Here's also hoping we don't see much of these horrible, horrible orange uniforms this season from the O's. Maybe the idea was to draw attention away from the O's mediocre pitching, mediocre lineup, and their destiny to finish, at best, fourth in the AL East. Unfortunately, it probably won't work. As depressing as it must be to be a D-Rays fan, I'd take them over the O's any day.
Here's what O's fans have to look forward to: a continually disgruntled Miguel Tejada; a Corey Patterson who's infinitely more valuable in fantasy lineups than in real-life lineups; 400+ at-bats for both Jay Payton and Kevin Millar, guys who will contribute next to nothing; guys in Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora who will most probably futilely struggle to regain their career year forms (2003 and 2004, respectively); a bullpen that can't possibly live up to their ridiculous contracts (they've committed $41.5 million over the next 3 years to Danys Baez, Jamie Walker, and Chad Bradford); a rotation consisting of erstwhile Yanks albatross Jaret Wright, oldster Steve Trachsel, youngster wildcards Adam Loewen and Daniel Cabrera, and a staff "ace" of Erik Bedard; and last, but certainly not least, 50+ games against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. Yikes.The bright spots in Baltimore are considerably less numerous: Chris Ray has emerged as a potentially great closer (we all know how fleeting that kind of success can be, though); 23-year-old Nick Markakis came out of nowhere to have a pretty promising rookie effort last year; Brian Roberts may be more fully recovered from elbow surgery this year; Ramon Hernandez just may continue to be a really productive catcher; and Jay Gibbons reminds me of past fantasy baseball victories. Sadly, none of these things will fix a franchise that Peter Angelos has driven into the ground.
The bottom line is that the O's are moving in the wrong direction in the toughest division in baseball (I know Hawk Harrelson and many others will fight me on this, but I still would much rather play in the AL Central than the AL East), particularly when you consider that the Yanks, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and D-Rays are all getting better. The O's will be lucky to finish fourth this year. And that's just plain embarrassing. Where, oh where have you gone, Cal Ripken?
7 comments:
Hawk Harrelson WILL fight you, and he'll kick your ass!
Something I thought of while you listed their shitty rotation: In the last decade has any team had worse starting pitching? I mean, who was their last good SP? I can't think of one good guy since Mussina.
The only other team that would give them a run for their money on this topic is the Royals but they're the fuckin' Royals. They don't count. Also the Rockies I guess, but they got the thin air excuse.
So how the hell do you not realize pitching is what wins after 10 years of the paying big bucks for guys like Miguel Tejada and Sammy Sosa?
I would become a Nationals fan if I lived in Baltimore, that team is gonna suck for a while.
The only other team that I can think of that's on par with the O's over the past decade is the Texas Rangers. Willing to spend $250 million on A-Rod, but either unwilling or just plain too dumb to assess and spend money on any good pitching. Chan Ho Park and Kevin Millwood don't count.
Yeah thats another good one. Where are these teams farm systems? You'd think they would have at least one guy develope into a quality pitcher by accident or something.
I do think Bedard will be pretty good. And maybe Miguel Tejada will get a few more "Vitamin B" shots and have a big year. They could surprise you.
I hate hte Orioles.
Do you know why?
Because they aren't the Cubs.
CUBBIES!!! '07
Excuse me while I try to figure out how to block your comments. Here at FTG we're all about censorship.
Go Cubs! I guess they're saving the profiles of the World Series teams for last.
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