Looks like Andino only has warning track power.

I guess that's another candidate out of the "Who Can Fill Our Massive Hole In The Clean-Up Spot?" competition...

Hey Pete,

Back in 2008, what was your hope for the O's in 2010? Did you think they'd at least be a 500 team by this coming season?

Also, Could you list all the Free Agents that Andy has brought to Baltimore since he got to town? Since no team can rely solely on prospects in order to compete, I think it would be interesting for everyone to see.

Thanks Pete

Wayne - I don't post much, but I've noticed that you do. I'm (honestly) curious about your angle - are you trying to make the point that the orioles aren't making the right moves, or are you upset with the Sun's (or Peter's) reporting?

Really, I'm just curious, because you're usually one of the first posters on each blog entry.

regards-

good question Jared.

Can't help but notice the timely response.

jared---
the thing you have to understand is that the main difference between wayne and a computer with a pentium processor is that wayne has no intel inside.

bwahaaahaaaahahahaaahahaa

It must be now obvious to everyone, including the Oriole front office, Guthrie was not last year, and will not be this year, a number one, two or even a number three effective major league starting pitcher.

Signing Washburn to replace Guthrie as a number two starter is the way to go. Lets hope that Andy finally figure this out.

You hope that Andy finally figures this out.I swear that's the funiest thing I've heard since he said he would be a competetive ballclub in 2010.He didn't lie,he just failed to note that the only people we might be competitve with is the Pirates.Wait,I think they might actually be better than us.

C'mon guys, over in the City of Brotherly Love they're complaining that the NL Champions aren't any better this year than the O's so go figure.

It's Spring Training.

As for Guthrie, he has a head issue...or maybe I should write a "hard-headed" issue. He needs to forget he went to Stanford and start listening to his coaches. Guthrie was a career 3.88 e.r.a. pitcher until last year when he decided he knew more than his O's coaches - the same hard-headed approach he took when he wore an Indians' uniform.

As for Washburn. Why take a flyer on another 36 year old with 1 sub 4.00 e.r.a. in the last 4 years? And you need to realize that Washburn didn't face the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays as often as Guthrie has had to do the last 3 years.

NB,
Are you still looking for the answer to my question, or are you just ignoring a direct question, ala Wayne?

So I'll ask it again, what is the better predicter of upcoming season's production, spring training stats, or last season's stat's?

Any school boy baseball fan knows the answer to that one. so it really shouldn't have taken long to look up for a stats maven like yourself. But I can wait...

Nice articale in this morning's paper about Britton, seems the O's could be on the cusp of having TWO really good lefties in the rotation. Really interesting to hear what Britton has to say about his development as a player and the O's minor league development system.

Got to say, some nice positive news about the Birds with my morning coffee.
Britton and Matusz were the two best young LH pitchers that I've ever seen on a minor league team together.

Britton, Patton, Arrieta, and Erbe all seem to be knocking on the door. By Allstar break hopefully one or two are trying to kick it in and force their way into the rotation. Then the guys pitching for the O's will have to produce or move out of the way...

Pete,

Did you allow Jim Hunter to ghost write the first two paragraphs to this thread? Just kidding! I can tell you are getting bored down there and are ready to come back home and start the season. I don't blame you. You have seen and honestly reported a lot of bad baseball the Orioles have played since ST began. Like the rest of us, you are hoping that on the flight home to Baltimore the imposters will turn the uniforms over to the real players. This is just awful.

SPRING TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:

Brian Matusz
The bullpen
Nick Markakis
Nobody died {Yet}

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Well, I could have written, "The Orioles sucked again," but thought I would add some information. Didn't think the thing was that positive. It was kind of an exciting ending.

30 Clubs In 30 Days Orioles preview on MLB Network at 2 p.m.

"The Orioles came close to making a huge comeback in the ninth inning of today's 5-2 loss "
I fear that's a story line we're going to see a lot this year.
I also agree that Guthrie belongs in the pen where he could be an asset instead of in the rotation where he becomes a liability. With Uehara looking fragile already, that's where he might end up unless he can start getting out of an inning without throwing so many pitches.
Hey Pete? do you ever plan to respond to anyone on this blog again? I mean that is supposed to be the strength of the blog format, the chance to interact.
I certainly realize you don't have the time to monitor this every minute or respond to every post, but once upon a time you did used to actually engage with some people.
In addition to all the bickering that admittedly fills so many of the comments, I've also seen quite a few people asking plane old fan type baseball questions about a particular player or some aspect of the game that they are curious about. You used to answer questions like that, occasionally at least. After all most of us don't get to attend ST, you are our eyes and ears and being able to ask a sportswriter on the scene a question and have a decent chance of getting a response was a large part of what brought some of us here.
If that is gone now, and you no longer intend to interact with us at all, then please say so.

Roy,

Don't mean to speak for Mr. Schmuck, but my guess is that because spring training is one of his busiest times of year, that means that the responses to comments go down a bit.

My guess is he'll go back to commenting with some frequency when the Birds fly north for the summer. Could be wrong, but hope I'm not.

MountainFan -

To directly answer your question (which I wasn't ignoring by the way, I just didn't know you had asked me any questions) I think you have to look at both. I know spring stats don't mean a whole lot, but when does mean a lot is whether or not guys are having good at bats in the spring. And judging by our major league low OBP, which is in danger of dipping below .300, our guys aren't having good at bats.

Isn't it at least a little disconcerting that Markakis, Izturis, Atkins, Jones and Scott have 40 strikeouts and eight walks between the five of them? Especially when that comes directly after a season in which Markakis put up a career low OBP, Atkins had the worst year of his life and Scott was his usual streaky self?

MountainFan -

To directly answer your question (which I wasn't ignoring by the way, I just didn't know you had asked me any questions) I think you have to look at both. I know spring stats don't mean a whole lot, but when does mean a lot is whether or not guys are having good at bats in the spring. And judging by our major league low OBP, which is in danger of dipping below .300, our guys aren't having good at bats.

Isn't it at least a little disconcerting that Markakis, Izturis, Atkins, Jones and Scott have 40 strikeouts and eight walks between the five of them? Especially when that comes directly after a season in which Markakis put up a career low OBP, Atkins had the worst year of his life and Scott was his usual streaky self?

what are your thoughts about montanez and pie contributing to the orioles this year? are they fringe players or expected to contribute if the O's are to succeed in `10?