Well, a new Orioles season is finally here.
Pitchers and catchers will be on the field in Sarasota tomorrow and the first exhibition game is two weeks from tomorrow.
So what story lines are you interested in as camp begins? What are you wondering about? What most excites you about this team?
I am wondering if:
* Adam Jones will bat second. Since I wrote that was my preference several weeks ago, I've noticed I am not alone. Despite the fact several of you think I am crazy and have lost my...
Now that the Orioles' spring training roster is out, we can take a guess and make some projections as to what this year's Triple-A Norfolk lineup might look like.
It's clear to me that Norfolk is likely to have a more veteran lineup this year, one potentially filled with players that may be more major league-ready than in some past seasons.
Not only is the O's big league roster upgraded, but it looks like the Orioles have made a decided effort to have players at Triple-A that will have...
Ernie Tyler was a physically small man, but his impact on the Orioles' organization was massive.
For me and many of you, Ernie has been a constant over so many years of going to O's games at Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards.
It says all you need to know about Ernie when Cal Ripken Jr. asks you to end a streak and come to his Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown.
By now, you know Ernie died last night at 86. The offseason began with news he was hospitalized, and now, as a new season is...
First of all, I thank everyone for posting so many comments yesterday. Many were well thought out and I think you all proved that the baseball IQ of the readership here is high.
I think my computer is still smoking. Some of the comments were coming in faster than I could get to them. I remember telling someone that called, "Can't talk now, got to get to more comments. Maybe later."
I remember thinking I needed to check my e-mail and finally got to it about an hour later. Hey, that was...
There is clearly a lot of excitement and anticipation for the 2011 Orioles season. Some of the national media has given the team some props lately.
But ESPN.com's Keith Law won't make that list.
In a phone conversation yesterday afternoon, Law told me he feels certain the O's have little chance to even be a .500 team this year. He also was very critical of Vlad Guerrero and Mark Reynolds and of many of the moves the club has made this offseason.
"The Orioles are not a club right now that...
Even before the Orioles acquired Vladimir Guerrero, O's center fielder Adam Jones was psyched about the club's offseason additions and rather excited for the 2011 season.
"The first couple years (I was here), no moves really had been made, maybe a couple here and there. This one seems like, the time is now. I like it," Jones said recently at FanFest.
Even though Jones has been in the Oriole lineup for three years and has played in 473 major league games, he remains one of the youngest...
Last week, I wrote about the Frederick Keys' unsettled lease situation with the CIty of Frederick for Harry Grove Stadium. The Keys' lease runs only through September of this year and the city may soon accept bids for that lease for the 2012 season.
If that happens, it is at least possible that an independent league team could gain that lease for 2012 and beyond and the Keys would be without a home.
You can review that story here.
It seems hardly anyone wants to comment or be interviewed...
When the new seasons begin for the Orioles' minor league affiliates in April, the O's want their minor league managers to take on even more responsibility than they have previously and will provide them some help to do that.
To make sure the four full-season clubs - Norfolk, Bowie, Frederick and Delmarva - are ready to provide proper instruction for the players and that everything is running smoothly and efficiently, the club will place at least one minor league staff member with each team...
Two fringe benefits of the Orioles' addition of Vladimir Guerrero are that it should bring more media attention to the club and it might help the O's sell a few more tickets.
The O's pickup of Guerrero produced airtime for the club on MLB Network and a live appearance by Buck Showalter on "SportsCenter" this weekend - time the club would not otherwise have gotten.
To many that won't be a big deal, and I agree with those of you who think that way, but it's still nice to see ESPN mention...
There has been a lot of discussion about the Orioles increasing their contract offer to get an agreement with Vladimir Guerrero.
According to this report on ESPN.com, Buster Olney's sources say that $2 million of the $8 million is deferred.
Meanwhile, while O's president Andy MacPhail will not comment on the deal until it is official, manager Buck Showalter did appear on ESPN's "SportsCenter." He pointed out that the deal is pending a physical, but he also made some comments on the...
After the blitz of news, posts and reader comments about Vladimir Guerrero, here is a tidbit or two on other things Oriole.
Even though new Orioles' pitcher Justin Duchscherer has made 192 career major league appearances out of the bullpen, don't expect to see him doing any of that in Baltimore.
"He sees himself as a starter and we brought him in with the idea that he'd be given every chance to be a starter," O's president Andy MacPhail said.
MacPhail said the Orioles currently have...
There are a lot of national baseball writers out there who are talented, bring a lot to the table and are worth reading all the time.
Rob Neyer is clearly one of them. He may be underrated and almost always has some real knowledge to spread with his opinions.
But I don't agree with this column where he is down on the Orioles' addition of Vladimir Guerrero.
Let's take some of this point by point, with some excerpts from his column.
Guerrero's got a name, obviously. But can you really...
While no one knows for sure how well - or not - Vladimir Guerrero will hit for the Orioles this season, no one with any sense can deny the amazing career he has had.
He ranks 24th on baseball's all-time OPS list. Some of those ahead of him are Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Mickey Mantle, Rogers Hornsby and Joe DiMaggio.
Here are some that trail his career mark of .946:
.945 - Ty Cobb and Ryan Howard
.941 - Willie Mays and Chipper Jones
.933 - Albert Belle
.929 - Hank Aaron
.926 -...
The Orioles' addition of Vladimir Guerrero may unseat Luke Scott as the team's designated hitter, but it is not likely to take him out of the lineup.
Scott is now expected to become the O's regular left fielder.
In a telephone conversation tonight, Scott said he has heard the opinion that his left field defense is not up to par, but he doesn't share that view.
"People have said that a lot in my career coming up. But that's what it is, an opinion" he said. "It's not supported by...
According to this tweet, the O's have come to terms with Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year deal for $8 million.
An Orioles source tonight confirmed the agreement.
Earlier today, a team source said the O's and Guerrero's representatives have had "ongoing" discussions this week. Now those discussions have indeed paid off.
Reached via e-mail, O's president Andy MacPhail said he could not confirm or deny a signing that required a physical. He does not comment publicly on any signings before...
New Orioles right-hander Justin Duchscherer passed his physical today, but the 33-year-old has had a past that includes two hip operations and just five starts over the last two years.
But O's president Andy MacPhail feels good about Duchscherer's health heading into spring camp. The Orioles' doctors gave Duchscherer a more extensive look than usual.
"He had a two-day workover," MacPhail said. "They looked at every aspect and he passed. Given his history, it's quite possible there...
No truth to a rumor that, while walking into the warehouse Wednesday Andy MacPhail saw his shadow and that means six more weeks of Vladimir Guerrero rumors.
Can anyone even stand six more hours of this?
I'm still waiting to find out who offered Guerrero that $8 million dollar deal. Yeah, right.
I think MacPhail has handled this situation/negotiation with Guerrero perfectly. He is not going to bid against himself and if Guerrero falls to the Orioles, he'll take him. But clearly, the O's...
Pitcher Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 2009, will be seen by O's team physicians in the middle of this month at spring training in Sarasota, Fla..
At that time, the doctors then will determine what will come next for the 20-year-old right-hander. Hobgood has been rehabbing a strained rotator cuff. The examination in mid-February will determine if the rehab process has led to improvement for Hobgood's shoulder.
He has yet to begin a throwing program that pitchers...
Here is something I didn't think I'd have to ponder and write about it.
It is possible that the Frederick Keys, the Orioles' Single-A Carolina League affiliate, could leave town after this season and move somewhere else?
I would guess that is a real long shot, and it's probably too soon to get alarmed, but right now the team and city of Frederick seem locked in a dispute over money and how much the team should pay the city to lease Harry Grove Stadium.
Frederick Mayor Randy McClement...
The Orioles recently released 11 more minor league players, bringing the total number of players released to 33 since the end of last season.
The club has two fewer minor league teams now after dropping its Bluefield affiliate and cutting back to one team in the Dominican Summer League.
Probably the most well-known of the latest group of players released were infielder Tyler Stampone and pitcher Mick Mattaliano. The 23-year-old Stampone played two seasons for the club and batted .247 with 30...
