Welcome to the meetings
The business end of the Winter Meetings has begun and the first press conference of the day is about to commence. Reporters are already working the phones and the lobby, and executives will soon begin meeting with each other in earnest. It’s wall-to-wall baseball as far as the eye can see and as far as the ear can hear. The first day is generally about laying groundwork, but news could pop at any moment.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
Checking in and checking it out…
The Winter Meetings have begun in the sense that most team executives have checked in to their respective hotels and that the lobby of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown is already full of loitering reporters. The scene is subdued, at least in relation to the sensory overload of last year’s industry convention at the ultra-opulent Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Things will likely swing into gear on Monday, when executives begin meeting with their peers to lay the groundwork for trades and with agents to discuss the burgeoning free agent market. Baltimore manager Dave Trembley will stage a group interview, and Andy MacPhail, the team’s president of baseball operations will meet with local reporters on a daily basis.
That’s all the news for now, but check back often Monday through Thursday for updates.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
Topps of the list
The Topps baseball card company gave fans an interesting conversation starter on Wednesday, when it named its All-Rookie Team for 2009. And while many of the selections were noteworthy, there also seemed to be at least one glaring omission.
Matt Wieters, one of the most highly rated rookies in recent seasons, was left off the team in favor of former Baltimore farmhand Omir Santos despite having a marked edge in batting average (.288 and .260), on-base percentage (.340 and .296) and slugging (.412 and .390).
The Orioles did see Nolan Reimold named to the team, a selection that recognized the team’s year-long youth movement. Reimold led all American League rookies in home runs (15), on-base percentage (.365) and slugging (.466) when his season was cut short by injury.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
Trembley plays it quiet on coaches
Baltimore manager Dave Trembley just learned that he’ll be coming back next year, and now he wants some time to decide on his coaching staff. Trembley parried several questions about his coaches Saturday, saying only that he wants time to make a decision.
“I’m going to allow myself to go home on Monday afternoon,” said Trembley of the season’s endgame. ”And I’m going to allow myself an opportunity to unpack and put some closure on this season, to think about what may be areas that could be improved and what I can do to make it better. Then I’m going to talk to [executive Andy MacPhail] about it and I’m going to call each and every coach individually and tell them what their status will be for next year.”
Trembley said he has already spoken to MacPhail, the team’s president of baseball operations, about his coaching staff. And to illustrate his point, Trembley told an anecdote about a recent organizational meeting and a conversation he had with MacPhail.
“We had a meeting in Tampa with all the coaching staff and Andy MacPhail and other front office personnel,” said Trembley setting the stage for his comment. ”That night in Tampa, Andy said, ‘What do you think? I thought the meeting went really well.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m going to tell you something about the coaches that you have here: They have passion. Everybody has passion about the players, especially the guys they work with in their areas.’ “
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
Scott leaves early with injury
Luke Scott continued Baltimore’s late-season run of injured outfielders on Wednesday night, when he left the game with a strained muscle in his left foot. Scott, who had gone 1-for-3 with a single in the first seven innings, was replaced in the outfield by Ty Wigginton.
The Orioles have seen Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie all go out with season-ending injuries in the last few weeks. The roster crunch has gotten so bad that the team had to activate Lou Montanez from the 60-day disabled list before they wanted to do so, and September callup Jeff Fiorentino has seen more action than expected.
Wigginton spent the second half of 2008 as an outfielder but had yet to play there in ’09 before Wednesday night. The veteran reserve has played at all the infield positions this season, and manager Dave Trembley had said he’d like to avoid spotting him in the outfield.
McCrory may be next to be shut down
Baltimore reliever Bob McCrory underwent an arthrogram on his sore right shoulder Monday and is believed to be done for the season. Manager Dave Trembley said he hasn’t seen the results of the test yet, but he said it would be doubtful for McCrory to pitch again.
“I haven’t gotten results back yet on McCrory’s arthrogram,” said Trembley. ”I would say McCrory is in the same boat. I would say that’s highly doubtful as well.”
Roberts fit to be tied
Brian Roberts tied the alltime MLB record for doubles by switch-hitter in a single season on Tuesday night, when he sent a bouncer skidding up the right-field line. That gave Roberts 55 doubles for the season, tying the mark Lance Berkman set for Houston in 2001. If he gets five more doubles this season, Roberts will tie the alltime mark for second basemen.
Roberts also had a chance at a double in the early innings but was thrown out at second. Baltimore’s second baseman extends his franchise record with every double he nets and is one of four players alltime who have had three 50-double seasons. The only others in that group are Hall-of-Famers Paul Waner, Tris Speaker and Stan Musial.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
Day off for cleanup?
Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said Monday that he’ll probably give right fielder Nick Markakis a day off on Tuesday to rest and think about something other than his slump. Markakis, who singled on Monday, had gone into the game on a 2-for-26 skid.
Baltimore’s cleanup hitter has played in every game this season, and he’s started all but one. Trembley attempted to give Markakis a day off back in June but had to use him as a late replacement. Markakis played in 161 games in 2007 and 157 games last season.
Orioles get special guest
The Orioles welcomed Brooks Robinson, one of the most beloved players in franchise history, back to Camden Yards on Friday night. Robinson was on hand to honor Melvin Mora, who recently moved into second place on the franchise’s all-time games played at third base.
Mora, who has played in 796 games at third for the Orioles, would have to play 150 games for the next 14 seasons to catch the Hall-of-Famer. Robinson played in 2,870 games at third base for the Orioles, winning 16 Gold Gloves and playing in four World Series.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
O’s announce award-winners
The Orioles held their Minor League Appreciation night on Wednesday and chose the occasion to introduce a few of their prospects and hand out a few awards.
Brandon Waring, who had previously been given the Carolina League Most Valuable Player award for his exploits at Class A Frederick, was named the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year on Wednesday. Waring, acquired as a piece in last winter’s Ramon Hernandez trade, batted .274 with 38 doubles and 27 home runs for the Keys.
Brian Matusz, who has been with the Orioles for the last six weeks, was named the Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year on the strength of a combined 11-2 record and 1.92 ERA between Frederick and Double-A Bowie. Matusz continued his success upon his promotion to the Major Leagues but was shut down early to protect his arm.
Baltimore also recognized Caleb Joseph for the Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award and Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin for the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award. Scout Jim Howard was named the Jim Russo Scout of the Year.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
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