Peter, what is your take on Baez?

I fully believe the O's will show him a lot this Spring... let other teams see him, and try and move him.... but I do not believe he will come North... if the O's can not trade him, I still believe they eat his contract.

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Pete's reply: I think we'll know a lot more when he starts throwing in competition.

Ahh, spring training. The Orioles are again tied for first place. Happens every year this time. Enjoy, for it's a long time before we will again grace 1st place and another spring training. Go Birds! God knows where you are going, but we still can't wait for the crack of the bats, a cold beer while we complain about your ineptitudes. Ahhh, spring training. It is amoung the greatest times of the year.

Pete,

I'd like to see Danys make this team if he returns to the form of his productive years in Cleveland. I give him credit for making no excuses for his poor performances here. I'm just not ready to kick the kid to the curb yet. We spent some good money on Baez, now let's see if we can get some return from our investment. From everything I've read about him, he seems like a decent person.

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Pete's reply: Yes, he's a very decent guy and you can't help but root for him to make a successful comeback.

In responce to Rich

I think you may be following the Orioles for different reasons than the rest of us. Yes, they make mistakes, so does every other team. But if you watch the personal careers and efforts of the players, you don't look at them as inept. Look at the positives....they are pretty much experiencing the "Old Orioles ways". They are building with home cooking, balanced with affordable free-agent acquisitions. No, they do not have the money to spend on all the top players like the Yankees and Sox, but they will be competitive this year.....Hope has a Home!!

Michael, Roanoke, Va

I just can't get it out of my head that Baez was the reliever in the Mother's Day Massacre. I just laugh at that remark that feeling great means he'll pitch 150 innings. 150? That many? Really?

Did he ever hear of this guy named Jim Palmer?

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Pete's reply: I'm sure he has heard of Jim Palmer, but he knows he isn't Jim Palmer and it's not fair to throw that name out for comparison purposes with anyone on this team.

Anybody remember how much of a bum this guy was? Let's not kid ourselves. He's a bum.

I think "mike in roanaoke" may been spending some time with michael phelps in s carolina

I think it would be fair to throw out JIM JOHNSON out there with Palmer. for at least discussion if the Orioles give him a legit chance to be a starter this spring. JIM PALMER thinks he should be starting!

Pete, thanks for responding. My point was that to feel great would suggest a much higher standard than just 150. He must have had a pretty low standard instilled in him over a period of time. To compare him with a REAL standard may be unfair, but we are allowed to have standards, aren't we? And they are certainly paid enough that we should expect that of them, no?

To come half way and see things your way, I'll agree that it will be fabulous if he comes back and DOES as great as he feels.

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Pete's reply: Baez has always been a realist. He's probably projecting himself as the fifth guy and trying not to get carried away with the innings estimate.