The 13 man pitching staffs is bull. If you can't get the job done with 12, then they must be pretty pathetic as a whole to warrant the added so called protection. It didn't work last year and it won't work this year.

I agree with a fan with delusions of grandeur. We are going to need extra bats on the bench.

If they go with 13 pitchers, it will probably be due to the large number of guys without options - Hill, Penn, Pauley, Bass all must make the team or pass through waivers. I'm beginning to think the starters may be good enough not to be the prime cause for keeping an extra pitcher.

I agree with the fan about 13 pitchers...carrying 13 only means 2 will sit around and do nothing and it also means that somebody doesn't want to make a decision. That's what the minors are for..the extra pitchers who could be brought up. 5 starters, 3 late and 4 early/situational relievers is all needed!

I have to agree with the first poster that if one more is going to help then you need to dump some of the first twelve. It sort of like having a hole in your boat and drilling another hole to see if you can keep some of the water from entering the first hole.

If the 12 best pitchers selected can't get it done then remove the weakest link and let someone else give it a try. Keep removing the weakest link until you find 12 who can get it done. The extra bat on the bench will be much more beneficial to the team on a day to day basis, I would think.

I have to say that with all of these face changes with the O's, you Sunpaper reporters as a whole are doing an excellent job of keeping us in the game.

Thanks.

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Pete's reply: Thanks.

Pete-Is Ft Lauderdale stadium is really rusted and rotting as they said it is ?
Keep up your humorous and insightful work , we are depending on you .

Go O's

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Pete's reply: Fort Lauderdale Stadium is a bit rundown, but it's actually not a bad place to watch a game in spite of that.

One thing about the Reimold comment. He's not "in his first spring training". I saw him strike out for the O's in Fort Lauderdale in 2007. Perhaps he wasn't officially on the spring roster but just came down for a short time due to player shortages -- I'm just speculating, but he definitely has played for the O's in at least one spring training game.

Pete:

I'm enough of a fossil to remember 10 man pitching staffs, but back in the day the starters were expected to eat some innings. If a 13 man staff is contemplated, it means the orders to the outfield is play deep and cut across. I note that Trembley is of one mind with MacPhail noting that Hill has to pitch his way off the team, not on it. .Now that says something about how personal decisions will be made. Lack of options will probably be another consideration. Ergo, the O's will be made up of folks selected by McPhail or who are out of options (guys who haven't cut it), or ideally, both. Thanks for the minor league schedule. I hope the MLB channel carries a few of the O's early spring games. I'd like to catch a couple of innings of Wieters playing this year.

"back in the day" there were fewer teams and pitching was not so spread out. There is just plain not enough pitching for the number of teams today so talent is not what it used to be. The 9th and 10th pitcher on todays 12 and 13 man staffs wasnt in the major leagues back when they used 10 man staffs. Other than that comment, the post that makes sense here is the one referencing the number of pitchers worth giving time but who cant be sent down. Ideally Hill, Penn and Pauley each, if they dont win a spot in Fla will be stashed somewhere for an extended stay when the season starts and the spotlight is off them.

I know the game has changed somewhat over the years, but can you imagine Earl Weaver going with a 13 man staff???

What do you think would happen if Reimold has a Markakis-esq spring training like Nick did his rookie year?

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Pete's reply: Depends on what everybody else does and who stays healthy.

I remember Zaun catching before he,s a hustler behind
the plate with a decent arm &
good defensive skills.he will do fine prepping wieters.I,m a
bit excited that we have a chance with keeping Roberts.
Go orioles.

Unless he's just plain a bad fielder, I think it's a mistake to forget about Lou Montanez in left field. That guy can hit; he proved that towards the end of last year. Between the new acquisitions, Pie & Freel, as well as Luke Scott, it seems like Montanez is not even in the conversation anymore. Could be a mistake.

Pete-

By any chance, is Ernie Tyler one of the the 37 pitching candidates?

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Pete's reply: Now stop that.