Pete,

I hope I'm wrong, but I think Price will be lights out tonight. Last year, he only had 2 games all season where he gave up 5 or more runs. There's a lot of strikeouts available in our lineup. I think we lose 5-2, Guthrie pitches 5 innings, 4 ER.

Looking forward to watching the game tonight though, with a couple of cold ones (not diet Dr) and maybe some spicy nacho Doritos.

Play ball, and enjoy the game!

Pete,

In terms of Opening Day, we Orioles fans were spoiled by our erstwhile default position as the team closest to D.C. This gave the prez or his veep the chance to show up and throw out the first pitch, an opportunity that is now property of the Nats.

These days we have to settle for an opening night at the Trop on the second day of MLB play. (sigh)

Opening at home would have been nice, but with opening day now in March (so the World Series ends by Halloween) and the weather yesterday and today, it's not a bad year to be on the road. Friends at the Nats opener said it was pretty miserable (42 degrees and drizzling).

Yeah nb,

Keep harping on the M's doubles my man..... Each time you attempt to justify no power/no speed with doubles, you show that you're a little less the guru than represented.

Nick is a fine ballplayer, but anyone saying that he's anything more than average at this point, is simply swimming in orange kool aid denial.

No one with baseball knowledge currently considers Nick a star player. Perhaps that will change with the 2011 campaign.

And for whoever it was who said AM was quoted in saying Buck was his first choice. Duh..... What's he going to say now? Are you seriously that blind?

Truth is though, AM desperately needs Buck now. Buck is the only person who can help to salvage AM's career. Being the exec who has lost more games than anyone over the past 20 years, AM will do anything for Buck, knowing he's his last hope at any redemption.

Truth also is..... Of course AM will try to take credit for Buck now. We learned allot about AM's character by the way he fired DT.... This is who he is (sadly)

Any idea on how the team will honor Ernie Tyler?....I really had hoped that his sons would be throwing out the opening pitch.

wayne -

When did I ever say that Markakis is a "star player"? Heck, when did anyone here ever say that?

In my last response to you, I was simply pointing out the backwards logic in appointing Adam Jones a "possible future star" while taking a verbal dump on Nick Markakis. Markakis's numbers take a dive and he'll "never be anything more than average", but Jones's numbers take a dive and he's still a "possible future star". You do see the inconsistency there, don't you?

Anyway, Nick Markakis is not a star player. As I've said, several thousand times, he's an ideal number two hitter who's been in over his head trying to play the role of a middle of the order guy in a pathetic lineup. And even in that role, he's put up some good numbers. You can say that a .295 average, an .803 OPS, 15 home runs and 45 doubles (Nick's average line over the past two seasons) is "below average" all you want, but I'll continue to disagree with you.

The real deal with Nick Markakis is that we all got really excited after two really good seasons, and, due to several factors, Nick has failed to live up to our lofty expectations over the past two years.

Now, in a case like this, you'll have guys like you, wayne, who are just angry and refuse to examine those factors and just don't believe that a 27-year-old who is capable of an .850+ OPS and 20+ home runs will never put up those numbers again. And then you'll guys who take a look at why Nick hasn't lived up to our expectations and see changes that have happened which give them hope that our former golden boy can regain his past glory.

I guess the question now is, which of those fan responses is more rational?

diet dr? What kind of beer is that? Oh I get it, April Fools!

Would Jeter, be Jeter, without the Yankees lineup around him?

Would any Redsox be any better then Markakis in the Orioles lineup of the last couple of years?

I don't know if Nick's a star, but he sure is sure is a ballplayer.

The Orioles have finally put a lineup around Nick that will allow his strengths as a hitter to shine.

Good comeback post, nb. His nonsensical diatribes do have one benefit though...they make the other bloggers look smarter! Thank goodness Opening Day is here...let's go Orioles!!!!

We've learned a lot about your character too, Wayne.

These comments are confusing - not just this post, but all the posts.

A full stadium cheering for a contender is a lot of fun, but so is kicking back on a summer night watching a game. If you Don't like it, don't come and don't pay attention. No one is affected. Everyone is a front runner, if they win the place will fill up, if not, I can stretch out at the game and relax. Arguing about people you don't know and making assumption after assumption about team decision making is strange to me.

The O's have stunk for 13 years. So what. My love is unconditional, just like for a family member - we are stuck with each other. I don't even really like baseball, but I love the O's. The only games I watch are O's games.

It all goes in cycles. My reward will come the day the O's once again make the postseason. When that will finally happen, I have no idea, but it will one day (hopefully before I die).

Be critical, demand more, but please don't forget that this is grown men playing a kids game for your entertainment. If you are not entertained, look away.

There are many other options.

Over the past 2 seasons, Markakis has been barely above average, with '09 being his worst season. I know we like to point out his '10 numbers at the HR's and RBI's, but actually, '10 was a better season.....but marginally.

But calling him "average" I guess is just one side of fan opinions, because there is a lot of things that Markakis right, even in his worst season(s).

If this is as good as we'll ever see Markakis be (which I honestly doubt), he would still fit as a #2 or #6 hitter on any good team. Now that the Orioles are opening with something of a complete lineup, the first time in Markakis' career, I think he will rebound.

I also want to say that Markakis is a bit overrated in birdland when it comes to his glove. While he does have a really good arm, his defense isn't as steller he some might lead you believe.

Overall, he is still a very good ballplayer who is a victim of playing in the middle of some very horrible lineups his entire career. For those who that can't effect his stats in the long haul really needs to get their heads out of the sand.

I'm waiting for blancione to give his 2 cents.....

In 1954, the franchise's first year, they played the Tigers in Detroit for the first two games of the season before coming to Baltimore for the Home Opener. Split with the Tigers 1 and 1 on the road. Beat the White Soxs in the Home Opener 3-1 behind a strong pitching performance from "Bullet" Bob Turley and homers by "old Scrap iron" Clint Courntey and "Buster" Vern Stephens.

Always been something special about the opening of the baseball season. This is my 57th MLB opener since the arrival of this franchise and each have been "sweet", in their own right, but the most exciting was that 1st one, after all you never forget your "first", do you?

Hope Brookie gets well soon. Good luck to the 2011 Orioles and to paraphase an old MLB Baltimore Oriole "...hit 'um where they ain't"! Go Birds!!!!

Nick is a star player

Nick is below average

Nick is the best all around player on this team,

What a strong outing by Guthrie! I'll gladly be wrong in predictions to see a game like that.