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By Dan Connolly | August 14, 2009
It's not the number of tattoos. It's not the profound message attached to those lasting images. What sets apart Josh Bell's tribute to his late father is the location. There's no coincidence that the body art memorializing Bruce Bell - the cross, the halo, the angel wings, the doves and the clouds - adorns the entire right arm of the Orioles' newly anointed third baseman of the future. Bell threw 90 mph in practice as a high school sophomore. Scouts still rave about the cannon attached to his right shoulder.
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By Dan Connolly | July 29, 2009
As the nonwaiver trade deadline approaches Friday, the Orioles are moving further away from making a noteworthy deal - unless it involves closer George Sherrill. The Orioles have other trade pieces available, but according to several baseball sources, there is little, if any, interest in the club's trio of high-salaried pending free agents: reliever Danys Baez, first baseman Aubrey Huff and third baseman Melvin Mora. That leaves Sherrill, the club's 2008 All-Star who has converted 20 of 23 save opportunities this season, as the primary target.
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By Dan Connolly | May 4, 2009
Brandon Waring calls 2007 "a whirlwind." Scouts were blown away by it. His teammates simply chuckled. The Frederick Keys corner infielder didn't think he had a chance to be drafted entering his junior season at Wofford, a South Carolina college, in 2007. Then he hit 27 home runs, the second most in all NCAA Division I that year. The Cincinnati Reds selected him in the seventh round, signed him for $94,000 and assigned him to their Rookie-level squad in Billings, Mont. It was supposed to be his low-pressure introduction to pro ball.
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By Glenn Graham | May 25, 2008
COLLEGE PARK -- Relaxed and poised throughout an improbable run to the Class 3A state championship game, the Atholton softball team finally came up against a team in Northern of Calvert County that hit a nerve. Northern aggressively scratched across early runs, leaned on freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Schmeiser to get big outs and enjoyed a five-run seventh inning to break open the title game yesterday, coming away with a 7-0 victory over the No. 6 Raiders at the University of Maryland. The Patriots (16-7)
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By PETER SCHMUCK | November 24, 2007
Something should have happened by now, or so you might think after several months of speculation about the great Orioles rebuilding project that was supposed to begin this month. Club president Andy MacPhail still might get something done before the end of November, but his plan to remake the roster has been stalled temporarily by circumstances beyond his control - most notably the decision by the Florida Marlins to make third baseman Miguel Cabrera available for a possible blockbuster trade.
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By Jeff Zrebiec | November 7, 2007
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There has been no escaping the dominant topic of baseball's general managers meetings this week. Over two days at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort, the future home of free-agent third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been debated relentlessly, making any other player seem like an afterthought. That includes the Orioles' Miguel Tejada, who also has a Most Valuable Player award on his resume and a future that will likely remain uncertain for a little longer this offseason.
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By JEFF ZREBIEC | September 29, 2007
LEICESTER LOSES IT Rookie starter Jon Leicester wanted to make one last impression on the Orioles before the season ended. He did, but it wasn't a good one. He was touched for seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. In two starts against New York this season, Leicester surrendered 13 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. Orioles manager Dave Trembley had said the pitcher will get an extended look in spring training, perhaps for a role in the bullpen. He will finish the season with a 2-3 record and a 7.59 ERA. 1,500 TIMES TWO A two-run home run off Leicester in the third inning was not only Alex Rodriguez's 54th of the season, but it gave him 1,500 RBIs for his career.
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By Roch Kubatko | September 3, 2007
While this year's top draft pick, catcher Matt Wieters, continues to work out with the Aberdeen IronBirds before playing in Hawaii later this month, the Orioles' first selection in 2006 is concluding a season that started late but had decent results. Third baseman Bill Rowell was batting .273 in 89 games at Single-A Delmarva before yesterday, with 21 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 56 RBIs and a .422 slugging percentage. He hit safely in five of seven games. Rowell was trying to make up for lost time after a strained oblique muscle kept him at extended spring training.
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By Roch Kubatko | August 13, 2007
When James Hoey left Double-A Bowie last season on his way to the majors, Baysox pitching coach Scott McGregor thought he wouldn't see an arm like that again for a while. Then along came Bob McCrory. A fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft out of Southern Mississippi, McCrory has thrust himself into the Orioles' prospect picture - with vigor. His fastball touches 98 mph, and he unleashes a two-seamer that ranges from 95 to 98 mph. He also has a good breaking ball and a developing changeup that he used more effectively at the Single-A level.
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By Jeff Zrebiec | August 5, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- After playing two games for the Orioles' Gulf Coast Rookie-level team, third baseman Melvin Mora appears ready to make a full-time return to the Orioles' lineup. He'll report to Tropicana Field this morning, and if he gets clearance to play from head trainer Richie Bancells, he'll be activated from the disabled list and in the lineup for today's series finale against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Mora has made just one start since spraining his left foot in a play at the plate July 1. "There's a good chance that he'll play tomorrow," interim manager Dave Trembley said before last night's game.