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The Orioles have told top prospect Matt Wieters that he will be reassigned to the Triple-A Norfolk roster and report to their minor league facility on Monday. Wieters said he was told early so he could handle some logistics, but will stay a day or two longer and accompany the team on tomorrow's road trip to Jupiter, Fla. to play the Florida Marlins.
Peter Schmuck wants you to know that, contrary to popular belief, he is more than just a bon vivant, raconteur and collector of blousy flowered shirts. He is a semi-respected journalist who has covered virtually every sport -- except luge, of course – and tackled issues that transcend the mere games people play. If that isn’t enough to qualify him to provide witty, wide-ranging commentary on the sports world ... and the rest of the world, for that matter ... he is an avid reader of history, biography and the classics, as well as a charming blowhard who pops off on both sports and politics on WBAL Radio. That means you can expect a little of everything in The Schmuck Stops Here, but the major focus will be keeping you up to the minute on Baltimore’s major sports teams and themes, whether it’s throwing up the Orioles lineup the minute it’s announced or updating you on the latest sprained ankle in Owings Mills. Oh, and by the way, that’s Mr. Schmuck to you. 
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Comments
I am glad to see the Os making the right move on Wieters. They could have easily succumbed to fan pressure here, which the other previous regimes would have done. Opening the season with Wieters may have gone on to produce no ill effects as far as Wieters' development, but why take that chance? The team has more options if they hold off a few months.
I am of the school of thought of "letting the kids play," and, if they are good, they will hit no matter what. Though Wieters was a little bit of a special case. He has so much hype around him, the most in all baseball for any prospect, that to open the season with him highlights his annointment as a Saviour. There are All-Star veterans out there who have gone through horrid slumps due to unrealistically high expectations, why place something similar on the kid before he's even had a single MLB AB? We have some control over that by how and when we promote him so why not exercise it?
Posted by: Basemonkey | March 26, 2009 5:54 PM
Pete,
What's up with this double dipping stuff? We get the article and the abridged version in the blog? Seriously though, as camp wraps up, any chance we'll get a breaking camp assessment? I personally am deeply concerned that our SP's may be behind what we had in 2008! Even Guthrie is a concern with opening day less that 2 weeks away and everyone else with some baggage and now possibly some bullpen issues.
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Pete's reply: Sorry, but I have to throw certain things up as web news stories. Didn't want to insult you by repeating the same stuff in the blog.
Posted by: Keith Rowe | March 26, 2009 6:02 PM
Pete, A couple of days ago while listening to the Orioles broadcast, I heard either Joe Angel or Fred Manfra say that despite being in minor league camp, Brad Begesen is still in the mix to make the Opening Day rotation.
Today, Marlin announcers said exactly the same thing. What's up? Is there a story here?
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Pete's reply: Yes, but we've already written it. Bergesen will be available to come back on Opening Day if necessary, and it might be, but the club wants him to start a couple of games in Norfolk if possible.
Posted by: Ken Francis | March 26, 2009 6:14 PM
See ya soon Matty and bring some pitchers with you.
Posted by: John | March 26, 2009 6:22 PM
That was expected. I look for him not to be brought back until after they effectively screw him out of possible Super 2 status which will be in the mid June time frame. That needs more pro seasoning thing is pure PR BS. It's a money/control issue, nothing more.
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Pete's reply: I don't think they care all that much about the Super-2 thing. I think he'll come back in May, probably before that deadline.
Posted by: A Fan with delusions of Grandeur | March 26, 2009 7:25 PM
This isn't very fun when you don't post comments timely. Supposed to be a blog, not a blah.
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Pete's reply: Sorry, but I'm doing things as fast as I can. Got to write columns and stories, too.
Posted by: Disgusted Dave B | March 26, 2009 8:43 PM
Why are people still questioning Weiters being sent out? He's being spared the best 3 rotations in basebal the month of April in addition to saving service time.Besides the O's problem is pitching. What's funny is the people who want Weiters on the OD roster for his bat but are content to go with Pie's sorry bat in the line up.
Posted by: John | March 27, 2009 6:47 AM
Catchers have the physically toughest job in baseball. He needs to get here in steps. You don't need an All-Star or Minor League Player of the Year to catch a rotation that collectively won't win 65 games. This summer is early enough; let him catch 50 games and get 200 at bats at 3A. Giles, York, PA
Posted by: giles couch | March 27, 2009 7:49 AM
anyone notice that kid from American Idol looks EXACTLY like BRob? (hold the Am. Idol jokes please). Uncanny.
Posted by: matt | March 27, 2009 8:01 AM
If he wanted to play on opening day, he could always fire Scott Boras so the team could feel a little more confident that a long term deal is possible before he "tests the market." Obviously, playing on opening day isn't the most important thing to Weiters. I have no problem with that. It's a business.
Posted by: Mike H. | March 27, 2009 10:19 AM
When Weiters' is called up after the season starts how long does he need to play to be considered for a potential ROY Award?
Posted by: Ryan in STL | March 27, 2009 12:03 PM
This was no surprise and makes perfect sense. If the army of pitchers they brought to camp had resulted in a promising looking rotation, then I might have been talked into thinking they should bring him up now and take a run a respectability. That hasn't happened however and we are entering into the season with a starting rotation that is full of question marks at the very best.
If somewhere around June the O's manage to get their pitching straigtened out and on a roll of some kind, then maybe bring him up then.
Posted by: Roy | March 27, 2009 1:06 PM