Baltimore Orioles...
 

Edited because some people just can't handle adult conversation.

Children...

I agree to a point, I think what Flanagan and Beatty are asking for is a leap of faith, a la Brian Billick. They believe they have some great young talented pitchers that are going to gel, starting this season, and perform well.
Whether thats the case or not remains to be seen. I'm not convinced untill I see it, but they certainly should know better than me. I used to be diehard, but lost some interest in the past few years because of their poor performance, with no sense of anyone knowing how to right the ship. I'm optimistic things are going to change, starting this season.* crosses fingers and toes*

Do you know anything about our pitching situation?

Have you heard the names Riley, Ainesworth, Dubose? They will be three young guys making up 3/5 of our rotation.

Have you heard of Bedard, Stephens, Bautista, Maine? They are major prospects at Ottawa and Bowie, all of whom could see time in Baltimore before the end of the year.

Have you heard of Adam Lowean? He is our top pitching prospect and could be ready by mid-2005.

The team is about to resign Sidney Ponson, and already has Rodrigo Lopez.

The team's pitching is in good shape. If you want to watch your team overpay in money and players for old pitchers, go be a Sox or Yankees fan. They might be good for two more years, but both are old and neither has a decent farm system anymore, so they will collapse hard and fast.

Good to see some Orioles fans, have you heard of Brian Forystek? He's a pitching prospect that floated around AA for a while and now made the spring training roster to fight for a spot.

Yeah. From what I've hear'd he'll likely start at Ottawa. Might get a shot later in the year depending on how he does.

Let's go sign Maddux, since no one wants him. Har Har. :D.

You need to take a chill pill dude. As I said, I have not really been paying that much attention lately. I do know we have not had a decent season in quite a while ,and have had lots of so called phenoms go bust. So yeah I do think it might be a good idea to pick up a veteran pitcher or two just in case.

Please don't tell me what team I am allowed to be a fan of.

Sorry, it wasn't directed at you. It was direct at the "diehard" fan who knows nothing about the team.

I was a little angry at stuff from an Oriole forum I had been reading, and I saw that and got a little hostile.

But my points are correct...

I hate people who say that the Orioles are going to turn into the Rangers. The Orioles mediocre pitchers and once they get Ponson, they should be able to have a Team ERA around 4 or so. Texas just has no pitching whatsoever.

The latest rumor is that the Cubs are courting Maddux. Man.... I would love to see Maddux in the orange and black! Guerrero would have been nice too! So far I'm fairly happy with our off season aquisitons! Let's go O's!

BTW.... where do you think the ripken in perripken came from?

New York 2003 Team ERA: 2.73
Boston 2003 Team ERA: 3.47
Toronto 2003 Team ERA: 4.69
Baltimore 2003 Team ERA: 4.76
Tampa Bay 2003 Team ERA: 4.93

Does this order look familiar?

Futhermore...

Don't be so condescending. I was not putting the Orioles down, nor was I in any way, shape or form, saying that Orioles were going the way of the Texas Rangers.

Try to contain your anger. Its contagious.

And don't tell me who I can be a fan of. If I want to pull for the O's, then by GOD, I'm pulling for the O's.

edit: I can't spell.

Well, we got Ponson. I think thats a good thing. Just so he doesn't revert to his pre 2003 form.

Hohoho.

Red Sox
O's
Yankees
Blue Jays
D'Rays

Hohoho.

I'd settle for that this year. But this would be much better.

O's
Red Sox
Yankees
Blue Jays
D'Rays

Hah though I think the East will end up virtually in the same order as last year (not to mention the last few years at that) i think the moves Baltimore is making is a good way of preparing for the future.

It shows:
a) a commitment to returning baseball to Baltimore
b) they are wiling to spend money on players
c) they can use these FAs as stop gaps until young talent is brought up
d) they can sell tickets (i can assure u that seeing 3 big bats would defenitely spark interest in watchin games)

I would like this more:

O's
Blue Jays
Devil Rays
Red Sox
Yankees

Hohoho. :D.

The interesting thing about this year in the AL East is that the Orioles could finish .500 or better and still be in fourth. Everyone will be beating up on each other. Hell, even Tampa has improved some.

I do think that, if the Orioles' young pitching performs to their abilities, the East could look like:

Red Sox - 95-67
Yankees - 90-72
Orioles - 82-80
Blue Jays - 80-82
Devil Rays - 70-92

I would be very happy if the O's ended over .500 this year. That's a serious improvement.