The invitees on this list look very underwhelming to me.

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Pete's reply: I would think the dictionary definition of a non-roster player would be "underwhelming."

is Ross Wolf related to Randy Wolf? thanks

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Pete's reply: I can find nothing that links them together, but I can't say for sure they have no family relation.

I love seeing Wieters being invited again, and it's good to see Tillman, Davis, Snyder, Turner, and Murphy as well. Now, a quick question. Do you know if the O's are looking to add any more bats (besides Zaun) this offseason? Adam Dunn seems to want to go somewhere for a cheaper price than I thought, but he has said that he prefers the outfield. So what's the plan? Huff at 1st and Scott DHing? I sorta like that. On another note, is it true that Lou Montanez can play 1B? I forgot where I heard it, but if he can, I say give him a shot. He's got good pop and can make solid contact.

Looks like the split-squad all-star team for the Orioles.

Of those pitchers I think Castillo could earn a bullpen spot, Chiasson could make it as a long man/spot starter, and a real outside chance for Brad Hennessey. Those other guys are roster filler for the minors.

Of the catchers, I would have to say it is a battle between Moeller and Quiroz for the bench slot early in the season, Hammock may have an outside chance.

The infield is set with the starters, so all of the others are battling for a utility role. Of this list I have to say Gomez and Cabrera are the leaders.

The lone outfielder has no chance to make this roster unless other people get injured first, and with the reputation Freel has, that is a possibility.

If the O's go with a 3 man bench again, you know one slot is going to catcher. The other two I would have to think go to utility INF and then utility OF. Since Freel can play some infield in a pinch, I think that solidifies him as the OF'er.

Those are my 2 "c"ents.

after a look at the spring training invitees
Baltimore should change their name to
the No Name O's from Baltimore

after a look at the spring training invitees
Baltimore should change their name to
the No Name O's from Baltimore

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Pete's reply: For the most part, if they were any good, they'd be on the roster. There are exceptions like Chris Gomez, whose on a minor league deal and will almost certainly join the roster at the end of spring training.

Peter I thought Adam Donachie got traded before last season. How and when did they get him back? Musta been one of those transactions that snuck thru the wires without anyone knowing, eh.

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Pete's reply: I don't think so. Donachie had spent his entire career with the Royals organization.

Rumor has it that Mike Costanzo will be on the roster for "Team Italy" in The World Baseball Classic.
Who's this Craig Brazell guy they signed today???

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Peter's reply: He's a journeyman first baseman who went to Japan last year and hit 27 homers (with 87 RBI) for the Seibu Lions. So, I guess you could say he's the Orioles second Japanese player.

Your hurtin me Pete. I asked a simple question about Millar twice and no answer. Sigh!

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Pete's reply: Bill. Ask it again. I get hundreds of posts and I guess I'm confused.

Is Ross Wolf related to Wandy Wolf?
Well, technically, if you go back far enough, I am related to Peter. Of course peter's uncle was Adam. The Adam.

Peter-

I love the O's man. I am with them through thick and thin. I make fun of them, but, who doesn't.
I will say, seeing Markakis file for arbitration, breaks my heart and really makes me wonder whats going on. I know its standard, but in the modern game, that is changing. If a player is valued in the organization, he is usually locked up for a long time and rewarded for his contributions. This to me is the biggest and most upsetting news of this offseason. I know he is protected for 3 more years. That DOESNT MATTER AND IS NOT THE POINT!
Isn't the entire point of "the plan", to lock up and keep young talent? How are we supposed to buy this "we are going to be terrible for a few seasons, but keep showing up" attitude that Macphail is throwing at us, if they are not keeping up their end of the bargain.
There is no excuse for this. Security is the last thing that should be on Cake's mind.

Donachie was a former rule 5 pick of the Orioles, but they decided not to keep him on the roster and he went to the Royals. Then he became a minor league free agent and here he is again.

That is how I remember it, I could be wrong.

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Pete's reply: Oh, I didn't remember him. Sorry.

Peter- You forgot Tex. Get with it.

Pete, the Sox just gave Youk a 4 yr. 41 mil. extension with a club option for a 5th yr. at 15 mil, so a total of 5 yrs. 56 mil. I wonder if this will quiet the Andy haters who say he lowballed Nick with a 6 yr. 60 mil. deal (all guaranteed) ?

Pete, Youk is one of the best young 1B in baseball with great power #s and gold glove caliber defense, so looking at the two signings that the Sox made and the one the O's offered to Nick, makes any rationale person realize that it was a very fair offer. I do agree with you that the O's will probably go up 3-5 mil., but no way does the initial offer constitutes lowballing.

Pete, any sense that with teams filling out their staffs, especially the big spenders, that Garland, Wolf or Looper, might be had for a lot lower than what they were asking? I would think that any one of those guys, would help out the SPs and still leave two spots open for guys like Waters, Liz, Olson, Baez, etc., to compete for in FL.

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Pete's reply: I don't know if fairness ever really comes into play here. There's a lot of emotion involved. I'll stick with my prediction that Nick signs for six for $63 mllion if he signs this offseason.

There are 6 catchers(besides Weiters and Zaun)that are invited to Spring Training. I guess Weiters will be given all the time and instruction that he needs at AAA as well as the majors. Perhaps Uehara will need to have his perdonnal catcher.

Pete and Dave,

We picked up Donachie as a rule 5 pick last year, and then had to give him back to the Royals. So while he has only spent a Spring Training with the Orioles, all of the stats he has accumulated came while with the Royals. If nothing else, he gives us a little depth in the minors at catcher - that's about it.

Pete and Dave,

We picked up Donachie as a rule 5 pick last year, and then had to give him back to the Royals. So while he has only spent a Spring Training with the Orioles, all of the stats he has accumulated came while with the Royals. If nothing else, he gives us a little depth in the minors at catcher - that's about it.

this is not a "who's who" of the baseball world but who's not! Who are these imposters!

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Pete's reply: Well, they are non-roster players. What exactly did you expect.

Wasn't Donachie a Rule 5 guy that the O's had to give back?

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Pete's reply: Yeah, my bad. I just forgot he was here.

Sad................................Peter the Great must be proud................if this doesn't get your juices fired up I don't know what can..................just can't wait until spring training............

Hi Pete,

Why wasn't Nolan Reimold invited? Are the Orioleas still high on his potential?

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Pete's reply: These are non-roster players. Reimold is on the 40-man roster, so he'll be there.

Ross Wolf sounds like an author on a paperback at your drug store.

No Mike Costanzo? Ok, he struck out 159 times at Norfolk last season. But he plays some third, first, and was trying to be a catcher. He's a hard worker, has power potential, and gives his caps to Elaine Benes.

Pete,

I heard on MLB radio this morning that the Os have reached a tentative agreement with Ty Wiggington (sp?) on a contract to play first base. Have you heard anything about this????

Does anyone know if Texiera signed with anyone yet?

He might be a decent pick-up.

Barry,
Serenity Now!!!!
Don't worry...Your buddy Costanzo is supposedly playing on "Team Italy" in the World Baseball Classic, that's why he's not going to be in big league camp...if that doesn't work out, he can always become a "Hand Model"-(My Favorite Seinfeld episode of all time)
Hey Pete, is this info true on Costanzo on Team Italy?

Here's a tidbit from a poster on the Oriole web site... If true, it indeed shows that MacPhails plan is working... He states that there is a 17% increase from last years non-rostered invitees that can actually walk and chew gum at the same time.

Schmucker,
Please clarify for me exactly what the Orioles pitching strategy is? They indicate, after last season that they need 4 starters to go with Guthrie. So they let Cabrera go, and sign a Japanese starter, and pick up Hendrickson who hasn't been a full time starter in the last few years. Then they announce they are through going after anyone else unless they can find someone cheap. Now they are telling us they don't want to many veterans because they have to see what Olson and Liz are capable of, implying that they will be part of the 5 man rotation. These are two pitchers that finished last year with ERA's of 6.65 and 6.72. This leaves us with two dependable starters (if our Japanese starter pans out), two guys that gave up close to 7 runs a game last year over 43 starts, and an unknown 5th starter, who may or may not be Mark Hendrickson who the last two years has started just 34 games with an ERA near 5.50. Baltimore will also have Matt Albers and Troy Patton returning from serious shoulder injuries so we know they arn't going to contribute as full time starters. So where does that leave us? Is it a money thing with MacPhail or has he changed his position on Olson and Liz? I thought his strategy was not to rush young pitchers. Well, by not acquiring any veterans, that is exactly what he is doing. He's got me confused and disallusioned by not going after some of the quality pitchers that were out there, because with returning injured arms and young starters who have not been able to contribute, we could be facing a very ugly year in this our 12 straight losing season. What say you?

Andruw Jones was cut by the Dodgers, so while I know he has gained weight, lost some of his range in the OF and has had 2 bad years in a row, isn't this guy worth taking a look at? Put him in LF and maybe he is motivated to prove his critics wrong, and the O's would capture some serious lightning in a bottle. If the O's were considering Sexson, who hasn't done much for the last 4 years or Nomar, who hasn't really done anything since the Sox traded him except being on the DL, why not Andruw Jones? He is only 31.

Pete, what are your thoughts?

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Pete's reply: Interesting. Haven't really had time to digest that. Since you only have to pay him the minimum, what's not to like?

People, for the love of God, these are non-roster invitees. Get mad at the Orioles for a lot of things, but not this. If you look at other teams non-roster invitees, I doubt you'll be overwhelmed.

Peter,

You don't need to apologize to me, who is going to remember something as obscure as a .200 hitter in the minors catcher who was Orioles property for less than a week and then went back to the Royals?

Even I wasn't sure if that was the story on him, but a couple of people have verified..so...yeah.

Keep on keepin' on and have a nice weekend!

"I love the O's man. I am with them through thick and thin. I make fun of them, but, who doesn't"

Ryan,

I don't make fun of them. If you really loved them, you wouldn't either.

I have been with them though thick and thin for 29 years.