Wow. Exciting time to be an Orioles fan. First time I've been able to say that in I don't know how long. Wieters, Berken, Bergesen, Markakis, Jones, Tillman, Arrieta, Matusz. Keep 'em coming!

Woo Hoo!

What's the lineup look like? Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Huff, Reimold, Wieters, Mora, Wigginton/Scott and Izturis?

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Pete's reply: I would guess Wieters will bat seventh at the outset.

Astounding revelation. Thanks for heads up Pete!

In light of this, and other recent events, it soudns as if the youth movement is in full swing. Couple of thoughts:

1) If David Hernandez is called up, have we seen the last of Koji as a starter? Bullpen/long man may be a better roll for him.

2) Which catcher goes? I have a sneaking suspicion that Zaun is NOT the automatic lock here.

3) Guthrie, Hill, Bergeson, Berken, Hernandez....is this the rotation for the remainder of the year

Can't we get rid of Zaun? If only because he wears a big Yankee "Y" on his chest protector. Seriously... check it out.

Can't we get rid of Zaun? If only because he wears a big Yankee "Y" on his chest protector. Seriously... check it out.

This is the best O's news I can remember in a long time. It's just good to have hope again.

Pete,

I was so excited to see Berkin debut tonight, now I can't focus on the game knowing Matt is coming to town! Look at What Mr. McPhail has done for this team in such a short time period! Jones in center, Markakis and Roberts re-inked, Brian Matusz, Tillman, Patton...we're on the road back to respectability! Thanks Andy Mac!!!

Hooray for Matt! My only regret is that I'll be stuck at a Wedding Rehearsal and dinner on Friday! Thank goodness for Tivo and/or the internet.

You're right Pete, Chad Moeller has done a decent enough job that the Orioles could possible get a lower tier propect for him. If he passes thru waivers without anyone claiming him, I hope he accepts an assignment to Norfolk hopefully he would work with the younger pitchers. Anyway he did a good job here and hopefully we can keep him in the organization in some way.
My only worry about Matt Wieters is his defense. What kind of game can he call? Can he throw out runners trying to steal?

Yeah! Getting ready to compete in 2010!

I'm very excited to see Wieters. O's fans deserve to see his debut in Baltimore, and we deserve to have a player of his caliber in the orange and black. Wieters, Markakis, Jones, Reimold -- that's a good young nucleus, and I haven't even mentioned the pitching.

Pete -- you really think they're going to carry 3 catchers? Why would they do that? They're certainly not going to release Zaun. I think Moeller is as good as gone. He knew his time was short when he signed his deal here, this will come as no surprise to him.

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Pete's reply: No, they won't carry three catchers. I think Moeller is probably the move, but it's not a lock.

Class move by the organization. Ignoring the arbitration clock sends a signal that the Orioles are not solely motivated by $$ concerns; bringing him up right after that deadline had passed would have made such a move transparent.

Good luck to the kid: I hope he thrives! And, although Moeller has played okay and has shown a good attitude, unless we can trade Zaun I think releasing Chad is a no-brainer. But what do I know...

Was already planning on going Friday night what with the 1st Fireworks night...but definitely going now!! Can't wait to see Matt catching Bergeson!

Pete, you may have touched on this before but I don't remember the answer. Why are there so many more Nats games on MASN(with the HD) than the Birds?? As long as we're on, I don't care...but that makes no sense to me, at least for Baltimore. Does it not work both way for the benefit of the home team??

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Pete's reply: I really don't know the answer to that. I'll have to look into it.

I think I just shed a tear.....can't wait to see what he can do.

I like how McPhail has handled the current prospects. Whether it is Reimold, Weiters or the young starting pitchers, they are being put in a position to be successful. Before people complain that they are being kept in the minors for too long and for no reason...that is the reason they are coming up and having success. They are honing their skills and getting used to success in the minor leagues so they have confidence and are ready to compete when they get called up. This is the most excited I have been about the O's in a few years. And this time it isn't smoke and mirrors, this time we have a real chance to be a decent team and sustain that success. The orange flavored Kool-Aid tastes good.

I'd like them to keep Moeller and waiver Zaun. Zaun's a good guy and a hard player, but he's pretty close to an automatic out these days. I don't know if his experience will make him useful enough as a mentor to Wieters or not. Which ever one they decide to keep, I'm starting to feel better about this team. Berken had a good first outing tonight, Hill has pitched well, the new rotation is looking promising.
With Wieters hopefully adding some punch to the lineup as well, the O's could start surprising some teams that have already chalked them up as W's on their schedule.

With Zaun having arm issues, would that be a convenient excuse to put him on the DL and buy some time?

Will he start?

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Pete's reply: He wouldn't be coming up if he wasn't going to start.

Great news... I was hoping selfishly that he would debut on the 9th as I'll be in California on Friday, but I guess that I'll have about 10 more years of his games to catch... It feels like the O's are finally turning the corner and building organizational depth like the Sox have been doing for the last 5+ years ...AL East champs in 2011 baby!!

Thanks be to God

Gary Thorne has reported not ,not twice,but three times tonight that Reimold has hit his second home run of the year.Someone tell Gary it't his third home run of the year.

YES!

I need to change my pants

This team finishes .500. You can just feel it. And then one big free agent SP signing over the off-season and WILD CARD, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!! By the way, I need tickets to the 6/19-21 series here in Philly.... SOLD OUT!!

Yea baby!!!! It's go time!! Reimold, now Weiters and Berken with the great start tonight!! Bring up a few more of these pitchers that are kicking butt at Norfolk and we're back baby!! Our 11 year journey back to respectability is nearing an end! I can feel it Schmuckster!!!!! Weiters is the epitome of 'Orioles Magic!!!" I hope I used that word epitome correctly.

Pete, you say Moeller's not a lock to go, but didn't they sign Zaun to not only start while Wieters got more experience in Triple-A, but to also tutor him when he got to Baltimore? You obviously know something we don't to say that it's not a lock that Moeller goes, but I really don't see the logic in that.

YEAH BABY! With tonight's win and this news, I haven't been this excited in 12yrs!!!

I was watching when Macphail was in the box during the game tonight. I loved how Buck Martinez transitioned so smoothly right into the question everyone was waiting to hear get asked. We are lucky to have him calling games as O's fans. And to mike, yeah, we're not so lucky to have Thorne. Hes clueless at all times.

Schmuck- I think Hernandez will finally come up and start with Wieters Friday. Its gonna feel like watching the Tide up here soon!

Its a new day in Baltimore

All of a sudden, our lineup is filled with young studs and stars in the making: Markakis, Jones, Reimold, Wieters. Reimold will get overshadowed by the other bats but I think he will eventually be a quality OF with plus power. Having a player like that will be a major plus.

The fact that quite a number of the current quality guys are homegrown should make Os fans proud (Markakis, Wieters, Reimold, Roberts, JJ, Ray, Bergesen, Berken).

The youth movement is in full swing. This is exciting no matter how this year turns out. Andy is beginning to look a lot like Ozzie.

I thought they were waiting until June 1 to delay his arbitration for another year. Will his debut being in May mess that up?

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Pete's reply: Maybe, but they said from the outset the arbitration date was not a priority.

Who?

Has anyone seen Pie lately?

Pete, with Hernandez, Wieters and Scott being added to the 25 man roster, who gets subtracted? Koji goes to the DL, one catcher is moved or released, but what about the third roster spot? Is it the end of the line for Pie? Kinda sad really. For some reason, I liked him. I guess nobody else did. Any case that he has more upside than Wigginton?

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Pete's reply: I'm really not sure yet. Don't think it will be Pie.

Friday is going to be one special day. I can't wait to see Matt's 1st game in Baltimore!

I would go with Chad Moeller as the backup catcher. I like the way he calls a game, but I can't see the O's waiving Zaun.

Finally. I do not think that the Orioles would want to keep three catchers but seriously people do you think they will get rid of Zaun? Zaun was acquired just for this purpose, working with and breaking in the stud!

Pete,
Considering the special kind of prospect Wieters is, and if he reaches his promise, do you think this might mark the true turning point that closes one chapter of Orioles history and opens another?

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Pete's reply: That's the hope.

Pete,

I guess the Orioles figure if a top prospect is going to get hurt might as well get hurt in the major leagues. Wieters already was injuried at Norfolk once. Not a bad decision to bring Wieters up to Baltimore but a difficult one because somebody has to leave the team. However, I did think MacPhail would wait until the All-Star break but I guess Wieters is fully recovered..

Just saw that he's only throwing out 23 percent of runners this year. I hope he improves a lot on that or we'll be seeing a lot of the enemy perched on second.

what? why are they not waiting an extra TWO days to make sure they pass the arbitration date?

that's just not smart business or baseball.

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Pete's reply: That date is not fixed. Depends on a lot of outside factors.

I smell a run at at the wildcard this season! it is not all star break and we are not that far out of it.

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Pete's reply: You are dreaming, but enjoy yourself. I like your positive attitude.

Tully,

Who is Pie?

Enjoy him while you can , he will be a Yankee in five years........................

Pete-I am reeling and excited by Wieters announcement , I am already bugging my wife to see O's this weekend !
I am also pleased to see Reimold's emergence , it makes up for the Pie disappointment .

Why not just make Zahn a coach? Moeller has done well and he deserves to stick around. It looks like the pieces are falling together but I can't help wondering who's going to play 3rd beyond this year?

Hey Pete,

Do you expect him to start 5 or 6 starts out of every week?Maybe even 7 some weeks?

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Pete's reply: Five sounds about right.

Hey Pete,

Do you expect him to start 5 or 6 starts out of every week?Maybe even 7 some weeks?

hope he pulls a Will Clark in his first at bat.