Bergesen had me worried, but his 2nd half seemed to look promising. When he's healthy, I think most of us can see his potential and how good he can be. I think he can rebound to a good 2011. Good Luck.

Bergesen strikes me as a class act, both as a player and a person. Here's to hoping he can stay healthy all year. When he's pitching, and he's healthy, more often than not the O's have a good chance of winning that game. What else can you ask for out of a starting pitcher?

He's as good as the Yankee starters 3, 4 and 5.

Throw strikes, work rapidly and you win.

I said this last year about Bergy, Reimold and BRob that they should've had extended spring training. It's good to hear all 3 are healthy, but to me, Bergy is the underrated one. He had an amazing rookie campaign till Billy Butler ended it and then the dumb commercial set him back more than I think most people realized. He doesn't have overpowering stuff so he needs to be at full strength, but when healthy and on his game, he gives people fits. I am expecting his #s to be a lot closer to 2009 this season.

Jeff, what's your take on Tillman? Has he been rushed and if so, does he get better in AAA or out of the BP?

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Jeff Z's reply: I have my concerns. Fastball is much too straight. Needs to figure out a way to perfect a two seamer or a cut fastball. I also wonder why he has problems maintaining his velocity. But he's way too young to give up on and ticket to the bullpen right now.

I think Bergesen is under rated and under appreciated. A roster can never have too many bulldog type players. He may not have the physical tools like a Matusz or Arrieta, but his mental make up levels the playing field a little. I like guys that feel they have to prove themselves and that sums up Bergesen.

Brad reminds me of another pretty fair Orioles pitcher out of the past, Mike Boddicker. They said his fastball wasn't fast enough and he wasn't a strikeout pitcher, but all he did was lead the O's staff for a number of years. Scotty McGregor was another one, high 80's fast ball, but smart as a whip and pin poit control, like Bergessen.

Dennis, because Burnett is such a question mark, I'd almost take Brad over AJ.

If the Orioles can just get that first baseman and another reliever or two, then they might not be quite the laughing stock. I can't wait for Reynolds, I believe that guy is the real deal and he seems determined not to repeat last years 198. I'd even take 240 or 250, just think how many more RBI he'd have with another 30 hits.

Jeff, I hate to ask this....well, you know what I'm going to ask....

If we get the Bergy of '09 and the end of last yr, and sign or trade for a solid vet w a 3.50 ERA or better, Matusz progresses and Guthrie holds court...well, that would be shaving a half run off of the team ERA, which is what the O's have to do if they want to be even a .500 basebal club. Alot of "if's" but not crazy talk by any means. well maybe the trade for a vet might be. More like Tillman and his gopher ball ie straight line mid range heat. Someone should give him tapes of Mussina, so he could learn that two seamer and simply, how to pitch inside. Straight fast balls can work if you use them place them in, and set them up right. The most amazing ting I've heard this offseason was that Tillman, for the 1swt tie in his life, was lifting weights. Maybe that will pay dividends as far as the wearing down.
None of this will matter if they don't get some bats signed tho.

Woodieman,
Great analogy on the comparison of Bergy and Boddicker. I think Bergy has a chance to be even better, now that he's found the 4 seamer and about 4-5 mph more on that pitch than his 2 seamer. If it "wows" Cakes, that's good enough for me. Now, if Bergy can just show Tillman the 2 seamer, we could have 2 real diamonds in the rough. Stick Bergy in between 2 power arms in the rotation and it will only help him even more. AJ Burnett is Meat...it's funny how money apparently keeps people from listening to others offering ideas, or so they say about AJ. Wow, that's a shame!!

I agree about Reynolds I believe as well as the rest of the lineup will learn like the Yankees did in the 90's under Buck to make the pitcher throw strikes. Patience at the plate among many things has been lacking with this club.
As for Bergy I believe with his strong finish to the season he has the potential to become a fifteen game winner especially with what appears to be an overall upgrade of the left side of the infield.
Just hope they can up with a solution at first base!!!

Good evening

I have read the Yankees are "in need" of SP.

What do you think and/or have the orioles had any discussions about seeing what the yanks would give for Guthrie--like him better than Greinke

Guthrie for their CF, can't remember his name and had him on my fantasy team.
If it weren't for Troy T. and his crazy two weeks...

Ok, their CF--ton of SB, solid defense, some pop, Joba and their rookie C
for Guthrie/AJones

Move Weiters to 1st, start rookie C and add Joba to BP crew. Three starters for two--kind of trades we need.

Your thoughts--mind you, don't believe it will hapen, but people do read this!

Thanks :-)

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Jeff Z's reply: Yankees manager Joe Girardi has made it clear over the past two years his feelings on Jeremy Guthrie. I don't see that happening. I also don't see the Orioles trading Guthrie right now. They think they are already one starter short. Trading Guthrie would make it two.

Jeff -
Matusz, Guthrie and Bergy finished last season by pretty much eliminating some major question marks that were around last Spring. Now we can look forward to an entire season of those 3 having the outings they've proved capable of. Pretty nice prospect. If you pencil in Arrieta as #4 and then mix and match for #5 starter it looks pretty good as is.
Jeff, what do you know about Chis Capuano ? He had a couple of good lefty years for the Brewers then was not in the majors 2008 + 2009 (arm trouble ?). Last season he did ok as a swingman. Before and after his absense from the majors he has had a
good walk-strikeout ratio and does not give up homeruns.
Unless there is something wrong with him physically sounds like a good 5th starter candidate for the O's (Brewers say they are not interested in bringing him back).

Capuano might be OK for the role Hendrickson had, but not much more. Still, seems like it might be a worthwhile gamble if the price is rtight.

I think Jeremy Guthrie would look fantastic in a New York Yankee uniform. For 1, he's an innings eater, 2. He can get his [stuff] ogether when he gets with Joe (Girardi).

Jeff, is Juan Miranda (1B prospect with Yankees) still in their organization?

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Jeff Z's reply: No, he was traded to D'backs.

Why do people all of a sudden want to trade Jeremy Guthrie? And to the Yankee, no less?

C'mon, Guthrie is a more than capable pitcher and the thing people are saying he can do for the Yankees, innings eater, bulldog on the mound, and not afraid to throw inside, he can do here. I will say this, Girardi is speaking out of both sides of his mouth. Sure, he complains about Guthrie when he buzzes a Yankee or three, but if Guthrie was with the Yankees, you really think Giradi would be complaining?

And Jones, why are people so anxious to trade him? So he regressed some on defense last year, but it's not like he's a bad CF. And his offense is still good, keep in mind, he's only 25, he's only going to get better. He's not 30, ya know.

The guy above that wants to trade Guths and Jones for Granderson, Joba, and a rookie catcher, why? I'd take Jones over Granderson, Joba is overrated and we have no idea what a rookie catcher is going to turn out to be. Sorry, I'll keep Jeremy and Adam, thank you very much.

You guys wanting to get rid of Guthrie are smoking crack. Great attitude, soft-spoken, wouldn't say ?%#! if he had a mouth full and pitched his tail off last year.

I would rather we give him a good team to pitch for in Baltimore and see how he does than trade him to a good team in New York and watch him beat us for the next 6-9 years.

I got pretty sick of watching Moose in pinstripes.

Good evening

Jeremy Guthrie is one "chip" that we posess. I believe it would be a great time to look into selling "high"...no-this is not a crack reference. KEY words being "look into".

Who is going to be here in 5 yrs?
Guthrie or Britton, Arrietta, Matusz, Bergeson?

So, PUT IT OUT THERE NOW and see if someone were to WOW us. He is a definite ML pitcher and seems to be a standup guy...and could be covetted by many other teams.

What if we were to get on the phone with KC?

Would you trade Guthrie for Butler and Gordon? Or another one of their many prospects.

I think, again, we, as fans, attach to particular players and not about doing what's best for the team. If we could get one ML player, Butler and ML/Project, Gordon--why not? Or, like I said, another prospect or two. Guthrie would rule for KC and we will create a spot in the rotation for Britton while adding the 1st baseman and possibly two other legit ML/ML prospect.

If I were GM, I'd prob p@$$ a lot of people off, but would l@@k into ALL avenues of improving my club.

Thanks

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Brad Bergesen is one Oriole who will get better and smarter as he ages. He will be around for 17+ years.