Wow, that's perfect! It seems so obvious once you see it, but that's the perfect pillow design for air travel. Looks pretty comfy too.

You mean that they give you vacation time, you get to go to spring training, AND they let you sleep on the plane too?

God, wait til Wayne and Gil find out, we'll have at least a week devoted to that. You could have went down on your vacation and lent a hand on the stadium project.

The picture would have been even better if you had one of those drinks with the little umbrellas in it. Or, had it just slipped out of your hand? I know you can't remember...

Interesting that there's a flow of position players coming in early. The good Vibes keep building around this team. sounds like the players are as ready for this season as the fans

Is the Vlad Guerrero Physical & News conference scheduled tomorrow?

Are we actually going to get around to baseball today Pete? So far we have heard about the weather, Valentines day, your departure, your arrival and a picture of you snoring on the plane. Zriebec is out there eating your lunch.

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Now, Gil, I don't compete with Jeff. In fact, some of my Orioles stuff will be posted on the Orioles Insider blog from now on. This blog will have analysis and some of the ridiculous stuff you've come to expect from me.

Does it come in any other color than Dundalk Sofa Blue?

Essex Carpet Maroon?

Halethorpe House Faded Green?

@ Gil
Pete can talk about whatever he wants =P! Also, that's not Peter taking a snooze, it's someone that looks like him

@ Mountain Fan.. they shouldn't have a press conference for Vlad. Instead, there should be a "Parade"! In fact we should get Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller's Day Off) , a parade float and some "local hotties" and sing (Twist and Shout). In honor of the occasion! I would be all for it! There just better not be a Billy Ripken surprise announcement that we traded Vlad for Michael Young. I would not be amused and there would not be a parade

Rodent, you wouldn't want a Vlad for Young trade? I'm not sure I'd say no to that one.

Yeah, looks like it works great, right up until the time that the A-Hole in front of you decides to throw his seat A-L-L-L the way back, which invariably happens to me.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I have no idea how it works. I'll have to check with that guy in the photo who looks disturbingly like me.

Ken,
I wouldn't take that trade unless all but about 8m of Young's deal was paid by TX. 16m a year for four more years is a lot to pay a guy that really doesn't have a defensive position.

TX was talking about playing him as a reserve for all four infield positions. Only problem is he's not a real good defensive player anywhere. He's also not the ideal DH either. He doesn't generate the big power numbers you''d like to see from a DH.

Young's a nice player at about 1/2 of that contract. TX is having a hard time finding any takers.

MountainFan,

While I agree that Young is owed way too much money, and any trading team would need Texas to pick up a healthy chunk...

Not a good defensive player...didn't he win Gold Gloves at 2nd and SS.

On the whole, I agree. Too much money, and no position (unless JJ is a bench guy). Plus, while he's a very good bat, and I'd love to see him batting 2nd behind Roberts {those two guys would work a pitcher for 20 pitches before the heart of the line-up came around...yikes}. But Vlad is a more fearsome hitter and I rather have Vlad for one year, than Young for 3 (?).

Bad idea Billy Ripken....well, not "bad" but not really helpful.

@ All

It's a bad idea to bring in Michael Young.
While it would be kind of groovy to have him. he is still a postional player as far as I am concerned. Plus, if we traded for MY, his position would be 2nd base. Therefore, we would have to trade B Rob. If we did that, our whole infield would be new and we would not have a lead off hitter. Not having a leadoff hitter is not a "Good" idea.

Ah, the Gold Glove argument...

Sure, paulie, Michael Young won a Gold Glove while playing short in 2008, but what does that mean? The Gold Glove never goes to the right guy. Never. Never ever.

After giving several to Derek Jeter, giving one to Rafael Palmeiro for a season in which he played just 20 games in the field and consistently favoring solid defenders who are great hitters over flat out amazing defenders who may not hit as well (see Franklin Gutierrez in 2009, Daric Barton in 2010), the Gold Glove award has absolutely no credibility.

PS - Young is a terrible defensive third baseman.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I'm going to have to agree here. The Gold Glove is meaningful in some cases, but not in others.

Gil,

Not sure what Pete can write about at this point. Actually, he's in a pretty tight spot right now.....

SInce WBAL is now covering the games, and since Pete works for WBAL, and since the O's are the SUN'S #1 advertising account, I'm thinking Pete's angle may be slightly different than in the past.

Noooooo, I'm not questioning Pete's integrity. All I'm saying is that we're all human. I mean what would any of us do given the same circumstances?

I'm sure Pete is simply carefully figuring out his 2011 tone. I get it.

As for the picture in the plane???

Thats actually AM on a flight to Chicago. You'd dye your hair, put on a fake mustache and remove your glasses as well if you were him.

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Whichever Wayne you are, I have to admit, I never considered either of those things. The WBAL deal happened so close to training camp that I didn't even get to talk to anybody there about it. The short answer on that is, I'm not involved in any O's programming, so I doubt think there would be any percentage in adjusting my tone for that reason, even if I were unethical enough to do that. I was also not aware that the O's are the Sun's biggest advertiser, probably because they aren't. I'll continue to disappoint you, I'm sure, but there's no conspiracy here.

I gave the Michael Young trade some more thought....if the Rangers throw in Neftali Feliz, I would consider it.

Pete,

Don't ever give up your blog. You have developed and nurtured a very "diverse" group of posters over the years. I think Charley Manson has access to a PC and gets on here once in a while. Not that he shouldn't participate. We need to remain inclusive.

One of my favorite all time posts came from"Lucky Horseshoe". Several years ago there was heated discussion on the board about Angelos and why he wasn't spending money on marquee talent.

After several long epiphanies, Lucky finally posted, "Screw the fans. It's Angelos' money and he can do with it what he wants."

No one had a comeback.

Pete,

You know which wayne I am... The same one who has used the address you're familiar with for so long...... who you kidding?

The fact that you said what you did though, surely gave smitty, Fang, Jim66, SHAM, Ferg, paulie (and the rest of his names) the thrill of his year.....

Anyway, I thought your reply was pretty thoughtful. Again, I'm not attacking your integrity. We're all human however, and I'm just saying that you must be in a tough spot.

And ok... you got me. The O's aren't the #1 client of the SUN. They're just the # 1 client of the SUN'S sports department during baseball season. But you get what I'm saying.....

Now do me a favor..........

Please respond to smitty, Fang, SHAM, paulie, Ferg, Jim66 and the rest from time to time. Otherwise, they'll keep coming on as me, hoping you'll respond to them (even if they have to use my name to do so)...

Give a little love to the warehousers from time to time.....

Hey Pete,

I'd like to nominate a piece of wayne's 2:34pm post for "Quote of the Year".

Everyone's favorite antagonist says:

"Noooooo, I'm not questioning Pete's integrity. All I'm saying is that we're all human. I mean what would any of us do given the same circumstances?

I'm sure Pete is simply carefully figuring out his 2011 tone. I get it."

wayne: Did you ever see Talladega Nights?

Your bit there reminds me of when Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell) continuously says "With all due respect" and then says something extremely disrespectful.

Fact is, buddy, you directly questioned Pete's integrity. There's no way around that. You can't just say you're not saying something and then say that exact thing.

I'd dare to say if Charlie Manson got access to a PC, he may very well post more lucid thoughts than Wayne.

There's a "Warehouser" around every corner conspiring to get Wayne. And the Baltimore Sun and now WBAL Radio are now part of the conspiracy.

Wayne, Wrap Alum. foil around your head at night so they can't use those 50,000 watts of AM power to get inside your head and control your thoughts.

Of course,out here in the country we're safe, WBAL's signal doesn't make it half way to the PA line. But they do have those darned Dish things you got to put on your house to get MASN. Another point of entry, got to put foil on that thing.
You know Riggins really could be the AntiChrist...

H'mm, Charlie says there's a secret message in the Orioles jingle if you play it backwards at half speed...

MountainFan,

WBAL most certainly does penetrate the PA line. I live near Harrisburg and communte to Timonium every day. The first thing I do is turn WBAL for the traffic reports when I Start the car. When traveling during the day I have listened to WBAL all the way to Philly and Reading.

Now up there in Perry County or back in the Laurel mountains or towards Altoona where the men are men and the sheep are scared, it could be a different story. I know it carries all the way to Chambersburg. You might need to upgrade your floor model Philco.

Isn't that just s darling picture! But Pete, is it really newsworthy??

@ not brooks,

Gold Gloves: I agree with you that the Gold Gloves mean little these past few years, and the continued advancement of Defensive metrics has made that more and more obvious. However, sometimes the Gold Gloves do end up going to the correct people, and to malign those that deserve it when others don't, might be throwing-the-baby-out-with-the-bath-water.

I mean, tell me Brooksie didn't deserve what he got...

As far as Fielding % goes, Michael Young is a lifetime .977 SS (.987 @ 2B), and JJ Hardy is lifetime .978. I'm sure there are a million ways to split defensive metrics, but I'll stand by my comment earlier that Mike Young isn't "bad", and is more likely "good" at fielding than the average bear. (other than at 3rd (.958%)...but SS and 2B he seemed just fine.

Agree on Daric Barton and Franklin "death-to-all-flying-things" Gutierrez. Maybe the Managers and Coaches who vote on these things don't care about defense as much these days, since it is they who vote on the award. Can't blame the media for this one...kidding Pete.

@ MountainFan,

I think wayne would tell you that there are not warehousers around every corner. Rather, there is only a single fan of the Orioles, but he (I, us, we) use different names. If only wayne realized that's pretty insulting to claim one person is another. Check that, he does know it's insulting...but nobody cares.

@paulie,

Young is not going back to shortstop. Why would we want Young @ Shortstop if that is what you're implying? Why would we want to help out the Rangers? Eating salary isn't enough for us to trade for Young. They are the fools (Rangers) that signed Beltre to a long term deal. Why should we bail them out by taking Young? He's not a DH by the way he hits the ball and he's too good a fielder to sit on the pine. We don't have a position open for him. Also, what in the world is wrong with Hardy? We traded for him, now we're going to bench him in favor of Young. Look, I could type all day about this and it might not get me anywhere.
My squirrel sense is going of the charts, especially since ken chimed in about it. Look the real problem isn't our line-up or infield. It's our starting pitching! Guthrie is not a #1 pitcher. Look, I want this Vlad for Young trade to go away! There simply isn't any room on the Oriole Roster for him and if we made room, there's too many chairs to move around to make it happen. Darn that Billy Ripken! I want challenge him to a debate on this matter for sarting this foolishness!

@ Squirrel.

Already agreed with you earlier in the day (12:35 post). I DON'T want Mike Young. Primarily the issue with Young is $$$. If he were making 6 million with 1 or 2 years left on the contract, it becomes a more interesting debate.

But he is not a bad/terrible/below average defender (other than 3rd base) is what I was getting at. Consider the bone picked dry.

It should also be mentioned that by all accounts Mike Young is a solider. A real work horse, nose-to-the-ground type that plays and plays and plays. A gamer. Is that all worth 3 years @ 16 million...not for the O's...

But I'm happy Billy Ripken didn't mention the AL East team that could use him. Boston. Lowrie and Scutaro seem weak compared to Mike Young. That would be upsetting to see him in that packed line-up.

Sorry paulie wasn't really yelling at you. I just hope there really isn't anything to this Michael Young thing. Oh one other idea, then I have to stop blogging for the night. What is this crapola about the Astros looking for an Ace for their pitching staff? Why aren't the O's looking into this? On the one bleacher report they had one scenerio with the Astros acquiring Josh Johnson. The heck with the Astros, why can't the O's get him?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/607661-mlb-trade-rumors-10-houston-astros-trade-ideas-to-acquire-a-true-ace

Houston Astros Receive: SP Josh Johnson

Florida Marlins Receive: 2B/OF Delino Deshields Jr., 1B Brett Wallace, and SP Brett Myers

Why this trade would work: Josh Johnson has some of the best skills as a starting pitcher in the major leagues. However, he is a serious injury risk and has had trouble staying healthy. He has already had Tommy John surgery back in 2007 and struggled with back and shoulder injuries this past season. Even with all these issues, he went 11-6 with a 2.30 ERA and 186 strikeouts.

If there wasn't the health issue, Johnson would be close to untouchable or command a lot more in a trade, but the Marlins would consider this trade because they get a young, fast player in Delino Deshields Jr. who could potentially play center field or second base. Brett Wallace is another young bat with great potential that the Marlins could add to their lineup

I think the O's could put together a package that is similar!

"Wayne, Wrap Alum. foil around your head at night so they can't use those 50,000 watts of AM power to get inside your head and control your thoughts."

Posted by: MountainFan | February 15, 2011 5:48 P

Thats funny dude.... but you are really onto some extraterrestial high octane crop circle mind blowing pyramid building stuff right there
"AM Power"??
Awesome....Yes, move over Wayne and Gil...... cause AM is taking over...

Coincidence?? Oh sure, everythings a coincidence to nonbelievers

MOWAGAMITO

Now shout that out your windom ala Network!!

Mowagamito!! Mowagamito!!

Andy Macphail for El Presidinto!!

Smitty, your uncle Andy flushed three full years down the drain. He should be fit for the tin foil hat. He only spent some money this offseason because PA told him gave him an allowance and told him that one more nearly 100 loss season and he would be toast. PA finally noticed all of the fans showing up dressed as empty seats. I'm sure PA's accountant pointed that out to him.

Macphail has been a disaster so far. Guthrie was here when Andy got here, and Bergeson and Arietta were already in the system. A blind squirrel could have drafted Matusz and Wieters, since the Orioles alway get the top draft choice preferentials. Uncle Andy has signed a lot of one year contracts to get the heat off. PA ordered him to go after Guerrero.

Baltimore should not have to beg for anything. This is a great city with a great baseball heritage. Restoring the franchise with urgency should have been Andy's prime directive. Instead, here we are four years later hoping to finish .500 with a bunch of questionable players signed to one year contracts, who Andy will probably start to unload at the trade deadline..

As Brooks Robinson said on WBAL radio some years back, "Ten losing seasons in a row. That's pretty hard to do."

It's time for Macphail to step aside and go quietly into that good night, so that the organization can move forward. He has been Angelos' perfect foil and in that respect has been a company man.

@Gil,

I don't know that MacPhail can do much with Angelos as an owner. I don't know that anyone in his position could do anything.

That said, I have no sympathy for Yes-men like MacPhail. He knew what he was getting into. He actually embraced his role of slashing the payroll Walmart style. For 3 years he took pride in that. To the point of defying fans and national media criticism, because God knows the Baltimore media has no cojones.

I find it interesting that MacPhail has made a ton of desperate moves in the last year of his contract. None of the moves he has made this offseason makes sense in the short or long term. There is no near-MLB-ready talent in the minors for 1st, 3rd, short or left field, and the acquired veterans are at the very best band-aides. They won't help you be a contender, so what is the point? Slow the growth of the so called "talent" you think you have in the minors?

Despite the high draft choices throughout the past 13 years, the Angel-O's could not recognize talent if they tripped over it.

Well said Gil,

Think about it folks..... Why did AM sign 2 high profile, past their prime players for the middle of the order, when the man was still in rebuild mode?

Why did he sign a third baseman who has struck out more the last three years than ANY PLAYER EVER HAS during a 3 year stretch? And why sign a SS who literally couldn't stay on the field the past two season?

And if not these players, who would fill their positions from the farm in 2012 or 2013.... or even 2014?

The answer is simple all...... AM has gotten desperate. Anyone with half a brain knows that PA pulled the trigger on Vlad, and anyone with the other half a brain realizes the team is desperate to put fanny's in the seats.... especially since AM has done NOTHING in 4 years to turn things around.

What we're doing is PRAYING that Buck can once again put a fire under these guys, just so this team may approach a 500 record......

Then when we approach the deadline, AM will dump Vlad and Lee and will get a couple of prospects that make Baseball America's top 100 list (see Bell)

Then it'll start all over...... while smit, paulie, mountain, squirlly and the rest get all pumped up again....... over nothing.

Thank goodness for the Pirates everyone. Do you realize if they weren't around, the O's would be approaching the worst losing streak in the history of major league baseball?

Let's hope the pitchers that are in the starting rotation who were already in the system when AM arrived can get the job done enough so we're no longer chasing the Pirates record..... It's really our only chance.

GO O'S

Blame, cynicism, and hate.

Thy names are Gil, mes, and wayne.

boring. zzzzzzzzzz......

ah paulie,

Right on cue my man........ You have no rational explanation for AM's moves, so you call us haters......

How sweet it is.......

Paulie, you are so right. Why do these guys waste our time with their repetitive drivel? I find myself scrolling to the end of the posts, and if Wayne or Gil is the author, I skip it. Geez, if McPhail signed Pujols next winter, Wayne would have the inside scoop that Angelos forced the signing, and that Pujols is a washed up overrated piece of crap. Wow.

Dear Mark Reynolds bashers,

Can't we just give this guy one chance? Just one? Please?

He's 27 years old and despite all the strikeouts, he's never hit fewer than 28 home runs in each of his three full seasons.

For five seconds, can we forget about .198 and 200 strikeouts and injuries and BABIP and just look at the fact that we have a young slugger who can knock the ball out of the park at any time?

It's Spring Training fellas. How about just a pinch of hope? I promise it won't hurt.

I can't fathom why the Orioles constantly cry poor.

They are geographically positioned in area that could give them one of the largest markets in sports. Regardless if they're converted National fans, Phillies fans, Yankees fans, Red Sox fans, Atlanta fans, or just boycotting, those same people in the MD,VA, S PA, DE and WV areas WANT this team to win. They'll come back, I promise. All they need to do is win. It'll only take one season for it to happen.

Just like when Baltimore got football back, you had a lot of people saying "I'll never get attached to the Ravens because of the way the Colts left", or "I'll never root for the Ravens because we got the them the same way Indy got the Colts".

Well, winning changes everything, and look at the Ravens now. They have one of the most craziest, loyal, dedicated fan base. And why? Screw the salary cap. If it made such a difference, why have the Lions been so craptastic the past 15 years? Look at the way the team is built.

Those same Ravens fans are Orioles fans. For MacPhail to compare ticket prices to the Yankees is an extremely stupid comparison. The reason why their ticket prices are so high is because they can. If the Orioles raise all ticket prices by 1% it's almost a PR disaster, even if its due to necessity. Yes, I know Camden Yards doesn't offer the same amentities as Yankee Stadium, nor the same quality team (which I think is the most important point).. There's a reason why tickets have remained almost the same since the Inaugeral season.

Whats so great about Fenway Park? The place stinks and it's ugly as hell. But the Sox win, therefore they can do whatever they want.

For AM to say the estimated $92 million payroll is way over the planned budget is crazy. He needed to do something, anything, to give this franchise some kind of hope to cling onto. Honesty, I think he's desperate judging by some of the moves and offers he's made this offseason

The projections just came out and they have the Orioles at 82-80 for 2011. That's the first time in over a decade a projection (PECOTA) gave the Orioles a +.500 season. There's your ray of hope. For his sake, AM better hope, pray and due a Jim Carrey tutu dance for luck, because he's going to need it. I know I will

I thought it was a picture of Dempsey.

not brroks..good suggestion about giving Reynolds a chance! I don't care if he strikes out 200 times it he gives us 35 dingers and knocks in 100.
I saw this guy recently on the Golf Channel-playing lessons with the pros and he seemed pretty down to earth.
He has to be an upgrade over Bell at 3B and along with the others, our offense looks improved.
I sitll think pitching is the key and for once, it looks like there will be some competition for roster spots. In the past, it looked like anyone with half a pulse was not only given starting and relief spots but were given endless chances!

Gil, I agree with you. I think Andy should have traded all the good young minor league players like Arietta and Bergesen when he got here and then he could have taken FULL credit for the turnaround. I guess the guy is humble also.
I think I have your guys new tune down pat.
It's not quite as catchy as The Avett Bros. song they sang on the Grammy's but it could win for best Sports Tune of 2011 next year.

It goes something like this...

Now when they win this year it will only be because of Peter Angelos and the players that were already here. I think I have that right?....right?
Angelos and the players that were already here....that's a pretty catchy tune also. You guys are coming up with new stuff. It's quite refreshing.
Oh yeah and the chorus can be
"And even a blind squirrell would have drafted Matusz"
"
Great tune guys...but it does sound eerily similar to the other songs you've been singing.

me at 8:10

Oh yeah I forgot this song needs a bridge:
It should have happened sooner
It should not take this long
10 years was bad enough
13 is just plain wrong
It should have happened sooner

not brooks,

Interesting coming from a guy who had to quit saying 'Andy prove me wrong', because Andy in fact always proved you wrong.

AGAIN,

Reynolds by himself wasn't a bad move. Combine him with one year (past their prime) rentals in Lee and Vlad, a SS and SP who BOTH haven't been on the field the past two seasons, and you have a mess....

And with Reynolds, we're not just talking K's not brooks. We're talking K's the likes that have never been seen in the HISTORY of the game. Sure he can hit the ball out of the park, but those K's represent allot of rally's being killed --- and you know that. You know that K's are not the same as a ground out to second with a man on second and no outs. You know that K's are not the same as a medium fly ball to center with a man on third....

Unbelievable, historic K's not brooks.

But even so, he would have been worth the risk had AM not had so many gaping holes to fill going into his 4th year. It's just to bad he filled them with projects and rentals.

And paulie, smitty and Colorado... Haters are those fans over on the Ravens blogs who criticize a consistently great product. Haters on the O's side however, are simply people who are stating the obvious... year after year after year after year.

Which begs the question: In what year will you guys notice and admit that you're always wrong? Serious question..... I mean I get hope - but if you're constantly going to bash posters like myself, Meso and Gil, then when will you ever admit that we have a handle on things year after year, while you all do not?

Good question... Right?

Sometimes the best barometer is watching the two extremes in their endless tug-o'-war-o'-words go at it and see if there is a change. So far on the political scene, there hasn't been much budging between the Socialist Democrats and the Socialist Republicans.

Noise. Hate. Accusations. Intolerance. Lies. But not much budging. Yet.

Here, I get to escape the real-world monopoly of the two parties in power to engage with perpetually positive O's fans and the perpetually negative O's fans.

Of course, I'm assuming they're O's fans in the first place. There could be a Warehouser in the mix. Or someone from the self-promoting multi-media outlet who dumps on everything the O's do 24-7 and claims to be the one and only voice telling it like it is.

Whatever.

At least here, I finally see some movement.

Oh, the two extremes still take pot shots at Peter Schmuck whenever he points out something good or bad. Or if he brings up something humorous to the humorless. And, then, they resume taking pot shots at each other. And, it's here where there was actually some movement.

A few years ago, the Orioles brought in 37 arms to see what would stick when it hit the fan. The perpetually positive had to change their tune then although a few patiently waited until those results were undeniable.

Now, it's the perpetually negative's turn. They have gone from stating all the Orioles want to do is turn a profit to say they are spending foolish money as an act of desperation. Oops. Can't have it both ways. But being negative differently is actually a good barometer of potential positiveness, just as being positive differently was actually a good barometer of potential negativeness a couple years ago.

So while the two sides are busy not convincing each other of anything, the negatives have convinced me this has the earmarks of being a positive year. The desperation you see is them finding a new argument.

Anyone who genuinely reads what I write knows where I stand philosophically with the O's. But a successful 2011 could lead to more success down the road even if there is a turnover in the roster. Heck, even if my approach was followed to the letter -- and successful -- roster turnover might have been likely inevitable there, too. There may be an ocho in my future prediction.

A blind squirrel could have drafted....

Chris Smith, Beau Hale, Wade Townsen, Billly Rowell, Adam Lowen, Brandon Snyder, and Garret Olsen.

Once again, the haters are right...

Before Andy, all the draft picks were exceptional and ripped up the minors far better than Matusz and Wieters.

With all the bitching going on I feel like this is a post about the Westminster Dog Show instead of the Orioles.

To those calling McPhail an abject failure, come on, you're smarter than that. The pen PA used to signed all these checks this year was under lock and key for the last 3 years. AM was tasked with purging the system and he did just that. Laying the groundwork isn't sexy, but it's where success comes from. Who gets credit for building the Diamondback franchise? Buck built that thing and then the color commentator won the World Series with them. Who's more respected for that? Who is Bob Brenly working for now anyway? Wal Mart? Buck did the things no one wanted to hear about in 2000, but history shows he laid the base for success out there.

If it took 3 years to purge the 10 before it, so be it. I'd rather have a new system in place that is sustainable than a one year bump just to placate some people.

Look and the NFL labor agreement, look at Social Security. The owners will get villified for anything they do, but they'll eventually save the future of the league because their accountants know more about finance than a football player does. The same thing goes for when someone in Washington makes the first bid to restructure Social Security. Al Gore looked like a jackass with his "lock box," but we sure as hell wish we had one 11 years later as the money is disappearing.

Get over being such a fanatic under the guise of being a fan. It's not becoming on anyone.

@ wayne,

Go back to the Dec 7th thread.

You didn't like Mark's .198 BA.

I was fuming over the historic K's...not you.

Revisionist.

btw, Dec 7th also gave up this gem from you...

----------------------

Problem is dumdum, almost any minor leaguer 3B in the game would be better than Bell."

Posted by: wayne | December 7, 2010 9:44 PM

-----------------------

You think Billy Rowell is a better 3 bagger than Josh Bell....yeap, and then you call people dumdum's.

Is that the "always right" thing your talking about? lol.

@not brooks,

Giving Reynolds a chance? Are you serious? Baseball is a sport of averages my friend. How do you expect the guy to change? That's who is. He strikes out a lot. Can he hit home runs? Well ... yes. But how in the hell is a guy who's an automatic strikeout for opposing pitchers, provide "protection" for Markakis and others? That move just makes no sense. Plus, he has to adjust to American league pitching, which is a lot more challenging. He will never have NL like numbers in AL, or AL East for that matter. Of course even a blind squirrel will find a nut every once in a while, but the laws of averages say he won't. What you see is what you get.

Meso -

Convince me that the Orioles could have acquired a better third baseman than Reynolds and I'll be right there with you.

And no, offering to trade Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold for David Wright doesn't count.

And yes, I am serious about giving Reynolds a chance. Two years ago, he hit .260 with 44 home runs. Last year, sure, he hit .198, but after starting the season with a wrist injury and ending it with a concussion, he still hit 32 homers.

But strikeouts! Strikeouts! Strikeouts! Historical strikeouts! Reynolds is well on his way to leading the league in strikeouts for four straight years. You know who else did that? Reggie Jackson.

And no, I'm not saying that Reynolds is going to end up as good as Reggie Jackson, I'm just saying that a guy can still be productive even if he strikes out a ton.

I'm saying give Reynolds a chance. If he hits .198 again and strikes out 250 times, you guys can say "I told you so" all day long. But he obviously has the ability to be much better than that. So, give him a chance.

wayne -

I have to admit that I didn't read much of your post. After the first few words, I could tell it was going to be one of the kind that doesn't add a single thing to the conversation. So I just sort of skimmed.

And for the record, I didn't say a damn thing about Andy or the Orioles as a whole. Andy has had his chances. He's currently on #4 and while there is a bit more optimism for this season, there still isn't much hope for the future beyond that unless we see a lot of improvement from our young players.

But what else should I have expected from you, buddy? You and I disagree, and you tend to treat people who disagree with you with a ugly mix of contempt, belittling sarcasm and a complete lack of respect. Sure, you'll say they deserve such treatment, for believing in Andy MacPhail or Mark Reynolds or J.J. Hardy or whatever else, but what, I ask, is wrong with hope?

You obviously get your jollies off being right. (You'll say that you don't, but the fact that you point it out all the time proves that point.) Maybe some of the other people here find their happiness in a bit of hope for the future of this club. What's wrong with that?

"I don't remember taking this photo"

Pete, how can you take a picture of yourself while sleeping? And I think it is Dempsey not you. Can you prove the picture really is you?