If the Snow is Getting to You: Encouraging Words -- Pitchers and Catchers Report!!!

Can you believe it? It’s only been just over two weeks since the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 is still ringing in our ears, but while the ground is covered with heavy snow many cars and sidewalks still not dug out, here are some encouraging words:

Pitchers and catchers report for camp.

Yes, the time has arrived, tomorrow is the day, Orioles pitchers and catchers report to the Orioles new home for Spring Training in Sarasota, Florida. This is a huge upgrade for the Orioles who have been using the abandoned New York Yankees facility in Fort Lauderdale for the last fourteen seasons. The Sarasota facility which includes the Ed Smith Stadium was the location for the Cincinnati Reds who bolted Florida for Goodyear, Arizona. While they will be playing in what the Reds left behind, it is still a huge upgrade over their previous site. Additionally, Fort Lauderdale was far to the south of where other teams were playing as teams have left south Florida for locations for those staying in Florida further north mostly clustering in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area or in an area stretching from Orlando to Vero Beach while others have split for Arizona to where now half the teams conduct spring training out west. The Orioles will benefit from spending much less time on long bus trips and also have many more teams with whom they can schedule games.

The future is brighter still. Next year, the current facility will be demolished and replaced with a state-of-the-art venue that will have all the modern comforts and technologies to help the team prepare for the long season ahead.

A better place to call home and less travel should lead to more productive preparation for 2010, and given the Orioles 64-98 record last year, every benefit possible must be put to use because fans in Baltimore will not stand for more losing having not had a winning team since 1997. To think today’s kids in middle school, an age kids are often most interested in sports, weren’t even born yet. High school seniors were but five years old. The Orioles losing ways have gone on longer than the time Baltimore was without NFL football (if we can call the last few seasons the Colts were in town NFL football.)

So while “hope springs eternal” as the time honored phrase says, how hopeful can Orioles fans be in 2010.

The Orioles had the roster needs primarily, corner infields for first and third base, a closer, and at least one established veteran starting pitcher. They also need a stronger bullpen.

Key players not returning:
Melvin Mora … 3B
Danys Baez …RP
Brian Bass … RP
Chris Ray … RP



Additions:
Miguel Tejada … 3B
Garrett Atkins … 1B
Kevin Millwood … SP
Michael Gonzalez …. RP (closer)
Will Ohman ... RP (spring training invitee)

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Looking ahead to opening day, these players almost certainly appear headed to Baltimore. What’s in doubt is the final composition of the bullpen. Perhaps an outfielder could be cut if the team is going to want a 12 man pitching staff. For a team that had the worst record in American League to be heading into Spring Training with so few positions undecided must mean good news. The real downer is the constant reminder that they play in the American League East, the home of the World Champion New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the two biggest spending, powerful organizations in the sport.

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Offense:
C … Matt Wieters
1B … Garrett Atkins
2B … Brian Roberts
SS … Cesar Izturis
3B … Miguel Tejada
RF … Nick Markakis
CF … Adam Jones
LF … Norm Reimold
DH … Luke Scott

Starting Rotation
Kevin Millwood
Jeremy Guthrie
Brad Bergesen
Brian Matusz
Chris Tillman

Relievers
Michael Gonzalez
Jim Johnson
Mark Hendrickson
Dennis Safate
Cla Meredith
Koji Uehara
Will Ohman

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Bench:
Ty Wigginton (infield)
Robert Andino (2B, SS)
Felix Pie (outfield)
Lou Montanez (outfield)
Chad Moeller or Craig Tatum (catcher)