Harold Baines, 1994 Leaf #84

Yesterday news broke that Orioles hitting coach Jim Presley was stepping aside for personal reasons. So far, the news is less about who might be the next man to take the job, and more about who's not interested. That star-studded list includes:

-Former Indians and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel
-Jim Thome, who hit the final three of his 612 career home runs as an Oriole
-Harold Baines
-B. J. Surhoff
-Brady Anderson
-Raul Ibanez (BOO HIS 2012 NEVER FORGET)

Most of the above were uninterested in committing to the daily grind and travel of the 162-game season, which is their prerogative. Baines was content to stay in Chicago, and that undead creep Ibanez doesn't plan on taking a lowly coaching role if he doesn't get the Rays' managerial job (he's one of three finalists).

But the O's could still wind up hiring a familiar face - or promoting one, for that matter; current minor league hitting instructor Jeff Manto was the first candidate interviewed. He's not Jim Thome, but then, none of us are.

Brad Pennington, 1994 Leaf #177

I am reasonably sure that Brad Pennington suffered a simultaneous brain aneurysm and hiatal hernia while in the process of delivering this pitch. Maybe that would explain the 25 walks he issued in 33 innings for the 1993 Orioles.

Jamie Moyer, 1994 Leaf #215

Apparently, there are just five ex-Orioles on the active rosters of the eight teams in the various League Division Series. That includes draftees Jayson Werth and Mike Fontenot, neither of whom played a single game in orange and black. However, it also includes Jamie Moyer, who just finished the winningest season ever by a 45-year-old pitcher. It speaks to the incredible dearth of starting pitching in Baltimore - but also to the remarkable longevity and talent of Moyer and ex-teammate Mike Mussina - that the 2008 Orioles would have been much better off if they had been able to call upon two-fifths of their 1993 rotation.

On Saturday evening, Jamie Moyer will take the mound in Milwaukee with a chance to send his Phillies to their first National League Championship Series since - wouldn't you know it - 1993. I know at least one blogger who will be hoping, praying, and cursing that it doesn't happen, but only time will tell.