Saunders to Seattle

[hector]

No need for bridge jumping. Who knows, maybe Reynolds stinks it up this year and Betemit becomes a beast. You never know

Beast (?) indeed - you Wilson Betemit fans never cease to amaze and amuse.

[bmore_ken]

Beast (?) indeed - you Wilson Betemit fans never cease to amaze and amuse.

Can you point to one post I've ever made that shows me to be a Betemit fan? Here's a clue, because I wasn't for bringing Vlad back doesn't make me a Betemit fan

[Gizmo]

Can you point to one post I've ever made that shows me to be a Betemit fan? Here's a clue, because I wasn't for bringing Vlad back doesn't make me a Betemit fan

How about one post by anybody showing them to be a Betemit fan?

[hector]

Can you point to one post I've ever made that shows me to be a Betemit fan? Here's a clue, because I wasn't for bringing Vlad back doesn't make me a Betemit fan

In post 32, you suggest that Betemit could be a "beast" in 2013. I interpreted that comment to be support for him. Perhaps you meant "beast" in a negative sense and I misunderstood.

Anyway, let me help you out with the bigger picture for 2013 - the O's go 84-78 and miss the playoffs.

[NCBirdfan]

In post 32, you suggest that Betemit could be a "beast" in 2013. I interpreted that comment to be support for him. Perhaps you meant "beast" in a negative sense and I misunderstood.

Anyway, let me help you out with the bigger picture for 2013 - the O's go 84-78 and miss the playoffs.

Three things to consider:
1. Reading comprehension is not your thing.
2. Betemit will indeed be more of a beast than Vladamir this season, even if he only shows up for Spring Training.
3. You are no Nostradamus.

[hector]

Three things to consider:
1. Reading comprehension is not your thing.
2. Betemit will indeed be more of a beast than Vladamir this season, even if he only shows up for Spring Training.
3. You are no Nostradamus.

Regarding point 3, please go to the nearest dictionary and look up the word humility. You of the 58 win prediction for 2012 are challenging the "Nostradamus" talents of I, who brilliantly predicted 95 wins. I hope this next statement isn't too harsh but your prediction was far worse than even the hopelessly inaccurate predictions of weird-O and Ken.

Anyway, here's a helping hand for 2013 - the O's go 84-78 and miss the playoffs.

[weird-O]

Regarding point 3, please go to the nearest dictionary and look up the word humility. You of the 58 win prediction for 2012 are challenging the "Nostradamus" talents of I, who brilliantly predicted 95 wins. I hope this next statement isn't too harsh but your prediction was far worse than even the hopelessly inaccurate predictions of weird-O and Ken.

Anyway, here's a helping hand for 2013 - the O's go 84-78 and miss the playoffs.

I'll challenge you're Nostradamus talents. you predicted the O's would win 95 games in 2010. then you predicted the O's would win 95 games in 2011. remind us all how many games the O's won in 2010 and 2011.

[hector]

I'll challenge you're Nostradamus talents. you predicted the O's would win 95 games in 2010. then you predicted the O's would win 95 games in 2011. remind us all how many games the O's won in 2010 and 2011.

I recall being wrong in 2011 and the reason why. My overoptimism that year was based on the assumption that the 2011 Buck would be the same demanding Buck from 2010 and earlier in his career. He turned out to be AM Jr. in 2011 and the players predictably slacked off. I don't recall the 2010 prediction but you apparently do. Could you please provide the thread where I predicted 95 wins in 2010? Thanks.

[bmore_ken]

In post 32, you suggest that Betemit could be a "beast" in 2013. I interpreted that comment to be support for him. Perhaps you meant "beast" in a negative sense and I misunderstood.

Anyway, let me help you out with the bigger picture for 2013 - the O's go 84-78 and miss the playoffs.

My post that you reference says "who knows?" it's not a prediction. Here's a prediction Betemit will hit for a higher average than Vlad in the MLB this season. Basically he just has to get one hit since no one wants Vlad on their roster

[NCBirdfan]

Regarding point 3, please go to the nearest dictionary and look up the word humility. You of the 58 win prediction for 2012 are challenging the "Nostradamus" talents of I, who brilliantly predicted 95 wins. I hope this next statement isn't too harsh but your prediction was far worse than even the hopelessly inaccurate predictions of weird-O and Ken.

Anyway, here's a helping hand for 2013 - the O's go 84-78 and miss the playoffs.

I predicted 58 wins? Hmmm, seems to me you have a bad memory as well. Also, you remind me of pundits that are wrong 90 % of the time, but toot your horn loudly on the rare occasions you are correct (and even embellish on that).

[jordan77]

I think Saunders coming back would've been one of the few spots in the rotation without a huge question mark. There isn't a guy in the rotation that doesn't have a track record of being inconsistent or is coming off a career year.

[dandrews]

It's all going to come down to the starting pitchers. if they repeat what they did last year, we have enough offensive firepower to compete. If Chen gets figured out in his second season, Tillman reverts to the guy we saw up until last year, and Hammel goes back to his career normals, it's going to be a long season

Pretty much. We can talk all we want about not trading for a 3 hitter or resigning Reynolds, but the current lineup is easily good enough to compete.

Pitching will determine where we go. Along with the guys you mentioned, Gonzalez needs to show last year wasn't a fluke. Hope isn't lost on Arrieta, Britton, and Matusz either. They're in a good position to bounce back from last year's disaster but this time the team is not dependent on how well they pitch. If they get one guy from that group that stands out it would go a long way.

This year we get a full season of Manny at 3rd and Casilla at 2nd (Roberts coming back would be a plus but I'm not banking on it). That's a full season of outstanding infield defense instead of 3 months of Reynolds at 3rd and Andino at 2nd. I feel this is a pretty underrated storyline going into the year. The defense is going to help out the pitching tremendously.

And if all else fails with the pitching, we have the best pitching prospect since Strasburg and Kevin Gausman knocking on the door as well. These guys will have to perform make the club, so again, the club isn't dependent upon their success (at least this season).

I don't question the talent of this team. I do wonder how they stack up against the rest of the division though. Toronto is stacked and we've learned that Tampa is going to win 90 games regardless of what they do in the offseason. The Sox dumping Valentine will undoubtedly improve the team and while the Yankees could very well be atrocious, I can't bring myself to count them out either. Somebody's got to lose this division, and I fear it could be us. We'll see though. Like you said, give me a reason to go to games in August and everything else is an added bonus.

[dandrews]

Also, it's sad to see Hector is still being a pecker

[weird-O]

I recall being wrong in 2011 and the reason why. My overoptimism that year was based on the assumption that the 2011 Buck would be the same demanding Buck from 2010 and earlier in his career. He turned out to be AM Jr. in 2011 and the players predictably slacked off. I don't recall the 2010 prediction but you apparently do. Could you please provide the thread where I predicted 95 wins in 2010? Thanks.

ahh yes...the old "find the thread" deflection. the board is already well aware of your annual 95 win predictions.

[Far from home]

I think Saunders coming back would've been one of the few spots in the rotation without a huge question mark. There isn't a guy in the rotation that doesn't have a track record of being inconsistent or is coming off a career year.

Which is why a lot of people wanted him to come back.
It seems that the O's brass has enough confidence in the pitchers that are already on hand to only go so far with any FA.
I think they will be fine. I just don't know if this is a championship pitching staff.