The Royle Rundown

Goodbye, MASN

2011-03-23T20:33:58Z

Today is my last day at MASN, which means this is my last blog.

I am going to make this short and sweet since I am not leaving Baltimore by any means. In fact, you're going to hear a lot more of me on 105.7 The Fan, since I will be co-hosting "Baltimore Baseball Tonight" Monday-Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. with Bob Haynie, Jim Duquette and ex-Oriole Joe Orsulak. We will be live from Pickles Pub during Orioles home games and we will broadcast from the CBS studios when the team is on the road. So make sure you tune in.

I'm not going to lie, this was a tough blog for me to write at times. Although I enjoyed all of the writing and camera work I did with the Orioles and the visiting clubhouse, I'm afraid some of you weren't fully interested in what was going on across the diamond. With that being said, maybe you enjoyed reading Roch Kubatko or Steve Melewski more, which is completely understandable and respectable. My opinion, however, is this: If you don't know anything about your competition, it's hard to fully assess just how good your own team is. So for those of you who enjoyed learning a thing or two about the visiting teams and players in town, thank you for your pleasant comments and for showing your appreciation. It really meant a lot to me.

I want to first and foremost thank Jim Cuddihy, executive vice president of programming at MASN, for hiring me and for being the greatest boss and friend anyone could ever ask for. Jim hired me and moved me here and I will forever be indebted to him. Thanks, Jimbo. A very special thank you to Spiro Alafassos, who runs MASNsports.com, for this support and understanding throughout the baseball season. I'm sure he got more than he bargained for with me, that's for sure. To my favorite editor and cameraman, Matt Winter, who held my lip gloss for most of the baseball season and had to follow me around as I stalked and chased players to interview, you're the best. Don't feel bad for him just yet though. I drove him to Washington so he didn't have to use his gas and I bought him plenty of Taco Bell on the way home. I won't say goodbye to Dan "Loco Coco" Kolko because I'll see him at the Ravens facility everyday, and I refuse to say goodbye to Roch, Steve, Ben Goessling or my editor, Pete Kerzel, because I'll see them at the Orioles and Nationals games (not to mention, Pete owes me pizza at Matthew's).

My parting words are this: Thank you to everyone in Baltimore who accepted me as an unbiased and objective reporter. I have enjoyed every second I spent at MASN and it's a bittersweet goodbye for me. Bitter because I had the time of my life working for the network and sweet because somebody recently told me, "The windshield is bigger than the rear-view mirror."

In regards to anything negative I said about the Orioles or positive things I said about other teams that you disagreed with - that's the beauty of sports. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and in my opinion, the best thing about sports is the different views and the fun arguments you can have over a game we all love. You should all know by now I do not drink the orange Kool-Aid (or any Kool-Aid for that matter), so I'm sorry if I didn't always say what you wanted to hear. I was always taught to be an objective sports reporter, and while my opinions were not necessarily right or wrong, they were mine and I stand by them.

And lastly, for those of you who sent me nasty comments on this blog, I am in no position to preach to you or tell you that you're bad people. I don't even know you. I will say this, however: If you thought for one split second that the non-baseball related personal attack you wrote may have been hurtful, they were. While sports reporters are indeed public figures and are open for criticism, which I completely understand, please keep in mind that while most of us do have thick skin, we are also people with the same feelings as you. And that's all I have to say about that.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish my American League East preview for you, but my vacation time had to be used at CBS and I wasn't expecting my last day at MASN to come so soon. I hope to see you all during the baseball season at Camden Yards or at Pickles Pub. I don't bite (although sometimes it appears as if I do) so please feel free to stop me and say hello. I already gave out three hugs today and it's not even opening day yet! I am really looking forward to my second year here in Baltimore and I have high hopes for your Birds! It'll also be my second season with the Ravens and it'll be nice to go into the season with more knowledge than I had last season, which at the time wasn't much. I'm really excited to take everything I learned throughout the 2010-11 season into my second year.

Please keep in touch. You can email me at Jennifer@1057thefan.com, follow me on Twitter at Jen_Royle or chat with me on my Facebook page.

Toronto Blue Jays: Scouting the rotation

2011-03-04T02:34:19Z

The Blue Jays offense was one of the best in the American League last year - first in home runs (257) and slugging percentage (.454) - and Toronto now has ex-Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, who spent the last four years in the AL East working with some of the most impressive arms in baseball, at the helm. Filling the big shoes of Cito Gaston, this first-time manager will not only teach his offense the importance of small ball, he'll bring 23 years of major league pitching expertise - he started his career in 1987 with the Cleveland Indians - to a club that has officially declared they are out of the rebuilding phase.

Second-year general manager Alex Anthopolous, who replaced J.P. Ricciardi, came to town with a new and different philosophy in the winter of 2009: Focus on scouting and player development (they have seven of the first 78 picks in the upcoming draft), stockpile young talent, abandon the "win now" attitude, and dump the organization's large contracts. And he did just that when traded ace Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies - before Halladay could walk away as a free agent at the end of the 2010 season - in a four-way trade that got him prospect Kyle Drabek (son of former Cy Young winner an ex-Oriole Doug Drabek), catcher Travis d'Arnaud and outfielder Michael Taylor.

In terms of unloading heavy contracts, Ricciardi took $69.35 million off the books when he placed Alex Rios on waivers in August 2009; Rios was picked up by the White Sox. Anthopolous followed suit by trading Vernon Wells and the $86 million left on his heavy four-year contract to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this past January for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera. Anthopolous then wasted no time by moving Napoli to Texas for reliever Frank Francisco just four days later.

Although the Blue Jays' 2011 rotation has yet to be officially set, Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow and Brett Cecil are a lock with Drabek the frontrunner for the fourth spot. Vying for the last spot are Marc Rzepczynski, who had an injury-filled 2010 season, and Jesse Litsch, who holds a 21-24 record over four major league seasons.

Looking at the numbers in-depth, the Blue Jays' pitching staff ranked 10th in the American League in ERA with 4.22 and fourth in the East behind Boston (4.19), New York (4.06) and Tampa Bay (3.78) but was tied for fourth in the American League with the Chicago White Sox in shutouts (11). The Blue Jays ranked fifth in the AL in home runs allowed (150) and third in the division in strikeouts (1,184), only five behind third-place Tampa Bay who went on to be American League East Champions. Boston, which did not make the postseason, led with 1,207 strikeouts.

Last April, when the Blue Jays were in Baltimore, veteran catcher Jose Molina, who caught 56 games last season, said Toronto's young pitching staff was one the most impressive group of young arms he's worked with. This comment weighed heavy coming from a man who caught both Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes during the Yankees' 2009 championship season. Not only did Molina claim the Blue Jays had the best bullpen in the majors, he said the plethora of young arms have the potential to be All-Star caliber pitchers. Like Jason Varitek in Boston, Molina - entering his second season with Toronto - is more than a catcher in Toronto; he's a mentor to 25-year-old J.P. Arencibia, who will start the bulk of the games behind the plate. (As mentioned in my Red Sox piece, Varitek is mentoring young Jarrod Saltalamacchia.)

Without further ado, let's take a closer look at the top four pitchers in the Blue Jays' projected rotation:

Ricky Romero: This 26-year-old left-hander was drafted by the Blue Jays sixth overall in the 2005 draft and, after two unimpressive seasons in the minors, made his major league debut March 30, 2009. In his first big league start, Romero faced fellow rookie Rick Porcello in Detroit and allowed just two runs and seven hits for the win. After a short stint on the disabled list with an oblique injury (reportedly from sneezing) in early July, Romero became the No. 2 starter behind Roy Halladay. His biggest achievement of the year came when Romero tied the franchise rookie record for consecutive scoreless innings with 24 against the Yankees.

In 2010, Romero emerged as one of the most impressive young arms in the majors when he went 14-9 with a 3.73 ERA. He also showed his durability by throwing a team-high 210 innings. He recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts against the White Sox and threw one of the team's 11 complete games with a 6-0 shutout over the Rangers. Known for his fierce change-up and curveball, Romero's fastball can reach 95 mph. He is a career 3-2 against the Orioles but was 3-0 last year in four starts holding the Orioles offense to a .243 batting average. On May 30 at Rogers Centre, Romero threw a complete game against Baltimore when he allowed six hits and one unearned run while striking out seven in the Blue Jays' 6-1 victory.

Matt Wieters is a career 2-for-13 (.154) with five strikeouts against Romero, Luke Scott is 1-for-12 (.083) and J.J. Hardy is 0-for-4. On the other hand, Nick Markakis is 8-for-26 (.308) with seven RBIs, Adam Jones is 8-for-23 (.258) and Vladimir Guerrero is an impressive 8-for-13 (.615). Jones, Markakis, Scott and Nolan Reimonld have each homered off the left-hander.

Brandon Morrow: After a rough April and May last season, right-hander Morrow, a first-round (fifth overall) pick by Seattle, almost etched his name in major league history. Just one out away from a no-hitter on Aug. 8, Toronto's No. 2 starter gave up a single to Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria in the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. What was more impressive, however, was he finished the game with a career-high 17 strikeouts, just one shy of Roger Clemens' franchise record of 18 set in 1998. If achieved, the no-hitter also would have been just the second in Blue Jays history.

Morrow spent three years with Seattle before being traded to Toronto for sinkerball pitcher Brandon League in 2009. Morrow - converted from a reliever to a starter by the Mariners in his last year in Seattle - was shut down late last August due to inning restrictions (143 1/3). He finished the season, however, with a respectable 10-7 record and a 4.49 ERA.

As both a reliever and a starter, Morrow is 2-0 against the Orioles (three starts, 10 appearances) in his career and has held the O's bats to a .207 batting average with 13 walks and 28 strikeouts. He's 1-0 at Camden Yards in two starts (four appearances) and has held Baltimore to a .226 average in 14 2/3 innings with eight walks and 15 strikeouts. Morrow has dominated the Orioles throughout his career; Guerrero is 2-for-8 (.250) with two strikeouts, Jones is 2-for-10 (.200) with four RBIs, Markakis is 4-for-8 (.500) with two walks, Roberts is 1-for-5 (.200), Scott 1-for-7 (.143) and Wieters - the only current Oriole to homer off Morrow - is 1-for-4 (.250).m

Brett Cecil: A University of Maryland standout and Dunkirk, Md., native, this 24-year-old left-hander spent his childhood days at Camden Yards watching the Orioles. A graduate of DeMatha Catholic High School, due to his grandfather's influence, Cecil grew up a New York Yankees fan and his childhood hero was fellow left-hander Andy Pettitte. The 28th pick in the 2007 draft, Cecil earned a no-decision in his major league debut against the Cleveland Indians in May 2009, but in his second start, tossed eight scoreless innings against Oakland and earned the first win of his career.

Cecil started the 2010 season in the minors, but dominated once he returned to the big leagues. The left-hander finished with a team-high 15 wins and an impressive 11-3 record against AL East opponents. Cecil is undefeated against the Orioles (3-0) with 18 strikeouts and has held the Orioles offense to a .250 batting average in four career starts. He is 1-0 at Camden Yards with five strikeouts over six innings of work.

You want the good news or bad news first? Let's start with the bad news: Jones is just 2-for-12 (.167) with four strikeouts against Cecil, Roberts is 1-for-7 (.143) and Wieters is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. In addition, no current Oriole has homered off Cecil. On a positive note, Guerrero is 2-for-2 with three RBI and Markakis is 6-for-12 with one strikeout.

Kyle Drabek: According to Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., prospect Drabek, Toronto's potential No. 4 starter, was considered a No. 3 starter (at best) in the Philadelphia rotation. With Toronto, however, he's believed to have enough talent to be an eventual No. 1. A first-round pick by the Phillies in 2006, 18th overall, Drabek underwent Tommy John surgery in 2007, but rebounded with an impressive year with Double-A Reading, when he went 12-3 with a 3.19 ERA and 150 strikeouts.

Drabek - a bit of an unknown - made his major league debut on Sept. 15, 2010 against the Orioles, when he threw six innings at Camden Yards and allowed nine hits and three earned runs while striking out five. In that outing, Brian Roberts went 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base, and Felix Pie went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Jesse Litsch and Marc Rzepczynski will battle it out this spring for the last spot in the Toronto rotation.

Boston Red Sox: Scouting the lineup

2011-02-28T03:19:51Z

Welcome to Part II of my scouting report on the Boston Red Sox, the first team you the fans wanted to read about in my breakdown of the American League East. If you missed Part I, here is the link to my recap of the Red Sox's starting rotation.

Like most, I have chosen the Red Sox to win the AL East. I can honestly say, however, I am unsure as to how the remainder of the division will turn out. So keep in mind, these breakdowns and predictions are based on facts, team history and the way everyone currently looks on paper. We all know once the season starts, anything can happen.

With that being said, let's take a look at the Boston Red Sox's lineup and defense and compare them with the Orioles.

Reminder: No biased opinions here.

First base: One of the premier acquisitions of the offseason was Adrian Gonzalez, who is coming off right shoulder surgery. He will take over for long-time first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who will move across the diamond and replace Adrian Beltre at the hot corner. While Gonzalez isn't currently game-ready - his shoulder surgery was this past October - the three-time All Star said he's prepared to return to the American League where he spent three years with Texas before spending five with San Diego. He's on a one-year $6.2 million contract though rumor has it the Red Sox have offered Gonzalez a seven-year, $154 million extension that will keep him in Beantown through 2017.

Last season with San Diego, Gonzalez hit .298 with 31 homers and 101 RBIs. A career .284 hitter, the left-handed-hitting Gonzalez is the perfect fit for Fenway Park given his ability to hit to the opposite field. Gonzalez has faced three Orioles starters in his career and is 2-for-2 against Brian Matusz, 1-for-3 against Jeremy Guthrie and 1-for-2 with a double against Jake Arrieta. He is a career .333 hitter against the Orioles and has batted just .167 (1-for-6) at Camden Yards.

Advantage vs. Derrek Lee: Gonzalez

Second base: After foot surgery sidelined this speedy and pesky 2007 Rookie of the Year, Dustin Pedroia is healthy and ready start the 2011 season on a good note. Pedroia - one of Red Sox manager Terry Francona's favorites - is known as one of the hardest-working players in baseball. Not only is Pedroia a team leader, but he makes it nearly impossible (like Derek Jeter) to be taken out of the lineup. In his last healthy season in 2009, the 27-year-old Pedroia led the team in doubles (48), scored the most runs (115) and stole 20 bases, second to Jacoby Ellsbury. He also led the team in at-bats (626), yet ranked sixth on the team in strikeouts (45). He has the ability to cover ground at second base and his willingness to dive for any ball that comes even remotely close to his territory is just a small sampling of Pedroia's work ethic. In case you didn't know, while Pedroia was in crutches, he played catch while sitting in a chair and fielded ground balls on his knees. Pedroia also won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger in 2008.

Pedroia is a career .327 against the Orioles with 18 doubles and seven stolen bases. He is .283 at Camden Yards with 13 walks, 10 strikeouts, three home runs and 13 RBIs. In addition, Pedroia is .444 (4-for-9) against Brad Bergesen, .333 (10-for-33) against Guthrie and 2-for-6 (.333) off Matsuz. Pedroia has never homered off a current Oriole starter.

Advantage vs. Brian Roberts: Pedroia (mostly due to BRob's health issues/it worries me he's already hurt. I'll take any player who takes ground balls in a cast on his knees any day.)

Third base: Youkilis is one of Boston's most reliable players. Unfortunately, like Pedroia, Youkilis' 2010 season ended early and the infielder was forced to undergo Aug. 2 surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle in his right thumb. Boston's power-hitting, versatile infielder will move from first base - where he won a Gold Glove in 2007 with his error-free season - to third to make room for the newly acquired Gonzalez. Fortunately, Youkilis is able to play both positions and would have stayed at first if the Red Sox had been able to keep Beltre under contract. In his last healthy year, Youkilis - drafted in the eighth round by the Red Sox in 2001 - led the team in batting average (.306) and finished third in RBIs (94) and home runs (27).

Youkilis is a career .323 hitter against the Orioles with 69 RBI, 25 doubles and 19 home runs, but has also struck out 59 times. He is a career .341 hitter at Camden Yards and is just 2-for-11 against Bergesen (.182), 2-for-8 (.250) against Justin Duchscherer, 11-for-37 (.297) against Guthrie, 2-for-7 (.286) against Matusz and has hit three home runs off reliever Mark Hendrickson.

Advantage vs. Mark Reynolds: Youkilis (I can't go against Youkilis' power numbers and AL East experience.)

Shortstop: This has been the Red Sox's most revolving position. Marco Scutaro joined the Red Sox in the winter of 2009 when general manager Theo Epstein inked the free agent to a two-year deal. Scutaro, who made $5 million in 2010 and will make the same this season, replaced Alex Gonzalez and will have Jed Lowrie (who current Oriole Nick Green replaced in 2009) as backup.

Before joining the Red Sox, Scutaro hit .282 with 12 homers and 60 RBIs in 2009 with the Blue Jays and finished third among AL shortstops with a .379 on-base percentage. Last year with the Red Sox, Scutaro finished with a respectable .275 batting average with 11 home runs and 56 RBIs, finished second in doubles (38) behind Beltre, but finished fifth in strikeouts with 71. Scutaro is a career .290 hitter against Baltimore with more strikeouts (28) than walks (27). He is a career .338 hitter at Camden Yards (47-for-139) with three home runs and nine doubles. He has one home run each against Matusz and Hendrickson, and is an impressive .316 (6-for-19) against Bergesen and .296 (8-for-27) against Guthrie. He's also 2-for-4 with two strikeouts against reliever Jason Berken.

Until the Red Sox's prized Cuban prospect, Jose Iglesias, is ready for the majors, Scutaro is their everyday shortstop.

Advantage vs. J.J. Hardy: Scutaro (simply because Scutaro has the AL East experience)

Catcher: Now that veteran catcher and captain Jason Varitek has accepted his role as backup catcher, switch-hitting Jarrod Saltalamacchia will have his first full year as the Red Sox's everyday catcher. While he's currently a bit of an unknown, Saltalamacchia has definite power potential and his teammates are already noting that his impressive work ethic rivals that of Varitek. Although he's just 25, Saltalamacchia is learning from Varitek, a three-time All-Star, three time Gold Glove winner, Silver Slugger winner and two-time World Champion.

"(Saltalamacchia) is remarkably good at understanding his first priority, which is running the pitching staff - which is hard for most young catchers to understand," manager Terry Francona said. "Sometimes young catchers get caught up in the offensive part of their jobs, but Jarrod doesn't do that."

Because of injuries, Saltalamacchia had just 24 at-bats last season between Boston and Texas, so he still has a lot to learn about the American League East. Although it's a small sampling, Saltalamacchia is a career .340 (18-for-53) hitter against the Orioles with two home runs, nine RBIs and 16 strikeouts. He is a lifetime .382 hitter at Camden Yards with two home runs, seven RBIs and 13 strikeouts. His most success has come against reliever Koji Uehara, Bergesen and Duchscherer - he is 2-for-2 versus all three. He is 2-for-3 (.667) against Guthrie.

Advantage vs. Matt Wieters: PUSH (but... Saltalamacchia has slight edge based on having a veteran mentor and his numbers against the Orioles. I need to see more from Wieters.)

Left field: One can say only so much about Carl Crawford and, with all due respect to Luke Scott (by far one of my favorite Orioles) it is very hard to compare Crawford to anyone given the fact that he is arguably the best left fielder in baseball. Although he was presumed go west to Anaheim, where he was offered a reported six-year, $108 million deal (even Peter Gammons told me at the winter meetings he'd be an Angel), the Red Sox scooped up this ex-Ray and signed him to a seven-year, $142 million contract that will keep him in Boston through 2017. After spending his entire career with Tampa Bay, the addition of the speedy Crawford - who will have to manage the infamous Green Monster - will keep Ellsbury in center field where he belongs. The left-handed-hitting Crawford, who has nine years of American League East experience, has hit better than .300 in five of his last six years and has stolen at least 45 bases every year but 2008 (not including his rookie season, when he only appeared in 63 games).

Crawford is a career .308 hitter against the Orioles with 13 home runs, 74 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. He also, however, has 82 strikeouts over nine seasons against Baltimore. He's hit a career . 293 at Camden Yards with four home runs, 36 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and 41 strikeouts. He's homered once each off Bergesen, Arrieta and Hendrickson, and is 15-for-41 (.366) against Guthrie, 6-for-12 against Chris Tillman and 0-for-10 with a strikeout against Matusz.

Advantage vs. Scott: Crawford

Center field: Due to fractured ribs, the left-handed-hitting Ellsbury played just 18 games last season for the Red Sox, just another one of the many crucial parts of Boston's lineup forced to watch from the bench. Now healthy, the 27-year-old Ellsbury is ready to return to center field (he played six games in left last season) and showcase his speed in the outfield and on the base paths. In his last healthy season in 2009, Ellsbury batted .301 and led the majors in stolen bases with 70 (he stole 50 in 2008). Now in this fifth season with the Red Sox, Ellsbury has proven to be one of the most valuable outfielders with his speed and ability to track down nearly every ball hit his way.

Ellsbury is a career .346 hitter against Baltimore with 25 stolen bases, four home runs, 12 doubles and 23 strikeouts. He's also a .388 hitter at Camden Yards with six doubles, three home runs and 18 stolen bases. He's a career .714 (5-for-7) against Berken with three walks and three stolen bases, and 11-for-58 (.393) against Guthrie, the only Oriole he's homered against. He's never faced Matusz, Tillman or Arrieta.

Advantage vs. Adam Jones: Hmm.... Ellsbury (Ellsbury needs a rebound year but I have high hopes for Jones this season.)

Right field: After spending nine seasons in the National League, J.D. Drew signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Red Sox in the winter of 2007 and earned a World Series ring in his first year with Boston. An outstanding collegiate baseball player, Drew was a recipient of the Golden Spikes Award as collegiate baseball's Player of the Year in 1977, when he set a record at Florida State with a .455 batting average (Francona also won the Golden Spikes Award as a college player). That same year, Drew broke 17 school and conference records and became one of only three players in college baseball history to have 100 hits, 100 runs and 100 RBIs.

Sometimes considered a lazy outfielder that frustrates fans, Drew is a five-tool player with good plate discipline. Entering the fifth and final year of his contract, Drew is coming off a subpar year in which he hit just .255 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs -- and blamed the wide strike zone for his struggles at the plate -- and led the team in strikeouts (109).

Drew has good numbers against Baltimore and at Camden Yards. Against the Orioles, Drew is a career .340 hitter with 15 home runs and 43 RBIs, and at Camden Yards he's hit .350 with eight home runs and 23s RBI. His best success has come against Bergesen, against whom he's 7-for-19 (.386) with two home runs, and Berken, against whom he's 4-for-9 (.444) with one home run. On the other hand, Matusz dominates him; Drew is 0-for-5 against both Matusz (with four strikeouts) and Uehara.

Advantage vs. Nick Markakis: Markakis

Designated hitter: It's no secret David Ortiz had a career-worst first half of the season last year and was nearly cut from the Red Sox. Ortiz could not find his swing, but turned things around and finished with a respectable .270 average, 32 home runs and 102 RBIs. Ortiz, who lost confidence along with his swing in 2010, finished the second half of the season strong and proved why he is one of the most feared hitters in baseball. After hitting just one home run and batting .142 in April, Ortiz turned things around May 1 when he hit two home runs at Camden Yards against the Orioles. From there, Ortiz raised his depressing .142 average to .272 by June 1, hitting six home runs and recording 22 RBIs that month. "Big Papi" is a six-time All Star, has two World Series rings and is said to be the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history.

However, Matusz owns Ortiz. Ortiz told me last season, "I cannot figure that kid out. But (when) I do, he's mine." Ortiz is 0-for-9 with eight strikeouts against Matusz. On the other hand, Ortiz is 10-for-31 against Guthrie (.323) with five walks, three home runs and six strikeouts. He's 4-for-17 (.235) against Bergesen with a home run. Ortiz is a career. .263 hitter against the Orioles with 108 walks, 118 strikeouts, 31 home runs and 41 doubles. He's hit .243 at Camden Yards with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Advantage vs. Vladimir Guerrero: PUSH (I love Vlad)

It's baseball, people - be kind

2011-02-27T18:45:59Z

Before I finish breaking down the Red Sox, I have a couple things I need to address. First of all, I have been in Baltimore for 11 months now and I find it hard to believe most of you don't know that I was brought here by MASNsports.com to cover the Orioles' opponents. I do, however, cover the Orioles for 105.7 The Fan where you can currently hear me nightly on "The Ken Weinman Show" from 6-10 p.m. after "The Scott Garceau Show." I have also said via this blog, Twitter, Facebook and on the air, I am not a Red Sox fan and I have not rooted for a professional baseball team since I was a teenager. (FYI, I cannot believe I am discussing this again.)

When I worked in New York the first thing I was taught in my early years of journalism was to be objective and to always back up your professional opinion with facts. Just because I am from Boston does not mean I am a Red Sox homer or a Red Sox spy (yes, somebody actually called me that), nor am I here to crush your Orioles hopes and dreams. In fact, if I came to Baltimore and drank the orange Kool-Aid and told you all exactly what you wanted to hear, I would not be true to myself or my job. Where I come from professionally (New York), nobody is a fan of the team they cover because it gets in the way of the first rule of journalism: objectivity. That doesn't mean we/they were pessimistic, it means they/we were realistic. I wish I could tell you all the Orioles will win the World Series this year. But my deepest apologies, that's not what I believe.

So as I continue to break down the American League East - and as I keep in mind that I cannot change Baltimore or all of your opinions of me - please understand it's difficult to talk about and declare how great the Orioles will be and where they will finish in the division if you aren't educated on their opponents. However, I have received some of the most disgusting and hurtful hate mail (e-mail, Twitter, blog comments) since Part 1 of my Red Sox blog was posted. So do me a favor, please be a little open-minded and think before you hit send on your computers. Unfortunately, that's all I can ask for.

This is baseball. It's a sport. It's fun. It's a game. It's entertainment. Hate and personal attacks not only have no place in this world, but they have no place in baseball or on this blog.

One more thing: Before you personally attack me - which, in my opinion, is the lowest and cheapest way to avoid an intelligent sports discussion - do me a favor and meet me first, because I'm not leaving Baltimore. You're all stuck with me for at least 2011, so we may as well get acquainted. MASNsports.com will have its next Orioles chat at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium on Monday, March 7 at 6 p.m. followed by a viewing of the Yankees-Orioles spring training game. Stop in, meet me and the rest of the MASNsports.com crew and let's have an intelligent conversation. I'll be more than happy to spend an evening with you, eating wings, drinking beer and watching baseball.

Boston Red Sox: Scouting the rotation

2011-02-25T19:20:48Z

As I stated the other day, it's time to take a look at the Orioles' competition in the American League East. I understand you are all extremely excited about the upcoming season, as you should be and as am I, but I'm afraid some of you have lost touch with reality and have let your emotions get the best of you. Since a few of you have stated on my 105.7 The Fan radio show with Ken Weinman that you believe the O's lineup is better than that of the Red Sox and Boston doesn't stand a chance against this revamped Baltimore lineup, I'm here to tell you why you're wrong.

Let me just say, however, I believe the Orioles have greatly improved over the offseason and Andy MacPhail did an outstanding job addressing the needs of the ball club. He didn't overpay for anyone and he really didn't give up much. With that being said, I believe this is a great time to be an Orioles fan and I'm sure the product on the field will be a competitive one.

Also, before I state facts and, at times, the obvious, me telling you why the Red Sox will finish ahead of the Orioles has nothing to do with me being from Boston. I am not a Red Sox fan. I have not rooted for the Red Sox since I was a teenager. Are we clear? Crystal? Good.

Even though the Red Sox went through an 86-year drought, they've managed to win two World Series in seven years (2004 and 2007) under manager Terry Francona, who has surprisingly never taken home Manager of the Year honors. Yes, the Red Sox's lineup has been extremely impressive, but Francona's positive presence and ability to manhandle at times a circus-like clubhouse, combined with Boston's pitching, has truly been their recipe for success.

Although Boston's pitching staff is handled by new coach Curt Young - John Farrell left to manage the Toronto Blue Jays - there's no denying the incredible talent in this five-man rotation.

Entering the 2011 season, Boston has the most impressive rotation in the American League. Sitting at the top of the rotation is Jon Lester, who carried Boston's rotation last year with an impressive 19-9 season. Lester, a cancer survivor, is a fan favorite and one of Francona's go-to guys for a victory. Entering his sixth season with the Red Sox, Lester has struck out 225 batters in consecutive years (one of only six pitchers to do so in a century) and, along with No. 2 starter Clay Buchholz, were just the 20th pair of teammates in the last 50 years to each qualify for the ERA title and put up an ERA+ of at least 130 at age 26 or younger, according to MLB.com. With a career record of 61-25 and a .709 winning percentage, Lester has emerged as one of the top young pitchers in the game. In addition, Lester holds a 13-0 record and a 2.33 ERA against the Orioles. Brian Roberts is the only current Oriole to homer off the left-hander.

Buchholz, the projected No. 2 starter, teamed up with Lester last year and proved to be one of the Red Sox's most valuable young arms. Buchholz entered camp last year uncertain of his spot in the rotation but quickly established himself with a 17-7 record and 2.33 ERA that resulted in his name being tossed around in American League Cy Young Award chatter. This year, he has secured himself as one of Boston's top starters and hopes to build off of what could have been a career year. The 25-year old enters the new season with confidence on his side and a new baby daughter waiting for him at home. Bottom line: Everything is good in Buchholz's world. Buchholz is 5-2 in his career against Baltimore with a 2.98 ERA and has given up home runs to Adam Jones and Scott. Guerrero is 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Nick Markakis is 2-for-20 with four walks and Reynolds has struck out four times in as many at-bats.

VIDEO: Clay Buchholz interview from Camden Yards

Josh Beckett, who if healthy has proven to be one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball, moves down to the No. 3 spot after being the No. 1 in 2010. The 2003 World Series MVP with the Marlins and a member of the 2007 champion Red Sox (he had a 20-7 season, the best of his career, and was 4-0 in the posteason) enters this season more focused than ever. After an injury-plagued season that limited him to just 21 starts and a disappointing 6-6 record in 2010, Beckett is determined to return to his old form and lead his team to a 100-win season. The 30-year-old has a career 6-3 record with a 3.53 ERA against the Orioles. Vladimir Guerrero, Luke Scott and Derrek Lee each have two career home runs off the right-hander.

The No. 4 starter John Lackey - a past No.1 in Anaheim - is coming off a disappointing season after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract last winter following eight years with the Angels but should be more comfortable in his second year in the AL East. He's ready to prove he is better than his 14-11 record last season. The 31-year-old Lackey, who most likely will start behind Lester, has lost nearly 10 lbs. and admitted he doesn't have much to learn this spring. In other words, the division is no longer foreign to him. Food for thought: Only one Baltimore Oriole has ever gone yard off Lackey (Scott has hit two homers), while Mark Reynolds has stuck out four times. Lackey has a career 10-4 record against Baltimore with a 3.05 ERA.

And last, Daisuke Matsuzaka rounds out the rotation as the No. 5 starter. After outbidding the Yankees for the rights to even negotiate with the Japanese right-hander, Matsuzaka earned his keep with a 15-12 record in not only his first year with Boston in 2007 but his first year in the United States. That 2007 rookie season, however, was the only year Dice-K avoided the disabled list, as the right-hander has been plagued by nagging injuries that have limited him to just 37 starts in the past two seasons. Entering camp in 2011, Dice-K has reportedly been obsessive about his side work and is determined to stay off the DL. Futhermore, Young says he expects Matsuzaka to give the ball club 200 innings. In nine games, Dice-K holds a career 4-3 record and a 5.73 ERA against the Orioles. Matt Wieters and Scott each have a home run and five RBI versus Matsuzaka, J.J. Hardy has two strikeouts in three at-bats; and in 21 at-bats, Markakis has five hits, five strikeouts, six walks and four RBIs. Reynolds and Lee have never faced Dice-K.

Advantage: Boston
Prediction: 102-60
Division finish: First

Tomorrow I will break down the bullpen and the starting lineups.

After Boston will be the Rays, Yankees and Blue Jays.

Coming soon: an in-depth look at the O's competition

2011-02-24T22:12:26Z

Since Baltimoreans are over the moon and through the roof over the 2011 Orioles, I think it's about time we put things into perspective and took a closer look at the four other teams in the American League East.

As most of you know I co-host with Ken Weinman on 105.7 The Fan Baltimore every night. Last night, we had a couple of O's fans call in and say they think the Orioles lineup is better than the Red Sox lineup. Yes, that really happened. Bless your heart, Will. When Weinman and I went position by position with another O's fan, he said he'd take Derrek Lee over Adrian Gonzalez at first and Mark Reynolds over Kevin Youkilis at third. Hmm ...

Note to O's fans: Feel free to sample the orange Kool-Aid, but please don't drown yourself in it to the point where it gives you temporary brain damage.

So let's take a closer look at the Orioles' direct competition. What team would you like me to break down first? If I start writing about the Yankees or the Red Sox, you'll all hammer me for obvious reason. If I start with the Blue Jays, I may not pique your interest even though I think they are the dark horse in the division. And, of course, if I write about the Rays you guys will call me a Rays fan since I picked them to win the World Series last year. That worked out well for me, by the way.

So give me your teams, in order of interest, and I'll submit an entry for each, comparing the lineups and rotations. I'll give you my predictions in terms of how many games they'll win and where they'll place.

Cool? Thanks.

Back in Baltimore with a blessed nephew

2011-02-23T01:25:21Z

Hey, Baltimore. I'm back! Lucky you.

First of all, thank you for being patient with me. I'm sorry I have been missing in action, but I had to go home to Boston to see my nephew Frankie who was baptized on Monday afternoon. Second, thank you all for checking in and asking for baby updates. He is doing really well and is still on track to go home around April 1, which was his original due date. He has gained a full two and a half pounds since the last time I saw him and is honestly the cutest baby I have ever seen. Yes, I am his aunt and his godmother, so of course, I'm biased.

From what I hear, Sarasota is a very happy place right now. I've spoken to a few players since spring training broke and it appears BuckBall is in full effect. Somebody asked me the other day if the Orioles could feel too much pressure this season under Showalter. My response was, "I think they are starving for pressure!" Pressure comes along with playing for a competitive team but unlike the Yankees (and Red Sox) there is no pressure to win a World Series. As I sit here on 105.7 The Fan co-hosting with Ken Weinman (a.k.a. "Ginger"), Weinman said he will be happy with 83 wins (four games over .500) and/or the team being 10 games out of the wild card Aug. 1. Would you guys be happy with that or do you expect more?

One of the players told me Showalter informed the team there was a 6 p.m. meeting Monday night followed by a 6:15 p.m. bus ride to an unknown destination. That was all information he gave. One player thought the team was going to see a stand-up comedian, but what he got was a lot more than a laugh. Showalter and the Orioles staff put together a 12-minute montage of scenes such as a packed Memorial Stadium, classic Orioles' victories and fights, and highlights of new and old 2011 players. Derrek Lee said he was so pumped after watching the video he was ready to fight Mike Tyson and Brian Matusz said he couldn't sleep that night.

What are your thoughts on the video and how does it feel to know your players are this excited?

Personally, I think the movie idea was simply awesome. Not only did Showalter show the 2011 Orioles what they have the potential to be, he showed them what the Orioles used to be: winners. Most of you fans who comment on this blog tell me you've never witnessed a winning season as an adult. Well, if you're bummed about it, how do you think players such as Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and Jeremy Guthrie feel? With that being said, word out of camp is not only are the guys excited to get the season under way, the boys are having fun. Finally!

From the words of Rays manager Joe Maddon: "Fun equals wins."

I am on the air right now with Weinman on 105.7 The Fan, and of course we are bickering so I can't write anymore. But I've gotten a bunch of messages from people wondering where I was so I thought I'd type a quick update. In the meantime, check out my Facebook page for pictures from Frankie's baptism.

I will write more tomorrow!

P.S. It's way colder in Boston!

Can't sleep, must talk baseball

2011-02-17T04:43:41Z

It's been a fairly uneventful night in Fells Point. After cutting some promos in the 105.7 The Fan studio today with Ken "Ginger" Weinman, I ran some much-needed errands, did a little food shopping (which I absolutely despise), talked to Ma Royle about her upcoming visit to Charm City this weekend and watched "American Idol," one of my favorite shows. It was, however, an exciting night in reality TV land since most of you know I am a huge "Survivor" fan and tonight was the season premiere of "Redemption Island." Before you ask, no I haven't applied for the show, but yes, I would go on in a heartbeat. I always wondered, however, if I did go on the show, what hat would I wear?

I mean, Boston Rob represented his (our) hometown of Boston with a Red Sox hat in 2002 on "Survivor: Marquesas" and sported a New England Patriots hat in 2004 on "Survivor: All Stars." Oddly enough, the year he wore the Patriots hat, they beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl and the Red Sox broke their 86-year curse and finally won the World Series. So, maybe Boston Rob's hats were a good-luck charm for the city of Boston.

In any event, I'd have to put a lot of thought into my hat of choice if I were to ever appear on "Survivor." But first, I'd have to apply. Maybe on of these days I'll get the courage to make a tape. I'm sure my awesome cameraman, Matt Winter from MASNsports.com, would love to shoot it for me. Right, Matt?

It's after midnight and I can't sleep. So I decided to turn my iPad on - with the hopes of turning my eyes weary - and peek at the Orioles' 2011 schedule. And let me tell you, I cannot wait for the April 4 home opener against the Tigers. How many of you are planning on going to opening day, and if so, how many consecutive years have you attended? Also, does this opening day feel different to you and what excites you the most? Honestly, I'm excited just looking at the schedule. There's been such a dreary and dreadful sports lull here in Baltimore and I'm ready for it to be over. Simple as that.

For me, I am really looking forward to seeing how the young arms in the starting rotation have matured. I think the collaboration of Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta is one of the most impressive group of young starters I've seen on the same club. I said this Monday at MASNsports.com's event at Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium, I believe all four kids will find success because they're finally going to have some run support. Yes I've only been in Baltimore for a year, but from what I've heard, most of you think this is the best lineup you've seen in Baltimore. Truth?

Of course there are still question marks and holes on the O's, as there are on every ball club, and you'd be crazy to say any team is perfect. But looking at the current roster, here are my votes for the following categories. Tell me yours and let's see how close we are at the end of the year.

Breakout year (position player): Matt Wieters

Breakout year (pitcher): Jake Arrieta

Comeback player: Brian Roberts

Team MVP: Vladimir Guerrero

Most improved: Adam Jones

Overachiever: Mark Reynolds (less than 200 strikeouts or bust!)

Potential underachiever: Luke Scott (can he repeat 2010?)

Team leader: Derrek Lee (our editor, Pete Kerzel, will agree!)

Best addition to the club: Guerrero/Buck Showalter (does the manager count?)

Unsung Hero: J.J. Hardy

First player to get traded: Scott

Games won: 83

Division finish: Fourth

Make playoffs: No

Hightopps was a hit! (No pun)

2011-02-15T18:58:36Z

Thank you to those who came out to Hightopps Backstage Grille in Timonium last night for the MASNsports.com Orioles chat. I know most of you were getting your groove on with your loved ones, but for us singles talking baseball was the next best thing to a candle-lit dinner and some (potential) romance. Oh, well. Hopefully we can gather a bigger crowd on a non-Valentine's Day evening and make it a party!

It was great to meet all of you, and Steve Melewski, Pete Kerzel and I were glad to answer all of your Orioles questions. And hopefully we were able to give you the answers you were looking for.

In case you were not there, we discussed a bunch of topics: who will the five starters, who will be left out of the rotation, Chris Tillman's chances of being one of the five, where Adam Jones and Nick Markakis should hit in the lineup, whether Luke Scott or Felix Pie is the better left fielder, what the future holds for Nolan Reimold, whether Matt Wieters needs a veteran back up catcher and more.

FYI, we will be posting a podcast from last night's event soon so make sure you check back or check my Twitter account, where I will certainly be posting it.

In the meantime, if you care to discuss any of these topics now, let's do it. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts and opinions.

Also, for those of you who keep asking, I will be announcing soon what my plans are for next season at both MASN and 105.7. Unfortunately, I can't say anything just yet, but I will let you all know what is happening as soon as I can. Thank you all again for your awesome blog comments, emails, tweets and Facebook posts. You guys are the best.

As the Beach Boys once said, "Don't Worry Baby"

2011-02-09T21:07:38Z

Well, I'm sure by now you have all heard that 105.7 The Fan, where I am employed full-time, has recently lost its flagship rights to the Orioles. And with that, I bet you all are wondering what that means for MASN and 105.7 in terms of your Orioles coverage. Well, there is only so much I can tell you, but I will do my best to explain.

First, regardless of which station is the home of the Orioles - WBAL or 105.7 The Fan - you're going to get nothing short of the best Orioles coverage. That's the bottom line. WBAL is a great radio station with a group of extremely professional and talented reporters who will provide you with everything Orioles over the next three years. With that being said, the only thing 105.7 will not air is the games. You will still get the same in-depth Orioles coverage from all your favorite talk shows throughout the day, as well as player interviews and exclusive reports.

I also know some of you are upset that "The Scott Garceau Show" will no longer be simulcast on MASN from 2-4 p.m. Guys, that was a MASN decision. And since MASN and 105.7 no longer have a working relationship, writing letters and sending emails to the higher-ups at MASN hoping to get Scott and Jeremy's mugs back on your televisions will not help. So unfortunately, you need to cut ties with Conn's handsome face and Garceau's impressive hair (for an old man). I wish I had better news for you, but I don't.

I promise you, MASN will find something new to entertain you in Garceau's old time slot. Just hang tight and trust the powers that be.

In regards to me: Thank you all for the overwhelming amount of tweets, emails, blog comments and Facebook notes in support of me staying at MASN and/or 105.7 The Fan. Unfortunately, as you all can probably figure out, I cannot work for both. I am currently talking to everyone and trying to figure out what my plans are for next season, and I promise I will keep you posted when I can. I refuse to say goodbye to Baltimore just yet! I haven't even been here a year and with the incredible offseason the Orioles just had and the unbelievable experience I had covering the Ravens - one win shy of hosting the AFC championship game - I can honestly say there is no other place I'd rather be in 2011.

If anyone knows about change, and how to handle change, it's me. I know nobody likes when their routine and comfort zone get disrupted, but unfortunately, that's part of life. You've all given myself, Jeremy and Scott amazing support since Anita Marks left the market, and trust me when I say we appreciate it more than you know.

Thank you again for your concern regarding my situation. I hope I answered all of your questions and concerns.

O's Matusz: Andy Pettitte was so down to earth

2011-02-04T17:44:36Z

As most of you know by now, I covered the New York Yankees for seven years before coming to Baltimore. So I know first-hand how special a person Andy Pettitte is, on and off the field.

Personally, I owe Pettitte a huge thank you for allowing me to experience a World Series championship in 2009. Pettitte, who arguably had his best postseason career as a Yankee, was the winning pitcher in all three clinching postseason games that led the Yankees to their 27th championship: the division series against the Twins, the championship series against the Angels and the World Series against the Phillies. I had a gut feeling it was going to be my last year in New York and for selfish reasons, I was pulling for the Yankees (although I'm not a fan) so I could end my time with the team on a good note and experience the excitement of the team I was covering winning it all.

Nine months later, I realized I wasn't the only person who owed Pettitte a thank you. One afternoon, while waiting to interview CC Sabathia in the Yankees dugout at Camden Yards, I noticed Orioles rookie Brian Matusz and Pettitte greet each other at the top of the dugout. Matusz had walked over to the visiting side to seek Pettitte out and the opponents shared a walk to the outfield. I recall watching the veteran and the rookie walk away and seeing the two lefties, a veteran in No. 46 and a rookie No. 17 share something you rarely see in sports. It didn't matter if for just nine innings that day - and 162 games that season - they were enemies on the field. At that moment, they were simply a student and a teacher. I later asked Matusz what that conversation entailed and he briefly told me, with a smile of course, that Pettitte liked his changeup.

Watching Pettitte's retirement press conference today on the MLB Network, I remembered Matusz's moment with Pettitte and the Orioles left-hander later recalled the meeting.

"Talking to Andy Pettitte was the greatest experiences of my short career so far," Matusz said from his offseason home in California. "Just being able to talk to one of the greatest left handed pitchers of all time was really great. He was so down to earth.

"He never really helped me with a certain pitch, but that day, he talked to me about my changeup and he said he loved it as a pitch. He joked that he needed to work on his and learn how to use his the way I use mine. He just always went out of his way to shake my hand. And for me, that meant a lot because I've looked up to him since I was a kid. So when I talked to him I just tried to lean as much as I possibly could."

Also last season, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing another impressive left-hander, Toronto Blue Jay Brett Cecil, a Dunkirk, Md., native and a standout at the University of Maryland, where he currently owns the all-time save record with 35. Although Cecil was born and raised in Maryland, his grandfather raised him a Yankees fan and brought him to Camden Yards as kid to watch Pettitte pitch.

At first, it surprised me hear Cecil say the Yankees and Pettitte were his childhood favorites given the fact he's from Maryland, but if anyone had the chance to know Pettitte as a person, I think you'd share the same feelings. It doesn't happen very often, but if anyone in Baltimore can find a place in their heart for a Yankee, Pettitte would certainly be the one.

Hopefully, Matusz learned a thing for two from Pettitte that can help bring that same championship experience to Charm City.

There's nothing fun about being sick

2011-02-04T15:34:35Z

I'm right here! My apologies for not writing to you all sooner, but I have been sick as a dog and there has been nothing fun about it. I don't know about you guys, but I turn into a 5-year-old when I get the flu. Unfortunately, I live alone and have no significant other, so it's been everything but a party for me this week. But enough of that.

Thank you all for your awesome tweets, blog and Facebook comments that were sent my way after Orioles FanFest. I can honestly say that meeting and getting to know all of you fans was the highlight of my time in Baltimore. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day at the Convention Center to introduce yourself to me and tell me how much you appreciate my work. It meant more to me than you'll even know. I hope you all had a great time at FanFest and were able to meet your favorite players and get the answers you were looking for from O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and manager Buck Showalter on the stage.

Also, thank you to the parents for allowing me to interview their children. I love kids and being able to talk to your children (and put them on camera) brought so much joy to me. I think Baltimore may have the cutest little fans in all of baseball

Spring training is around the corner and FanFest, in my opinion, certainly reminded us that the new season with a lot of new faces and new talents will be here soon. Who is headed down to Sarasota this spring? I, unfortunately, have not gotten my spring training schedule, but if and when I am down there, hopefully I'll be able to say hello.

Pizza Boli? Really? I love it. You guys left that one off the list. I know it's a chain, but I have finally found pizza here in Baltimore I actually crave. Correct me if I'm wrong, but none of you suggested Pizza Boli to me.

If anyone has any secret suggestions that will nurse me back to good health by Sunday's Super Bowl, I'm all ears.

Where are you all watching the big game? If you need a place to go, stop by the Gameday Warehouse across from M&T Bank Stadium, where the entire 105.7 The Fan crew will be broadcasting live two hours before the start of the game. Ravens Haruki Nakamura and Jameel McClain will be joining us, as well, so if you like good food, good drinks and you like the 105.7 staff, then the Gameday Warehouse is the place to be.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, for some reason, I have very little interest in this game. I have been to six Super Bowls in my lifetime and I believe it is the greatest live sporting event on the planet. If you have a chance to go to a Super Bowl, even if your team isn't playing, do it. I promise you, it'll be worth the money and your time. My favorite Super Bowl was Carolina-New England in Houston, where I was able to see the Pats hoist the trophy. It was awesome. Forget Hawaii, forget Florida, postpone that trip to Italy you've been saving for (well, maybe not Italy) and get your butt to a Super Bowl.

Well, that's all I have in my tank for you guys today. I am lying on my couch watching the MLB Network with Gatorade, Tylenol and my iPad.

Afternoon interviews with four more Birds

2011-01-29T20:19:43Z

It's now a bit later at FanFest and I was able to get some more interviews with four more players on roster. One of the players I interviewed was Orioles catcher Matt Wieters who is looking forward to the 2011 season.

Jen Royle talks with Jeremy Guthrie about having a new pitching coach in the 2011 season

Jen Royle asks J.J. Hardy about getting acquainted with his new team and participating in FanFest

Jen Royle interviews Brad Bergesen about the upcoming season and the O's the team's late-season success

Jen Royle asks Wieters about being a fan favorite

Some early interviews at FanFest

2011-01-29T18:02:28Z

Early on at FanFest, I was able to catch up with Mark Reynolds and Chris Tillman. Below are the interviews:

Jen Royle interviews Mark Reynolds about attending FanFest and joining the Orioles

Jen Royle asks Chris Tillman about attending FanFest and his offseason activities

Guerrero in orange and the grass is (Nick) Green-er

2011-01-28T21:24:04Z

I hope everyone is cozy in their Maryland (or D.C.) homes this evening. For some reason, Mother Nature just won't cut us a break in Charm City. Yes, more snow, more rain and more sleet. But while it's cold and miserable outside, things seem to be warm and fuzzy for the Orioles. And it just happens to be the eve of the team's FanFest.

The latest free agent rumored to be coming to the Orioles is the one and only Vladimir Guerrero, also known in just four letters as "Vlad." In my opinion, any player who can be identified solely by his first name still holds some serious street cred. Can we still call Guerrero a monster? A beast? Absolutely.

Whether you want to admit it or not,the Orioles still need that big bat in their lineup. They do not have a certified cleanup hitter or major offensive threat that can scare the jock off a pitcher. Hey, that's not to say the Orioles' lineup isn't talented - because it most certainly is. But, seriously, who from top to bottom really scares you?

While the Orioles confirmed they made an official offer to Guerrero, according to published reports, the offer was between $3-$5 million but most likely in the $3-$4 million range. With that being said, rumor has it Guerrero is unhappy with the Orioles' low offer. Should he be? (Reminder: Garrett Atkins made $4.5 million last year.)

Let's take a look:

Last year with the Texas Rangers, the 35-year-old Guerrero made $5.5 million, which was a whopping $10 million decrease from 2009, the final year of his six-year run with the Angels. In that contract year with the Angels (when he had a $15.5 million salary), Guerrero hit .295 with 50 RBIs and 15 home runs - the lowest in his career since he hit 11 homers in 1997 with the Montreal Expos. He did so, however, in just 100 games (407 at-bats) due to injury. After leaving the Angels via free agency to sign with the Rangers in 2010, a healthy Guerrero (with a lighter wallet) hit .300 with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs, just 10 less than the 125 he recorded in 2007 when he batted .324. So he still produced even though he was paid much less - and reached the World Series for the first time.

Guerrero, now a primary designated hitter, hasn't been a true outfielder since 2008 when he played 99 games in right field (hitting .297) and 44 as the Angels' DH (batting .317). What was more impressive, however, was the fact that he hit .349 as the cleanup hitter and just .240 in the three-hole. Monster. Beast.

Last season with the Rangers, Guerrero once again found most of his success at cleanup, where he had 587 at-bats.

With spring training just around the corner, and designated hitter/outfielders Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez and Vernon Wells finding new homes and Bobby Abreu now set to be the primary DH in Anaheim, Guerrero is quickly running out of options. But, hey, who cares if he signs with the Orioles due to lack of interest from other clubs? It really shouldn't matter how he got here, as long as he arrives.

"He's one of the best hitters I've had the chance to be teammates with," said Mike Napoli, Guerrero's teammate with the Angels. "All day long. He's also a leader. He's a silent one, but he leads by example."

Thoughts?

The grass could be Green-er
Earlier today, Nick Green signed a minor league deal with the Orioles, per his agent, Tom O'Connell. Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail then confirmed the deal with my co-worker, Roch Kubatko. I had a chance to speak with Green.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to play in Baltimore," Green told me. "I know (Cesar) Izturis is there, but I'll do everything possible to make the team. We'll see how it all works out."

Green has spent time with the rest of the AL East teams in his career: the Rays in2005-06, the 2009 Red Sox, the 2006 Yankees and the Blue Jays last year. A career .237 hitter, Green hit .240 (18-for-75) in New York with five doubles and two home runs and .236 (65-for-276) in Boston with 18 doubles, six home runs and 35 RBIs when he filled in for the injured Jed Lowrie and ex-Oriole Julio Lugo. Green, known more for his speed and defense, will be vying for the backup utility infield position on the major league roster along with Brendan Harris and Izturis. J.J. Hardy, acquired with Harris from the Minnesota Twins in the offseason, is currently slated to be the starting shortstop.