I agree Peter, I like Hammock because he can play different positions. But I think Moeller should make the team because he is a better defensive catcher which the Orioles need with the pitching staff they have. It really doesn't matter that much because Matt Wieters should be up by All Star break.

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Pete's reply: I, like you, hope Wieters is up a lot sooner than that.

Pete,

I think the Moeller/Hammock decision means little since both will be dropped once Weiters hits the stage. Me I like Hammock.

The one position that seems to have folks all worked up is LF (well after the starting pitching). I certainly understand the push for Montanez to make the team. His ST numbers certainly are deserving of him heading to Baltimore to start the season. But I actually feel Lou will be better off getting full time duty at AAA for the 1st half of the season, while the O's figure out whether Pie will ever be a starting ML player. After all, what has this team got to lose? If Pie is around the Mendoza line going into July, then I think we have our answer. I've seen many posts comparing the kid basically to a poor man's version of Corey Patterson. Well let's face it, in 2009 Pie turning out to be just that, isn't going to set the team back.

If I'm the O's, I tell Montanez to go to AAA work on the defense, keep hitting, and if LF is unsettled around mid-summer, you'll be up here getting the same opportunity we gave Pie. I believe Montanez end up splitting LF with Freel & Scott by August.

As for the starting pitching, well I would have liked to have seen us sign both Koji & Kenshin. It would have settled 3 spots in the rotation while allowing Hill to move into the 4th spot, and having to only figure out 1 more starter. Well at least if nothing else we've figured out that some of the suspects, don't fit into the long term picture. I think we will see Bergeson up for good sometime in April. And I'm one of the few who probably agree with Trems decision to stretch the guy out in the beginning of April. The first 2-3 weeks of the season will mean very little in terms of the make up of the pitching.

Lastly, looks like the O's finally figured out what a lot of scouts were saying all along. Liz's strength lends to coming out of the pen. It looks like the kid is settling into this role as well. Perhaps set up, with the potential of a closer.

i think hammock is a no brainer here. looking at the numbers, he has earned the job this spring, albeit til wieters gets the call. i've seen both moeller and hammock behind the plate this spring and don't think hammock is getting enough credit for his catching ability. he's athletic back there, throws well, and can play the corner of/if and positions. most importantly, he is a threat offensively. moeller just doesn't bring that to the table. the versitility just gives you so many more options with the bench and even the ability to carry an extra pitcher or 3rd catcher. i don't think going with the guy who is the "better" defensive catcher is enough in this case. zaun will bring that experience to the table every 4/5 games. besides, the pitching staff just sucks, koji is the only bright spot so far and hopefully guthrie will regain his command over the next outing or two. eaton is just brutal but he'll probably make the rotation because of his "experience" too. he picked the wrong division to try to make a comeback in...thats for sure.