Baltimore Orioles Soundoff

With the fact that half of the Orioles team in playing in the World Baseball Classic also comes the fact that nobody cares what the O's are doing in Spring Training.

Go Desi Relaford, yay. Woooo. Who cares, he won't be on the team come April. Just my opinion.

Sure, the big club has some intriguing young prospects and holes to fill, and the fact that, with the O's regulars gone, it gives these players more chances to develop and prove themselves is intriguing, but...I'll just say it, who cares?

Nick Markakis I care about. I want to see how Corey Patterson does (2 HRs and 2 walks already is an excellent sign). I care that Kevin Millar and Jeff Conine get into the swing of things so they can have productive years. I want David Newhan to come back strong from his off year ( so far, so good).

These things I don't care about (and the paper writes about it because, well, the O's are boring with their players):

1) Eli Whiteside making a name for himself:

Wow! You are kidding? The middle-aged minor league catcher is making a name for himself, big deal. The fourth stringer gets a chance to prove he belongs. Belongs where? Triple A? What is he going to prove? That he is the best fourth string catcher the Orioles have?

There is the outside chance that he could beat out Geranimo Gil and become the team's third string catcher, and yes, I understand that would be a big deal for Whiteside who could then break camp on the big league roster. But, truthfully, no one cares if he does or not because he won't play for the O's unless something drastic happens (see last year and Sal Fasano, better yet, just try and forget).

Honestly, I am much more interested in seeing how well Gil does catching for Team Mexico. And he hasn't done half bad, either.


2) Lefty in the bullpen:

Yes, I am definitely interested in this because it can really make or break a season and the O's need lefty relief--any kind of relief for that matter--bad.

However, before I wet my pants about Franklyn Gracesqui or Tim Byrdak or Eric DuBose managing to get somebody out, let me point out that these people are still named Gracesqui, Byrdak and DuBose.

Out of those three people, all of them will most likely make the Orioles opening day roster, and, out of those three people, two of them are mediocre at best (Byrdak and DuBose), and the other is highly unproven and has yet to reach speeds in the 90's even though he is supposed to be able to throw 99 to 100 mph.

The bullpen will not be too strong this year, I am resigned to that fact. And no amount of paying attention to spring training will change that. The good news is that if anyone has been watching the Orioles in the WBC, you start to feel giddy about that starting pitching.

Who knows? Maybe the O's can just pitch a complete game, or at least eight innings, every night.


3) Who is going to win the battle in left field?

Nick Markakis. Next question!


With that being said, on to the important stuff.

Orioles in the World Baseball Classic:

Luis Matos, Puerto Rico: Matos is still battling for his centerfield job with the Orioles even though he is playing in the WBC. And he is coming through. Matos went 2-3 with two doubles and a walk in Team Puerto Rico's last game, an 8-3 win.

Javy Lopez, Puerto Rico: Two O's in Team Puerto Rico's lineup had good days. Javy smashed a solo home run in the win.

Adam Loewen, Canada: So the Orioles need left-handed relievers do they? Well, Adam Loewen may not be ready to be a starter in the big leagues but after thoroughly dominating the United States All-Star team and helping Team Canada defeat the US, Loewen is looking more and more like stud he is supposed to become. Why not put the young lefty in the O's bullpen for spot and long relief duty? Think about it Sam...

Bruce Chen, Panama: Panama may have lost in extra innings to an excellent Cuba team but that should not take away from the spirited performance they delivered, and it all started with Chen. Chen was nearly untouchable for Panama pitching an unheard of five innings while only throwing 50 pitches. Chen looks like he can only improve on last year's breakout season.

I enjoyed watching my favorite Orioles perform in the WBC yesterday. More so than Spring Training, these games mean something, and the efforts put forth by the bird's representatives is uplifting. I look forward to enjoying their performances throughout the WBC and even more so when they return to the O's for the 2006 campaign.