I'm in total agreement with your comments about keeping 12 pitchers, one infield replacement. Where I disagree is keeping Gomez. That person off the bench to pinch hit should be Montanez. Let Freel backup shortshop even though he's below average defensively. I would rather risk the defense, and have a viable hitter on the bench...and with the spring he's had, Montanez belongs on the roster.

Peter,

Thanks for all the updates.

What more does Lou Montanez have to do to make this team? After what he did in AA and with the O's last year, and what he has done in spring training so far, it seems unfair he doesn't seem to be getting a fair shot to make the team. And what about Scott Moore?

Pete, we're terrible. No pitching = last place.

Speaking of the final roster, that was a very enlightening article about the Lou Montanez situation by Jeff Zriebec today. If you've read the comments over the spring, there's a whole lot of us fans who've been wondering why the O's would virtually hand the left field spot to unproven phenom Felix Pie, when Lou Montanez has proven himself both last year and this spring against major league competition. Now we see the real reason: Dave Trembley has it in for the kid. Great. That kind of thinking reminds me of our not-to-bright neighbors to the south, the Redskins, when they signed safety Adam Archuleta to a big contract and let established, home-grown safety Ryan Clark go. How'd that work out? Well, Archuleta stunk and all Clark did was play like an all star for the eventual super bowl champion Steelers. Are we as stupid as the Redskins?

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Pete's reply: Is that a trick question?

I think carrying a 13th pitcher is foolish. It leaves you with a short bench and no flexibility at all. I'd rather have that extra position player than an extra rag arm in the bullpen!

No way should Hayden Penn be on this team. He has had a really bad spring. Mostly it really isn't his fault being that he has been bumped from games numerous times. Nobody will claim him. Best thing is for him to go to Norfolk and pitch regularly. My team looks like this:
C-Zaun, Moeller
1B-Huff
2B-Roberts
3B-Mora, Wiggington
SS-Izturis, Gomez (or Cabrera)
LF-Pie (or Montanez), Freel
CF-Jones
RF-Markakis
DH-Scott
SP-Guthrie, Uehara, Eaton, Simon, Bass
RP-Hendrickson, Walker, Ray, Sherrill, Johnson, Sarfate, Baez

I'm sure they will take Pie over Montanez and if they do carry an extra IF it will be Gomez for his ability to play all 4 IF positions but Cabrera can play all OF as well as 3 IF positions. They really should consider putting a pitcher on extended spring training to build arm strength. Then they should carry a healthy pitcher like Liz to replace the pitcher who they extend to ST.

Could they delay taking the 13th Pitcher north with the off days they will have in April therefore not needing the fifth starter as much?

I agree about the 13-man rotation, but Trembley won't answer my phone calls, so he's on his own. Besides the concerns mentioned above, I'm afraid that having 13 pitchers will generate its own need: Trembley sees a pitcher struggling a little and realizes he has 8 relievers he needs to work, so once in a while a starter comes out 10 pitches earlier than he would have, then he's not building up his endurance, so next time it all starts over . . . Silly concern, maybe, but this is the final week for me to indulge in totally unfounded optimism or pessimism! O!

I can't agree with 13 pitchers. With the days off, rain outs, 12 should be sufficient. If you get in a jam call someone up from Norfolk. I would rather have the extra bat.

I agree with you, Peter, but I also was not invited to any of the meetings. If I had been, I also would have pointed out the absurdity of Felix Pie being given a roster spot (evidently a starting job as well) he has not earned. Pie has been clearly outperformed this spring by Lou Montanez. Who is this Pie to be guaranteed anything? I would put him on waivers in a heartbeat and if he gets claimed, so be it. If not, let him start the season in Norfolk where he belongs and keep Montanez on the big league roster.

Put Eaton, Simon, Penn, etc. in as starters and you probably should go with only eleven position players (all 14 pitcher will still get burned out). Freel and a backup catcher is all they need (provided they release Pie) with this loser strategy. I can't recall a year so hopeless as 2009, even the year Jeff Stone was the starting CF had more potential. I'm hoping a strike or some other excuse for a complete shutdown. Way to go Andy. Thanks for making my season tickets worthless.

It's absolutely ridiculous that the O's gave LF to that loser Pie. What does macPhail see in this guy. He can't hit, he has no power & from what I've seen he's not exactly a gold glove in left. All he has is speed. Reimold should've been given LF. The guy is hands down a much better player than Pie will ever be. The O's will probably trade Nolan for a journeyman pitcher w/a 5+ ERA. Then Reimold will hit 25-30 dingers for some other team, while we're be stuck w/a left fielder who can't get above the Mendoza line.

I know spring training can be misleading sometimes, but I'm not sure even 13 pitchers will be enough with this group of starters. But it looks to me that this will be a 40 man roster.......McPhail and Co will be shuttling players up and down from the minors all year. But the O's have started out OK each year and then took a nosedive every year. Wouldn't mind seeing them reverse the trends this year for once,

Hi Pete,
I too have troubling thoughts over picking Pie over Montanez. Winning the Triple Crown at any level is quite the accomplishment. The fact that Montanez has performed this Spring...again, shows me he is ready. Who knows, Pie may never get it done. For me I'd pick Lou.

These bums don't need 13 pitchers, they need no more than ten. Only an idiot like Trembley would believe that the more mediocre your pitching, the more pitchers you should keep on the staff. Keep ten and train them to go the distance even if they get bounced around a bit.

Does any other team keep 13 pitchers? I just don't get it. Especially in April. As for Pie v. Montanez, in the first place why is it Pie v. Montanez? Freel hasn't exactly torn it up and he's older than both of them. If it's Pie v. Montanez, the only way to keep them both is to keep Pie here and send Montanez down because of the situation with options (Pie has none, Montanez does). The comment about waiving him and if they lose him so be it is stupid. We're going to be in last place regardless, so why not be sure to keep them both. Pie has better numbers in two limited ML seasons than Adam Jones did, and better than Markakis had in his first couple hundred AB's. Spring training stats are not a way to make a decision. If Pie gets a few hits in a row he'll be approaching .300. If Montanez goes 0-10 he'll be below the Mendoza line. The bottom line is what do we lose by giving the guy a shot to prove himself? Answer--nothing.

It's looking like another long season. So, when does the future arrive? I'm confused. I'm guessing 90 losses.

When you take a serious look at the Orioles' April schedule you'll wish they kept 15 pitchers.

Gonna be like battin' practice, boys...

It shouldn't be a problem considering the Pie situation. Liz has options so he goes, Bass and Penn do not so they stay.

Two things occur to me. First. On the assumption that the manager does in fact hate Montanez (and I don't believe it for a second) I am sure it would have no influence on his decision. If he wants to keep his job, he has to put the very best team on the field that he can. I'll bet he would play his mother-in-law in left if she was the best player available.

Second. Montanez was drafted third overall as a shortstop. I know he has become an outfielder for a reason, but I wonder why no one has checked if he is good enough to spell Izturas once in a while. He would be much more valuable if he could play short on occasion.

Why bother with 13? If the starter gets rocked (which they will!), what good does it do to bring in a reliever who is going to get rocked as well? If they believe the long relievers are so good, then make them the starters. This is looking like a very scary starting rotation....

One more thought.... two phenoms in the Cubs system fail to produce.... one goes back, grows up, and hits for the triple crown at Triple A; the other still has done nothing. Which one do you keep? I believe it was in Billy Ball that Billy Bean said that statistics show that what a guy hits in the minors, more often then not, they hit in the majors....

But then again, what do we all know....let's leave it to the genius' that have not finished higher than second to last place for 10 years...

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Pete's reply: Now be fair. The new geniuses have been here 18 months and have done some very good things internally. You might want to give them a chance to succeed.

Chris Gomez has not played well enough to make the team, period.
I take Freel for his added dimension of speed and ability to play 7 positions.
I also take Robby Hammock over Chad Moeller for his better hitting and superior versatility (he can also play 7 positions besides catch)
Lou Montanez is a no-brainer. He's a major league caliber hitter and has worked hard. If he doesn't make it because of a 13th pitcher, then I blame Trembley for not insisting on keeping him. Montanez should be in LF every day over Pie and Scott should platoon at LF and DH mostly whether he likes it or not.

I have liked Trembley from the beginning. However, not bringing Montanez north with the club is a huge mistake. He has more than proven himself. What does Trembley have against him? It is obvious that he has clearly won the job....

L. Montanez should be the starting LF, without a doubt. Make Pie take the job that Lou has earned. Pie should be the backup CF,LF, & RF

If Reimold beat out Montanez or vice versa to make the team I would be just fine. BUT I am not happy to see one of McFail's man crushes steal a young player's spot. I see them doing something stupid like trading one or both of them. I hope not. Trade some of the vets (Luke Huff Mora easier said then done which I understand) and let these young guys play. I liek that guy Turner. I don;t know how he would get up here but I hope he does. There are rebuilding right? And we are not going to win anyway was their outlook on things right? The pitching is the worst I have ever seen.

Keeping 13 pitchers means that the front office didn't do their job. Keeping Pie over Montanez is nothing short of inept.

If Reimold beat out Montanez or vice versa to make the team I would be just fine. BUT I am not happy to see one of McFail's man crushes steal a young player's spot. I see them doing something stupid like trading one or both of them. I hope not. Trade some of the vets (Luke Huff Mora easier said then done which I understand) and let these young guys play. I like that guy Turner. I don;t know how he would get up here but I hope he does. There are rebuilding right? And we are not going to win anyway was their outlook on things right? The pitching is the worst I have ever seen.

If Reimold beat out Montanez or vice versa to make the team I would be just fine. BUT I am not happy to see one of McFail's man crushes steal a young player's spot when he has been outplayed by both guys. I see them doing something stupid like trading one or both of them. I hope not. Trade some of the vets (Luke Huff Mora easier said then done which I understand) and let these young guys play. I like that guy Turner. I don't know how he would get up here but I hope he does. There are rebuilding right? And we are not going to win anyway is their rallying cry so what's the big deal? The pitching is the worst I have ever seen it. Do you think they wished they had signed one major league starter now?

I,m thinking in Montanez case if
he dont make the grade as an
outfielder what next a trade?It
is my opinion he,s far the best
choice.this guy can hit period.

Thank god more people are finally jumping on the Lou Montenez bandwagon. I've felt strongly about Lou's abilities for some time and I even though I'll admit I haven't really given Pie a chance since the day the traded for him, he hasn't really done anything this spring to change my mind. batting .214 and apparently doesn't know how to catch a fly ball. That could be a problem.

I'm willing to conceed that either Hendrickson or Eaton will have to be in the starting rotation, but if both are and we don't get Bergesson back very soon.....coupled with the Pie over Montenez tragedy, I think we're gonna need to take a long hard look at Dave Trembley.

Maybe it's just me but there's something about Trembley that has never sat right with me. Anyone else feel the same way?????

After a few moments of comptemplation, I've figured out what bugs me about Trembley.

It's the fact that he is so beloved by the world's biggest imbecile Anita Marks.

Although I'll never agree to 13 pitchers, the FACT remains that we better take 16 pitchers, as Trembley's starting staff will catch hell right out of the gate. Trembleys response will do as he's done last year and BURN his bullpen out by the all-star game. I guess it really wouldn't matter as last place is still last place.

I've never liked Dave Trembley,just like I've never card for a single mamager other than Mike Hargrove,who had absolutely nothing to work with,since Angeloser fired Davey Johnson.And if we keep Pie and send Montanez down,it shows me that McPhail is exactly what I thought he was,a yes man.Montanez has outperformed Pie and Freel in every way and probably will not make the club because releasing Pie after trading Olsen for him will just make out esteemed fron office look even more foolish.You can bring in 137 mediocre pitchers,it does not a pitching staff make.100+ losses here we come.13 pitchers,for what?I agree with you often Pete,but not this time,I'd rather see the young arms play,look at the 1966 rotation.This pitching staff will be the laughing stock of baseball.I think the final straw for me was Olsen for Pie.I hope Olsen has a great season in Chicago.It sucks to be an Oriole fan and have more losing seasons to look forward too.Glad I got rid of my season tickets years ago,after the Albert Belle signing.Unfortunately I'm still a fan,just a bitter,ticked off one.By the way,nice to know ticket prices are still going up.Like buying a Yugo at Mercedes prices.

I've never liked Dave Trembley,just like I've never card for a single mamager other than Mike Hargrove,who had absolutely nothing to work with,since Angeloser fired Davey Johnson.And if we keep Pie and send Montanez down,it shows me that McPhail is exactly what I thought he was,a yes man.Montanez has outperformed Pie and Freel in every way and probably will not make the club because releasing Pie after trading Olsen for him will just make out esteemed fron office look even more foolish.You can bring in 137 mediocre pitchers,it does not a pitching staff make.100+ losses here we come.13 pitchers,for what?I agree with you often Pete,but not this time,I'd rather see the young arms play,look at the 1966 rotation.This pitching staff will be the laughing stock of baseball.I think the final straw for me was Olsen for Pie.I hope Olsen has a great season in Chicago.It sucks to be an Oriole fan and have more losing seasons to look forward too.Glad I got rid of my season tickets years ago,after the Albert Belle signing.Unfortunately I'm still a fan,just a bitter,ticked off one.By the way,nice to know ticket prices are still going up.Like buying a Yugo at Mercedes prices.

Why are Cub minor leaguers more valuable then our own home grown talent. Lou and Nolan belong on this team that is the Oriole way. Not getting washed-out bums from some other system. Name just one valuable player we have gotten from the Cubs????? Yet we gave up Hairston and Fontenot

Why are Cub minor leaguers more valuable then our own home grown talent. Lou and Nolan belong on this team that is the Oriole way. Not getting washed-out bums from some other system. Name just one valuable player we have gotten from the Cubs????? Yet we gave up Hairston and Fontenot

I saw Pie play against the Twins...he
doesn't belong in the Major Leagues.
He was inept at the plate, on the other
hand Montanez performed well he has
a great arm, hits well and played the
field well. There really should not be a
question of who stays. About the
pitchers...we really do not have any
we have throwers who are not very good. I expect the O's to win only 55
games this year.

I saw Pie play against the Twins...he
doesn't belong in the Major Leagues.
He was inept at the plate, on the other
hand Montanez performed well he has
a great arm, hits well and played the
field well. There really should not be a
question of who stays. About the
pitchers...we really do not have any
we have throwers who are not very good. I expect the O's to win only 55
games this year.

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Pete's reply: I'd take that bet. The O's offense is good enough to get them to 65 wins.

What do you think people have been saying all along about the pitching staff?? And now, most likely handing the keys to a guy like Pie because you have limited your options with the staff, it just sounds like more organizational failure to me.

Been Sheets will be looking for a job soon. The Orioles should tender and offer--and start building now for the future.

Motanez not getting a shot reeks of classic GM thinking that a "5 tool guy" like Pie just needs a chance to put it all together when all the signs point to using Montanez as the team's left fielder--based on a great spring. A spring that confirms what his stats up to now have indicated.

You could also say the same about Pie's spring--he still has no discipline at the plate and should be viewed as a work in progress---but I know that Trembley will be pressued to go with Pie even though Montanez gives the best shot at winning/making the Orioles a better team.

it smells like Corey Patterson all over and over and over and over--just like a bad dream.

I don't think that either Gomez or Cabrera should make the team. The starting pitching will be atrocious, so the extra pitcher will be needed.

Regardless, the fate of the Orioles will not hinge on a bench player.

Been waiting for the re-building to show results for 15 years. Until the scouting shows improvement, nothing will happen. Our division will not stand pat while we try to catch up. Maybe the brass is too fat from the MASN revenues..but I thought they promised to plow that money into the O's operations. Haven't seen it yet. Every year we start the season NOT KNOWING who our rotation will be. That's a recipe for a lousy record.

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Pete's reply: Well, I think they've actually spent a lot of money lately to improve the organization. I really don't know how much MASN money there is yet, so I can't evaluate that, but they've augmented scouting and player development enough that Baseball America rates them in the top 10 a couple of years from having them near the bottom. What they haven't done yet is spend a lot of money on free agents, but this wouldn't have been the year to do it.

Lot of anger on the board today mostly aimed at Pie and in my opinion, rightly so.The guy has become a real pariah in this town except with the McPhail worshippers who thinks he walks on water. I don't think Trembley is going to play Pie everyday. He'll be an occassional starter and late inning replacement.

Everybody that's ragging on the O's rotation is looking at this all wrong!!Look on this as a tremendous opportunity...Bet the OVER on all O's games the first two weeks of the season before Vegas adjusts the lines!! That extra wad in your pocket will make it a little easier to stomach.

I can't believe the Orioles are serious on keeping 13 pitchers. To many pitchers and not enough work. I say 11 at the most and keep a good bench. Pitchers need to know the role they play and when there is to many they get mixed messages to what role they have be it starter, long man, short man set up relief. I can't believe they are keeping Walker. He was worthless last year and I don't think he has showed he can be any better this year. .

You guys are all missing an obvious point here. We all know the front office thinks that the earliest we can be competitive will be 2011( 2010 is a long shot since our baby stars will be rookies). Therefore, our best bet is to get the best players in the draft that we can. This means coming in last- not only in our Division or the AL but in all ML! With a #5 pick this year and a #1 next, we'll be sitting pretty- and the stadium won't need expensive maintanace because NO WILL GO TO ANY GAMES IN 2009 or 2010! You do this by keeping inept players and having perhaps the worst starting 5 in recent baseball history.