Find MASN on your cable or satellite provider.

I was able to translate the first 45 seconds*:

Japanese Guy- "Hey Koji, come shake my hand!" "Okay person I don't know"
Narrator- "This is Koji Uehara. He signed to MLB with the Baltimore Orioles"
*show footage of depressed, possibly crying Koji*
Narrator- "As soon as he put on an Oriole jersey and yelled "O" during the US National Anthem, baseball teams proceed to hit lots of home runs off of Koji"
*show additional footage of depressed, possibly crying Koji*

That's all I could figure out before I also became depressed.

*not an accurate translation

don't call it a koji-back. he's been here for years.

Roch

I think I'm turning JAPANESE....I think I'm turning JAPANESE....I think I'm turning JAPANESE.....I really think so!!

Sianara

Roch,

I think starting young pitchers in the bullpen is a great idea. Since we plan on having a solid rotation in the near future, it would be nice to see Arrieta, Britton and Erbe all get experience out of the bullpen,rather then sitting down in AAA hoping someone gets injured. I think it would be very benefical if the orioles gave those guys a taste of the big league level this year and coming out of the pen seems like a great way to do it. What do you feel the chances are of us seeing those three come out of the pen in, lets say late august is?
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I think they'd prefer to give Britton another full season in a minor league rotation. - Roch

I fear that Berkandez may take their act to Norfolk this year (if only temporary) - too many arms and not enough spots. If we have Gonzo, JJ, Uehara, Hendrickson, and Meredith all but assured spots, that leaves a spot for a lefty to be named later and either half of the aforementioned Berkandez, or maybe Albers. Of course, I don't want to mention the dreaded "I" word that could foil everything, but injuries do have a way of sorting out these types of situations...it'll be interesting to see if Trembley gives both of them a shot at the rotation - by my estimation, Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, Hernandez, Berken, and Arrieta (longshot) are the candidates for the rotation with Erbe, Spoone, and Patton (and Alfredo Simon?) potentially waiting in the wings as the next wave, presuming they can all get over their injury issues. At very least, Roch, do you see that trio as plausible late-season callups?
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Spoone is coming off surgery and still working his way back, so he needs to give the Orioles a full season in the minors. I'm not expecting to see Simon, but maybe he'll surprise me. - Roch

Hernandez could develop into a good late-inning reliever/closer. He has great stuff, just has had some issues with control. Berken however....Berken just seams to have the stuff of a triple A or quad A pitcher. He needs to go back to triple A and dominate there before he gets recalled. His best outings last year were average 6 ip 3 er variety, but much more frequently he got rocked.

I like Koji and Hendrickson in the bullpen. That gives DT good options late in the game for long relief and/or lefty-righty matchups. I also like Berken and Hernandez there, too. Along with Gonzalez to close games, and we have quite an improvement over last year.

A few other guys as situational pitchers and we could have a top 7 bullpen in the American League.

I hope Koji was saying: Being in the major leagues was tougher than I thought it'd be. I'll be more prepared and ready this coming season.

Roch,

I have noticed that Hernandez and Berken are almost always vebally linked. I have assumed that is because neither of them is as highly thought of as Bergeson, Matusz, or Tillman, but are still seen as potential contributors. In essence, until Arieta or Patton etc. come up, they are the "other two". Or in Gilligan's Island terms they comprise "...and the rest...". So which is the Professor and which is Mary Ann?

With all the RH relief options, do you think there is a scenario for them both to be in the pen, or is at least one of them pretty much going to be slated for AAA?

If they do part ways, I wonder who will do the surgery?
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I don't think there's room for both in the Orioles' bullpen. At least one of them will start in Triple-A. And for the record, I was a Mary Ann guy. - Roch

Another YouTube of Koji Uehara on a TV show in Japan (notice he's wearing an Orioles sweatshirt). It has clips from the 2009 season, shows him working out, and is fairly recent since it shows Matsui donning an Angels uniform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UflW7cqWTEc

Greg: Freakin hilarious
Librarysteve: Freakin true
Roch: But Mary Ann was mine (I thought)
of course adding a little bit of Ginger could only be a good thong... i mean thing.

Hey Roch, I watched the video and I think the biggest question that presents itself is this... why are there subtitles?

Also, I've seen Gabino's name as the player who has been DFA'd by the Orioles because of the Hendrickson signing. It is on the "transactions" page of one of our Canadian-based websites. Has the club made this official yet?

Also, while we're on this baseball cultural exchange, I'd like to share a clip that presents the unique Canadian perspective on the game. No subtitles or translating required, and a must see for any true baseball fan. There's even a Cal Ripken reference. Check it oot... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdf4GeT4ELA
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They'll announce it tomorrow, once the MLB offices open again. Closed for the weekend. - Roch

Part of the attraction in Oriole Way days to starting young guys in the bullpen was the front line.

That is, bringing up the Ballard, Grimsley, Davis, Martinez, Boddicker types to watch/wait/learn from the Palmer, Cueller, McNally, McGregor, Flanagan types, etc., created a cycle of success, or at least the environment for one.

It worked because:

First, there wasn't room to get a spot given to you.

Second, there was the apprenticeship time to earn and learn before you got the spot.

I find Kranitz' goal worthwhile, and I'd love to see it work.

I wonder, though, how much of the sucess of that process depends upon the front-line guys who foster the growth during that apprenticeship. And if you don't have that, do you blow the benefit by having non-success modeled followed by the push to throw 'em in too early anyway?

Putting it all in the mixer, I guess for my money I go with Kranitz and just hope Millwood and a older-than-he-is Matutz types can be the new model citizens the rest of the young guns can learn under.

Gotta stick with it, though, and resist the temptation to break when it's a bit slow in late May.

Roch,

Could you pass on a message to Bumblebee? He needs to get back to the base. The Decepticons are getting frisky. Thanks.

Big O

Contrary to the "not accurate translation"; Koji didn't surrender many home runs. Koji's problem was conditioning. If you go over all his starts he was pretty much lights out for the first three or four innings then he lost it. I think Koji will do well out of the bullpen.

Also, Kranitz talk about young pitchers getting their experience in the bullpen is what the Orioles of the past always did. I agree with him 100%.

Roch I too was a Mary Ann guy. That probably explains my lousy luck with redheads.

STOP THE PRESSES................

It takes a YouTube clip to prove that Koji is throwing in Japan.

A sad state of communication this Front Office.

As for Berken and Hernandez, I like Berken and I'm rooting for him over Tillman for the 5th starter job.
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I wrote during the winter meetings that he was throwing in Japan. Something else you missed. - Roch

"Joined at the hip" kind of like the way Al Bumbry and Rich Coggins were in '73. Or today, like Mark Hendrickson and the expression "swing man."

Funny how we get more informatin about Koji from Bumble Bee then we do Andy. Both smell fishy in their own way..especially when the topic is trying to get information...lol

Roch, any question marks with Reimold's injuries for this spring after being shut down last fall?
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Nothing beyond what I've written. He's running, jumping, doing agility drills. Thinks he'll be fine, though he's not 100 percent yet. - Roch

I like Uehara....he is going to be great from the bullpen...2-3 iinning guy...throws strikes...needs to stay healthy only question....Hernandez and Berken are for sure talked about as if they were one in the same...I think that Hernandez makes the O's in the pen and Berken goes back to AAA to start. Berken is just not quite as good as the other young guys but maybe will improve. I agree though, if a pitcher is ML ready then he should go to the pen if he does not make the team as a starter...no need to go back to the minors to get more seasoning if you can get ML hitters out.

I see the Rockies agreed to sign Melvin Mora to a one-year deal worth $1.3MM

Sounds like a "disrespectful" contract if you ask me...LOL. I wonder how Mr. Respect feels?

If he wouldn't have called the manager out, maybe he could of got a one year deal here to buy some time. Talk about a pay cut...wow!

I know Palmer pitched in a different era; however, I've heard him comment frequently about pitchers coming up through the farm system as starters and reach the majors initially as relievers. The good ones would then become starters after demonstrating an ability to adapt to the big leagues. Maybe this is what will happen to Berken and/or Hernandez. It is odd that both of those guys are almost always mentioned in the same context. I think Bergesen would be mentioned with Berken and Hernandez if he hadn't had as much success as he accomplished last season in his debut.

HERNANDEZ AND BERKEN JOINED AT THE HIP. MUST BE AWFULLY HARD TO FIND A UNIFORM TO FIT RIGHT. THE ORIOLES OF OLD ALWAYS HAD THEIR YOUNG PITCHERS GAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE BULLPEN. WHY NOT NOW INSTEAD OF SOME OF RETREADS WE'VE BEEN USING. STILL DON'T CARE FOR MIGGY AT THIRD BECAUSE OF HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE AT THAT POSITION. IF IT TOOK RIPKEN, MORA, A-ROD ABOUT A 100 GAMES TO GET ACCLIMATED AT 3RD WHAT MAKES ANYONE THINK MIGGY CAN DO IT SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER?

Roch-
Why are they linked? I mean, Berken is what 3 years older? Don't foget Hernandez went into Yankee Stadium AND FENWAY, on back to back games and beat them. I think his stuff is SO much better and he is SO much higher as a propect that he is just a modification or 2 from being extremely good.
I wish they were not lumped together because DH is much better.

I can see both in the BP .
Here my 25 man roster
Brian Roberts
Miguel Tejada
Adam Jones
Nick Markakis
Nolan Reimolds
Matt Weiters
Luke Scott
Garrett Atkins
Cesar Ituris
Ty Wigginton
Felix Pie
Chad Moller
Kevin Millwood
Brian Mutuze
Brad Bregesen
Jeremy Guthrie
Chris Tillman
Jason Berken
Mark Hendrickson
Cla Meredith
David Hernandez
Koji Uhara
Jim Johnson
Mike Gonzales

NO Eric Bedard ,but Jake Arrieta waiting ....You will see Jake this year! you count on it !

Paul/Jack, maybe if you had stopped being surly for about five minutes during Fanfest, you'd have heard at least once in the 4567938476 forums where Nolan's progress was mentioned. He mentioned it himself probably a dozen times. He's fine. You can cross this off of your list of things to complain about.

You're welcome. *eyeroll*

Baron, maybe the subtitles aren't really subtitles, and it's not unlike the annoying graphics on FOX Sports or ESPN that take up a total of one-third of the tv screen and take your attention away from what you're actually supposed to be watching... I knew I should never have given up my spot on the chyron board. *pout*

I wonder what Brian Matusz ate for breakfast this morning. Gawwwd, Andy never communicates ANYTHING with the fanbase! *hissyfit*

Did Brummie really just say hes hoping Berkin takes Tillman's spot in the rotation? Youre not smart brummie.

Off-topic, but a question... apparently, Johnny Damon seems to be having trouble finding work. On a scale of 0% to 25% (which I see to be about the max), what are the chances that the O's sign Damon to a one-year deal, about $4MM with incentives, to be the DH this year, allowing the team to trade Luke Scott somewhere for a journeyman LH specialist and some MegaMillions tickets?
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I'm going to say 0% since he's never been linked to the Orioles and MacPhail said they're done adding position players. - Roch

I think the Mora "respect" thing was more a critique to the coaching style of Dave Trembley, Paul. That is something you should be more in line with. Odd that you would criticize someone who criticizes management... odd or ironic... or moronic. Your call.

1.3 million to be a utility player actually seems logical. Given the free agent market that just makes sense unless you thought he should have asked for more money that say Abreu or Figgins got. Then again they are everyday players, he will not be.

If that makes you feel any better, he still makes more that Khalil Greene, Jim Thome and... well, you.

The Orioles could hit a homerun every at-bat and Brummie would complain that they weren't fanning enough to keep the stadium cool.

In the past, I sided with Brummie sometimes because the team was just playing like garbage on a daily basis. However, looking at the big picture, I agree with all of Macphail's moves except for keeping Trembley. I'm a firm believer that he is a god awful manager, but I at least he only has one more chance to prove himself.

But lately Brummie's posts are just so miserable. He just continuously puts a negative spin on everything, often lying because he rarely has his fact's straight. I'm sure most would agree he brings nothing to the blog but lies and deceit.

Cool video. And now I know the Japanese symbols for Innings Pitched and Runs. So at least I have that going for me.

Baron: Thanks for the Clark hockey clip. Good stuff! And good catch on the subtitles. I have it on good authority that they're in Japanese because the interview is being conducted in Swedish. The troll told me. He explained that he knows Swedish because he had a pancake once.

And can people believe that Andy hasn't kept us updated about Koji's workouts?! I, frankly, am appalled.

Anyone seen JackDunn?

Or is that something else I "missed"?

LOL
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It wouldn't surprise me. It's been a pretty long list lately. - Roch

I like the idea of Berken and/or Hernandez, depending on how things shake out going into the bullpen. Let them train during the spring like starters, that way in case there is an unfortunate situation that takes out one of our starting 5 in the early part of the season B or H are already stretched out to step in. Otherwise, let them gain some experience (and hopefully sucess) in the bullpen - knowing that if an injury occurs further into the season you should have Arrietta, Patton and possible Erbe as options for a call-up replacement.

Brummie_Oriole said:
STOP THE PRESSES................

It takes a YouTube clip to prove that Koji is throwing in Japan.

A sad state of communication this Front Office.

As for Berken and Hernandez, I like Berken and I'm rooting for him over Tillman for the 5th starter job.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------I wrote during the winter meetings that he was throwing in Japan. Something else you missed. - Roch
......................................
No, Roch, you don't get it. This is something that was not reported adequately (that is, up to Brummie standards).

For the past ten years when national folks ranked organizations or off-season moves I would go to the bottom of the list and start looking for the O's. This year I go to the top of list and start down ---- I think this means something!!

Not to interupt Jack, Brummie or Paul...

... but I was just curious to see if anyone else was going to be down in Sarasota first weekend of March.

If you would like "open communications" with Andy that is a good place. Last year I walked out of the stadium (in Jupiter) with him. Oddly enough he doesn't speak with a forked tongue and answers questions within the realm of reasonable.

Roch, any chance you could get Albers ot Wigginton to share their diet secrets? I'm halfway through this bag of Funyuns and can't figure out how to lose this last 10 lbs.

I am still the "bring the best 25 north" man.

It is not fair to have these players who work out all winter then come to ST, tear it up, then be told there is not a spot for you while others who are out of shape and slumped all ST have a spot.

We wait until our ML players turn 25-26 before we take a good look at them. O. Salazar and Lou M. come to mind. At 21 you are a man. If you have been in college or the ML you should be ready to go or something is wrong. If they get hurt from overuse in the ML they become a total loss and we are looking for some high priced FA to waist money on.

Put the best 12 pitchers on the staff period. If a chosen one slips in ST put him in the BP and put the hot phenom is his place.

I see a lot of comments about "our losing record". It is intentional. We get to the trade deadline in decent shape then gut the team of our big bopper and closer for prospects. We bring up our best prospects in Sept after we have burned them out all year and say they did not look as good as advertised.

I agree with Ryan that David Hernandez has legitimate major league talent. He may end up being better than guys like Arrieta, Erbe, or Britton. We just don't know about the other guys even at AAA. DH has already done it and does not look overmatched at the ML level despite the abundance of longballs. Berken needs to maximize every bit of talent he has to stick around. I think there is a gap in talent levels at least to my untrained eyes.

Is anyone else really curious how Andy will address the middle of the order bat comment he made early in the offseason? He has a couple of options. He could try to convince us that Atkins or Tejada are those bats. That's a bit of a stretch. He could admit the market didn't bear out what he thought. Either way, it strikes me as so odd that he would even put himself in this position of failing to deliver when he never speaks out of turn. I am finding restraint to be more palatable as the season nears but that line-up changer needs to be inserted in the upcoming year I would think. I would like them to take a crap shoot on Bedard as well.

"For the past ten years when national folks ranked organizations or off-season moves I would go to the bottom of the list and start looking for the O's. This year I go to the top of list and start down ---- I think this means something!!"

Agreed. Even if you think Andy MacPhail's made bad moves this offseason, the fact is, our farm system has improved significantly since he came to this organization. Last season, we had the top prospect in all of baseball; he's playing for the big league club now. But wait, this season we have the 11th best prospect in the majors (the 3rd best pitching propsect, according to Keith Law) - Brian Matusz, and he's seen a bit of time in the majors as well.

Take a look back to 2007: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2007/263445.html

Notice our best prospect back then was #47, Bill Rowell. No matter what you think about MacPhail's moves regarding the big league club, the fact is, he has completely revamped our organization for the better.

Thank God for Google Translator..

Host: So Koji, How is pitching in the United States?
Koji: "Pretty tough. They cheat & use a lot of steroids but it's still fun. I also know Cal Ripken Jr."

Roch: I knew Koji was throwing. I don't miss anything.

Sad that it takes a YOUTUBE clip to give us a very recent update on ANdy's stellar signing last offseason.
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What "update" do you want? He's still throwing. You want the club to issue a press release saying that? If someone asks MacPhail for an update, I'm sure he'd provide one. But teams don't just randomly put out statements. You really have a lot to learn about the way this game works. - Roch

True story. No big deal. On July 30 1954 we took a bus trip to Memorial Stadium from Higdons Inn in Glen Burnie I told my mom "can't wintonight so don't be disapointed." It was our first game. I remember Yogi put on a show arguing with the umps. Guess what? O's 10 Yankees 0.

Can Brummie be voted off the island by tribal council?

Can Brummie be voted off the blog by calling an 800 number?

Can Brummie be the Weakest Link?

Can Brummie pack his knives and leave?

Can Brummie be kicked out of Hell's Kitchen by Gordon Ramsey?

Can we please get an ignore button?

joe said:
I am still the "bring the best 25 north" man.

We wait until our ML players turn 25-26 before we take a good look at them. O. Salazar and Lou M. come to mind. At 21 you are a man. If you have been in college or the ML you should be ready to go or something is wrong. If they get hurt from overuse in the ML they become a total loss and we are looking for some high priced FA to waist money on.
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You seriously oversimplify the process for players getting ready to become major leaguers. Baseball is the hardest sport to play from a skill standpoint. No other sport rewards a 70% failure rate with a $10MM contract. Very few 21 year olds are ready to be major leaguers. If they were, then every team would be doing it with regularity. And using Salazar and Montanez as examples of the O's waiting too long are foolish. Salazar didn't come to the O's until he was 27, and we were his 7th organization (plus a stint in the Mexican League). Montanez didn't come to the O's until he was 25, having spent 7 seasons in the Cubs minors.

Hey, Montanez was a Cub! Brummie has said a bazillion times that MacPhail loves his Cubs castoffs, like Pie and Hill. So Brummie, how come he didn't force Trembley to play Montanez like he did Pie and Hill?

Am I the only one who finds it hysterical that this Japanese newscast chose to play the song "Make Love in This Club" while showing highlights from Koji's first start against the Yankees?

How come everytime I read this blog, someone named Brummie, who may or may not know anything about anything is mentioned as much as baseball. Please stop!! My brain is hurting!

I thought AM has always said hes never seen how its not beneficial to discuss his plans with the media?

I brought this up somewhere else but IF the Orioles could move Luke Scott, Johnny Damon might not be completely absurd. Damon has never had a strong arm but has always had decent range. IF he was up to playing first base in a pinch it could be a wise signing. But Im not holding my breathe.

I firmly believe that Matt Wieters isnt gonna be the catcher for long which might be why the Os havent got a first baseman of notieraity. I think they are really big on Josh Bell and he will man 3b and probably start the 2011 season there barring any major setbacks. But I also think that the Orioles are staying tuned to whats going on in Minnesota and potentially looking into a blockbuster Morneau or Fielder trade down the road.

I checked out the you tube before this one that showed Koji pitching over his career in Japan. They were all strikes. Interesting to see how wide the strike zone was compared to mlb. He did have some movement and some were only 76 mph.

In Mora's story on mlb.com, it was stated that Jay Payton has signed a minor league contract with the Rockies with a spring training invite.
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Yep, I mentioned it in an entry on Jan. 21. He was injured last season and sort of disappeared. - Roch

I like the idea of putting young arms in the pen & giving them the opportunity to earn/work their way into the starting rotation.

Roch, what are the players nicknames?

I also found a nice wiki page. It lists players & their nicknames by team:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_baseball_nicknames

If I didn't know what it was I created one or suggested a good guess with a question mark:

Brian Roberts: "B-Rob"
Miguel Tejada: "Miggy", "La Gua Gua (because he drives everybody home)", "The Bus"
Ty Wigginton: "Wiggy"
Nick Markakis: "Kakes", "Osama?"
Adam Jones: "Jonesy", "AJ"
Matt Wieters: "Wheat", "Wheaties?"
Nolan Reimold: "Reimy?", "The Reimold Express?"
Cesar Izturis: "Izzy"
Luke Scott: "Luuuuuuuuuke", "Some Dude", "Paul Bunyon"
Garrett Atkins: "Batkins," "Gatkins," "Atkins Diet", "Gare?"; pronounced Gair.
Felix Pie: "Pie", "The Cat?"
Brad Bergesen: "Berg"
Brian Matusz: "Tooz?"
Jeremy Guthrie: "Genghis Khan?"
Kevin Millwood: "Badger?", "Sedate?", "Nonchalant?"
Koji Uehara: "Kojeeyou?"
Mike Gonzalez: "Gonzo"
Jim Johnson: "JJ", "Jimmy-J"
Cla Meredith: "Pre-Mere?" "Claim?"
Chris Tillman: "T-man?"
David Hernandez: "Dave?"
**Erik Bedard: "The Interview", "Chafe?"

Please feel free to enlighten us or add to the list.

Seems like the Nestor's lackey(Paul,Jack,Brummie, the same person) are trying to take over the blog. Even Brummie is boasting about thinking he ran off Jackdunn'sbaby. Amazing how they talk everyday about the same thing. Wanting more communication, they probably would have told the German's and Japanese about our strategic plans in WWII. They have no knowledge of baseball or how to run an organization, just know how to complain and be negative. Kid with a computer.

Brummie_Oriole said:
STOP THE PRESSES................

It takes a YouTube clip to prove that Koji is throwing in Japan.

A sad state of communication this Front Office.

As for Berken and Hernandez, I like Berken and I'm rooting for him over Tillman for the 5th starter job.

Its tillmans job to lose. and i still say bedard will be an oriole. now he may not start the season but he will be back and he will be the old bedard..

Mike(@ 8:22)made the most intelligent comment here all winter!

Actually I know how it works. But whatever.

Here's another under-reported story from the Warehouse.

Dandy Andy is limiting the number of ST instructors. I would support this move if we had a new manager in his first ST. But a 98 loss team with the same helpless scared manager and a group of players that played some of the most selfish fundamentally flawed baseball last year I have ever seen in my 28 years of watching the O's?

Sure seems to me like the players could use all the instruction possible.

Funny how Andy is hiding behind the whole "new facility" argument. My guess is either the FO is too cheap to pay guys like Surhoff for a few days of work, or they are afraid the players might actually RESPOND to the instructors more than this pathetic coaching staff that Andy refuses to put out of its misery.
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Actually, you don't, because I had to correct you at least three times over the weekend. And it appears that I'll have to go back to limiting the number of times you post if this continues. You know that you're pushing me again, seeing what you can get away with. Same person being bashed over and over. I'm pretty sure we've discussed this in the past. - Roch

have you heard Chase D'Arnaud for Dennis Sarfate, that seems like a lot for someone of his stature? DO you know anything about it?
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If I did, I would have written it. Haven't heard that name. - Roch

JPA....
Yes I am curious how Dandy Andy will address his comment about the middle of the order bat!
It will either be another smoke signal from his bottle of smoke n mirrors or will come out and sing how great of an off season we had again.

We are NO closer to solving our perrenial 1st base and cleanup hitter problem. Andy..you had 3 years to address both of them and failed yet again. How can people follow or believe in an ill-advised plan..lol

Paul said:
We are NO closer to solving our perrenial 1st base and cleanup hitter problem. Andy..you had 3 years to address both of them and failed yet again. How can people follow or believe in an ill-advised plan..lol
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I just now got it... the reason that Paul/Jack and Brummie keep using LOL in all of their posts is because they aren't serious! They are making jokes, and they don't really believe all the crap they post. They have to type LOL all the time to remind us nincompoops that they are just pulling our leg, and that we shouldn't get all fired up about them or what they say. I feel much better now.

If it's not true, then Paul putting an LOL behind what he intended to be a serious statement shows he either doesn't understand the English language at all or he's just a fool pretending to be an adult.

Roch,
Let this year start with Brummie being banned so real fans like most of us and a season ticket holder 4 seats like myself don't have to read his BS for the season.
Thanks,
Ed

Hernandez has so much more of an upside than Berken. Yes, Berken battles. But his stuff is marginal. After watching him last season, I don't believe he is a major league starting pitcher. Could he find his niche in relief? Maybe as a middle innings guy.

Hernandez has a lively arm. He has beaten the Yanks and Red Sox. Stay with Hernandez and develop him. He has potential.