Pete,

I like your logic, its very sound! Now how do we dump Eaton? Who can we get up here and when? I think we've actually turned the corner, getting good starts from Guthrie, Koji, Hill and Bergesen. Dave needs to try and stretch them out to save the pen a little, but it's coming along as best that can be expected. Unfortunate misplay by Pie, kinda like Andy Pettit mis-remembering!

Does a time exist when you aren't convinced of your own correctness?

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Pete's reply: Yes, but I can't remember it anymore.

Talk about low expectations. 64.9% of the voters in the Sun poll grading the manager give him a 'A'. Not bad for .421 wining percentage this year. It's even worse than last year's .430. I guess he had an 'A+' last year.

I'm more concerned about what happens when Luke comes off the DL.There's going to have to be a decison made on who's the startng LF and 4th Of. I don't see any in betweens on reimold,he's either the everyday LF or he's not. The idea of platooning him with Pie or using him as a DH is idiotic and you would ruin his career as he's coming into his prime.Reimold's run production and power potental is far superior to Pies'.Bet we'll see his defense is better at some point also.

Pete: if the orioles were one game out of first that would probably changed a lot of things, the fact is Luke cannot drive in 10 runs a game and the club can make easy decisions. Also the book is still out on Pie. It is funny that people get excited and call Pie getting hot when he is something like 8 for 28 in his last ten games, so he went from a .160 to .200 hitter. Big deal we should have put him on the 15 day DL when his stomach started giving him issues. When Scott comes off the DL, someone has to go down, who will it be?

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Pete's reply: I think I'd have to flip a coin between Montanez and Reimold, though the club could avoid that decision by dropping Eaton and starting Bass.

Lets be honest, the real reason he is on the DL is so the O's can get an extended look at Nolan Reimold.

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Pete's reply: I'm okay with that, too.

I hear crickets. Where are the fans going? Looks to me like the Os are back in the same pattern that has been repeated for a decade and a half. Pretty nice start, get the fans' hopes up that maybe this team is the one that turns the corner, go through a tough W-L run of a few weeks, then settle into split a series, go 1-2, or have an occasional 2-1.
How can the front office tell loyal fans that this will be a rebuilding year --- on one hand --- yet ask them to belly up to the ticket counter as they continue this pattern of 45-55 baseball?
"OK, honey, we can go; this is where we came in..."

Scott on DL is the right move. Overlooked the interleague games next weekend. Great insight.
Lineup tends to jump out early and cruise as though the game is in the bag. Have you heard if they are making any adjustments with their approach at the plate?

when is adam jones coming back

I'm with you Pete, sounds like a no brainer to me.

Peter, it is concerning that Luke (and others) think you can play through rotator soreness. I suppose it is an ignorance of the muscular system, because a rotator injury must be fully healed - it cannot be fought through. These are not major muscles as regards size; they are small and delicate and take a brutal amount of abuse. To think one can 'power through' the soreness is incorrect. Hence, the DL was the right decision. I appreciate the club having the intelligence to DL him, since Scott was not allowing it to heal before resuming workouts.

I'm pretty sure you're right, too, Pete. I also think Dave Trembley made the right choice in sitting Adam Jones one more day, especially with the off day today, because the last thing the Orioles need is for one of those two productive players to come back too soon, aggravate the injury and be out for an extended time. Both Luke and Adam are too valuable to the lineup to lose them.

People, like the one who said his potential power and run production are far superior to Pie's, have to remember that Reimold has been considered by most scouts as a fourth or fifth outfielder, decent power and defense but not a full-time starter, while Pie has been considered a five-tool prospect and a solid player. And he is younger than Reimold.

We don't know much Pie's progression was hurt by his lack of use in Chicago and by his move to new surroundings in Baltimore, but this is his first extended look in the majors. The tools are there, no doubt, and the time is at hand for him to start showing them. I do wonder about Pie's mental toughness, does he have the drive and dedication to being the best he can be? That jury is still out. As much as I've defended Pie over the years, he has GOT to start showing something.

And then there's Montanez, who is even older than Reimold, where does he fit in?

You have four guys vying for two spots and the Orioles might be better served going with youth and exploring trade options for Scott and maybe even one of the three youngsters because neither Pie, Reimold nor Montanez can get a fair look if they aren't playing all the time.

Scott would look good in the new Chankee Stadium, wouldn't he?

Starting Bass would be a smart move. Really was rooting for Eaton to do well, even though I doubted he could get it done in Baltimore, his once promising career has had too many setbacks. Bass would be a logical decision. Even if he can only pitch five innings. I guess we will find out soon. If Eaton pitches well in his next game, I am sure they will give him another shot.

My wife thinks I'm always right, too. As long as I'm aggreing with her.

Forget all these moves. I need an explanation for why Wigginton is still on the roster. What a waste.

Pete, I heard rumors on the O's radio broadcast and on ESPN the other day that the Mets might be interested in Huff.

I don't think that would be a good move by the O's... at least not yet.

But do you think the O's could drop Wigginton on them? They are looking for someone with 1b ability and a bat, since Delgado is down. Might not get much, but it would clear the way for Luke's return and the plethora or youth...

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Pete's reply: I think the O's would be open to moving Wigginton, but I doubt he's the guy the Mets are looking for to stopgap Delgado.

Pete - have you heard of any interest by the O's to move spring training to AZ? I keep hearing rumors that Tucson may try to lure them to the facility vacated by the White Sox. Would love to see it happen.

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Pete's reply: I wouldn't mind it either, but I think they're close to getting something done with Sarasota.

Pete,

Your statement Pete's reply: I think I'd have to flip a coin between Montanez and Reimold, though the club could avoid that decision by dropping Eaton and starting Bass.

Don't think that is realistic, I see one of the more mature youngsters getting the call. Tillman, Patton or Hernandez might not be until 1 July but one of them is coming. The 5th starter is NOT currently on the roster! Dave and ANdy both know that much!

I agree with you Pete. You make good points. How about passing it on, to the powers that be, that the American League should use the DH whether the NL wants to or not. It puts us at a disadvantage much more not using it than the NL using it.

The O's would be crazy not to trade Huff for more rebuilding pieces. He is at the apex of his value, and the O's are 2 years away from winning. No brainer.

The SUN needs to update the readers about the Orioles Spring Training situation. Will Fort Myers, Sarasota or Tucson, Arizona become the new and improved spring training home of the Orioles. Finding a Major League standard spring training facility has been a 30 year saga for the Orioles.

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Pete's reply: It's hard to get any straight answers, but I think Sarasota has moved to the front. I'll make some more inquiries and update the situation as soon as I can.

The SUN needs to update the readers about the Orioles Spring Training situation. Will Fort Myers, Sarasota or Tucson, Arizona become the new and improved spring training home of the Orioles. Finding a Major League standard spring training facility has been a 30 year saga for the Orioles.

it will be interesting to see what happens when Scott gets back. He or Huff may be moved this year, but at least one of them needs to be around next year for left handed thump. Balance is paramount. I recall when Gillick traded Hammonds for Willie Greene just a few days after releasing Joe Carter, the O's went from having too many right handed hitting outfielders to not enough. They played the rest of that year with a light hitting left handed Rich Becker playing ONLY against left handers. It was nuts. I don't think they've had a winning season since. Anyway it certainly will be decision time soon. I hope Pie steps up because he's got amazing tools. Reimold reminds me of Rob Deer. I hope i'm wrong about that.

Luke Scott--left field--where he belongs.

Tuscon, really? My in-laws are in Tuscon...so that would be a mixed blessing indeed.

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Pete's reply: If that happens, we're all having a barbeque at your in-laws. Save the date.

Getting rid of Eaton and starting Bass when Scott returns still doesn't solve the roster problem. The Orioles would then only have 11 pitchers and they need at least 12. One of Montanez/Pie/Reimold has to go and there is no way around it unless one of Scott/Wigginton is sent away instead which is extremely unlikely. I do believe, however, that Eaton should be replaced by one of Pauley/Waters. Bass is doing well as a long reliever now and needs to stay in that role.