Search for new pitching coach nears conclusion
The Orioles’ process of hiring a new pitching coach is winding down, according to the club’s top executive, with the hope of having someone in place by next week.
“We have a little more work to do on our due diligence; we want to make the best choice in our job search,” executive vice president Dan Duquette said. “We have some well-qualified candidates, and we should be able to have a top-quality coach on our staff before it’s over. … We’d like to get it done before the end of the month.”
The Orioles have interviewed four external candidates for the position vacated by Rick Adair: former Philadelphia Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, Seattle Mariners pitching coach Carl Willis, Texas Rangers bullpen coach Andy Hawkins and Atlanta Braves minor league pitching coordinator Dave Wallace.
Hawkins is the only candidate without extensive experience as a pitching coach, but he held the role on an interim basis in 2008 and has spent the past five years in charge of a Rangers bullpen that twice played in the World Series.
Dubee (2008 with Philadelphia) and Wallace (2004 with the Boston Red Sox) have been pitching coaches for World Series champions, and Willis has coached three Cy Young Award winners (lefthanded pitchers CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee with the Cleveland Indians and right-handed pitcher Felix Hernandez in Seattle).
“We have some really talented candidates,” Duquette said.
At this point, no other interviews are planned.
Duquette said that several in-house candidates are under consideration — that would include current pitching coach Bill Castro, who had been the club’s bullpen coach before taking over in August when Adair was granted a leave of absence for personal reasons.
But Duquette said interviewing internal candidates was not a necessity.
“We have a good feel for the strength of the internal candidates,” Duquette said.
Second place for Davis
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was selected Thursday as the runner-up to Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera for the Sporting News’ Major League Baseball Player of the Year.
Cabrera won the award for the second straight season.
Davis, whoreceived 35 votes, didn’t come close to Cabrera (141), but he outdistanced the rest of the field. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (nine) finished third in the voting, while Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (eight each) tied for fourth place.
Davis led the major leagues with 53 home runs and 138 RBIs this season. Davis was one of three Orioles picked for the Sporting News’ AL All-Star team Wednesday, along with center fielder Adam Jones and shortstop J.J. Hardy.
The winner of the AL Most Valuable Player award, selected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, will be announced Nov. 14. Davis is also a finalist for two MLB Players’ Choice awards (MLB Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player), to be announced Nov. 4.
The Orioles re-signed several minor leaguers, according to Baseball America.
The players are catchers Zach Booker, Scott Thomas and Chase Weems, righthanded pitcher Matt Bischoff and infielders Paco Figueroa and Shawn Roof.
The club released catcher Jason Stifler (North Harford, Towson University), who played one game for High-A Frederick in 2012 as a pinch hitter.
Spring training start
The Orioles announced their report dates Thursday for 2014 spring training in Sarasota, Fla. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 13 and will have their first workout Feb. 14. Position players must report by Feb. 18; the first full-squad workout is Feb. 19.
The spring training opener is Feb. 28 in Port Charlotte, Fla., against the Tampa Bay Rays. The first game at EdSmith Stadium in Sarasota is March1against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles open the 2014 regular season March 31 at Camden Yards against the Boston Red Sox.
Minor league moves