endy chavez

Laurel Park closed its 2015 winter meet Sunday with a mandatory payout of its Jackpot Pick 5. Five of five winners returned $1,037.02.

He he's still optimistic he will be able to return at some point during this series.

The Orioles continued to meet with possible trade partners and free-agent representatives on Day 2 of the general managers meetings Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.

With the announcement he will be on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated this week, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis joined some elite company. Former Orioles including Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Cal Ripken Jr. have graced the cover of the magazine since its start in 1954, as have decorated athletes like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.

Following next week¿s Monday off day, the Orioles will complete the regular season with 33 games in 34 days, so manager Buck Showalter is taking advantage of the two off days before then to set the starting rotation for the stretch run.

The Baltimore sports scene is blessed with a bunch of talented bloggers who bring their unique perspective to the conversation. Each week, Matt Vensel of The Baltimore Sun hopes to chat with one of them in a regular feature called Blogger on Blogger. This week, he exchanged emails with Daniel Moroz, who writes about the Orioles for his blog, Camden Crazies.

Former Orioles outfielder Endy Chavez has agreed to a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, according to multiple reports.

Now that Baltimore Orioles OF Nate McLouth is back in the fold, one major question is whether he would return to the leadoff spot where he flourished for the last month of the season after Nick Markakis went down with a broken left thumb.

Andino was the team's Opening Day second baseman last season, but once the Orioles claimed second baseman Alexi Casilla from the Twins this offseason, Andino appeared to be a non-tender candidate.

And over the next week, we will begin seeing the Orioles' direction in constructing their 2013 roster

The Orioles could have a mind-numbing 15 players eligible for arbitration this offseason.

Cal Ripken Jr. was in the TBS broadcast booth for Friday night's wild-card game, alongside former Braves pitcher John Smoltz and play-by-play man Ernie Johnson. Ripken had previously been a postseason studio analyst, but he only recently started working from the booth.

The Orioles and Rangers announced their rosters for tonight's one-game American League wild-card playoff at Rangers Ballpark.

Veteran skipper Buck Showalter's unwavering, hands-on approach has been the key in transforming a woeful Orioles team into a winner.

The Orioles¿ hopes of winning a division title took a hit Monday night with a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in front of an announced 13,666 at Tropicana Field, snapping the Orioles¿ four-game winning streak.

Nate McLouth, the Orioles' unlikely late-season standout, has gotten back to doing what once made him a rising star with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When the playoff microscope gets rolled out next week and experts begin to dissect the Orioles, one of the primary criticisms is going to be the club's overall lack of postseason experience.

If anyone still needs confirmation that baseball in Baltimore is back and that this wild and wonderful season is for real, know this: the Orioles are on the cover of the Oct. 1 edition of Sports Illustrated.

The Orioles' regular season is whittled down to 8 games following Monday¿s single-admission doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards. And the O's chances of catching the division-leading New York Yankees are steadily dwindling.

When the Orioles acquired Jim Thome on July 1, they did so hoping the 41-year-old had enough hits left in his bat to help them reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette never revealed his specific expectations for the season when it began in April. But now his immediate goal is clear: "We're in a position now that we have the kind of ballclub that we could win the division," Duquette said Tuesday.

The Baltimore Orioles sent eight batters to the plate in the first and nine more in the second, staking starter Chris Tillman to a 7-0 lead by the time he stepped onto the mound in the bottom of the second.

After scoring just four runs in their first two games in Oakland, the Orioles' offense resurfaced Sunday -- thanks in part to two solo homers by Matt Wieters -- with 13 hits in a 9-5 victory.

The Orioles saved Maryland from an almost totally dismal sports weekend. They were down 2-0 early in Sunday¿s series finale against the Oakland A¿s at Network Associates Overstock.com Oakland-Alameda County Stadium, but came back to avert a three-game sweep and notch their 82nd victory ¿ officially making this the first winning season since 1997.

Down the stretch is a daily Orioles Insider blog that will set up the coming night for the O's and their American League competition as the push for the postseason continues.

It had been 20 years since the Orioles and Oakland A¿s had played each other in September with both clubs boasting winning records.

The Orioles' 3-2 extra-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon was a long time coming -- in more ways than one.

L.J. Hoes was at home in Mitchellville watching a Tom Selleck baseball flick Tuesday around noon when his phone rang. A week after his Triple-A season ended, Hoes received notice to come to Baltimore — and be there in two hours or so.

Kevin Gregg, signed to be the Orioles' closer before last season, was popular in clubhouse but struggled on the mound.

The Orioles have made two roster moves today, selecting the contracts of outfielders Endy Chavez and L.J. Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room on the 40-man roster, they have designated right-hander Kevin Gregg and infielder Ryan Adams for assignment.

Chris Davis is well aware of how his offensive numbers plummeted when he played right field in June and July.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Nick Markakis was flying Monday to Sarasota, Fla., where he is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday morning that is expected to accelerate his recovery time.

Before Sunday's series finale against New York, Showalter admitted it was wishful thinking. A series of tests over the next two days will give the Orioles a definitive answer whether Markakis will need surgery that would most certainly end his 2012 season regardless of the Orioles' future.

The Orioles lead the season series with the Yankees, 9-8 with one game to play Sunday.

The Orioles are in such a strange position right now that it¿s hard to predict what they¿ll do in several areas. One is September call-ups.

The Orioles are considering moving left-handed starter Brian Matsuz -- who was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk earlier this month -- to the Tides' bullpen after lefty reliever Troy Patton landed on the disabled list Tuesday with a sprained right ankle.

Former Orioles ace Jeremy Guthrie returned to Camden Yards on Thursday for the first time since being traded to the Colorado Rockies in early February.

Manny Machado is getting his second straight start at third base tonight against the Royals, hitting eighth in the Orioles lineup.

The Orioles have attempted to address their corner infield hole by calling up uber-prospect Manny Machado to play third base. But that doesn't mean Dan Duquette is closing the door on adding help from outside the organization.

Admittedly, Chris Davis is not really a fan of being a designated hitter. But he is a fan of playing regularly. And now that Jim Thome is on the shelf for roughly a month, Davis is back at DH.

Left hander Zach Britton (1-1, 8.35 ERA) hopes to rebound from his worse outing of the season. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed 7 runs and 7 hits in a 12-3 loss to the Yankees in the Bronx on Wednesday.

The Orioles purchased the contract of outfielder Nate McLouth Saturday afternoon and have designated veteran outfielder Endy Chavez for assignment.

Orioles infielder Robert Andino made his first start Friday since being activated from the disabled list before Tuesday's game, playing third base in the team's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.