That leaves Pie/Reimold in left. They could be the next best thing to Roenicke/Lowenstein except the

Since you're probably already commenting on it, I'll post today's column about the Orioles right here for your enjoyment and criticism. If you're keeping track at home, just 19 days until I leave for spring training.
I agree with the concerns with the starting rotation. A pitcher or two is likely toronto canada hotels emerge. I won't make any grandiose predictions of emerging to what, but let's just say a sustained improvement. A pitcher or two is likely to be disappointing when compared to what may be hoped. A pitcher or two is likely to spend significant time on the disabled list.
Such is all anyone can predict given the current make-up of the starters. And with little depth, that's a problem. So unless something changes between now and play ball, I see little to be optimistic for 2011 as a whole (which is different than on who might emerge toronto canada hotels still looking long term).
The infield should be stronger offensively if streaky in nature. Lee is the only bonafide professional one can count on to some degree, but he may end up in another uniform by trading deadline. He's a one-year Oriole at most anyway.
Roberts has health issues that can't be dismissed as being just a bad luck anomaly. When he plays, he is still quite the contributor. When he doesn't, the downfall in production will be noticeable toronto canada hotels without Wigginton or a suitable replacement.
The new left side could make the Oriole infield the best fielding team since ... oh, I'm not going to look it up ... if healthy. Hardy has had two full seasons of not putting in full seasons, however, and Reynolds will be probably be his all or nothing self.
The outfield is intriguing even though there has been less movement there. Markakis toronto canada hotels will give his usual professional output, and could be in line for a few more long balls without a drop in production in doubles or batting average given the volatile nature of the new bats joining him. Still a young man, his defense may even get better even though it is pretty darn good now. Fewer teams take chances on his arm anymore.
Jones is an enigma. At times he showed improved discipline at the plate. toronto canada hotels There is reason to hope that discipline toronto canada hotels could be learned to be sustained. Ironically, his defense was suspect a year removed from winning a gold glove. Given his age, he could improve while people are focused on the new additions.
That leaves Pie/Reimold in left. They could be the next best thing to Roenicke/Lowenstein except they, too, need to stay healthy. They certainly don't bring the same tools as the two Orioles of yore. Even if Pie plays more games, I'm not confident he can maintain last year's numbers over greater exposure. toronto canada hotels Reimold on the other hand has to show he belongs first before any other assumptions can be made. Anything he offers will be a plus.
If Reimold ends up being Norfolk-bound, that could set up an interesting platoon of Pie and Scott. Scott could be the power bat against some starters while Pie could be the irritant. It would be unusual given both bat lefty but it would open the door to sign Guerrero. Scott (in this theory) could DH one-third of the time with a lefty-loaded line-up, and be in LF with Guerrero also in the line-up.
(On a side note, I rather like this even if it is a bit out of the box. Keep Reimold in Norfolk unless there is an injury no matter how well he does in spring training, and sign Guerrero. The depth of the Orioles is not deep depth.)
Wieters will catch. Tatum or Fox will back him up. The biggest mystery is where and how Showalter will use Wieters in the line-up. Wieters is young enough to improve, and I am enough of a Showalter toronto canada hotels believer that I think Wieters will flourish. How much? Who knows?
The biggest unknown is the Oriole bullpen. Much has been said that this is an area that may show the biggest improvement. toronto canada hotels Could be. Then again, toronto canada hotels I have heard that song and dance enough to not believe it as a knee-jerk reaction. This is one area the Orioles do have some depth and Showalter's history suggests he knows how to use his staff.
Sign the best starter remaining for depth, and I might goose it a little bit.. Nobody jumps out at me. Millwood toronto canada hotels may have some innings left in the tank. Garcia started 28 games last year but 23 games total the three years before. There are warts on all who is left. And, yes, MacPhail will get criticized for doing things on the cheap (and don't forget on the slow, too), but that goes with the territory when that is all you do after you have run out of one-for-five trades.
Sign Guerrero, a starter, and another insurance piece for the bullpen, then you're talking three chances toronto canada hotels of goosing the win total up. If MacPhail can do just this much in the next two months and nobody else gets murdered or charged with murder, I may stick my neck out for e-e-eigh-eight...I just can't say it. Not yet.
Just want to clear up the fact for you that Freddy Garcia smells! He stinks. Just put him out of your mind for good. Andy Mac would be wise to do the same if he's thinking Freddy G as well. Same for Millwood. I can't see Millwood coming back, I really don't. I was listening to Jeff on briefly on WBAL last night and from what I gathered, he seems to think that the O's are going to trade for starting pitching. He didn't mention any names or teams. I think the same thing, but I will mention a team. I think the White Sox are compatible with us. I have been advocating Mark Buehrle. Maybe Edwin Jackson or Gavin Floyd would be interesting to us. We need a better #1 then Guthrie that's for sure.
Pete anything will be better then watching the puzzled look on dave t face everyday.. How he even lasted the 2 plus years that he did is still a mystery to me. Hey pete any openings down at the sun, i know you have earned your time down there but you haven't worked hardly at all the last 4 months and now you are getting ready to head south in the warm sunshine, i quess i am just a little jealous but like that first blogger stated you have neglected this blog.
The Orioles have made the most improvements this year as compared to the previous 8 years. My only concern is the additions continue to be the players not in the top 10 free agents. We are allways behind the top 3 organizations when making upgrades. The Orioles need to make a top tier addition each year and payout 12 - 15 m per year for them.
When you think about it, every starting pitching staff of every major league team is a crap shoot. You've got injuries, you've got guys getting older, toronto canada hotels you've got great pitchers having inexplicably toronto canada hotels bad seasons and you've got journeyman career minor leaguers who come out of nowhere to pitch like Cy Young for a season. My point is, yes, pitching is vital, and we have some question marks, but so does everybody else. At least our guys are YOUNG, have shown some ability to win on the major league level and, barring injury and chaos theory, should continue toronto canada hotels to improve, especially with a stronger infield defensive lineup and an upgraded offense that removes the "gee I only got one run I guess I have to make that hold up for 9 innings" scenario our pitchers have had to face in the recent past. Does that mean we'll hit .500 this year? Heck, even playoffs? Who knows? That's why they actually do play the 162 games because, like Chris Rock says, "ya nevah know!" My guess is we've seen less Orioles entries here in your blog, as a few posters have noted with varying degrees of irritability, because there just hasn't been much O's news to report. Hopefully toronto canada hotels with your arrival in spring training, that will change. Hang in there and looking forward to a competitive, challenging and entertaining Orioles season! Seeya at O's Fan Fest! Go O's!
You have echoed all of the things I have been saying about this roster going into Spring Training so there is no reason to be redundant. Of course every time I have pointed out these issues I have been accused of negativity by the usual pom pom wavers, Oriole toronto canada hotels employees and their affiliates, and Andy's family. Last year I predicted 68 to 72 wins going into the season and I think you were in that range. I think you predicted 75 on the high side.
As it stands now this is not a .500 baseball team. How close they come to that mark will depend largely on the success of the starting pitching...which is the biggest questionmark.I predict between 69 and 75 wins in 2011. Whether that gets them into fourth place or not remains to be seen.
Bet my brother-in-law a bottle scotch the O's will sin 85 games. I'll probably lose, but I'm looking forward to a year of trash texting. toronto canada hotels And who knows? They've made improvements, and the homegrown talent continues to mature.
Hey, you know, speaking of statistics... the O's young coveted pitchers (Matusz and Arrieta especially) are due for break out seasons. I mean after the last 13 years of pitchers never breaking out (see: Cabrera, Ponson, and even Bedard {great trade}), The Orioles toronto canada hotels HAVE to get some luck sooner than later. And it's not just luck, these pitchers are talented, and what if Britton gets called up and lights the place on fire. That would be swell.
Heck, last years starting rotation wasn't even that awful. If anything they just weren't able to go past 5 or 6 innings, and it destroyed the bullpen. Maybe the pitchers got stronger toronto canada hotels as the year went on. They should be stronger this year, and our bullpen (arguably) will be one of the strongest in the AL.
Next point, Milwood should've been credited with about 10 more wins then he got. He did not pitch terribly, at all. The O's offense is better. theoretically that makes the O's 76-86 from the get go if they sign him back or someone comparable.
I personally hope for the 30 more wins this year, but if they only win 15 more than last year, they'll be .500, and in such a competitive division, perhaps we'll see a finish like the NL West or Central had a few years ago. Remember when the Cardinals won with a record of 82-80...
It's unfortunate that people like you can post anonymously. Pete knows who I am, where I work and where to find me. I guess