O’s will look for a new pitching coach

The first bit of off season news regarding the Baltimore Orioles has begun to trickle out. According to Roch Kubatko of masnsports.com, Rick Adair will not return in 2014 as the Orioles’ pitching coach. Adair of course took a leave of absence in August from his duties with the Orioles for personal reasons, including tending to the needs of his now late father. Adair’s father passed away in September. The rest of Buck Showalter’s staff is expected to remain in tact aside from Adair.

It’ll be interesting to see who the eventual replacement ends up being. Pitching coach is a job

Courtesy of Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

within the Orioles’ organization that’s had some turnover over the past few seasons; Adair had been in the role since June 14, 2011 when he replaced Mark Connor (who resigned/departed under similar circumstances). The O’s have tried various different avenues in terms of pitching coaches, from just your run-of-the-mill former pitcher, to a superstar pitching coach like Leo Mazzone. Might Showalter look to Rick Peterson, who’s been working with Orioles’ pitchers in Norfolk for the past two seasons? Peterson interviewed with Boston last year, but was not hired as their pitching coach.

The Orioles also released their 2014 spring training schedule yesterday. They’ll open Grapefruit League play on February 28th in Port Charlotte, FL at the Tampa Rays’ complex, and their home opener at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota will be on March 1st against Toronto. The full schedule is available by clicking here. Single game tickets will go on sale for the Orioles’ spring training games on January 25, 2014. Fans can call 1-888-892-7687 for more information.