Bench Coach

Manager Buck Showalter finally completed his 2011 staff Tuesday by selecting a bench coach who spent years battling the Orioles at Memorial Stadium. Looking for a quality infield instructor with the added bonus of managerial experience, Showalter hired an old friend, former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph. It's a reunion of sorts for Showalter, who gave Randolph his first big league coaching job with the New York Yankees in 1994. "It's kind of surreal in a way; as a young coach, I learned the ropes as a third base coach under Buck Showalter," said Randolph, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Orioles after spending two seasons as bench coach with the Milwaukee Brewers.

It was a human moment that wasn't revealed in the box score of the Orioles' 5-3 road split-squad loss to the Phillies in Clearwater -- a father finally getting to coach his son in a sport to which they have both dedicated their careers. Orioles bench coach John Russell, who managed the team's road split-squad team with manager Buck Showalter back in Sarasota on Saturday afternoon, had never had the opportunity to coach his son, Steel, before Sunday's game.  Steel Russell, a left-handed hitting catcher whom the Orioles drafted in the 32 nd round last season out of Midland Junior College in Texas, jumped at the chance to get on the team's travel roster to Clearwater for Sunday's game.

Real cool moment in the Orioles clubhouse today when William “Steel” Russell, son of Orioles bench coach and former Pirates manager, John, learned that the Orioles had taken him in the 32nd round of the amateur draft. A left-handed hitting catcher from Midland Junior College in Texas, Steel joined his dad on this trip, and both hoped he would be drafted - but they didn't know it would be by the Orioles. “I am very proud. For your son to be drafted, especially with the team that I'm with right now, it is something that I'll cherish forever,” said John Russell, who was a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies as a catcher in 1982.

As expected, the Orioles' only representative on USA Baseball's 27-man provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic is center fielder Adam Jones. The rosters for the rest of the countries will be announced later today, so other Orioles could be named then, but Miguel Gonzalez said today that he won't pitch for Mexico . Thirteen of the players on the provisional roster have USA Baseball experience, including six who have played in past WBCs. The roster includes 15 major league All-Stars, three Most Valuable Players and one Cy Young Award winner.

DeMarlo Hale, who had served as the Orioles' third-base coach this past season, is taking a job as bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, an industry source has confirmed. Hale, the only remaining unsigned coach from Orioles manager Buck Showalter's staff heading into Thanskgiving, interviewed for the Toronto job earlier this week. The Orioles had extended an offer for Hale to return to the club as third-base coach, but a bench coaching position is seen as a move up. Hale, who was previously the Red Sox bench coach under former Boston manager Terry Francona, joined Showalter's staff this past season after Francona was not retained following the 2011 season.

- Jeff Datz stood tall in front of home plate during an Orioles workout last week, a group of catchers - masks in hands, eyes fixed forward - surrounding him. For 20 minutes, Datz taught without interruption, going over throwing, receiving and positioning. He occasionally used his hands to emphasize or to demonstrate, but he barely changed his tone or posture. When Orioles manager Dave Trembley began his search for a new bench coach this offseason, he was looking for a detail-oriented baseball man with varied experience, a no-nonsense demeanor and a catcher's background.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The first day of baseball's general managers meetings came and went quietly, though the Orioles managed to get one thing accomplished. A team source said manager Dave Trembley is set to hire Dave Jauss as bench coach, which would complete an aggressive overhaul of the Orioles' coaching staff. Jauss spent the past two seasons as the Los Angeles Dodgers' bench coach under manager Grady Little, who resigned last week and was replaced by former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Orioles bench coach Eddie Murray yesterday became the ninth known candidate to interview for the club's managerial vacancy as majority owner Peter Angelos and his advisory committee press to conclude the process by this weekend, according to club and industry sources.Murray's long-anticipated interview coincided with the Seattle Mariners' industry-shaking hire of former Orioles general manager Pat Gillick as executive vice president/director of baseball operations. Gillick resigned his post with the Orioles last October at least in part because of philosophical differences with Angelos.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Orioles stayed within the organization when finding a new bench coach. They didn't even look outside the team. Third base coach Tom Trebelhorn will take a seat beside interim manager Sam Perlozzo when the Orioles face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tomorrow. First base coach Rick Dempsey will assume Trebelhorn's duties as third base coach, with Dave Cash leaving Triple-A Ottawa's staff to replace Dempsey. Butch Davis, a coach at Double-A Bowie, will replace Cash at Ottawa.

Hours after Lee Elia officially was named Orioles bench coach yesterday, he drove about 45 minutes to have dinner with his new boss. Last night at manager Sam Perlozzo's Florida home, Elia, Perlozzo and new Orioles pitching coach Leo Mazzone ate steak and chewed the fat about a sport in which they have more than 100 years of combined experience. "We're having chateaubriand, some salad, baked potatoes and baseball extraordinaire," Perlozzo said. It was part friendly get-together, part introductory meeting for Elia and Mazzone and part celebration - since Perlozzo's 2006 coaching staff is complete.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was somewhat astonished by the interest his third base coach vacancy drew. Candidates constantly emerged to replace DeMarlo Hale, who was hired as Toronto's bench coach last month. But when decision time to make a hire came, Showalter stayed within the organization and turned to one of his most trusted coaches. The Orioles announced Thursday they have hired Bobby Dickerson, who has been the organization's minor league infield coordinator for the past three seasons, as their new third base coach.

DeMarlo Hale, who had served as the Orioles' third-base coach this past season, is taking a job as bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, an industry source has confirmed. Hale, the only remaining unsigned coach from Orioles manager Buck Showalter's staff heading into Thanskgiving, interviewed for the Toronto job earlier this week. The Orioles had extended an offer for Hale to return to the club as third-base coach, but a bench coaching position is seen as a move up. Hale, who was previously the Red Sox bench coach under former Boston manager Terry Francona, joined Showalter's staff this past season after Francona was not retained following the 2011 season.

Several media outlets, led by the Boston Herald, reported Wednesday that the Boston Red Sox have a two-year deal in place for right-handed slugger Jonny Gomes. Gomes, 31, hit .262 with 18 homers, a .377 on-base percentage and .491 slugging percentage in 99 games for the Oakland A's last season. A designated hitter and outfielder who demolishes left-handed pitching, he looked like he'd be a good fit for the Orioles' vacant DH/unclaimed left field spot. And as Eduardo A. Encina reported last week, the Orioles had legitimate interest in Gomes, but only on a one-year deal.

Former Orioles manager Dave Trembley, who had been a minor league instructor with the Atlanta Braves, has been hired to be on the big league staff of new Houston Astros manager Bo Porter. The exact position has not been announced, but it wouldn't be a surprise if Trembley ended up as Porter's bench coach. Trembley managed Porter in the minors. Tha Astros also hired John Malee as hitting coach and retained Doug Brocail (pitching coach) and Dave Clark (position unspecified). “A manager is only as good as his coaching staff and I'm confident these four will contribute to a terrific staff that can help us accomplish our goals,” Porter said in a team news release.

Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale will interview for the Boston Red Sox managerial job later this week, an industry source confirmed Monday.  Hale joined Buck Showalter's staff last offseason after the Red Sox fired former manager Terry Francona after Boston failed to make the postseason, a fate that was partially sealed because of the Orioles' win over the Red Sox at Camden Yards on the final day of the regular season in 2011. Before arriving in Baltimore, Hale was the Red Sox bench coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Orioles third-base coach DeMarlo Hale has been rumored to be a candidate for the Boston Red Sox managerial job now that Bobby Valentine has been fired. Hale, 51, spent six seasons on former Boston manager Terry Francona's staff, including two years as Francona's bench coach, before joining the Orioles this season. He said he hasn't heard anything from the Red Sox organization regarding the job and one industry source said there hadn't been a formal interview request for Hale yet. Hale said he'd have interest, but it's not something he is considering right now. “I'd have to think about it, no question, but right now my focus is this team, what we've accomplished so far and what is ahead of us,” Hale said.

As Sam Perlozzo scanned his cell phone messages yesterday, he redialed a number that he mistakenly assumed would connect to the last caller. Instead, he ended up in a conversation with the man who beat him out for the Orioles' managerial job. Lee Mazzilli hadn't left a message, figuring he would try again later. But they needed to talk, so Mazzilli could be certain that Perlozzo wanted to return as bench coach. So he could be sure there were no hard feelings. "I'm coming back," Perlozzo said.

The Orioles yesterday announced the addition of veteran major-league pitching coach Sammy Ellis to manager Mike Hargrove's staff while confirming that four members of Ray Miller's staff and two of Hargrove's coaches with the Cleveland Indians will complete the list.Former Indians third base coach Jeff Newman was named bench coach while first base coach Brian Graham will assume the same responsibility with the Orioles. Sam Perlozzo, Eddie Murray, Terry Crowley and Elrod Hendricks will return, Perlozzo as third base coach, Crowley as hitting coach and Hendricks as bullpen coach.

Real cool moment in the Orioles clubhouse today when William “Steel” Russell, son of Orioles bench coach and former Pirates manager, John, learned that the Orioles had taken him in the 32nd round of the amateur draft. A left-handed hitting catcher from Midland Junior College in Texas, Steel joined his dad on this trip, and both hoped he would be drafted - but they didn't know it would be by the Orioles. “I am very proud. For your son to be drafted, especially with the team that I'm with right now, it is something that I'll cherish forever,” said John Russell, who was a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies as a catcher in 1982.

After a couple months of speculation and negotiation, the Orioles have announced their coaching staff. DeMarlo Hale, the former Boston Red Sox bench and third base coach, will be joining the Orioles as third base coach and infield instructor, and Bill Castro, the longtime Milwaukee Brewers instructor, will be the Orioles' new bullpen coach. Hale, 50, was on Orioles manager Buck Showalter's coaching staff in Texas from 2003 to 2005. A former first baseman-outfielder in the minors, Hale has spent the past six seasons as a coach for the Red Sox, including four as a third base coach.