Orioles News - 11/18/07 - Etch Staying In Maryland?

Ahh, Etch. Etch is staying in Maryland apparently. For those of you who don't know, Etch is Andy Etchebarren. He is the former manager of the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a Baltimore Orioles minor league team. Did Etch just move down a level but still stay as an Orioles' minor league coach? Not exactly. Etch is now the Bench coach for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The team is independent, and they just happened to be owned by a former Oriole. You might have heard of him. He goes by the name Brooks Robinson. Anybody here know him? I thought so... Anyway, Etch is staying in Maryland, just changing organizations. It's funny how things work out, isn't it? - John T.

Orioles News - 10/24/07 - Goodbye Etch, 3 Others Also Gone - Who's The 1st Base Coach?

Goodbye Andy Etchebarren, Doc Watson, Tom Lawless, and Bien Figueroa. Right now your probably saying, "Who?" Andy Etchebarren, the manager of the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a Baltimore Orioles Single A minor league affiliate. Doc Watson was the minor league pitching coach and Tom Lawless was the infield and base running instructor. Bien Figueroa was formerly the manager of the O's Double A minor league team, Bowie. They were all fired and it appears Etch took it the worst. He was obviously upset. In his days as manager of the Ironbirds, he compiled a 102-124 record. He had been a coach or manager for the Baltimore Orioles franchise for the last 15 years. Adios Etch.

The O's have until 10 days after the World Series to decide on whether or not to pick up the option on Pitcher Kris Benson. It shouldn't take that long, as Benson should be outta here.

Who will be the 1st base coach for the O's next season? There's no word yet, but former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles still remains a candidate for the vacancy at first base coach.

That's all for today, check back here tomorrow for more Orioles news. - John T.