TD: Can Felix Pie hit better than Corey Patterson?

DC: One would really hope so. I liked Corey Patterson, a super nice man and a wonderful athlete who I would love to see do well. But Corey never understood what it would take for him to succeed consistently on the big-league level. I think Pie is open to suggestions from hitting coach Terry Crowley and does not seem to be set in his ways. How much he hits is anyone’s guess, but he is worth the gamble.
 
TD: We know things change after spring training, but has anyone replaced Kevin Millar as the loud, funny guy in the clubhouse?

DC: No one can replace Millar in that aspect. An absolute one of a kind. I remember listening to one of his tirades in the dugout last year when Aubrey Huff walked by and said, “Man, I can’t wait until you retire and I get to watch this on Baseball Tonight. Then I can turn it off.” That said, Gregg Zaun has never been shy to speak up and Ryan Freel has a tremendous sense of humor. So I can see those two at least being clubhouse and media favorites. 
 

TD: What's your gut feeling on Nick Markakis' development? Does he take one more step or will we see a bunch of seasons like last year (not that there's a thing wrong with that)?

DC: I think he only gets better offensively. He is 25 for goodness sake. I wouldn’t be surprised if he challenges for a batting crown one day. I also think he’ll hit a few more homers (maybe 25 or so each season) and steal a few more bases. There are only a few athletes I have covered over the years that could focus on improving one part of their game and then automatically do it. Nick is that type. His defense is a perfect example. Last year he made himself into arguably baseball’s best defensive right fielder.
 
TD: When do you expect Matt Wieters in Baltimore?

DC: Who? Oh yeah, the young catcher. I think the Orioles would like to give him two months to half a season in Triple-A for various reasons. So my guess is late June or early July.
 
TD: Do you believe he will walk on water before the end of the season? 
 

DC: I was in the Fort Lauderdale clubhouse two weeks ago and Wieters thought he was alone. It looked as if he were going to attempt to walk across the whirlpool water. But he stopped just short. I was disappointed. But then I saw him turn the water into wine. And that was cool.
 
 TD: Of the non-Wieters prospects and new arrivals, who are you most intrigued to watch this season?

DC: I think Ty Wigginton is going to have a big year. He is an old-school-Oriole type player – so is Ryan Freel, for that matter – and I think Wigginton has been underrated most of his career. I have only caught glimpses of him over the years, so I am looking forward to seeing him for a full season. As for the prospects, I think Chris Tillman is impressive, and I’d like to see him get a shot toward the end of the year.  

TD: Does Dave Trembley get to remain manager throughout the team's rebuild?

DC: Ask Andy MacPhail. I don’t know. Recent history and the Orioles’ revolving managerial door say no. But MacPhail is a patient man and he knows what Trembley is up against. I doubt Trembley gets fired during the year. But will his contract be renewed if they are terrible again? I’m not sure.
 
TD: You've covered the Orioles through the worst era in team history so where do you think this season will fall on your finely-tuned suck-o-meter?

DC: Well, I covered 34 of the 36 games to end the 2002 season when the Orioles lost 32 of them. That is the Mona Lisa of suckitude in my era. Although last year’s collapse was a pretty valuable Picasso. And the 2005 second half of drugs, DUIs and broken arms was masterful as well. My guess is that this one starts as bad as any of them (the April schedule is brutal), but gets a little more entertaining in the second half.
 

TD: We've also heard tell that you were a national baseball writer. So outside of the Orioles, what story lines and players have you paying the most attention in '09?

DC: Obviously, the Yankees will be a fun one to monitor. A $430 million offseason will buy you some newsprint (In these days, it will buy you a whole newspaper chain). Especially when you have Alex Rodriguez occasionally demonstrating his one weakness: speaking. Like everyone around here, I want to see how Mark Teixeira deals with playing in New York. He’s not in Arlington or Atlanta or Severna Park anymore. But he’ll hit enough to make that marriage work, I believe. I’m also curious as to how the WBC participants do once the season starts. It’s a great concept, but I am not sure how practical it is.
 
TD: Last but not least, do you ever wake up in a cold sweat, wishing you'd gone to a better high school?

DC: For the record, I went to humble Calvert Hall College High School and this question was asked by a Gilman University For The Chronically Wealthy alumnus. Although it does bother me that I attended an educational institution that did not put proper emphasis on sailing and eating gourmet cheese, I will point out that the CHC Cardinals have beaten the Gilman Silver Spoons roughly the last 87 times they have met on a baseball field. I’m just saying ...