Andino doesn't hit well enough to be the O's future SS. Any talk of trying out Turner @ SS in Norfolk to see if he can play the position?

Pete job well done there in Florida.I know that there weren't many positives coming out of this camp.Please keep up the great work. You know you will be hearing from me many more times during the course of this year.

The tortoise story sounds plausible to me. How else could you explain your shirt? I mean, it'd be pretty difficult to pee on your own shirt. Anyway, nice work as always.

Thanks Peter- your posts were all full of interesting information and humor. Keep up the good work!

Goodbye stone crabs- hello steamed crabs!!!

Hey Pete,

Please explain to me the difference between Andino and Luis Hernandez, our other SS of the future. It seems to me they are identical.

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Pete's reply: Don't see a lot of difference statistically. The major difference is, you haven't seen Andino in this role yet. Just have to see how it plays out.

Pete,

Thanks for flying Southwest, If you are ever on one of my flights I'll make sure and embarrass you over the PA.

Do you see the O's trying to move any more young players in the coming days? Please tell me they aren't trying to trade Montanez or Turner...

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Pete's reply: They aren't.

Hey Pete, I hear tortoise pee is good for stains. Any truth to that

Turtle pee is very dangerous. Doctors say it causes extreme hyperbole.

Thanks for saving the turtle. I do the same when I'm driving down on the good old Eastern Shore. I once had one in my hands when a redneck stopped to ask if I was going to eat it. Of course, I responded, but let the diamondback go as soon as the redneck's ancient Chevy pickup had cleared the marsh. It is my U of Md legacy, I suspect.

lol blancione, we all CAN'T wait!

hmmm, i wonder if the Tides have wireless internet access available at Harbor Park? I can't wait to see the game tomorrow, weather forecast has called for rain the past couple of days here in Norfolk but it's been pretty nice so I hope they are wrong again!

Who implied Andino was our future SS? Pegged to be the utility guy. We have a SS in Izturis.

Any truth to the rumor that the O's have added the tortoise to their starting rotation? Trembley reported to have said, "Sure, he's a slow starter but we're confident he'll come around eventually."

I used to live in rural northern Ontario Canada for a while. You'd see turtles quite frequently on the road. I used to stop all the time to pick them up and move them out of harms way. My wife thought I was nuts, so maybe you are to Pete. One warning for you though. Be careful they aren't snappers. You can lose a finger or two if they are. Pick them up with your hands as close to the back legs as possible.

Do you think the Orioles would be interested in 3B Dallas McPherson who was released by Florida? He hit 42 home runs in AAA last year.

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Pete's reply: Probably not. They've got Melvin and Wigginton to play there for the next year or two.

Pete,

Great job in Florida. I can't even begin to tell you how nice it was to have something new to read about the O's every hour or two. Keep up the great work.

Saving a turtle - I think your Calif. roots are showing.

sorry you had to resort to a peeing turtle story. Next time you should demand the company cesna

Pete,

Ditto, great job in Florida. As the pitching story unfolded, you kept us in the loop and your reporting reflected your increasing unease with the situation as each day went by. I heard you on WBAL this morning and I think you summed it all up when you said you had never covered a camp quite like it when it came to the uncertain pitching situation at the end of spring training.

I wonder what the starting rotation will look like by July 1.

great job on the blog. i look forward to reading your blog all season.

thanks for the updates pete, I dont know about you but im JONESing for some PIE and KAKES

First Montanez then Jolbert Cabrerra get sent to the minors. Two men that had great springs. Cabrerra has major league experience and drew a fan following last year in Cincy. I don't understand these moves.
This year is going to be a train wreck. Trembley will be exposed as a guy not capable of being a major league manager.

Hey if the Sun goes down at least you'll have a head start on a new profession.

Half of being an outstanding journalist* is being there at the right time.

They're just jealous.

*The other ninety percent is having cool shirts"

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Pete's reply: You are one perceptive person. Thanks.

Pete, all this talk about the poor facility in Lauderdale raises one question. Sure the field is rough, the fence wobbles, the parking sucks if one arrives closer to game time and the grandstand smells of Yankee stench, but what about the greatest hot dogs and hamburgs on the Treasure Coast? Maybe you don't indulge, but I do and the flamebroiled meat is very tasty. If the O's jump town, I hope they load the BBQ grills!!

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Pete's reply: I certainly have indulged and those burgers are great, but this spring thing needs to get fixed.

Pete-

Did the Os organization pay you a daily stipend for the cruel and unusual punishment you endured while covering the team in Florida? Hope the cruelty you witnessed does not have any long-lasting repercussions on your behavior. Your flight from Florida was timely. Today's game seemingly encapsulated all that is profoundly wrong with this team.

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Pete's reply: Happily, I am not compensated in any way by the Orioles.

Pete-

You don't "fear the turtle", do you?
When I was a child my dad would sometimes take the back roads home on rainy days from his job at Martin-Marietta in Middle River. About twice a year he would bring an Eastern Box Turtle home - they were attracted to the coolness of the asphalt after it rained. File this in the "useless info" bin...

Truly sad state of affairs when a turtle has top billing on the last day of spring training.
Though it would be appropriate that you had a fearful turtle instead of " Fear The Turtle". Sign of the future for the Birds?
Question: what is Lou Montanez's status?

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Pete's reply: He'll start in Norfolk, but you might see him in Baltimore sooner than you think.

Pete-

I thought it's a widely known fact that turtles/tortoises have a terribly tough time trying to master the sinker.