masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWith yesterday’s, let’s say, passionate fan reaction to the O’s losing out on Adam Dunn, after they had earlier lost out on Victor Martinez, some are left wondering what the O’s now will do at first base.

We should remember that is just one of the areas the O’s need to address.

Here are some other questions/issues they have to answer.

*Is Mark Reynolds their guy for third base? His age of 27 and homer total of 76 over the last two years are pluses for him and so is the fact he is signed…With yesterday’s, let’s say, passionate fan reaction to the O’s losing out on Adam Dunn, after they had earlier lost out on Victor Martinez, some are left wondering what the O’s now will do at first base.

We should remember that is just one of the areas the O’s need to address.

Here are some other questions/issues they have to answer.

*Is Mark Reynolds their guy for third base? His age of 27 and homer total of 76 over the last two years are pluses for him and so is the fact he is signed for the next two years. On the down side, he could cost a key pitcher like Chris Tillman or David Hernandez and he hit just .198 last year.

*Just who is the closer on this team? No one from the team is saying right now. Is it Koji, who is a free agent, or maybe Mike Gonzalez, who was signed for that role? Or are the Birds going to pursuing a free agent to fill that role.

*If Matusz, Arrieta, Guthrie and Bergesen are pretty set in the O’s rotation next year, who is the fifth guy? Will it be an acquisition? Will Tillman and Zach Britton compete for that spot in camp? Should they pursue a veteran so Tillman/Britton can get more minor league work?

*We still don’t know about shortstop. Is Cesar Izturis’ return still possible or are the O’s going outside the organization for a player?

*Finally, how much pressure is on the O’s and Andy MacPhail to make an acquisition or series of them that excites the fan base? Was the finish of the 2010 O’s under Buck enough to keep the fans energized?
Should MacPhail even be concerned what the fans think?

Winter Meetings coverage: FYI, Roch, Jen Royle and yours truly will be in Orlando to cover the Winter Meetings. Andy MacPhail will speak with Baltimore reporters there tomorrow night and each day during the meetings. Look for extensive coverage here over the next week with blogs, tweets (yes I am on twitter now), videos, reader’s comments and more. You could wear out your fingers hitting the refresh button. If nothing else it should be interesting and keep us all rather busy for several days.