For all the talk, and there's been a lot here, about the instability in the general manager/president of baseball operations spot in Baltimore, little has been said about the moderate instability so far in the Buck Showalter coaching staff.

Showalter virtually cleaned house following the 2010 season and brought in new pitching coaches and hitting instructors on top of the normal coaching staff.

But, after Showalter's first full season, the Orioles are looking for a bullpen coach or a pitching coach, depending on who you ask. Rick Adair is currently the pitching coach and replaced Mark Connor in June after he resigned. Adair moved from the bullpen and could return there if Showalter isn't happy with the development of the arms. Adair, the Mariners' former pitching coach, struggled to get the young O's to perform when he took over.

The O's will also need to figure out the bench coach/third base coach situation as well. Willie Randolph started the season as bench coach, but moved to third when John Russell, the former Pirates coach, struggled with sending runners.

The mistakes seemed to diminish, but Randolph was told last week he would not return to Baltimore.

The Orioles players currently on the roster have dealt with a rotating cast of coaches during the last five seasons. They're not so much worried about what's going above them as much as what's around them.

Posted Oct. 16, 2011