2008 Grades: The Infield, Part One

Since we're well into the off-season now, I'm going to spend the next week or so and go through the roster and assign players grades along with some brief opinion what I think of them.

First Baseman, Kevin Millar
2007 Numbers: .234, 20 HR, 72 RBI, .323 OBP, .394 SLG, 145 games
Grade: D

Kevin Millar has had a fine career, but his career his obviously close to the end of the road as evidenced by the last two months of the season.

He was a decent glove at first base, and provided some pop; otherwise that, he didn't instill a lot of confidence with me at all. Keep in mind, his numbers weren't terrible, but they are not what you expect from a first baseman at all these days and his numbers were down all across the board based on what he's done career-wise.

Millar is a great clubhouse guy, and a fan favorite; however, he's 37, and I'd like the organization to move on from him along with see what's out on the market.

Hell, I'd rather give Huff first base than him, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he'll find his way back to Baltimore if we can't sign a slugging first baseman.

Second Baseman, Brian Roberts
2007 Numbers: 155 games, .296 AVG, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 40 SB, .378 OBP, .450 SLG, 51 SB's
Grade: A-/B+

Brian is no doubt one of the faces of the organization through his charity work and interaction with the fans, and his 2008 season once again proved why he's one of the best lead-off and second baseman in baseball.

He's a good all around player with speed, some power, hits for average, and was solid from the start of the season to the end.

Whether he should be traded is another topic, but I think if the Orioles consider his age (almost 31) to be an issue and do a full rebuilding program, he might be a name (to the sadness of some fans) that could, and probably should be moved if he and the team cannot come to terms on an extension.

Aubrey Huff, First/Third Base/DH
2007 Numbers: .304 AVG, 32 HR, 108 RBI, .360 OBP, .552 SLG, 48 2B
Grade: A

I didn't know what to expect about of Huff this season, but I was pleasantly surprised and elated at what he did at plate.

Considering the way he started things off with fans before the season with his appearance on the "Bubba The Love Sponge Show", the boos he encountered early turned to cheers because his bat did the talking for him.

He finally broke through in 2008 and showed why the Orioles bestowed such a contract on him in the first place. His numbers steadily improved throughout the season, and he kept the offense rolling, especially in the summer months.

I don't know if his season was an aberration, or a sign that he's back as a force at the plate, but the Orioles should be looking for a lot from him in 2009.

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Having Okajima’s Number; O’s Whoop on the Red Sox, 10-6

Last night, the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox, 10-6, thanks to an amazing comeback in the latter innings, and big-time clutch pitching by the bullpen. Folks, the Orioles have stormed the party in the AL East and are making things interesting in a division that features the Evil Empire (Yankees) & Evil Empire 1A (Red Sox), along with the top heavy Jays and surging Rays.

Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and pretty much put the nail in the coffin for the Red Sox. Brian Roberts, Ramon Hernandez and Freddie Bynum also drove in two runs for the Orioles, who have won four of their last five. The big moment for the Orioles came in the seventh inning as Hideki Okajima, got hammered and took the loss he was charged with three run in 1/3 of an inning.

Daniel Cabrera was charged with seven hits and six runs over five innings with four walks, and has not looked as nearly dominant as he was in April-May. Is he slowing down, tied or reverting back to the form he had in 2008? It's too early to say, and he was looking fine until the fourth inning -- then the patient, and aggressive Red Sox lineup tattered him.

The beautiful thing about last night was the Oriole comeback. Unlike in previous years, when the Red Sox were ahead, O's fans might have turned off the TV -- however, now, it's unpredictable and when the bullpen holds down the opposing offense, Baltimore has a chance to win.

Yes, the Orioles don't have the best offense, but they are making the most of their opportunities, thus moments that took place in the 7th and 9th innings, separate the 2008 Orioles from teams of the past decade.

We're still a game over .500, and although we may not be considered one of the elite -- baseball is taking notice that things are changing with the Baltimore Orioles. We may not have the lure of the Red Sox or Yankees, but Baltimore is making a good run and hopefully we can start making other teams' lives miserable rather than being a doormat.

A Cooked Bird: The Orioles Turkeys of 2007…

Well, being that we are in the holiday season, and Thanksgiving is around along corner with Black Friday, where everyday sane people go all psychotic for deals on toys and stuff that they will use for a week and forget about, the Baltimore Orioles have been a source of entertainment along with a lot of pain.

That being said, I want us all here to pick the 'Oriole Turkey' of the year. Yes, being that the organization was bad once again in 2007 and brought us infamous moments such as the Mother's Day Massacre, the 30-3 game, and the national press that our players have gotten (obviously for nothing good), we might was honor infamy and general badness.

Here are my eleven choices...

***

Now, let's get started:

Our First Entry; Sam Perlozzo's Management Decisions and the Mother's Day Massacre: Yes, we all remember this day and there's no need to go over it.

Our Second Entry: Danys Baez, simply ineffective and a complete waste of money. He was just bad and now will probably miss 2008 due to elbow surgery.

Our Third Entry: Jay Gibbons. After a promising start to his career, he's forgotten how to hit. Um, steroids are supposed to make you better, aren't they?

Our Fourth Entry: The 30-3 Game. No need for the details. Furthermore, this happened on Dave Trembley's first day on the job...

Our Fifth Entry: Brian Roberts calling out the Oriole fans for not coming to Camden Yards and supporting the Orioles; Entry 5A:Peter Angelos welcoming Yankee & Red Sox fans to Baltimore...

Our Sixth Entry: Daniel Cabrera throwing at the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia's head and nearly causing a brawl...

Our Seventh Entry: Melvin Mora for this statement: “I’m one of the best third basemen in the American League and in baseball. If you are going to move me, you have to make the team more competitive.”

Our Eighth Entry: Kevin Millar and his homerism of the Red Sox...

Our Ninth Entry: Aubrey Huff besmirching Baltimore, his love for porn stars, women, and his stupidity...

Our Tenth Entry: Our former two-head GM outfit for not realizing what we all knew -- this team is not good and is in trouble. Not to forget, spending $42 million on a BULLPEN!

Our Eleventh Entry, Just For A Cheap Pop: Peter Angelos and the Tenth Losing Season in Baltimore...

***

Ok, so here are my eleven choices. Alas, I am probably missing a few more, but you all more than free to chime in and post whatever infamous moments or people we can think of.

The floor is yours.

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Aubrey, Aubrey, Aubrey...

I'm on the left coast on assignment and having a miserable time working; however, I caught of the Huff interview on the ESPN 1300 website this afternoon with Anita Marks.

The question I am asking myself is why is this still a story?

The chat with Huff was a total joke. Of course, we didn't learn anything new; however, she and Roch were lobbing softballs to him. I think Aubrey-gate is an episode of men behaving badly (real bad), but if the fans are upset nearly a week later, its a big deal.

Add to that the lack of remorse, the situation at hand has become ugly - realy ugly.

Either it must be a slow news cycle, people are still upset, or there's more to the story. If you check out Deadspin, then you are in a shock (note: if you're at work and small kids do not go there), but they have a short snippet of Huff's appearance on the "Bubba The Love Sponge Show".

A bit over the top is all I have to say, and although I know the content of the show, it's still unsettling to see a player who represents your team in that situation.

The people at WNST are not happy, led by Nestor, and Ray Frager of the Sun gives him credit for getting a transcript of the whole episode. Matt Palmer believes the Orioles should start from scratch, and get rid of players like Huff.


I'd more interested in how the team is going to improve at this point, but it seems that the only PR the team is getting is nothing short of awful.

Aubrey Huff Continued...

I'm a grown man, and I don't care what Huff does in his free time; however, there are still kids, parents and fans who look up to these guys and someone like him really needs to use better judgment when he interacts with the media or goes on talk shows.

In the end, he does not come off as looking like a decent professional athlete, but a guy who has way too much time & money on his hands.

Obviously, his post game activities look like they affected his performance on the field. If you want to read some of what he said on the show, check out the WNST website - they have plenty to say. I agree with the sentiments of Drew Forrester of WNST, and they are just ripping apart the guy on their website, but in this case, Huff deserves it.

Roch Kubatko has more on this little scandal that is going on right now with this team ans yet another one of their athletes, and it's needless to say, I don't think the Orioles are impressed with Huff.

The Orioles seem to be a lot more enticing now than they do in the regular season, and that is not a good thing...

Aubrey Huff and His Comments on Baltimore...

Take a read at Roch Kubatko's article in the Sun today about Aubrey Huff and his comments Friday on Baltimore and it's nightlife.

Huff's appraisal came after the discussion turned to nightlife in the Tampa, Fla., area, and how much Huff indulged in it while he was single and playing for the Devil Rays.

(Read My Previous Post on this: The Huff Speaketh...)

"If anybody's heard their show, or Howard Stern's show, it's a shock jock show, so everything's flying," Huff said yesterday. "You've got four guys in there, including me, and we're talking about all sorts of stuff, including bars and restaurants, and how the two cities are different. I said Baltimore was horses - - for that. After games, places are closed down. There's no place to go."

While Huff tries to explain his comments and rationale, he comes off as a tad immature and has a frat boy mentality. It may be all right to be that way amongst your buddies, it's not smart when you represent a professional sports franchise.

Even MacPhail had his say: "I would say that if this was an effort at humor, it failed and was in poor taste," MacPhail said. "It would be difficult to see how anyone would approve of it."

I agree with Andy. Being a "guy" is one thing, slamming a part of a region where you work is another. Still, I wonder what goes through the mind of the guys -- I don't have any affinity for athletes as roles models, but there are still kids, parents and fans who find these guys to be their heroes and someone to emulate.

Sometimes professional athletes need to think about what they do.

If you want more insight on the debate, check out the thread on Orioles Hangout...

The Teacher is In: Orioles 2007 Season Grades - The Starting Infield

Well, I'm going to play teacher this morning and assign grades the best I can to the Oriole players on the squad.

Some are going to like what I have said, and the grades I have issued, some are not.

That being said, let's begin.

We all know that the Orioles have more or less sucked this season, and this winter will be nothing short of critical in charting the course of the franchise in the future.

Today, I'll be doing the infield starters.

***

First Baseman, Kevin Millar
2007 Numbers: .254, 17 HR, 63 RBI, .365 OBP, .420 SLG, 140 games
Grade: C

Kevin Millar did as expected, in my mind. He's nothing great, but he helped the team a lot in July and August with his bat and then wilted in September. I think he's a suitable first baseman, but these days, the first base position is a premier offensive slot and the Orioles are surely weak there. He'll be back next year as he's surpassed the number of appearances in his contract to trigger the option.

He's an on-base-percentage machine, and he breaking the club record of consecutive games where a player got on base is indicative of his ability.

Millar is a great clubhouse guy, and a fan favorite; however, if I had my way, I'd like to see what's out there before slotting him back into first base.


Second Baseman, Brian Roberts
2007 Numbers: .290 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 50 SB, .377 OBP, .432 SLG
Grade: B

Brian is no doubt one of the faces of the organization through his charity work and interaction with the fans, and his 2007 season was solid and he's proven that he's been able to come back from the gruesome injury he suffered 2 years ago in New York.

He's a good all around player with speed, power and hits for average. Roberts did a great job at the leadoff spot in the order and was rewarded with a All-Star appearance.

He wilted towards the end, and it looks like he's grown frustrated with the losing; however, he's shown a willingness to perhaps tough things out and see where it goes. Brian looked tired towards the end, and perhaps struggled with some ailments along with the everyday rigors of playing baseball.

Whether he should be traded is another topic, but I think if the Orioles consider his age (almost 30) to be an issue and do a full rebuilding program, he might be a name (to the sadness of some fans) that could be moved.

Miguel Tejada, Shortstop
2007 Numbers: .296 AVG, 18 HR, 81 RBI, .357 OBP, .442 SLG
Grade: B-

On September 30th, Miguel Tejada might have played his last game in Baltimore. Overall, his numbers have been solid; however, they have slipped from when he first came to the Orioles. He's been the big bopper in the Baltimore lineup, always hit for average and has served as an important cog in the lineup.

Although he missed more than a month due to a wrist injury that ended his consecutive game streak, his 2007 numbers are in line of what expect from Miguel Tejada.

He's faced a lot of criticism for his play in the field, his fielding and perhaps more detrimental, his attitude in the press along with his waffling of being traded and actually wanting to stay with the organization.

I say he's traded at some point -- for young talent.

I said this on Oriole Magic: "It looks like the Orioles are going to rebuild and this time, it may be a slow process from the bottom all the way up, rather than adding pieces here or there. Honestly, if we are going to pay a guy $12-13 million dollars, we need to be contending and the pieces need to be around that player. There’s no point paying him all that money if we are not going to be competitive.

Sadly, I don’t see him staying, and if he does, it’s only because he could not be moved or the Orioles did not try hard enough. He needs to go for the good of the team, and we could possibly get some prospects in return."

He was a productive bat, but his attitude and sometimes lack of motivation got to him. His play has cost us games, and I say either trade him or hopefully he accepts a position change.


Melvin Mora, Third Base
2007 Numbers: .274 AVG, 14 HR, 58 RBI, .341 OBP, .418 SLG
Grade: C+

Melvin did what I expected him to do; however, the question is does he move to left field or do we keep him at third?

Honestly, he's a much better third baseman than I expected in the long run and he is productive, but is he worth 8 million per year? As well, is he a tangible part of the future of the organization?

I say no on both counts. Another fan and organizational favorite, his numbers have dipped and keep on going south. Is this decline phase of his career, or is it just the matter of aging? Personally, I think they should try to deal him - but, um, oh yeah, he's got a "no trade clause". He might jump at a move, but with his family here and a life situated, he may not.

Still, in spite of the criticism, he's still got a mix of power and hits for average, so it's not like he's by far the worst player on the team; however, he's not the same guy he was in 2004 when he hit .340.

At this point, I expect him to be a .260-.290 hitter with some pop and the ability to drive in runs, and be situated at the bottom of the order -- nothing more.


Aubrey Huff, First/Third Base/DH
2007 Numbers: .280 AVG, 15 HR, 72 RBI, .337 OBP, .442 SLG
Grade: B-/C+

If not for his hot August/September, I would have considered him a monumental disappointment. Yes, I sort of alluded that he'd be good for a .280 average and provide Miguel protection, but for the first four months of the season, he was one of the subpar hitters on the team and was part of the problem, not the solution.

His offense picked up in the latter half of the season and that gave his numbers a big boost; however, he drove a lot of fans mad by not being there at the plate when the team needed him.

Not much of a fielder at third or first, he was signed basically for his bat. His numbers have gone down since he left Tampa Bay, but he was counted on doing a lot more for the team.

Honestly, he showed us in the last months of the season he can hit, but you cannot get hot when the grave has already been dug for the Orioles.

Not to say he was the problem in 2007, but he sure did not help things at all.

Bedard K's 11 and is Rolling; O's Top Rays, 11-3

Erik Bedard keeps rolling, and it is safe to say that he’s one of the best starters in baseball today.

If it has not already, the sport needs to take notice.

Okay, so he was not immaculate on Sunday afternoon, but he did a decent job as the Orioles whooped up on Tampa Bay, 11-3.

He struck out 11.

The Oriole offense came through in a big way as Miguel Tejada, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora homered.

Finally, the team is playing as it should be with the talent on the roster, and just imagine if they had played like this early on – the O’s would be in the wild card hunt.

Corey Patterson drove in three runs and Nick Markakis drove in two.

***

The Baltimore Sun has a recap of the game, as does the Baltimore Examiner, and the Washington Post.

Aubrey Huff has been a disappointment in general, but this weekend he got out of a prolonged (that would be an understatement) slump and bashed his old team.

Roch Kubatko has an interesting piece on Orioles’ prospect, David Hernandez.

The Good Daniel Cabrera Shows Up; O's Beat Rays Thanks to Huff's Blast, 3-1

The Orioles got back into the win column last night, as they beat the lowly Devil Rays in Tampa, 3-1, thanks to a big three-run homer by Aubrey Huff.

On Friday, the good Daniel showed up as he allowed one run in seven innings, and Danys Baez notched his first save as a Bird.

Looks like the former Devil Rays took advantage and whooped up on their old team.

***

People, sports is a business and I’m up in arms as to why people are upset that the Orioles did not make a move for Mark Teixiera.

Baltimore had the pieces, and did not want to give them up; however, Atlanta did and the circumstances were right for them.

The price was too high to get him, and the Orioles do not need to give away young talent for a guy who may be more than a year and half rental.

If you are fan, you have got the read Dan Connolly’s piece in the Sun.

I was probably of one of ten people who didn’t think the Orioles should make a move for Teixiera at the price Texas was asking for. I feel that for the meantime, the Orioles should go after him n the free agent market, and not give away young talent – talent, we desperately need.

Let’s keep in mind that Atlanta was where Teixeira went to school, so that place held allure to him too.

Folks, let go after him ’09 and see if Boras will want the Brinks’ truck for him.

Teixiera – good glove, great bat, but the Orioles need more than him right now for sure.

***

The Baltimore Sun has a recap of the game, as does the Baltimore Examiner, Washington Post, & Orioles Hangout.

We all know Danys Baez was atrocious for a good while, but now it looks like he’s back to form and Dave Trembley hopes that he can help out in the bullpen. Kids, Danys is now the closer…

The Baltimore Sun has a question for Corey Patterson, this time about playing in Tropicana Field.

Kurt Birkins has been recalled from the minors, and Cory Doyne has been sent back down.

Quick Hits

* The Baltimore Sun’s David Steele muses about an amazing week in Baltimore, with Cal’s induction vote and the upcoming playoff game here in the city against the Colts.

* If you’re going to Cooperstown, you’d better act on getting a room – fast.

* Orioles.com beat writer Spencer Fordin takes a look at the depth of the team at the first, third & (mainly infield) spots, now that Huff is on the team. Huff will be expected to play a variety of positions, and Millar will perhaps get a lot of starts at first, while Jay will DH and play some first and outfield. Huff may sub for Mora when he needs a free day. It all depends on what happens in Spring Training and Sam Perlozzo.

* More on Ripken from Spencer Fordin. Cal wants to acquire the Orioles at some point.

* Cal was in New York City along with Tony Gwynn for a media day.

* Tony Pente of the popular Orioles’ Hangout site gives us his reflections of being on Cal’s press conference right after the announcement was made.

* A fellow blogger at Oriole Central on the day of Cal’s induction takes a look back at game 2131 and gives his reflections. It was great to read that and anyone who saw that game was reminded of what the O’s used to be, and importantly being able to witness such a historic moment that evokes such powerful emotions, more than 11 years later.

* The Roar from 34 blog ponders should be B-Rob be traded? At this point, I don’t know considering what the team has done, and for now I’d say he’s still one of building blocks for the future. However, if we get a deal that’s overwhelming, something needs to happen for the good of the team.

Honorable Mention: I’d like to give the blog, Yankees Chick a shout-out. She may be a dreaded Yankees fan, but she offers great analysis and snark commentary. More importantly, she gave props to both Cal Jr. and Cal Sr. recently, which makes her all right in my book.

Also, I’d like you to take a look at Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch. I like his blog in general and his insight towards the game.

As well, My Baseball Bias – An AL East Blog. He’s been at it a short while, but he’s put together an impressive body of work!

Last, but not least, take a look at Inside the Monster, an impressive look at the Red Sox and baseball, by young blogger Mike Edelman. He’s a good guy and really knows his stuff!

Quick Hits...

• Orioles.com beat writer Spencer Fordin in his latest article writes about the Aubrey Huff impact with the Jay Payton signing and the expectations for him with the team. Also the article looks at the situation with Rodrigo Lopez, Hayden Penn’s status for ’07 and where’s former O’s catcher Javy Lopez?

• Baltimore Sun writer Dan Connolly believes that Ripken’s numbers were Hall of Fame worthy even without the streak, and I think that’s the case.
  
  
• Baltimore talk radio station WBAL has an article up about Cal titled Cal Waiting for the Call from the Hall.
  

• Washington Post Dave Shenin opines about Cal Ripken’s career and his legacy.

• Here’s a video of Cal Ripken chatting about his expected induction to the Hall of Fame.

• J.D. Drew is still waiting to become a member of the Red Sox. Take a look at Murray Chass’s article. Ridiculous.
  
  
• The University of Florida whooped on Ohio State 41-14 to win the National Championship in college football. Whoa. I thought there would have been much more of a challenge from OSU and that game would have been closer.

Honorable Mention: I found this website, The Road Less Traveled, the other day and found what the creator did with the site to be wonderful. Although I am not from the Boston area, I know quite a bit of people from there who live in the Mid-Atlantic region and I can relate to a lot of what’s on the site. The insight is great, you can have a few laughs on it and he’s got some cool photographs on it as well. Check it out!

Quick Hits - O's Related

Washington Post's Orioles beat writer, Jorge Arangure Jr. has an article up on the website which covered the Aubrey Huff press conference & a few other bits O's business. The main themes are bulleted and pointed out.

• As well know, the O's signed Aubrey Huff and he says he's glad to play for the Orioles & quoted, ""It's a nice chapter for me in my life joining such a storied franchise,". It was conveyed that Huff will be an everyday player, most likely in left field which would make Jay Payton a 4th outfielder. He's may also play other positions in the field as needed, as he can play right field and third/first base.
  
  
• In the same article, the Orioles front office have started negotiations with second baseman Brian Roberts on a contract contract extension. He is eligible for arbitration and can become a free agent after the 2008 season.
  
  
• Meantime, the Orioles still are listening to offers for pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, but as of now, no deal is eminent.

Yet more on Aubrey Huff from the Baltimore Sun. And one more piece from Roch Kutabko. Ok, a little overkill now on my part with Mr. Huff.

The Orioles.com website have an article up now about the catching situation, titled Around the Horn: Catchers. Much of the article talks about Ramon Hernandez along with the contributions and numbers he had last year for the O's, but it also goes into the catching acquisitions made this winter for '07.

Catching up with an Old Friend: Sidney Ponson has signed with the Twins. A once-promising pitcher for the O's, his career got derailed by alcohol abuse. He pitched in 2006 with mediocre results for the Cardinals and Yankees, thus getting released by both teams.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Ponson's deal that could be worth as much as $3 million. Ponson would get a one-year, $1 million contract if he's added to the 40-man roster and could earn $2 million more in performance bonuses.

Revisiting Deals (Huff/Wilson), Article on Tony Gwynn, Tom Verducci's Article

• O's News: Roch Kutbako mentions in his blog: "The Orioles remain in talks with the representatives for Craig Wilson and Aubrey Huff, but it doesn't appear that anything is imminent. It should be fairly quiet this week. It usually is between Christmas and Jan. 1. But phone calls are being made each day."
  
  I personally think we need to sign one or both of them. Right now, with the exception of Chris Gomez, the bench looks weak and fairly think. Getting these two would add two solid veterans to the team and both could get significant time in a platoon situation. Aubrey Huff is the sexier name and perhaps with the best bat, but Craig Wilson is serviceable and from seeing him in Pittsburgh and the Yankees, has a decent bat. Both may not be known for their glove, but they are better options than what we have at the moment.
  
  
• Great article on ESPN.com by Maryland's own Tim Kurkjian's on Tony Gwynn. It's a foregone conclusion that he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame with Cal Ripken.
  
  Here's the Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof07/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=2708775
  
  
• Read "On the Verge" by Tom Verducci. I have always liked what he's has to say and he's got an article posted on CNNSI.com about young stars that he projects will break out in '07. Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/tom_verducci/12/26/breakout/index.html
  
  
• This is a very dull week. I am at work right now and honestly do not know what to do with myself since there's no one here, the parking lot is empty and for every minute the clock moves forward, it feels like it's going two minutes back. The good thing is that all the work I need to get done to close out the year is done! Oh well, another early day...
  

Aubrey Huff Rumors from CNN/Sports Illustrated

From CNNSi.com: "According to one source, the Orioles initially flinched at Aubrey Huff's asking price; however, it has come down significantly, and one industry source believes Huff is now looking for a three-year deal worth around $23 million. Huff also has attracted interest from the Indians, Rangers and Pirates; the Yankees and Red Sox could be interested on a one-year basis.-- Baltimore Sun"

Quick Hits - The O's First Base Issue, Potential Players, D-Train and an Old Friend...

The latest article in the Baltimore Sun about the Orioles' offseason ponders the latest issue: who's at first base? Right now, Kevin Millar is slotted to play the position, and Jay Gibbons wants a chance to play in the field rather than be a platoon guy or everyday DH, so he's also in the scene to become the everyday first baseman. Both guys will get their chance to show what they have in spring training unless the Orioles make a deal to get a more established first baseman within the organization.

The article highlights that the Orioles have been scouring the league for first baseman available via trade, with names such as Chris LaRoche of the Braves and the Mariners' Ben Broussard. As well, the O's have been talking to the agents for Carlos Pena, Aubrey Huff and Craig Wilson.

In the same article, the O's took a look at outfielder Shannon Stewart in a workout, and could be interested considering his injuries in the past few years and if the price is right.

As well, Mark Mulder's name was brought up in the article, but the O's aren't looking at him to join the rotation.

Also, Todd Williams, who was non-tendered by the team, may come back if the O's offer him a contract.

• Yikes, Say it ain't so! One of my and my little brother's favorite players, along with one of the most popular players in the game, the Florida Marlins ace pitcher Dontrelle Willis, aka the D-Train, was arrested Friday morning in Miami on suspicion of drunk driving. Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2705991


• An old ex-friend wants to return to baseball: Former O's and Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa wants to return to the big leagues and hopes a team will take a chance on him. He's currently training in the Dominican Republic and asserts a number of teams are interested in him. According the article from ESPN, Sammy feels baseball has since turned its back on him, calling it a "blow" to not have received offers to come back during this year's season. Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2705612

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