Bench Coach

- 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.

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.

Dave Jauss , who was not retained as Orioles bench coach after this season, his second with the club, was hired Tuesday to fill the same position with the New York Mets. Jauss, 52, has spent seven seasons as a major league coach. College volleyball: Towson coach Paul Koncir resigned after leading the team to a 56-65 record in four years. - From Sun staff and news services

After fielding nearly 40 phone calls about his vacant bench coach position, Orioles manager Dave Trembley found exactly the person he was looking for in Jeff Datz, a former catcher who spent the previous 19 seasons in the Cleveland Indians organization. His hiring made official Thursday, Datz replaces Dave Jauss, who was let go by Trembley this month after two seasons. "He has experience, he's shown a great deal of loyalty to one organization and he came very highly recommended by the people that he worked for and with," Trembley said.

All but one of the Orioles' coaches in 2009 will be back on Dave Trembley's staff next season. Trembley said Tuesday that Dave Jauss, who has been Trembley's bench coach for the past two seasons, will not return in 2010. The rest of the group will resume their 2009 responsibilities: pitching coach Rick Kranitz, hitting coach Terry Crowley, first base coach John Shelby, third base coach Juan Samuel and bullpen coach Alan Dunn. None will be considered for bench coach. Therefore, Trembley will be searching only for a right-hand man, who likely will also serve as the spring training coordinator.

Orioles@Phillies 7 p.m. [MASN] Ever wonder what became of former Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo (left)? He's the Phillies' third base coach. Perlozzo has company. Philadelphia's first base coach is former Orioles coach Davey Lopes, and the bench coach is former Baysox and Keys manager Pete Mackanin.

Report: A's to get Holliday; Olsen, Willingham to Nats baseball Star outfielder Matt Holliday appears headed to the Oakland Athletics in a surprising move for a franchise known more for shedding stars than adding them. Two people familiar with the proposed deal told the Associated Press yesterday that the A's and the Colorado Rockies have reached a tentative agreement. It was unclear whom Colorado would get for the two-time All-Star. One of the people said left-handed starter Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez - among the six players Oakland acquired last winter when it traded ace Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks - and reliever Huston Street, the 2005 Rookie of the Year, were among those who had been discussed in recent days.

Mike Mussina became the oldest pitcher to win 20 games in a season for the first time, reaching the milestone on the final day of the season yesterday as the visiting New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-2, in a day-night doubleheader opener. The 39-year-old Mussina (20-9), finishing his 18th major league season, allowed three hits in six shutout innings. "It's been a long time," he said. "I've been close." Previously, the oldest first-time 20-game winner was Jamie Moyer, who was 38 when he went 20-6 for the Mariners in 2001.

Dave Trembley isn't running a boot camp. He wants that understood. He's the Orioles' manager, not their drill sergeant. But watch how his players march to the back fields during spring training, which begins with the first workout for pitchers and catchers today. Listen closely as Trembley barks commands, sending in motion a collection of pitchers and hitters who are joined together for the common cause. Notice how crisply everyone moves from one station to the next beneath the hot South Florida sun. This is the way Trembley has envisioned his first spring in charge of the Orioles since the 2007 season came to a merciful end and he has been allowed to start planning ahead.