Pete,

This can't be a good thing. How can we expect him to catch 4 games a week in the regular season? May can't get here fast enough.

Pete: Do you think there's any chance at all that the Orioles will make a trade (say involving Montanez or Niemold) for a pitcher or make some other move, transaction, etc., given the rather sorry state of the starting pitching staff or are they saying a prayer, slaughtering a goat and hoping for the best?

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Pete's reply: They are giving every indication that they aren't going to do that, but I hear they are scouting some clubs heavily right now. We'll find out pretty soon.

Why will it be different in the regular season for Eaton? He hasn't had an era under 5 the last 3 seasons, does anyone serious think his numbers will improve in the AL east?
Get use to his excuses.

pete zaun gets hurt it will look like ss did last year , but please tell me adam eaton is not making this club ,when he was good he was bad double a at best help.

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Pete's reply: Yes, he's making the club.

Uh Oh. Zaun's already beginning to show a lack of durability? See you soon Matt Weiters.

Pete,nice to know you've added political commentary to your repertoire,albeit misinformed and misguided.Going to 2 baseball games in Cuba certainly should improve your credibility over the numerous financial experts who have weighed in and done lengthy research on the embargo previously mentioned and disagreed on in your previous blogs.Maybe when the Sun finally goes under you too can get a job as a "talking head" on the radio.I enjoy your sense of humor and think you have a fairly decent grasp of baseball,just don't think you truly understand what being a Baltimore born and bred Oriole Baseball fan means.But then again neither does Peter Angeloser.By the way,what is your take in the Jim Calhoun and UConn story?And does that have an effect on Gary and Maryland recruiting in any way?

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Pete's reply: C'mon Burt. Why would you want my opinion on college basketball when I've covered baseball for 30 years and you don't really respect my opinion on that?

Pete maybe you could pass this along to the powers that be. I read the o's coverage on the internet because i live in central virginia, I would bet 99% of the people reading the paper wonder why washingtons starting rotation is the lead story in the baseball section. Please no deadskins or nats stories.

Pete,

What's the over/under and number of starting pitchers the Os use this season?

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Pete's reply: I'll say 11.

Pete,

Can you remember an Orioles starting rotation looking this poor and talentless to start the season?

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Pete's reply: No.

Pete,nowhere in my comment did I once say I disrespected your baseball acumen,I have disagreed with you on occasion,but I think that is still a constitutional right,in this day and age I could be wrong though.The point I was trying to make was,since you obviously misunderstood,I disagreed with your position on the embargo,not your baseball knowledge or expertise,and think it's just a little harder for someone who grew up listening to Orioles baseball and actually understanding it when I was about 4 or 5 to accept this current version and once more being urged to be patient.And I couldn't agree more that carrying a 13th pitcher is a nobrainer,but just as they don't pay attention to your 30 years of covering baseball and there is no sarcasm in that at all,they really don't ask for or care to hear our opinions.And I think the whole handling of the rotation all spring has been nothing short of ridiculous.I don't even thin Gutherie has even pitched 20 innings yet including the WBC,and don't get me started on that either.

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Pete's reply: I'm sure we agree on a lot of things. I really wasn't expressing a strong opinion on the embargo, just replying to a request for some recollections of the Orioles/Cuba thing. I didn't really advocate either lifting it or reinforcing it. Just said it was a factor in their apparently lower standard of living. Didn't think that was a particularly controversial viewpoint. Seems obvious on its face. Surely, there are more basic factors, but I wasn't intending to have a long discussion of Cuban/American politics.

Pete,

Be careful with that geopolitical stuff, now your in my lane, but on this one I have your back! You were dead on, it has grossly retarded the progress of Cuban society and at the same time actually strengthened the Castro family's strangle hold on power truly to no ones benefit. The politics of the embargo lies in US politics where the Republicans value the south Florida vote so much and the democrats no longer seem to care or are against it because the Republicans are for it. But seeing the irrational editorial harrassment your taking from Burt from Essex Maryland (72% Democratic) I believe his liberal principals far exceed his geopolitical knowledge!

I can't believe Hillary Clinton hasn't yet contacted you for one of the many vacancies at our State Dept! You know Special Envoy to Havana?

Keith,my father isa preacher and we have numerous friends who worked in the Florida area with Cuban natives who made their way over here and make up a large presence in Miami,and Florida in general.I disagreed with Pete in principal,but this was decided long before I could spell geopolitical.I probably expect the embargo to be lifted but my response has nothing to do with liberal views of anything,it has to do with talking to people who came over her for a better chance at life,embargo or not.Next thing you're going to do is tell me the Gonzalez situation was handled well during Janet Reno's reign of terror.Why is it that little to nothing is done on either side about the Mexican influx arriving in droves and being accepted but Cuban refugees being turned back seems to be the norm.Meanwhile Pete,I do respect your baseball opinions,have never said you're an Oriole yes man like some on here,and did anticipate hearing your answer to the Maryland question?Any chance of that?

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Pete's reply: You're going to have to refresh my memory on the Maryland question. I've been caught in traffic all night and am addled.