1. If you could trade places for one day with anyone in baseball, who would it be?
Aubrey Huff: For one day. If I was single or married?

Touching Base: It’s your choice! You get to call the rules on this.
AH: If I was single it would be Derek Jeter, if I was married, I would be Albert Pujols.

2. What is your favorite piece of baseball equipment?
AH: My bat.

TB: What kind of bat do you use?
AH: Carolina Club, 243.

TB: How did you come to that one?
AH: I used it, got a couple of hits with it, homered. I’d been skipping around bats when I was a young player - bat to bat to bat. I had a good game with that one, good week with it, and I’ve swung it ever since. Never stopped.

3. Have you ever played as yourself in a video game?
AH: Oh, hell yeah. Who hasn’t?

TB: Some guys don’t.
AH: I haven’t played a video game in forever, but when they started coming out, the last time I played was when I was with Baltimore. I was the Orioles, and I remember putting it on easy mode just so I could hit jacks. Kind of simulated a season one year to see how I’d done, and it had me at like .390 with 59 homers and 160 RBI, and I was like, “OK, that’d be awesome.”

4. Who’s an athlete in another sport you’d like to see try his hand at baseball?
AH: For some reason, I could see Drew Brees being a good pitcher. I’d like to see him off a mound, I bet he’d have a good arm.

TB: The scouts would probably get on him about being too small. That’s what they said about him in football.
AH: Oh, really? Well, look at Lincecum. He’s small too.

TB: Not the disadvantage they might have you think.
AH: No, it’s stupid.

5. What’s your favorite baseball movie?
AH: Probably Major League. Just because it’s funny.

6. Do you have any expert travel advice?
AH: Mail your bags, so you don’t have to bring your bag on the plane.

7. Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
AH: Nolan Ryan.

TB: And you wound up a hitter.
AH: I know! How about that? Had to do something. That’s the way it happened.

8. What is one thing that you have not done in your career that you’d like to accomplish before it’s over, other than win a World Series?
AH: Well, yeah, that’s a pretty obvious one. Batting title would be cool.

9. Complete this sentence: I am the only player in Major League Baseball…
AH: …with Transformers tattoos? I guess.

TB: Which Transformers?
AH: I just got the insignia on my back. Good guy-bad guy.

TB: Autobots, Decepticons. The old school?
AH: Yeah, the old school.

TB: I couldn’t bring myself to see the movie. I felt like it would ruin the cartoon.
AH: No, it didn’t. It didn’t. It actually enhanced the experience.

TB: How about the sequel?
AH: Wasn’t as good as the first one, but still worth watching if you’re a fan.



(nydailynews.com)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Aubrey Huff has a thing for "Transformers." Last year, when the Detroit Tigers' wives assembled charitable gift baskets filled with their husbands' favorites, Huff's goodies included a Megatron action figure and a DVD of the movie.

His fan worship for the old cartoon show is no passing fancy — otherwise he wouldn't have tattooed giant Autobot and Decepticon logos on either side of his upper back.

And now that the former American League designated hitter is wearing a Giants uniform and a first baseman's mitt, he's determined to prove that he's more than meets the eye, too.

"When you're a DH, you get labeled by people who've never played the game," said the 33-year-old, who won a Silver Slugger award in 2008. "It's hard to shake. People believe what they read, unfortunately, but I'll play every day and prove that I'm not bad over there."

Although it's vital that the Giants support their talented pitching staff, they do not anticipate having an above-average defensive infield. Their one highly skilled glove man from last year, Travis Ishikawa, didn't hit enough on the road to retain a starting job.

According to the UZR/150, a formula that determines the number of runs a fielder saves or costs his team, Ishikawa was the best everyday defensive first baseman in the majors last season. Huff graded slightly below average.

But Huff has his believers. Baltimore Orioles broadcaster Dave Johnson watched Huff play 93 games at first base last season and said he wasn't a liability.

"You don't really notice him," said Johnson, in Scotts- dale to watch his son, Steven, whom the Giants took in the Rule 5 draft. "He made the plays he was supposed to make. He did fine over there."

Huff's defense received another vote of confidence from an even more trusted source.

"He looks pretty good to me," said Giants special assistant and former Gold Glove winner J.T. Snow. "We were doing a drill to pick balls out of the dirt, and he might have missed one. He's played it before, so he knows how to handle it."

That's no small matter to Snow. In previous years, the front office asked him to convert outfielders Daniel Ortmeier and John Bowker to first base. Those results weren't so pretty.

"Bunt plays, pickoffs "... the game moves pretty fast when you're on the infield for the first time," Snow said. "None of that is new to Aubrey. And I think he's a pretty honest guy. He said he'll do the best job he can. He's not expecting to win a Gold Glove."

Huff's presence doesn't necessarily spell doom for Ishikawa, who received good news Saturday when an MRI exam showed partially torn ligaments in his foot are healing well and won't require surgery.

Ishikawa hopes to be out of his walking boot in a week and back to unrestricted duty soon after that.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Ishikawa remains "very much in the mix" for a roster spot. "Ishi has shown he can do some things to help you win a ballgame, whether it's defense or hitting a ball out of the ballpark."

It would seem Bochy plans to use Ishikawa often as a late-inning defensive replacement. The manager also said he plans to get Huff some work in the outfield, where he hasn't played a big league inning since 2006 with the Houston Astros.

"Just to make sure we have that option," Bochy said.

Huff is willing to transform himself as needed.

"I won't lie to you, I'm not the rangiest guy," he said. "I mean, it's not like I won't dive for a ball. I'll make the routine play and occasionally make the really good play. That's all you can ask for."



(mercurynews.com)

The Associated Press reports that Giants C Bengie Molina will cede the cleanup spot to incoming free agent Aubrey Huff this season.




(fantasysp.com)

Aubrey Huff is a heart-of-the-order hitter, a big man with a big swing. Six times, he topped 20 home runs. Twice, he topped 30. He has more career homers (203) than any Giant since Barry Bonds' departure.

Even his sense of humor is vast. Asked about hitting at China Basin, which has been tough on lefty swingers, Huff said, "If Barry Bonds can hit home runs there, I can, right?"

The Giants made the Huff signing official Wednesday (one year, $3 million) and said he'll play first base and bat fourth in a lineup they envision looking like this, 1 through 5: Aaron Rowand (.341 on-base percentage in 50 games leading off last year), Freddy Sanchez, Pablo Sandoval, Huff and Mark DeRosa, who's targeted for left field.

"I think we have a chance to have more of a set lineup," general manager Brian Sabean said. "With Rowand as the leadoff hitter and Sanchez the second hitter, all of a sudden you have five guys in a row you're comfortable with and have a track record. I think the offense has improved, but it still has to translate on the field, and the players have to respond."

Before Huff's arrival, Sandoval was penciled in at cleanup, but now the Panda returns to the No. 3 spot, where he spent most of 2009 (97 games). Huff hit fourth 94 times last year and has hit there 517 times in his career.

"I personally feel your all-around best hitter should be in the three hole," manager Bruce Bochy said.

The 6-7-8 hitters, in no particular order, would be shortstop Edgar Renteria, right fielder Nate Schierholtz (unless John Bowker or someone from the outside wins the job) and the catcher. Sabean seemed confident he could sign a catcher (Yorvit Torrealba and Rod Barajas are unsigned) to give Buster Posey more seasoning.

Huff, 33, is looking for a bounce-back year after hitting .241 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs with Baltimore and Detroit. In 2008, he hit .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBIs and won a Silver Slugger Award as the American League's top DH.

No first-base platoon is planned, but Huff could see time in the outfield on days Travis Ishikawa plays first. Though he's considered sub-par defensively, Huff said, "I've always been pretty good at first base. Once you get that label of not being able to play good defense, which is what happened at third base early on in my career, it's hard to shake it."

At the Giants' park, Huff is 4-for-12 with a 2002 home run off Livan Hernandez.

Sabean confirmed Sandoval gained a few pounds in Venezuela since graduating from "Camp Panda," his 10-day, Arizona-based workout in November. But Sabean said he expects Sandoval will return to his "target weight" to start the season.



(sfgate.com)

The San Francisco Giants and first baseman Aubrey Huff agreed to a one-year contract pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't made a formal announcement, which might not come until later in the week once all the details are finalized. Huff and the Giants reached their preliminary agreement sometime during the weekend.

Acquiring a reliable left-handed bat with power was one of Giants general manager Brian Sabean's top priorities this offseason leading into the start of spring training next month in Scottsdale, Ariz. — and one of the final things still on his winter to-do list.

While San Francisco's pitching has been stellar — led by two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum — upgrading the offense was considered an key step for this club in order to get back to the playoffs after a six-year drought.

The 33-year-old Huff was traded from Baltimore to Detroit in August. He batted .241 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs in 150 games between the two teams.

San Francisco will be eager to have his offensive punch. The Giants ranked 29th out of the 30 major league teams for home runs in 2009 with 122, ahead only of the New York Mets (95). They also were 26th in runs with 657.

With the addition of Huff, manager Bruce Bochy will have options writing his lineup. While Huff is likely to play first and free-swinging slugger Pablo Sandoval probably will stay put at third, there's been talk of moving Sandoval to first — doable considering Huff also can play third. San Francisco last week re-signed utility infielder Juan Uribe to a $3.25 million, one-year contract, and Sabean said he is expected to play more regularly than his 122 games last season.



(sfgate.com)

This time last year, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora were heading into their contract years with significant momentum.

Huff was the 2008 Most Valuable Oriole and the American League Silver Slugger Award winner at designated hitter after batting .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBIs.

One disappointing season later, however, both Huff and Mora are without jobs as spring training approaches. The Orioles have shown no interest in retaining either player.

Neither says he is concerned -- yet.

"I'm not worried about it. I did the same thing with the Orioles" as a free agent in 2007, Huff said. "It seems like every year it gets later and later. I don't know why it is. I'm just chilling out. I haven't heard anything. I've talked to my agents, and they're pushing teams and looking around. But it seems like unless you are a [Matt] Holliday, [Jason] Bay or [ John] Lackey, you have to fall in line."

Huff, 33, batted .241 in 2009 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers in August and ended the season dismally, hitting just .189 with two homers in 40 games as a part-timer.

"It was frustrating," Huff said. "I was expecting to be an everyday player, but it just didn't happen. ... There's no doubt when I played, it wasn't pretty. There are no excuses performing like I did, but I have been an everyday player my whole life, and the whole situation took me by surprise."

Typical of Huff's easygoing style, he's not stressed about the lack of suitors. He is heading this weekend to Las Vegas to hang out with friends.

"Something will come along; it always does," Huff said. "And if it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be."

Mora, meanwhile, said several clubs have contacted his agent, including the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels. Last month, Mora said, he spoke to Rockies manager Jim Tracy at length on the phone, and he said he talks regularly with Mets ace Johan Santana, who wants him to play for New York.

"You never know, but I hope not," Huff said. "If that's the case, I don't know what I'd do to be honest with you."

I exchanged e-mails with Aubrey Huff, who doesn't have a sense for where he'll play next season. There's nothing hot at the moment.

Huff would love to come back to Baltimore, but it seems improbable.

Click here to order Aubrey Huff’s proCane Rookie Card.



(masnsports.com)

DETROIT -- The Tigers will watch free agency pick up later this week, when players can field offers from all teams. But as expected, they will not pursue re-signing Jarrod Washburn and Aubrey Huff.

Washburn and Huff were both late-season trade acquisitions who struggled down the stretch, and neither was expected to be targeted. Washburn had told reporters after filing for free agency that he hadn't heard from the Tigers other than to check on his knee after surgery.

"We called both Jarrod and Aubrey this week and told them we will not be pursuing them," Dombrowski told Booth Newspapers. "We wished them well."

Huff batted .189 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 40 games for the Tigers after coming over from Baltimore in a mid-August trade. Detroit's plans to rotate players, including Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen, essentially sealed Huff's departure.

The Tigers hold exclusive negotiating rights on their free agents until Friday. Other teams can talk to them now, and all four have drawn interest, but those teams can't make contract offers or officially talk contract terms until Friday.



(mlb.com)

Aubrey Huff: If Huff is anywhere close to the 2008 version (32 homers, 108 RBIs, .912 OPS), he could be the steal of the free-agent class. If he's more like he was in '09 (.241 average, .694 OPS), he'll struggle for playing time.



(mlb.com)

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News says that there is "no way" Jarrod Washburn is brought back to Detroit for 2010, nevermind being offered arbitration.

Washburn went 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA after being acquired from the Mariners at the trade deadline and battled injury issues. It's no surprise that the Tigers aren't keen on bringing him back, but the lefty won't have a problem finding a landing spot. Henning also names Aubrey Huff as someone certain not to return to Detroit.



(rotoworld.com)

When they were traded to contenders this summer, former Orioles Aubrey Huff and George Sherrill looked like they were shoe-ins for a playoff appearance. 

But as Sherrill prepares to don a Dodgers uniform for a divisional series game against the Cardinals, Aubrey Huff is headed home to watch the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.

Huff was traded this August for pitching prospect Brett Jacobson.  The 32-year old vet hit just .189 in 40 games with the Tigers.  The Tigers hoped Huff would bring left-handed power to the lineup, penciling Huff into the 5 spot as the designated hitter.  But as his season-long slump continued in Motor City, his playing time decreased.

Huff didn’t start Tuesday night’s tiebreaker against the Minnesota Twins.  He made a pinch hit appearance in the late innings, earning a walk when a low pitch barely brushed his shoe laces.  After trotting to first base, Huff was lifted for a pinch runner. 

To date, this is the closest to playoff experience Huff has ever been.  Huff has 1391 hits and 203 career homers in 10 seasons but has spent most of his time in the middle of a cellar-dweller’s lineup. 

After 6 full seasons with Tampa Bay, Huff was traded to Houston in August 2006.  Houston missed the playoffs that year and Huff watched as his former teammates went to the 2008 World Series.

After 2 ½ seasons in Baltimore, Huff praised the young prospects in the Orioles organization but said he was looking forward to playing for a winner.

He’ll have to look long and hard to find a winner to play for next year.  After hitting .304 with 32 home runs in 2008, Huff hit a paltry .241 with 15 dingers in 2009, fading badly when the Tigers needed him late in the year.

It would be unfair to blame a late-season pickup for the Tigers woes.  This is a club, after all, that has been in-fighting with the season on the line.  But when the team needed wins to keep the Twins from nipping at their heals, Huff was 3-26 with no doubles or homers. 

A free agent this offseason, Huff will probably have to sign a relatively small and short-term deal.  As for playing for a winning franchise, he had that chance in 2009, and he couldn’t uphold his end of the deal. 



(examiner.com)

Detroit --Aubrey Huff came to bat in the first inning of Tuesday's first game of a big doubleheader against the Twins, runners at second and first, two out, and the Tigers hoping for a quick knock that would give them a boost in an enormously important game.

He bounced out to second base to end the inning.

Huff came to bat in the third with runners at third and first and none out. The Twins, staring at a big inning, would happily have settled for a double-play grounder and a run scored. Huff instead hit a high chopper to first that enabled Michael Cuddyer to throw out lead runner Clete Thomas at the plate. The Tigers didn't score in the third.
Huff had two more at-bats in Tuesday's first game. He had two more groundouts.

He was not the only culprit in a gut-ripping 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Twins that turned a big crowd (35,243 tickets sold) into a frustrated, heartsick group of the grief-stricken. The Tigers blew chance after chance in the early innings when Nick Blackburn was struggling to throw strikes and giving up his share of hits.

But it was Huff's anemic day that underscored not only what is fundamentally bad about the Tigers -- they don't hit -- but how improbably sour a couple of supposedly life-saving trades have turned out to be for the Tigers.

No relief
Huff is batting .190 since the Tigers acquired him Aug. 17 in a trade with Baltimore for minor-league reliever Brett Jacobson. He has two home runs -- one of them a game-saver against Toronto -- and 13 RBIs.

But it is not what the Tigers expected of an established, left-handed power hitter who had 15 homers and 85 RBIs with Baltimore in 2009, and who hit 32 home runs a year ago.

Jarrod Washburn, likewise, has blown up on the Tigers in ways that were fairly unimaginable when they made the July 31 trade deadline deal to bring a poised left-hander with a 2.62 ERA in 2009 to stabilize the Tigers' down-the-stretch rotation.

The Tigers, though, have filled in adequately for Washburn. The hitting has been another story, entirely. And when Huff failed to bring the Tigers any noticeable muscle to a lineup begging for it, games such as Tuesday's lost cause occur, and with it could go the Tigers' playoff hopes against a more reliable Twins team.

Huff's third-inning at-bat Tuesday was catastrophic. Rolling over on a Blackburn pitch and swatting a high bouncer to first base when he needed, at the very least, to hit the ball deep into the infield, destroyed the Tigers' chance for what could have and should have been a game-deciding inning.

Ground balls have been his habit of late. A man with 203 home runs and 294 doubles in his 10-season career has struggled, in step with his team, to drive the baseball to the outfield and beyond.

"If I knew the answer I'd, certainly be doing it," Huff said, sitting in front of his locker, feeling no better than the heads-down fans who shuffled out of Comerica Park. "I've been getting good pitches to hit.

"It's been one of those things."

Dissapointing time
Those things, however, have been happening repeated to the Tigers. They often get a pitcher in trouble early in a game, as they did Tuesday with Blackburn. They put men on base. They run up pitch-counts. And then they stall, as they did Tuesday when from the fourth through the eighth innings, 15 consecutive batters went down.

Huff can't change those numbers by himself. But he was brought to Detroit to at least drive a ball out of the infield with runners at third and first and no one out.

He failed, as did his team Tuesday, and as it yet might be doomed in its playoff chase because of the Tigers' collective futility at hitting the baseball.



(detnews.com)

DETROIT -- A change in routine led to a change in results for Aubrey Huff.

Huff struggled a bit adjusting to his role as a part-time pinch-hitter after being acquired by the Detroit Tigers in a trade last month.

After the trade, he would start preparing in the fifth inning when he wasn't in the starting lineup. He would stretch out, hit balls off a tee in the batting cage and work up a sweat while waiting to get into the game.

On Sunday, he took a new, more mellow approach.

"I didn't swing as much," Huff said. "I felt really relaxed and got up there and got a nice double the other way."

And how did he prepare Monday?

"I did the same thing," he said.

That certainly worked out well for him. Huff delivered a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the series finale with Toronto into extra innings. The Tigers won 6-5 in the 10th.

The home run was Huff's 15th of the season and 203rd of his career.

It was his first as a pinch-hitter.

In Huff's first five at-bats as a pinch-hitter with the Tigers, he went 1-for-5 with a single and one RBI. He knocked in a run with his double Sunday and has four RBIs in two pinch-hit at-bats since changing his routine.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said veterans adjust to a pinch-hitting role more quickly than young players, but the change can be tough for everybody.

"When you're used to playing every single day and all of a sudden you're not, it's a little bit different," Leyland said. "It's new territory for him."



(mlive.com)

Aubrey Huff delivered a game-tying pinch-hit three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth on Monday night to help propel the Tigers to an eventual 10th-inning victory.




(fantasysp.com)

Aubrey Huff was 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBI in a win over the Indians on Tuesday night.

Huff was disappointing with the Orioles, but he's been even worse since joining the Tigers, batting just .088 with one RBI in 34 at-bats entering play on Tuesday. Manager Jim Leyland originally planned to leave him out of Tuesday's lineup, but was rewarded by going with his gut, as Huff had his best night since being acquired. He drove in runs with an RBI single in the first and a two-run double in the fourth.



(rotoworld.com)

DETROIT -- Aubrey Huff has been around the game long enough to know that his big hit with the Tigers could be an at-bat away. That doesn't make his wait for it any easier.

Two weeks after Huff made his Tigers debut -- after coming over in a trade from the Orioles -- the veteran slugger who was acquired to add a jolt to Detroit's inconsistent offense could use a spark himself. He entered Tuesday's series opener against the Indians with a 3-for-34 (.088) batting clip since the move, part of a .191 (17-for-89) slump in August that began with Baltimore.

Huff is batting .203 (29-for-143) since the All-Star break, and he's at risk for registering the lowest batting average of his career -- below the .248 mark he had during his first full season in 2001.

If it was a matter of terrible swings, he'd be beating himself up. The fact that he feels like he's making quality swings makes it somewhat easier.

Then again, as a designated hitter, he has a lot of time to think about it.

"When you're a DH and you're not hitting," Huff said, "and you're sitting for 45 minutes between at-bats, it can be tough."

However, it could be worse if he were sitting for entire games.

That isn't likely to happen. Detroit manager Jim Leyland talked after Monday's loss as though he might sit Huff for a game or two to get him away from some of the pressure. Come Tuesday, however, he thought better of it, putting Huff back in the lineup against Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco in his Major League debut. He did, however, drop Huff from fifth in the order to sixth, the first time Huff has started anywhere other than fifth in his brief Tigers tenure.

After taking on Cleveland lefty Aaron Laffey on Wednesday, the Tigers will face at least three straight right-handed starters, so Huff is likely to get plenty of chances to snap out of it. He's an experienced hitter in a division race and a left-handed hitter to balance out the lineup.



(mlb.com)

.571

The Tigers' winning percentage with Aubrey Huff, acquired from the Orioles last week, in the lineup.

Although some would say it's a cruel assessment of the career .283/.341/.474 hitter, it's accurate to call Huff baseball's biggest loser. Since his debut season for Tampa Bay in 2000, no player in baseball has appeared in more losing games (758, tied with Colorado's Todd Helton, who has played in 143 more games). Huff has been buried in last place in the AL East for most of his big-league playing days with the Rays and Orioles, escaping only briefly in 2006 when he was traded to the Astros (in a late-season deal that netted the Rays Ben Zobrist) and now with Detroit, where he finds himself in first place for the first time after Easter. Huff's teams have finished an average of 28.2 games out of first place, and that includes a mere 1 1/2 with the '06 Astros. He has also finished at least 27 1/2 games out of first in seven of his nine seasons entering '09.



(cnnsi.com)

Aubrey Huff, acquired this week from the Baltimore Orioles, pinch-hit for catcher Gerald Laird in the sixth and delivered his first RBI as a Tiger on a groundout with the bases loaded.




(freep.com)

Aubrey Huff was acquired Monday from the Baltimore Orioles because he's a proven run producer.

"Offense is his forte," Jim Leyland said.

But when Huff eventually plays in the field for the Tigers, it could be at third base, a position where he's not played since last year. It also could be in the outfield, a position where he's not set foot since 2006.

Obviously Huff is not going to settle in at one spot. Just as obviously, because the position belongs to Miguel Cabrera, he won't be playing much first base -- where he mostly played for the Orioles this year.

Of the 106 games Huff started for the Orioles before the trade, 93 were at first, the other 13 at designated hitter, which is where Huff started Tuesday night. He went 1-for-4.

In other words, it's easy to see where his bat fits in, but not where he'll fit in defensively.

The first indication the Tigers might not be entirely sure, either, lay in the fact that for the first time since he returned to the lineup on July 24, Carlos Guillen started in left field Tuesday night.

That's after Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said during a conference call with the media Monday, when discussing outfield options, "I don't know how much Carlos is going to be able to play out there."
On Tuesday, the Tigers decided to find out.

"He told me he can play left, so I put him out there," Leyland said.

If Guillen can handle left field, without having it affect his offensive game, the Tigers won't have to lean on Huff to play as much in the outfield.

Not that he can't play the outfield.

Dombrowski said some in the Tigers organization who believe left field might be Huff's best position, but of the 239 games he's started as an outfielder, only seven have been in left.

Plus there's this to consider: Huff isn't fast, and Comerica Park is a huge ballpark for an outfielder.

"I'll make out the lineup each day," Leyland said, "and that's what it will be."

As for Huff's take on his defense, "I've played a lot of first this year and was the DH for most of last year," he said. "Those are the positions I'd say I'm the most comfortable at.

"Third base, I've played there and can handle it. It's been a while since I've played the outfield. I'm going to take some fly balls and see how it goes. But I don't think I've ever played in an outfield like this -- lot of ground to cover."



(detnews.com)

We're going to miss Aubrey Huff, and not just because of his entertaining antics on satellite radio or his groundbreaking discovery that offseason conditioning is seriously overrated.

We're going to miss him because he is a proven run-producer who held down one of the corner infield positions on a team that doesn't have anybody ready to take his place at first base.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not blasting the trade that sent Huff to the Detroit Tigers on Monday in exchange for Single-A relief pitcher Brett Jacobson. That's the kind of deal you make when you're trying to get younger. I'm just worried that the front office might be sending the wrong message to the fans at this critical juncture in the team's rebuilding program.

There's no way the Orioles can be competitive in 2010 without a legitimate power bat in the cleanup spot, so the decision to shed Huff for some payroll savings and a 2008 fourth-round draft choice can be interpreted one of two ways.

It's either proof that Andy MacPhail is willing to suffer through at least one more long season to develop his own corner infielders - something that isn't going to sit well with an already cynical public - or he intends to work some offseason magic to get a star-quality run-producer to station in the middle of the lineup.

The first option would require the Orioles to either gamble on one of the unproven infielders in the system (Michael Aubrey, Brandon Snyder or newly acquired Rhyne Hughes) or convert a member of the current roster into a capable first baseman. That process may have begun Monday night when Luke Scott moved out of the designated hitter role to replace Huff at first. The O's also could consider testing left fielder Nolan Reimold over there, now that fourth outfielder Felix Pie appears to be maturing at the plate, but club officials seem comfortable with Reimold where he is.

Even if someone like that filled the defensive requirements of the position, however, the departure of Huff - albeit in a year when he retreated from his strong 2008 numbers - still takes a significant bite out of the club's run-production potential going forward.

MacPhail's other option, of course, is to go in search of a marquee first baseman to anchor the lineup, and the name that you're probably going to hear a lot over the winter is Adrian Gonzalez.

Don't get too excited. Trade rumors involving Gonzalez have been circulating for the past couple of months, because the San Diego Padres are a long way from being competitive and Gonzalez would bring a mother lode of young talent in return. They don't have to trade him, because he's under control through 2011 at a very reasonable price, but they probably won't be able to afford him after that.

The Orioles are one of the teams with the kind of young talent that might get a deal like that done, but we're talking about a 27-year-old player who has averaged more than 30 homers in his first four full major league seasons. It would take a lot of Andy's "inventory" to pry the guy out of San Diego, and it would represent a tremendous organizational gamble for the O's.

This is a team that still is haunted by the ill-fated Glenn Davis deal, which cost the Orioles three players who would go on to be All-Stars - including 2004 World Series hero Curt Schilling. MacPhail would have to take a similar risk with a chunk of the Orioles' best young talent that would likely include at least one of the club's elite pitching prospects.

MacPhail is a fairly conservative guy, so it's almost hard to imagine him taking a leap like that, but it's going to take some bold action to put the Orioles on course to be truly competitive in the American League East.

There are other avenues, of course, though the free-agent pickings look pretty thin.

The Orioles also could pursue a trade for a lesser-impact player such as Colorado Rockies corner infielder Garrett Atkins, who has become available during a difficult 2009 season after averaging more than 100 RBIs the previous four years.

It really comes down to whether the plan is truly to be more competitive in 2010, or just to show enough progress to prevent an open revolt in the stands.

Dealing Huff could make sense either way, but it makes the most sense if the Orioles come up with somebody better by next spring. Until that happens, I think we're going to miss him



(baltimoresun.com)

DETROIT -- Aubrey Huff walked into the Tigers' dugout on Tuesday afternoon and might as well have walked into a whole different league than the one he had been playing in.

With one move from Baltimore to Detroit, he went from worst to first in his teams' respective division standing. Instead of playing out the schedule with nothing at stake, he's playing for October at this point in the summer for the first time in his career. He could feel the difference prior to batting practice.

"Normally at this time of year, you're just grinding it out," Huff said. "You've got your [offseason] vacation plans. You've got [a trip to] Hawaii all booked up. This is exciting. This is like a second Opening Day."

The Tigers are hoping it's the opening of a new-look offensive attack now that they have a proven run producer in the middle of their order.

"He can hit and knock in runs," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's got a track record. He's a guy that's been in there a long time."

For Tuesday, he was slotted in the fifth spot, right behind slugger Miguel Cabrera in the Tigers' order. Carlos Guillen, who had been batting fifth to give Cabrera protection, moved up to third spot, where he hit just twice this year prior to Tuesday.

The impact was to alternate left- and right-handed hitters almost throughout the order, except for fifth and sixth, where Huff and Clete Thomas give the Tigers back-to-back lefty swingers. They have an abundance of left-handed bats available in their lineup for the first time in several years, balancing out an issue that troubled them as far back as 2006.

The other impact was the huge smile on Miguel Cabrera's face as he talked about the trade at his locker in the Tigers' clubhouse.

"It's a really good deal," said Cabrera, who now has another RBI source behind him.

That, more than the order or the balance, seems to be key. Whether the lineup sticks in this particular order is hard to tell right now, since Leyland said it might not. But somewhere around the middle of the order, Huff is going to be a threat, certainly against right-handed pitchers.

For that reason, Huff didn't need long to realize how valued he was in this city. He found that out as soon as he checked into his hotel.

"The bellman actually greeted me," Huff said. "He was real excited."

Much as the Tigers were in need of offense, and as much interest as they had shown in Huff over the past few years, Huff said the deal caught him by surprise. He had prepared himself for a potential trade anywhere leading up to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, but he figure it probably wasn't going to happen once the calendar changed to August.

"It was a shock," Huff said, "but a positive shock."

Like the lineup, Leyland said he plans to play Huff's positioning by ear. Both Tigers general manager David Dombrowski and Huff's former boss, Orioles president of baseball operations Larry MacPhail, emphasized that the 32-year-old can play left field and third base as well as first base and DH, where he had played this year in Baltimore. He hasn't started in the outfield since 2006 or at third since last year, but they're options for him in Detroit.
Just how much remains to be seen. Leyland used Huff's first game to start him at designated hitter and play Guillen in left field for the first time since Guillen went on the disabled list in early May with right shoulder inflammation.
Leyland said that Huff will most likely play third on days when Inge gets a rest. But wherever Huff plays, he won't be in there for his defense.

"Offense is his forte," Leyland said.

Playoff chases are not, but mainly because he has never had the chance to really be in the thick of one. His teams in Tampa Bay struggled simply to get to 70 wins in a season before he was traded midway through 2006 to Houston, where the Astros were on the fringe of a playoff race but never quite challenged the Cardinals.

The Orioles got an offensive boost out of him but never got much of a rise in the standings out of it. Their youth movement likely would've had him looking elsewhere as a free agent this offseason anyway. Now, he gets a shot at a contender beforehand.

"It's why you play the game, man," Huff said. "If there's baseball karma, hopefully it's my time."



(mlb.com)

The Tigers, who tried but failed to address their offensive woes before the July 31 deadline, have acquired Aubrey Huff from the Orioles in exchange for minor-league pitcher Brett Jacobson.

Huff was hitting .253 with 13 home runs and 72 RBIs for the Orioles. Huff has slumped in the second half, but his RBI total is still more than any Tiger player has this year.

The Tigers were one of several teams that talked to the Orioles about Huff before the non-waiver deadline. The Giants also showed interest.

Huff has been strictly a first baseman this year with Baltimore, but the Tigers are set with Miguel Cabrera at first. Huff has also played third base (33 games last year) and outfield (last in 2006).

The Tigers are 11th in the American League in runs, ahead of only the A's, Royals and Mariners.



(cbssports.com)

Aubrey Huff hit a three-run double in the fifth inning to help the Baltimore Orioles (web | news) take a 7-3 win over the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a four-game set at Camden Yards.

The Orioles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second as Wigginton hit a one-out, solo home run over the wall in left-center, his seventh round-tripper of the season.

Baltimore padded its lead in the fifth after loading the bases. With two outs and the bases juiced, Markakis beat out an infield single that allowed Matt Wieters to score. Huff followed with a bases clearing double to give his team a 5-0 lead.



(news8.net)

Back in 2005, the Boston Red Sox seriously investigated acquiring Aubrey Huff from the Tampa Bay Rays. One team official opined, on the condition of the anonymity, "We think he's the type of guy who enjoys the spotlight and would thrive in high-pressure situations."

That evaluation remains largely theoretical; this marks Huff's 10th season in the big leagues, and only once, with the 82-80 Astros in 2006, has he played so much as half a season on a winning team. At best, we've seen Huff enjoy high-profile moments, like when he pumped his fist after a home run off first-pumper Joba Chamberlain earlier this season.

Now, as his contract with the rebuilding Orioles winds down, he yearns to play on a winner. But with nine days to go before the non-waivers trading deadline arrives, the safe bet falls on Huff staying in Baltimore.

"From what I'm hearing, they're not interested in trading at all," Huff told Midweek Insider of the Orioles. "They wanted to finish strong. We've really tanked it the last couple of years in August and September. I think (president of baseball operations) Andy MacPhail has expressed he wanted to finish strong."

Multiple reports have indicated that the O's like the idea of receiving compensatory draft picks assuming Huff, who turns 33 in December, rejects arbitration and signs elsewhere as a free agent. Huff will likely be a Type A free agent. Yet given the current trends in baseball's economy, the first baseman-designated hitter-outfielder might very well feel compelled to accept arbitration.

In truth, it appears that Huff, despite his impressive resume , isn't in high demand.

"I just don't see him as a difference-maker," one official from a National League club said, on the condition of anonymity. "He plays in a hitter's park and is very limited defensively. He's probably an AL-only player and he makes a lot of money ($8 million this year).

"Also, the Orioles are somewhat difficult to deal with on trades. I think it's a long shot (that Huff gets traded), as many teams don't have money and the Orioles would want a ton back if they were going to eat the rest of the contract."

Great points, all. Nevertheless, given that there's only one potential impact bat available in Oakland's Matt Holliday, you'd think someone might take a chance on Huff if the Orioles will split the difference on money and prospects. Huff entered Wednesday's game against the Yankees with a career OPS+ of 115. He put up a 135 OPS+ just last year, slamming 32 homers.

This season has been more trying, as Huff's .324 on-base percentage and .418 slugging percentage put him below the AL average.

"I think a lot of it has to do, we've been facing a tremendous amount of left-handed pitching this year," the lefty-hitting Huff said. "I think I've had the most at-bats in my career against lefties, and we've got two more months left."

He's a little off there, but his greater point holds. Huff entered the day with 144 at-bats against lefties this year, and a .272 on-base percentage and .368 slugging percentage. Last year, he tallied 196 at-bats against lefties and put up a superior .313 OBP and .439 SLG.

By looking at his splits, you see some evidence that Huff could do well in a pennant race. His numbers in situations baseball-reference.com identifies as "high leverage" (.350 OBP and .492 SLG, entering Tuesday night's game) -- "important" game situations, with close scores and late innings producing the highest leverage -- trump his overall numbers (.343, .478).

"When the game's on the line, certainly, that's what you want to be in," he said. "I've never been a real fan of garbage at-bats, I call 'em. Down 10-1 or up 10-1 in the eighth and there's nobody up with two outs. Obviously, you want to do well, but just that feeling of the focus and the energy and excitement is not there as in situations when the game's on the line."

And while he takes accountability for signing a three-year, $20-million deal with the perennially struggling Orioles prior to the 2007 season -- they offered the most years, he said, and no contending team made a serious offer -- he wants to play in more situations when the season is on the line.

"As many years as I've lost in this game, I'm not a selfish guy," he said. "You give me one playoff, and hopefully win a World Series ring, I'll take that one, and I wouldn't say I'd retire, but I'd definitely be happy with it. As many years as I've lost, I know how hard it is to get one of those things."



(newsday.com)

Andy MacPhail, the Orioles president of baseball operations, is not kidding himself about where his team is in the trade market, even if he himself is not sure yet where his team is in the standings. "Clearly, we're in a seller's position," he said by phone Monday from his office in Baltimore. "We're nine games under .500, 14 games out or whatever it is, I'm not really sure. "

MacPhail was right about the team's record and place in the standings, and its place as the trade deadline approaches. But even though he is looking to deal, he cautions, "We're not going to be a farm system for everybody else, though."

Few teams figure to have as many intriguing parts as the Orioles do. One O's person said it should be "an interesting few days" for the franchise as they wait to see which (and how many) players will be sent off. Closer George Sherrill seems like the most likely to go. Other possible departures include first baseman Aubrey Huff, outfielder Luke Scott and perhaps pitcher Danys Baez -- who has asked MacPhail to inform him (rather than his agent) if he's about to be traded -- and infielder Melvin Mora as well.

Already, the team roster posted on the visitor's clubhouse door at Yankee Stadium had one adjustment to it. The typed name of Oscar Salazar had been crossed out and the name Cla Meredith had been written by hand above it (the O's added the sidearming reliever from the Padres in a minor deal on Sunday). That almost certainly won't be the last adjustment to the team's roster before these next two weeks are done.

As for the players whose names have popped up, Sherrill said, "A few guys [on the team] have joked with me, being like, 'What are you still doing here,' " he says. "I definitely don't want to leave, but there are positives and negatives to it. The negatives are I wouldn't be on this club anymore. The positives are I would be going to a contender. It wouldn't be as a closer, so that would be a job change, but it wouldn't be anything that would affect me."

Huff has grown so tired of the constant questions about him being traded that he's threatening to post a sign over his locker with his pat answer of "I don't know" and just point to it and say, "Read this" whenever he's asked about it. "I've been in trade rumors six of the nine years I've been playing," he says. "I don't want to hear about it, I just want to play baseball. [The rumors] are annoying. I don't care. I can't wait until this is over and done with."

Huff will have to hang on a little longer -- MacPhail said teams have mostly "kicked the tires" about his players and that "lots of teams aren't prepared to commit" to a deal since so few know for certain if they should be buying or selling yet. Entering play on Tuesday, nine of the 14 American League teams were within 4 1/2 games of a  playoff berth and 12 of the 16 National League teams were no more than 6 1/2 games out.



(cnnsi.com)

Huff started out on fire, but has been tailing off lately. He is tied for the team lead with 56 RBI, but his .259 average and his mediocre play at first base bring his grade down. It will be interesting to see if he gets moved before the trade deadline.



(associatedcontent.com)

Aubrey Huff had some interesting pregame comments today on the O's first half and future. He was asked if he was satisfied with the club's play in the first half.

"We're not even at .500, how can you be satisfied," Huff said. "We haven't played that well on either side of the ball. When we pitched, we didn't hit, when we hit we didn't pitch. Sometimes we didn't do either or play defense that well and you're not going to win a lot of games that way.

"We have a lot of young pitching in the Minors. We've got some young guys that have already come up to lay a foundation for the future.

"We don't have a great record, but you know, a whole lot of that has to do with getting new faces in here, learning to play the game. Getting young players here, they are going to take their lumps and learn on the job. That's what they did in Tampa, it takes time."

Huff was asked what is different between a playoff team like Boston and the Orioles.

"You can't compare us to Boston. We're not going to go out and spend 200 million dollars a year. That's an unfair comparison. Anyone can go out and spend 200 million on a team and win. We have to build from within our organization, develop our young guys and get players from our farm system."



(masnsports.com)

SEATTLE – - After getting picked off at first base with men on first and third and one out in the Orioles' five-run ninth inning on Wednesday, first baseman Aubrey Huff would have liked nothing better than to jog of the field and disappear into the dugout, not drawing any more attention to himself than he already had.

Instead, Huff, who slipped and fell while in the rundown, was forced to limp off the field, flanked by Orioles head athletic trainer Richie Bancells. He was later diagnosed with a strained left groin, but he said that he didn't think it would keep him out for an extended period.

"I think my pride was more hurt than my groin," said Huff who went 1-for-5 in the Orioles' 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "I did the whole splits, and it just kind of grabbed me real quick. It's kind of sore, but everything is cool."

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said that Huff will be re-evaluated today, an off-day, and it's too early to tell if he'll miss any time.

"He won't be able to say one way or the other if it's minor, major or if he'll be out," Trembley said. "He wanted to go out there [for the bottom of the ninth], but Richie said it probably wasn't good to do that."



(baltimoresun.com)

SEATTLE -- Baltimore first baseman Aubrey Huff strained his left groin while caught between first and second base in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Mariners and left the game.

Manager Dave Trembley said afterwards that the club's head athletic trainer, Richie Bancells, wouldn't have any immediate "determination of the extent or severity" of the injury until Thursday.

"He won't be able to say one way or the other if it's minor, major or if he'll be out," Trembley said. "[Huff] wanted to go out there [for the bottom of the inning], but Richie said it probably wasn't good to do that."

Huff, meanwhile, said he didn't think it was a big deal and certainly not worthy of the 15-day disabled list.

"No, I don't think so," said Huff, who has previously strained his right groin. "It just crept up on me. I did the whole splits, and it just kind of grabbed me real quick. It's kind of sore, but everything is cool. I think my pride was more hurt than my groin."

If Huff's injury is determined to be DL-worthy, the Orioles would not have to trade or designate for assignment and possibly lose either outfielder Felix Pie or utility man Oscar Salazar right away.

With shortstop Cesar Izturis on schedule to return to the team Friday, the Orioles were facing a tough decision to clear roster space for Izturis, with Pie and Salazar both being out of Minor League options and seeming to be the only players the Orioles could afford to lose off the active roster.

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Tuesday that Pie and Salazar had generated interest from other clubs, and he indicated that neither would make it through waivers without being claimed by another team.



(mlb.com)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer, Luke Scott doubled home two runs and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Angels 6-4 on Friday night, dropping Los Angeles into a first-place tie with Texas in the AL West.

David Hernandez (2-2) allowed three runs and six hits over 6 2-3 innings after getting staked to a 6-0 lead. The right-hander, making his fourth big league start and second since Koji Uehara went on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis, struck out two and walked two.

George Sherrill got three outs for his 18th save in 21 chances.

Ervin Santana (1-4) threw 99 pitches over five innings, allowing six runs, eight hits and three walks in his first start off the disabled list, after missing two starts because of stiffness in his right forearm and triceps. Two of the runs were unearned as a result of shortstop Erick Aybar's fielding error — only the third for Aybar in his last 45 games. In his four starts this season at Angel Stadium, Santana is 0-2 with a 12.12 ERA.

The Orioles, who came in hitting a major league-best .298 with runners in scoring position, loaded the bases with one out in the first when Adam Jones was hit by a pitch, Aybar booted a potential double-play grounder by Nick Markakis and Huff singled to right. One out later, Scott lined a 1-1 pitch high off the 18-foot wall in right for a 2-0 lead.

Scott has driven in at least one run in four consecutive games, equaling the longest streak of his four-year career. The last time he did it was May 27-30, when he homered in his first four games off the disabled list and went 8 for 15 with 14 RBIs after missing 14 games with a left shoulder strain.

Huff, who didn't have an RBI in 15 previous career at-bats against Santana, made it 5-0 in the third with his 11th homer of the season after a single by Jones and a double by Markakis. Huff has 14 RBIs in his last 14 games and 55 for the season, the most on the club. The Orioles are 9-1 when he's homered.



(ap.com)

The Orioles ended their nine-game homestand with one of their most exhilarating victories of the season.

Trailing by a run in the ninth inning, the Orioles scored twice off All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez to deal the New York Mets a 5-4 loss before an announced 23,009 on Thursday night at Camden Yards.

For the second game in a row, Aubrey Huff connected for the game-winning hit with a line one-out single to right field that scored Nolan Reimold from third and sent the Orioles sprinting out of the dugout to pile on Huff near first base.

The victory, the Orioles' first when trailing after eight innings, left the Orioles with a 5-4 homestand and a 29-37 record overall. They'll begin a three-game series at Philadelphia on Friday night.

Rookie catcher Matt Wieters started the rally with a leadoff double. Pinch hitter Nolan Reimold drew a walk and then Brian Roberts dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Mets catcher Omir Santos popped out of his crouch and immediately threw to third base, but umpire Tim Timmons ruled that pinch runner Felix Pie had beat the throw, drawing a spirited argument from New York manager Jerry Manuel.

With no outs and the bases loaded, Adam Jones fell behind Rodriguez 1-2, but eventually worked a full-count walk to bring home the tying run. After Rodriguez struck out Nick Markakis looking, Huff lined the closer's first pitch of the at-bat into right field.



(baltimoresun.com)au

BALTIMORE -- Aubrey Huff's name has been mentioned as a potential trade target for the Mets, and on Wednesday, they got a first-hand demonstration of why that is.

Huff drilled a two-run homer off Pedro Feliciano in the seventh inning, handing the Mets a 6-4 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Daniel Murphy went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Gary Sheffield went 2 for 4 with a solo home run. But the Mets went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

Tim Redding gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings.



(nj.com)

The Mets begin a three-game, inter-league series against the Orioles tonight in Baltimore.

There has been some buzz of late, at least among fans and opinion columnists, linking the Mets to the O’s and Aubrey Huff, who is batting .261 with eight HR and 41 RBI this season.

I think a lot of people are intrigued by Huff because a) there is no way the O’s make the post season this year, and so he’s probably available now, b) he hit 32 home runs last season, and c) he could play first base now, but is capable of playing left field when Carlos Delgado returns from the disabled list.

So, I asked Matt Sadler, O’s fan, and writer of Right off Russell, to help fill me on Huff, who I am not very familiar with, outside of what I see in the boxscore.

Matthew Cerrone: Do you think the O’s will trade Huff?  If so, what type of talent are they typically looking for?
Matt Sadler:  I do think the O’s will trade Huff away at the right price. Huff is in the last year of his deal, and I don’t see him signing with the team.  They have serviceable players that can cover for him at first base and DH with some prospects on the way… Andy McPhail is a reasonable baseball man.  I think his recent MO is taking younger, underachieving players with huge upside.

Matthew Cerrone: How is Huff’s defense? Can he still play both first and outfield?
Matt Sadler: Honestly his defense is very non-descript. I am trying to remember him making any serious blunders at first, and I can’t. His stats seem to back my theory up. He is also doesn’t end up on the highlight reel for Teixeira-like grabs. He seems to cover well for some poor throws, but his range is not remarkable. As for playing the OF, he has not played there as an Oriole. He has covered first, third and the DH role. The O’s have too much depth in the outfield and are very thin in the infield.

Matthew Cerrone: What are best and worst parts of his game?
Matt Sadler: The best part of his game is that he can provide instant results from the plate. He is a career hitter who is not a liability on the basepaths. While his power is generated pulling the ball, he can hit well enough to the opposite field to avoid teams using the shift on him.  The worst part of his game is that he is a slow starter. His best months usually are in July, August and September… for a team, looking to fill a a gap mid-season, he would be perfect.



(metsblog.com)

Penn State produces linebackers. Georgetown is a factory for basketball big men. But if you're looking for a pitcher or a slugger in Major League Baseball's draft, which college should you turn to?

The short answer, based on a statistical analysis: Southern California for pitchers and Miami for hitters. But when Missouri State outperforms prestigious programs like Stanford, and when relatively unheralded Kentucky is the third-best school for pitchers since 1996, the long answer is that it's a bit more complicated.

As baseball holds its annual draft Tuesday, the importance of gauging collegiate talent is at an all-time high. Roughly half of the players in Major League Baseball went to college -- and clubs are becoming increasingly enamored with collegians because they're more developed and thus closer to helping the team. Last year, 20 of the first 27 players taken were from college; overall, just 32.2% of all players drafted were high-schoolers. This year, Stephen Strasburg, a fireballing pitcher from San Diego State, is expected to go first overall.

In basketball and football, colleges like North Carolina and Michigan have developed reliable reputations for churning out scorers and offensive linemen and other top talents. But in baseball, even top college players face a second layer of apprenticeship: the minor leagues. Here, a small, often unpredictable crop of players keeps developing while the rest stall. St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols played at Maple Woods (Mo.) Community College and was drafted 402nd overall in 1999, yet has developed into the game's most-feared hitter. Meanwhile, roughly half the players taken that year in the first round haven't reached the majors.

"Baseball is the hardest sport to prognosticate," says former Louisiana State coach Skip Bertman, who led LSU's baseball team to five College World Series titles. "In football, I watch the scouts come in and run seven or eight tests for each kid -- vertical jump, bench press, 40-yard dash -- and when you put all those scores together, you know their athleticism. In baseball, you don't have to have a 40-inch vertical; you don't even have to run real fast. But you do have to be real smart and know how to deal with failure."

To ascertain which schools have done the best in recent years at producing players who make an impact in the majors, The Wall Street Journal analyzed each draft from 1996 through 2008. Each school that has produced at least four major-league players from those drafts was ranked by adding its total "runs above replacement" for hitters and pitchers. This statistic measures how much better (or worse) a player is compared to a theoretical, average replacement.

The findings: Southern California, which owns 12 College World Series championships but has struggled in recent years, ranks No. 1 overall, although some of its best players -- including pitcher Mark Prior and hitters Jacque Jones and Morgan Ensberg -- have contributed little in recent years. Miami has generated little pitching in recent years but produced several sluggers, including Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff and Ryan Braun.

Other top college programs have had several players make the major leagues, but haven't seen them become stars. Texas, the alma mater of 354-game-winner Roger Clemens, doesn't crack the top 10, nor does Long Beach State, despite the recent exploits of Jered Weaver and Evan Longoria. Stanford has had more than 70 players reach the majors all-time, but all of the Cardinal's current players combined have been outproduced by former Rice standout Lance Berkman, a five-time All-Star first baseman with the Houston Astros.

California schools make up four of the top five -- USC, No. 2 Cal State Fullerton, No. 4 UCLA and No. 5 Pepperdine, with Miami in between. But more than anything, the analysis shows how difficult it is for even top colleges to produce top-flight major-league players. Mr. Pujols has single-handedly been more valuable statistically than the offensive alumni of every college during the past dozen years, save Miami and UCLA.

Kentucky isn't known as a baseball school, but it has developed an impressive track record for producing pitchers, especially for a school that is not in the Sun Belt. Keith Madison, Kentucky's winningest coach all-time, concentrated on pitching, having been a pitcher himself. "What happened on occasion -- more often than my assistants would like -- was when I'd go to a high-school tournament, my focus was on pitching," says Mr. Madison, who retired in 2003. "My best gift as a coach, I felt, was my ability to identify good arms."

Mr. Madison unearthed Brandon Webb and Joe Blanton, two right-handers overlooked by professional scouts as high schoolers. Mr. Webb, who is currently on the disabled list with the Arizona Diamondbacks, won the Cy Young Award as the National League's best pitcher in 2006; Mr. Blanton, a Philadelphia Phillies starter, was 2-0 in the playoffs in the Phillies' championship run last season. Mr. Madison also coached Scott Downs, a reliever who has become the Toronto Blue Jays' closer this season. This year, Kentucky lefthander James Paxton is projected to go in the draft's first round.

Missouri State, the alma mater of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, the NL's most valuable player in 2006, has also had surprising success. Its former players include pitcher Shaun Marcum, who had a 3.39 ERA for the Blue Jays last season but is currently injured, and reliever Brad Ziegler, who set a major-league record last season by starting his career with 39-straight scoreless innings. "I don't know if it's anything we do," says Bears coach Keith Guttin -- although that doesn't stop him from crowing to recruits about Missouri State's pipeline to the pros. "It tends to come up in conversation."

College-baseball coaches freely admit, though, that there's little they can do to keep their alums from languishing eternally in the minor leagues. "Most college coaches would agree that we can't take credit for the guys who make it to the big leagues," says Mr. Bertman of LSU. "The reason they make it is they were endowed with special gifts, and like all prodigies, they work hard at it."


(wallstreetjournal.com)

It could be an interesting two months for O's first baseman Aubrey Huff. His name is sure to come up in trade rumors leading up to the trade deadline. He can become a free agent at the end of this season.

O's president Andy MacPhail is certainly open to keeping Huff an Oriole beyond this season, but said the sides have not had any contract talks this season.

"Not yet, not to say that there won't be but at the present time, let's just play baseball," MacPhail said.

He said "sure" the O's are open to talking contract with Huff's representatives and it's possible the sides could begin a discussion on the contract topic later in the year.

"We'll see. I'm not big on deadlines or policies. Sure (we are open to talking). We've got plenty of time."
Huff is batting .263-8-39.

In 2008 he was named Most Valuable Oriole when he led the AL in extra-base hits. He hit .304-32-108 with 48 doubles. He was 3rd in the league in doubles, 5th in slugging, 6th in RBI and 9th in homers.

"Aubrey has really been terrific," MacPhail said. "I think he's been helpful with the young players as well, helping them make the transition to the Major Leagues."


(masnsports.com)

OAKLAND, Calif. - Aubrey Huff endured five of his balls getting caught either on the warning track or right at the wall in Seattle. In the same series at Safeco Field, he hit a shot that was initially ruled a homer and correctly overruled into a foul ball.

In Friday's series opener at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, Huff watched another potential homer die on the right-field warning track. Frustration ensued after each near miss, but the Orioles' first baseman didn't officially reach his breaking point until the eighth inning on Saturday night when he had a bloop hit with two men on taken away on a diving play by Oakland Athletics left fielder Matt Holliday.

The normally-reserved veteran whipped his helmet and the continued his tirade in the bathroom in the corner of the home dugout.

"For me, this whole road trip, I felt like I've swung the bat really well," said Huff, who is just 3 for his last 22 and has one homer in his past 80 at-bats. "In Seattle, which is not a good hitter's park, I hit five balls that were probably homers in Baltimore and most parks. If I hit two there, that's one thing. But five? That really [ticked] me off.
"Then finally yesterday, I broke a bat and jammed one off and Matt Holliday, of all people, made a diving catch in shallow left field. We're all human there. I don't care how much I try not to snap, that one got me. That was it."

Huff was held out of the starting lineup in Sunday's 3-0 loss for just the second time this season as Oscar Salazar, whose contract was purchased earlier in the day to replace the injured Cesar Izturis, got the start at first base and went 0-for-4. Huff said he had no problem with getting the day off and looked forward to the mental break with Monday being an off day as well.

Huff was joined on the bench by slumping second baseman Brian Roberts, who sat for the first time this season with Ty Wigginton getting his first start at second base. Roberts pinch-hit in the eighth inning on Sunday and struck out, extending his skid to 2-26 after going 0-for-18 at one point early last month.

"They are probably trying to carry the team themselves and they don't need to do that," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said of Huff and Roberts. "I think it's commendable that they both have that approach, but I just think that everybody goes through it."



(baltimoresun.com)

Yesterday afternoon, the ESPN Zone at the Inner Harbor in conjunction with the Baltimore Orioles held their second Q&A Session with first baseman Aubrey Huff. I've been going to these events for years, and I'll say the crowd at the popular restaurant was the biggest I've seen in long time -- save for Nick Markakis and Erik Bedard years back -- as every seat was practically filled and standing room only (barely).

The overflowing crowd and the candor of Aubrey Huff made the event memorable as he was pretty much direct and open about his life along with his humble beginnings, career, and yes, the infamous fist pump a few Sundays ago that involved Yankee fireballer Joba Chamberlain. After the Q&A, he signed autographs for the huge crowd in an auxiliary room in the restaurant.

The Orioles (18-25) took a one-run lead in the third inning on an infield single by Nick Markakis, and the Nationals (12-30) answered in the fifth with a solo home run by Cristian Guzman. Huff came up with two outs and a man on first in the seventh inning and tripled to left-center field to chase home the decisive run. "Obviously, I'd rather be jogging than running three bags," Huff said. "The ball has to bounce off the wall. Adam Dunn has to chase it down after the guy falls down in center field. That's pretty much what has to happen." And with that timely hit, the Orioles made up for a quiet night at the office. Baltimore tied a season low with three hits, and two of them came late in the game. Catcher Gregg Zaun doubled in the seventh and was thrown out on a fielder's choice at third, and then Huff tripled off Ron Villone to take the lead. "Huff was the secret weapon tonight. He was up here hitting in the cage," Trembley said. "I thought we had one shot late in the game, so let's do it. Tonight was kind of a team game. You're not always going to get one aspect of the game vs. another. You got a timely hit with Huff. You got very, very good pitching [and] very, very good situational pitching. You got tremendous infield defense. All that adds up to winning the game." (mlb.com)

Baltimore Orioles slugger Aubrey Huff will be signing autographs at the Baltimore ESPN Zone on May 26.  This is one of a string of five upcoming autograph signings hosted by ESPN Zone.  Aubrey Huff had his second best year of his career in 2008 winning the 2008 Silver Slugger award after batting .304 with 34 HRs and 108 RBI.

(sportgatherings.com)

The Orioles' team plane bounced, dipped and rattled while passing through a thunderstorm on its way to Kansas City, Mo., early Thursday morning.

Later that evening, Orioles manager Dave Trembley asked first baseman Aubrey Huff about the experience.

Prepared for a rough flight, Huff said that when he got on board he downed a couple drinks, sufficiently chilled out and then went to sleep.

"Couldn't have told you it was storming," he said with a sly smile.

Welcome to Huff's world, where outside tumult - even occasional self-created chaos - doesn't seem to affect his easygoing attitude.

Criticize him. Call him abrasive, crass or lazy. Boo him at his home park on Opening Day. Do whatever you want.

Huff doesn't care. He's not changing. And, when you least expect it, you'll end up appreciating him.

"He is who he is, no matter who he is around, and I think there is something to be said for that," said Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, one of Huff's best friends on the team. "He doesn't try to fake it around people or be somebody he is not. He likes to have a good time. He can be very sarcastic. He just enjoys life."

Huff is the Orioles' Everyman, the kid in the back of class who launches clandestine spitballs; the smart-aleck colleague in the neighboring cubicle. Except that he hits baseballs 400-plus feet with regularity.

"He is a real guy, that's what I love about him," said Chris "Chico" Fernandez, the Tampa Bay Rays' video coordinator and Huff's friend for a decade. "You either love him or hate him. I don't think there is an in-between with his antics. I loved him."

For a six-month period, Baltimore hated Huff.

In November 2007, after hitting just 15 homers in the first season of a three-year, $20 million deal, Huff appeared on Bubba the Love Sponge, a risque nationally syndicated radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio and, among other things, called Baltimore a "horses - - town."

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail publicly rebuked Huff and fined him a "significant" amount for the incident. The fans were apoplectic, booing him unmercifully for the first part of 2008 despite Huff's apologies, which included wearing an "I Heart Baltimore" T-shirt at the annual Orioles Fanfest celebration at Camden Yards.

"They gave it to me pretty good," Huff said. "It was really meant to be taken as a Howard Stern-kind of knockoff show. It was just a thing to do, and I was trying to have some fun with it. By no means did I mean anything by it."

The boos dissipated as Huff kept hitting throughout 2008. He finished the season with a .304 batting average with 32 homers and 108 RBIs, earning Most Valuable Oriole accolades and a Silver Slugger Award.

"I wasn't wild about the comments at the time," MacPhail said. "But I was impressed with how he took responsibility and how he responded on the field and off.'

MacPhail said he has not talked about a contract extension for Huff, 32, but both sides said they would be open to a new deal once the current one ends this winter.

Huff's popularity in Baltimore soared nine days ago when he hit a three-run homer against the New York Yankees' Joba Chamberlain at Camden Yards. Huff made an emphatic fist pump rounding first base and again at home plate - a direct mocking of Chamberlain's strikeout celebrations.

In Chamberlain's third big league appearance, and first at Yankee Stadium in August 2007, he released an exaggerated fist pump after striking out Huff in the eighth inning of a one-run game. Huff vowed at the time that he would return the theatrics if he homered against the Yankees' right-hander.

"It was pre-ordained," Huff deadpanned. "I was just hoping one day I'd get him."

Orioles fans loved it, praising "Huff Daddy" on Internet message boards. He received text messages from players throughout baseball joking about the gesture. And his teammates couldn't stop chuckling.

"It was one of the greatest things I have ever seen in sports," Orioles closer George Sherrill said. "Nobody likes antics, especially when they are tired, so I thought it was one of the funniest things I have seen on the field."

Huff will face Chamberlain again Thursday in new Yankee Stadium, and he doesn't expect any fallout from his fist pump, with the exception of some Bronx cheers from Yankees fans.

"That fist pump was just like my radio show; it wasn't meant to [tick] anybody off," Huff said. "It was just meant to be funny. That's my personality."

His shtick is to mess with anyone and everyone, often in sophomoric fashion. One of Huff's favorite games is knocking the notebook out of an unsuspecting reporter's hands. He's a 12-year-old boy stuck in a millionaire athlete's existence.

"When you get on an elevator with him and he gets off at his floor first, he'll quick hit all of the buttons, laugh and leave," said Scott Cursi, Tampa Bay's bullpen catcher and Huff's longtime friend.

Then there's Huff's legendary penchant for nudity.

In one of his first days as an Oriole, he sat in the middle of the Fort Lauderdale Stadium clubhouse reading a newspaper in the buff.

Not blessed with a sculpted body, Huff said he uses nudity to his advantage.

"I like shock value. I like messing with people," he said. "If I don't feel like doing an interview that day, I'll just get buck naked and most [reporters] won't come up to me."

This spring, he made a point of loudly comparing his body to minor league pitcher Jake Arrieta's muscled frame, playfully reminding Arrieta who was in the majors. No one is exempt from Huff's teasing, including himself. When he received his Silver Slugger in April, Huff, not known for his defensive prowess, held the trophy above his head and said, "Next up, Gold Glove."

For all his joking, though, he takes his job seriously.

"He is amusing. He keeps things in perspective," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "But I don't think I have had any guy any more competitive than he is when he is standing in that batter's box. He is all business when he is in that box."

When the game is over, however, so is that intensity. He's back to being the goofy, small-town Texas kid who travels imperviously through the storms around him.

"As soon as I leave this field every day," he said, "it's back to life as normal for me."

(baltimoresun.com)

The New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles Sunday, however, it is clear the American League East is no longer intimidated by the Bronx Bombers.

Aubrey Huff(notes) celebrated a first-inning home run off Joba Chamberland by twice mocking Chamberlain with an immitation of his fist pump, according to the New York Daily News. Huff pumped his first "Chamberlain style'' rounding the bases and then after crossing home plate.

According to the Daily News, the Orioles had privately questioned Chamberlain's celebratory antics, and word he had pumped his fist after a series of strikeouts while losing to the Red Sox Tuesday caught the attention of Baltimore players. So it wasn't much of a surprise when Huff did the same as he rounded first base — taking a look in Chamberlain's direction at the same time — then doing it again as he crossed the plate.

"You know he does that stuff all the time as a pitcher, so I was just having a little fun with him out there," Huff said. "Part of the game, you get excited in a situation like that, I wasn't showing anybody up."

But Chamberlain certainly created some intrigue for the next series with Huff and the Orioles starting July 20 at the Stadium when he added: "This won't be the last time I face him."

(sports.yahoo.com)

OF Ryan Braun, Brewers. Worried about Braun's early-season struggles? Don't be. The Brewers slugger went 5-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs in a loss to the Phillies last night. He's now hitting .300-3-9 and has 10 hits, including all of his homers, in the last six games. If you don't own Braun, the time to buy low has officially passed.

1B/3B Aubrey Huff, Orioles. Huff also launched a pair of homers, both two-run shots, as the Orioles clobbered the White Sox 10-3. Huff is trying to prove that he can turn in back-to-back solid seasons and is doing a good job so far (.283-3-15).

(sportingnews.com)

Aubrey Huff blasted a pair of two-run homers Tuesday to lift the Orioles over the White Sox 10-3.

Huff homered in the third to put the O's on top, then added a little insurance with a blast in the eighth. He's batting .283 this season with 15 RBI. Nick Markakis, Lou Montanez, Cesar Izturis and Luke Scott also drove in runs.

(rotoworld.com)

The White Settlement Brewer ex spent the early part of his baseball career with the Tampa Bay Rays, watching as the organization put the pieces together that eventually led to last year’s run to the American League championship.

He thinks it’s happening again with his current team — the Baltimore Orioles.

"The situation is kind of like what I went through in Tampa where we were a losing organization for a while and we had some young guys coming up," the first baseman said. "We’re putting the right pieces together and getting the right mix of guys in here. That was real big for what we did in Tampa."

Huff, 32, is one of the right pieces for the Orioles.

In his second season with the Orioles in 2008, Huff hit 32 home runs and drove in a career-high 108 while hitting .304. He was named the team’s most valuable player, won a Silver Slugger Award and was named to the Sporting News American League All-Star team.

Now Huff is trying to help the Orioles get over the hump in a stacked AL East. Baltimore has to contend with powers Boston and New York along with the upstart Rays.

The early returns this season are good as the Orioles opened by winning each of their first three series, including taking two of three from the Rangers.

"This team isn’t far off," Huff said of an organization that hasn’t been to the postseason since 1997. "It’s a tough division. You’re constantly playing the Yankees, Red Sox and the Rays, and then Toronto has some good players. But at the same time, you’re going to have to go through them if you want to win, anyways."

Huff is already off to a solid start, collecting nine RBI in Baltimore’s first 10 games.

He’s also benefiting from not have to carry the offense. Texas manager Ron Washington, who may have the most feared lineup in baseball, said he was impressed by what Baltimore brings to the table.

The top of the lineup is stacked with Brian Roberts, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Huff.

But just like Texas, the Orioles could use some help with the pitching. Huff thinks it’s coming.

"We’ve got a lot of young pitching talent in the minor leagues as well," said Huff, who enjoys playing in Arlington even though he now lives in Tampa. "The core of the talent here now is offensive, I think. The guys we’re waiting on now in the minor leagues are the pitchers."

Huff just hopes he’s around this time to see a rebuilding team turn the corner. He’s in the last year of a three-year, $20-million deal.

"I know this is my ninth year in the big leagues," said Huff, who made his debut with Tampa Bay in 2000 and also spent half a season with the Astros. "I’m not a spring chicken, but I’m in the middle of my career. For me to be part of this, it didn’t work out for me in Tampa, but I’d hate to leave this place and [it] go to the World Series the next couple of years."

(star-telegram.com)

BALTIMORE -- Hours before his public moment, Aubrey Huff had a little fun with his teammates.

Huff straddled a plain brown box on Thursday morning and bellowed throughout the clubhouse, "Has anybody ever seen what a Silver Slugger looks like?" Without further ado, Baltimore's first baseman hoisted the trophy over his head, producing his own trophy ceremony for a select group of admirers.

Huff duplicated the moment a little later on the field at Camden Yards, when he received both the Silver Slugger Award and the Edgar Martinez Award, which is annually presented to the best designated hitter in the league. Huff has since moved on to first base, but he said it meant a lot to earn the twin awards.

"I've always wanted to win one of those things," he said of the Silver Slugger. "I always thought it would be real cool to have -- that and the Gold Glove. We'll have to see about the Gold Glove, but it's awesome, especially winning the Silver Slugger as a DH. Usually, the best DH is one of the best hitters in the league. That's a real honor."

Huff, who was also named to The Sporting News American League All-Star Team last season, led AL hitters in extra-base hits (82) and finished in the top 10 in total bases (330), home runs (32) and RBIs (108). Huff also became the first Oriole to hit 30 homers since 2004, cementing his place in select company.

"He was reliable for us in the four-slot last year," said manager Dave Trembley. "He got a lot of big hits with men on base, a lot of two-strike hits, a lot of extra-base hits the other way. ... He's just been a very good offensive player for us, and it's nice to see him recognized for those accomplishments throughout baseball."

Huff, nestled back in the cleanup spot, is already zeroed in on adding to his trophy collection.

"I always look back on my season, because during the year, you really don't think about it because you're playing every day," said Huff. "In the offseason, you have time to reflect and realize what you've done. But it's past me now. It's over. It's a brand new season now, and we're trying to duplicate it this year."

(mlb.com)

Baltimore, MD (AHN) - Four-hundred million dollars can buy three very expensive free agents, but it can't buy the New York Yankees an opening-day win.

Aubrey Huff had three RBI and Jeremy Guthrie pitched six solid innings of three-run ball to lead the Orioles to a 10-5 win over the Yankees Monday in Baltimore's home opener.

The Orioles jumped all over high-priced pitcher C.C. Sabathia for six runs in just 4 1/3 innings to build a 6-1 lead. It was just Sabathia's fifth career game in which he failed to record a single strikeout.

The Yankees cut the lead to 6-5 behind home runs from Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, but the O's tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.

Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Cesar Izturis each had two RBI for Baltimore, and Luke Scott also knocked in a run.

Matsui led the Yankees with two RBI, while Posada, Xavier Nady and Johnny Damon each knocked in a run.

(allheadlinenews.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The death of a close friend and the birth of his son convinced Aubrey Huff that it's silly to worry about an 0-for-4 performance at the plate.

Joe Kennedy, a pitcher who played with Huff in Tampa Bay, died unexpectedly in November 2007 of heart disease. Huff said he deeply mourned the loss and, with the consent of Kennedy's wife, asked the Baltimore Orioles to give him No. 17 -- the Kennedy's number with Tampa Bay.

Then, last September, Huff's wife Barbara gave birth to the couple's first child, a son they named Jayce.

"There have been some crossroads in my life the past few years. My friend Joe Kennedy died -- he was 29 years old -- and the birth of my son just made me realize this is just a game," the 32-year-old Huff said.

"We play a kid's game for a living and get paid good money to do it. We're blessed in what we do. No matter what place we finish in, I could be very easily getting kicked out of my house right now the way the economy is. Baseball isn't life."

Huff did very little over the winter to get ready for the 2009 season, but that wasn't necessarily because he was tending to Jayce. Actually, Huff was following an offseason regimen he stumbled upon a year ago after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.

"Last year I had the surgery, didn't do anything before coming into spring training, missed the first week and had a good year," he said. "So I'd be stupid to work out hard this offseason, would I not?"

Not after a season in which he batted .304 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs and led the AL with 82 extra-base hits.

Those numbers persuaded him to keep his bat and glove in storage for a second straight winter.

"It wasn't rocket science for me. In '03 and '04 I had some good years in Tampa, and I tried to think what I did that offseason. I remembered not doing that much," Huff said. "So I thought to myself, 'What if I worked hard? I could probably be an MVP type of guy.' I worked really hard, and the next three years were just, what in the world happened?"

In 2005, Huff batted .261. A year later, he had a meager 66 RBIs, and in 2007, his first year with Baltimore, he could muster only 15 homers and 72 RBIs.

His comeback season of a year ago began under a cloud. During November 2007 -- the same month Kennedy died -- Huff made derogatory comments about the city of Baltimore on a satellite radio show in Florida. He received a fine from the club and was jeered by Orioles fans during the early part of April.

Were it not for his torrid hitting, Huff might never have recovered from the fallout.

"Honestly, if I didn't have the year I had last year, I might not have a job now," he said. "It was definitely a good feeling. I let a lot of people down in Baltimore last year on that radio show. It was big mistake. I've expressed that. We've all moved on. It just goes to show, when you put on numbers, nobody remembers or cares."

With Kevin Millar gone, Huff has taken on more responsibility in the clubhouse. He's not one to gather the players and implore them to win, but his quips and relentless sarcasm can take the edge off an extended losing streak.

"I like messing around with other guys. I like to keep it loose in here because Lord knows, everybody in this clubhouse -- especially the younger guys -- gets kind of stressed out," Huff said. "I know how it is to be crazy about baseball and then put too much pressure on yourself. The last thing this game needs is more stress."

Huff now realizes there are more important things in life than baseball, but that doesn't mean he's not focused on playing well and helping Baltimore win.

"He's a fun guy to be around but he's pretty serious about his work," Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley said. "He's always on time, he's always ready to play, he cares about whether we win or lose and he gives 100 percent effort on defense. From my end of it, he's as close to a perfect player as there is."

(usatoday.com)

Aubrey Huff signed a three-year deal with the Orioles in December of 2006.  Now entering the final season of his current deal, Huff's first two seasons with the Orioles could not have been more different.

In 2007, Huff eked out 15 home runs. '07 marked the fourth consecutive season in which Huff's home run totals declined.

All signs pointed to Huff being a poor signing for The Birds.  His image wasn't helped any during the 2007-2008 off season, when the first baseman/designated hitter underwent hernia surgery, and in a shock radio appearance, revealed his love of scantily clad women and disdain for Baltimore nightlife. 

C'mon, Aubrey.  Spend one night in Highlandtown's finest drinking establishments, and you won't think Baltimore is so bleeping bad anymore. 
On second thought, maybe the guy has a point.

Anyway, the boos reigned down when Huff strode to the plate on Opening Day 2008; it looked as though the slugger was in for a long season.  To the surprise of nearly everyone, Huff bounced back with a career year, hitting 32 home runs and an impressive .304/.360/.552 stat line. 

Huff not only quieted the boos, at 31, Huff had his best season since 2003.  He earned the AL Silver Slugger award for designated hitters, handily outhitting David Ortiz, Gary Sheffield and others. 

How did he do it?  Huff's off season surgery was surely helpful.  What's more, Huff claims that a back-to-basics approach helped him concentrate on simply hitting the ball—hard. 

In a taped segment airing July 2nd on MASN, Huff explained how he was able to rebound.

“I just stopped thinkin' so much, man,” he claims. 

Let's hope that Huff thinks just as little in '09 as he did last year.  In reality, it will be very difficult for Huff to reproduce his gaudy '08 numbers.  He is playing for a contract and he should have some protection in the lineup, but very few declining players have been able to rebound for two consecutive years. 

Important Number: 12
The number of points Huff earned in the 2008 MVP voting.  Dustin Pedroia won the award with 317 votes.

Important Date:  July 12, 2006
The date Huff was traded from Tampa Bay, where he was once their most promising young player, to Houston.

Rando Prediction: 
  AB: 521   AVG: .273   HR: 23

Huff will split time at first base and DH this year, increasing his value in the field.  However, it's too optimistic to expect another year like the last.  This prediction basically splits the difference in his '07 and '08 seasons.  He could surprise, but after such a stellar season, there is bound to be some attrition.

(examiner.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Aubrey Huff looked down at his cell phone, recognized the phone number of the incoming call and realized that he probably was about to get bad news. He just never fathomed it would be this bad.

It was around 7:30 on a November morning, an odd time for a phone call from Tampa Bay Rays traveling secretary Jeff Ziegler.

"I picked it up and thought, 'This probably can't be good.' And he said, 'Huffy, I just want to give you the heads up that Joe Kennedy has gotten into an accident,'" recalled Huff. "I was like, 'Gosh, is he OK?' It obviously had to be bad if he was calling. He goes, 'Well, he died last night.' I just said, 'What? Is this a dream?' At the end of the day, we found out what happened. When something like that happens, you come to realize what's important in life."

Huff, now the Orioles' first baseman and cleanup hitter, and Kennedy had arrived in the majors a year apart with Tampa Bay and quickly become close friends. They were both gregarious personalities and free spirits who enjoyed the big league lifestyle.

Kennedy hadn't been in an accident that day in 2007, but he had collapsed and died as a result of a hypertensive heart disease. His passing was one of several experiences for Huff that helped change his outlook, and resulted in one of the best seasons of his career.

Also that month, Huff made derogatory comments about the city of Baltimore on a satellite radio show, earning a hefty fine from the club and the jeering of its home fans. Then in November, Huff and his wife, Baubi, welcomed their first child, Jayce.

"I grew up really fast in a short period of time," Huff said. "I just let it all go. I quit worrying, especially with my son being born and Joe dying. I really had a lot of stuff going in my head and I told myself, 'This is just a baseball game. This isn't life. Just go out and have fun every day and not worry about your numbers.' When I went out there and had my best years in Tampa, that's what I did, just played the game and went out there and had fun.

"It just got to the point where it was really, really hard to deal with. I was going, 'Is this even worth it?' I know we're paid a lot of money as a professional athlete and that sounds stupid to say, but you really want to play well and compete and I was just not doing that."

Wearing No.17 last year in honor of Kennedy, Huff batted .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBIs, his best season since 2003, when he hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBIs for Tampa Bay. He led the league in extra-base hits (82), was third in total bases (330) and doubles (48) and fifth in slugging percentage (.552), numbers that earned him a Silver Slugger Award.

"I knew I could do it because I've done it before," said Huff, who hit .280 with 15 homers and 72 RBIs in 2007 after signing a three-year, $20 million deal with the Orioles. "Something in mid-May just kind of clicked and I don't think I've ever been in that good of a groove. I felt really good mentally for three months straight. That was as good as I felt on a baseball field in my whole career."

His performance at the plate quieted the boos from the home fans, who were still stinging from Huff's appearance on the Bubba the Love Sponge show.

"I knew the only way to make all the fans of Baltimore not hate me was to put up numbers and hit," Huff said. "In a weird way, that show was a blessing. Obviously it wasn't smart and I wouldn't recommend anybody doing it, but it turned out to be kind of a motivational factor to get myself going."

Orioles manager Dave Trembley was impressed with the way Huff was able to block out all the potential distractions.

"He has the uncanny ability when something goes wrong, he lets it go," Trembley said. "He likes to hit and he's obviously good at it. He didn't give any at-bats away, he used the other side of the field, he's not afraid to hit with two strikes. He shows the ability to hit left-handed pitching. Whatever he did, I hope he does it this year."

Huff, who is entering his free agent year, admitted that he did very little this offseason, sticking to the routine that worked so well for him following the 2007 campaign, when hernia surgery prevented him from doing any baseball activities until spring training.

He did make good use of his time off, traveling to Denver with his wife to spend time with Kennedy's widow, Jami, and their two children.

"Every day I put the jersey on, I see Joe's number and it's tough, but the days go by and it gets a little easier," he said. "She's doing a lot better and their kids are growing up nicely. Joe is one of the better friends that I've been around in baseball. It was definitely tragic, but he's in a better place."

(baltimoresun.com)

Aubrey Huff went 3-for-3 with three RBI as the Orioles defeated the Marlins 4-2 on Saturday.

Huff is expected to take over at first base for the Orioles with Kevin Millar gone. He'll probably be in the cleanup spot for what could be one of the game's best offenses. It's doubtful that he'll put up rate stats like he did last season, but he'll probably amass the run and RBI totals he'll need to remain a contributor in mixed leagues.

(rotoworld.com)

Friday night before the baseball season opener against Rutgers, UM will induct Baltimore Orioles first baseman Aubrey Huff into the Hall of Fame. Jim Morris, along with Pat Burrell, will present Huff with his Hall of Fame ring and jacket in an on-field ceremony before the game. Huff hit 21 home runs and drove in 95 RBI his final season at Miami in 1998. He hit .400 in his career (2nd all-time) and had a career .719 slugging percentage. For more information on a Parrott Jungle Banquet and the UM Sports Hall of Fame golf tournament on April 24th, go to UMSportsHallofFame.com.

(miamiherald.com)

Aubrey Huff reported to Fort Lauderdale Stadium Wednesday hoping that months of inactivity before spring training will again result in one of the finest offensive seasons in the American League.

Huff had hernia surgery after the 2007 season. It kept him from any baseball-related activity until spring training and he hit .304 with 32 homeruns and 108 RBIs last season.

So Huff decided to stick with what works. He says he feels no pressure to duplicate his strong 2008 season, even though he's entering the final year of his contract.

(wjz.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Aubrey Huff isn't afraid of repeating his success. One season after a career year, Baltimore's first baseman is hardly worried about whether he can do it again. Huff arrived at Spring Training camp on Wednesday and seemed confident, confiding to the media that the only pressure he feels is self-imposed.

"I don't really believe in pressure too much," said Huff, who won the American League's Silver Slugger for designated hitters last season. "I just go out there and play, and if the numbers come, they come. I think pressure is pretty worthless, really. One day, I'm going to be dead and nobody is going to care. You know what I mean?"

Huff had a well-documented return to form last year, an offensive comeback fueled by a streamlining of his mental resources. The slugger was unable to work out before the 2008 season due to a sports hernia surgery, and he traced his clarity to the twin circumstances of his first child's birth and the death of close friend Joe Kennedy.

This offseason, Huff took a cue from that success and refused to obsess over his numbers. He didn't work out heavy, and he didn't pick up a bat until he arrived at Fort Lauderdale Stadium on Wednesday. Still, Huff is confident about the moves his team has made, and he's quite sanguine about his chances of remaining an Oriole well into the future.

"I think I may have run out of Tampa [Bay] too early," Huff said of the team that drafted and developed him. "I had been in Tampa for six straight years of losing ... and it was time to get out of there. And then I leave there and they start getting good. I would hate for that to happen here."
Huff has his future in his own hands. The veteran is entering the final season of a free-agent contract that he signed before the 2007 season, and he can earn a hefty raise with another strong year. If that's not in the stars, he can choose to seek an extension in Baltimore or freely choose his next team next winter.

Put another way, the simple fact that his contract is about to expire means that Huff's out of long-term security, but he claims not to worry about his future between the lines. The left-handed hitter said that he won't be cowed by trade rumors, citing the fact that he had to play through them for much of his tenure in Tampa Bay.

"With Tampa, it seemed like every year, I was a guy that was dangled out there," Huff said by way of explanation. "I would be on 'SportsCenter.' At one point, I was in that Manny Ramirez deal in '05. I went into the game thinking I was getting traded that day. It's something that I've dealt with my whole career. I don't put too much emphasis on it. I've been traded once to Houston. You just never know when it might happen. You just can't really worry about it."

Huff will be wearing a glove on a full-time basis this season, slotting in as Baltimore's regular first baseman and ceding DH duties to Luke Scott. Part of the rationale for that move is to make the Orioles a better defensive team in the outfield, but Huff requested to play the field more often, and he is confident it will help his offense.

"I seem to do well DH'ing, but in all honesty, it does get kind of tired at times," said Huff. "You sit and watch your teammates go out there and play the full game while you're just sitting there rotting a little bit.

"I certainly am looking forward to playing a little bit of first this year. Don't get me wrong, DH'ing every now and then is fine. It keeps you kind of fresh. But I'm definitely excited to play first."

And the bottom line, as far as Huff's concerned, is that the Orioles are beginning to put together a dangerous team. Baltimore's cleanup hitter said that he expects the team's pitching and defense to be much improved and the offense to be every bit as good as it was last year, yielding a team that can compete in the AL East.

"I enjoy the organization," Huff said. "I wouldn't mind giving it a run here. It seems like [president of baseball operations] Andy MacPhail is making all the right moves. We've got some pieces in place. We've got a lot of young pitching in the organization that's supposedly high on the prospect lists, and that's where it all starts: Starting pitching. We can surprise some people."

(mlb.com)

In an attempt to follow last winter's routine, which led to one of his finest seasons, Aubrey Huff has done just about everything the exact same way - which means he's pretty much done nothing.

Huff didn't undergo another sports hernia surgery or create more satellite controversy, but otherwise, it's been a carbon copy.

"I haven't really done much," he said yesterday during a phone conversation. "I'm trying to follow last year's program. I pretended that I had surgery and I'm laying low. I'm stretching and doing cardio right now. That's all I did last year and that's what I'm doing now."

Huff plans on starting his weight training with some light lifting around Feb. 1, just like last year. And he won't pick up a bat until he gets to spring training, just like last year.

"I feel great. I feel refreshed," he said. "Actually, I'm getting antsy. I'm ready to get down there."

In the meantime, Huff has been preoccupied with purchasing 35 acres of land in Evergreen, Colo., where he'll build his dream house.

"My wife and I always go out there at some point and go winter vacationing. It's just gorgeous out there," he said.

Huff found the time to once again appear on the Tampa-based "Bubba the Love Sponge" radio show, but the content was much more acceptable to the Orioles' brass. And this time, he didn't create an uproar in Baltimore by slamming the city.

Not everything should be duplicated, even after you've been named Most Valuable Oriole.

"They signed a new Sirius radio deal and you can't cuss anymore, so I couldn't get in trouble on that one," he said, laughing. "They're all clean now."

I'll have more from Huff in my next entry, including his thoughts on the Orioles' $140 million pursuit of free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira and his strong desire to be the starter.

(masn.com)

Aubrey Huff doesn't necessarily pay close attention to everything that's reported in the papers and over the internet, especially during the winter months, but he was part of a captive audience during the Mark Teixeira negotiations.

"I just thought it was ridiculous, the whole media thing," he said.

"You never really know what's going on behind closed doors, but it didn't seem like he was ever going to sign with Baltimore, the way it looked. It seemed like he was holding out for a bigger deal and I couldn't see him signing for $140 million with all that other money out there."

And that suited Huff perfectly, since he wants to be the starting first baseman this season. He could appreciate all that Teixeira had to offer, but he also had to look out for himself.

"Obviously, with him in the lineup, there would be a lot of protection, and he's a guy who gets on base and has a lot of power, but at the same time, I'd really like to play first base this year. I'm sure I wouldn't have started over him," Huff said.

"I just hope I get a legitimate shot at first this year. That's certainly what I expect, as of now - to be the starting first baseman. And I hope that's the course of action. I certainly don't think I embarrassed myself at first or third.

"I don't mind being the DH. It's cool. But every day, it gets old. You want to be out there every now and then."

Huff was happy to find out that Chris Gomez agreed to terms on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

"Go-Go's back. I love him," Huff said. "He's a great clubhouse guy and he's a guy who can play anywhere in the infield. That's a good signing for us. He's like a fine wine. He gets better with age."

Gomez has to make the team first, and that's not a certainty. As The Sun reported yesterday, the Orioles signed Jolbert Cabrera to a minor league deal, and he'll compete with Gomez and Donnie Murphy for a utility job.

(masn.com)

Major League Baseball released the voting for the 2008 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award and -- drum roll please -- it went to Orioles DH Aubrey Huff.

Huff won in a close vote over likely Hall of Famer Jim Thome, breaking a string of six straight awards for Red Sox star David Ortiz.

This has been quite a different offseason for Huff (at right celebrating a home run) than last year, when his comments critical of Baltimore on a shock jock radio show had fans calling for his head. He said in the spring that he would have to win back the loyalty of the fans by performing on the field, and he did just that, batting .303 as a DH with 23 homers and 77 RBI. Overall, he batted .304 with 32 homers and 108 RBI.

(baltimoresun.com)

The Orioles' Aubrey Huff was awarded the Silver Slugger award Thursday as the top designated hitter in the American League. The award, voted on by coaches and managers, is given to the best offensive producer at each position in both leagues.

It's the first Silver Slugger award for Huff, who became the eighth different Oriole to garner the honor and the first since shortstop Miguel Tejada did it in 2005.

"It's a tremendous honor for me and something I've always wanted to win," said Huff, who led the A.L. with 82 extra-base hits to go along with 32 home runs and 108 RBIs. "Some guys try to win a Gold Glove, but as a DH, this is the ultimate honor for an offensive player."
(baltimoresun.com)

The University of Miami has announced its 2009 class of inductees to the UM Sports Hall of Fame.

The six former student-athletes range from a track-and-fielder to a golfer to baseball and football players. All were stars in their respective sports, though some are more well known than others.

UM football fans will immediately recognize running back Edgerrin James, who also will soon be introduced as a new member of UM's Ring of Honor. James played from 1996-98 and holds the school record of 299 yards in 39 carries against UCLA in 1998. He is second all-time in rushing yards (2,960) and rushing touchdowns (32).

James, whose cousin Javarris James currently plays for UM, was drafted fourth overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999 and now plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

The other soon-to-be inducted UM Sports Hall of Fame members:
• Warren Bogle, baseball, 1966-1967.
• Davian Clarke, track, 1995-1998.
• Aubrey Huff, baseball, 1997-1998.
• Cathy Morse, golf, 1974-1977.
• Mike Sullivan, football, 1987-1990.

The induction ceremony will be April 23 at Jungle Island in Miami.

(miamiherald.com)

As the Orioles head into the offseason with twice as many questions as they have answers, one problem they do not have for 2009 is cleanup hitter Aubrey Huff.

Huff was named winner of the Louis M. Hatter award as the Most Valuable Oriole on the final weekend of the season. It was well deserved as Huff finished the season hitting .304 with 32 home runs, 48 doubles and 108 RBIs. 

Not bad for a guy who was booed on Opening Day for some controversial comments he made about the city of Baltimore during the offseason. “Maybe it motivated him,” said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. “Maybe it was his way of trying to do things a little better. Maybe it was his way of trying to undo some of the things he wishes he could take back. That’s the way I look at it. He certainly didn’t let anything bother him.”

That’s because Huff set goals for himself before the start of the year, and those goals were no different this year from what they have been in the past.

“I go into spring training every year wanting to hit .300 and hit 30 homers and drive in 100, that’s usually a goal I shoot for,” Huff said. “You know, I was fortunate enough to get those numbers this year, and it makes it a little sweeter when you consider what I went through in the offseason with the fans and everything. Hopefully all is forgotten, and we can go into next year and try to do it all over again.”

Part of Huff’s success came in the early part of the season. A notoriously slow starter, he wasn’t hitting for average in April and May, but he was being productive in the middle of the lineup.

“The average wasn’t there early on, but the satisfaction was that late in the game I was getting big hits,” the 31-year-old veteran said. “I was driving in some runs and winning games. I don’t think I was over .240 or .250 before the first two months of the season, but there were good power numbers and RBIs, so that was definitely a confidence builder going into the rest of the year.”

Now Trembley doesn’t have to go into next season wondering who is going to provide power in the middle of the order.

“He has put up incredible offensive numbers,” Trembley said. “Total bases, I mean every category, runs scored. He has been a legitimate No. 4 hitter. That’s what he’s been.”

For the first time in years, Huff said he did very little in terms of heavy workouts in the offseason.

“Whether I started earlier than December, later than December, lifting harder, running harder, nothing ever worked,” he said. “Then this year I did absolutely nothing except for maybe stretching and cardio. I didn’t pick up a ball or a bat until spring training, and I guarantee that’s what I will do again.”

Huff credits his season to the success of guys at the top of the order, leadoff man Brian Roberts and right fielder Nick Markakis.

“If it wasn’t for those two getting on for me all year, I’m not driving in 100 runs,” Huff said. “I mean, these guys are the on-base guys. Nick has a .400 on-base percentage, they both play spectacular defense, [are] great hitters, and they are definitely the key to this team.”

“He was tremendous,” Roberts said. “That’s the kind of player and hitter we saw in Tampa for so long. … I think that the way he swung the bat this year was for a long time just fun to sit and watch. There was probably a handful of us in there watching his video and trying to figure out how we could hit like him.

"It’s fun to watch guys have years like that, and I think he’s capable of repeating it. It’s not like this is the first time he’s had that kind of year. If you look back on his numbers, he’s had years like this before, so we’ll expect nothing short of that next year.”

In fact, Roberts may just try the Aubrey Huff offseason conditioning program.

“Sit and eat donuts," Roberts said. "That’s what he did. I might try the donut plan this winter.”

(pressboxonline.com)

Aubrey Huff, who leads the American League with 82 extra-base hits and set career-highs with 48 doubles and 96 runs scored, has been voted winner of the 2008 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. 

Huff, who completes his ninth major league season and second with the Orioles Sunday, was the only player named on all 27 ballots. He enters today's season finale with a .306 average, 32 home runs and 108 RBI. It is the second time in his career he has hit more than 30 home runs and the third time he has topped the 100-RBI plateau. In addition to leading the league in extra-base hits, Huff enters today's game second in the AL in total bases (330), tied for third in doubles, fifth with a .555 slugging percentage, sixth in RBI, tied for eighth in home runs and 10th with 182 hits.

The 31-year-old earned American League Player of the Week honors twice this season, for the weeks ending July 6 and August 31. He put together hitting streaks of 14 (August 27 – September 14) and a career-high 19 games (July 22 – August 11) during the year and saw time at first base, third base and designated hitter in 153 games for the Orioles.

Huff is the first Oriole to hit at least 30 home runs since 2004. Of his 32 homers, 14 either tied the game (2) or put Baltimore ahead (12). He homered in consecutive games seven times this year and recorded five four-hit games in 2008.

Huff is the 36th different player to win the Most Valuable Oriole Award, which is named in honor of the late Lou Hatter, a former sportswriter for the Baltimore Sun who covered the Orioles for 27 years.  Balloting for the Most Valuable Oriole Award is conducted with voting on a 5-3-1 basis.

Huff will be honored in a ceremony prior to Sunday's 1:35 p.m. game.

(wjz.com)

Aubrey Huff remembers vividly when Tampa Bay was a last-place team. Now that the Rays are headed to the playoffs, he's delighted to see a few old friends enjoying success.

Huff spent five long seasons in Tampa Bay. He was traded to Houston late in the 2006 season, and signed with the Orioles as a free agent in January 2007. The Orioles are in last place, and his former team has clinched a spot in the postseason.

"I am happy for a few guys I played with," Huff said Tuesday. "If we're not going to be in there, I'd love to see them in there and go all the way."

Huff played 799 games with Tampa Bay -- second-most in club history. He is the career leader in home runs, RBIs, doubles and extra-base hits.
When Huff played in Tampa Bay, the Rays never won more than 70 games. The Rays began Tuesday's doubleheader against Baltimore in first place in the AL East with 93 wins.

"I knew they'd be good. I had no idea they'd be that good," Huff said.

Huff hoped that when he signed with the Orioles, they'd be able to contend. He still thinks that can happen, in part because the Rays did it.

"If they can, we can. They turned it around in two years," he said. "There's no reason this organization can't do it as well. (Tampa Bay) stockpiled a lot of young talent, and gave it time to develop."

(baltimoresun.com)

Aubrey Huff went 3-for-5 with a grand slam as the Orioles crushed the Indians 14-3 on Monday night.
The Orioles trailed 3-2 after five but broke out with a seven-run sixth inning that culminated with Huff's slam. He and Adam Jones both drove in four runs in the lopsided win. Huff is having an unbelievable season and is now hitting .316/.372/.581 with 31 bombs and 102 RBI, and has driven in 38 runs in his past 35 games.

(rotoworld.com)

Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Aubrey Huff was named the American League Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Last week, Huff hit .478 (11-for-23) with four doubles, two home runs and seven RBI.

During a three-game set against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, Huff went 6-for-12 with a home run, three doubles and four RBI.

The 31-year-old slugger is batting .311 with 30 home runs and 98 RBI this year.

Other nominees included Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox, Adrian Beltre of the Seattle Mariners and Billy Butler of the Kansas City Royals.

(nationalpost.pa)

Aubrey Huff has always said he is a notoriously slow starter, which has hindered his production the last three seasons. But this year, the Orioles' designated hitter is well on his way to matching or surpassing the best two seasons of his career.

Through Monday, Huff was hitting .305 with 28 home runs and 91 RBIs. He also has 69 extra-base hits. Not since 2003, when he hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBIs, and 2004, when the numbers were similar, 29 and 104, has Huff put together such a season.

Huff usually doesn’t like to talk about his success at the plate. In fact, when searching for answers earlier this season as to why he has been one of the Orioles' clutch performers in the middle of the lineup, he said, “I don’t know. See ball, hit ball.” 

That wasn't exactly the explanation many were looking for, but it was consistent with what he said last weekend.

“It just seemed like this is a ‘do’ year,” he said. “I have had three off-years in a row.”

Whatever it is, there is no question what Huff has meant to this offense. He is hitting .329 with 11 homers and 74 RBIs with men on base. With runners in scoring position, he has batted .328 with five homers and 60 RBIs. With runners in scoring position and two outs, he is at .315 with two homers and 24 RBIs. His on-base percentag5 is .361, and he is slugging .560.

“I feel pretty confident in the year I’ve had,” Huff said. “The big thing was slow starts, and even though this wasn’t a fantastic start, it was a lot better than what I have had in the past. You know, I was around .240 the first two months, and that’s not great, but I managed to drive in some runs, so that was nice, but for some reason, the second half has always been a little more friendly to me.”

It is always important when a player is struggling at the plate to still be able to contribute to the team, and Huff took a tremendous amount of pride in doing that early in the year. “I wasn’t hitting for average, but I was getting a lot of big hits and driving in some big runs, and that means a lot,” he said. “You look at Carlos Pena in Tampa. He’s not having the year he had last year, but every time he’s up in the late innings, he’s getting the big hit, and you got to do that when you are not hitting for average."

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he has watched Huff closely this year and thinks there are reasons Huff has been able to put together the impressive offensive numbers.

“I think he’s a lot more relaxed, and I think he is standing up straighter at the plate,” Trembley said. “He uses the other side of the field. He’s a very good cripples hitter, and for me, a cripples hitter is when [opposing pitchers] get ahead in the count, and they throw him the fastball, he usually doesn’t miss it. His swing doesn’t seem to be as long or as big as it was.”

Trembley thinks something else may have turned Huff around.

“It’s the second year with the organization, and he seems to be a lot more comfortable,” he said. “I think some personal things in the offseason with him as far as losing his best friend woke him up and put some other things in perspective for him.”

Huff came into spring training coming off a very emotional winter. He lost friend and former Tampa Bay teammate, pitcher Joe Kennedy, who died unexpectedly from heart disease on Nov. 23, 2007. As a tribute, Huff asked Kennedy’s wife if it would be all right to honor him by wearing Kennedy’s No. 17, which he wore in Tampa. She agreed it would be a great gesture by Huff. So Huff switched from No. 19 to No. 17 to start the year. 

Kennedy’s death is something Huff still thinks about every day.

“He was one of my best friends, growing up in the Tampa organization,” Huff said. “In baseball, you probably have five or six real close friends you keep up with your whole career and throughout your whole life, and he was one of them. … He lives on in my memory by wearing the jersey."

After being swept by the Yankees over the weekend, and splitting an unconventional doubleheader with the White Sox, the Orioles find themselves a season-high seven games under .500. Huff would rather look at the overall big picture to this season than just the recent struggles.

“We’ve played well all year,” he said. “You can look at the pitching being bad the last couple months, but we were terrible hitting-wise the first couple of months, and they were brilliant. If we could have put it all together at once and played consistent baseball, we would probably be about 10 games over .500, but that just hasn’t been the case."

Huff also attributes the competitive nature of the Orioles to Trembley. “Dave has been great,” Huff said. “He lets you play. He is a young manager in terms of major league experience. He is a guy that’s going to let you play and be positive. He’s not a yeller or a guy who is a screamer who is going to get a lot of the young guys nervous or anything like that, so I think in that aspect he’s great.”

Trembley appreciates that sentiment and what his cleanup hitter has done the whole year. “He’s been a dangerous hitter in the middle of the lineup and a very reliable, two-out RBI guy,” Trembley said. “He’s gotten a lot of big two-out RBI hits for us.”

(pressboxonline.com)

Aubrey Huff went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Orioles defeated the White Sox on Wednesday night.
He also hit a sacrifice fly, giving him three ribbies on the night. Melvin Mora and Kevin Millar both hit solo shots for Baltimore, and Brian Roberts also drove in three. The Orioles have had no trouble scoring runs this season: they have the fifth-ranked offense in baseball.

(rotoworld.com)

Aubrey Huff went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI Sunday but the Orioles dropped one to the Yankees.
The O's put together a four-run second inning and a three-run fourth, but the Yankees hung with them and delivered a tie-breaking home run in the seventh inning to secure the win. Huff doubled twice and hit his 28th dinger of the season. He's batting .304 with 91 RBI.

(rotoworld.com)

Hey, it's easy to muster enthusiasm for the stretch drive when your team is in a pennant race, showing a pulse in the wild-card chase or playing at least .500 ball. Every minor league call-up, positive news on the injury front or Freddy Garcia signing brings an adrenalin rush and renewed faith that things will work out OK in the end.

Still, positive omens can be found amid the rubble. In this week's installment of Starting 9, we pay tribute to major leaguers who have made unexpectedly strong contributions to give losing teams a reason to feel good amid all the bad news. With apologies to San Francisco's Brian Wilson, Detroit's Armando Galarraga and Seattle's Jose Lopez, here are nine members of what we like to call our "silver lining" edition.

1. Joakim Soria, Royals (32 saves, 1.51 ERA)

2. Brad Ziegler, Athletics (37 innings, 21 hits, 0 runs)

3. Aubrey Huff, Orioles (.302 batting average, 24 homers, 76 RBIs)

Here's a great way to fall out of favor in the town that worshipped Cal Ripken Jr: Hit 15 home runs in the first year of a three-year, $20 million contract. Perpetuate a reputation for slow starts, a half-hearted work ethic and a penchant for producing only when your team is out of the race.

Add some ill-advised comments about Baltimore and its lack of night life on the "Bubba the Love Sponge" radio show, and it's easy to see why the locals viewed Huff with skepticism in April.

Four months later, Huff is Mr. Popularity at Camden Yards. He leads the AL in extra-base hits, ranks third in total bases, fourth in doubles, sixth in homers, seventh in slugging and eighth in RBIs. Huff and Kevin Millar, who combined for 32 home runs out of the first base-DH spots in 2007, already have 42 homers with seven weeks left to play.

Huff started slowly in spring training after January surgery for a sports hernia, but a mechanical alteration at the suggestion of Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley has made a huge difference. During a one-on-one tutorial in July 2007, Crowley urged Huff to stand taller in the batter's box and make a greater effort to use the entire field. Huff hit .346 in August and September 2007, and he's never looked back.

(espn.com)

Aubrey Huff has cleared revokable waivers, therefore he can be traded to any team at any time. Huff has been a big suprise this year in Baltimore and could provide some prospects from a contender in need of his services.


(majorleaguereport.com)

Team: Baltimore Orioles Position: Designated hitter Stats: .302 AVG, 24 HR, 76 RBIs, .550 SLG Measurements: 6'4", 235 lbs. Nicknames: None. Don't know if one is really necessary when your name is Aubrey. Signature: Returning to A-list slugging form after a three-year hiatus.
Mysteries: Where did this resurgence come from? Did anyone actually call it? What has he been doing the past couple seasons? How impressive is his 19-game hitting streak? How obvious is it that his streak will snap within 24 hours now that he is being profiled as an Unusual Suspect? How traumatizing was the "Three Little Pigs" story for him growing up? Did you know that there have been five players in the history of baseball with the first name Aubrey?

Background
Aubrey Huff used to be awesome.

Back in the early years of this millennium, before the days of the iPhone and the Montauk Monster, Huff was the one Tampa Bay Devil Ray worth drafting in fantasy leagues.

And for good reason. In 2003, the then-26-year-old hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBIs, which -- according to Baseball-Reference.com, earned him 24th place in American League MVP voting, roughly 400 spots better than Bobby Higginson.

Simply put, Huff had the look of a future superstar.

But it didn't exactly turn out that way. He finished his 2005 and '06 seasons with batting averages in the .260s and clubbed a pedestrian 15 home runs just a season ago. Now with a 19-game hitting streak and a whopping .550 slugging percentage under his belt, Huff is back swinging his big bat of yore and looks every bit the hitter many thought he would be.

So how did the reinvention of Aubrey Huff come about?

To the evidence!

The evidence
Cleaning up: Huff has absolutely been loving life as the Orioles' cleanup hitter this season, hitting .320 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 18 doubles over 70 games in the four-hole. That's a huge improvement over the .190-0-3 line he posted in his 14-game audition as the team's cleanup hitter just a year ago.

Free bird: One of the main reasons for Huff's slugging resurgence can be traced to his improved fly-ball rate. The 31-year-old primary designated hitter has been smashing the ball in the air a career-best 41.6 percent of the time, a full 10.3 percentage points better than the mark he posted in his career year of 2003. More balls in the sky means more homers. Yes, it's really that simple.

ISO good: If it looks like Huff is swinging a more powerful bat this year than ever before, it's because he is. Charm City's finest is sporting a career best .248 isolated power average (ISO), a formula created by people much smarter than me that looks something like this: 2B+3B+(HR*3))/AB. See, moms and dads? Unusual Suspects is not just some column stacked with baseball rubbish and nonsense -- it can also help your kids with their algebra homework!

Too legit to quit: As per usual, it's time to see if Huff's comeback campaign is actually legitimate or merely a result of some favorable luck. Huff is currently donning a .312 batting average on balls in play, which is a bit higher than average but surely not enough to blemish his genuinely stellar year.

Conspiracy theory
Of course, there are always alternative explanations.

In November 2007, just a couple months after the Orioles finished a disappointing 69-win season, Huff offered some disparaging remarks about Baltimore's not-so-hoppin' nightlife on the "Bubba the Love Sponge Show."

Now, as both one who grew up in the humdrum suburbs of Detroit and who's watched every episode of "The Wire," I can somewhat empathize with Huff's sentiments.

However, the Orioles' ardent fan base did not take Huff's comments lightly and busted out the boo birds (see what I just did there?) every time their starting designated hitter came up to the plate on Opening Day 2008.

Clearly, it behooved Huff to get his loyal fans back on his side. So he did what any other player would do in such a circumstance. He took a page straight out of Frank "The Tank" Ricard's playbook and started going streaking.

From the quad to the gymnasium, Huff has been streaking for 19 straight games, hitting .390 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 14 runs while becoming the toast of Baltimore in the process.

With such staggering numbers, Huff is back having an awesome time in Baltimore. In fact, I think the entire town knows Huff's having an awesome time.

And wouldn't you want those times to keep on going?

(mlb.com)

BALTIMORE -- Comebacks can be found in the strangest of places. Aubrey Huff will freely admit that his confidence was in freefall for the last few years, spiraling downward with no relief in sight. Baltimore's designated hitter found his swing during a winter in which he was too hurt to work out and mentally conflicted about his life and his future in baseball.

Paradoxically, Huff's path back to stardom started when he was too dispirited to worry about it. The veteran was coming off a trying season with a new team and a sports hernia that kept him from picking up a bat over the offseason, but perspective in the form of impending fatherhood and the passing of a former teammate helped him snap back to reality.

"I wasn't sure anymore. My numbers had gone down for two seasons before last season, and then I had that year. It was pretty much the lowest season I've ever had," he said of 2007. "My swing hadn't felt the same for three years. I'm starting to think, 'What happened? I'm 30. It's not like I'm 40.' I think, more than anything, it was a confidence thing. 'What's going on, and why is this happening?' Before you know it, your mind gets in the way. It just got more and more miserable.

"It got tough to even think about the game. It was just so frustrating that I couldn't get anything going. But this year, I just came in and said, 'I'd better have a good year or I won't have much more of a chance to do it again.'

Things had gotten that desperate for Huff, who spent the first six years of his career in Tampa Bay and described himself as "beaten down mentally" by the end of his tenure there. He had seen personal success -- four straight seasons of 20 or more home runs -- devalued by his team's losing records.

Huff's career had gotten stale at the ripe old age of 28, and then came a trade to Houston which saw his fortunes briefly revived and a free-agent contract with the Orioles that led to his worst season and the revival of all his doubts. That's where Huff was this winter when close friend and former teammate Joe Kennedy passed away from heart disease.

All of a sudden, his mind was transported from his professional despair and onto something more important.

"I just realized how short life is and why worry about things," Huff said of Kennedy's untimely passing. "You play a kid's game and ultimately, this is third in life for me behind God and my family. There's no need to come in here and stress out about a kid's game. I think about [Kennedy] every day, and it reminds me every time I put that jersey on. The guy was 28 years old when he died. He had a lot of life left. He had a baby on the way and he already had a 1-year-old.

"I know he's in a better place, but I just feel for his wife and kids. It's funny, because he reminded me a lot of myself. He'd give the media a hard time, but it was a sarcastic hard time. And he was the same with the boys in the clubhouse. He was just a genuinely sweet guy. And if he met you once, he'd know your name again in a year."

Against that backdrop, Huff found it hard to rededicate himself. He had a hernia injury that took him six weeks to rehabilitate, and when that didn't fix the problem, he had surgery and had to sit out another six weeks to recover. He came to Spring Training without having picked up a bat all winter, but he found that his second season in Baltimore just clicked.

Hitting coach Terry Crowley, who had helped Huff find a flaw in his swing late last season, said that things were better from the first day. He could tell Huff was more relaxed and prepared to resume hurting baseballs on a regular basis.

"I think he's maybe a little more happy-go-lucky. I know he's a little more comfortable with his surroundings," said Crowley, who had a 15-year playing career of his own. "Anytime a player -- whether it's a young guy or a 20-year veteran -- changes teams, it's a very different feeling when you go to the ballpark. It happened to me a couple times in my career. When you don't know your teammates, psychologically, you feel like you have to produce every day. 'These guys don't know I can hit, and I've got to show them every day.' And when that doesn't happen, you have a tendency to put pressure on yourself."

And when all of that evaporated, Huff and Crowley could just work on the basics. The pair found last season that Huff hit better from a more upright stance, and that combined with his newfound mental clarity to give him a needed boost. All of a sudden, Huff went right back to the metronomic slugger who could be counted on to fill out the middle of a lineup.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed hitter has bounced back with a big season, batting .302 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs after a 2007 season in which he hit .280 with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs.

"I think it was physical, and then when he got the feel -- 'I can see the ball better from this position, and when I get my pitch it's easier for me to drive it' -- it allowed everything to fall into place," Crowley said. "Consequently, this year, he's been a much better offspeed hitter without sacrificing anything at all on the fastball. Some guys, when they become a little better offspeed hitters, all of a sudden they're late on the heater. That's not the case with Aubrey. He's right on every fastball."

"I don't know if he looks more relaxed, because he always looks the same to me," added manager Dave Trembley. "I know he's in much better shape, it would appear. He doesn't take himself too seriously. He hits the ball the other way. He's just been a very good, consistent No. 4 hitter for us. I'm sure any time somebody comes in the organization the first year, they put a lot of expectations on themselves. That's kind of a good quality because that means they want to do well and they care. But I think after a while, they adjust, they kind of get comfortable. It's probably best for everybody that way."

Huff's success has bred more of the same, and he's helped frame Baltimore's lineup by protecting Nick Markakis and getting on base for guys like Kevin Millar and Luke Scott. He's gone from the new guy to one of the most popular players in the clubhouse, and Huff said that knowing that his wife, Barbara, is expecting has given him something new to play for.

"That's another thing. I feel good about saying, 'I know I'm going to have a little one,' and it changes my perspective on baseball," said Huff of becoming a parent. "When I was going good in 2003 and '04, I came to the field and thought, 'If I get some hits, great. If I don't, I'm not going to let it bother me.'

"I was coming in here, working hard early and thinking about my swing too much, studying more video. And I never used to do that. I kind of got back to that this year, where I'm not studying too much video and not doing too much early work," he said. "I'm just taking my batting practice and trying to make things as simple as possible. The fact that I'm going to have a little one on the way has made it much less stressful at the ballpark."

(mlb.com)

Aubrey Huff had four RBIs as the Baltimore Orioles held off the New York Yankees 7-6 Tuesday night for their third straight win.

Huff hit an 0-2 pitch into the gap with the bases loaded in left-center to make it 5-1. Huff hit his second homer in two days and 22nd of the season in the ninth to make it 7-3. He tied a career high with four hits and is 17-for-34 in an eight-game hitting streak.

(espn.com)

About five hours before first pitch, and about two hours before the rest of his teammates arrived for batting practice, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Aubrey Huff met hitting coach Terry Crowley on the field at Fenway Park, hoping that together they could find a solution.

It was last July 31, about three months after Huff had come to Baltimore with a record as an elite offensive player, owner of a smooth left-handed swing that would boost any lineup. He was just three years removed from hitting 37 homers and driving in 107 runs in 2003 with Tampa Bay, his best offensive season in the majors.

But after signing a three-year, $20 million free agent contract, his first few months with the Orioles yielded lots of frustration and very few hits. With Huff's batting average languishing around .240 and his power numbers down, Crowley reached out to the underachieving player. "When he asks, that means he wants you to," Huff said about meeting the coach for early work.

When Huff arrived as instructed, Crowley gave him but two pieces of instruction: 1. Stand taller in the batter's box. 2. Aim for the Green Monster.

"If we didn't have that session, who knows?" said Huff, looking back at the moment he rediscovered his swing. "Something clicked."

Huff credits the changes made during the 20-minute session that afternoon to what's shaping up to be an impressive comeback season. With 17 home runs and 54 RBI through Baltimore's first 87 games, Huff is on pace to hit 32 homers and drive in 100 runs, production that approaches his career-best numbers of 2003.

"He's just simplified things," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "He's seeing it, hitting it and using the whole field, not overthinking it. Obviously, his M.O. has been a slow first half and a very strong second half so, with that in mind, we have a lot to look forward to if he stays the course in the last 2 1/2 months of the season."

A notoriously slow starter throughout his career, Huff has bucked that trend with an impressive first half, another unlikely development after sports hernia surgery prevented him from even picking up a baseball bat until spring training. Nevertheless, Huff has been a catalyst in an Orioles offense that has defied expectations.

When Trembley moved Huff into the cleanup role earlier this season, the Orioles broke out of an early hitting slump. And in recent days, Trembley has placed Huff in the third spot to offer protection to Nick Markakis.

"It's made it really easy for me to put him in the three spot," Trembley said. "I think it's a nice tandem with he and Nicky hitting back to back."
Said Crowley: "He's everything we dreamed he was going to be when we brought him over here as a free agent."

Such a statement would have been unthinkable a year ago, when, by his admission, Huff was in a rut. At some point that he said he can't recall, his swing devolved into what he called a lunging motion, leaving him unable to make consistent contact.

He resorted to trying to pull the ball on nearly every at-bat and pitchers adjusted, feeding Huff a steady diet of breaking pitches and change-ups. Even though he rallied with a strong second half to finish with 15 homers and 78 RBI, his performance was so alarmingly subpar that some experts projected him to finish with worse numbers this season.

Just one year into his deal, many considered Huff a free agent flop.

"Hitters go through strange things in their career," Crowley said. "He had drifted away from being the force that he was. When I think back to '03, I remember a monster. He had just gotten away from that a little bit."

So that afternoon at Fenway, Crowley and Huff set about turning back time. By simply putting Huff in a taller stance, Crowley said it allowed for better leverage on the ball, which made it easier to hit breaking pitches. Just as important, the Green Monster in left field gave Huff an inviting target to reinforce the second key idea: going the other way.

Just a few pitches in, Crowley said that even Huff's bat speed appeared improved.

"He instantly started driving balls off the Monster, balls that I thought were going to go through the wall, hitting balls over the wall," Crowley said. "And every time we threw the ball in to him, he hit it into the seats in right field. I knew we had touched on a comfort zone."

Several times this season, Trembley has attributed Huff's rebound to the ability to hit to the opposite field.

"From that moment on, it's been a total turnaround," said Huff, who has hit .304 with 26 homers and 82 RBI since that fateful clinic at Fenway. "This feels about the way I felt in '03."

(washingtonpost.com)

Orioles slugger hit .345 with three jacks for week of July 6

Kevin Millar has a term to describe the Orioles' season thus far. He calls it "Orioles Magic," which is named after the song and is meant to sum up a team that has been in pretty much every game this season, and also sports a winning record in July, despite not having a true superstar.

Millar says that all throughout the season, the entire team has stepped up to keep Baltimore afloat in the highly competitive American League East.

Last week, it was obviously Aubrey Huff's turn.

The Orioles' designated hitter knocked in a run in six out of seven games and, on Monday, he was named the Bank of America AL Player of the Week.

Huff, in his second year with the Orioles, hit .345 (10-for-29), with three home runs, nine RBIs and three doubles to go along with a .333 on-base percentage and a .759 slugging percentage last week. In a four-game series against the Royals -- which Baltimore split -- the 31-year-old went 7-for-17 with three home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored.

"I've had some hot streaks," Huff said after a two-homer game on Thursday against the Royals -- a game that ended in a 10-7 loss for his Orioles. "But, over the last month, it's probably the best I've felt in a while."

Over his last 11 games, Huff is hitting .372 (16-for-43) with five home runs and 15 RBIs. This was the second time that Huff has won the award and the first time since September 2005, when he sported a Rays uniform.

But 2008 didn't start off on the right foot for the nine-year veteran. In January, Huff underwent hernia surgery that sidelined him for the early part of Spring Training. And in the first few games of the season, Huff was booed at Camden Yards for some controversial comments that he made about the city of Baltimore on a radio show last winter.

It seems like Huff handled it well.

Fast-forward three months and Huff leads the team in power numbers with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, while also sporting a .281 batting average. And, after a 3-4 week, his Orioles stand at 44-43 and 11 games back of the Rays for first place in the AL East.
For a while, Huff has said he's feeling as good as ever.

"It just seems like my timing feels good right now," Huff said two weeks ago. "I'm seeing the ball, even if it's an offspeed pitch, and I've been able to lay off the bad pitch.

"It's timing, man. It comes and goes. I'm just trying to ride it as long as I can. Tomorrow, it can go away just like that. That's how baseball is. You just never know. It can turn right around."

(mlb.com)

If anyone needed further proof that Aubrey Huff was back in the good graces of most Orioles fans, it surfaced during the seventh inning of Saturday night's game against the Texas Rangers. And it didn't require him to get a big hit or drive in a crucial run. The point was made when nothing happened.

Huff came to the plate with two runners on base and two outs, but his ground ball ended the threat. Returning to the dugout, he was showered with silence. No booing, no jeering, no obscene chants.

"Time heals everything," first baseman Kevin Millar said.

So do 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, which Huff brings into tomorrow night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays that begins the final road trip before the All-Star break.

A notoriously slow starter, Huff has erased some of that reputation, along with the controversy that he stirred up in the fall during an appearance on a Tampa, Fla.-based shock jock's satellite radio show. Two more hits on Sunday, including his 26th double, raised his average to .281. He also had a sacrifice fly. Who saw this coming?

Before the season, Huff was a career .236 hitter in March and April, with when he hit 13 of his 156 home runs, and .255 in May. He didn't pick up a bat or ball until spring training after undergoing sports hernia surgery over the winter. And he showed up at Fort Lauderdale Stadium still grieving the loss of close friend Joe Kennedy, the former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher who died unexpectedly in November -- leading Huff to change his uniform number to 17 as a tribute.

He was set up to fail, except he didn't. Though bypassed for selection to the All-Star team, he ranks among the American League leaders in doubles, homers, RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases.

"I think I've found an offseason routine that works for me, finally," he said. "I've tried everything from hitting extra, working out harder, doing all kinds of stuff. And it turns out what I needed was less. Less is more for me."

When spring training began, hitting coach Terry Crowley consulted daily with the training staff to gauge what activities Huff could handle. Crowley worked with Huff on the side, having him hit 20 balls off a tee for three straight days, then 25 soft tosses. He would take ground balls one morning, then go back to the tee.

Finally, he was cleared to take live batting practice and appear in exhibition games, long after his teammates had grown tired of the routine.

"Make no mistake, he's talented," Crowley said. "And any time you have a talent like that, as long as you don't injure him or have a setback, good things are going to happen."

Huff, signed to a three-year contract in January. 2007, went on his usual tear after the break last season, batting .346 with nine homers, 28 RBIs and a .592 slugging percentage beginning Aug. 1. And nothing that occurred once he returned home has bumped him off that course.

"I really feel like at the midway point of last year, Aubrey Huff found his swing again and maintained it," Crowley said. "Once he was healthy, he just picked it up -- the same approach, the same stance, the same everything, -- and it carried right through."

It also moved him past the regrettable comments he made about the city of Baltimore on Bubba the Love Sponge's show, which Huff insisted were uttered in jest as part of an act. His lewd remarks about his favorite pre-game activities only further incited fans and team officials, who levied a hefty fine.

"That seems like a decade ago now. It really doesn't enter my mind anymore," he said. "I still hear some Bubba Army fans in the stands, but that's about it." Huff made a pre-emptive phone call to his mother, Fonda, after learning that he caused an uproar in Baltimore.

"He said, 'You may as well know this because you're going to hear about it,' " she said. "It got all blown out of proportion. He knew better. When he went to the University of Miami, that's the first thing they taught him. Things will get turned around if you're not careful. He just forgot. He let his guard down. He really likes Baltimore."

Manager Dave Trembley said he wasn't concerned about Huff because "success takes care of a lot of the negative things, especially in this city, where it's so work-oriented."

"People are very blue-collar," he said, "and they're willing to give people a second chance."

Crowley said: "He's a funny guy," Crowley said. "He likes to laugh at himself as much as he likes to laugh at other things. I know he didn't mean to hurt anyone." Said Millar: "There's nothing vicious in his body. It's just a bad body."

"When people were talking about how we needed to get a bigger bat, Aubrey Huff can be that bat," Millar added. "He hit 30 home runs in the big leagues (34 in 2003). You have that guy here for $7 million a year. I'm glad to see him doing what he's capable of doing."

And it all started by doing less.

"In '03 and '04, when I was having the best years of my career, I remember thinking, 'What was I doing?' I didn't really hit a lot in the cage, I didn't really look at a lot of video. I went out there and took batting practice and played the game, made it simple as possible," Huff said.

"Then I found myself constantly going in the cage, working early, looking at video. Now I've tried to go back to making it as simple as possible. Just see it and hit it."

And if he makes a key out, which hasn't occurred nearly as often this season, he's more likely now to be forgiven. He's hearing less, as well.

"There's some boos in the other dugout," Crowley said. "That's the only booing."

(baltimoresun.com)

Aubrey Huff went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Orioles defeated the Royals on Wednesday night.
Huff is hitting .340 with six homers since the beginning of June. He now has 15 homers, matching his total from last year. He probably won't top his season-high 34 long balls from 2003, but he's on pace to make a run at 30.

(rotoworld.com)

Aubrey Huff’s transformation from fantasy scrub to stud continues. On Thursday, the Orioles third baseman had 4 hits, scoring 3 runs, while driving in 2 RBI. His average is now up to .357 for the month of June, after hitting just .231 in May. Once a perennial fantasy slugger for the Rays, who reached career highs with 34 homeruns and 107 RBI in 2003, Huff has stumbled since a trade sent him to Houston midway through the 2006 season. At the age of 31, it is not too late for Huff to turn things around. With 14 homeruns and 45 RBI, Huff should be owned in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Huff who has spent the majority of the season as the team's designated hitter, started at third base for the 11th time yesterday. And in the third inning, he made a highlight-reel catch. Bernadina hit a liner that Huff jumped for and snagged, showing solid leaping ability. He also turned two 5-3 double plays, including a key one in the eighth inning.

(baltimoresun.com)

Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5, knocking in two runs and scoring three as the Orioles trounced the Cubs in the deciding game of their three-game series at Wrigley Field, 11-4.

Jay Payton added two hits and knocked in three more runs as the Orioles posted their second-highest run total this year - Baltimore scored 12 runs in a 12-2 win over the Yankees on May 20. Guillermo Quiroz went 3-for-4, knocking in two runs and scoring one.

"This is definitely one of the most satisfying series we played this year," Huff said. "As far as it being a satisfying win, I think you look at the big picture. We came in here and played very well against a good team."

Radhames Liz (2-0) threw five-plus strong innings, giving up two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks. It marked Liz's third consecutive start in which the Orioles posted a victory and the sixth win for Baltimore in its last nine games.

"The reason we won this series was that we have a team that plays good, fundamental baseball," said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. "We have a team that will compete every night, and I guarantee you we'll bring our best game every night. The other team better bring theirs, too."

(mysportsbook.com)

Aubrey Huff, 1B/3B, Orioles. Huff has quietly put together an impressive (and surprising) .271-14-42 season thus far. Those stats look a little more impressive after a recent six-game hitting streak in which he went 12-for-25 with five long balls and seven RBIs. He's hot, but just as the Orioles may be looking to sell high soon, so should fantasy owners with other needs.

(sportingnews.com)

A few hours before game time, Aubrey Huff surveyed the grounds at Miller Park and declared it could be a good night. Though he has spent most of his career in the American League East, Huff played six games here during his short stint with the Houston Astros in 2006. And though he put up modest numbers then, he remembered just how far a well-hit ball could carry.

"It's a hitter's park," Huff said. "The ball carries pretty good. The batter's eye in the background is pretty good. It's very friendly for the hitters."
So when the Orioles outslugged the slugging Milwaukee Brewers, 8-5, on Friday, guess who was at the middle of it all?

Huff finished 4 for 5, including a pair of solo homers and an RBI single. It was enough support for an Orioles bullpen -- that despite issuing seven walks -- kept the Brewers off the scoreboard for seven innings. George Sherrill capped the effort by enduring a scary ninth inning for his 25th save.

Sherrill allowed an infield hit and walked two to load the bases. But in a show of poise, Sherrill induced a game-ending double play by Gabe Kapler to preserve Baltimore's fourth straight victory, which pushed them four games over the .500 mark for the first time since May 20.

"The National League style of game is two games within one," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "It's the first five or six innings, and then seven, eight and nine get interesting. You have to keep your poise. If you don't, you're going to play right into the fast pace, and that's not what you want to do."

Huff turned in his first multi-homer game since Aug. 21, 2006, at Cincinnati. In his past 10 games, Huff has 5 homers, 11 RBI and a .476 batting average.

"So far this year, it's the best I've felt," said Huff, whose homers pushed the Orioles' lead to three. "It just seems like my timing feels good right now. I'm seeing the ball even if it's an off-speed pitch, and I've been able to lay off the bad pitch."

(washingtonpost.com)

Aubrey Huff matched his career high with four hits, including a tying two-run single, and the Baltimore Orioles came from behind twice to hand the Boston Red Sox a rare home loss, 10-6 on Tuesday night.

Baltimore rebounded from deficits of 1-0 and 6-4 and overcame homers by Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew as the Red Sox lost for only the second time in their last 17 games at Fenway Park.

On a steamy night with a game-time temperature of 93 degrees, the Orioles scored in just three innings with four runs in the second, three in the seventh and three in the ninth. They've scored 29 runs in their last four games, three of them wins.

Huff's two-run single tied the game at 6 in the seventh and chased Hideki Okajima (1-2). Kevin Millar then hit a sacrifice fly off Manny Delcarmen.

(theolympian.com)

Aubrey Huff hit a two-run homer as the Baltimore Orioles downed the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-4, in the opener of a three- game set at Camden Yards.

Melvin Mora drove in a pair of runs while Luis Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Orioles, who snapped a two-game skid. Garrett Olson (1-0) picked up the win as he gave up just two runs on four hits with five walks and six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work.

B.J. Upton smacked a two-run homer while Carl Crawford and Akinori Iwamura each drove in a run and scored a run for the Rays, who had a six-game winning streak stopped. Jason Hammel (2-2) got the loss as he was banged up for three runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.

The Orioles grabbed the lead in the second with a pair of runs. With one out, Ramon Hernandez and Luis Hernandez hit consecutive singles. After Brian Roberts flied out, Mora and Nick Markakis hit back-to-back RBI singles and Baltimore had a 2-0 lead.

Baltimore grabbed another run in the third on an RBI double from Ramon Hernandez that scored Huff, who led off the inning with a walk, for a 3-0 lead.

Tampa threatened in the fifth when the team put its first two runners on base. However, Olson retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.

The Orioles further padded their lead in the sixth with four runs. With runners on second and third, Mora lifted a sacrifice fly to left that scored Luis Hernandez. After Scott Dohmann took the mound, Kevin Millar punched a run-scoring single to center and Huff followed with a shot over the center field wall for a 7-0 lead.

The runs proved fortunate as Tampa plated four runners in the seventh inning to get back into the contest. With Jason Bartlett on first, Iwamura punched a double to center to score Bartlett. After Randor Bierd took the mound, Crawford belted a run-scoring single to center and Upton followed with a shot over the right field fence to make it a 7-4 game.

The Rays were unable to get any closer, though, as George Sherrill worked around a two-out walk to pick up his 10th save of the season.

(abcactionnews.com)

CHICAGO (AP) — Baltimore Orioles' designated hitter Aubrey Huff was ejected in the 10th inning of Monday's game against the Chicago White Sox after arguing a call with first base umpire Mark Wegner.

Huff hit a slow roller past the mound that White Sox's second baseman Juan Uribe fielded and threw to first. Huff was called out and immediately began to argue with Wegner on the close play. Orioles' manager Dave Trembley also came out. As Huff continued to argue from the dugout, he was tossed by Wegner. Replays appeared to show that Huff beat Uribe's throw.

(usatoday.com)

TIMES: With the start you guys have had, the clubhouse seems even looser than early last year. Why has that been?

AUBREY HUFF: Last year, I think there was a lot of expectations we didn’t live up to. This year, there’s none and we’re just having fun and playing loose, playing relaxed and just having a good time. It’s paying off so far. I know it’s early, but we’re off to a better start than last year and a lot of that has to do with the young guys and the energy they bring.

TIMES: Did you see it coming this spring?

HUFF: You just never know what the season’s going to bring. The Rockies last year, look at those guys. You never know. We could be that team this year. You just never know how that works out. Baseball’s a funny sport. You just can’t measure heart and payroll all the same. We’re obviously playing good baseball and hopefully it continues, but there’s going to be peaks and valleys all year as with any team.

TIMES: You’ve talked a little bit about how the media has put lower expectations on this club. Do you feel like that’s part of why the team is playing with so much energy?

HUFF: It’s kind of frustrating. You’re getting written off before the season’s even started, even before you’ve thrown out the first pitch. But that kind of gives teams fuel, man, when national media, local media’s got you counted out, [saying] it’s one of the worst teams to come through Baltimore. It really kind of heats you up a little bit, makes you want to play a little bit better and take away all those doubts and prove all those naysayers wrong.

TIMES: For you, personally, it’s been a solid start. Were you expecting coming in that maybe the fans weren’t going to receive you well and you needed a hot start to quiet them a bit?

HUFF: Well, I’m not really worried about that anymore and hopefully that’s all in the past now.

TIMES: The fan turnout also hasn’t been great early on. How much of a motivator has that been for you guys — play well, fans see the record and come back?

HUFF: I think that’s part of it. They believe what they read and everybody’s written us off. You guys have written us off. No matter what, people are going to believe the paper. So we’re going to have to go out there and win and make you guys start printing some positive stuff and maybe they’ll come out. Also, the weather’s been kind of tough here right now. It’s cold. Hopefully when we get back from this road trip, we’ll get better weather.

TIMES: Last year, you guys were playing pretty well until the Mother’s Day game when Boston came back in the ninth to win 6-5. Do you see April 5’s three-run rally in the ninth to win 3-2 as a victory that can spin you off on a reverse kind of streak?

HUFF: It was a weird feeling [last year]. When we have a game like that and we get in the ninth, it felt like, “Here we go.” We felt like, Nick [Markakis] put up that double and I know we were still down by two when he hit that double, but that just gave us some hope. It was a different feel. It was a really weird feeling. We had Felix [Hernandez] out of there, thank goodness, and we just felt like we had a chance.

(carrollcountytimes.com)

ARLINGTON -- Watching the numerous former Texas Rangers walk out onto the field during the pregame ceremonies was like the old days for Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Aubrey Huff.

Huff, who starred in baseball and basketball at Brewer High School in White Settlement, grew up watching the Rangers and had the chance to see one of his favorite players up close.

"I grew up watching guys like Steve Buechele here and Pudge Rodriguez," said Huff, who led Baltimore's offense Tuesday with a 4-for-4 showing and four runs driven in. "Steve Buechele was one of my favorites, so when I saw him walk by today, that was a cool experience."
Huff came into Texas with only two hits in four games against Seattle, but he did hit a game-winning home run Monday. Tuesday, he had a walk to go with his 12th career four-hit game.

Coming off hernia surgery in January, Huff is erasing the slow start he had last season.

"When he had the surgery for the hernia, he had to go through a lot more to get back and be ready to play, and I think that's benefited him," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "I said it in spring training -- there was no way that he was going to get off to the slow start this year that he did last. I was confident that he was going to hit right from the get-go and he's doing that."

After playing at Brewer, Huff went to Vernon College before becoming an All-American at the University of Miami. He was Tampa Bay's fifth pick in 1998 and spent five full seasons with the Rays before he was traded to Houston in 2006.

Huff signed with Baltimore last year as a free agent, hitting .280 with 15 home runs and 72 RBI. In his career, Huff has 11 homers against Texas.

"I've always enjoyed playing here and still see some friendly faces in the stands every now and then," he said. "It's a good hitter's park and the ball always travels good here. It definitely helps the offense for sure."

Huff walked on four pitches in the first inning and singled up the middle in the third, scoring on a Luke Scott home run. He had his second single in the fifth.

"I just came off a pretty bad Seattle series where I didn't get a lot of hits, and I didn't feel too great coming into this series," Huff said. "I just felt a little more relaxed and let the ball get deep."

Huff nearly had his third homer of the year in the sixth inning, as the ball hit off the yellow line in the right-field corner but bounced back onto the field. It was called a home run, but was changed to a double.

"This ballpark is friendly," Huff said. "I hit it on the barrel but didn't have a whole lot of great extension on it, but in this park I thought it was going to go."

(star-telegram.com)

Aubrey Huff went 4-for-4 with four RBI and a walk Tuesday in the Orioles' 8-1 defeat of the Rangers. This makes three times in a week that Huff has been the key hitter in Orioles' wins. It might have happened three times all of last year. Huff thought he had a three-run homer in the sixth inning today, but the call was correctly overturned. Replays showed the ball hit the top of the fence in right field and bounced back into play, giving Huff a two-run double instead.

(rotoworld.com)

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Aubrey Huff's solo homer in the eighth inning lifted Baltimore over Seattle, 5-4, in the finale of a four-game set from Camden Yards.

Melvin Mora hit a two-run home run for the Orioles, who swept the series and have won five straight games. Brian Roberts also drove in two runs while Luis Hernandez added two hits and scored once.

Dennis Sarfate (2-0) notched the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. George Sherrill continued to bedevil his former club by posting his fourth save of the season and third of the series. Starter Daniel Cabrera allowed five hits and four runs over six innings, walking four and fanning five.

"The guys we brought over in trades are really helping this team right now," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "Especially the bullpen."
Raul Ibanez finished 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI for the Mariners, who have dropped five of six. Ichiro Suzuki also collected two hits, including a home run.

Eric O'Flaherty (0-1) took the loss after allowing the game-winning blast. His one-third of an inning in relief reversed a solid start by Carlos Silva, who allowed nine hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out five without issuing a walk.

To start the eighth, O'Flaherty retired Kevin Millar on a grounder. Huff then stepped up and drilled a high fastball deep into the right-center field seats to give Baltimore a 5-4 lead. Following a Luke Scott walk, Sean Green entered and sent down the final two batters.

"I was looking fastball and I guessed right," Huff said. "It was a good pitch to hit."

Sherrill came on in the ninth and retired the Mariners in order to seal the win.
(sportsnetwork.com)

BALTIMORE -- That's how you earn a reprieve. Designated hitter Aubrey Huff was the only Oriole to endure booing in the first two games at Camden Yards and did something about it on Wednesday, when the veteran drilled a two-run home run in the sixth inning and came back for a two-run double in the eighth to give the Orioles a 9-6 win over Tampa Bay.

Huff, who made some controversial comments on a radio program during the winter, won the fans back the hard way. He came to bat with a three-run deficit in the sixth, but responded by blasting a ball onto the Eutaw Street flag court. Huff faced a higher difficulty rating in the eighth, but he erased a one-run deficit by steering a two-run double to right-center.

"That was the sweetest home run I've ever hit. I'm not going to lie to you," he said shortly after the game. "I hit that ball and [thought], 'Please, just get out. I just don't want to have to deal with it.' In my next at-bat after that, I kind of heard more of a mixed crowd instead of all boos. Hopefully, like I've said, we'll win some hearts back."

"Fans are entitled to do whatever they want," added Baltimore manager Dave Trembley. "They pay their money [when] they come out here. I wouldn't think one way or the other is going to really influence people. I think it probably feels pretty good for him. It feels good for our club that we won the game and we got so much out of so many different guys."

Baltimore had trailed for virtually all of the game before Huff's heroics, and it went on to seal the deal with two additional runs in the eighth. Strangely enough, the outburst was completely in character for Huff, who has throttled the team that drafted and developed him. Last year, for instance, Huff batted .365 and hit seven of his 15 homers against Tampa Bay.

"It's just one of those things," Huff said. "It's a coincidence. Hopefully, we can transfer that to the rest of the league."

"I just think he's jacked up about doing it against us more than anything," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "I mean he hit a breaking ball, he hit a fastball today. From my perspective, obviously, you'd like to think you're not making good pitches. But sometimes hitters just get you regardless. And he's getting us right now."

(mlb.com)

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - He was jeered as he ran in from center field on an orange carpet during introductions. He was booed every time he walked to the plate.

Aubrey Huff understands completely why fans in his own ballpark hate him, and the Baltimore Orioles designated hitter accepted their harsh treatment Monday with a shrug of the shoulders and an admission of guilt.

While appearing on a nationally syndicated radio show during the offseason, Huff insulted the city of Baltimore with a sentence that included profanity. The fans at Camden Yards were not in a forgiving mood at the season opener.

"It was expected. If I was in their situation I'd boo me too," Huff said. "It was a stupid thing to do. But I've moved on from it, put it behind me."

Asked if expected the booing to continue, Huff replied, "It might die down a little bit, but I'm sure the fans have been itching to get at me the whole offseason. Like I say, it was a mistake on my part to make those comments. I'm human, I made a mistake."

Huff said his teammates were laughing at the rough treatment he received, and that Kevin Millar expected a similar reception for throwing out the ceremonial first ball at a World Series game in Boston.

"He got off light," Huff said.

(examiner.com)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - It lasted only three pitches, but Aubrey Huff described it as the most nerve-racking spring training at-bat of his career. "It was surprising," Huff said. "My timing felt pretty good. I actually saw the ball well and everything just felt nice and relaxed and comfortable after the first pitch. It felt good just getting back out there." Huff, who had surgery to repair a sports hernia in January, made his spring debut in the Orioles' 2-1 loss to the Florida Marlins yesterday at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. As the team's designated hitter, he went 0-for-2, flying out to center field in the second inning and lining out to right field in the fourth. Click here to continue reading...

Aubrey Huff hit against live pitching again today and should get into a game later this week. "I hope it's soon," he said, smiling. "I'm getting bored." Huff, recovering from sports hernia surgery, also ran the bases today, but he still hasn't slid. "He's probably got a couple more things he's got to do," Trembley said. "But Richie told me that we're very close."

(baltimoresun.com)

BALTIMORE — Aubrey Huff had a night to remember. The Los Angeles Angels got a victory to savor.

Huff hit for the cycle, but the Angels got a tiebreaking two-run homer from Howie Kendrick in the ninth inning and beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-7 on Friday night.

Huff tripled in the second inning, doubled in the fourth, hit a three-run homer in the fifth and singled to center in the seventh. He left for a pinch-runner after going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

"Obviously for me, that's probably one of the most special days of my baseball career," said Huff, who played for the Astros last season.

Aubrey Huff homered with one out in the 10th inning against his former team, giving the Orioles a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Wednesday night in Baltimore.

After James Shields allowed only three hits in nine innings for Tampa Bay, Brian Stokes (1-4) faced only two batters before giving up Huff's home run. Huff drove a 1-and-1 pitch over the wall in center for his fourth homer.

Huff played for five seasons in Tampa Bay and briefly with the Astros last year before signing with the Orioles as a free agent in the offseason.

John Parrish (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, retiring B.J. Upton on a slow roller with two outs after giving up three straight singles.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. // Orioles first baseman Aubrey Huff, who was in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization for about 8 1/2 years, arrived at Tropicana Field this afternoon for the first time as a visiting player, fully expecting the treatment that the sparse crowd gave him.

Huff was booed when his name was announced for the starting lineups and again before his first at-bat, when he popped out with two on in the first.

"I guess they booed me when I was playing here, so I'd imagine they'd boo me since I am on the other team," Huff said before the game.

Huff, who was traded by the Devil Rays to the Houston Astros last July before he signed with the Orioles as a free agent, had 34 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Devil Rays in 2003 and 29 home runs and 104 RBIs for them in 2004. But his numbers fell his last season and a half with the club and Huff has never minced words about the organization's losing ways. Despite that, he expressed gratitude to the organization and said he felt that the club's new ownership has Tampa Bay headed in the right direction.

MINNEAPOLIS - Aubrey Huff returns for the first time to Tropicana Field tonight glad to have played there and happy to have left.

"Looking back at it, it was a great place for me to start out," Huff said from Baltimore. "You'd be an idiot to say anything bad. As a young player you get to go up, play, learn the league and put up numbers. But in the end, it started getting old for me as far as the losing. It was time for a change of scenery for me. The steps ownership was taking, it wore on me."

Huff, 30, was traded to the Astros in July, then signed a three-year, $20-million free-agent deal with Baltimore, and has been quoted several times about how refreshing it is to have a chance to win and play in front of bigger crowds - though with the Orioles both could be relative.

JUPITER, Fla., March 21 -- In past years, the sight of Aubrey Huff slumped in a chair in front of his locker, as he was on Wednesday morning, might have suggested he was unhappy. Such a sight was common the past few years in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays clubhouse. Huff could barely get himself to leave his house to get to the ballpark. Once the game was over, Huff rushed home.

"I know the last couple of years it got really hard to go to the field every day," Huff said. "It really wore on you. It would get to the point where you'd get to the field as late as possible. You just wanted to get in there and then get out of there. It was tough. Mentally, it took a lot out of me. It took a lot out of a lot of guys."

But Wednesday, Huff was simply tired. He traveled to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday night for a game against the New York Mets and then headed here early Wednesday morning for the Cardinals game. His eyes were puffy as pillows, his face drawn, and occasionally he'd let out a monstrous yawn. The truth is, Huff is having one of the most enjoyable springs of his career

FORT LAUDERDALE – When Aubrey Huff was with Tampa Bay, he remembers walking in the mall during spring training and seeing New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter shopping.

"There would be four or five people around him," Huff said. "It isn't what I want. I'm a low-key guy. When I take my wife to dinner, I don't want to be bothered. I've always been that way. I'm not playing to get attention."

Huff, who set a University of Miami record for RBI with 95 in 1998, will start getting some attention because he was the Orioles' top free-agent signing at $20 million for three years, and Baltimore has a history of connecting with its best players.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Last year, the Baltimore Orioles were lacking in power. They hope that Aubrey Huff can provide some for them.

They signed the 30-year-old Huff as a free agent over the winter. Huff spent nearly nine seasons with Tampa Bay and split last year between the Devil Rays and Houston. He batted .283 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs with Tampa Bay and .256 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs with Houston.

Huff is rivaling Kevin Millar for being the life of the clubhouse asking everyone for help with word puzzles and mocking bystanders’ attire.

“I haven’t had this much fun playing baseball in probably five years,” he said. “I wake up and I’m excited to get here and take the field. We mesh well together. It’s a good time.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // With more than one type of glove in his locker, Aubrey Huff says he doesn't care where the Orioles play him this season. It's obvious that he's satisfied just being in their clubhouse.

Huff reported today, the latest position player to arrive before Tuesday's due date. After spending parts of seven seasons with the Devil Rays, and still living in Tampa, he didn't have far to travel.

"This is a short drive for me to come down here," he said. "I wanted to get here early and get everything set up, get my apartment set up over here and meet everybody slowly but surely."

Here's a little more on Aubrey Huff:

Before coming to Fort Lauderdale, he did an internet search to find the list of players who would be in camp. That's how he learned that he'd be reunited with former Tampa Bay teammate Rob Bell. The guy clearly is excited to be an Oriole.

Huff's busy winter included being married on Jan. 27. "Hopefully, she'll bring us some good luck this year," he said of his new wife.

Asked which Orioles pitcher was the toughest for him to face as a member of the Devil Rays, he replied: "Bedard, by far, lefty on lefty. Cabrera, when he was throwing strikes and he was on...man. We would go to the dugout and say, 'How does this guy get hit when he throws strikes?' He's amazing when he throws strikes."

When Aubrey Huff passed his physical yesterday, finalized a three-year, $20 million deal and was introduced as the newest Oriole, it likely represented the last major move for the club in a busy offseason.

The Orioles signed nine free agents, including two of their own, and made two trades. The bullpen was overhauled, the starting rotation received a new member and the lineup was bolstered by two veterans with solid track records.

"It's one of those things where we don't know how good we are at this point," said Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan, who called Huff the type of hitter the club has been seeking all offseason. "I think we improved on paper. ... We expect our rotation to be better ... our bullpen to be better. We are optimistic

The Baltimore Orioles have reached an agreement on a three-year deal with free-agent outfielder Aubrey Huff, according to a report in The Baltimore Sun.

The contract will reportedly pay Huff $20 million over three years. The 30-year-old slugger hit .267 with 21 home runs last year in stints with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Houston Astros.

Over his career, Huff has been a steady hitter but has struggled with defense, though he is capable of playing both corner infield positions as well as the outfield.

In a career that has spanned a little over six seasons, Huff is a .285 hitter with 141 home runs and 487 RBIs. He had his best season in 2003, when he hit .311 with 34 homers and 107 RBIs.

(nbcsports.com)

Aubrey Huff has reached a preliminary agreement on a three-year, $20 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who hope the versatile free agent can add punch to a lineup that ranked 11th in the AL in home runs last season.

The agreement was secured over the weekend, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Orioles have not yet announced the deal. The contract will be finalized if Huff passes a physical, which will likely be administered this week in Baltimore.

Huff, 30, can play first base, third base and both corner spots in the outfield. But his value to the Orioles is his bat: Huff hit 21 homers last season with Tampa Bay and Houston, and averaged 27 from 2002-05 with the Devil Rays.

Baltimore hit only 164 homers last season, led by Miguel Tejada (24) and Ramon Hernandez (23). No other player hit more than 16.

Still looking to add an impact bat to the middle of their lineup, the Orioles made a contract offer yesterday to Aubrey Huff, one of the most accomplished players left on the free- agent market.

Exact details of the contract offer are unknown, but one industry source said the Orioles proposed a three-year deal to Huff, worth in the neighborhood of $6 million per season.

Huff's asking price has gone down significantly since the opening of free agency. One baseball executive, whose team has talked to Huff's representatives, said the 30-year-old, who can play first and third base and the corner outfield spots, was seeking a three-year deal worth around $7.5 million per season. The Orioles' initial offer is not believed to be that high.

The Pirates have made contact with Aubrey Huff, the most prominent left-handed power hitter remaining in free agency, and are one of a handful of teams considered to be in the running for his services.

The others are the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles.

Huff, who turned 30 Wednesday, batted .266 with 21 home runs and 65 RBIs last season, which he split between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Houston Astros. In the previous three seasons, all with Tampa Bay, his home run totals were 34, 29 and 22, his RBI totals 107, 104 and 92. He can play first base, third base and the corner outfield spots.

The Orioles continue to pursue three- way trade opportunities that would land Thames, 29, who hit .256 with 26 homers and 60 RBIs last season. Orioles officials would love to add both players. And a backup plan to Thames has emerged in Aubrey Huff, the free agent first baseman/DH who has always hit well at Camden Yards.

Orioles officials met with Huff's agent late Wednesday night and are now giving heavy consideration to making the former Tampa Bay Devil Ray an offer.

"These same players we are considering now, we talked about back in September," said Orioles vice president Jim Duquette, disputing the notion that the Orioles are completely in fall-back mode. "We were hoping not to get it to that part of the list, but we've had plenty of conversations on them."

(baltimoresun.com)

ST. LOUIS -- The way Aubrey Huff's luck is going these days, he could probably empty out his entire bank account and still not be able to buy a hit.

That's not to say that Huff isn't hitting well. In fact, he's looked better at the plate than most of his teammates for much of the last month. But he's got absolutely nothing to show for it except a slew of 0-fer games, which is understandably driving the third baseman/oufielder crazy.

"It's frustrating because you do everything you can," Huff said. "You hit the ball hard and you can't really control what happens after that. If I can get just half those balls that I've hit in the last two months to fall in, I'd be looking at a different year, a different second half."

Tuesday's game perfectly illustrated Huff's plight. He hit three balls right on the nose ... and right at the fielders. Huff tatooed a ball in the third that went directly into Scott Rolen's glove. In the seventh, he hit a laser shot to left, right to Scott Spiezio and in the ninth, he ended the game with a well-hit fly ball to straightaway center field, where Juan Encarnacion was waiting.

PHILADELPHIA -- When Aubrey Huff sent Phillies lefty Cole Hamels' offering deep to right field on Monday, he not only tied the game, but may have also bought himself another day in the Astros starting lineup.

Huff got the start at third base against Phils lefty Randy Wolf on Wednesday night -- his second straight nod against a southpaw. This is despite the fact that he's hitting 42 points lower against lefties than he is against righties.

Huff, who can also play the outfield, is battling the struggling Morgan Ensberg at the hot corner. The right-handed-hitting Ensberg has started just five of the Astros' last 19 games, including Wednesday's.