Best I can make out from the Spanish, the sole source of this info is Guillen himself. He says the O's and Royals are in the hunt, but the Royals say they have minimal interest. He Mariners declined an option for $9 million; no way he will get three years for 30.

Regarding Stockstill in the DR, I wonder if he got a look at the 16-YO phenom Boras is peddling for a huge signing bonus.

Thanks for recounting that, Roch. I can't believe that's been almost 5 years. Another senseless tragedy. At least his death brought to light the dangers of Ephedra and other supplements like it. We already knew how dangerous guns were before Sean Taylor's death, but for some reason, gun violence has never equated better gun control. That's another tragedy.

Roch - Taylor was shot in the Femoral artery. The Femoral is sort of a jugular for the lower body. Quite a bit of blood passes through it He would have lost a lot of blood even if help had been just outside his house.

With extreme blood loss, even with later transfusions, systems start to shut down and something called "programmed cell death" is activated by the body.

The loss of any young person is a tragedy. Parents should not be burying their children. How talented the person is in whatever is secondary to the loss. It is a great shame.

Wasn't Howie Clark the Blue Jay who dropped the pop up when ARod yelled "mine!" as he ran by?

Thanks for the Howie Clark update and keep them coming please. I'd lilke to see him back with the Orioles, but as long as he's in the bigs somewhere that will be just great. Don't know why I like the guy. Maybe I see potential...maybe I just like the name...I dunno. Just rooting for Howie Clark.

Julie,

If Taylor had a gun instead of a machete, maybe the result would be different. I agree with you that guns should be more available for law-abiding citizens. Somehow we have to stop the bad guys from getting them. Maybe we can ban them like performance enhancing drugs and marijuana. Is that what you mean by "control".

Unfortunately, trading Tejada and Bedard while signing Guillen sounds so much like the "Oriole Way" under Angelos that you have to wonder if the story is true.

Still, in the unlikely event that they are going to drop that kind of money on any Free Agent, wouldn't Jones or Rowand be better options?

It would seem, however, that neither player would qualify for MacPahil because they are too talented, too experienced and might actually benefit the team.

Of course, "we are more than 1 player away from competing," so why bother go after any players who might actually help build a winning team?

Do you think Guillen will wear # 88?

Tom D, Thanks for that "oh so lovly" Howie Clark update. Could of happened to anyone, but "Stray-Rod" does have a knack for finding little ways to keep the inning going. That just happened to be a very costly freakish error.

Julie, keep the political commentary out of the sports blog. Read your history and crime statistics from reliable sources and you may begin to question your assumptions. 'Nuff said.

You want Orioles news, how about the fact the Brady Anderson is on the Hall of Fame ballot. I think his sideburns will get more votes then him.

I'd rather have Milton Bradley than Jose Guillen.

Awfully presumptuous of Tom D to think Rowand or Jones would even WANT to come here. Geez, we have 10 years+ of losing and one of our own players is trashing the city on national radio. Right now the Orioles = death in the minds of the MLB elite.

Good scouting, drafting and shrewd trades will the Orioles get good again. Only then will the Orioles become attractive suitors in the free agent market.

h is for hirsute!

The O's and the Nats don't have one good team between them.

Roch:

Thanks for sharing the memory. I covered an athlete's death while in college in Richmond. He drowned on campus in a silly initiation-type ceremony (not frat-related.) Especially at that level, the coach was hit incredibly hard -- this was one of his guys, one of his kids. So were all the students. He was a football player, but he was one of us. That he died -- and that my friends had helped pull his body from the water -- made it all the more tragic and real.

Bill In Elkton - I always like Howie, too. He always reminded me of Tom Shopay.

Shopay, remember, was the 25th man on the O's in the late 70's who always got to face the pitchers the regular players wanted to duck. But Shopay could sit for 2 months and still be ready to play.

Howie may be a little better over all than Shopay but he is cursed with versatility.

My favorite Howie Clark memory was when he first came up from the minors. I think it was about his 6th game, and Hairston was on first. The O's put on a hit and run, but the pitch was about 18 inches outside. Howie didn't blink and somehow lined it into the left-centerfield gap for a double, scoring Hairston from first. The announcers couldn't figure out how he reached the pitch without leaving the batters box or losing his balance.

Jose Guillen is about the last thing that the O's need at this point, although I do remember that they were interested in him a few years ago.He is a good ball player but the O's would need another charter jet to handle the baggage.

Julie,

There is only one problem with gun control...criminals don't abide by the laws. That's why they are criminals in the first place. There would be less crime and less violence if governments made it easier to acquire concealed weapons permits. Banning guns would be pointless as well, if even feasible, which it isn't because someone, intent on doing harm to another, will find something else to use as a weapon. Maybe instead of sentencing murderers to 5 years in jail or some other lenient sentence, they should be put to death. It might make a criminal think twice if they knew they would actually be punished for their crime.

Roch
I talked to a former Orioles pitcher over the weekend. I don't want to name him but he is currently a pitching coach in the system but he has been demoted to lower level. I asked him about Etchebarren being let go and he said Andy and Dave didn't see eye to eye on some things. I assume he meant Dave Stocksdill. Do you have any details?

The Howie Clark mention reminded me of the Arod incident, also.

Is there any doubt that, if Arod played first base, he would have pulled the "hidden ball" trick by now?

I pray for mr. taylors family and the guilty pay. One person already states gun violence doesn't relate to gun control nor should it ever.. Miami is not a great place for safety but aside, it has been proven time and again gun control only works against the millions of law abiding gun owners, never the criminals it does no good to release the murderers and hang the gun.. Let us mourn sean taylor and his family.

Andrew Jones
The O's should sign him. about a 3 year 18 million dollar deal mabey 20. But he would be a big help everywhere. He's got a good glove in CF and brings good power. He can hit 25-35 HR, just what the O's need. Why not? In 2006 he hit 41 HR and he's 30 so he's not to old. He cant be expecting much and will be perfect for the O's.
Tell me if I'm wrong about Jones
Dont be afraid to hurt my feelings

I really liked Jon Knott. Yes, he did strike out alot, but he had power, was young, could get alot better, and would not of been expensive if the O's were gonna resign him. I really hope Jose Guillen does not come to the Orioles. They dont need to pay the contract he wants. Jay Payton, though should not return. Tike Redman in LF. Andrew Jones in CF. Thats what I say. oh and get rid of Miggy, get some good youngsters.

Howdy Roch,

I just have to say that if I hear word of another Japanese player thinking about coming to MLB and that the O's won't at least kick the tires on it, I'm going to recommend they just drop down to AAA. What gives? Why are we never in on it at all.

As we seem to be debating this, here's one more vote for gun control. Gun control does seem to work in Western Europe, where there are far far fewer murders than in the United States. The problem with the argument that proposes that criminals will still get guns is that it overlooks the larger reality that in a country that embraces a gun culture--such as ours--guns become an accepted fact of life, and so, are frequently used.

There is, of course, no evidence whatsoever that would-be murderers are deterred by the death penalty.

i wish we would have held on to
jon knott..he was a gamer.
mr. mcphail..please do something..
gillian is not the answer but somewhere, there are players who would benefit the o's...i get nervous
when i see all the other teams wheeling and dealing and the o's
with still the same old losing group.
be bold, be bold, don't hold back

I'd pay Jones $6m a year, but I'd be shocked if he goes that low.

t is for tilapia!

Hey Tom D
Your endless rants against Macphail are boring and without merit.

Couldn't you at least let the man make a few moves this offseason before railing against him like you do?

It reminds me of when the "ghost of earl" went on and on and on about how bad of a manager Sam Perlozza was and even had the same pencahant for making fun of his name.

Look at it this way the O's can't get blasted for making any bad signings if they don't make any signing.

hey julie, bad guys always have guns because they aren't going to obey gun laws. if taylor had been able to have a gun to defend his home and family the other guy might be dead instead of him. maybe the intuder knew taylor was prohibited from having a gun and he would have to come at him with a machete. gun control laws only hurt the innocent. look at virginia tech.

greg, there is plenty of evidence that the death penalty deters crime. there have been cover stories in the new york times and wall street journal stating as much in the last month. and who cares if it doesn't. it is fair punishment for murder. by the way it's so sad that you want to blame people using guns to commit crimes on a "gun culture." keep living in your fantasy land of theory. when someone comes after a person you care about with a gun, you'll wish they had one too. oh maybe a cop will happen to be in the area to save the day. more likely they'll just be cleaning up the body of another innocent victim.

Greg,
Having lived in Europe for seven years, I have found that the reason that there is less crime is because the Police have real authority and will seriously hurt you. You want to cut back on crime, cut back on liberties and the belief that you are innocent until proven guilty.

I'm going to respectfully disagree on Jose Guillen. After a few tense games, The Washington Nationals and Frank Robinson had Guillen totally under control, at least on the field. He's a great player and I have no doubt that the O's current manager would have "no problems" with Jose; his bat and glove are sorely needed. There aren't 25 Brian Roberts out there to be had, and I'd hire him over Tejada any day--talk about baggage!

A little recent background is in order on Jose Guillen.

While in Seattle this past season, Jose was a model citizen, a joy to behold and a true team leader. He got along well with everyone, especially Mike Hargrove, and seemed to be sincerely hurt when Grover left.

Who knows? His past problems could have been a little (or a lot) of 'roid rage, but he seems to have turned the corner.

Based just on this past season, I am stunned that the M's are letting him get away. But they have plans for Adam Jones in right field, I guess. I would have welcomed Guillen back with open arms. They had a good chemistry.

doubled:

Let's see if I understand this. You're blaming the fact that Taylor didn't have a gun as a reason for his death, while stating that criminals will always have guns?

I have as much sympathy for his wife and child as anyone. But Taylor had a history of anger management issues and a gun violation on his record. He has also had numerous run-ins with the NFL for his outrageous behavior on the field.

It seems to me that the gun violation, in particular, would make Taylor a criminal, as well.

So, now you're arguing the right of criminals to own guns, too?

From way over here on the West Coast, I don't know all the particulars of whatever "conversion" he may have gone through with the birth of his child. It sounds to me like a history of violent behavior may have caught up with him, however tragic that may be.

What are they waiting for? Stop letting the mighty get mightier. If Johan Santana is indeed available, get your name in there, mae a call and see if at least it is possible to work a deal. Fans just assume both New York teams, Boston or the Angles have this pass to make superior trades and free agent signings. Mr. Angelos, either poop or get off the pot, CHANGE THIS LINEUP AND PITCHING!!!!