Spring ahead
One of my loyal readers unearthed a portion of the Orioles' 2010 spring training schedule on 4sarasota.com. Plenty of dates still need to be filled, but you can check out the rough draft.
The Orioles apparently will open at home - and that's Sarasota, in case you've been away for a while - on March 4 against the Tampa Bay Rays. We'll also see the Pirates, Tigers and Phillies (oh my!), so it won't be the same batch of opponents that were forced down our collective throats all these years.
In case you were worried about going through Marlins and Cardinals withdrawal, the Orioles will still play those teams. Just not every other day.
I don't see any trips to Havana, but that could change if majority owner Peter Angelos gets his wish. I'm already looking for my passport, and a compartment in my suitcase where you can hide a box of cigars.
This is more about politics than baseball. It's not like playing another exhibition in Cuba is suddenly going to flood the Orioles' roster with defectors. Aroldis Chapman won't be signing a contract next week simply because of an AP story that caught all of us by surprise yesterday.
It's another attempt to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba, to ease the travel and trade embargo. And it floors me because I never thought we'd be having this discussion again.
How many of you attended the game at Camden Yards? Click HERE for a reminder that Gabe Molina used to pitch for the Orioles.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Roch:
If you go to http://www.springtrainingonline.com/features/master-schedule.htm
they track all the spring training schedules, locations, stadium information and ticket prices for all major league teams. They also have composite schedules for the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.
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I checked it out earlier today. It's a good site. - Roch
I really wish Angelos would ditch this Cuba mission he is on and focus on putting a good team on the field, especially since these diplomatic games aren't going to net us any Cuban prospects or anything.
Like I said the other day, I was at that game and I remember it being very very exciting. I was a little younger and didnt really understand any of the political impacts the game had. I knew there were a lot of people yelling and screaming and waving signs. But I remember thinking how fast and talented these guys from Cuba were. We got worked. I really wish I had saved my ticket from that game. Pisses me off that I didnt.
I wouldn't think that Cuba would be too fond of the O's wanting to open up talks, but then signing a defector, I guess we will see how this plays out if we are even in the running for the young pitcher. Anyways...here are my picks for today: Notre Dame +7, and Houston -4 1/2. For tomorrow: The Skins + 3 1/2, and Saints -13 1/2.
Roch,
Boy....that NYT writer who covered that exhibition game acted as if he had some major chip on his shoulder regarding the Orioles. Athletes at every level in all major sports often dog it during exhibition games. I would think a sports writer would have a greater awareness of these things. He also acted as if he was covering UCLA during the Alcindor era. No baseball team is ever going to go 162-0. The article failed to give much insight into the game. The writer was too busy with his rants.
Jim Carter
what did the ap story about chapman say
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It wasn't about Chapman. I'm referring to the Orioles/Cuba story. - Roch
I don't see any issues regarding a trip to Cuba. Our (the US) embargo against them has helped prolong their peoples plight. Not to get to political but Raul has made great strides there recently. It's insane for us to continue this entirely unsuccessful campaign against ONE single person. Castro is practically dead, we as a country should start supporting the Cuban people.
Harrisburg Steve - I hope the only kind of money you have on the Skins is Monopoly money.
If Angelos' mission to get the O's to play in Cuba again in any way improves diplomatic relations between US and Cuba that's great. As a Floridian I'd like to be able to freely travel there. I say this as I'm literally waiting for my flight to Jamaica to take off. So I'm a bit biased.
It won't interfere with MacPhail's offseason responsibilities.
Schoolman,
Why would you take cigars to Cuba - doesn't make sense?
My dad liked to tell me about the days, many, many years ago, when cigar manufacturing was a very competitive business.
American cigar manufacturers were beginning to lose sales to the growing popularity of "cigarets." A huge portion of Cuban cigar manufacturing was moved to Trenton, NJ, where among many advantages available in Trenton was a union-free workforce, which was cheaper than its unionized Cuban counterpart.
One American cigar purveyor -- after refitting its factory with a 100% automated system -- came up with a slogan designed to make Americans think twice about buying handmade and hand-finished-cigars.
A Cremo Cigar ad proclaimed, SPIT IS A HORRID WORD - BUT WORSE ON THE END OF YOUR CIGAR.
I was at the Cuba game (the one in Baltimore, obviously). Pretty cool to be a part of it. Still have the ticket stub saved, actually.
If the O's do this, we should go out and sign another Sinker-baller just for the occasion. Scotty Erickson and Mike Timlin gave the Cubans fits with that pitch.
Roch:
Having just visited the Sarasota area, you'll really enjoy the area. We stayed at Longboat Keys and visited Anna Maria Island, and Siesta Keys. Siesta has beautiful white sand beaches and some nice places to have lunch or dinner. The Sarasota city is very pretty and relaxing area and looks like a nice place to have a nice time. I hope you enjoy yourself during spring training. You'll see some wonderful sunsets each night on the coast. I'm looking forward to your report on the final 40 roster and the Winter Meetings.
JO
According to the Tampa Bay schedule they open against the Orioles March 3 at Sarasota and play again March 4 at Port Charlotte.
Roch;
What is Dan Uggla's OBP. Are we sure he would not be a RH'd Luke Scott?
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You can get his full stats on baseball-reference.com. - Roch
I was wondering how they would do Fanfest this year. In past years it was the Saturday or Sunday prior to the opener with an exhibition mixed in with the nats, then the opener on Monday. However we open in Tampa Bay this year, so I don't see the margin in taking the team north just for Fanfest and then back down to Fla., they should probably just barnstorm in Fla until opening day and have Fanfest when we get home.
My mom & I were at that game, & I've got the pictures to prove it - but honestly, I don't really remember much about it...
Just saw pictures on TV of the Orioles Fan Fest Today in Sarasota. They called it a whopping success. There were 2500 people lined up outside the stadium at 1:00 PM, twice what they expected. They showed an interview with an individual they called Jim Palmer, actually it was Jim Johnson with a beard. Lots of people with Orioles jerseys.
The Front Office NEEDS to be focusing on signing and trading for proven veterans, not some wild goose chase in Cuba!
Until Andrew and his cronies realise this, the O's will continue to falter. Instant marketing events like the possible Cuba trip are a short term solution to a long term problem: The O's get next to zero national recognition because they are a bad team. Two days after the the Cuba trip, the Orioles will be back on page 18 of the USA Today sports section.
The best way to attract national attention and that of the rest of the MLB is to put a quality product on the field here in Baltimore, not Cuba.
Thanks for the mention, Roch! Great to see the Orioles folks enjoying the beautiful weather here in Sarasota at FanFest today. I've posted some photos of the event if you navigate to the Orioles schedule from the baseball page on my site. I was told they're finalizing one date and that's what's keeping them from releasing the full schedule.
-- Dan, 4sarasota.com
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Hey Dan. Thanks for the update. I'm told the FanFest was a huge success. - Roch
Roch,
Off subject but the big gm meetings are coming up and do you think we will make any trades and if so who could go ? Keep the blogs comin ... Thanks
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It's the winter meetings (the GM meetings just concluded). The Orioles could make some moves, but I have no idea what they will be. I'd just be guessing like everybody else. They could sign a third baseman (Feliz perhaps?). - Roch
Yeah, I was at the Cuba game at the Yard and the thing that sticks out the most was the disgusting psycho Albert Belle just standing there and not swinging at a single pitch all night long. The only other thing worth mentioning was the umpire body slamming the idiot fan that ran on the field. He should have slammed Albert Belle.
I remember Albert Belle barely looking professional in the batter's box as he took three pitches and sat down a couple of times. I think he didn't think much of an in-season exhibition. It rained buckets for a while and a coach defected by hiding in the bushes outside the Mariott when the Cuban bus went back to the airport. Good times....good times...
I attended the game vs. Cuba at Camden Yards. I was sitting in the top row along the right field line. Couldn't identify Molina or anyone else on the field. But I do remember the Os being embarrassed by the Cubans.