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.

Well, all good things must come to an end.

But, are you kidding me? I was reading the Baltimore Sun Sports section today and as I glanced over their "Who's Hot and Who's Not" article I found they listed Nick Markakis as Not.

The young slugger who, before yesterday's 10-6 loss to the Red Sox, had reached base in 10 out of 11 at-bats, went 0-3 in the game.

He went 0-3 in a single game and the Sun says he isn't hot. Well, now he has reached base in 10 out of his last 14 at-bats.

(The sound of me getting out my calculator)

That would make Mr. Markakis' new on-base percentage an abysmal .710. Ouch.

In contrast, someone who is Hot, Kevin Millar (and don't get me wrong he is doing very well) is only sporting a batting average of around .340. Markakis, after his doughnut, is batting a frail .600.

So, the kid is obviously human, maybe he isn't a Greek God afterall. But, hey, didn't some of the Gods eat their own children and kill their parents?

I don't know where I was going with that but bottom line, Nick Markakis isn't worried about his 0-3 performance just yet.


Orioles in the WBC




Erik Bedard, Canada: Bedard pitched extremely well in the opening round matchup with South Africa. Bedard went four innings, only giving up two hits and striking out six South African hitters. That is pretty impressive, even if it was against arguably the worst team in the tournament.






Miguel Tejada, Dominican Republic: Republica de Dominicana domini-dominiated Johan Santana and Team Venezuela with David Ortiz leading the way with two home runs. Miguel Tejada, however, did not dominate. His line: 1-6, 3 K's. Didn't Tejada used to never strike out? Miggy, please put up a better showing next game, you are making Orioles fans everywhere a little nervous.








Rodrigo Lopez, Mexico: Mexico lost in a close, hard fought battle with the United States, 2-0. Lopez, Mexico's starting pitcher did excellent for having to face a lineup that reads like the ultimate All-Star team. Rodrigo went four innings and only gave up three hits, one of which being a home run to Derrek Lee.

He definitely needs a nickname.

So, why not? The Greek God of Baseball strikes fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers.

The Mykynos Masher. The Oriole from Mt. Olympus.

In any case, he did it again.

During the Orioles spring training victory over the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday, Markakis added to his already stupid numbers by going 2-2, both hits being doubles. His on-base percentage for the Spring is a robust .909 as, so far, he' s managed to get on base 10 out of the 11 times he's stepped to the plate.

Markakis has 3 walks to go along with 4 singles, 2 doubles and a home run, and, his only out came on a screaming line drive that the fielder had to make a good play to get.

In fact, his numbers and obvious skills thus far have made such an impression that he is the topic of nearly every reporter's question, not to mention the last two blogs I've written.

Orioles right fielder, Jay Gibbons, when asked who Markakis' game can be compared with, said, with a straight face, Babe Ruth.

While the Sultan of Swat may be a bit of an exaggeration at this point, Gibbons did also say that Markakis makes unbelieveable contact for a player at his age. Gibbons also said that he has yet to see Markakis swing and miss.

The Tzatziki Terror: Coming to a Major League Ballpark near you, April '06.

Are you serious?

The Orioles--and all of Major League Baseball--knew Nick Markakis would be a special player, but they weren't ready to give him a roster spot just yet. He isn't ready, right?

It may be time to think again.

The Greek God of Orioles Baseball--as myself and at least one other person calls him--is tearing up spring training pitching so far and giving the Orioles a tough, yet oh so sweet, decision to make.

After reaching base in eight of his first nine plate appearances, including a home run against the Washington Nationals, Markakis has the Orioles smiling like kids in a candy store and saying, "Hidalgo, Matos, Conine, Millar and Newhan who?"

Many highly prized young talents hit the Minor League's and dominate rookie ball and A-ball and then smash into a wall of mediocrity when they go against upper-level pitching, Markakis--probably an upper-level pitcher himself--has only gotten better and more dominant with his rise in the organization.

Oh and, by the way, I take full credit in discovering Mr. Markakis, having been on the field with him and speaking with his family the day he signed his original contract after being drafted in the first round. (ok, not really, but it was still cool.)

A jumbled and cloudy Orioles outfield--only Jay Gibbons has job security in right--can become as clear as an epiphony if Markakis can excel as the left fielder.

A young and highly talented group of Matos or Patterson, Gibbons and Markakis is a powerful combination, turning last year's pitiful outfield production into a potential all-star studded situation.

Markakis will be a great pro. Only when his reign of terror against AL pitching will begin remains to be seen. However, the future is bright. The Orioles have built and built and now have such a wonderful core of young and upcoming superstars that their losing days look like they can soon be coming to an end.

Without a starting pitcher over the age of 30, an infield that has already been the starting lineup at an All-Star game and now, a young and talented outfield, the Orioles look to be heading in the right direction.

It may not be this year, however some analysts believe they can compete (me), but soon. The O's are building in all the right places and it begins and ends with the future new God of Mount Eutaw Street.


Possible 2007 Orioles line-up...(and beyond)

1) Brian Roberts -- 2b--29 years old
2) Nick Markakis--LF--23 years old
3) Melvin Mora--3b--34 years old
4) Miguel Tejada--SS--30 years old
5) Javy Lopez--DH--35 years old
6) Jay Gibbons--RF--29 years old
7) Val Majewski--1b--25 years old
8) Ramon Hernandez--C--30 years old
9) Luis Matos or Corey Patterson--CF--28 and 27 years old respectively

Avg. Age: 29 years old

That is a young, powerful and pretty speedy starting line up. All of the above mentioned players have either been an All-Star or have All-Star potential.

Rotation:
1) Daniel Cabrera--24 years old
2) Erik Bedard--26 years old
3) Kris Benson--32 years old
4) Adam Loewen--22 years old
5) Rodrigo Lopez--30 years old

Other possible starters include:
Bruce Chen--30 years old
Hayden Penn--22 years old

Closer:
Chris Ray--24 years old

Avg. Age: 26 years old

As you can clearly see, the future is bright and the Orioles are jam packed with up and coming homegrown talent.

It is finally time to see these baby birds take flight.