not as a pitcher.

Ohman, who asked for his release from the Nationals in 2013 after blowing out his hamstring

while stretching at spring training, is intrigued by the idea of working in television or radio,

coaching or being a scout. He's open to suggestions.

I'd recommend a studio job for Ohman. He's got a big personality - an acquired taste for some

teammates, but wildly entertaining to reporters - and a voice that plays in the electronic media. I

could envision him on MLB Network.

The Blue Jays reportedly are interested in having Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo replace

Paul Beeston as president/CEO, which means I'm officially the only person not on their list.

NOTE: Melky Cabrera has agreed to terms with the White Sox on a three-year deal, according to

Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM and 670thescore.com in Chicago.

The deal is reportedly worth $43.5 million.

The Orioles viewed Cabrera as a fallback option, but now he's off the board.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2014/12/orioles-outfield-search-continues-phillies-

offered-byrd-and-howard.html

Orioles' outfield search continues, Phillies offered Byrd and

Howard

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

December 13, 2014

As Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette rushed to the airport in San Diego following

the Rule 5 draft - we were on the same flight and he willingly chose a middle seat next to other

team officials, while I grabbed an aisle seat and let everyone bump into my shoulder at least once

- he didn't sound like a man who expected to strike a deal over the weekend.

Duquette joked that I only asked whether he felt an agreement might be close so I'd know if it

was safe to make plans.

One phone call can change the course of a weekend and negotiations, but you probably shouldn't

hold your breath.

The Orioles have varying levels of interest in the available outfielders, and it's worth another

reminder that Duquette said they're more likely to sign one rather than make a trade.

Delmon Young and Michael Morse are garnering serious interest. Melky Cabrera comes into

play only if he ends his search for a four- or five-year deal. The last time I checked, Nori Aoki

fell into the "limited interest" category.

Four years for Cabrera works for me. He's only 30, he's a switch-hitter, he gets on base and he's

got a little pop. His highest strikeout total is 94 over 155 games with the Royals in 2011. Bat him

second and lower Manny Machado in the order.

Plus, his nicknames are "Melk Man" and "Leche." It just keeps getting better.

Colby Rasmus' name was linked to the Orioles at the Winter Meetings, but he's only played nine

games in left field and six in right.

The Orioles talked to the Phillies about outfielder Marlon Byrd, and he was offered in a package

that included first baseman Ryan Howard, according to multiple industry sources. Don't hold

your breath on that one, either.

The Phillies want to move Howard, 35, who has two years and a guaranteed $60 million

remaining on his contract. He played in 153 games this season after being limited to 71 and 80

the past two seasons and batted .223/.310/.380 with 190 strikeouts.

I don't like his chances of any team picking up that $23 million option for 2017.

There must be at least a hint of intrigue over Howard, who could serve primarily as the

designated hitter and offer power from the left side - though not enough to approach the 58 home

runs he hit in 2006. He also could brag to Tommy Hunter about his Subway endorsement deal.

Age, contract, previous injuries and the decline in production all conspire against him. I'd

imagine that he'd be a hard sell to ownership.

Your thoughts?

Note: The Orioles signed pitcher Chaz Roe to a minor league deal, according to Tim Dierkes of

MLBTradeRumors.com.

Roe, 28, appeared in three games with the Yankees this season and allowed two earned runs

(three total) in two innings. The former first-round pick of the Rockies in 2005 was 3-3 with a

3.66 ERA in 47 relief appearances with Triple-A New Orleans. He averaged 10.1 strikeouts per

nine innings.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2014/12/orioles-remain-in-running-to-sign-

reimold.html

Orioles remain in running to sign Reimold

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

December 12, 2014

The Orioles are continuing their attempts to sign outfielder Nolan Reimold to a minor league

deal, which would return him to the organization that drafted him in 2005.

The contract would include an invitation to spring training.

While the Orioles would appear to be a favorable choice for Reimold, he's still searching for a

major league deal and isn't in a rush to make a decision.

Other teams are trying to strike the same deal with Reimold, a group that includes the White Sox,

Indians and Giants, according to sources. The Orioles may be prepared to go higher in salary if

he returns to the majors, where he's a career .251/.324/.439 hitter in six major league seasons.

Reimold, 31, batted a combined .232/.282/.435 with five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs

in 29 games with the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks in 2014. He went 11-for-52 with four

doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs and 22 strikeouts in 22 games with the Blue Jays, who

claimed him off waivers from the Orioles, and 5-for-17 with a double, one home run, four RBIs

and 10 strikeouts in seven games with the Diamondbacks.

The Orioles removed Reimold from the 60-day disabled list and designated him for assignment

on July 1. They were unable to find room on the roster for another right-handed hitting corner

outfielder and designated hitter, and were unable to option him without passing him through

waivers. The Blue Jays claimed Reimold.

I've heard that Reimold is putting his body through strenuous daily workouts and is fully

recovered from the neck injury that required a corrective surgery in July 2013 to fuse two

vertebrae.

Reimold played in only 40 games in 2013 due to a hamstring injury and the corrective procedure.

He batted .313 with six doubles, five homers and 10 RBIs in 16 games in 2012 before suffering a

herniated disk in his neck, an injury believed to be caused by his tumble into the seats at U.S.

Cellular Field in Chicago.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is searching for right-handed and left-handed

hitting outfielders/designated hitters after losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis to free agency.

Signing Reimold wouldn't change his shopping list, but the club would have another option to

fill those spots.

Note: The Orioles remain the favorites to host the 2016 All-Star Game and are waiting for the

commissioner's office to make it official.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale offered the latest confirmation in a tweet earlier today.

The Nationals wouldn't be a candidate before 2019, since MLB wants to alternate leagues and

avoid playing the game in the same region in consecutive years.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2014/12/asking-os-fans-how-did-it-all-start-for-

you.html

Asking O's fans, "How did it all start for you?"

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

December 15, 2014

So should I take a day, or even a few hours, away from the usual fare on this blog each day to try

something different?

"You'll hear crickets," I said to myself when I had this thought last night.

"Going to do it anyway," I answered back.

Don't worry, I don't have these conversations out loud and only I know I am talking with myself.

No reason for concern.

So on to today's topic ...

How did you become an Orioles fan? Tell me about your first game and/or the start of your

fandom. What keeps you engaged with the game now? How important are the Orioles in your

life? It's time to tell your story.

For me, I can't even pinpoint the year I went to my first game. I think it was 1968 when I was 8. I

know some of you know the exact date and probably the temperature, opponent and score from

that first game and you probably have the ticket stub. I have none of that.

I have just a memory. It is a great one. My brother took me to the game and to the right-field

bleachers to try to catch a Boog Powell batting practice homer.

As I walked up the ramp at Memorial Stadium, I just remember seeing the ballpark unfold in

front of me and all that green grass. It looked amazing. I was probably hooked on baseball right

there, in that very moment, but I don't recall that either.

Before long I was often listening to Chuck Thompson and Bill O'Donnell and later attending

games all the time. In 1971 at Kingsville Elementary School, my teacher, Mr. Deffinbaugh,

brought a TV into the classroom and put on the World Series. None of the kids cared much to

watch, but he and I did, discussing every play and every pitch.

A bunch of us used to go to Memorial Stadium and we would get there even before the gates

opened. As soon as they did, we rushed for the left field bleachers and awaited the chance to

chase batting practice homers. I must have chased thousands over the years, never getting even

one ball. I didn't care.

Doubleheaders were my favorite. You mean I get to watch batting and then two baseball games?

Wow, this is amazing, I thought.

When I got to high school, me and my best friend Scott spent hours in the classroom looking at

the teacher, but the whole time writing out the lineup we thought Earl Weaver would use that

night.

When I wasn't going to games, I spent countless hours playing baseball and spent countless

hours having friends hit baseballs my way to try and get better as an outfielder. I didn't get better,

but I loved every minute trying to.

At 14, I figured out that if I wasn't even close to being the best player on my team, I probably

would not get drafted by the Orioles.

If there was no time or chance to play baseball, or go to the game, I was playing the APBA

baseball board game, trying to roll an 11 or 66 for a homer and later Strat-O-Matic. Had there

been MLB Network then, my mother would have never gotten me out of the house.

If you get the picture of a kid that loved baseball, and wished he was a better player, and that

maybe one day he could play for the Orioles, that was me. I once made my Little League coach

play me at third base because Brooks Robinson played there. Being left-handed made that a

tricky proposition.

But I've got the right job, and covering baseball and covering the Orioles makes it better yet. The

hours can be long and Twitter has made this almost a 24/7 business. But that's OK, it's baseball.

So what is your story about becoming an O's fan?

"Hope you get some interesting responses, Steve, and don't hear crickets," I just said to myself.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2014/12/a-look-back-the-quotable-from-the-trip-to-

san-diego.html

A look back: The quotable from the trip to San Diego

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

December 14, 2014

Looking back at the last few days, there were 19 blogs written in this space, covering the Orioles

at the Winter Meetings from Monday to Thursday before we headed back to the East Coast.

Here is another look at some of the quotes from those we interviewed and what they had to say.

MLB Network's Harold Reynolds on what O's should do: "If (the Orioles) make a trade, of all

the names that have been mentioned, I think Justin Upton is the best move for them. He's 26, 27.

If you can lock him up and keep him long-term, you are looking at a player you can have another

eight or nine years. He's going to hit 30 home runs in that ballpark each year. He'd be the best fit

for me."

ESPN's Keith Law on whether O's need to match moves made by other American League East

teams: "I think there is real pressure in terms of the standings. If you just are looking at the teams

on paper - and I recognize Baltimore has outperformed what they've been on paper for several

years in a row now, but still - they are going to need to do something to replace the offense they

lost.

"I think they have to be able to stay somewhat on par with the other teams in the division, which

probably means adding a bat, maybe two by the end of the offseason."

ESPN's Aaron Boone on clubhouse chemistry: "I think it's a big part of the pie frankly. You have

162 games in 180 days; you know, with spring training, 200 games together. I think it's

important that there is harmony in there. It doesn't always have to be friendly, it doesn't always

have to be 'Kumbaya,' we all get along, we're all buddies.

"But I think, there has to be something in that room that creates an asset for the team. The

Orioles, most teams that win and go to the playoffs, the clubhouse is usually an asset. I think it is

an important part of the equation and the evaluation process."

Orioles director of player development Brian Graham on Dylan Bundy: "Dylan is in perfect

health and is having what we call a normal offseason. He'll begin his throwing program soon and

come into spring training on the exact same program as everyone else - healthy and ready to go.

"I was very pleased with his season. Probably the most promising thing about his whole rehab is

he had no setbacks. Everyone wants to gauge velocity and certainly that is important, but the fact

he had no setbacks is the most important thing."

O's scouting director Gary Rajsich on O's top 2014 pick, pitcher Brian Gonzalez: "Brian is a very

mature and articulate young man, probably advanced beyond his years. He has good command

and poise for a young man. Particularly proud of him the way he approached his season this year,

not giving up a run in the Gulf Coast League."

O's manager Buck Showalter on spending by other AL East teams: "They run out of money yet?

God bless them, that's the system. If we were in their shoes, we'd do the same thing. What are

you going to do, throw your hands up the in the air? That's all right. It can be done. We just have

to be good at some things that allow us to compete with them."

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2014/12/how-jason-garcia-impressed-the-orioles-

and-other-notes.html

How Jason Garcia impressed the Orioles, plus Harvey

invited to spring training

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

December 13, 2014

Well, that must have been some instructional league pitching performance.

It was good enough to convince the Orioles brass that a young pitcher that has never pitched

about low Single-A should be considered by them for the Rule 5 draft.

A few months ago, then 21-year-old Jason Garcia, pitching for Boston, faced 18 O's batters in an

instructional league game and struck out 14 of them. His hit list included Chance Sisco, Christian

Walker and Chris Davis.

When Boston did not protect Garcia on its 40-man roster, the Orioles put him on their short list

of players to be potential Rule 5 picks. Concerned that he would not be around when they

selected, the Orioles worked out a pre-draft trade with Houston, which picked fourth. Take our

guy and we'll trade you cash considerations for him. The Astros did and the O's then added

Garcia.

Garcia had Tommy John surgery in May 2013 and by last June 13, he was back on the mound in

a minor league game.

In that instructional league game, he was sitting at 95 mph with his fastball and touching 98. His

slider was in the high-80s. The arm strength is there.

In his writeup on Rule 5 picks, Baseball America's J.J. Cooper wrote this on the right-hander:

"Garcia was a relatively nondescript starting pitching prospect toiling in low Class A for the Red

Sox this season when late in the year, they moved him to the 'pen. All of a sudden, his average

fastball turned into a plus-plus heater and he touched 100 mph."

Orioles national scouting supervisor Danny Haas has a history with Garcia. He was a top scout

with Boston when the Red Sox drafted him in round 17 out of a Florida high school in 2010.

Why didn't Boston protect Garcia? They must have figured he was so far from the majors that no

other team would take him, or that even if a team did, there was no way he could stick with them

all year. And the odds are long against Garcia being an Oriole for the entire 2015 season.

But the Orioles took a flier on a kid with big arm strength and a nice slider that needs improved

command. Whether he even makes it out of spring training with the Orioles we'll see. But the

club was impressed enough that he's now on the O's 40-man roster and he'll report to Sarasota in

February.

Meanwhile, the Orioles are planning to bring their 2013 first-round pick Hunter Harvey to spring

training as a non-roster invitee. That should be a great experience for Harvey, a right-hander who

turned 20 last Tuesday.

Harvey went 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA for Single-A Delmarva before his season ended in late July

due to a flexor mass muscle strain. But Harvey is doing fine now and will not need surgery, just

rest and rehab.

Brian Graham, the O's director of player development, said Harvey is doing great when I

interviewed him at the Winter Meetings.

"Absolutely," Graham said. "He is 20 years old. He logged a lot of innings. It was his first full

season. We were being very cautious. He's in a great position. He's healthy, he feels good, he is

going to begin a throwing program and he'll be ready to go."

Final word: I guess I can understand the frustration of some fans that the Orioles have been

pretty quiet in terms of roster moves and additions this winter.

What I don't get is the reactions that some have that because the O's haven't added much yet, they

won't. There is plenty of time folks.

And while Dan Duquette indicated they won't be spending big, that doesn't mean he can't or

won't. It is a mistake, I say, to take Duquette at his every word. He also once said that Jim

Johnson was a key part of the O's future at the end of the 2013 season and then traded him for

Jemile Weeks a few months later. Do you trade core players for Weeks?

There always seems to be a rush to judgement by some fans. They won't do this, they won't do

that. Matt Wieters will be gone, so will Chris Davis. Maybe they will be gone, but over the years

the club has retained some key players with big contracts at times, like Nick Markakis when he

got his six-year deal previously, along with Brian Roberts and Adam Jones.

Mike Mussina got away, but that was a long time ago. Since then, how many long-term O's or

players they developed that were truly that good got away?

The final judgement on this offseason and the 2015 Orioles season is not determined before

Christmas.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/12/12/baltimore-orioles-favorites-2016-all-star-game

Report: Orioles are favorites to host 2016 All-Star Game

SI.com

December 12, 2014

The Baltimore Orioles are the leading contenders to host the 2016 MLB All-Star Game at Oriole

Park at Camden Yards, reports USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The 2017 All-Star Game will go to the either the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park or San Diego

Padres at Petco Park, according to Nightengale. The Marlins have never hosted an All-Star

Game.

Last season's All-Star Game was held at Target Field in Minnesota, while the 2015 game will be

held at the Cincinnati Reds' Great American Ball Park.

A selection committee decides the venue for the All-Star Game each season, and typically

alternates between an American League team and a National League team. Whichever league

wins the game each season receives home field advantage in that year's World Series.

The Orioles last hosted the All-Star Game in 1993.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb/rumors/post/_/id/20266/orioles-of-search-continues

Orioles OF search continues?

By AJ Mass / ESPN Insider

December, 14, 2014

With the news that Melky Cabrera has signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox, you can cross

one more name off the list of potential outfielders that the Baltimore Orioles are looking at to

replace the duo of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis for 2015.

According to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports, the Orioles were interested in trading for Marlon

Byrd of the Philadelphia Phillies and were offered "a package that included first baseman Ryan

Howard, according to multiple industry sources... The Phillies want to move Howard, 35, who

has two years and a guaranteed $60 million remaining on his contract."

Th inclusion of Howard makes Kubatko very doubtful that any deal will come to pass, though he

does admit that "there must be at least a hint of intrigue over Howard, who could serve primarily

as the designated hitter and offer power from the left side -- though not enough to approach the

58 home runs he hit in 2006."

Barring a deal, the Orioles are likely to try and sign at least one free agent from the trio of

Delmon Young, Michael Morse and, as a sort of last resort if it comes to that, Norichika Aoki.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-still-looking-and-looking-outfield-help

Orioles still looking and looking for outfield help

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

December 15, 2014

Over the weekend, the biggest remaining outfielder on the free agent market cashed in, and he

didn’t sign with the Orioles.

Melky Cabrera signed a reported three-year, $42 million deal with the Chicago White Sox.

Cabrera interested the Orioles, but now they’ll have to look elsewhere.

On the surface, it looks like a loss. Cabrera is 30, and a three-year contract at the money Chicago

paid him doesn’t look outlandish.

He does have a 2012 suspension for steroid use. Cabrera, who was playing for the Giants, was

leading the National League with a .346 average when the suspension took effect.

Cabrera signed a two-year, $16 million contract with Toronto, far less than he would have gotten

before the suspension, and had a strong walk year in 2014, hitting .301 with 16 homers and 73

RBIs.

The positive in not signing Cabrera is that the Orioles maintain their top draft choice. Of the

remaining free agents who require draft pick compensation, only Max Scherzer and James

Shields remain on the market.

It’s a big jump down to the next group of free agents, or is the next Orioles outfield acquisition

going to come from a trade. Last week, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan

Duquette indicated that it was more likely that free agents would sign more quickly than trades

would be made.

The Red Sox have an outfield surplus, and Duquette doesn’t seem to have any issues in trading

with Boston. One name that’s surfaced is Allen Craig, acquired from St. Louis in the John

Lackey trade last July.

Craig had an awful time with the Red Sox, but had strong seasons in 2012 and 2013. He’s played

more first base than the outfield, but has substantial experience in right field. The right-handed

hitter has also played some left field.

Foxsports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Orioles have asked about San Diego’s Seth

Smith, a left-handed hitting outfielder, who has played both left and right field.

Rosenthal reported that Smith was assured that he wouldn’t be traded when he signed a two-year

extension in July, but that was under a previous regime.

Smith has some power, excellent bat control and is affordable with two years and $12.75 million

on his contract. He also has a $7 million option.

A Delmon Young reunion also interests the Orioles. Duquette met with his agents last week.

Most of the remaining outfielders and the few designated hitters on the unsigned lists have huge

red flags.

The biggest names remaining are Nori Aoki, Jonny Gomes, Michael Morse, Colby Rasmus, Alex

Rios and Ichiro Suzuki.

Aoki, Gomes, Morse and Rasmus have been linked with the Orioles. The others haven’t.

Tyler Colvin, who failed an Orioles physical last offseason, is back on the market, but the left-

handed hitter has had two weak seasons.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/did-mussina-have-hall-fame-career

Did Mussina have a Hall of Fame career?

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

December 14, 2014

Hall of Fame voters are busy contemplating their ballots, and while I haven’t been a member of

the Baseball Writers long enough to officially make a choice, I’d certainly vote for Mike

Mussina.

In his first year of eligibility last year, Mussina got 20.3 percent of the vote, far below the 75

percent required for election. He was 15th.

The Hall of Fame has made a change for this year’s voting. The number of years a player can

remain eligible as long as he receives five percent of the vote has been reduced from 15 to 10.

That may be bad news for players such as Mussina, whose accomplishments could seem greater

in a few years.

Most elected are chosen in the early years of eligibility. Last year, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine

and Frank Thomas all were elected in their first year, and Craig Biggio was two votes away in

his second year.

But, there are cases such as Bert Blyleven, who was elected in his 14th year. Blyleven’s case was

built slowly. In his first three years of eligibility, Blyleven received a smaller percentage of the

vote than Mussina did.

The reduction in years of eligibility does not apply to players who are currently in years 11-15,

Don Mattingly, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell, but none of those got even 30 percent of the vote

last year.

Due to the controversy over whether the steroid tainted players should be voted in, there’s a

backlog of worthy candidates, and many voters think that limiting the ballot to 10, which has

always been the case, doesn’t allow for fair consideration.

During their annual meeting at the Winter Meetings, the Baseball Writers recommended that

voters for the Hall of Fame be able to select up to 12 players.

This year, Biggio is joined by some strong first-year candidates: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez,

Gary Sheffield and John Smoltz. Nomar Garciaparra is also among 17 first-time eligible players.

Those six plus holdovers Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza and Tim Raines all got over 40 percent of

the vote a year ago.

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are still on the ballot. While

Sosa may well fall off for next year because he only got 7.2 percent of the vote 12 months ago,

and McGwire is already in his ninth year, Bonds and Clemens are likely to remain on the ballot

for seven more years.

Besides Mussina, there are other excellent holdover candidates who deserve serious

consideration: Jeff Kent, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff and Curt Schilling.

With the current 10 player limit and the steroid candidates still on the ballot, some of these

worthy players are getting lost.

Mussina’s won-lost record (270-153) was nearly identical to Jim Palmer’s (268-152).

While he won 20 games just once in his career, his final year, he had 18 or more wins six times.

He was 10 games over .500 five times in a season, four with the Orioles. He finished a year

under .500 just once, his final season in Baltimore.

Mussina had terrific control, striking out more than 3.5 times as many batters as he walked.

His Wins Above Replacement was a superb 82.7, ranking him 24th all-time, ahead of Palmer,

Bob Gibson, Tom Glavine and Don Sutton.

Mussina’s 268 wins are more than 50 ahead of the active leader, Tim Hudson.

His 3.68 ERA may seem high, but he pitched his career in hitter friendly ballparks in Baltimore

and New York.

Of pitchers whose stats Mussina’s compares with, three of them, Palmer, Carl Hubbell and Juan

Marichal, are already in the Hall of Fame. Schilling and Jack Morris, who came within an

eyelash of being elected before his 15 years expired, may be in there, too.

The good news for Mussina is that once Biggio, Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz are elected, and

at least two of them should make it this year, his chances could increase, at least mathematically.

In the next three years, only Ken Griffey, Chipper Jones, Ivan Rodriguez and Jim Thome seem to

have realistic chances of early election.

The bad news for Mussina is that if Bonds and Clemens, who received a little over a third of the

vote each last year, remain on the ballot, he’s likely to suffer. Under current rules, he would have

only one year, his 10th and final without them.

If Mussina is finally elected to the Hall, as he should be, then Orioles fans can engage in the

most trivial debate of all. Which cap should he wear on his plaque?

When Mussina was elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame two years ago, he declined to speculate.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/winter-meetings-were-memorable-many-reasons

Winter Meetings were memorable for many reasons

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

December 13, 2014

The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the most active teams during a dizzying Winter Meetings.

At one point, their president, Stan Kasten told a reporter that he was getting impatient. He’d been

with the Dodgers nearly three years, and they hadn’t debuted a homegrown starting pitcher or

regular position player.

The Dodgers needed to make moves because their farm system hadn’t produced enough players.

Dan Duquette has been with the Orioles just over three years, and in that time, he’s seen the team

draft and bring to the majors Kevin Gausman as well as promote Jonathan Schoop and Caleb

Joseph.

As he pointed out during the Winter Meetings, the key to developing a consistently strong team

is drafting well, trading well, signing players from overseas and an occasional Rule 5 draft pick.

While Gausman, Joseph and Schoop played key roles on the 2014 teams, just nine of the 44

players who played last year were signed and developed by the Orioles. That number has to be a

little higher.

Orioles fans who remember the 14 hard years will remember that Kasten’s counterparts on the

Orioles didn’t see many homegrown players that made a difference.

From 1998, the year the losing began until Nick Markakis debuted in 2006, only seven

homegrown players debuted and made a real impact on the team: starting pitchers Erik Bedard,

Daniel Cabrera and Sidney Ponson, reliever Chris Ray, infielder Brian Roberts and outfielders

Larry Bigbie and Luis Matos.

Bedard, of course, played a huge role in building the contemporary club because his trade to

Seattle fetched Adam Jones and Chris Tillman.

Roberts played on until 2013, but the others faded quickly.

There were others who made their way through the farm system during those barren years, but

none were first-rounders until Markakis.

Gausman, Matt Wieters, Brian Matusz and Manny Machado are other first-rounders who helped

build the club.

Besides adding the two Rule 5 draft picks, Jason Garcia and Logan Verrett, the Orioles signed

right-handed pitcher Chaz Roe to a minor league contract according to MLBTradeRumors.com.

Roe is 1-0 with a 4.44 ERA in 24 games with Arizona and the Yankees. He pitched an inning

against the Orioles in 2014.

While the Orioles engaged in countless discussions with other teams and agents, there were a

few scheduled events that took place at the headquarters hotel.

LUNGevity announced a partnership with MLB to auction off experiences for fans to help fund

lung cancer research. Public relations representatives from all 30 teams wore shirts to honor the

late Orioles public relations director Monica Barlow, who died in February at 36.

Her husband Ben and manager Buck Showalter spoke movingly about her and the efforts to fight

the disease.

Earlier that day, there was disappointing news from The Hall of Fame when none of the 10

candidates reviewed by the Golden Era Committee were voted in.

Dick Allen and Tony Oliva received 11 votes from the 16 member committee, one shy of the

number needed for election. Jim Kaat got 10.

The Golden Era candidates were active from 1947-72 and will have to wait three years for

another review.

In other Hall of Fame news, the Baseball Writers voted to recommend an increase of the number

of players a voter can choose from 10 to 12.

Earlier this year, the Hall reduced the number of years a player can maintain eligibility from 15

to 10 while keeping the longstanding 10 player limit on the ballot.

The Baseball Writers elected longtime Detroit News reporter Tom Gage to the Hall. Gage, a

talented writer and fine gentleman, will make a worthy addition.

My favorite part of the week came on Wednesday when the Hall announced that Dick Enberg

had been elected as a broadcaster.

By a happy coincidence, Enberg lives not far from the hotel where the meetings were held, and

came for a briefing shortly after the announcement.

My life as a sports fan has coincided with Enberg’s prime, and while I’ve heard him doing

relatively little baseball, it’s clear that it’s his first love.

Enberg called Angels games for many years, and after a long career at NBC and CBS, has done

Padres games for the past five years.

As he told wonderful stories about basebal, the visibly emotional Enberg admitted to crying

when he found out the news. He lost his younger brother and sister to cancer this year, and

though he didn’t talk about it on stage, has a daughter with ovarian cancer and a son who

suffered a crippling brain hemorrhage that’s left him severely handicapped.

The soon-to-be 80-year-old reflected on his wonderful journey for about a half-hour.

While the Orioles didn’t do anything immediately memorable at the Winter Meetings, it was a

memorable week for me.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/buck-showalter-makes-his-pick-army-navy

Buck Showalter makes his pick for Army-Navy

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

December 12, 2014

Buck Showalter has done most of the things on his bucket list. On Saturday, he gets to check off

another one.

He always wanted to play at Augusta National and visit Normandy to honor his father, a

decorated World War II vet.

Showalter gets to attend the Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium, and he’s excited about it.

“When I saw it was going to be played at Ravens Stadium, I boxed everything out, and we’re

going,” Showalter said at the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

Since he was so close to his father, you could be safe to assume he would be rooting for the

Black Knights to win their first game since 2001.

But, hold on.

“Navy’s so close, I got to know a lot of quality people there. I hope no one will ask me to pick

except I think Navy will win, and I am pulling for Navy. My dad wouldn’t be too happy about

it,” Showalter said.

Navy’s team physician is Dr. John Wilckens, who was the longtime Orioles orthopedist, and

Showalter is friendly with him.

Showalter is going to spend some time on the sidelines, but he’s also going to have to entertain

his best friend who’s flying up for the game and his wife, Angela, who are both going.

“Everybody I talked to said you’ve got to do it one time. I’ll bet I do it more than once,”

Showalter said.

He was delighted to find out the Army-Navy game will return to Baltimore in 2016.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-looking-big-things-christian-walker

Orioles looking for big things from Christian Walker

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

December 12, 2014

During the Winter Meetings, Dan Duquette mentioned two position players he felt would be

ready to contribute to the Orioles in 2015. One was outfielder Dariel Alvarez, and the other was

Christian Walker.

The Orioles got a look at Walker in September after Chris Davis was suspended and the division

title clinched.

Walker played in six games and was 3-for-18. He hit his first major league home run on Sept. 20.

He joined the Orioles in 2012 when he was a fourth round draft pick from South Carolina, and

got to the big leagues a little over two years after he signed.

The plan wasn’t for Walker to play in September, but once Davis was suspended and the division

in hand, plans changed.

The team wanted to expose him to the rigors of playing in the AL East, and he got to play a game

at Yankee Stadium and another in Toronto.

Walker did not get a spring training invitation in 2014, but did join the club for some exhibition

games.

He did particularly well at Bowie, hitting .301 with 20 home runs and 77 RBIs in 95 games.

Walker was promoted to Norfolk and hit .259 with six homers and 19 RBIs. He was named the

organization’s minor league player of the year.

Walker has exhibited good on-base skills in the minors. His OBP is .361, nearly 70 points above

his batting average.

At some point in 2015, the Orioles may have to give Walker a chance to play first base because

Chris Davis is in his final year before free agency eligibility.

He’ll likely begin the season at Norfolk. Walker and Alvarez each played 44 games with the

Tides last season, and it would probably be good to see both dominate a league.

NOTE: LaTroy Hawkins, who played for the Orioles in 2006, and is the active leader in games

pitched with 1,000 has announced that 2015 will be his final season. Hawkins, who will be 42 on

Dec. 22, is currently with the Colorado Rockies.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2014/12/11/the-best-rule-5-draft-picks-in-orioles-history

The Best Rule 5 Draft Picks In Orioles History

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com

December 15, 2014

Every MLB offseason, as baseball fans track the movements of big-name free agents and ponder

a plethora of trade possibilities for their favorite teams, one annual rite of winter frequently goes

unnoticed: the Rule 5 draft.

Typically, the Rule 5 draft isn't exactly a source of earth-shaking, nationally buzzed-about

baseball news. The draft usually occurs on the last day of baseball's winter meetings, after the

most high-profile transactions have taken place and just before general managers and front office

staff head out of town. The Rule 5 draft allows teams to select a minor league player from

another organization who isn't on that team's 40-man roster, paying a $50,000 fee in exchange.

The selecting team then must keep that player on its active 25-man roster for the entire next

season or else offer him back to his original team.

Most of the time, Rule 5 picks don't amount to much. After all, there's usually a reason such

players couldn't find their way onto a 40-man roster -- they often have serious flaws in their

game or are too raw to help a major league team. Often times, the selecting team sends the player

back to his former organization not long after picking him. But every once in a while, a Rule 5

gamble hits it big, and a team is rewarded handsomely for its willingness to show patience on an

unproven talent.

Since the Orioles made their first Rule 5 selections in 1953, they've selected a total of 49 players

through 2013 -- 28 position players and 21 pitchers. Of those, 26 have appeared in at least one

game for the Birds, providing a combined value of 68.1 Wins Above Replacement, according to

Baseball Reference.

Along the way, the Orioles have found a few particularly useful players in the Rule 5 draft. Let's

take a look at the top five.

NO. 5: JAY GIBBONS (SELECTED DEC. 10, 2000 FROM THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS)

Gibbons' lasting legacy among Orioles fans probably isn't a favorable one. In December 2007, he

admitted to the use of human growth hormone and received a 15-game suspension from MLB,

but his punishment from the Orioles was harsher -- they released him and the two years, $12

million left on his contract, ending his seven-year O's career.

Despite his ignominious end, Gibbons was a useful offensive contributor during some of the

franchise's leanest years. He cranked 121 home runs as an Oriole -- 17th most in O's history --

and drove in 405 runs, ranking 20th. He had three seasons of more than 20 home runs and

collected a 100-RBI campaign in 2003. Gibbons didn't bring much in the way of defense --

playing a sub-par first base and corner outfield -- and struggled with injuries throughout his

career, but his offensive contributions helped him provide solid value as a Rule 5 pick.

NO. 4: BOB BOYD (SELECTED NOV. 27, 1955 FROM THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)

Nearly half a century before Gibbons' selection, the O's snapped up a valuable asset with an

extensive backstory, selecting Boyd from the Cardinals with their third-ever Rule 5 pick in 1955.

Boyd, a World War II veteran, was a former Negro Leagues player who became the first African

American player to sign with the Chicago White Sox. He was 31 years old when he made his

major league debut and 36 when the Orioles selected him.

Boyd's age didn't stop him from helping the Orioles during their fledgling years in Baltimore.

Boyd, a first baseman, played with the club from 1956-1960 and batted .309 or better during

each of his first three years, becoming the first qualified Oriole to crack the .300 mark in a

season. His best season was 1957, when he batted .318/.388/.408/.796 during 141 games and

finished 16th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting. Boyd earned the nickname

"Rope" for his line-drive swing and was a pure hitter to the end, batting .317 during his final

season for the Orioles at age 40.

NO. 3: MOE DRABOWSKY (SELECTED NOV. 29, 1965 FROM THE ST. LOUIS

CARDINALS)

The Orioles again pilfered the Cardinals 10 years after taking Boyd, selecting Drabowsky, a

right-handed reliever, in 1965. The Polish-born Drabowsky was a bullpen star for the first World

Series-winning Orioles team, posting a 2.81 ERA in 96 innings in 1966, including a 6.2-inning,

11-strikeout relief performance during Game 1 of the World Series. In 1970, the Birds reacquired

him for the stretch run on their way to their second World Series title, making Drabowsky one of

12 Orioles to play for multiple O's championship teams.

But Drabowsky was perhaps better known for his quirky personality. A noted prankster,

Drabowsky made a reputation of toying with teammates and opponents alike, such as spiking the

opposing clubhouse's air conditioning system with sneezing powder. He once called the

opposing team's bullpen phone pretending to be the manager, ordering them to warm up a

reliever. He set commissioner Bowie Kuhn's shoe on fire during the 1970 World Series. And he

loved snakes -- in particular, bringing them into the Orioles' clubhouse and hiding them in

teammates' lockers.

NO. 2: ELROD HENDRICKS (SELECTED NOV. 28, 1967 FROM THE CALIFORNIA

ANGELS)

A member of the Orioles Hall of Fame and one of the most recognizable faces in franchise

history, Hendricks joined the Birds for the first time in the 1967 Rule 5 draft. From that point on,

he spent 37 seasons in an O's uniform as either a player or coach, setting a franchise record.

Hendricks' playing career was notable for his contributions to several AL East-winning Orioles

clubs. He split catching duties with Andy Etchebarren during his first stint with the team and

earned praise for his receiving skills as well as his capable bat. He homered during Game 1 of

the Birds' 1970 World Series win against the Cincinnati Reds, going 6-for-16 during the

postseason that year. Though Hendricks bounced to the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees

for brief stints during the 1970s, he found his way back to the O's organization each time. As his

playing career came to a close, he became the Birds' bullpen coach in 1978 and held the position

until 2005, a 28-year tenure that marked the longest coaching stint in O's history.

NO. 1: PAUL BLAIR (SELECTED NOV. 26, 1962 FROM THE NEW YORK METS)

Usually, the biggest successes a team will find in the Rule 5 draft are role players or

complementary pieces, like Gibbons, Boyd, Drabowsky and Hendricks. But once in a blue moon,

the Rule 5 draft will pay out a jackpot, giving a team a franchise cornerstone. That's just what

happened in 1962 when the O's nabbed Blair, then an 18-year-old infielder/outfielder who had

played one season for the Mets' low-minors California League affiliate, batting .228.

The Orioles selected Blair during a short-lived offshoot of the Rule 5 draft called the first-year

player draft, which allowed teams to select any non-roster player with at least one year of minor

league experience (under current Rule 5 rules, no player with less than four years of minor

league experience is eligible to be drafted). The Birds took full advantage of both the temporary

rule change and the Mets' hasty dismissal of Blair's potential.

Blair made his major league debut in 1964, and the rest was history -- 1,700 games during 13

seasons for the Orioles, two World Series rings, two All-Star appearances, eight Gold Glove

awards and a well-earned reputation as one of the most spectacular defensive center fielders in

baseball history. He was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1984. According to Baseball

Reference, Blair was the seventh most-valuable Oriole in franchise history with a 39.7 career

WAR for the Birds. That makes him more valuable than all other Orioles Rule 5 picks put

together.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Outfielder CHUCK DIERING, one of the Orioles' two selections during their first Rule 5 draft in

1953, was the Birds' regular center fielder for their first two seasons in Baltimore in 1954 and

1955. The O's plucked him from a Pacific Coast League team called the San Francisco Seals,

who at that time weren't affiliated with any major league club. … Two current Orioles, infielder

RYAN FLAHERTY (selected in 2011) and lefty reliever T.J. MCFARLAND (2012), are recent

Rule 5 success stories. Flaherty (1.6 WAR) and McFarland (0.8 WAR) have provided more

value to the Birds than all but six other Rule 5 picks in O's history … And in the "One That Got

Away" department, the Orioles selected infielder JOSE BAUTISTA in the 2003 Rule 5 draft, but

gave up on him after 16 games in 2004. Bautista then bounced to four other teams before

emerging as one of baseball's biggest sluggers with the Toronto Blue Jays.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2014/12/11/new-chuck-thompson-cd-revisits-golden-era-of-

oriole-baseball

New Chuck Thompson CD Revisits Golden Era Of Oriole

Baseball

By Dean Smith / PressBoxOnline.com

December 15, 2014

For many, Baltimore summers in the late 1960s and 1970s were defined by the sound of Orioles

baseball coming through transistor radios at crab feasts, on screened-in porches, front stoops and

around dinner tables across the city. Neighborhoods lived and died on every pitch together. The

crowds at Memorial Stadium stirred with the voice of an announcer who sounded like an easy-

going uncle or the neighbor next door. As the tension mounted with each pitch, he was part of

the family. His voice defined an era of winning seasons and championships, and when Oriole

bats came alive in the late innings, his home run call would erupt with urgency:

"Fly ball, well hit, deep left field … and it's going, going gone!"

Last month, the Baseball Voices, Hall of Fame Series released an 18-track CD, "Chuck

Thompson, Voice of the Orioles" that includes the greatest calls of Thompson's career.

Produced, written and narrated by the long-time voice of the Chicago Cubs, Pat Hughes reveals a

deep appreciation for Thompson's work.

"Chuck could have worked anywhere, but he loved the Orioles and he loved the people of

Baltimore," Hughes said. "He could speak quickly and clearly, and he announced countless

games involving some of the greatest players in baseball and football history -- Frank Robinson,

Raymond Berry, Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Johnny Unitas, Alan Ameche and Brooks

Robinson."

Thompson's crisp and spontaneously eloquent voice transports the listener back to the golden age

of Oriole baseball to relive moments such as back-to-back homeruns by Brooks and Frank

Robinson in the 1966 World Series, Jim Palmer's 1969 no-hitter against the Oakland Athletics,

Brooks Robinson's defensive gem against Lee May in the 1970 World Series, the final game at

Memorial Stadium and his Cooperstown speech.

"Chuck Thompson's voice is the soundtrack of a time and a town [and] an era," WBAL's Gerry

Sandusky said. "Stradivarius had the violin. Chuck had the voice. To this day, the sound of his

voice makes me smile since it was the siren song that first lured me into broadcasting."

The recording tells listeners that Thompson got his start as a dance band vocalist before moving

to radio.

"I could read and had a listenable voice," Thompson said, humbly. "I made $14.20 per week."

Long-time Baltimore sportscaster Vince Bagli, who called Colts games with Thompson, goes

further.

"When the ball was in motion, there was nobody better than Chuck," he said. "We were rinky-

dinks compared to him. He was the king."

The CD tracks also include a medley of Orioles highlights featuring Ripken, Boog Powell, Paul

Blair and Dave McNally. Thompson's catch phrases, "Ain't the beer cold!" and "Go to war Miss

Agnes!" are also prevalent.

You can hear Thompson get choked up as Mike Flanagan ends the last top of the ninth ever on

33rd street, and hear him express humility at his Hall of Fame induction speech when he had to

put his career first to support his family and be absent from key moments in his children's lives.

"Thompson will be remembered for his character, his class and his integrity," Hughes said.

During the writing process, Hughes learned new things about Thompson. He had fought in the

Battle of the Bulge and came to Baltimore in 1949 to broadcast the Orioles of the International

League before the St. Louis Browns became the Orioles in 1954. He had to wait his turn until

1962 to be the full-time broadcaster of Orioles games because of a conflict between the Gunther

and National brewing companies.

He announced the 1960 World Series that ended dramatically with a Bill Mazeroski home run to

beat the Yankees. The late-inning heroics at Forbes Field are spell-binding on this CD. He also

called the 1958 NFL Championship between the Colts and Giants for CBS.

"Nobody anywhere videotaped the telecast, so we don't have the call," Hughes said. "Can you

believe that?"

But fans do have this collection of moments from one of the greatest broadcasters of all time.

Hughes was careful to capture not just the memorable calls, but the whole person.

"He was a wonderful man," Hughes said. "He was softer and nicer than most, and he always had

the right word at the right time -- as though it were recorded in a studio. His vocal descriptions

allowed fans to see the game in their imaginations."

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2014/12/12/orioles-offseason-has-to-be-taken-in-totality

Orioles Offseason Has To Be Taken In Totality

By Stan 'The Fan' Charles / PressBoxOnline.com

December 12, 2014

The most exciting (as in nerve-wracking) news to come out of San Diego and the MLB Winter

Meetings was the news that the Toronto Blue Jays were interested in hiring executive vice

president of baseball operations Dan Duquette to be their president of baseball operations.

Needless to say, after taking a beating from the media through the majority of his tenure, Orioles

majority owner Peter Angelos came out forcefully saying the Orioles had Duquette under

contract for four more years, and the team expected him to honor his contract for the length of its

term. Angelos' statements signified the Orioles hope to have Duquette in Baltimore for longer

than the length of his second contract, which takes him through 2018.

Since the Orioles don't currently have a team president position available, had the Toronto job

truly been a real possibility -- all contracts voided -- it would only be human nature for Duquette

to be seriously interested in such an all encompassing job.

According to a piece written by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Star, the entire effort to replace

the current president of the Blue Jays, Paul Beeston, was done in a less than upfront manner,

which greatly embarrassed Rogers Communication, the corporate entity which owns the Jays.

Beeston, 69 and without a current contract, was due to retire sooner or later. Apparently, Beeston

found out he was being replaced by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorff, a long-standing friend of

Beeston.

So embarrassed were Beeston's bosses that they came out with a mea culpa and announced the

search wouldn't name a successor for a year.

So aside from all the noise about Duquette's future, what did he and the Orioles accomplish in

the hallways and rooms of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel? On the face of it, very little, if

you only measure additions added during that time.

The only additions were two pitchers acquired via the Rule 5 draft Dec. 11. The O's grabbed

New York Mets right-hander Logan Verrett, and right-handed pitcher Jason Garcia in a cash

transaction from the Houston Astros, who had earlier selected him from the Boston Red Sox.

Verrett, 24 years old and 6-foot-2, was 23-11 with an ERA of 4.29 in 52 starts during the past

two seasons at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas. Garcia, 22, missed most of the

2013 season after having Tommy John surgery. He didn't return until mid-June, and ended up

tossing 56.1 innings with a 3.67 ERA. Garcia really got it going during his last 29 innings,

during which he had a 2.17 ERA with 32 strikeouts.

The Orioles are still looking to replace a designated hitter, an outfielder, a backup catcher and

they are always on the lookout for pitching. Along those lines, on Dec. 10, the Orioles delayed

their afternoon briefing because Duquette thought he was close to making a pitching acquisition.

While the club never released a name, on Dec. 11 the Washington Nationals traded left-handed

pitcher Ross Detwiler to the Texas Rangers. The Orioles were known to have some interest in

Detwiler, so it's far from being a stretch to think the O's may have come close to adding a lefty to

replace reliever Andrew Miller, who is now with the Yankees.

Elsewhere, there are reports the ultimate landing spot for non-tendered right-handed pitcher

Alexi Ogando, an oft-injured hurler, is the Orioles.

The search for replacements for outfielder/designated Nelson Cruz and right fielder Nick

Markakis have gone all over the map -- from Matt Kemp, who ultimately was traded by the

Dodgers to the Padres, to Marlon Byrd a 37-year-old right fielder who plays for the Phillies. The

club has admitted to have lukewarm interest in Royals outfielder Nori Aoki, and have also

supposedly been attached to outfielders Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus. Giants first baseman

Michael Morse was also mentioned immediately after Cruz signed with Seattle.

Duquette has told reporters he feels the additions to the outfield and offense will come via free

agency. Yet, he made his yearly pronouncement that the Orioles are not about signing big-time,

long-term contracts. Putting two and two together the Orioles could sign Rangers outfielder Alex

Rios, who more and more looks like he may be willing to sign a solid one-year deal.

Personally, I see a fit with the Dodgers and their highly overpaid (isn't every Dodger overpaid)

outfielder Andre Ethier. If the Dodgers would eat $7-$8 million per year during the life of that

bizarre contract, could the Orioles add a large enough bullpen piece to make this happen?

Catching-wise, the Orioles are keeping tabs on Nick Hundley, who was a solid backup for the

birds in 2014. If no other club offers him the chance to play 80-100 games, he might find the

chance at 35-45 games with the Orioles appealing. Right now, the Orioles are confident, but

realistic about the chances of Wieters starting Opening Day. There also might be a bit more

proactive look at lessening Wieters' load and backing him off to 115-120 starts behind the plate,

with an additional 20-25 games as the designated hitter.

While many fans are disappointed the O's didn't come back from the Winter Meetings with a

couple big names, there's still a significant amount of time, and pletny of talent left for Duquette

to acquire.

Before signing off, I think it's important to remind everyone who lives and breathes orange and

black, that as awkward as it might have seemed at the time, the clubs' proactive signing of

shortstop J.J. Hardy was a huge offseason win for the Birds. It may be far enough off our radar to

remember Hardy signed with the Orioles for three years at $38 million (fourth year is a $14

million vesting option with a $2 million buyout) Oct. 8. If you think it was hard dealing with

Cruz and Markakis once they got to free-agent status, the feeling here is the Dodgers or Yankees

would have easily added $10-12 million to the deal Hardy signed with the O's.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24884787/report-orioles-leading-contender-to-

host-2016-all-star-game

Report: Orioles leading contender to host 2016 All-Star

Game

By Dayn Perry / Baseball Writer

December 13, 2014

The Orioles! That would be fitting, in that the 2016 campaign will mark the 25th anniversary

season of Camden Yards, the Orioles' gem of a ballpark. So there's the hook, if you will. The O's

and Camden previously hosted the All-Star Game back in 1993.

Developing!

http://www.wptz.com/sports/report-orioles-could-host-16-allstar-game/30220146

Report: Orioles could host '16 All-Star Game

WPTZ.com

December 13, 2014

The Baltimore Orioles are the top candidate to host Major League Baseball's All-Star Game in

2016, according to USA Today.

According to the report, the Miami Marlins or San Diego Padres are the likely favorites to host

the 2017 game. The Nationals have been lobbying to host an All-Star Game at Nationals Park,

but they may have to wait until at least 2019.

Another team that could be in the mix is the Chicago Cubs. Historic Wrigley Field is expected to

have renovations completed by 2018.

Next year's All-Star Game is at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark.