Just what the A.L. East needs....

[smitt5168]

another team that can compete with the sox and yankees. as a sox fan i hate it. as a baseball fan i love it.

so my question, do you o's fans think you have a shot at a wildcard spot this year?

[Nanner]

Originally posted by smitt5168
another team that can compete with the sox and yankees. as a sox fan i hate it. as a baseball fan i love it.

so my question, do you o's fans think you have a shot at a wildcard spot this year?

Yes.

[PopTop]

I'd compare the Orioles position right now to being very similar to the Marlins last year ... Not predicting Bawlmer to go all the way, but there are some striking commonalities ... Both teams had/have some nice young pitching, both brought in an upgrade at catcher, both teams have some good-looking youngsters (Cabrera in Florida and Matos in Baltimore), and both teams are/were in divisions that the top two teams seem/seemed written in stone: Sox & Yanks for the AL East and the Braves & Phillies last year in the NL East.

Granted, the Braves & Phillies may not be etched in stone as deeply as most fans consider NYY and BOS this year, and Baltimore has a rookie manager compared to the experience McKeon already had by the time he took over Florida around Mommy's Day ...................... But I think much stranger things have happened in baseball than the O's making the playoffs.

But just to be safe, I'm not betting more than a beer on it! :cool:

[Nanner]

Actually, (sorry I gave you such a short answer, Smitt........ I was tired...... a long day of watching Spring Training in the sun..... :D )......I think it's very cool that there could be another team challenging the supposed top two in the AL East.

It's never been written in stone for me that teams who spend the most money are going to be the best. Injuries happen, slumps happen, etc. It's all a toss-up to me.

The moves the Orioles made this off-season signalled a huge change. The two GMs have a definite plan. People assume the weak part is the pitching, but (like the Marlins), there's a really good crop of young pitchers...... and some of them are even ready to break into the big club.

As PopTop said, there are some similarities to the Marlins from last year. I think Lee Mazzilli, even though he's a rookie manager, has a terrific baseball mind, and he's testing things out at Spring Training, and we'll just have to see what happens.

Can't wait for the season to start!!! :clap2: