Congrats to Brian Burres..I think he'll do just fine.

DCab #2?...interesting

On a positive note, our 'pen looks better than last year. These guys better be ready, however, as I suspect they'll all be getting plenty of work!
I'll state the obvious-the starters have to consistently pitch 6-7 innings and our offense has to grind it out to score runs as we have a severe power shortage.
Let's play ball!!!

Burres..... good grief. Really shaking things up aren't they?

My advise to Moore? EconoLodge for a few nights. Don't sign any long term leases just yet....
Gibbons ought to pay for his hotel as well as Redman's.... he gets his $12M regardless , but one , maybe both of these guys will be getting a minor league paycheck vs. a major league one because of Gibbon's contract, not because Gibbons was the better , deserving player.

I thought Trembly didn't want two lefties back-to-back. Sounds like he did just that with Loewan being the 4th and burres the 5th. Makes you wonder what his thinking was?????

what happened to not throwing two lefties back to back? that's all i've heard all spring.

If they get rid of Gibbons and keep scott Moore I think all of the decisions will have been great ones. We're taking Fahey and Hernandez north no matter what. It doesn't matter who is the starter now. The best player will get the majority of the playing time. I have faith in Trembley and MacPhail. I think we had a productive spring and our team in Norfolk should be pretty good.
The video screen looks awesome and I can't wait to catch a game. I hope they use that video with 'anvil of crom' playing in the background.

you know? that opening day lineup (minus fahey plus hernandez) doesn't look so bad...

Some general comments...

To question Trembley's expertise right now, because of the decisions he's making, is a little pre-mature. He's playing with the hand he has been dealt, and not all the decisions of who to carry are his alone to make. Most everything we've heard from camp about him has been positive, so let this play out and see what happens.

For the next two seasons, it's not about putting a team on the field that gives us the best chance to win games. For example, Luis Hernandez has shown potential to be an above average defensive shortstop at the major league level. Small sample size, he won't hit, all true. So if Trembley starts him Opening Day, and gives him the chance to settle down and perform as he did last season, he risks losing a few games more than he might otherwise. If Luis does settle down, we end up with a servicable shortstop. If he doesn't, Fahey grabs the job, and probably performs at an expected level. Potential cost? A few more losses. Potentail gain? A better shortstop. I'm on board with that plan.

Given what he's said (one-dimensional players, "I had the wrong guys playing the outfield") Trembley would get rid of Gibbons if he could. Not his decision. If Jay plays well, potential upside? We maybe trade him for a low level prospect or 2. He plays poorly? We lose a few more games, some more talented players spend some time in Tidewater playing every day. Maybe we eat the contract later in the season.

Same can be said for Huff, Payton, Millar.

Mora's had a great spring, reports are his attitude is good, his defense is certainly average or above, maybe he can re-create some magic like he did a couple years ago at the plate.

We're gonna lose some games this year. The Tiger's lost ?119? a few years ago, and are a serious contender right now. Rome wasn't built in a day, the O's won't be re-built in one season.

It may not be pretty, but I believe there's a plan, and the plan is good.

Go O's!

Condolences to O's fans on the choice for #3 starter. Why wouldn't a team in this condition give both Albers and Burres a chance to show if they have it or not?? And then bring Olson or Penn up to show their stuff as soon as one or both falters??

They won't be throwing lefties back to back if I read this correctly.

Opening Day - Gutherie
April 2 - Cabrera
April 3 - Trachsel
April 4 - Loewen
April 5 - Gutherie
April 6 - Burres

Not sure I understand why having Cabrera second in line in the rotation will do anything further to ensure he starts every five days. What's the difference if he' second out of the chute, or third? Also still curious why Trembley has decided on Loewen and Burres back to back when he previously stated he didn't want two lefties in a row.

Rocky Cherry has a sore shoulder? Hmmmm... I thought Moore, Redman or Gibbons would have a few aches and pains conveniently pop up until the non-pitching portion of the roster gets decided.

Burress has good stuff. I think he wore down last year.

Thanks for the updates Roch!

Jennifer, from your post a few blogs back, you can get vodka martinis at OPACY. They have a bar on the first and third base side (lower concourse) and they had liquor. Or at least they used to...

But yeah, it would be better if they had vendors.

You can always isolate a few stats to support your argument, but some are just undeniable:

The Orioles' number 2 starter led the entire majors in losses and walks.

The Orioles' clean-up hitter had 63 RBI.

I am going to root for the guys as long as they play hard, but this could be a train wreck. I say 68 wins but could drop to 64 if Roberts is dealt early.

It's bad enough that the Orioles are lackluster this spring, players are dropping like flies, Brian Roberts doesn't know if he's coming or going, trying to get QUESTIONS ANSWERED FROM ROCK KUBATKO or knowing Trembley's not taking his best team north like he said. But do we have to endure the same lousy high priced food at Camden Yards again? Think organic healthy foods for some of us or do something different. I want to eat something that I can't make myself.

Steve/Robert,
there won't be 2 lefties back to back in the rotation as it is set up. Guthrie, DCab and Tracks will pitch the TB series. Loewen will go on Fri vs Sea and Guthrie will pitch Saturday on the usual rest (vs. Bedard?). As Roch said, Burres will slide into the rotation on Sunday, April 6 and then everyone else will go on the usual rest. So, barring rainouts, after the first turn the rotation will be: Guthrie; Burres; Cabrera; Trachsel; Loewen.
The next off day is April 21, which would be Burres' day. They could skip him, keeping everyone else on 5 days and keep the rotation in the same order. It actually sets up pretty nice for the first month.

Its almost Opening Day ? good , time for my prediction AL East

1 Boston Red Sox
2 New York Yankees [ wild card again ]
3 Toronto Blue Jays
4 Tampa Bay Rays
5 Baltimore Angeloes

Comeback Player of the Year : Jay Gibbons .......NOT

Deke,
Fahey's stats:
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mlb&playerID=454994

Luis Hernandez:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/Luis-Hernandez-1.shtml

So how is Fahey so much better?

Why would you expect Fahey, who now has 305 MLB at bats and is hitting a robust .223 to suddenly start hitting?

There is a greater track record of Fahey's inability to hit as opposed to Hernandez, who has only 69 MLB at bats.

There is also plenty of history of guys with middling averages in the minors becoming decent hitters in the majors.

Look at the defensive stats here and at other locations that compile minor league stats.

Despite a so-so spring with the glove, Hernandez has proven in games that count that he can play SS. Fahey has also proven in games that count that he is not a bad SS but that he cannot make the throw from the hole and does not get to as many balls as Hernandez.

The fact that the O's, having not obtained a bone fide star at SS prior to ST, did not endorse Hernandez as the starting SS is very disappointing. Trembely told us 2 weeks ago that Hernandez was the SS when he started giving Fahey innings at 2B, LF and 3B but only had Hernandez play SS. For those paying attention, this told us that Hernandez has not only won the SS job but that he would not be moved to 2B if Roberts was traded.

To not say "he is the guy" in light of this is bush league. I do not understand what Trembley is thinking - unless his thought was the team was trying to bring the starting SS in by trade or waivers - which makes even less sense.

I know a lot of people here are conditioned towards cynicism, and who can blame them, but Hernandez has done something Fahey never has - hit .290 in the majors.

Many are saying Hernandez needs to be sent down after a 1 month trial at SS. Some of them may be too young to remember that Rich Dauer started his rookie season 4 - 44 and was hitting .080 on June 4. Cal Ripken went 4 - 55 early in his rookie year. Eddie Murray was hitting .211 early in May in his sophomore year.

Luis Hernandez is not a future HOFer, but my point is you have to look at the reason for the performance..

Rob -- Oh I know where to get them. I usually stop in at that Irish pub-like place in the warehouse, down something with hard liquor to ease the pain and suffering I'll eventually have to endure for the next three hours or so. Do the O's have a suggestion box? If they do, I'm sure it's full, but I'm just saying, if they had vendors with cocktails there might be a bigger crowd. Just a thought!

PS- I'll still order beer from the King of Beer Vendors! I would never leave you CLANCY!

Do I think we could surprise and win 80? Maybe, but we'd have to have everything break right.

T-MAC'S FEARLESS FORECAST: We go 63-99, barely escaping the 100th loss with an electrifying 5-3 win on the final day. Scott Moore is starting by years end (either at 1B or 3B). Luis Hernandez hits .220 but only makes 12 errors all year. Luke Scott is 2nd on the team in homers and rbis with 24 and 82. Nick swats 26 homers and drives in 97 (hitting .303 this year -he plays the final day). Adam Jones looks like a rookie the first half of the year, but hits .285 in the 2nd half with 10 homers and looks strong going into 2009. Roberts does get traded at the deadline, this time for more pitching and a middle infield prospect.

Pitching - Guthrie goes 13-8 with a 3.61 ERA. Cabrera surprises everyone and doesn't lead the league in walks, but finished 3rd. Hayden Penn and Garrett Olson both are in the rotation at seasons end, due to Trachsel's trade (again), and Burres' blown out elbow.
Sherrill is a stopper in the pen, but gets traded at the deadline for a good infield prospect. Greg Aquino takes over and saves 15 games the rest of the way.

It should be an interesting year. I just hope the young Birds continue to get better. That's what will keep the dream alive that 2011 will be the year we get back to winning.

Z is for the end!

I like that bullpen

the Wayward O writes: you know? that opening day lineup (minus fahey plus hernandez) doesn't look so bad...

Just one question: How does he read Roch's blog posts if he is blind? This is a terrible lineup and it might score the fewest runs in the league. Just so everyone is prepared for the long season ahead.

Rob, Jennifer.... if the FO is smart, they add beer vendors, add liquor vendors & cut the prices too. Fans watching this stuff this season will need a drink, or three... maybe if they get loaded enough, they will actually make some noise (all 8K of them) or be so drunk they won't care.....

Is Cherry really injured, or is this just some roster management injury?

Jennifer, I'll have to find you on my next trip over to OPACY. I can't seem to convince my friends that sometimes a fancy drink is in order when I realize I've paid good money for certain impending doom.

On a side note, Roch, do you have any solid confirmation that the coaches handed out pocket schedules to the bullpen this year? Schedules that include the games in August & September? If I recall... they didn't show up last year in those months, and in giving them the benefit of the doubt... maybe they just had a preliminary copy of the schedule not inclusive of the Aug/Sept home AND away dates.

"S" is for sucker. That's me. They dupe me every year.