Orioles News - 10/18/07 - O's Send Players To Minors

The Baltimore Orioles sent 3 players to the minor leagues yesterday. They were all sent to Triple-A Norfolk. The players who got sent down were Eider Torres and Val Majewski and Adam Stern. Torres is an infielder but Majewski and Stern are outfielders. This leaves the O's with 33 players on their roster, though they do have 5 players on the Disabled List.

There is more news on Pitching Coach Rick Kranitz. His deal is believed to be a 1 year deal. The official terms of his contract were not released. This will mean that Rick's contract will expire at the same time as several other coaches. Hopefully he won't be going anywhere... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/16/07 - Kranitz Named Pitching Coach

The Baltimore Orioles named Rick Kranitz pitching coach, a move that should pay off for the O's immediately. Kranitz spent 22 years in the Chicago Cub's organization. When he was there, he spent time with Dave Trembley (The Orioles current manager) and Andy MacPhail who is Baltimore's president of baseball operations. He also worked with bullpen coach Alan Dunn. His experience with these people was a big reason that he was hired. Besides the fact that he was named Baseball America's 2006 Major League Coach Of The Year. And the fact that he took a very young Florida Marlin's pitching staff to the 5th best ERA in the National League. And that in 2007 he led the Marlins bullpen to their 3rd best ERA in team history. But this all comes with an extra advantage: Since he worked with all of these men when he was with the Cub's organization, he has chemistry with all of these men. If he's already got chemistry with them, that is a huge advantage over another coach who would have to build up their chemistry with the team first. Maybe we will have a decent pitching staff this year.... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/13/07 - Crowley Will Stay As Hitting Coach

The Baltimore Orioles announced that hitting coach Terry Crowley will return next year for his 10th straight season as Baltimore's hitting coach. Terry is the only person on Baltimore's staff who was with the Major League team at the beginning of 2006. Now that's an overhaul.

The O's didn't make much more progress in their search for a new pitching coach today. They are, however, expected to make an offer to Rick Kranitz soon for the vacant pitching coach job. Kranitz interviewed with the Seattle Mariners for a job there, and could be a candidate for a job with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A little bit of sad information: Alex Rodriguez could get a contract at the end of the season. What he's seeking: The rumor is that it could be a 12 year, 360 million dollar contract. That's 1 million dollars more then the entire Baltimore Orioles franchise's estimated worth. That's what's wrong with baseball. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/12/07 - More On Mazzone's Firing - 3 Players Opt For Free Agency

Leo Mazzone, the Baltimore Orioles' pitching coach, was fired yesterday. I put that information in my last blog, but more information has come up. A possible replacement, (If he wants the job), is Rick Kranitz. Rick led the Florida Marlins young pitching staff to the 5th best ERA in the National League in 2006. Mazzone was going to take us there and higher right? Wrong. Under Leo, the Orioles had the 29th worst ERA in the League for 2 straight years, both his years in Baltimore. It wasn't hard to tell he was going to leave after longtime friend Sam Perlozzo was fired earlier this year.

Also, 3 O's decided to opt for free agency. The players that chose this are pitcher Rob Bell, pitcher Victor Santos, and Catcher J.R. House. Not big losses there, but with a bullpen that thin.... - John T.