Number change
Aubrey Huff is wearing No. 17 this year in honor of former Tampa Bay teammate Joe Kennedy, a close friend who died Nov. 23 of hypertensive heart disease.
Huff, who wore 19 last season, had dinner with Kennedy two days before the pitcher died.
Dave Stockstill, director of minor league operations, said he was "shocked" by the timing of Ryan Hubele's retirement and tried to talk him out of it. But Hubele said he didn't feel like he had a chance to make the club and wanted to do something else.
Stockstill offered to give the catcher his release if he hadn't changed his mind by the end of camp, but Hubele wasn't looking to join another organization. It appears that he's done with baseball.
Take a close look at pitching coach Rick Kranitz from the side, especially when the bill of his cap is pulled down near his eyes, and he bears a striking resemblance to Grady Little.
The Orioles are still taking batting practice on the main field. Some guys have filtered into the cluhbouse. Others are lifting weights inside a tent that's set up in one of the parking lots.
Nothing exciting to report, but we're still waiting to speak with manager Dave Trembley.
Comments
Regarding someone's question about Gibbons. He cannot be sent to the minors w/o his permission. See below.
If a player has 5 years of major-league service, he may not be assigned to a minor-league team without his consent, regardless of whether he has already been outrighted once, even if he clears waivers. If the player withholds consent, the team must either release him or keep him on the major league roster. In either case, the player must continue to be paid under the terms of his contract. If he is released and signs with a new team, his previous team must pay the difference in salary between the two contracts if the previous contract called for a greater salary.
Posted by: Rich | February 15, 2008 12:59 PM
a tent in the parking lot? we must have the worst facilities in MLB.
Posted by: ghostofphilregan | February 15, 2008 1:03 PM
Huff wearing #17? Does that mean Corey Patterson is definitely off the team now? If so, that's a damn shame.
Posted by: Jan | February 15, 2008 1:35 PM
What is everybody's love affair with Patterson all about? He has no job right now for a reason. He has no plate discipline and could swing thru a beach ball. He makes a good pinch runner but we already have Bynum and Payton for that.
Any chance we'll release Gibbons? No one wants his contract, he's not a good player and he takes up a valuable roster spot that could go to someone like Moore who might be a diamond in the rough as opposed to the lump of coal that is Gibbons.
Gibbons - If you read this blog, do the team a favor and retire.
Posted by: Anthony | February 15, 2008 1:56 PM
The facilities befit the ownership. I bet potter & his nitwit sons aren't spending any time in tents...
Posted by: Brian | February 15, 2008 1:59 PM
hey ghost. Agreed, but blam the FAA. The Orioles have attempted to upgrade the facilities but any new construction close to the airport has to be approved by the FAA.
So far they have continued to balk at allowing the construction to go ahead. Hence the orioles may be in Vero Beach next year.
Posted by: James From Hampden | February 15, 2008 2:07 PM
Wow, Trembley made professional athletes run for 12 minutes straight? And they're all fine the next day, amazing. You would think they might've been bedridden after that. And Preston says the Ravens Camp is easy. Seriously, 12 minutes is proabably about a mile and a half at the pace they went. I can't believe Trembley commented on that without saying it as a joke. Otherwise, maybe I ended my bid to play professional baseball a bit too early. I thought I remember, when Ripken was still playing, that they did like an 8 mile run on the first day. Did you mean 12 miles?
Posted by: Almost Former | February 15, 2008 4:12 PM
too bad huff's not wearing someone else's jersey. saw shirtless photo of him ...and he's supposed to be an athlete???
Posted by: jack in hebron | February 15, 2008 4:34 PM
I'll forgive Huff all his ballimore bashing on one condition:
He has to hit .280 with 20 hr's.
Otherwise doghouse..
Posted by: o's fan in san fran | February 15, 2008 5:14 PM
Regarding Gibbons:
I said this last year so many times -
Jay Gibbons need to learn to hit the other way while reducing his power expectations. Things have changed since the breakout year. Face the facts and try to become a role player on this team.
Posted by: o's fan in san fran | February 15, 2008 5:17 PM
I'm waiting to see any day now where Troy Patton needs season ending surgery. Of course they'll say it's nothing serious followed by he needs rest then opppsss...he neds surgery afterall.
Posted by: John | February 16, 2008 4:09 AM